At Iyon’s mention of a lich, Thane clearly appears uncomfortable, and old Gorrak outright gasps. Thane glares at them to be still. ”Ur ye dooghty warriors or weepin' maidens?! We’r Stonehearts, an' stonehearts fear naethin'.”
Gorrak hefts a clearly magical waraxe. ”Thane speaks true. we hae faced greater trials than these, an' we shaa overcome them, jist as we hae aye dain. jist as we aye will!”
Thane continues, ”This eve we shall--”
At that moment Thane is interrupted by a deep-throated shout of his men as they point at the excavation pit. The pit has been dug to varying depths between three and five feet. Bits of bone and ancient equipment protrude from the walls, but only down to the depth of three feet. Below that level is only sterile soil.
There, something huge rises from the dirt. It is a gigantic skeleton of some bipedal dragonlike creature. It charges at you with daggerlike fangs bared!
____________________
Initiative Round 1 (bold may act):
Rurik
Agyen
Ulave
Megaraptor
Ammonis
Iyon
dwarves
Ai, the bones of some fell beast from the Battle of Tsar has been risen. Break its brittle bones with sticks and stones, or we shall perish. I don't know what arrows and swords will do!
Oh my, we are going to die. Both Ammonis and Fey disappear.
Then they get the hell away from everyone else.
Fey flies 60 feet straight up in the air, an invisible wisp of wind.
Every man has what he can endure and no more. But it is for this that I am here, whether it carries me off my feet to the shores of the Never Sea.
To me! For we will vanquish the evil that animates these old brittle bones!
Reminder: At 3rd level, a paladin is immune to fear (magical or otherwise). Each ally within 10 feet of her gains a +4 morale bonus on saving throws against fear effects. This ability functions only while the paladin is conscious, not if she is unconscious or dead.
Despite his sage advice, Ulave knew that he had no better choice than to use his favored weapon, the bow. The Smite of his Goddess, and her burning flame, will have to be enough.
Rurik lets out a choking gasp at the sheer size of the monstrosity, and instinctively clicks his heels together, activating his boots of speed.
That done, he takes off at a run, looking to disperse their number to avoid any concentrated attacks, looping out wide even as he calls out for succor.
A golden light erupts into being before the great skeleton, leaving behind a hound archon when it fades away. The very same that was summoned before, the archon glares up at the monstrosity it's been summoned to fight, and exudes its aura of menace, allowing it to wash over the skeleton as it launches an attack.
Agyen listens to Thane's speech intently. And is irked by the interruption. He takes aim at the bones, and summons positive energies to smash it.
Both Ammonis and Fey disappear.
Every man has what he can endure and no more. But it is for this that I am here, whether it carries me off my feet to the shores of the Never Sea.
Ulave's divine arrows rip through the bones of the raptor skeleton, burning with heavenly light the dark powers that fuel its revival. A behemoth on fire, the skeleton crashes to the ground within the pit, its bones glowing like enormous embers within the hearth of battle.
The dwarves rally around the paladin, hefting their meager weapons in celebration of this exquisite victory.
"Ulave! Ulave! Ulave!"
Thane Fenris is as joyous as any. "Good wark fur warriors sic' as ye! We welcome ye tae spend th' nicht wi' us in uir camp tae hauld back th' darkness ay th' eve." His expression grows grave. "But keep yer weapons tae hain, an' nane but half ay us sleep at ance."
As you prepare for the advancing night you gather your bearings of the camp. Gorrak serves as your guide...
First, there is the excavation itself , a shallow pit of ancient tools, bone, and sterile soil in which the dwarves have been steadily digging.
Second, there is the bone pile . This is a large pile of shattered bone and weaponry between the mound and the excavation pit. There must be the remnants of a hundred skeletons here.
Third, there is the hilltop encampment . The sides of the hill rise fifteen feet above the surrounding land at a steep slope. A stairway has been cut on the southwestern face providing easier access to the summit. There, the dwarves have dug a defensive position three feet deep from which they fight, allowing them to duck ddown for cover if necessary yet still retain their higher ground advantage against attackers. The dugout is little more than a bare dirt floor in which the dwarves have laid their bedrolls and cut a few fire pits. A supply of wood is stacked next to the fire pits, and they are kept alight. There is are supplies and rations sufficient to feed the number of dwarves present for nearly three months.
And finally, there is the cemetary . Dozens of fresh mounds of earth mark new graves in the makeshift plot. At the head of each rises a broken weapon haft to serve as a marker. There are exactly twenty-one graves.
Darkness approaches.
Ammonis winks back into existence. He is visibly impressed by Ulave. I hope I don't get turned into something undead around you.
Iyon whistles clearly impressed. "That gravekeeper is lucky you can hold your temper."
Once they are receiving the tour "I'm glad to see you shattering the bones, that number of skeletons might draw the attention of the Lich."
