Thron's Rise of the Runelords Campaign

Game Master Thron

Heart still thumping, Zoli strains to hear or see any more of the scarecrow monstrosities approaching.

She stands with the scimitar Baern made her in hand, looking for one to strike before it can strike another of her comrades.

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Free: look/listen for trouble
Stnd: ready to attack

Perception: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (14) + 9 = 23

Ready strike w/ Scimitar: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (4) + 10 = 14 damage: 1d4 + 6 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 6 + 3 = 13

Destrina remains frozen in place as the others come to her side. Zoli can clearly hear more approaching from the path south as well as the path behind them they had just traveled.
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"Pssst! More coming from over there-- and there." Zoli hisses.

Then, turning to the rigid paladin, she adds, "Hang tight there Destrina, we're sticking with you...though if you could wiggle a toe or something, that'd be great."

Whenever the next round begins.

Eugeni readies himself to shoot any more of the undead that emerge from the rows of vegetation. "Stay calm everyone, we've got this. It's just a few shambling corpses."

Go ahead and roll any readied attacks you guys wish to take.

Readied Attack (Deadly Aim, PBS): 1d20 + 7 - 1 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 7 - 1 + 1 = 151d8 + 3 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 3 + 2 + 1 = 13

As the group waits in the darkness, several shadowy silhouettes move their way down the paths towards them. The moment one steps into the light of Zoli's spell, Eugeni puts an arrow in it's forehead, dropping it in its tracks. Two more, however, charge forward before the others can react.

One lunges on the archer, who manages to just barely hold it's head just an inch away as the things jaws snap together frantically in his face, red eyes glaring at him from beneath the burlap sack.

From behind, Zoli attempts to fend off the other assailant. She swings her blade moments too soon, however, and the thing lands atop her and sinks its teeth into her shoulder.

Morythine slips quickly and quietly over to Zoli's side and delivers an uppercut to the thing on her, forcing it's head up and away from the halfling. He then clutches it by it's throat and with practiced precision, delivers a thrust with his fingers deep into its eye socket. A small crack can be heard, and the thing falls limp in his hand before he releases it and lets the body drop to the ground.

He leans down and checks Zoli, and calls out, "She is frozen as well!"
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2 more rounds pass, Destrina has 1 round left of her paralysis.

SC Bite, Charge vs Zoli: 1d20 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (19) + 3 + 2 = 24
SC Bite, Charge vs Eugeni: 1d20 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (12) + 3 + 2 = 17
Bite Damage: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3
Fort Save 1: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (8) + 4 = 12
Fort Save 2: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6
Duration: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4
Morythine Attack 1: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (20) + 3 = 23
Morythine Attack 2: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (20) + 3 = 23
Morythine Attack 1 Confirm: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (20) + 3 = 23 O.o
Morythine Attack 2 Confirm: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (7) + 3 = 10
Morythine Attack 1 Crit Damage: 2d6 + 6 ⇒ (2, 1) + 6 = 9
Morythine Attack 2 Damage: 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5

Forgot to mention that you guys are up!

Time to save the party from TPK!

Eugeni looks around at his paralyzed companions. A spike of terror and adrenaline surges through his veins. "Don't worry guys, I got this. I won't let them get you," he says to his friends, with more confidence than he really feels. Eugeni plants his feet firmly on the ground, grinding his heels into the dirt. With a deep breath to summon his ki, the monk springs into action. He shoves the ghoul back from him with a swift kick, and then fires three arrows into it at once. The shafts impact the ghoul's face, one of the ricocheting off and doing no real damage. The other two shatter bone, and are enough to destroy its brain. The ghoul falls, brown black blood from its destroyed brain leaking into the burlap sack around its head.

