Luke's Crimson Throne Campaign

Game Master GM Crimson

"These aren't undead! Bones stitched together and animated with magic to be a sort of guard dog. I shouldn't have to say this but don't let them get a bite in!"

Will Save: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (7) + 5 = 12

Tassira, unfortunately, notices the swaying too late and starts swaying in time with the... construct.

Init repeated from last page:

Regeris 12
Samuel 11
Kayleigh 11-
Nebbin 10
Emileva 7
Bone Snakes 6
Shayla 6
Tassira 4

The duration of the dazed effect is 3 rounds for Kayleigh and 6 rounds for Tassira. Each of you has served one round in jail already.

The Pharasmins are unaffected by the snake's charm. Samuel swipes clumsily at the winding snake, then flinches as he sees Nebbin the mystically guided war machine come barreling down the crowded hall of dancers.

Nebbin's attack sends bone chips flying everywhere, but the malevolent little beast remains animate and dangerous.

Emi's up, then the snake.

Emi threads through the crowd following Nebbin. While Nebbin keeps the snake construct thing busy at its front, she slips to the side and tries for a second decapitation. Move to square 2,6

Power Attack: 1d20 + 8 - 2 ⇒ (20) + 8 - 2 = 26

Damage: 2d4 + 6 + 6 ⇒ (2, 2) + 6 + 6 = 16

Crit?: 1d20 + 8 - 2 ⇒ (11) + 8 - 2 = 17

Damage: 2d4 + 6 + 6 ⇒ (2, 1) + 6 + 6 = 15

Maaan, I hate to rain on a nat 20, but I don't think Emileva can cover that ground to attack this turn. Her movement is 20', and you need to squeeze through squares with allies (double cost). Emi can get to her intended square with a double move, which will cost her that sweet roll, and also provoke an AoO from the snake when she leaves square (6,3).

I'm updating the map to reflect that move, but will wait for Emi to confirm that move before I take that AoO. And let me know if my read of the movement cost here is off. I feel bad stealing 20s from the party. :/

Unless it's a house rule, I don't think moving through allies takes any extra movement.

Ah yes, I forgot she's limited to 20'. Priest guy is on her 20' square so she has to choose either 15' or 25'. I might as well go ahead and take the double move. She'll still take an AoO to move there next round anyway. She'll at least be able to use studied target next round if she does it now.

I also haven't previously heard that moving through allies squares isn't free.

Sorry, I re-read squeezing and over-interpreted the sentence "A creature can squeeze past a creature while moving but it can’t end its movement in an occupied square." The correct interpretation of that is 'If the situation calls for squeezing, an ally doesn't block the passage, you just can't end your turn on his space (like normal)'.

As Emi steps past Brother Sam and into the combat, the snake lashes out at her leaving scorching gashes on the side of her leg. 12 hp damage from a bite, and a Will save is needed.

The snake then pivots in a blur and strikes at Nebbin but fails to pierce the armor on the big man's thigh.

Back to the top of the order. Kayleigh and Tassira are dazed.

"LEAVE HER ALONE TOO!" Nebbin hollers, bringing his sword down in a mighty swing on the creature.

Greatsword, raging, power attack: 1d20 + 10 - 2 ⇒ (13) + 10 - 2 = 21
Damage: 2d6 + 14 ⇒ (5, 4) + 14 = 23

WILL: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (10) + 2 = 12

Hm, I'm gonna bet that's bad news.

Regeris mutters as he looks over the crowd, trying to keep his calm at the horrid creatures. He spies his opening in the chaos and thread through two arrows.

Attack: 1d20 + 7 + 1 - 2 ⇒ (2) + 7 + 1 - 2 = 8 Damage: 1d8 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 2 + 1 = 10
Attack: 1d20 + 7 + 1 - 2 ⇒ (10) + 7 + 1 - 2 = 16 Damage: 1d8 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 2 + 1 = 11

Nebbin's powerful blow splits the skull of the remaining snake.

Combat ended.

Emileva's wound burns more than it should, and as the pain radiates out from the wound it leaves behind a paralysis that causes the warrior to drop her weapon and slowly collapse to the ground.

The hypnotizing effect ceases as the monster dies, and Kayleigh and Tassira are returned to their senses. A few moments later, much to the relief of her friends, control returns to Emi's limbs.