"Tell me what strange weather have you seen in this place? The monsters are bad enough but I can understand them more than acid falling from the sky."
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Rurik's next shout dies in his throat as the vast skeleton falls apart, imploding under the sheer weight of damage dealt to its corpus by Ulave's hail of arrows.
After the din of the collapsing bones settles and the dust blows away, Rurik dismisses the hound archon and turns back to his companions, amazement struggling to find place on his features along with delight.
"Incredible! I've never seen the like - and each arrow sped so swiftly I couldn't even mark its passage. You do your goddess much honor on this eve, Sir Ulave!"
Rurik undergoes the tour along with the others, asking innocuous questions here and there, until he's able to step aside and find a moment with Fenris.
"Brother, I thank you for giving us shelter on this night. These lands are nothing if not inimical to the living. Your bravery in leading your clan out here to recoup lost glory that is rightfully yours is a great tale in the making. I look forward to the day when I can raise a tankard to your song, and tell all and sundry that I was there and knew the dwarf that brought honor back to clan Stoneheart!"
Tone lowering, Rurik steps in closer. "But tell me, brother, what concerns you so? An exemplar like yourself surely fears little out here, does he not? What do you suspect? Or - perhaps - expect to befall you and your outpost? You'd not hide knowledge of a peril from your honored guests, would ye?"
Cornu grumbles. Should have stuck by the road. Wander out here into who knows what. Ancient undead burial ground. Ulave may have saved us this time, but can he the next?
Ulave stares in disbelief as the undead megaraptor crumples into a heap of molten bones.
But at their praise, Ulave shakes his head. No, it is only by the grace of my Lady that those bones were freed from their unholy animation. I will now sing the Prayer of Gratitude
Ulave kneels, raises his hands and begins to sing in his raspy voice the words of gratitude his teacher had taught him.
Afterwards, he follows the dwarves about the camp. Despite their apparent confidence, and the orderliness of the camp, Ulave grows increasingly uneasy, as he slowly processs what had just happened.
He stops.
I thank you for your offer of hospitality. However, we only sought a place of safety to shelter for the night. I do not think that this is that place. I will not stay the night, for I am afraid. Very afraid.
You are honorable folk, and have an honorable task, but I beseech you to leave this place before it is too late. Only a great power could have brought those ancient bones to unlife
None. Night has come.
Ammonis confers with Ulave, sharing similar concerns and doubts. If a paladin was unnerved...
We may depart in all haste, but who knows what might follow.
if applicable
Iyon's concern grows as Ulave shows such caution about the place. What could make a powerful hunter of undead like him so wary? He visibly tenses up and becomes more alert.
Tell me what strange weather have you seen in this place? The monsters are bad enough but I can understand them more than acid falling from the sky.
Thane Fenris responds: "Acid, aye. doost storms as weel."
But tell me, brother, what concerns you so? An exemplar like yourself surely fears little out here, does he not? What do you suspect? Or - perhaps - expect to befall you and your outpost? You'd not hide knowledge of a peril from your honored guests, would ye?"
Fenris bows his head, ashamed. When he lifts it he appears decades older, haggard. "I've nae bin entirely forthcomin' wi' ye. There's bin a verily regular undeid presence since we arrived at thes place. In fact, th' reslessness ay th' deid is quite unusual compared tae whit i've knoon elsewhaur in th edesolation. Every nicht they come. waves ay them, organized by some malign intelligence. We ur forced intae pitched battle wi' th' undeid hordes. Efter one wave they disappear, an' aw is hushed until morn. Sometimes a second, smaller foray occurs, but usually naethin' mair than a probe ay uir defense. We hae lost twenty-ain brothers, includin' uir main priest early oan, leavin' puir auld Gorrak tae tend tae th' woonded."
Gorrak clapses Ulave's hand. "Ye cannae wander it thaur aloyn. yoo'll die!"
"I say we stay, I've got bear traps we can leave on the path up to the camp. If we had had arrived earlier in the day... lets give the undead a little surprise."
"I hate to be impose but I have only a few chakrams, given how many may come tonight do ye have a crossbow or another spare ranged weapon that I can borrow. Not the best to harm skeletons... unless you are Ulave but it might just stop one or two getting to us." Iyon looks almost excited at the prospect of the night time siege.
For fools rush in where angels fear to tread. Cornu nods. We do not know if the undead hordes are drawn here specifically, or against any living being in the lands. We might be safest here, in fact.
Pick a defensible spot, and I will cast tiny hut. Though they can walk through its walls, the magical hut does provide total concealment.
Agyen ceases his spell before he even is fully ready to cast it.
"Ulave, that was an impressive display of divine might. Just what was needed."
Agyen is a little perturbed by Ulave's sudden display of fear.
When the explanation comes, Agyen begins to feel similarly.