Attack 1 (Flurry, Ki point, PBS, DA): 1d20 + 6 + 1 - 1 ⇒ (10) + 6 + 1 - 1 = 161d8 + 3 + 2 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 3 + 2 + 1 + 2 = 11
Attack 2 (Flurry, Ki point, PBS, DA, Perfect Strike): 1d20 + 6 + 1 - 1 ⇒ (1) + 6 + 1 - 1 = 71d20 + 6 + 1 - 1 ⇒ (5) + 6 + 1 - 1 = 111d8 + 3 + 2 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 3 + 2 + 1 + 2 = 10
Attack 3 (Flurry, Ki point, PBS, DA, Perfect Strike): 1d20 + 6 + 1 - 1 ⇒ (18) + 6 + 1 - 1 = 241d8 + 3 + 2 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 3 + 2 + 1 + 2 = 10

Morythine takes up a defensive posture beside Zoli and says "More come from this direction!"

The one at the edge of the light rushes forward and lunges at Eugeni, its teeth sinking deep into his arm.
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SC Bite Attack, Charge vs Eugeni: 1d20 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (14) + 3 + 2 = 19
Bite Damage: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7
Eugeni Fort 1: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (15) + 6 = 21
Eugeni Fort 2: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (16) + 6 = 22

You guys are up! Destrina can act this round! Zoli has 3 rounds of paralysis remaining.

Attack (Flurry, Ki point, PBS, DA): 1d20 + 6 + 1 - 1 ⇒ (1) + 6 + 1 - 1 = 71d8 + 3 + 2 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 3 + 2 + 1 + 2 = 121d20 + 6 + 1 - 1 ⇒ (18) + 6 + 1 - 1 = 241d8 + 3 + 2 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 3 + 2 + 1 + 2 = 111d20 + 6 + 1 - 1 ⇒ (6) + 6 + 1 - 1 = 121d8 + 3 + 2 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 3 + 2 + 1 + 2 = 9

Merry Christmas!

Destrina finally breaks free of her stupor, shakes her head and raises her hammer high over her head. "Feel vengeance foul creatures!" she shouts. With a step forward she brings the hammer crashing down onto the scarecrow's head, smashing into pulp on the ground.

Earth Breaker Attack: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (17) + 8 = 25
Earth Breaker Damage: 2d6 + 13 ⇒ (3, 5) + 13 = 21

More living scarecrows fall as the heroes make their stand in the corn field. It would seem that they had managed to buy themselves a momentary reprieve, though only lasting a few seconds. More rustling and footsteps can be heard nearby, and another scarecrow appears beside the path they had previously traveled.
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2 Rounds pass, so Zoli has 1 more round of paralysis. You guys are up!

Destrina moves back up the path and readies herself to strike the next scarecrow if it comes in range, hammer held high.

Earth Breaker Readied Attack: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (20) + 6 = 26
Earth Breaker Readied Damage: 2d6 + 13 ⇒ (2, 6) + 13 = 21
Earth Breaker Readied Crit Confirm: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (8) + 6 = 14
Earth Breaker Readied Crit Damage: 4d6 + 26 ⇒ (1, 6, 2, 4) + 26 = 39

Way too late to retcon at this point, but two notes for future saves of Zoli's:
- when she has archaeologist's luck active she gets +2 to saves, and
- she also has charmed life 3/day for +4 to saves. If you're deciding when (not) to apply it, my heuristic for when to use it would be: for any Will or Fort save (unless she knows it's trivial), but not for Reflex saves (except if it seems dire to her). In this case, lets just assume she didn't use it (since several rounds have passed), this is just FYI for the future.

Zoli stands frozen, sweat running down her forehead and stinging her eyes.

Move, arm! Move! Swing!! Chaldira Zuzaristan, I could R E A L L Y use your help right about now...

With scarecrow-ghouls popping up all around them and him feeling vulnerable, Darius draws his rod from his belt and takes a defensive position next to the paralyzed Zoli, ready to incinerate anything that comes too close to him.

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Darius:
Free Action: 5 ft Step Left next to Zoli
Move Action: Draw Metamagic Rod
Standard Action: Total Defense

Saving my ammo for now!

Destrina moves back up the path and readies herself to strike the next scarecrow if it comes in range, hammer held high. As the scarecrow charges her position, she brings the hammer down onto it's straw hat, smashing it thoroughly...along with the thing's skull.

With scarecrow-ghouls popping up all around them and him feeling vulnerable, Darius draws his rod from his belt and takes a defensive position next to the paralyzed Zoli, ready to incinerate anything that comes too close to him.