At the far end of the hall, down the fork to the right, there's a shut wooden door. There are no other obvious exits.

"Uh..." Tassira blinks and shakes her head. "...what happened?"

"I think that thing's dance hypnotized us," Kayleigh replies, her voice a bit unsteady. "We were like a pair of careless mice come upon a viper coiled and ready to strike, or the proverbial deer caught in the beam of a bullseye lantern."

After seeing Emi recover quickly, Kayleigh makes her way over to Nebbin. Still embarrassed at being mesmerized and virtually useless in the fight, she manages a weak smile and says, "You saved me--probably all of us. Thank you!"

Telling the others to gather around, the priestess again calls on Milani's blessing and channels healing energy. Seeing some lingering wounds on both Nebbin and Emileva, Kayleigh purses her lips into a brief pout and opts to use a second channel to further heal the two battlers before the next seemingly inevitable battle.

Channel Positive Energy #2 of 7: 2d6 ⇒ (5, 2) = 7

Channel Positive Energy #3 of 7: 2d6 ⇒ (5, 6) = 11

Emi wasn't in a balanced stance when her body froze up, so she falls to the floor. She spends a little time foaming slightly at the mouth, and enjoying the burning in her leg. She didn't happen to fall in such a way to have a view of the fight. From what she can hear though, it sounds like it ended soon after she hit the floor. That's nice she thinks.

When her body relaxes and she can move again, she sits up and rests her back against the wall for a few moments. The pulses of healing energy from Kayleigh help a great deal.

"Ugh" is all Emi says for the time being.

Once everyone's ready to proceed, Kayleigh moves to the door to open it. She stops suddenly, turning toward Regeris with a frown on her face. "All this (she motions to the scattered snake bones and acid burns) was the trap to guard this door, right? There wouldn't be another one on the actual door itself, would there?"

Regeris nods over to Kayleigh. "I'm starting to piece together that there's likely a derro necromancer and that thing was a creation of theirs. They're called necrophidiuses and I forgot to mention that their dance is hypnotic."

He wanders over to help Emileva up. "That looked unpleasant. Let us know if there are any strange after effects. I don't expect any, but that can't have been healthy."

Regeris moves over to inspect the door. "Considering I blundered into that acid trap like an idiot I wouldn't put it past the crafty bastards."

Perception: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (1) + 10 = 11

"This door is fine."

"They're called necrophidiuses and I forgot to mention that their dance is hypnotic."

"Yeah, I discovered that the hard way," Kayleigh quips rather sheepishly. "But it was my own fault--I was overconfident. I had the perfect weapon in hand to take down a foe made of bones and instead played right into its hands...even though it technically doesn't have hands."

When the inquisitor pronounces the door safe, Kayleigh opens it for the others to file through.

So good to see that Kayleigh's learned her lesson about being overconfident. ;)

Emi says her "Thanks" to Regeris as he helps her up.

"It's never pleasant to feel helpless."

@ Kayleigh: Yes, it's just as a wise man once said.

Tassira stretches and looks around again. "And I was caught off-guard by their very existence."

Nebbin smiles at Kayleigh's thanks, flushing slightly.

"You don't have to thank me. I wouldn't let anything happen to you," he says, having caught his breath while the others recovered (after a moment of panic that they were all dazed for so long).

He reaches out toward her for a moment before stopping, cheeks turning a little more pink.

"I mean, any of you. You guys are my friends, and, well, that thing was horrible," he says.

Once Regeris declares the door safe and the others are ready to go, he opens it. I do have a +1 to saves vs. traps, so maybe makes sense to let me go?

Kayleigh notices Nebbin reach out toward her and the awkwardness that follows. She blushes deeply herself, her eyes going to Nebbin's face, then averting from him, then back to him, then to her boots. Then back to Nebbin's face, and finally to the glowing pebble held in his palm. In the magical glow, her face seems troubled, like she's straining to make a decision. After a few moments, her features calm and she turns to her friends. She opens her mouth and...

...it's like she's in the grip of the necrophidius's dance of death again (minus the dancing). After a few seconds of crushing silence, the cleric blinks, clears her throat, and makes an announcement.