"I believe the time for withdrawing is past. We have a stand to make. Hopefully not a final one for this life. I can grant six protection from evil, which has the helpful benefit of helping to protect one's mind and body from said influences. Obscuring mist may help, depending on if the foe relies on sight or not."
Perhaps I should leave tiny hut until after the undead hordes come. If I am forced out of the hut then the spell ends, then we'd have little protection against the rain.
Thane, We will stand with you. These hordes you have faced, what do they comprise? Zombies and skeletons? Ghouls? Are they mindless, or are there archers or spell casters? Do you fight from your small mountain there? If so, perhaps we can help improve the defenses.
Cornu pulls from his haversack two wands which he hands to Fey, who then holds one in each hand
Dearie, the first is a wand for protection from evil. Dose us with its magic at the beginning of the fight, or if one us gets spelled. The second wand is a wand of create pit. Use it to make it harder for the undead to get to us.
Who among us have light spells that can illuminate this camp? We should get as much light as possible over as much an area as possible.
Fey, keep an eye out. I know you can see even in the absence of light.
Ammonis then mumbles a few words casting mages armor, much good it would do him.
"I don't have any spells but..." Iyon takes out a glowing gem and flicks it into the air and it begins to circle his head. Then he produces an already lit torch. "Very useful magical objects for a reasonable price."
Thane, We will stand with you. These hordes you have faced, what do they comprise? Zombies and skeletons? Ghouls? Are they mindless, or are there archers or spell casters? Do you fight from your small mountain there? If so, perhaps we can help improve the defenses.
Fenris stokes one of the fires, staring into the flames as he considers the question. "It has bin wae efter wae ay skeletons, which we smash in droves ain later lay in uir bain pile." He points toward the massive pile of bones. "But, we hae sometimes seen mirk, human shapes lurkin' in th' rear ranks. We hae ne'er bin able tae destroy ur e'en identify an ay these."
"We fayght frae thes battlement, holdin' uir position an' ne'er leavin' until sunrise."
Fenris with his dwarven orgrosh, Gorrak with his battleaxe, Glomi, Bruitt, Kargesh, Romni, Ragnar, Thulbine, and Bereg with their warhammers, and all with crossbows, begin to claim their positions around the perimeter of the encampment.
The darkness comes, shrouding the vastness of the Dead Fields. The moon, a pale orb hovering above, trembles behind a curtain of wispy clouds. A light wind blows that scatters dust across the bone-riddled plain. And all around you, the suffocating silence of death.
That is, until three hours after nightfall. The still night is broken suddenly by a clattering and clicking from somewhere out in the darkness, like the rattling of sticks. It seems to come from all sides. It is quickly followed by a clicking shuffle, and advancing into your range of vision is rank upon rank of animated skeletons bearing the bits of arms and armor they fell in battle with so long ago. Like a story stolen from some horrid phantasmagoria, an impossible vista imaginable only by the most twisted of minds, the army of undead unfolds before you.
The darkness has truly come.
___________________________
Round 2 Initiative (bold may act):
PCs
Undead horde
Agyen: 45/45
Cornu: 44/44
Iyon: 66/67
Rurik: 60/60
Ulave: 53/55
Ulave casts Bed of Iron
Lyon, sleep in your armor tonight. You will not be fatigued.
http://aonprd.com/SpellDisplay.aspx?ItemName=Bed%20of%20Iron
Target: one creature touched/level
Description: This spell makes even the clunkiest armor feel soft as silk to the wearer. The subjects of this spell are able to sleep comfortably in medium or heavy armor without suffering from fatigue the following day.
Rurik's grip on his longbow tightens audibly at the sight of the massed ranks of the dead; they seem to emerge endlessly from the gloom, shambling toward them without hurry, without urgency, without end.
Glancing at his companions, he draws strength from their steadfast miens, and extends a hand toward the sky, muttering words of holy import as he summons twin dazzling beings into existence in the darkness above them.
The two lantern archons glow with a serene golden light, runes of mystic power circling about their misty bodies, and then at Rurik's mental command flit out over the undead, high above their heads, to begin raking their ranks with flares of holy light.
turn invisible. teleport. run. easy peasy.
"Damn they got close, thank you for the blessing Ulave." Given how close the skeletons were Iyon didn't bother with taking out a chakram instead banging a cold iron mace against his shield to draw the attention of the skeletons... as if the ioun torch wasn't enough. He readied himself to swing at the first undead that got within range.
Rurik summons an allegiance of archons who zoom over the encampment and scour the undead with their radiance.
They release their flares of holy light, two of which strike a nearby skeleton and eradicate it from this miserable plane.
Iyon readies an attack with his mace.
Ammonis begins to conjure magical aid...
