Crypt of Everflame and Abomination Vaults PbP

Game Master AoW_GM

Did just the stairs turn into a slide, or did the whole upper level tilt into a slide as well? Or is the Acrobatics check just if we step onto the stairs/slide down? Also, assuming the upper platform is still there, how high is it from the lower level, if we were to try to leap down (or fall) vertically instead of getting on the slide?

Although, looking at it ... I don't have a terrible acrobatics ... so we'll give it a try.

◆ Balance (or Fall With Style)
[dice=Acrobatics]1d20+4

I only get 10 feet of movement from Balance, so have to move again to get into range of the guy, right?

◆ Step

◆ Strike
[dice=Starknife attack]1d20+7
[dice=Starknife damage (slashing)]1d4+4

Kamau scurries on his short dwarven legs down the inclined stairs, landing at the bottom. Seeming almost surprised that he made it down upright, he steps up to the creature and swings at it.

The stairs sunk into the ground, turning into a slide. The Acrobatics check is only required if you try to go up or down the slide. It's 15-20' down and you can climb down as well. However, your Acrobatics check was sufficient.

Summary of Round 1:
Kamau slid down and stabbed the creature with his dagger, but it did not penetrate its skin.
Seren moved up, its rapier failed to penetrate, but the dagger slashed the creature with no ill effect. It is also susceptible to precision damage so 11 damage.
Luc's longsword attack, since he is flanking with Kamau, lands as does his dagger. 17 damage.
Kelri's electric arc strikes the statue, but it seems to have no effect.

Round 1: Statue
The statue launches an attack at all 3 figures surrounding it, performing a shield slam on each.

Shield attack vs. Luc: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (6) + 11 = 17...miss
Shield attack vs. Seren: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (19) + 6 = 25...hit
Kamau's reaction may go off.
Damage: 1d8 + 6 ⇒ (1) + 6 = 7
Shield attack vs. Kamau: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (13) + 1 = 14...miss!
Marietta and then party is up in Round 2.

Luc yells to Kamau, "Let's keep carving this thing up!"
◆◆Double Slice ◆Parry

Longsword Attack: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (2) + 9 = 11
Damage: 1d8 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 4 = 10
Dagger: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (9) + 9 = 18
1d4 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7
AC 19.

I think I failed to apply the -4 on my second attack on the first round…but I think it was still a hit…

Seren staggers a little under the shield assault, then redoubles her own brand of violence…this time with a quick slash of her shortsword, followed by another on a different angle, then steps back out of reach.

”That’s it! Slash at it - stabbing doesn’t work!” she yells to Luc…

◆ ◆Twin Feint ◆ Step

Shtee!!!: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (11) + 6 = 17
Shhk!!!: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3 [Slashing]
Sneak Attack!!!: 1d6 ⇒ 4 [Precision]

Shoah!!!: 1d20 + 6 - 4 ⇒ (5) + 6 - 4 = 7 [vs. Off-guard]
Kshtt!!!: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 2 = 8
Sneak Attack!!!: 1d6 ⇒ 4

Marietta casts Guidance on Kamau, so he gets +1 status bonus to attack, perception, skill, or saving throw roll this round.

Appreciate the honesty, Seren. With the -4 penalty, your strike was a miss in the prior round. So negate 11 damage.
Luc's dagger strikes, inflicting 7 damage.
Seren's short sword hits, inflicting 7 damage.
Statue has taken a total of 31 damage.

Kelri tries to Recall Knowledge on the statue:
Arcana: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (17) + 7 = 24
She yells out, "It is a construct, immune to magic, but vulnerable to fire, if that helps. I can't affect it."

Ok, Kamau, kick its a$$!

@AV_DM. Well, being honest is the best course of action! Ok, so just to clarify - does this: “Seren moved up, its rapier failed to penetrate, but the dagger slashed the creature with no ill effect. It is also susceptible to precision damage so 11 damage…” mean my rapier missed OR that it hit but failed to do any damage (because of resistance to piercing perhaps?) My comment about the -4 possibly still hitting meant I thought the rapier also hit on a 15 (vs Off-guard) but just did no damage. Just trying to get a handle on weaknesses/resistances…

Also got a little confused by the no ill effect which initially made me think I had inflicted no damage with the shortsword on the statue. But I’m guessing you meant the blow from the shortsword was not ill-effected, not the statue, and that Seren is correct in thinking slashing is the way to go (along with precision…)?