"I...um...agree with Nebbin. Yes. And second his sentiments. You're all good friends and I've got your backs. So...shall we see what's beyond the next door?"

That's a craptastic set of rolls all together. Better get 'em out of your system now! ;)

So just because I was lame and didn't post doesn't mean we should suppress Kayleigh's impetuosity.. er, I mean confidence.We'll say Kayleigh opens the door for Nebbin...

The door opens with an easy pull and the light from Nebbin's awkward pebble streams around Kayleigh's frame to add its power to ambient blue fug. Two wooden tables in the room beyond are stacked with all kinds of alchemical glassware and equipment. There are racks of vials, flasks and beakers, condensators and burners. Three great vats sit against the east wall. One of them is upended and the foul remains of its last contents lie congealed on the floor.

The foulness of the air in this room is different from the offal pit behind you, but perhaps just as revolting. The stinging reek of some unknown burnt reagent lies heavy on the air and your eyes water as you take in the scene. Whether it masks or worsens the stench of the rancid fat streak on the floor is probably a margin call. What it definitely does not mask is a sudden curent of decayed death that fills your noses as a shadowy figure standing before the nearer of the two tables turns to face you. The shifting light touches the face, just enough to trigger the shock of recognition in Kayleigh, who can see him best. It's the boy from the fishery. The killer that Kayleigh an Emi let go. And he is very dead.

We'll start with a surprise round. The new initiative is:

derro 19+
Kayleigh 19
Nebbin 18
flying derro 17
Regeris 14
zombie 12
Tassira 11
Shayla 10
Emi 7
Samuel 5

Another small green head pops up as Kayleigh stands there and before she can react. His oversized forehead, fuzzy hair and green skintone mark him for another of these derro. This one is missing his nose.

He fires his little crossbow at Kayleigh and quickly ducks back down behind the equipment. The bolt flies true, striking the good cleric directly on the breastplate and rebounding cleanly.

There are other shifting shapes lurking behind the glassware or in the murky corners of the room who hold any fire they have. More derro, no doubt. And another of them dressed in dark robes who hovers just beyond the far table.

Suddenly all of these details are hidden as one of the derros uses its shadow power to overwhelm the Nebbin's magical pebble. Between the warring light and darkness effects in the room, the luminescence is reduced to its natural, lichen-provided state. This means 20% concealment until the lighting conditions change somehow.

The enemy illustration page has been updated, along with the site map.

Well, at least he wasn't the graverobber ... Also, no way Nebbin would have let Kayleigh go ahead of him. He should've been the target of that bolt, I think. I have lower AC, so it might have hit me.

Assuming I was in front of Kayleigh...

Nebbin charges forward to deal with the nearest derro, dropping the pebble as he goes and swinging his blade in an overhand chop.

Move to 9-9, reducing AC by 2 for 1 round
Greatsword, power attack: 1d20 + 8 - 2 + 2 ⇒ (10) + 8 - 2 + 2 = 18
Damage: 2d6 + 12 ⇒ (1, 3) + 12 = 16

You can charge during a surprise round though you can only move up to your speed. If Kayleigh is in front of me, I can't charge, but presumably she's going to move before my turn.

Kayleigh gasps in recognition, horror, and guilt as she recognizes the lost Lamb she spared. A moment later, a crossbow bolt deflects off her breastplate and her silver morningstar drops from her hand, clattering into the corner.

The priestess isn't freezing up like she did against the necrophidius, however; she strides toward the zombified Lamb, drawing her dagger as she goes.

"This abomination is my responsibility to deal with...."

Dropping weapon as a free action, drawing dagger while moving to {H9, V10} as a move action.

Knowledge (religion) to ID: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (9) + 6 = 15

Regeris looks into the room, letting out a slow breath as he realizes what he's looking at. "The necromancer is mine. The Everbloom guide my arrows."

Regeris arrows burst into flame as he chants a prayer, his eyes set on his target. "The floating one is a caster - be wary. Nebbin you're going to have to move in and trust that Kayleigh can keep you healed!"

Casting flames of the faithful for 4 rounds, and activating judgement: purity to give a +1 to saving throws.