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Round 2 Initiative (bold may act):
Other PCs
Ulave
Agyen
Undead horde
Agyen: 45/45
Cornu: 44/44
Iyon: 66/67
Rurik: 60/60
Ulave: 53/55
"My thanks also, Ulave. This is one night we do not the luxury of delay. In return, I would strengthen your weapon. All of you, I would do this also."
He proceeds to light a stone, to grant more light to the north of the impromptu stronghold.
And to strengthen his own arms, armour, and self.
Magic Vestment 7 hours +1 enhancement bonus on armour
Light 70 mins on a stone
Deathwatch 70 mins
Shield of Faith 7 mins, +3 deflection
Weapon of Awe 7 mins Longspear +2 sacred bonus on damage rolls, and if the weapon scores a critical hit, the target of that critical hit becomes shaken for 1 round with no Saving Throw.
Archon’s Aura 7 mins Any hostile creature within a 20-foot radius of you must make a Will save to resist the effects of this aura. If the creature fails, it takes a –2 penalty on attack rolls and saving throws and to Armor Class for the duration of this spell, or until it successfully hits you with an attack. A creature that has resisted or broken the effect cannot be affected again by this particular casting of archon’s aura.
Looking out upon the undead hoarde, Ulave felt strangely relieved. It was a dangerous situation, to be sure, but skeletons of this sort he'd handled before.
Don't get cocky.
Brave men! To arms for we are accosted by the host of darkness.
Ulave quickly fires off several flaming arrows, assisted by Agyen's spell.
It looks like I forgot to add my UndeadSlayer trait extra damage to the undead last time. I've also been forgetting point blank +1 to attack and damage (probably not applicable this roll though)
I am not using haste in this attack, nor am I using smite.
Ideally this would be shot at 3 skeletons, but possibly two. I'm not sure how many i can target.
Here is explanation of my calculation:
1st Attack : +7 BAB + 5 Dex + 1 Size + 1 Bow + 1 Haste - 2 ManyShot = +13
1st Attack Arrow 1 Damage: 1d6 arrow + 1 Bow + 1d6 firedamage + 2 SacredDamage(Agyen) +1 UndeadSlayer
1st Attack Arrow 2 Damage: 1d6 arrow + 1 Bow + 1d6 firedamage + 2 SacredDamage(Agyen) +1 UndeadSlayer
Rapid Attack: +7 BAB + 5 Dex + 1 Size + 1 Bow + 1 Haste - 2 ManyShot = +13
Rapid Attack Damage: 1d6 arrow + 1 Bow + 1d6 firedamage + 2 SacredDamage(Agyen) +1 UndeadSlayer
2cd Attack: +2 BAB + 5 Dex + 1 Size + 1 Bow + 1 Haste - 2 ManyShot = +8
2cd Attack Damage: 1d6 arrow + 1 Bow + 1d6 firedamage + 2 SacredDamage(Agyen) +1 UndeadSlayer
Fay flies up holding the earthy wand Ammonis had crafted back when his life had been a deal more comfortable. The little sorceress waves it around in her delicate hand. Below, the Cornu Ammonis waves a pudgy hand and mumbled wild words calling forth tw0 aurochs. The extra dimensional pit opens up to the east, easily 10 feet square and 30 feet deep. Around the pit, treacherous slopes invited the unwary to a dark demise.
Agyen’s longspear attack goes awry, merely passing through one skeleton’s ribcage. . Ulave’s attacks are more effective, dispatching three skeletons.
The skeletal horde advances. Agyen’s readied strike this time removes one’s skull from its bony body. Iyon fels another . Strangely, only the front line advances. The remaining skeletal soldiers hang back, as though watching, waiting...for what?
___________________________
Round 2 Initiative (bold may act):
PCs
Undead horde
Agyen: 45/45
Cornu: 44/44
Iyon: 66/67
Rurik: 60/60
Ulave: 53/55
"Hae a taste ay thes, ye f@%@ers!" Gorrak, hobbling to the northern battlement, hefts his dwarven waraxe over his head, which begins to glow. A wave of positive energy billows out, consuming the nearest undead.
Their bones evaporate with a flash of light!
"An thay's but a taste!"
Iyon smashed the two skeletons within reach. Soon they'd start to swarm him but he just had to keep up the pace.
Rurik gazes down the steep slope to where the undead approach, his longbow in hand. It's hard to stay calm, to keep steady, but he focuses on his breath, long inhalations, slow exhalations, and when he judges the moment opportune, raises his bow, draws the arrow to his ear, and sights at the closest skeleton.
"May you find peace," he whispers, dropping the awful power of bane upon the undead.
And with a sigh, he looses, and then nocks and looses again.
Two celestial aurochs appear on the steep hill side and ptting their heads down trample up the hill side crushing animated bones and skulls to dust.
Cornu reaches in with pudgy fingers and removes a scroll. Calmly, Cornu reads its slippery words, and those words begin to take form, summoning another auroch.