Since I can't see what's going on, maybe it makes sense to have you control the summoned eagle. It's probably just cannon fodder anyway.
At the first sign of trouble, Kirzon himself suddenly changes form. For the first time, the party sees that Kirzon too can assume the form of an eagle. I think that's all I get for a Surprise round action.
Cass felt herself rise up and up...and up and suddenly realized this wasn't the best choice she'd ever made in her life. As she saw what was in the room she changed that thought to the worst choice she ever made.
Will 1:1d20 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (14) + 3 + 2 = 19 Will 2:1d20 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (19) + 3 + 2 = 24
Her thoughts were confirmed when she felt the ray strike her dead center in the chest from the casting skeleton. Fortunately, whatever it was, she shrugged off the worst of the effects, at least she thought she did, and knew that this was going to be very bad for her. She braved the mastiff, hoping that they would be off guard by her sudden arrival and moved in to try and threaten the whole room with the reach of her glaive.
Not sure where the skeletons are exactly but I guess the two colors are the mastiffs? It makes a difference on where I move to. AoO 1:1d20 + 11 ⇒ (5) + 11 = 161d10 + 5 ⇒ (4) + 5 = 9 AoO 2:1d20 + 11 ⇒ (20) + 11 = 311d10 + 5 ⇒ (3) + 5 = 8 confirm ?:1d20 + 11 ⇒ (2) + 11 = 131d10 + 5 ⇒ (6) + 5 = 11 AoO 3:1d20 + 11 ⇒ (17) + 11 = 281d10 + 5 ⇒ (9) + 5 = 14 AoO 4:1d20 + 11 ⇒ (1) + 11 = 121d10 + 5 ⇒ (1) + 5 = 6
Female Human (Taldan) Fighter (Buckler Duelist) 5 | hp 42/46 [NL 0] (normally 51/51) | AC 22, t 14, ff 18 | Fort +6 (normally +7), Ref +5, Will +5 (has bonuses) | Init +4 | Perc +2 | CON: 12/15
When Cassandra doesn't reply to Lililinda, Amigail calls down in a panicky voice: "Three magic-using skeletons and two big zombie hounds!" The swordswoman swings her falcata at the leftmost (pink) mastiff, hoping her slashing weapon can find purchase in the shriveled bits of flesh that clings to the hound's bones.
Cassandra as the ray strikes your chest you will away whatever hideous effects it would have done and press forward.
Cassandra you step off the shaft and Amigail moves into the room and sees the situation. Knowing Merelda is behind her Amigail moves off the shaft positioning herself for the battle to come.
Suddenly an eagle appears above one of the hounds and strikes at it. It's beak misses the agile hound.
Merelda her fury building as she is she pushed up into the room let's off a vicious slew of words! Insert words here Merelda
The effect causes one of the skeletons to catch fire.
The hounds although affected by Merelda's words attack!
One rips at Cassandra who moves for its masters. It misses!
Female Elf Inquisitor (Preacher) 2 | HP 18/18 (Fast Healing 1) | Speed 30ft | AC 17, touch 13, FF 14, CMD 15 | Fort +3 : Ref +3 : Will +5 | Judg. 1/Day | Sud. Shift 5/day; Determ. 0/day | Init +7, Per +6, Sense Mot. +7 | Note:
Floating over the hole, Merelda narrowly avoids the hound's jaws! Using that momentum, she then grabs dimensional energy and teleports herself (Sudden Shift - as an immediate action) away from the hole to attempt to flank the (red) dog!
What are these things? Didn't we encounter something similar before? Knowledge(religion)-Dogs:1d20 + 9 ⇒ (7) + 9 = 16 Knowledge(religion)-Skeletons:1d20 + 9 ⇒ (10) + 9 = 19
mage blk Combat Casting vs DC 17 (Cassandra):1d20 + 5 ⇒ (19) + 5 = 24 mage purple Combat Casting vs DC 17 (Amigail):1d20 + 5 ⇒ (2) + 5 = 7 mage orange Combat Casting vs DC 17 (Merelda):1d20 + 5 ⇒ (4) + 5 = 9
@Merelda You have encountered both before 2 times now. First when you emerged from the sewers into the house. Second, in the catacombs. The hounds are able to bite and trip. In addition, they are extremely fast able to attack multiple times when they attack. The mages have an array of spells. Fear being one of them that has affected your party many times.
