”Cortland” | Male LN Medium Human Investigator (Empiricist) 3 | HP 27/27 | AC 16, T 12, FF 14 | CMD 14 | F +4 R +6 W +4 | Init +2 | Perc +10 (+11 vs. traps) SM +10 | Speed 30ft | Inspiration 8/8 | Active Conditions: None
Cortland steps across to the Orange enemy and pokes through the skeleton with his rapier hoping to aid the next person to attack it.
Male CG Human (Brevoy) Ranger (fortune finder) 2 HP 21/21 | AC 19 T 12 FF 17 | CMB +5, CMD 17 | F: +5, R: +5, W: +1 | Init: +2 | Perc: +6, SM: +4 | Speed 20ft |
Damn things won't let my weapons touch them! We are looking like fools in front of those we are set to protect. Joesph is now clearly getting frustrated but continues to try to take down the red skeleton.
Now that is more like it! If my first attack drops the red skeleton, Joseph will 5ft step between attacks to flank with Courtland and attack the final skeleton. I will forego my free bullrush attempt this round.
As Gorak unwedges his blade from the skeleton, he is surprised the thing still stands from his blow- let alone that it returns his attack! Caught off guard he fails to parry to incoming attack and worse yet, is unable to make contact again with the magically enchanted blade.
Jangafzaar manages to hook his glaive around the skeleton's legs and knocks it down!
The rest of you deal out enough damage to destroy the rest of the skeletons.
Combat Over!
survival, DC 15:
There are tracks leading from the north. These include both skeletal and booted footprints.
knowledge history/local on the skeletons, DC 15:
The human skeletons are dressed in the remains of Mercenary League gear.
beating the above DC by 5 or more:
Mercenary League engaged in several battles in this section of the Chitterwood, and one of the more famous of those battles occurred a short distance north of here.
"Looks like Mercenary League stuff, on these Bone. Chaps might've met an unfortunate end out here, after the Chitterwood battle. Poor blokes."
If I pick up a bone, or an object/weapon from the skeleton can I use object reading to get any more clues or leads? Probably not, but worth a chance
Object reading:
Examining an item in this way requires him to spend 1 minute handling the item. If the item is a magic item, the occultist learns its properties and command word as if he had successfully examined the item using detect magic and succeeded at a Spellcraft check. This ability does not reveal whether the item is cursed unless the occultist’s class level is equal to or greater than the caster level of the item. If the item has any historical significance, the occultist learns one piece of information about its past (as determined by the GM). Finally, if the item was last used no longer than 1 day ago per the occultist’s class level, the occultist learns one piece of information about the last creature to use the item. This information might be a glimpse of the creature’s appearance, a brief vision of what it saw while using the item, or perhaps its emotional state when it last used the item. The GM determines what information is gained in this way. This functions like the psychometry occult skill unlock, but doesn’t require a skill check and can be used at will.
Object reading is a great skill here, but it basically would give you the same information as the knowledge check already did, just with cool visions of the same information.
The one unique thing you see while holding some bones is a vision of your bones coming together as they are animated by dark magic before you rise up from a burial mound.
”Cortland” | Male LN Medium Human Investigator (Empiricist) 3 | HP 27/27 | AC 16, T 12, FF 14 | CMD 14 | F +4 R +6 W +4 | Init +2 | Perc +10 (+11 vs. traps) SM +10 | Speed 30ft | Inspiration 8/8 | Active Conditions: None
Well, lets follow these tracks and see what we find.
Small Male LG Vanara Unchained Monk 1 Shaman 4 | HP 42/42 (+10 temp) | AC 21 T 21 FF 16 (with Mage Armor & Barkskin 27, 22, 21) | CMB 1, CMD 21 | F +6, R +8, W +10 | Init +4 | Perc +13 SM +9 | Speed 30' (Climb 20') |Battle Spirit 4/4 | GM Reroll 1/1 | Active Conditions: Mage Armor, Barkskin, False Life | Acrobatics +8, Climb +10, Swim +2
Vinnie screeches with delight as the last of the skeletons fall, and he bounces up and down excitedly. He seems quite thrilled, and his eyes shine. "Ah, the spirits did not lie! Battle, to battle, yes, it is good, soooo good! Perhaps they sent those skeletons to us to help us feel the joy of battle!"
Survival:1d20 + 7 ⇒ (13) + 7 = 20
Seeing the tracks heading north, Vinnie agrees that the group needs to investigate them. "Yes, leaving the caravan here is a risk. But fortunately we have our comrades here -" he gestures to Jandri, Alik, Kazrin, and Camon - "they can guard the caravan while we are gone. What could possibly go wrong?"
Following the tracks and clues from the caravan ambush, you soon arrive at a battlefield graveyard, its graves recently uncovered and emptied.
