Round 8
Initiative Order:
Dumah 23 (I15)
Kyra 19 (J12)
Eli 18 (L11)
Jarva 17 (J11)
Renfro 11 (I11)
Quzman 10 (H10)
Garavel 5 (off map)
Brebork 4 (K14)
Jarva couldn't help but be a bit distracted by the enormous sandstorm almost now bearing directly down on the scene. Despite this, the undead creature did not notice, or if it did, it did not care. It had taken a good shot from Kyra, and a couple more blows might take it down for good. Jarva took another swing, as the creature focused more against Kra, leaving its defense down a slight bit.
Attack
Damage
Quzman sees his blade bounce harmlessly off Renfro, and lets out an oath in disgust. However, noting that Kyra was able to wound the creature gives him some hope that he maybe able to too. He tries to line up a mighty swing, and unleashes it with a fury.
Kyra sees the sandstorm in the corner of her eye, through the whirling sand that continue to build, and realizing the urgency to end this fight now, screams in fury, "Renfro, your existence on this plane ends now!" Attack: "Never!", screams Renfro, as he manages to block the attack just in time with his shield.
Dumah will cast Detect Magic this round, concentrating on Renfro. I am really hoping he's not a lich at this level, but perhaps some equivelant of a phylacerty?
Eli feels the warmth of Brebork's holiness and his wound partly closes over but he still is in a severe amount of pain. Gritting his teeth he snatches up one of the leg bones from the now shattered skeleton and rushes to surround the leader of the dead things. "We shall thwart you with you own perverted magic Deadling," he cries as he approaches swinging the femur bone as a makeshift club.
Summary of Round 8
Dumah casts a divination spell and he does sense magical auras around Renfro.
Kyra attacked and was blocked.
Eli picks up femur and moves to G10, carefully moving around the battle to avoid an attack that might kill him.
Jarva attacks with his scimitar but is foiled again by the warrior's defenses.
Feeling confident that the party was unable to penetrate his defenses this round, Renfro screams, as the whirling sand batters him to no effect, "The tide is turning, I was only playing possum to draw you in. Now you will see my true might!" Again, he twirls his sword around his body and lets it swing clockwise toward Jarva, this time connecting on a deep gash! Attack:;Damage:. However, Renfro's arm continues the blade's momentum, now bringing the sword to bear on Kyra, leaving a gaping slash across her stomach, leaving her barely standing and conscious, in pain as she has never been in her life, as she tries to hold the blood in! "The tide has turned!", screams the undead commander. Attack: ;Damage to Kyra:
Quzman yells in horror as he sees the pain in Kyra's face and tries to avenge his friend, but Renfro, inspired by his attack, brings his shield to bear and blocks Quzman's blow, slapping his blade away.
Garavel mounts the lead camel and moves the caravan 30 feet toward the ruins (still off the map).
:
Brebork sees many of his companions close to death and screams:"Sarenrae, infuse us with your energy and help us destroy this vile creature!", unleashing another wave of positive energy. As your wounds heal, Renfro screams in frustration.
Storm is now clear to everyone within eyesight (-1 to all melee attacks from sand and wind now on) and is 42 seconds away!
Round 9
Initiative Order:
Dumah 23 (I15)
Kyra 19 (J12)
Eli 18 (G10)
Jarva 17 (J11)
Renfro 11 (I11)
Quzman 10 (H10)
Garavel 5 (off map)
Brebork 4 (K14)
Jarva had never been in a perilous situation as he was in at the current time. The last slash from the skeleton took a large portion of his energy. His scimitar was getting heavy. Thankfully Brebork infused him with and the others with a small portion of his diety's mercy and gave him a bit more energy. Things were still looking quite grim, however. He swung again.
Scimitar
Damage
Sand bites at Eli's eyes as the wind swirls around the fray. With renewed vigor and an eagerness to see the Skeleton returned to dust the rouge wades in and attempts to wedge the femur bone between its legs trying to fling the creature to the ground screaming, "Your no match for the Living!"