The door is actually between (7,9) and (8,9), so where I had you initially placed, Kayleigh's where she would have needed to be to open the door (without stepping in) and Nebbin was right behind her, potentially ready to move through her square with a normal move. The first quarrel was a readied action against the person who opened the door, fired by derro #2, who was the only one to have an unobstructed shot through the opened doorway.

I think the way the actions are declared, Kayleigh has to step in first to make room for Nebbin's unobstructed charge, I moved everyone based on that sequence of actions, and Nebbin gets his charge with the results below. But by virtue of literally being the first to step into the room, Kayleigh draws shots from the other two derros first, which were readied actions conditioned against the first person to step into the room.

This stands in the face of 'no way Nebbin would have let Kayleigh go ahead of him ...', but this is a case where Kayleigh acted impetuously (sorry, confidently) to open that door. Nebbin's free to chastise her for being too forward if they both survive. :D

In any event, the result is not a bad one for the party...

Kayleigh steps into the room and to the side to make way for the force of Nebbin's fury, which she can sense building up behind her. In doing so, she opens up an angle for the other two sniping derros in the room. One of the shots misses badly, but the other hits her in a vulnerable spot in her armor on her hip. Confirmed critical which only does 3 hp of damage. But Kayleigh does need to make a fort save vs poison.

Nebbin bursts through the doorway and barrels across the floor to slice the zombie kid clean into upper and lower halves. Its pieces fall to the floor at the forward barbarian's feet.

The flying creature removes an item from his robe that looks alot like a human bone. He tosses this behind what's left of the dead youngster and it's immediately replaced with an actual animated skeleton. The skeleton will act at the top of the next turn.

Tassira and Emi are free to act.

Emi can't see through the doorway, but the ping on Kayleigh's armor tells her something of the situation inside the room. She comes through the door, and upon seeing the zombie and Kayleigh's intent, shifts right to engage the closest derro. Emi figures Nebbin will be busy hovering around Kayleigh, and they should be well able to handle things if she blocks interference from their flank.

Attack: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (20) + 8 = 28

Damage: 2d4 + 6 ⇒ (3, 3) + 6 = 12

Crit?: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (10) + 8 = 18

Damage: 2d4 + 6 ⇒ (3, 2) + 6 = 11

Moving to square 8,8. Attacking derro 3.

Round 1: Actions
Move Action: Move to (8,9), behind Nebbin
Standard Action: Blast Derro 2 & 3 with Burning Hands!

Tassira storms into the room, an incantation on her lips.

"ESTUANS MANUS!"

And a cone of flame erupts from her fingertips & flies into the room, washing over two derro...

Fire Damage: 4d4 ⇒ (1, 1, 3, 4) = 9

DC 15 Reflex Save to take half damage.

Mage Armour is still active.

Kayleigh grunts in pain as the small crossbow bolt from another derro finds purchase in her hip below her breastplate. Then she lets out a little "Eep!" as Nebbin rushes past her and bisects the Lamb zombie just as she's saying she'll deal with it. That was just a little faster than it would have taken me, the cleric thinks wryly.

Fort Save: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (20) + 6 = 26

Sounds good. Tassira and Regeris, I recommend you deal with the flyer. We can take out the land-bound foes.

See discussion thread for adjustments. Emi can't make it to (8,8) anyway because of her speed. :)

The conjured skeleton advances through the gore of the destoryed zombie to attack Nebbin but its claws are completely ineffective against the warrior's armor. From various points in the shadowed room comes the click of firing crossbows and the room is suddenly filled with little quarrels. One targets Tassira and the other two target Nebbin. Fortunately only one of these missiles strikes home. 3 hp of damage to Nebbin and he needs to save vs poison.

Modified initiative is...

skeleton 20
derro 19+
Kayleigh 19
Nebbin 18
flying derro 17
Regeris 14
Tassira 11
Shayla 10
Emi 7
Samuel 5

Kayleigh and Nebbin are up. First full round of combat.

Fort save: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (1) + 7 = 8

Nebbin grunts at the pain, but it's little more than a scratch, though it does burn a little. His brings his sword down in a mighty overhead chop at the skeleton. Not sure if that hits; if it does and kills the skeleton, Nebbin will step forward into the skeleton's square.

Greatsword, power attack: 1d20 + 8 - 2 ⇒ (5) + 8 - 2 = 11
Damage: 2d6 + 12 ⇒ (3, 2) + 12 = 17

Spell Resistance?: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 4 = 9

I don't think that's going to cut it.