Zoli stands frozen, sweat running down her forehead and stinging her eyes.

Move, arm! Move! Swing!! Chaldira Zuzaristan, I could R E A L L Y use your help right about now...

As if answering her prayer personally, Zoli recovers from her state and begins to be able to move on her own once again.

Next Round

Two more of the make their way up the path out of the darkness, their red eyes hungrily scanning over the group in front of them.

You guys are up!

"Where are all these things coming from?" Eugeni wonders, firing on the next two ghouls. He manages to wound one, but not to drop either of them. "Brace for impact!" he calls, looking desperately to Destrina for help.

Attack (Flurry, Ki point, PBS, DA): 1d20 + 6 + 1 - 1 ⇒ (7) + 6 + 1 - 1 = 131d8 + 3 + 2 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 3 + 2 + 1 + 2 = 101d20 + 6 + 1 - 1 ⇒ (18) + 6 + 1 - 1 = 241d8 + 3 + 2 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 3 + 2 + 1 + 2 = 91d20 + 6 + 1 - 1 ⇒ (5) + 6 + 1 - 1 = 111d8 + 3 + 2 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 3 + 2 + 1 + 2 = 9

24 Hour notice until DMPC actions.

Suddenly able to move again, Zoli prays Thank you, Chaldira, I owe ya!! and then spins toward the sound of the two approaching ghouls.

"Take that!" she cries as she nearly lops the leg off of the one Eugeni had shot, leaving it barely standing.

Readying her scimitar for a parry, she taunts, "Hey there Ugly, just try to bite me again!"
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Move as shown on map
Stnd strike the wounded ghoul

scimitar: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (16) + 10 = 26 (3 BAB +5 DEX +1 size +1 enhance)
Damage: 1d4 + 6 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 6 + 3 = 10 (+5 DEX +1 enhancement) +3 precise

"More of the dead. Ragathiel's wings shield me," Destrina says, hefting her hammer once more, stepping up to another of the foul scarecrows and swinging the massive piece of silvery metal at it.

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Move: 5 foot step Standard: Attack the scarecrow

Earth Breaker Attack: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (3) + 6 = 9
Earth Breaker Damage: 2d6 + 13 ⇒ (4, 3) + 13 = 20

Getting called in to work early. So hall got some extra time...

"Where are all these things coming from?" Eugeni wonders, firing on the next two ghouls. He manages to wound one, but not to drop either of them. "Brace for impact!" he calls, looking desperately to Destrina for help.

"More of the dead. Ragathiel's wings shield me," Destrina says, hefting her hammer once more, stepping up to another of the foul scarecrows and swinging the massive piece of silvery metal at it.

Suddenly able to move again, Zoli prays Thank you, Chaldira, I owe ya!! and then spins toward the sound of the two approaching ghouls.

"Take that!" she cries as she nearly lops the leg off of the one Eugeni had shot, leaving it barely standing.

Readying her scimitar for a parry, she taunts, "Hey there Ugly, just try to bite me again!"

Morythine takes a few quick steps forward and leaps up, and delivers a powerful straight punch as he lands to the things head, causing it to reel back and stagger from the pain. The thing retaliates with a vicious bite to his bicep, opening a nasty wound.

More rustling can be heard close by moving through the corn fields, and Eugeni and Darius can see moving down the corn rows three more shapes rushing into the fray. These ones, however, are not dressed as scarecrows. Rather, they wear tattered remnants of regular clothing that barely covers much of their flesh. Their starved frames are covered in a pallid flesh stretched tightly across their bodies, and their sharp teeth and red eyes gleam in the moonlight as they rush excitedly to the battle.
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Morythine Attack: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (9) + 5 = 14
Morythine Damage: 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 3 = 9
SC Bite: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (15) + 3 = 18
SC Claw 1: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4
SC Claw 2: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6
SC Bite Damage: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7
Morythine Fort Save 1: 1d20 + 8 + 2 ⇒ (16) + 8 + 2 = 26
Morythine Fort Save 2: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (19) + 8 = 27

The newest arrivals are in the corn fields, and as such have cover against anyone not adjacent OR standing in a position that no green lines interrupt the line of sight between them and the target.