Kyra's eyes were losing consciousness, the blood was seeping out faster than she could hold it in. She felt lightheaded and was about to pass out. "I will take this creature with me if I am to die" she thought, as she struggled to raise the arm wielding the scimitar. Suddenly, her body was aglow with mystical blue energy which renewed her spirit and closed part of the gash on her stomach. "I will have to thank the cleric later", she thought. For now, she would repay him and Sarenrae for their mercy by dispatching this undead beast. "Goodbye Renfro, see you in hell!" She twirled the scimitar and aimed for the same rib she hit last time. Attack: . Unfortunately, the Skeletal Commander was no fool and he had learned to protect his weak spot, and he expertly parried her blow away.
Summary of Round 9
Dumah continues concentrating on his Detect Magic spell, hoping to discover some weakness. He sees two auras on Renfro, one on the necklace of abjuration and one on the body of necromancy.
Kyra's attack was parried.
Eli tried to trip the Commander. "Foolish child, it is obvious that you know nothing of combat, leaving yourself so wide open for me to snuff your life out! So be it!" With impressive speed, Renfro twirls his sword around and strikes out at Eli, cutting him deeply, making him scream in pain, and almost killing him. (). Attack: ;Damage: As for his trip attempt, it was blocked by the Commander's sturdy legs, which refused to budge when pressed by the femur.
Jarva slashed again but his attack was also blocked. Fear began to creep in, as the Commander was next to act.
Renfro was disappointed his blow had not killed the noble. He looked around at the faces of his enemies. He could see the fear in their eyes, some of their hands drenched in their own blood These young adventurers were no match for him, he thought. Yet they continue to fight, he thought! He would teach them the error of their ways. The wind was picking up. He would have to compensate for this and alter the swing of his sword, perhaps not place so much force. Sacrifice power for accuracy. Yes, that was the best strategy! Renfro twirled the sword and struck out again, aiming at Kyra first this time, cutting her across the chest, opening a new gash! Attack: ; Damage: . As before, he then brought the sword to bear on Jarva, but the druid was no fool, he had seen this trick before and easily evaded the blow. Attack:
Garavel moves the caravan 40 feet to just behind Brebork. "C'mon people, there's a really scary storm some 30 seconds away, kill this creature now!", hoping to inspire his young troops.
Quzman, full of fury at the abomination and what he has done to his friend, takes note of his movements and skill in battle, and trying to time his attack as he comes around from his full swing...he strikes!
And curses loudly at his continued inability to strike his excommander.
Dumah will circle around the pit, approaching the abomination. Without a word, he'll raise his stout walking stick and strike.
To hit
Damage
Brebork sees the coming storm, sees Eli and Kyra almost dead, realizes a much more prolonged fight will kill the party, so he decides to risk it all in one bold move. He screams "Thing of vileness and undeath, that which was called Renfro in life, Sarenrae purges your spirit of sins but sends your body to the burning hells!!" As he prays for guidance, knowing this will be almost impossible to pull off, his arm outsretched, a bolt of divine fire streaks from his hand toward the Skeletal Commander, but Renfro is able to sidestep the bolt. Attack:
Storm closes in and wind picks up!
End of Round 9
Round 10
Initiative Order:
Dumah 23 (H12)
Kyra 19 (J12)
Eli 18 (H11)
Jarva 17 (J11)
Renfro 11 (I11)
Quzman 10 (H10)
Garavel 5 (I12)
Brebork 4 (K14)
Kyra again feels lightheaded, she's lost too much blood. And this time, there was no wave of mystical blue energy to close her wounds. She knows any strike from Renfro will kill her, so she tries to focus all her might and training in one blow to destroy this undead creature. She has suffered enough, Renfro's death was not her fault! "It's time for this end Renfro, one way or another." She grabs her scimitar and feints a blow at the weak spot, Renfro moves to parry as before, but this time she reverses direction and moves to stab him in the back...literally, but she miscalculates and Renfro's straps of his breastplate and thick bones fend off the attack! Attack: . Kyra prepares to meet her maker with honor!