Kayleigh finds herself zigging when everyone else is zagging. A moment ago she was armed with a morningstar, facing off against a zombie; now she's clutching a dagger but facing a fleshless skeleton. She turns to recover her spiky bashing weapon only to find that Samuel's moved up behind her. There's a bit of jostling as the priestess squats to reclaim her silver morningstar as she sheathes her dagger again.

I figure Kayleigh provokes at least one AoO here (picking up an item and/or sheathing a weapon). I'm also assuming she ends up in the same square she started in.

Nebbin takes 2 points of strength damage and will need to save again next turn.

The skeleton reaches out as Kayleigh leaves her guard momentarily down, but it fails to hit her.

Nebbin's attack is made clumsy by a wave of nausea that rolls over the big warrior.

The floating derro ululates and signs, his four-fingered hands grasping at the air. A ghostly hand, barely noticeable in the gloom and the chaos floats out from behind the urn in the corner and advances across the floor towards Kayleigh. It grabs out at the cleric's calf but she's able to step away.

Regeris is up and then I'll resolve Tassira's fire trick.

Okay I think that 8,8 is available? Moving there. Lemme know if necromancer has cover.

Regeris stalks into the room just beyond the doorway, aiming his bow high in an attempt to take down the necromancer.

Attack+PBS: 1d20 + 7 + 1 ⇒ (14) + 7 + 1 = 22 Damage+Judgement+PBS+Flames: 1d8 + 4 + 1d6 ⇒ (8) + 4 + (1) = 13

Swift action to change judgement to +2 damage. Mov to 8,9 (Emi's current location on the map) and attack.

He has concealment by virtue of magical darkness, so there's a 20% miss chance for each attack. My logic here is still the same as in past rooms, ie derro's darkness canceling the party's magical light, leaving the ambient low-light conditions provided by the wall fungus.

In the interest of moving things along, I rolled this concealment and Regeris's attack hit. Regeris, your last move statement confused me because you wrote (8,8) earlier in the post. Moving to (8,9) involves delaying until after Emi, hope that's ok - I don't see that it changes much but the initiative order. Tassira and Emi's actions resolve first.

Also, you guys get the idea - the room is in deep shadow. I'm going to lighten the filter on the map so the image is easier to read but the effect is still present in the room.

Tassira's fan of flames doesn't really damage anything but the table in front of her and the items upon it. The glassware is conditioned to take heat but the table is not. Its legs are burnt nearly to the point of collapse before Tassira's magical impulse burns itself out. One or two items are left alight in the center of the table and a scent like burning pitch is added to the fug of the little room.

Emi finally gets to unleash her heavy blow against her enemy. She cuts him deep and he reels back against the table trying to staunch the flow of his green-black blood. Took him directly to 1 hp.

Regeris's arrow flies true. At the last moment it's deflected by the caster's magical shielding, but not enough to save him a grievous wound. One that cost me a held spell! The little monster curses in its dark tongue, pain and frustration coming through pretty clearly.

Nebbin's skeletal enemy leaves a scratch for his troubles. 1 hp damage The derro across the table takes another shot at Nebbin and sticks his evil little quarrel right in Nebbin's exposed shoulder. 4 more hp (after DR). And a 1st save vs a second dose of poison. And a 2nd save vs a first dose of poison.

The last of the archers targets Emi, but its quarrel is ineffective against the her armor. :D (my attack total was 19)

EDIT: Nebbin, the effect of multiple doses is to increase the duration by 50% and the DC of the save by +2. One save still stops the effect - which is a property of this poison

Modified initiative is...

skeleton 20
derro 19+
Kayleigh 19
Nebbin 18
flying derro 17
Tassira 11
Shayla 10
Emi 7
Regeris 6
Samuel 5

Kayleigh and Nebbin are up. Second full round of combat.

Fort save: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (15) + 7 = 22 From my read, that probably stops all the poison, but just in case...
Fort save: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (5) + 7 = 12

Nebbin swings again for the skeleton, trying to get rid of it so he can get to the derro.