You guys are up!

"Bah! They never end!" Eugeni exclaims, sounding more worried by the second. He drains the last of his ki, hoping that it will make a difference. The aasimar archer pivots quickly, sending three more shafts flying towards the undead.

Targeting most damaged first, then second most damaged, etc.
Attack (Flurry, Ki point, PBS, DA): 1d20 + 6 + 1 - 1 ⇒ (14) + 6 + 1 - 1 = 201d8 + 3 + 2 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 3 + 2 + 1 + 2 = 91d20 + 6 + 1 - 1 ⇒ (11) + 6 + 1 - 1 = 171d8 + 3 + 2 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 3 + 2 + 1 + 2 = 111d20 + 6 + 1 - 1 ⇒ (13) + 6 + 1 - 1 = 191d8 + 3 + 2 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 3 + 2 + 1 + 2 = 16

Thron, what's left standing after Eugeni's shots? And did I end up killing the one I attacked (either initially or in a parry)? I see an X through it but wasn't clear what happened to it from the text. Thanks!

He said I killed two. He's going to post it in the morning, but updated the map before passing out.

Red X's = Dead

Seeing Eugeni's arrow fell the ghoul before her -- and hearing him shoot at more coming through the corn -- Zoli steps back to protect Darius and Eugeni.

She stands in the way of the ghoul, ready to attack as it approaches.

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Move as shown on map
Stnd ready to strike the approaching ghoul

scimitar: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (5) + 12 = 17 (3 BAB +5 DEX +1 size +1 enhance +2 luck)
Damage: 1d4 + 8 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 8 + 3 = 14 (+5 DEX +1 enhancement +2 luck) +3 precise

Destrina takes another swing at the nearest scarecrow, reducing it to chunks of meat and entrails as the heavy hammer cleaves through its body.

Earth Breaker Attack: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (13) + 6 = 19

Earth Breaker Damage: 2d6 + 13 ⇒ (4, 5) + 13 = 22

Destrina takes another swing at the nearest scarecrow, reducing it to chunks of meat and entrails as the heavy hammer cleaves through its body.

"Bah! They never end!" Eugeni exclaims, sounding more worried by the second. He drains the last of his ki, hoping that it will make a difference. The aasimar archer pivots quickly, sending three more shafts flying towards the undead. Two more fall to the archers deadly aim.

Seeing Eugeni's arrow fell the ghoul before her -- and hearing him shoot at more coming through the corn -- Zoli steps back to protect Darius and Eugeni.

She stands in the way of the ghoul, ready to attack as it approaches. It does indeed rush the halfling, its red eyes gleaming in the moonlight. "Join the Pack!" it cries out as it lunges at her with snapping jaws, but Zoli is able to bring her blade up and across the things face in a flourishing defensive maneuver that opens a hideous gash and tears away an eyeball.
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Ghoul Charge vs Zoli: 1d20 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (19) + 3 + 2 = 24

You guys are up. FYI, I just realized I had been selling these guys short on HP up until now. Lucky y'all. I'd been killing them off before they took 20 damage. Not anymore...mwahahahaha!

Thron, did both Zoli's readied swing and her riposte hit? If so then she's done 28 damage to it this round.

It is dead!

Zoli holds her breath as another foul undead thing leaps for her, but sighs with relief as her parry & riposte kills it.

Looking at the corpses around her, she has a nagging suspicion that she's read about something like this and tries to place it. "Hey guys, now that I seem them outside of the scarecrow suits I think I recognize them: these're ghouls, undead that feed on corpses and whose bites (as we've seen) can paralyze us."

Meanwhile she looks and listens for signs of more approaching.

Know (religion): 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (10) + 5 = 15
Perception: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (6) + 11 = 17

Will hold off on acting this round based on what I hear. If I see/here no more let's start moving carefully forward toward the house.

You hear more rustling in the distance, towards the house.

OK, if no one objects, lets warily continue on toward the house.

"Necromancy. These bodies and souls desecrated by such foul magic must be laid to rest and avenged. This I swear to do in the name of Ragathiel." Destrina says, a look of zealous fervor on her face. "Can you tell where they are coming from, my diminuitive friend?" the paladin asks Zoli.