"Why won't you just die," Jarva screams in frustration, both at the skeleton, and his own inability to hit the skeleton. He assumes no one can hear his voice over the howling wind from the storm now on top of them.
Attack
Damage
Possible crit
Confirmation
Damage
Jarva's blow strikes true....but the Commander's thick bones fend off the scimitar's blade and it bounces off, leaving no mark! "I'm already dead and so will you, soon..." is the creature's reply.
Eli howls with pain and spits blood, the urge to run is overwhelming. With a glance at his new friends who stand steadfast against the abomination of life he somehow finds the courage to stand his ground and yells, "Have at him!" Eli cast the decaying bone aside and stabs his rapier at the creatures glowing blue eye.
The noble's blow is true, penetrating the creature's eye, as he grasps the rapier's blade and rips out with disgust, shaking his head violently! As he raises his scimitar to attack....
The blue light in his eyes begins to flicker.....until it goes out and all you hear is a "Noooooooooooooooooo", that ceases as the creature drops his sword, shield, and topples to the ground!!!!
Seeing Eli topple the monster, Jarva had a couple quick thoughts--from his time in the desert, he had learned the value of scavenging. "Take their things. Perhaps something will be useful!, he screams. His second thought was to get everyone to shelter. Turning to locate Garavel, he runs back to his position to help him get the animals to safety.
Eli is dumbfounded for the briefest of moments as the realization that he destroyed the skeleton sinks in. Rushing to Kyra's side he feebly attempts to assist her into the shelter of the nearest ruin. Though he is probably not much help suffering from his own serious wound and still lugging Jarva's pack around. "Come on everyone we must get out of the storm," he yells as the wind grinds the sand into his exposed flesh.
"Ok, let's not congratulate each other just yet!", says Garavel (). "We've got a storm to outrun!" He is trying hard to rein in the camels, who are deathly afraid.
Brebork speaks, as he picks up the Commander's sword and shield, "I saw the skeletons come out of that ruined building!", as he points to a 2-story building some 80' away.
"Then that's where we go!", says Garavel, urging the camel caravan along to run, not that they need much motivation.
Quzman can pick up the Commander's body, if he wishes, and move toward the building.
End of Round 10
f there are no immieiate threats Brebork will tend to Kyra. Is she dying? If so her condition will need to be stabilized before he can move her to safety for healing, Healing check?: .
If she can stand, Brebork will call upon yet another wave of divine energy to heal the party before heading for shelter.
I thought about it but did not want to risk an attack of opportunity taking out the only mass healer in the group. As for Kyra, she is at 1 hp, not dying, so I will assume you will do all your healing once you reach the safety of the building.
You all reach the safety of the shelter, with 6 seconds left to spare, as the storm almost engulfs you. It appears to have been someone's home, someone important for it to be 2 stories tall. The roof is still intact, which is good news. It is dark inside. You see a stone door that lies on its side, which could be used to block the sand from coming in through the entrance.
Brebork heals everyone again with a mass wave of energy (. Feeling renewed Kyra, the strongest of the group, seeing the heavy door, says "A little help would be appreciated."
Str. Check Aid
Exhausted, Eli collapses as soon as he reaches the safety of the front chamber. Once again the holy warmth of Brebork's goddess washes over him and he speaks softly, "Thank you Brebork, your goddess is to kind to this sad excuse for a warrior. Jarvis, here is your pack...I hope nothing is damaged." Visibly shaken by the ordeal and paranoid more skeletons lurk in the dark he rises and digs into his own pack to retrieve a lantern, oil and his flint & steel. Quickly he lights up the room with the lanterns amber glow and peers around.
Dumah saw magic auras on Renfro. Could he tell what items specifically, if any? Does Dumah see any keys or symbols on the corpse?
Perception
Edit: Sorry, I missed where you said Quzman could take the remains with us.