Have adjusted Seren’s HP pending Kamau possibly using a reaction…

@AV_DM. Well, being honest is the best course of action! Ok, so just to clarify - does this: “Seren moved up, its rapier failed to penetrate, but the dagger slashed the creature with no ill effect. It is also susceptible to precision damage so 11 damage…” mean my rapier missed OR that it hit but failed to do any damage (because of resistance to piercing perhaps?) My comment about the -4 possibly still hitting meant I thought the rapier also hit on a 15 (vs Off-guard) but just did no damage. Just trying to get a handle on weaknesses/resistances…

Also got a little confused by the no ill effect which initially made me think I had inflicted no damage with the shortsword on the statue. But I’m guessing you meant the blow from the shortsword was not ill-effected, not the statue, and that Seren is correct in thinking slashing is the way to go (along with precision…)?

Failed to penetrate was my creative way of saying that you did not exceed the AC. "No ill effect" was a typo on my part. Shortsword works just fine. Apologize for the confusion.

Serenllys wrote:

@AV_DM. Well, being honest is the best course of action! Ok, so just to clarify - does this: “Seren moved up, its rapier failed to penetrate, but the dagger slashed the creature with no ill effect. It is also susceptible to precision damage so 11 damage…” mean my rapier missed OR that it hit but failed to do any damage (because of resistance to piercing perhaps?) My comment about the -4 possibly still hitting meant I thought the rapier also hit on a 15 (vs Off-guard) but just did no damage. Just trying to get a handle on weaknesses/resistances…

Also got a little confused by the no ill effect which initially made me think I had inflicted no damage with the shortsword on the statue. But I’m guessing you meant the blow from the shortsword was not ill-effected, not the statue, and that Seren is correct in thinking slashing is the way to go (along with precision…)?

Failed to penetrate was my creative way of saying that you did not exceed the AC. "No ill effect" was a typo on my part. Shortsword works just fine. Apologize for the confusion.

Thanks for the clarifications!

↺ Liberating Step - Block 3 damage on the attack on Luc, so he only takes 4
Kamau jabs out at the creature's arm as it shield slams, deflecting some of the strength of its attack on Luc.

Looks like my 17 attack missed cause I wasn't yet flanking, but to clarify, I am slashing with my starknife, not stabbing/piercing. (It is versatile.) In case it matters for overcoming hardness, although if I'm reading the outcome of Luc's attack correctly it doesn't. It doesn't look like this thing has either hardness or resistance, just needs a 17 to hit flanking.

Also, Seren, I moved your icon up to be next to the creature on the map. You had stepped up to it earlier, but were still showing 5 feet back on the map.

Kamau, in the heat of battle, pays no heed to his allies, and focuses on the still silence of his mind, to step and slash between the tower shields, while still being mindful of his defenses.

◆ Strike
Starknife attack 1: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (2) + 7 = 9
Starknife damage (slashing): 1d4 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5
◆ Strike
Starknife attack 2 (multiattack, agile): 1d20 + 7 - 4 ⇒ (16) + 7 - 4 = 19
Starknife damage (slashing): 1d4 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7
◆ Raise Shield

Kamau, I moved up initially. On my last round I attacked and then moved back out of reach with a Step…

”Seren staggers a little under the shield assault, then redoubles her own brand of violence…this time with a quick slash of her shortsword, followed by another on a different angle, then steps back out of reach.”

Have moved icon back.
Though maybe this thing has 10’ reach…

Seren takes 3 points of less damage thanks to Kamau's reaction.

Round 2: Animated Statue

The construct’s wood pieces continue to chip away, as the party continues its assault. With Seren moving away, the construct attacks Luc twice and Kamau once.

Shield bash: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (3) + 11 = 14..miss
Shield bash: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (18) + 6 = 24...hits Luc
Damage: 1d8 + 6 ⇒ (3) + 6 = 9
Shield bash: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5...miss!

Luc dodges the first shield bash, but gets slammed by the second. Hopefully, Kam will reduce my damage by 3.

Round 3: Luc
Stinging from the blow, Luc sways with weapons in hand until he sees a weakness in the statue's defense and strikes.