Merelda disappears and then reappears behind one of the hounds in the blink of an eye. She stabs her rapier and watches as the thin blade stabs deep into the creature. The hound makes no sound even as she rips the blade free taking a portion of its decayed flesh, but from the way it turns in her direction she clearly has its attention.
Wary of the proximity of Cassandra and the reach of her glaive the skeletons fend themselves from her attack and attempt to cast another spell. Only one of them is able to complete their spell and direct it at Cassandra. Her mind is once again invaded with troubling thoughts that send panic down her spine. Cassandra will save DC14.
Kirzon/Boros/Artsiv, Amigail, Cassandra and Lililinda. Your turn.
Female Gnome Socerer(Fey) 5 | HP 15/15 | AC10 T10 FF10 CMD8 | F+0 R+1 W+7(+2vs Language dependent, glyph, symbol, writing based spells) | Perception +5 | Spells L2:4/5, L1:5/7, LaughingTouch 6/6 | -3 CON
Lililinda reaches the top and finds herself between two angry dead dogs. She only has eyes for a target across the room, though, and casts her newest spell.
Casting defensively, Command Undead, on the orange skelly on the left.
I moved Lili up to the second floor on the map and shifted things so she's in the safer spot where Kirzon was, and Kirzon chooses a different landing spot.
Cassandra Will Save DC 14:1d20 + 3 ⇒ (18) + 3 = 21
Cassandra steels herself against the rush of disturbing images that flood her mind.
Lililinda tries to cast a spell to bend the hound to her will but in her attempt to not become the undead hound's next meal she fumbles with the spell stopping the incantation from working.
Cassandra strikes with her glaive at the closest skeleton and misses.
Having felt the talons and beak of Artsiv the wounded hound leaps at the celestial eagle as it readies itself to attack the hound again. Artsiv is too nimble and easily avoids the hound's jaws.
Stuck in between Amigail and Merelda the hound bites at 1-3 Merelda; 3-6 Amigail:1d6 ⇒ 2 Merelda. The inquisitor kicks her foot out pushing the hound's head to the side and avoiding the attack.
hound yellow Will vs Turn Undead DC 15:1d20 + 3 ⇒ (5) + 3 = 8 hound red Will vs Turn Undead DC 15:1d20 + 3 ⇒ (16) + 3 = 19 mage blk Will vs Turn Undead DC 15:1d20 + 12 ⇒ (11) + 12 = 23 mage purple Will vs Turn Undead DC 15:1d20 + 12 ⇒ (19) + 12 = 31 mage orange Will vs Turn Undead DC 15:1d20 + 12 ⇒ (20) + 12 = 32
The priestess invokes the name of Calistria as she rises from the floor below. The room is quickly washed over in a somber light that causes all the undead to hiss or growl at Innis. As the light ends only one of the hounds runs to the corner of the room yellow hound
Cassandra, Amigail and Artsiv get an AOO vs the fleeing hound
Alchemist’s fire is a mix of several volatile liquids that ignite when exposed to air. You can throw a flask of alchemist’s fire as a splash weapon. Treat this attack as a ranged touch attack with a range increment of 10 feet.A direct hit deals 1d6 points of fire damage. Every creature within 5 feet of the point where the flask hits takes 1 point of fire damage from the splash. On the round following a direct hit, the target takes an additional 1d6 points of damage. If desired, the target can use a full-round action to attempt to extinguish the flames before taking this additional damage. Extinguishing the flames requires a DC 15 Reflex save. Rolling on the ground provides the target a +2 bonus on the save. Leaping into a large body of water or magically extinguishing the flames automatically smothers the fire.
Merelda skewers the hound before it takes two steps. Cinder flies overhead and drops a vial on top of one of the skeletons the vials cracks and explodes in a burst of fire. The skeleton attempts to put out the fire as it's robes catch on fire.
The other two skeletons each begin to cast a spell but with proximity of Cassandra their attempts fail.
Kirzon, Amigail, Cassandra and Lililinda. Your Turn
Female Human (Taldan) Fighter (Buckler Duelist) 5 | hp 42/46 [NL 0] (normally 51/51) | AC 22, t 14, ff 18 | Fort +6 (normally +7), Ref +5, Will +5 (has bonuses) | Init +4 | Perc +2 | CON: 12/15
Amigail lets Cassandra and Innis deal with the spell-tossing skeletons; she and Merelda can take out the hound that still has some flesh to slash and stab!
