RotRL aka "The Heroes of Sandpoint"

Game Master Hunger

Knowledge (Local): 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (10) + 5 = 15 Foxglove?

Perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (13) + 6 = 19

Camillo picks up a small pebble and casts light on it to aid in the searching.

"Where do his tracks end, Kithian?"

Are the noted occupants not within a casket or anything, just laid on the dirt at the bottom of the hole?

I'm thinking he's disguised as one of the corpses and the other is an undead servant, but I don't know that Camillo's sharp enough to consider that, really.

"Foxglove? I confess to not having remembered the full name of our "patron" but is this not his grave?
...
What...does this mean?"

No in every case you see empty holes and bodies suggesting that this is not where they might have been laid to rest originally. Your patron is Aldern Foxglove and the Foxgloves were a family of importance in the area for quite some time so an ancestor perhaps? Cam isn't sure outside of the general importance of the name.

"Not our patron, no. I forget the story at the moment, but an ancestor of his settled along the coast south of Sandpoint. A beautiful and huge mansion, I have heard, long fallen into disrepair after a tragedy. Our patron Aldern came back to reclaim his birthright, I think."

Looking around, Camillo asks, "Perhaps we've traveled to the Foxglove estate? Maybe this is the family graveyard. Kerrec, does your holy sight reveal anything?"

Knowledge(Local): 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (10) + 1 = 11 Doesn't even ring a bell

Nervously, Rullis digs in his bag, then pulls out and uncovers that everburning torch he found earlier to help light the graves before him. With one hand holding his spear at the ready and the torch in his off hand.

Passing the open graves with uncovered bodies, Rullis knells down to look at them, holding the torch out over them. Assuming nothing untoward occurs, he'll poke and gently push the corpses with the end of his long spear. Repeating with the next one while the tracker types try to figure out where the necromancer went.

Perception: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (11) + 4 = 15

Ohhh CAm you little rascal with your knowledge and what not. :-p

Kerrec looks over the graveyard with a deep frown. Evil permeates this place. I cannot see one thing over another. It is...disturbing to say the least.

Meanwhile Rullis takes to nudging the bodies. Rullis nudges the warrior, and nothing happens but it shocked when the other body the skeleton with barest hint of skin responds to his nudge with a blood curdling shriek and leaps from the grave and onto the cleric attempting to gnaw at him!

The dead "man" lands on the quickly reacting Rullis and bites at the cleric's arm, and the teeth sink just enough to break the skin. Rullis takes 2, and needs to make a DC 11 Fort save

Kithian and Kerrec are caught off guard wjile Cam and Vidar have the presence of mind to react.

Vidar, Cam and Rullis may act in the surprise, from there init is:

Dead Guy
Vidar
Rullis
Kithian
Cam
Kerrec

HPs: 12/17
Fort Save: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (15) + 4 = 19 Success!

Rullis stumbles back, crying out as this hideous thing attacks. He immediately activates this force ring create a shield between him and this thing (Free Action) and Channels Positive Energy to put this thing back down into that grave! (Standard Action)

AC now 18.
Channel Damage to Undead: 2d6 ⇒ (5, 5) = 10
DC 11 Will Save for half-damage.
My last channel of the day!

Camillo charges the undead thing, drawing his sword, charging it with arcane power, and striking at the thing. He makes sure that he is not between the thing and Vidar. If he can get the flank with Rullis, he will do so.

Attack: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (19) + 5 = 24

Damage: 1d8 + 5 + 1d6 ⇒ (2) + 5 + (3) = 10 including Arcane Strike, Sneak Attack just in case.

Confirmation roll: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (12) + 5 = 17

Damage: 1d8 + 5 ⇒ (2) + 5 = 7

Tarnation! I do not have any spells left that could guarantee a hit.

Unable to help in the situation, Vidar pulls out his bow and makes ready to shot any other undead that may appear.

Kithian surges forward swinging his falchion after momentarily being taken back by the attack,.

Power Attack :1d20 + 7 ⇒ (14) + 7 = 21
Damage: 2d4 + 10 ⇒ (4, 3) + 10 = 17

Between Rullis' power and the ferocity of Cam's strike the creature is a smoking pile of bone as it falls back into the grave. However, another unearthly cry fills the night time air as the armored figure in the other grave rises with weapon in hand.

The skin, though parchment like looks almost white while cold red eyes stare from beneath the helmet as the creature emerges from the grave. The creature appears to have an intellect as it emerges on the other side of the grave thus making it much more difficult to approach it as it menaces the party.