◆◆Double Slice ◆Parry

Longsword: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (11) + 9 = 20
Damage: 1d8 + 4 ⇒ (7) + 4 = 11
Dagger: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (6) + 9 = 15
Damage: 1d4 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8
AC 19.

The wounded fighter moves in and with a stroke of his sword, decapitates the statue, as its wooden head slides off its corpse, causing it to stop moving. Combat over.

The shields carried by the statue function as tower shields; however, anyone wielding one is considered off-guard in addition to the –2 status penalty on attack rolls.

The door that the statue was guarding is locked but it unlocks when you use the pool key on it. Inside is vault, where the party finds the following, after detecting magic:

+1 rapier (potency rune)
+1 clan dagger (potency rune)

Only place left to explore is lower level. You may want to heal.

@AV_DM - Kam used his reaction on Luc, not Seren the first time. That’s why she’s still on 8 HP…

Can you use Battle Medicine on yourself?

I misread it. The strike that hit was on you, so you're the one I would have blocked 3 damage on. It was a miss on Luc.

Kamau looks over the clan dagger, trying to see if he can identify anything about the dwarven clan that the dagger hails from, and how it might be associated with this tomb ... or if the markings might relate in any way to his own clan dagger, the only clue he has about the unknown clan of his origins.

Dwarven Lore: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (12) + 3 = 15

With the consent of (or lack of protest from) the others, he'll keep the clan dagger himself, until such time as he can return it to a dwarf of the appropriate clan.

Yes, you can use both Treat Wounds and Battle Medicine on yourself, but since we aren't in combat you'd want to use Treat Wounds, because the restriction of 1/day on Battle Medicine (except with certain feats) still holds for yourself.

Thanks for the clarification Kamau...and the save!

Seren breathes a sigh of relief as the stone behemoth comes crashing down.

"Well done, everyone."

Moving over to Luc, Seren takes out bandages from her healing kit and begins to wrap his wound.

"Don't get any funny ideas lover boy. I need you alive. Is all."
She stops for a moment and holds his gaze.

"Right?"

Luc's Medicine DC 15: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (15) + 3 = 18

Mmmm!: 2d8 ⇒ (8, 8) = 16

She then attempts to heal her own wounds...

Seren's Medicine DC 15: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (7) + 3 = 10

Seren clearly finds it hard to work on herself...

She then takes the rapier and marvels at its make, balancing it on her outstretched finger, albeit with a slight wince as her ribs protest.

"This will do nicely!"

With her consent, Kamau uses his devotion to lay on hands to recover 6 hit points for Seren, then sits in the corner to pray and restore his focus.

Ten minutes and we should all be up to full, then, and I have my Focus Point back? Ready to continue? We aren't close to being fatigued or anything are we? This might be a good secure position to camp, if needed.

When the creature falls... "Woo hoo! That big statue was scary and those shield bashes hurt!"

When Seren is binding his wounds.. "Ya know dear, if you wanted to touch my muscles, all you had to do was ask...besides your bedside manner is so much nicer than Kam's. He's too quiet for me."

After the healing... "You'll fall for me, Seren, watch my words." Looking back at the rest of the party, after they've found their treasures, "Looks like we're ready to go. Not tired at all, let's keep going."

Both Kelri and Marietta still have their 1st level spells, so if they can go nuclear for one big fight, if needed.

After bandaging and healing your wounds, you head back to the stairs where you defeated the zombie brute. These are the only stairs that you have found on this entire level, so with Seren in the lead, and Luc's magically lit dagger, you descend into the darkness.

The stairs lead down to a chamber with a vaulted ceiling covered with candles. There are hymns and prayers inscribed on the walls. Before you stand a set of grand brass double doors with the words "Herein lies the tomb of the grand Lord Kassen."

Let me know when you're ready to proceed.

Seren winces a little once more, then nods for Kamau to heal her with divine magic.

"I'm all for continuing. I am a little confused about one thing however. I thought the "quest for the everflame" was more of funsy rustic ritual observance. This complex - traps, animating statues, undead of various types - is deadly. Not something you want to send your populace out to engage with. What am I missing?!?"

"Those are all valid questions, Seren. Hopefully, there are some answers behind those doors. However, it also feels like our last challenge is behind those doors. We need to prepare ourselves for a tough battle. Perhaps that undead leader who stalks these halls in mail that Roldare mentioned."