Cassandra was pleased with her location and the effect she was having ont eh fighting. keeping the cursed undead mages from casting at them was perhaps her most useful contribution in the fight. She lashed out once more, at the burning mage this time, and put as much force behind it as she could.
Female Gnome Socerer(Fey) 5 | HP 15/15 | AC10 T10 FF10 CMD8 | F+0 R+1 W+7(+2vs Language dependent, glyph, symbol, writing based spells) | Perception +5 | Spells L2:4/5, L1:5/7, LaughingTouch 6/6 | -3 CON
Lililinda backs into the corner next to Merelda. "Let's try this again." She gestures at the nearest skeleton. "You there, stop that nonsense and come here." Trying Command Undead again. DC15 if they're intelligent, no save if not.
Boros is the last, but definitely not the least, to arrive on the second floor. He immediately attempts to crush the life out of the nearby hound that is harrying his companions.
Current effects: None
*******************************************************************
DM Screen:
mage orange Will vs Command Undead DC 15:1d20 + 8 ⇒ (5) + 8 = 13
Boros finds his way up the shaft and instantly attacks the hound crushing its fragile bones and snuffing out whatever magic animated it.
Artsiv and Kirzon attack in tandem at the skeleton that is aflame. Only Artsiv is able to land a successful attack as a claw rips at the skeleton's partially exposed skull.
Cassandra follows suit and also attacks the burning skeleton. Her glaive catches it on the clavicle.
Lililinda speaks some words to the closest skeleton and you watch as it stops it's attack and turns to faces Lililinda.
Amigail disposes of the last hound with strong chop of her falcata.
Female Gnome Socerer(Fey) 5 | HP 15/15 | AC10 T10 FF10 CMD8 | F+0 R+1 W+7(+2vs Language dependent, glyph, symbol, writing based spells) | Perception +5 | Spells L2:4/5, L1:5/7, LaughingTouch 6/6 | -3 CON
Lililinda shouts to Merelda "Wait! don't kill it, that one's mine!" She looks back at its soulless gaze. "At least, I'm fairly certain it is."
She firmly addresses the skeleton "Come to my side and defend me!" Though I'm afraid Merelda's attack broke the spell. I guess Lililinda should have used better communication. Would I have been able to wave off Merelda just before she cast?
Burn damage vs purple mage:1d6 ⇒ 6 Black mage Concentration vs DC 17:1d20 + 5 ⇒ (4) + 5 = 9
As the skeleton continues to burn Merelda blasts her with a ray of positive energy. The damage is too much for the skeleton to sustain and it crumbles to the ground.
The charmed skeleton obediently moves to Lililinda's side.
Even with all of her allies either destroyed or disabled the remaining skeleton continues to attack the party. Her eyeless sockets look at Kirzon as she tries to summon a spell to let loose at the dwarf. However, the distraction of Artsiv and Kirzon cause her to lose her concentration ending the spell.
The skeleton begins to cast it's spell but Kirzon and his friends rip the skeleton apart before it can complete. it slowly drops its arms standing beside Lililinda.
combat over
You find the following on the skeletons:
Each wears a similar cloak (magic)
A bone ring on their left ring finger.
One skeleton wears:
a platinum and onyx nose ring (appraisal check worth ??? gp)
two silver rings (appraisal check worth ??? gp).
Another skeleton wears:
two matching silver armbands (appraisal check worth ??? gp)
a pair of malachite earrings (appraisal check worth ??? gp)
You see on the charmed skeleton
two gold necklaces
a silver and jet brooch
a coif made of delicate silver wire and tiny crystal beads.
In the room the three books resting atop the wooden podium are three identical spellbooks (which contain the spells listed in their stat block, standard 0-level spells for a necromancer, and the following: 2nd—
scare, spectral hand; 1st—chill touch, decompose corpse, interrogation, jump)
"Nice work there!" says the dwarf encouragingly, as the fight their way to the second level. "So 'ow do we get ta tha next level?" asks Kirzon aloud. He looks for another hole in the ceiling through which they can travel.
He will also look at the magic items, calling on the Great Tree Spirit to help him understand what they are.
