The slippery logs and swift water slow the Pathfinders down, and on the other side they find a welcoming party of several skeletons and Kellid warriors with expressionless faces.
Knowledge (planes) DC 17 or Knowledge (local) DC 20:
These warriors are still alive, but look as if their minds have been affected by the proximity to the Negative Plane energies. If subdued and removed from the affected region, it is possible they could recover from the effects over time.
The two skeletons in the front are skeletal champions, stronger than their mindless brethren. They are immune to the same things as many other undead creatures as well as cold damage, and they resist damage from slashing and piercing weapons. Their wills are stronger than most undead, making them more resistant to a cleric's channeled energy.
Round 1! Bold may act!
Jinath
Heorn
Xantanax Red
Blue
Thadeaus
Yellow
Green
Maqej
Karina
"Ware! Those two are champions among skeletons and are more resistant to a divine energy channeled from a holy Symbol! Immune to cold and use blunt weapons!" the dwarf tries to warn his companions.
He prepares a little surprise for the skeletons as he remembers a cantrip learnt just for these undead foes!
Readied action, Disrupt Undead at closest Undead skeleton within 30ft. Ranged Touch 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 61d6 ⇒ 6
Jinath, the trees in this area (dark brown patches) would prevent you from charging the blue skeleton since you don't have a straight line to them without going through a tree. Sorry for not making that clear at the start of combat - go ahead and keep the rolls for your next attack, but change what would you have done in a new post since charging wasn't an option.
Xantanax, you still have a standard action remaining. Would you like to ready an action?
As Heorn prepares a surprise for the skeletons, they seem to have the same idea. Both hunker down and look to be preparing themselves.
Knowledge (planes) DC 17 or Knowledge (local) DC 20:
These warriors are still alive, but look as if their minds have been affected by the proximity to the Negative Plane energies. If subdued and removed from the affected region, it is possible they could recover from the effects over time.
Round 1! Bold may act!
Jinath (Retcon)
Heorn
Xantanax (Readying?)
Red
Blue Thadeaus Yellow
Green
Maqej
Karina
Thadeaus's magic wounds the skeleton, and it shakes its sword at him to express its displeasure. The expressionless warriors each launch two arrows in rapid succession - one warrior at Xantanax, and the other at Jinath!
The same trees that prevent Jinath from charging his opponents catch every arrow meant for the Pathfinders. The warriors do not seem to react beyond stepping back from their rapidly-approaching opponents.
Round 1, 2! Bold may act!
Jinath
Heorn
Xantanax Red
Blue (-9)
Thadeaus
Yellow
Green Maqej
Karina
"I can't believe that those sack of bones have the same idea that I have....what does that say about what's in my head...." Heorn grumbles to himself...
Stepping forward, he twitches his fingers drawing out his own patron's holy symbol before launching a bolt of pure magical energy.
His target the closest direct skeleton in front of him.
The trees also block Heorn's counterstrike, causing the magic to fizzle uselessly against the trunk. (Skeleton had cover from trees from Heorn's current position.)
Xantanax wrote:
Xantanax charges forward at the red skeleton with his greatsword over his head bellowing a Liberty's Edge war cry at the top of his lungs!
...and though the warrior's charge gives the skeleton plenty of time to prepare a devastating strike, it does not seem ready for his speed and only opens a small gash before shattering beneath Xantanax's mighty sword.
Didn't check carefully who Thadeaus was aiming at - but the red skeleton was closer to him and he specified "closest skeleton", so retconning that damage onto this skeleton. One down!
As the rest of the Pathfinders move forward (and one turns into a large tiger), the remaining skeleton seems to be of the same mind as Xantanax and charges at the warrior...
Karina casts a spell Disrupt Undead and charges her weapon with it, then moves next to Xantanax to deliver it to the undead after charging her weapon with raw arcane energy!
Male Ifrit Ifrit: HP: 30/30 | AC/FF/TCH: 16/12/14 | F/R/W: +3/+7/+0(4 vs. mind effect) l init +6 I Per +5(6 vs. traps)
On my phone, can’t move my pog. I should be able to move 25’ forward and then one diagonal to flank blue Attack w/ Pirannah strike, flanking:1d20 + 8 ⇒ (15) + 8 = 23 if hit, damage:1d4 + 7 ⇒ (2) + 7 = 9 if I get that sneak attack:2d6 ⇒ (6, 1) = 7
Thadeaus and Xantanax prove how deadly (or rather, un-deadly) their duo is as the second skeleton falls in a pile of bony pieces.
Heorn, Karina, and Maqej, your stated target has been destroyed. Would you like to direct your attacks towards one of the warriors (yellow or green)? Tokens have been rolled back to previous locations for ease of retcon. Karina, you can pick a different spell (or no spell) if you wish. Maqej, unfortunately I cannot find a position where you would be flanking. Perhaps next turn!
Round 2, 3! Bold may act!
