GM Jhaeman's "Crypt of the Everflame" (Inactive)

Game Master Jhaeman

Sorry - I had a lot of work last Friday, and I'm quite slow over the weekends. Feel free to bot me every time it happens. And yes, this holiday period is always slower! :)

I'm out of work until further notice, so still free, but am good with slowing down.

I'm not going anywhere but quite happy to wait until folk start posting again

I'm fine either way; Season's Greetings!

Okay folks, I'm back on duty. A reminder of where we left off is below.

An archway of stone is set into the side of a small hill at the bottom of the valley. Moss has overgrown many of the details, but one is still quite clear: the keystone of the arch is carved with a flame symbol with a stylized rune in the middle. A pair of horses and a trio of ponies lie slaughtered next to the archway, each corpse still tied to a post set into the ground nearby; a swarm of flies hangs lazily in the air above them.

Beyond the archway is a darkened tunnel that leads to a pair of massive wooden doors, one of which is slightly ajar.

Surely casts light on his ring, and then gestures to the doorway, "Shall we?"

"Better than attending to this mess," Uaine agrees, stepping around the animals. A few flies break away to follow her. "I guess we should expect the worst of whatever lies in here."

After a moment's indulgence of morbid curiosity...

perfunctory Heal check on corpses: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (13) + 2 = 15

...Ao readies his arms and armor, opens the door, and steps inside, fearing not the darkness.

It is the darkness that should fear him.

I will Detect Evil.

As the heavy doors swing open, the faint light from outside and from Surely's spell reveals a long chamber with risen platforms on either side. A faded painting of a heroic warrior is on the far wall, but of far more immediate interest is that the room appears to be the site of a gruesome battle, with two bodies piled in the center and a number of skeletons scattered around. An echoing wail can be heard somewhere in the distance, beyond this foul chamber. Ao has moment to realise that there is lurking evil in this chamber before the scattered skeletons lurch into unholy, rattling movement and stand, ready for battle!

The interior of the crypt is total darkness, but Surely has cast light on his ring which gives 20' of normal light and then 20' of dim light. If any of you folks have one of those fancy templates, please feel free to add it--otherwise, please do your best to remember if you don't have darkvision.

On your turn as a free action, you can try to identify these skeletons.

Initiative (Round 1)

Ao
Surely
Uaine
T'Shar
Skeletons
Steppinwolf

Bold should go!

T'Shar does a small step ahead, then moves his arms in pure impulse - he doesn't seem to have any skill at it at all. Yet, after a lot of flames seem to be pulled towards him, the ifrit releases a flying blast of pure fire against the closest enemy he can see.

Against blue, currently not engaged in melee

Attack: 1d20 + 3 + 1 ⇒ (19) + 3 + 1 = 23 PBS
Damage: 1d6 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 + 1 = 5 Fire

Move to gather, burning infusion - DC 13

Knowledge (Religion): 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (1) + 6 = 7

To date, Ao's knowledge of the undead has been much more scholastic than practical; he has met them in battle only once before, and he'd failed to accomplish much in that fight beyond deflecting a strike or two. However, he remembers his weapon of choice from that fight, and throws a cautious swing with a heavy, spike-festooned gauntlet...

masterwork cestus, fighting defensively: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 1 = 9

...too cautious, regrettably.

"I suppose it is that time, then?"

Cast Mage Armor: AC up to 14 for 1 hour

Knowledge (religion): 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (7) + 5 = 12

Uaine swings an armored fist at a nearby skeleton. With her other hand, she draws a wand. "If you have time, or afterwards, Surely, this contains that same magic. If you could use it on me?"

Unarmed Strike vs. Green: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3
Damage: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5

T'Shar incinerates one of the skeletons completely! But while Surely casts defensive magic, Uaine's and Ao's attacks fail to connect. And in seconds, both find themselves facing multiple foes!

Red and Yellow are attacking Ao, while White, Black, and Yellow are attacking Uaine. Red is the only one that hits--Ao, you take 6 points of damage.

Initiative (Round 1)

Ao
Surely
Uaine
T'Shar
Skeletons
Steppinwolf

Bold should go!

Steppinwolf has to rely on Surely's light to see the enemy so he stepped towards Red, next to Ao, and smacks at it with the flat of his greatsword.

gs: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (1) + 5 = 6 dam: 2d6 + 6 ⇒ (2, 5) + 6 = 13 (less modifier)

Steppinwolf's blade hits empty air between his target's bony ribcage.

If anyone wants to use the flat of a bladed weapon to deal bludgeoning damage, it'll be a -4 on the attack roll for using an improvised weapon.

Initiative (Round 2)

Ao
Surely
Uaine
T'Shar
Skeletons
Steppinwolf

Bold should go!

T'Shar repeats his action, now with a big smile on his face - happy to be burning stuff! This time, he targets the enemy by his South.

Attack: 1d20 + 3 + 1 - 4 ⇒ (14) + 3 + 1 - 4 = 14 Touch, PBS, no Precise Shot
Damage: 1d6 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 + 1 = 4

Vs. White; five-foot-step ahead, move to gather power, standard to attack - DC 13 Burning infusion

Rather than just try to punch one skeleton, Uaine sends forth another burst of light. The corpses won't like it.

This might hit all of them, barring possible cover.

Channel Positive Energy, DC 10 Will Halves: 1d6 ⇒ 4

Sureley steps up behind Uaine, grasping the wand from his hand, and activates it.

5 ft. step, move to grab the held wand, standard to activate for Mage Armor on Uaine.

