Mummy's Mask

Game Master Samy

Pointing towards Polux, Kito says "He is the one who said we needed holy water to permanently destroy this vile creature."

Kn: Religion: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (18) + 6 = 24 What would Kito know about this?

Harmose's Bless should be enough to ensure that the bloody skeleton is destroyed for good. You don't need to worry about that one.

Samy is this list accurate?

- Area A: the Canny Jackal
- Tooth and Hookah (24 on Book 1 map)
- Precinct of Left Eyes (15 on Book 1 map/E on Book 2 map)

That is correct. On the lettered map area A is Canny Jackal (the auction house) and area E is Precinct of Left Eyes (current location). On the numbered map, Precinct is 15 and Tooth&Hookah is 24. I actually just uploaded a new version of the numbered map that includes the legend, since that might make things a little easier. Hope that helps!

"Sounds like we at least agree on going to check on things at the Tooth & Hookah since we're close," Aleris says once Harmose is able to put the unruly judge to rest for good with his blessed magics. "Like Polux said, we can see what's happening and maybe get some more information if anyone from the other teams are still there. Then we can start making our way back to the Grand Mausoleum and see if they can help Ra-Khefer!"

Okay, I don't hear any dissenting voices, so I will move us out of the Precinct of Left Eyes and head toward the Tooth & Hookah.

Turel's suggestion to check the Precinct further does not turn up anything useful. The place seems deserted -- any humans that were unfortunate enough to have been in it (or nearby) at the time of the undead uprising have either fled or ended up as victims of Soten-Re's bloody reign, and you don't find any valuable information or items in the building. On Soten-Re himself, however, you find a circlet upon his bloody brow that radiates magic (I'm going to take the liberty that at least one of you will take a glance around with Detect Magic).

Upcoming next post will move you out of Precinct and toward the inn.

You leave behind the grisly murder scene of the Precinct of Left Eyes and head north (left on map) toward the Tooth & Hookah inn. After about two blocks, you reach the road that leads to the Necropolis gate, and you hear some commotion from the direction of the gate.

Do you
a) go on to the Tooth & Hookah or
b) check out the commotion?

Perception auto-succeeds.

Turel points out the commotion at the gate hearing the panicked shouting. "It sounds like the guards are trying to hold the gates shut! Anything coming from the Necropolis MUST be a danger!"

Perception 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (20) + 7 = 27

”I hear it too! Whatever is storming the gates is most important right now. We have to stop that first,” Qari calls out, ready to head in that direction.

"I hear it too!" Aleris hisses. She gives Kito and Ra-Khefer and apologetic look. "I'm sorry, I know we're not all in the best shape for more fighting but if we don't go do something now then we'll all have even more of these walking corpses to wade through later," she calls as she turns and flits off towards the sounds of the shouting.

"Agreed" - Polux nods, then begins moving toward the gate - "Let's go"

*koff koff*
Ra nodded in agreement with the others, clearing his throat.
He lifted his borrowed mace to his shoulder and followed the others towards the gate.

Spellcraft: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (1) + 12 = 13

Kito is too distracted by her other concerns to really concentrate on the Item.

Perception: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (19) + 2 = 21

Kito follows the others towards the gates, hoping this is something that can be resolved without violence.

Meh, forgot Polux has Spellcraft: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (18) + 8 = 26

Sturdy doors of iron and bronze stand in this high sandstone wall, barring entry to and egress from the city’s necropolis. Barred windows in the gates offer brief glimpses of what lies beyond.

A young acolyte of Pharasma and several town guards currently watch the necropolis gates, behind which a mob of undead creatures can be heard groaning and pounding on the metal. A glance through the doors’ windows reveals nearly a hundred skeletons, zombies, ghouls, and more gathered behind the gates, but for the time being at least, they are clearly unable to break through.

Acolyte image

The acolyte brightens when she sees Turel and approaches him, clapping her hands onto his shoulders in greeting. "You are *most* welcome!"

She looks around at your arrived group and says with an expression of concern, "I don't know what is going on here, but we are dealing with a massive uprising of undead. I would greatly appreciate some assistance." She elaborates, "The ones gathered behind the gates seem mindless and undirected and none have yet broken through, but nearly half of the gate guards have deserted their posts. I would be extremely grateful if you could carry a letter to the Grand Mausoleum and return with additional holy symbols and holy water."

Turel returns the acolyte's hug with a genuine one of his own. "Bal Themm, I am very pleased to see you are well, especially after what has befallen Wati," his face reflecting the happiness in his eyes, though the sight of the massed undead beyond the gates sobered him up. "However should these undead break through these gates then we may be unable to stop them. I would be more than honored to assist you here," he adds taking the proffered letter and tucking it away in his belt. "Is there anything I...we can you to help you here?"

Peering through the bars, Kito says “I hope they have some to spare. I would hate if there were even more undead roaming the streets of Wati!”