I am going to assume that Kithian's action remains the same

The oracle charges the newly reason creature and slashes it at with his falchion, the attack lands solidly and the creature hisses in frustration.

Camillo can't help but remark, "Goodness, things are more lively around here than I expected."

Vidar groans and shakes his head.
"Not now master Duin.
...
But I would have to say, this fellow appears to have a BONE to pick with us."

Camillo groans in appreciation.

Everyone can act before this thing...had to spend its round climbing out of a hole...the other dead guy was supposed to buy it some time ;/

Power Attack: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (11) + 7 = 18
Damage: 2d4 + 10 ⇒ (2, 3) + 10 = 15

While the pains of the day make his own bones ache, Rullis dismisses his concerns over a potential infection in his arm. Ignoring the blood dripping to the ground from his wound, he focuses on taking this new abomination down before it does any harm. Having drained all the divine energy granted to him each day by Her, he falls back to the remaining gift from Him.

Moving up (if necessary) to get within 30 feet of this unholy creation, holding his force shield to protection himself and shifting his spear to his off hand with the ring, he unleashes an electrical blast from his primary limb.

Lightning arc (Ranged Touch Attack w/ Precise Shot): 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (7) + 5 = 12
Possible electrical damage: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3

Ummm, no.

Camillo moves to engage the second undead thing, charging his sword with arcane power again, and striking at the thing. He will try to maneuver to get the flank with Kithian, of course. Will the creature's climbing cause him to be vulnerable to sneak attack? I assume you will ignore the damage if it is inappropriate.

Attack: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (14) + 5 = 19

Damage: 1d8 + 5 + 1d6 ⇒ (5) + 5 + (6) = 16 including Arcane Strike, Sneak Attack

Vidar watches impassivly, quite sure that the battle will end without him, but just in case, he digs out his wand of shocking grasp.

Wow wow Kithian too many attacks, you will kill it I promise, just give me around to hurt you! As to the vulnerability it complete its clmb out of range, when Cam gets to it, its is not flat footed.

Lightning hisses past the creature and a bolt flies wide as Kerrec curses under his breath.

As described before Kithian moves to the creature as does Camillo in an effort to beat the undead creature down. Both men land solid blows and the fight is taken up in earnest as the creature does not fall.

As Vidar looks on the undead fighter wheels its sword at Camillo, striking a vicious blow against the duelist. Black energy arcs from the sword and Cam feels himself drained of vitality as the undead creature itself seems to become almost refreshed. CAm takes 7 and gains a negative level as he is affected by energy drain. See HERE for more info.

Rd 3:
Dead Guy ✓
Vidar
Rullis
Kithian ✓ (Will Resolve in next post after others have posted.)
Cam
Kerrec

OUCH! I can't afford that twice!

Seeing Cam suddenly become weakened by the creature's attack, he yells out, "Cam! No!" With his own power diminished and attacks apparently fruitless, and seeing Cam and Kithian at least doing some damage, the cleric rushes behind the bard grasping his spear as he goes.

Coming behind the bard, he brings his long spear to bear on the undead warrior. "Cam, fall back. I got this!"

+1 Long Spear Attack at 10 foot reach, flank with Kithian in Cam's place: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (5) + 5 = 10

With Cam in the way, his attack doesn't come close. But hopefully it provides enough distraction and the Barbarian can finish it off.

AC is 18
HPs: 12/17

Camillo withdraws, still gasping from the chill of the blade. "Beware that blade, Kithian, I think it pulled out part of my soul."

I believe withdraw prevents me from taking any other actions.

Forgot the +2 in the attack above for flank, but a 12 still won't hit.

Forgot the +2 in the attack above for flank, but a 12 still won't hit.

But it could aid Kithian if that was your intent plus giving him a flank.

Yeah I am pretty flexible but that was a straight up attack...no worries Kithian has a hit. My rolling for Kerrec has been terrible though.

Kerrec utters a phrase of devotion and channels his energies to smite the evil before him, sadly the normally accurate paladin has another bolt fly wide of its mark in the tempestuous melee around the grave.

Kithian once more lands a solid blow. It clearly damages the undead thing but it is not enough to put the thing down. The creature howls in fury, an unearthly dead tone, and it wheels on Kithian, clearly intending him menace.

Vidar, anything to add or continue to hold?