Strength check to aid:
With Quzman and Jarva's help, Kyra attempts to move the stone door and together they put it over the entrance, just as the sandstorm was about to rush in. Strength Check:. You can hear the pelting sand and wind outside all around you, making it hard to think.
As Eli lights the dark room, Quzman recognizes this abandoned house from the markings on the wall as that of a magistrate or judge of the Badawi people. You see many black charring on the walls and door, most likely from the fire when the gnolls invaded. As you look around, you also see toward the back of the first floor many broken crates with various insignias (), containing food (mostly fresh), grain, shovels and picks, waterskins, various weapons, mostly short swords, some kukri, morningstars, and other desert amenities.
Dumah remembers that the warrior's head and necklace radiated magic. . He does notice that in the right eye socket, there is a black charring against the bone. . He does not find any keys or symbols on the corpse.
Garavel has the 6 camels packed in 2 adjoining side rooms, while he strokes them and keeps them calm.
You also see a stone staircase that leads to the above level.
Spellcraft
Knowledge Religion
Jarva also casts detect magic to examine the room and the skeleton.
Spellcraft
After helping examine things, the druid climbs the stone steps to see what is contained upstairs so that the group will not be surprised while they rest.
Spellcraft 1d20+8
Knowledge Religion 1d20+8
Dumah cannot determine the exact properties of the necklace but the magic is protective. Examining the skeleton's eye socket, he determines that the charring on the side is burnt onyx dust. He remembers reading that the placement of an onyx gem of some value in the eye sockets of dead creatures is part of the ritual for an animate dead spell, typically used by priests of an evil god or necromancers, because of the forbidden nature of the magic.
Jarva also casts detect magic to examine the room and the skeleton. After helping examine things, the druid climbs the stone steps to see what is contained upstairs so that the group will not be surprised while they rest.
Jarva joined Dumah in casting a Detect Magic charm and looked around the skelly and the lower floor of the shelter. After completing a scan of the area , he turns and looks at the stairway leading to the second level. "Anyone want to go look upstairs with me? We need to be sure no one sneaks up on us. Oh, and does anyone have a, um, another lantern?"
Once the party has entered the building Brebork offers heartfelt prayers of thanks to his Goddess and commends his partners for their recent bravery.
Responding to Jarva, I will look upstairs. I also have a lamp if you require it. I can see in the dark, myself.
Brebork opens his pack and leaves the lamp (a simple lamp) with some oil for Jarva. Then he ascends the stairs with his buckler and scimitar ready (just in case).
As you walk upstairs, you see rubble and debris all over the floor. It appears to have once contained living quarters, but now there is only dust, most likely from the years of abandonment. You hear the gusting wind outside more clearly up here and you soon notice why. In the N, S, and E walls of the room, there are small circular holes (3 inches wide) some 6' above the ground, that look directly outside. They do not appear to have naturally formed there. Currently sand blows in on occasion through those holes.
Finally, you see an area which appears to have been purposefully cleared out in the NE corner of the room. There you see neatly stacked piles of gold and silver coins (totalling 42gp) and a beautifully carved mace free of dut with arcane runes running down the handle.
Perception
Perception 1d20 + 7
Brebork searches around the second floor with Jarva. He searches among the debris before checking out the holes in the wall. He will try not to get sand in his eyes.
Also he prays for the divine insight to Detect Magic. What can he find out about the treasures in the corner?
"Be careful, Brebork," Jarva warns upon seeing the magical weapon and currency in the corner. "I have to wonder why someone would leave such a fine weapon behind, even if they had to leave quickly.
Agreed. Brebork casts detect magic and inspects the area before touching the items.
After casting his spell, Brebork notices that the mace does indeed radiate magic (evocation). He also notices that right above the stack of coins and the mace is the symbol of an arrow etched on the wall, most likely with a blade, pointing down.
Perception for the downstairs group.
Dumah will cast Light on a coin and use it to start investigating their refuge as well.
Jarva warily walks to the corner where the mace lays, looks at the arrow symbolon the wall and picks it up. "Let's see what we can tell about this magic through touch."