"I'll come to heal you in one second Ao!" Surely shouts as he watches the others.

Ao gives Surely a brief nod of acknowledgement, then turns his head back to his foe in the same full-body motion as his next swing of his cestus...

masterwork cestus, fighting defensively vs Red Rotten Hood: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (20) + 1 = 21
Hey, that's a threat!: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3 Darn.
bludgeoning damage: 1d4 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3

...clocking his foe square in the forehead (which, regrettably, would've been much more effective against something that was alive)!

Just for clarity, when T'Shar attacked the enemy, the enemy was in melee, but he had no cover (which he has as of now, as people moved for their actions).

T'Shar's flaming blast incinerates another of the skeletons, and then Uaine releases a burst of light that weakens all of the walking dead and destroys one outright. Surely and Ao show impressive teamwork, and another skeleton is destroyed by the latter's cestus.

T'Shar hit and destroyed White. Uaine's channel destroyed Yellow, though the others saved for half damage. Ao is able to destroy the weakened Red. Only Green and Black are left. Whoever has it, please don't forget to mark off the mage armor wand charge.

Despite the destruction of their undead kin, the remaining skeletons continue flailing out at Uaine with broken, rusty blades. But the weapons can't pierce the magical armor that now surrounds her!

Everyone, please don't forget to update your taglines with any buffs (and their duration) you have active. I'll try to give you regular updates of how long your explorations are taking in case they need to be renewed.

Initiative (Round 2)

Ao
Surely
Uaine
T'Shar
Skeletons
Steppinwolf

Bold should go!

Steppinwolf moves over to Black and tries to smash it.

gs: 1d20 + 5 - 4 ⇒ (14) + 5 - 4 = 15 dam: 2d6 + 6 ⇒ (2, 1) + 6 = 9

Ao noisily bounds over to smash the final remaining skeleton...

masterwork cestus vs Green Eyeless Monster: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (5) + 5 = 10
bludgeoning damage: 1d4 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4

...only to (I assume) badly misjudge his timing and distance.

The awkwardness of using the flat of his blade means Steppinwolf's swing is too slow to hit the surprisingly fast skeleton, nor does Ao's attack connect.

Ao, please wait until I call your turn in Initiative--otherwise I'm likely to get hopelessly confused :)

Initiative (Round 3)

Ao
Surely
Uaine
T'Shar
Skeletons
Steppinwolf

Bold should go!

Surely steps up behind Surely and uses his healing hex, "Here good sir!"

Healing Hex: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 1 = 8

Healing Hex today: Ao

T'Shar moves closer and draws his spear.

This BAB 0 thing is quite something :P Heh

Mistyped up there- is supposed to say "Surely steps up behind Ao and targets him"

Uaine steps into a precarious position, hoping her allies can take down a skeleton before it becomes a problem.

Unarmed Strike vs. Black: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 2 = 7
Damage: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4

Thanks to Surely's magic, Ao's wounds heal instantly! T'Shar readies a spear as Uaine's wild swing merely bounces off a skeleton's rusty shield.

@T'Shar--yeah, that's one of those almost comically narrow rules in the game we love!

One of the skeletons turns its attention to Steppinwolf, but the fierce warrior ducks just in time, losing only a few curly locks. The other vile undead stabs Uaine in the back, but her magical protection deflects most of the impact.

Black attacks Steppinwolf, Green attacks Uaine. Uaine, you are hit for one point of damage.

Initiative (Round 3)

Ao
Surely
Uaine
T'Shar
Skeletons
Steppinwolf

Bold should go!

Steppinwolf has another go

gs: 1d20 + 5 - 4 ⇒ (3) + 5 - 4 = 4 dam: 2d6 + 6 ⇒ (2, 4) + 6 = 12

The skeleton hops over Steppinwolf's low, cumbersome swing!

Initiative (Round 4)

Ao
Surely
Uaine
T'Shar
Skeletons
Steppinwolf

Bold should go!

Surely draws out a moningstar and steps up to swing at a skeleton:
Morningstar: 1d20 ⇒ 1
B and P damage: 1d8 ⇒ 5

At Green or the other one if green is smashed before my turn

masterwork cestus vs Green Eyeless Monster: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (18) + 5 = 23
bludgeoning damage: 1d4 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5

With a well-angled uppercut from his cestus, Ao crushes one of the remaining skeletons' skulls against the wall!

Uaine throws two more punches at a skeleton, ignoring the small scratch she took from the other one.

Flurry vs. Black: 1d20 ⇒ 2
Damage: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4

Flurry vs. Black: 1d20 ⇒ 14
Damage: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 2 = 8

T'Shar steps ahead and tries to hit the enemy with his spear.

Attack: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (9) + 3 = 12
Damage: 1d8 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7

With a well-angled uppercut from his cestus, Ao crushes one of the remaining skeletons' skulls against the wall!

Ao destroys Green, but everyone else's attacks missed. Only Black is left.

The sole unholy abomination swings a rusty blade at T'Shar, but the ifrit easily side-steps the attack.

Initiative (Round 4)

Ao
Surely
Uaine
T'Shar
Skeleton
Steppinwolf

Bold should go!

Steppinwolf moves to the last creature (if he needs to) and takes a swing at it.

gs: 1d20 + 5 - 4 ⇒ (6) + 5 - 4 = 7 dam: 2d6 + 6 ⇒ (1, 5) + 6 = 12

*sigh*

The skeleton again dodges Steppinwolf's swing, much to the bearded warrior's frustration.