Power Attack: 1d20 + 7 + 2 ⇒ (9) + 7 + 2 = 18
Damage: 2d4 + 10 ⇒ (3, 2) + 10 = 15

"Almost, it is about to fall, keep at it!"

Am I the bard now? Offering inspiration from a position in the rearguard?

Holding

Camillo regains some of his composure and begins to sing a song of victory over death itself. As he does, he sheathes his sword.

Inspire courage, of course

Rullis you technically go before Kithian in this next round, any action? Moving to flank is possible given Cam's action.

I thought we were waiting on Vidar before the undead thing went again.

I thought Rullis already had a flank because of his reach with the longspear. I do know that Vidar said he was holding this round.

YEs you are right, Rullis was already "there" and Vidar is continuing his noble tradition of whistling while watching. Sadly a lot of this "day" worth of action has happened post Vidar spell slinging, so he doesn't have a ton left at his disposal.

Spell slinging? That almost sounds like an invitation to retraining INTO a spellslinger.
Always DID want to try that some day.

Rullis holds his position 10 feet from the thing and maintains his flank with Kithian (moving if necessary). He is still delusional in thinking that he might hurt it and tries to poke it from a distance to allow the Barbarian a chance.

+1 Longspear attack w/ flank: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (14) + 7 = 21
Possible Damage: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (8) + 3 = 11

Just checking - did you include the +1 from inspire courage in your attack?

Nope. Make that a 22 to hit. :)

I am not opposed to a career change if you want to work Vidar from another angle. I tend to be flexible that way.

Man you guys are such killjoys. A guy tries to kill you with undead creatures and you just have to go and beat them up...

The risen dead soon falls as Cam enchating song push Kithian and Rullis to a heightened sense of prowess. Blades slice and spears puncture and the creature howls in fury as the light in it's eyes fade and it collapses to broken bones and ash.

Off init. All is quiet.

That's kind of you to offer, I'll take it under advisement, but it MAY be a little too big a change for me to stomach. I already have plans.

"Dear me, are you entirely well master Duin? You look...pale.."

Vidar decides to keep the wand in hand, next time a fight broke out, he intended to try and be more helpful.

Kithian looks over at Vidar and shakes his head before spitting on the heap of bones. "Nice to have a cheering section I guess."

With the thing down, Rullis rushes to Cam's side. "You hanging in there? You look really pale."

Normally would do a heal check here, but it doesn't really apply in this situation.

After a brief examination, the cleric says to the others. "We need to get him back to Father Zantus as soon as possible. That necromancer is probably still out there, so you guys go ahead. I'll take Cam back to Sandpoint." Turning back to Cam, "You think you'd be able to ride?"

"I just have a chill, that's all. Don't you feel it? I can ride - as well as before, anyway." He grins wanly.

My biggest concern is the blasted Fortitude save. What's the DC on that going to be, DM, so we have it on record?

"Absolutely not! At the moment you are much more useful than me master Stillman, if someone were to take master Duin back it would be me.
But to be perfectly frank, I do not believe we can afford to leave anyone behind, so either we all go back or no one does."

Vidar looks over at Camillo.
"At this point, it is entirely your decision master Duin, do we go back and recover, or do we press on as is?"

"No question, we press on."

"Very good, onwards then.
I for one cannot wait to be out of this graveyard, and hopefully, punish the one desecrating the dead like this."

Still concerned for Cam's well-being, Rullis relents. "But how do we know which way to go? Do the tracks continue?"

Kithian looks around the graves for more tracks.

Survival: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (18) + 7 = 25

DC 14 on the fort save, which will be in...23 hours 45 minutes or so.

Kithian and Reggie take to the graveyard to look for tracks and the result makes the chase to this spot all too clear:

Between the chaos of combat, the overturned dirt in open graves, the soft nature of the newly wet ground (as it has only just stopped storming) the clear tracks of your previous pursuit end in a muddled mass of water, mud, dirt and death. No question the necromancer came to this spot but where he went, the gods only know. Obviously given his penchant for experimentation this was another site of his activites but either through dumb luck or discreet choice the man led you to a place where your skills and abilities fail to guide you further.

Let me know if you want to do anything else or where to from here.

"Do you think he is still here, hiding?"

The necromancer vigorously shakes his head "no" from his hiding spot. :-)

Kerrec narrows his eyes and casts about, looking throughout the site with intense vision. The evil here is persistent but no creatures are here that I can tell. If he is hiding it is nearby and not among these graves.