"Listen. I hear more rustling from toward the house. We should head that way."

Zoli begins to lead the crew towards it, crouching low, scimitar held high.

Eugeni nods, following behind the others. He holds his bow ready. "I'm down to a little more than a dozen arrows. Hopefully there aren't many more of them."

"I've got a few spare weapons if you run out," Destrina says, indicating the sword strapped to her back, and the smaller hammer at her belt. "Let's be off to this house." With that, Destrina strides toward the building, her gore splattered silver hammer and steel plate glinting in the sunlight.

"How many more can there be? We've already butchered a small army of them. And by we, I mostly mean you. Haven't even needed to bring out the big guns yet." He follows the others, making sure to stay close to his cousin and towards the middle of the group, just in case. Having not yet killed a single ghoul, nor be at all useful in the previous fights, Darius nevertheless does not seem phased.

Keeping my rod out (hehehe) just in case. Sorry I haven't been posting much last few days, holidays are bleegh.

As the group changes course and heads directly for the farmhouse, they cannot help but note that the night has grown eerily quiet in comparison to the cacophony of shrieks and rustling of corn from earlier. Footsteps can still be heard running through the fields, however, which keeps them on edge. To make matters worse, as they continue along, they pass several normal scarecrows that appear all too ready to leap off their posts and attack them, despite being actually made of straw rather than flesh and bone.

They arrive at an intersection of three paths, another scarecrow hanging limply from its post, as two more scarecrow clad ghouls appear in the twilight ahead of them. "HERE! THE FLESH IS HERE!" one of them cries out. At the creature's cry, the scarecrow to their left begins struggling against its bonds.

Ghouls: 14
Party: 14.8

Party is up!

Eugeni fires just two arrows this time, hoping to conserve some ammo. The dog man mananges to drop one of the ghouls. "Have fun with the second one, y'all."

Targeting green circle.
Attack (Flurry, DA): 1d20 + 6 - 1 ⇒ (15) + 6 - 1 = 201d8 + 3 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 3 + 2 + 2 = 11
Attack (Flurry, DA, Perfect Strike): 1d20 + 6 - 1 ⇒ (1) + 6 - 1 = 61d20 + 6 - 1 ⇒ (17) + 6 - 1 = 221d8 + 3 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 3 + 2 + 2 = 13

Green circle is dead.

Zoli heads toward the new ghouls, scimitar held low. When it approaches her she leans in toward it, slicing upward with a quick turn of the wrist and splitting it from belly to face.

"Gaaah!" she cries as she barely avoids the corpse falling on her.

"OK, those two fell fast, but lets not get cocky. Who knows how many more there are, and what else is waiting for us at the house!"
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Move as shown on map
Stnd ready action to strike the approaching ghoul >> DEAD

scimitar: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (19) + 10 = 29 (3 BAB +5 DEX +1 size +1 enhance)
confirm?: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (11) + 10 = 21
Damage: 2d4 + 12 + 3 ⇒ (3, 4) + 12 + 3 = 22 (+5 DEX +1 enhancement) +3 precise

Eugeni or Morythene either of you going to mention the different-sounding scarecrow?

"That one doesn't seem like a ghoul to me. Why is it tied to the post?" Eugeni says, pointing to the funny-sounding scarecrow.

Destrina reflexively discerns whether the tied creature is evil when Eugeni questions its identity.

Coming back after disemboweling the last ghoul, scimitar at the ready, Zoli turns to Eugeni "Why do you say that?"

"Why do you say that?"

"Look at the way it twitches, Zoli," answers Morythine on Eugeni's behalf, settling his tricorn more firmly on his brow in consternation. "Seems more frantic than frenzied to me."

Is Morythine on full hp?

Zoli takes a cautious look to see what she can make of it. "Hello? she asks hesitantly.
Perception: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (12) + 9 = 21

Morythine is at 26 HP from the earlier throw down in the cornfield.

As the group actually talks and eventually speaks to the thing, it stops struggling and eventually stammers out in a feminine voice, "You...you're not one of the monsters? Or is this a trick? Oh Erastil save us! Please!"