This small forest clearing smells of recently tilled earth. Several crude grave markers dot the landscape, each currently marking the position of an empty pit.
perception, DC 19:
You notice a wolf like creature hiding behind one of the tombstones.
I'll take the CLW out of combat to heal 5 points of damage. HP 17/17
---------------
"This is the place I saw in their bones. Dark magic it is, knitting these old bones together. Out of these graves, they came! Keep on your toes, aint no use getting caught unawares"
Small Male LG Vanara Unchained Monk 1 Shaman 4 | HP 42/42 (+10 temp) | AC 21 T 21 FF 16 (with Mage Armor & Barkskin 27, 22, 21) | CMB 1, CMD 21 | F +6, R +8, W +10 | Init +4 | Perc +13 SM +9 | Speed 30' (Climb 20') |Battle Spirit 4/4 | GM Reroll 1/1 | Active Conditions: Mage Armor, Barkskin, False Life | Acrobatics +8, Climb +10, Swim +2
Perception:1d20 + 7 ⇒ (6) + 7 = 13
As a shaman, Vinnie has CLW on his spell list, so he can use people's wands of CLW without difficulty.
@GM, if you think it's reasonable that Vinnie might feel like the current situation indicates possible danger... Vinnie will ask if anyone can use his wand of Mage Armor on him (Or, if no one has it on their list, he'll attempt to UMD (+5).
”Cortland” | Male LN Medium Human Investigator (Empiricist) 3 | HP 27/27 | AC 16, T 12, FF 14 | CMD 14 | F +4 R +6 W +4 | Init +2 | Perc +10 (+11 vs. traps) SM +10 | Speed 30ft | Inspiration 8/8 | Active Conditions: None
GM, is there enough of the creature visible for me to do a knowledge check?
Cortland identifies the creature as a Worg. Worgs are oversized, evil, intelligent wolves often found dwelling amid goblins or other savage races. A typical worg has gray or black fur, stands 3 feet tall at the shoulder, and weighs 300 pounds.
Worgs hunt in packs, running down and surrounding their prey like common wolves, but their intelligence and ability to speak make them better at coordinating their attacks. They sometimes use one packmate as a decoy, pretending to be a humanoid calling for help in order to lure intelligent prey into an ambush. Worgs that travel with goblins often allow them to ride on their backs, but in such situations it is usually the worg that is the master, not the rider.
Knowing all of this though, none of you see more than this one Worg.
heal, DC 10:
This Worg is clearly injured and nursing its wounds.
Realizing it has been spotted, the Worg comes out of hiding, "Hold adventurers, I would prefer if we both simply pretended we didn't see each other."
”Cortland” | Male LN Medium Human Investigator (Empiricist) 3 | HP 27/27 | AC 16, T 12, FF 14 | CMD 14 | F +4 R +6 W +4 | Init +2 | Perc +10 (+11 vs. traps) SM +10 | Speed 30ft | Inspiration 8/8 | Active Conditions: None
Heal:1d20 + 5 ⇒ (6) + 5 = 11
Cortland looks at the Worg. You seem to be in trouble. Can we assist?
The worg speaks in common with a strange accent due to its mouth shape, "I am old, and though I have seen and done much, I do not wish to die today. You seem more than capable enough to deal with an old dog such as I. Simply leave me be and I will leave you alone as well."
knowledge nature, DC 10:
Based on your knowledge of these creatures, this Worg seems to be extremely malnourished. It shouldn't be this easy to see bones through the skin and muscles of Worgs.
Seeing the creature, Gorak focuses his attention on his surroundings. He feels the focus wash over him and settle into a sense of hyper focus Casting Heightened Awareness. 1 remaining 1st level spell
"An old dog? You undersell yourself, sir. A majestic creature such as yourself. Still remain, though- that you are here in a graveyard, all by yourself. And it just so happens that my mates and I were attacked by undead from this same graveyard. Now, I fancy a good story much as the next chap- but that does seem a bit coincidental, wouldn't you agree?"
He eyes Gorak carefully, "A hobgoblin tribe, one I do not recognize, came across this place several moons ago. They spent many days turning the land and removing the dead-human, goblin, bugbear, it did not matter to them. It was likely them that attacked you as I have no power over the dead."
"I was hoping they would leave some scraps for me to chew on. In my age, I have been exiled from my pack and hunting alone is far more difficult. As for the bandits, all you two legs look the same, carrying steel and fire, what do I know of bandits or heroes?" the Worg says while heading back to his hiding spot.