Jinath
Heorn (Retcon)
Xantanax (-15)
Red
Blue
Yellow
Green
Thadeaus
Maqej (Retcon)
Karina (Retcon)
To be clear - if you have a retconned turn, keep your previous dice rolls and just state a new target and/or movement.
Unfortunately for Jinath, it's even more difficult when you're large to find a clear lane for charging in this forest. But you can move up and attack, so we'll use just the first attack's rolls (with the +1 bonus).
Not to be outdone, Maqej and Jinath both quickly subdue one of the warriors. Maqej uses the hilt of his dagger to bruise the woman, leaving her unconscious, but stable from Jinath's following swipe.
And with the remaining opponent dazed, everyone's back up!
Round 3, 4! Bold may act!
Jinath
Heorn
Xantanax (-15)
Red
Blue
Yellow
Green (Dazed) Thadeaus
Maqej
Karina
Male Ifrit Ifrit: HP: 30/30 | AC/FF/TCH: 16/12/14 | F/R/W: +3/+7/+0(4 vs. mind effect) l init +6 I Per +5(6 vs. traps)
Sigh, still unable to flank
Maqej moves up and attacks the last one non-lethally, no Pirannah strike
Attack roll:1d20 + 8 - 4 ⇒ (3) + 8 - 4 = 7 If hit, sundial damage:1d4 + 5 ⇒ (1) + 5 = 6
Karina and Xantanax bring the last warrior down with a combination of bruising blows, but her pulse and breathing are steady.
Out of combat! Damage Report:
- Xantanax (-15)
GM Screen:
1d2 ⇒ 1
After a minute or so, a band of Twinhorn warriors arrive. Their faces contort in stark contrast to those of their fallen brethren as they angrily ask, "How could this have happened? Why would they turn on us like this?" After investigating the wounded, the leader turns to the Pathfinders. "They live, no doubt thanks to your mercy. I doubt they would have shown the same to you. Please, take these - we will make sure these two are taken to safety. Spirits willing, they can return to us yet." She hands you a pair of cure serious wounds potions and turns to direct her comrades. "Make haste to the stone circle!" she calls as the troop departs.
A Success! Woo! Go ahead and include any restorative actions you want to take in your next post as we plunge into the next encounter.
The Pathfinders depart, and before long the tall standing stones appear above the treetops. As they come into clear view, so does a dark tear rippling in the center of the snow-covered monument. The pale moon struggles to pierce the supernatural gloom as several figures stir within. "A vanguard!" yells a Twinhorn mystic from across the circle. "Clear them out so we can prepare for the sealing ritual!"
The other creature, though, is a zuvembie - an undead created from a victim's desire for vengeance. They resist slashing and bludgeoning weapons, are immune to the cold, and have a host of spell-like abilities including darkness, ghoul touch, scare, and the ability to summon a wide variety of animals to their aid. What they are most well-known for, however, is their ability to enthrall the minds of any intelligent being around them with their strange calls and whistles. Once caught, the victims will approach the zuvembie without heed of danger.
Round 1! Bold may act!
Maqej
Jinath
Karina
Thadeaus Red
Xantanax
Heorn
Blue
Yellow
Green
Jinath:
The trees on the previous map were too large to count as undergrowth for purposes of Woodland Stride, but the ones on this map should be fine. Charge away!
hp 37 (4d10+9) AC 20, touch 15, flat-footed 18 (+3 defensive instinct, +1 deflection, +2 Dex, +5 natural, -1 size) Fort +6, Ref +6, Will +3 Defensive Abilities defensive instinct +3/+2
The tiger moves up quietly an gracefully and as he erupts into a graceful dash of muscle charges and pounces at the yellow foe, letting out the mighty roar of a tiger as his two front paws reach out mightly to bring his foe down
1d20 + 8 ⇒ (1) + 8 = 9 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (19) + 8 = 27
Male Ifrit Ifrit: HP: 30/30 | AC/FF/TCH: 16/12/14 | F/R/W: +3/+7/+0(4 vs. mind effect) l init +6 I Per +5(6 vs. traps)
My reaction: Sweet, my +6 to inititive finally payed off and now I can sneak attack an enemy before they-nope, too far away, still no sneak attack for me. *sigh* double move. Draw +1 cold Iron dagger as I move.
I'm sorry for not catching this until just now, but normally an investigator can't use wands (even though alchemists can - lame!) and would have to make UMD checks. Thadeaus, do you have something to bypass this restriction?
As Thadeaus's missiles reduce the corpse in Jinath's paws to rotten mush, the zuvembie mutters and points. As she does so, the dim light in the glade is snuffed out like a candle and darkness fills the air.
Spellcraft DC 17 + 1 per 10 ft:
Darkness
Round 1! Bold may act!
Maqej
Jinath (-4)
Karina
Thadeaus
Red Xantanax
Heorn Blue
Yellow
Green
Active Area Effects:
- Area inside stone circle deals negative energy damage to anyone who enters or begins their turn in the area
- Area inside purple spread is dark, granting concealment (50%) against those without darkvision or a magical light source of 3rd lvl or higher