"Oh...ohhhh, this is bad," Aleris gasps as she too peers through the barred window. "What's even happened here? What's causing it???"

Shaking her head, she quickly steps back from the gate to regard her companions. "Sounds like we'd better get to the Grand Mausoleum in a hurry, then. At least we already needed to head that way anyway. Hopefully we can kill two birds with one stone," Aleris says with a worried glance at Ra-Khefer.

Nodding and quietly following towards the noise that gets louder the closer they get. The sound of far to many bodies pushing against the wall.

Feeling her stomach hit the ground at the sight through the barred window. Wrapping her arms around her waist but nodding again. "Yeah lets get going. This night is not gonna end for a while."

Ra nodded.
"Let's go." He rasped.
*kof*

The group seems ready to move on, but just before you do, something happens.

Something that looks like a living humanoid-shaped shadow passes directly *through* the gate to the Necropolis as if the gate wasn't even there. Its eyes glow with darkling negative energies and seem to flash and flare a little bit as it fixates on the young priestess Bal Themm. It reaches for her as if hungry, and advances upon her.

Combat begins. Deseri, Harmose, Kito, Qari can act before Enemy.

Bal Themm raises her shield, emblazoned with Pharasma's blue spiral symbol, and yells, "Go back to the shadow!"

Channel Energy: 1d6 ⇒ 3 Enemy Will Save: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (2) + 6 = 8 Takes full damage

The remaining city guards who have held on until now begin shaking in their boots at the sight of the creature passing effortlessly through the gate. "Hold fast! Hold firm! Together we can defeat this abomination!" Bal Themm shouts, but to little effect. All the remaining guards drop their weapons and begin running away at full speed.

Kn. Religion: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (2) + 9 = 11

"Holy cats! Is it a ghost!?" Aleris shrieks, unnerved by this creature that can simply pass through the gate as if it weren't even there.

Qari moves to within 30’ of the right and blasts the shadow with her cold energy ray.

RTA with PBS and Precise shot 1d20 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (15) + 6 + 1 = 22

Damage 2d6 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (6, 2) + 2 + 1 = 11

Knowledge: Religion: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (3) + 6 = 9

Thrown off by the creature, Kito says “Not sure what it is, but we probably need magical weapons to affect it.”

No map, assuming I am within 30’ I do the following.

Kito then focuses her misfortune hex on it and follows that up with a giggle.

DC 17 Will

There's no map for this encounter, we will wing it.

Qari hits and successfully damages the enemy; however she knows that her damage was lessened.

It takes 5hp damage from Qari's blast -- 8hp total dealt.

Will DC 17 vs Misfortune: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (9) + 6 = 15 Misfortune takes effect -- remind me when I no doubt forget to apply it during the enemy's attacks :D

Knowledge (Religion): 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (12) + 6 = 18

"No it is no ghost...It is a shadow, a particularly strong shadow, with a deeper tie to the Negative Plane than most shadows." Turel responds grimly, readying his spear.

It is the enemy's turn to act, correct?

Knowledge (Religion): 1d20 + 1d6 + 8 ⇒ (13) + (5) + 8 = 26

"It's touch will draw our strength - and if one's killed by it, one rises also like a shadow. Not good..." - Polux adds.

I believe so. Probably a good time to remind Sammy of the Misfortune

I think we technically still need actions from Deseri and Harmose but we're at a point now where they could probably either be botted or considered to have delayed their actions.

Harmose peers at the creature. It is incorporeal, so I cannot bathe it effectively in rainbows... But this still works!

Magic Missiles: 2d4 + 2 ⇒ (3, 1) + 2 = 6

Little force missiles shoot from Harmose’s hand, doing full damage to the shadow. "ඒක ගන්න එපා!"

Better late than never, right?

Click. Whirr.

BOTTING DES

Des casts Spiritual Weapon, sending a magical morning star to harry the shadow with force effects.

Spiritual Weapon Attack: 1d20 + 3 + 3 ⇒ (9) + 3 + 3 = 15
Damage: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3

Harmose's magic missiles strike true and damage the shadow fully. Deseri's spiritual weapon is a force effect and would also do full damage, but unfortunately misses the shadow this round.

Shadow's turn, Misfortune makes it roll twice:

Incorporeal Touch vs Bal Themm: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (17) + 6 = 23
Incorporeal Touch vs Bal Themm: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (1) + 6 = 7

Kito's Misfortune saves the young priestess from being touched by the shadow.

Everyone's turn.

Shadow has taken 14hp damage.

I have given the GM my tongues curse!

Well, that was interesting. I saw the post myself back when I posted it. Anyway Harmose's magic missile full damage, Deseri's spiritual weapon missed, the shadow missed due to Kito's misfortune. I'm not gonna make the rolls again in case they turn out differently on a second go around. :b

Everybody's turn.

Kito continues to giggle.

She thinks a moment, the converts her last spell into a curing spell.