The warg feels out of place, but Gorak doesn't have much reason to keep interacting either. He has failed any checks that would drive his character to ask more questions
"Old Chap, why would you be exiled from the pack. Respectin' elders and the like. Seems odd to me, as an outsider o' course"
"Those that grow old, grow slow. A pack hits fast before the prey can react. Once we can't keep up, we are left behind. Now, if you aren't going to feed me, I suggest you go, the ones you are looking for have made their lair not far from here, toward the setting sun. A nearby trail should lead you directly to a tree broken in two. The entrance lies somewhere off the road, beneath the tree." The worg says as he lays down to rest and recuperate from his wounds.
Male NG Dwarf from Qadira | Cleric of Erastil (formerly Shelyn) 7 | DR5/bludgeoning 35/35 | HP 63/71 | AC 20 T 12 FF 18 | CMB +3, CMD 18 | F: +14, R: +9, W: +17 | Init: +2 | Perc: +19 | SM: +13 | Dipl.: +21 | Rooted Vitality 1/1 | Reroll 1/1 | Darkvision | Speed 20ft | Active conditions: resist electricity 20, defending bone.
Jang’ takes out two days worth of rations and puts it in front of the worg.
” I do not know your history and your future ... but what I know is that it is hard to be alone and it is hard to have nobody that cares! And everybody is worth a warm embrace and although your motives are not mine I feel you need someone that can give you strength and a little bit food can give you time to gain that strength! I hope that you will remember this ... and that you treat others with the same compassion in the future ... “
”Cortland” | Male LN Medium Human Investigator (Empiricist) 3 | HP 27/27 | AC 16, T 12, FF 14 | CMD 14 | F +4 R +6 W +4 | Init +2 | Perc +10 (+11 vs. traps) SM +10 | Speed 30ft | Inspiration 8/8 | Active Conditions: None
You follow the worg's directions. The path winds its way through the Chitterwood until it forks at the foot of a large and mangled tree. A large tear runs the length of its trunk, splitting the tree nearly in two. The southern half of the tree hangs awkwardly to the side, casting a shadow over a small dip in the land. A small cave entrance lies partially hidden beneath the southern half of the tree. A crude flight of stairs lies just beyond the cave entrance, leading deeper into the earth.
Cortland knows that the goblinoid armies often made use of underground cavern networks during the Goblinblood Wars and that many of the goblinoid survivors fled to these caverns at the end of the conflict.
The cave is dark and is made up of unworked stone walls and hewn stone floors.
Gorak steps into the dark, looking about for any signs of use or inactivity, such as dust on the floor, footprints, parts worn smooth with foot traffic, etc.
Gorak has 120 feet of darkvision, if that comes into play at any point. How long from the warg? Gorak had cast "heightened awareness" with a duration of 20 minutes. I assume it is not still active.
Perception:1d20 + 4 ⇒ (13) + 4 = 17+2 if heightened awareness is still active
”Cortland” | Male LN Medium Human Investigator (Empiricist) 3 | HP 27/27 | AC 16, T 12, FF 14 | CMD 14 | F +4 R +6 W +4 | Init +2 | Perc +10 (+11 vs. traps) SM +10 | Speed 30ft | Inspiration 8/8 | Active Conditions: None
Cortland looks over Jang's shoulder. Did you find anything? This being a goblin cave I would like to also check for traps here.
With darkvision and light allowing you to see, you see to skeletal creatures standing guard at the north door. At the same time, Cortland becomes aware of a pit trap in the room (squares are marked).
"Watch out! I've heard of these creatures - they are exploding goblin skeletons! When we kill them, they'll explode bone fragments 10' around them! Yikes!"
Vinnie moves forward 10' and punches at the Blue skeleton.
Male CG Human (Brevoy) Ranger (fortune finder) 2 HP 21/21 | AC 19 T 12 FF 17 | CMB +5, CMD 17 | F: +5, R: +5, W: +1 | Init: +2 | Perc: +6, SM: +4 | Speed 20ft |
Thanks for the light comrade. But who invited the bag of bones? Joseph steps forward and tries to make some explosions. I am targeting blue first, but if by some luck it drops, I will attack red instead.
”Cortland” | Male LN Medium Human Investigator (Empiricist) 3 | HP 27/27 | AC 16, T 12, FF 14 | CMD 14 | F +4 R +6 W +4 | Init +2 | Perc +10 (+11 vs. traps) SM +10 | Speed 30ft | Inspiration 8/8 | Active Conditions: None
Cortland moves up behind his companions, ready to assist as needed.
Hearing Vinnie call out, Gorak focuses on his armor, and a sickly blue light begins to cover his armor and exposed skin. As the light settles, he swings at the red skeleton in front of him.
Swift: 1 Trans focus, activate Mind Barrier (-4 to damage taken in the next round). Standard action: Attack. If creature is destroyed he will take a 5 foot step into the dead creatures space.
