This time, Tarafi uses his electrical spell, targeting the skeleton and blue zombie.
He then tries to remember what he was taught about skeletons.
The skeleton is quick and dodges some of the arc’s electrical power, and the rest seems to have no effect on him! The oafish zombie is not so fortunate, and Tarafi’s zap is enough to take him down!
Clutching the wound in his side, Ralthiss bravely runs away, hurrying up the spiral stairs!
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“Looks like electricity isn’t effective on this thing...”
Salliss makes as if he is about to dash past the skeleton, only to try to pierce it with his rapier as it reacts. He then whacks at the skeleton’s wrist in an attempt to make it drop the longsword, ready to catch it with his empty hand if the trick works perfectly.
Disarm, Finesse
Deadly d8
Only if feint works
T vs Reflex DC
Salliss manages to trick the skeleton into thinking he’s going somewhere! The bony warrior is confused, however, as the rogue seems to wave his rapier in the air to no effect!
In response, the remaining zombie attempts to smash Salliss!
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The yellow-eyed zombie shambles over to the base of the stairs and, in the unpredictable way of its lurching kind, swings a fist at Salliss and connects!
Trildyn is having none of this 'zombies-smashing-her-friends' rubbish, and gives the zombie a powerful smash in return, nearly destroying the undead horror in a single blow!
Pip’s missiles strike the skeleton, breaking ribs, knocking out teeth, and shattering a patella! But the bony warrior still stands! Seeing Tarbh chasing his master, the skeleton moves toward the horned dwarf and swings his blade back and forth!
Larraz raises a finger and points it at the zombie, zapping it with a beam of positive energy! The zombie seems to resist for a moment, then shudders and falls!
Tarbh hustles as fast as his stout legs can carry him towards the noise he’s heard, and he finds Ralthiss leaping onto a bed in the dormitory and making for the window! At the same time, even as far away as he is, Tarbh hears the sounds of bones, armor, sword and shield being scattered across the floor of the great hall as Trildyn smashes the skeleton to pieces!
Tarafi, seeing Tarbh chasing the necromancer, joins in the chase! He hurries down the hall and just inside the door of the dorm room!
Ralthiss, seeing his foes hot on his tail, strides across the bed to the window, throws it wide, and steps onto the sloping roof below. Hurrying to the edge, he swings down, dropping to the porch below and heading down the front steps of the college!
Salliss chases after the fleeing necromancer!
Tarbh chases after the necromancer, nearly missing his grip on the roof's edge as he drops down to the porch! He lands a bit awkwardly and stabs at Ralthiss with his horns, but he’s off-balance and his attack misses! Pip and Larazz both chase after Ralthiss!
"Oh dear, oh dear, I am getting too old for bouncing around on roofs! Why didn't I learn feather fall?" He peers down from the roof, but is not as inclined as Tarbh to go leaping willy-nilly off of it. Why, he could hurt himself.
Then his eyebrows narrow with distaste as he sees the necromancer getting away. "Or, I could hurt the one that deserves it." Tarafi aims an acid splash at Ralthiss.
Then he claps. "Ha! How do you like that? Melt the skin right off you, you necromantic slimeball!"
From his perch on the roof, Tarafi can just barely see Ralthiss on the stairs below. He drops a glob of acid onto the necromancer, who screams in pain and tumbles down the stairs! He struggles against the burning of the magical corrosive a moment, then falls still!
A huge, horrifying wail can be heard in the distance as the gargantuan zombies on the horizon react to Ralthiss' death - it is clearly time for the Pathfinders to beat a hasty retreat from the Gravelands!
then runs back from the roof, into the house, and down the stairs. "I am getting too old for this! They better pay hazard pay back at the lodge!"
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About to shout in joy, Sallis gets a grim expression on his face as he hears the zombies in the distance. “That doesn’t sound good...”
He quickly loads his mule with the body the group found on the stairs, along with the book that was nearby. “I don’t want to leave anyone that we don’t have to. Not with necromancers just looking for materials to make more undead!”
If he has time while Pip and Tarbh are carrying the statue, he will crush the skeleton’s skull with his mace. He quietly mutters “...and that is for the blow that wrecked my shield...” and other complaints as he does so.
Once everyone is ready to leave, he sneaks ahead so he can warn the group if they encounter more trouble.
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Tarbh's heavy breathing slows after a moment, and the wicked horns retreat into his skull as he regains his composure. "Tha's cheatin', Tarafi! Ah was 'bout ta run 'im through!" The sound of the bellowing zombies cuts his kvetching short. "Yeah, alright. Le's get a move on." He hefts the statue once again, and with Pip's help carries it to the waiting cart, the axles groaning in protest as they set it down.
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With Ralthiss defeated, and a horde of giant zombies looming on the horizon, the Pathfinders promptly leave Goldenflame and make their way back to Caliphas. Because a massive horde of colossal undead moves slowly but inexorably, the party is able to stay well ahead of them, even as they carefully maneuver their wagon through the Gravelands to avoid both challenging terrain as well as any lingering patrols.
Arriving back at the Vodavani Lodge, they see Venture-Captain Evni Zongnoss casting healing spells on and fussing over a few Pathfinders whom she and her team extracted during their mission into the Gravelands. She greets the party, solemnly listens to their debriefing of the slain Pathfinders they encountered, and eagerly welcomes news of the discoveries they uncovered and relics returned. ”I will ensure that any belongings of the fallen Pathfinders will be delivered to their families— most notably their wayfinders."
It is clear that documents and texts the party has brought back will be of great use to the Society, but the statue in particular amazes Evni, to the point that she wonders out loud the effort required to transport such a thing across the Gravelands. To Larraz, she says, ”I am glad to see you alive. I offer you a choice, to return home to Katapesh, or to be reassigned to a more peaceful Pathfinder lodge.” Larraz politely declines the invitation for further adventures, at least for now, wishing only to return home to his family and take a long break.
Evni also tells the party that agents representing the Envoys’ Alliance will return the remains of the fallen Pathfinders to their families across the world. With that, her attention is called to an arriving group of wounded Pathfinders – she wishes the party safety on their next mission and bids a quick farewell.