CMW held charge. She can now threaten the shadow.

Click. Whirr.

BOTTING DES

Des sends her Spiritual Weapon into battle again!

Spiritual Weapon: 1d20 + 3 + 3 ⇒ (16) + 3 + 3 = 22
Damage: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5

Then she follows up with a Cure Moderate Spell on the Shadow!

Touch Attack: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8

She misses, but the charge is still held in her hand.

Harmose casts Cure Light Wounds, then walks up to touch the Shadow with healing energy. “සෙවණැල්ල, ඔබ සුවය ලබන්න කාලයයි!”

Touch Attack: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (15) + 1 = 16
Damage: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 1 = 9

Rather than getting up close and personal with the shadow to try and strike it with healing spells, Aleris draws her bow which seems to gleam with a holy light.

"Time to send you back to the Boneyard where you belong!" she cries as she takes aim and fires...

Attack vs. Shadow (MW Longbow; Judgement: Smiting, PBS, Precise Shot): 1d20 + 8 + 1 ⇒ (17) + 8 + 1 = 26
Damage: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5
_______

Aleris activates Judgement: Smiting which makes her weapon count as magic for bypassing DR.

Kito casts CMW.

Deseri's spiritual weapon hits for full 5hp damage.
(total 19hp damage dealt to shadow)

Deseri's touch attack misses.

Harmose's CLW misses.

Aleris' arrow hits and since it counts as magic due to the judgment, it does 50% damage to the shadow, i.e. 2hp damage dealt.
(total 21hp damage dealt to shadow)

The shadow is starting to fray around the edges a little.

Qari, Turel, Polux, Ra-Khefer still to go.

Turel sprints around to flank the shadow, thrusting at it hard with his newly-acquired spear...

Move to flank psoition.
Attack: +1 Bronze Spear, Flank: 1d20 + 6 + 2 ⇒ (10) + 6 + 2 = 18; Piercing damage: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (5) + 3 = 8
Swift: Use Ki point to give himself a +4 dodge bonus to AC for 1 round. Current AC 21, touch 20.

Ra just moved up to the creature and swung his borrowed mace in a two handed grip.
Mace, Light, Silver: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (5) + 9 = 14 for a possible 1d6 + 4 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 4 + 2 = 10 silver and bludgeoning damage.
*koff*

Both Turel and Ra-Khefer's strikes miss the raging shade.

I did not have a spiritual weapon to cast. Not sure if you want to to keep that going.

touch with curing: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6 Yep I suck at battle

Qari stays within 30’ of the right and blasts the shadow with her cold energy ray.

RTA with PBS and Precise shot 1d20 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (20) + 6 + 1 = 27
Damage 2d6 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (5, 2) + 2 + 1 = 10

Possible crit RTA with PBS and Precise shot 1d20 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 6 + 1 = 15
Damage 2d6 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (5, 5) + 2 + 1 = 13

Polux tumbles around also into a flanking position, striking hard with his longspear.

Cold Iron Longspear +1: 1d20 + 6 + 3 + 1 + 2 - 1 ⇒ (19) + 6 + 3 + 1 + 2 - 1 = 30
Damage if it hits: 1d8 + 6 + 3 + 3 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 6 + 3 + 3 + 1 = 15

Guess that's half damage because of incorporeal? :P

I did not have a spiritual weapon to cast. Not sure if you want to to keep that going.

It is listed on your sheet...

The issue of Deseri's spiritual weapon (or not) is rendered moot by the damage output of Qari and Polux, who both hit and deal enough damage (even with taking into account the 50% for incorporeal) that the shadow is defeated regardless. The raging shade dissipates just before it would have made another reach at the young priestess Bal Themm.

Combat is over.

Bal Themm sighs in relief as your heroic efforts undo the incorporeal undead. She looks around, to see some of the cowering city guards start to relax and regain some measure of courage. "I thank you for your help. I would surely have perished alone. With these remaining guards, we can hold the gates again."

You no longer need to remain.

Award:

If Bal survives the encounter with the shadow, her leadership rallies her troops to hold the gate, and her levelheadedness helps calm the surrounding survivors. Reduce the Panic Level by 1.

Panic Level: -1

Seeing the danger is past, Kito approaches Ra-Khefer.

“No reason to waste this. Let’s see if I can make it work against the injuries you took.”

Caster Level check: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (9) + 4 = 13 Not likely
CMW: 2d8 + 4 ⇒ (7, 8) + 4 = 19 Which explains why I rolled so well here...

On the other hand, that reminds me of:

If the PCs save Bal Themm from the raging shade, she offers them her fully charged wand of cure light wounds in thanks.

So... :D

"It's dangerous to go alone! Take this."

“A wand! Milady, you provide the best gifts!” Harmose bows deeply to Bal Themm. “Thank you for being a sorely needed calming influence. May I ask what the command word is for this lovely wand?”