Greatsword, power attack: 1d20 + 8 - 2 - 1 ⇒ (16) + 8 - 2 - 1 = 21
Damage: 2d6 + 12 - 1 ⇒ (4, 4) + 12 - 1 = 19
Miss? (High is good): 1d100 ⇒ 95

If that kills it, 5-ft. step into its space

Not quite able to figure out the nature of the spell that created the ghostly hand before her, Kayleigh seems perplexed and frightened of the thing. She takes a defensive swing at it

Spellcraft (to ID spell cast; -4 distance/unfavorable conditions): 1d20 + 5 - 4 ⇒ (15) + 5 - 4 = 16

silver morningstar (fighting defensively: 1d20 + 4 - 4 ⇒ (16) + 4 - 4 = 16 for bludgeoning, piercing, silver damage: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3

Fighting defensively (full-round); +2 AC 'til start of next turn.

Kayleigh strikes out at the hand, but it proves to be as spectral as it looks. You were probably harder on yourself than I would have been on the spellcraft check.

Nebbin destroys his opponent.

The flying necromancer traces obscene glyphs in the air to complete a spell. A beam of fire jets from his outsretched hand in the vague direction of Emileva, but never really comes close.

So many crappy rolls... Tassira, Emi & Regeris are up.

Do I get an AoO?

Greatsword, power attack: 1d20 + 8 - 2 ⇒ (12) + 8 - 2 = 18
Damage: 2d6 + 12 ⇒ (5, 2) + 12 = 19

Against the derro archer? No, he fired before you killed and moved.

Boo. And I don't think it's killing if they're already dead.

Emi lets the injured derro retreat and moves on toward the necromancer. She moves down past the tables and rounds the corner, slashing at the derro on the spellcaster's flank Derro #1.

Power Attack: 1d20 + 8 - 2 ⇒ (20) + 8 - 2 = 26

Damage: 2d4 + 6 + 6 ⇒ (4, 3) + 6 + 6 = 19

Crit?: 1d20 + 8 - 2 ⇒ (2) + 8 - 2 = 8

Damage: 2d4 + 6 + 6 ⇒ (2, 4) + 6 + 6 = 18

Move to 5,8 and Attack Derro #1

Now with a bead on the flying necromancer, Regeris starts letting fly with arrows. Unfortunately his aim is only passable in the gloom.

Attack (Rapid, PBS: 1d20 + 7 - 2 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 7 - 2 + 1 = 12 Damage (PBS, Judgement, Flames): 1d8 + 2 + 1 + 2 + 1d6 ⇒ (6) + 2 + 1 + 2 + (2) = 13
Miss: 1d100 ⇒ 27

Attack (Rapid, PBS: 1d20 + 7 - 2 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 7 - 2 + 1 = 12 Damage (PBS, Judgement, Flames): 1d8 + 2 + 1 + 2 + 1d6 ⇒ (2) + 2 + 1 + 2 + (2) = 9
Miss: 1d100 ⇒ 81

Round 2: Actions
Standard Action: Lightning Lance the Necromancer!

Tassira points two fingers at the floating derro and fires a bolt of lightning at him!

Zap (Ranged Touch): 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4
Damage (Just To Rub In Some Salt): 2d6 + 4 ⇒ (5, 2) + 4 = 11
Miss? (It's Just A Formality): 1d100 ⇒ 22

Forgot to roll miss chance.

Miss Chance (High is Good): 1d100 ⇒ 57

Tassira's lightning courses across the ceiling of the room, while Regeris's arrows miss the necromancer to either side. It cackles madly as it dances in the air, looking like a skeleton with a derro head.

Emi's opponent is not as gleeful, as the fighter again buries her weapon in one of her enemies. Inspired by her charge, Samuel rushes in to cover Emi's flank. His swings at the recovering derro are determined, but fail to draw any more of the monster's blood.

Nebbin's opponent drops his crossbow and draws a short sword. Its attack hits Nebbin and draws blood. 2 hp (post DR)

The derro in front of Samuel retreats rather than face the angry priest. It doffs a potion as it seeks shelter behind its mate.

Emi's latest victim is completely unnerved by her charge. It shrieks in terror and retreats, past the necromancer and around the corner. The necromancer stops laughing as he sees the retreat and starts shouting commands in its insane language.

Kayleigh and Nebbin are up.