I think we need to buff. If it's ok with the party, Marietta will cast Bless, valid for 1 minute (10 rounds). Kelri will cast magic weapon on Luc's longsword, also valid for 1 minute. Then we move in.

Heh, looks like AV_DM and I were posting at the same time, so Seren was still in the other room...

"I hear you Luc. Let's get ready. Anyone got any oil? We could use a bomb or two...I have three pots of oil, and a bunch of caltrops..."

Seren shows the party her three "bombs" and handful of caltrops...

"I'd like to make a path of them in line with t he middle - where the doors are... that we retreat around, hopefully whatever is in there won't see them, and if needed, we can lure it out? What do you think?"

Kamau nods. His amulet replies, "A great many foolish youth have come back from this over the years, with the worst being some scraps from falling in the woods. It is hard to think they encountered this level of challenge."

Kamau shakes his head at Seren, not having any explosive materials on him. He holds the magical clan dagger as his weapon as he moves forward. He pantomimes him opening the door, but motions for Seren to check it first.

Seren checks the door and finds it open with no traps. The wide brass doors swing open on silent hinges to reveal a vast crypt. The only light emanates from a torch mounted above the crypt, flickering with a pale golden fire. Tall pillars march across the chamber, ending at a dais on the far side, on
which is set a large stone sarcophagus.

A single form rests beside the coffin, that of a comely woman in tattered clothing. She appears to be asleep or unconscious.

As you make your way down, a figure steps from behind the dais, speaking in gravelly voice, "“So, heroes have come to defeat me. You will make fine minions in my army of the dead. Come and meet your fate.” With that, a wicked-looking skeleton strides into view wearing polished mail and brandishing a cruel sword in both hands. A cold blue flame burns in its empty eye sockets. Pic in slide.

Initiative:
Kamau: 1d20 + 5 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 5 + 1 = 11
Kelri: 1d20 + 5 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 5 + 1 = 9
Luc: 1d20 + 6 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 6 + 2 + 1 = 14
Marietta: 1d20 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (18) + 6 + 1 = 25
Seren: 1d20 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 6 + 1 = 13
Skeletal Champion: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (17) + 10 = 27
X: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (16) + 5 = 21
Order: Skeletal Champion, Marietta, X, and rest of party.

Round 1: Skeletal Champion
The undead warrior garbed in chain mail grips his longsword and shield and strides up to the party. He swings at Luc but misses, cursing the fighter's gods.
◆Stride ◆Strike ◆Raise Shield
Strike vs. Luc: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (5) + 12 = 17...miss!

Marietta delays.

Round 1: X=Skeletal Soldiers
Skeletal soldiers wielding longbows with glaives on their back appear from the east and western sections of the room. The champion looks to each of his sides, "Kill their flanks!"

Yellow archer:
◆Stride ◆Stride ◆Strike
The yellow soldier nocks his bow and aims at Kelri, but misses poorly.
Longbow vs. Kelri: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (1) + 9 = 10...miss

Orange archer:
◆Stride ◆Stride ◆Strike
The orange soldier nocks his bow and aims at Marietta but the arrow bounces off her armor.
Longbow vs. Marietta: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (8) + 9 = 17...miss

Full Party is up!

Round 1: Luc
Luc parries the skeletal champion's blow, as a look of dread comes upon seeing the blue flame in the warrior's sockets. This is for my life. Do not panic, this is what you trained for! He looks to his side and sees Seren. Do it for her! Mustering courage from deep inside, Luc grips his magically enhanced longsword, moves to flank the enemy, and strikes at the champion, trying to strike around his shield.

◆Stride to flank the champion (off-guard)
◆Strike
Longsword + Bless + Magic weapon: 1d20 + 9 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (19) + 9 + 1 + 1 = 30
Damage: 2d8 + 4 ⇒ (3, 6) + 4 = 13...if critical, double
◆Strike
Longsword + Bless + Magic weapon: 1d20 + 9 - 5 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (17) + 9 - 5 + 1 + 1 = 23
Damage: 2d8 + 4 ⇒ (3, 5) + 4 = 12

Seren stabs wildly to set up for a punch with her gauntleted hand…then glides down another step to allow Kamau to flank with Luc, and creeps further around to set up a flank with Marietta.

◆ ◆Twin Feint ◆ Stride

Stabbity!!!: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (13) + 7 = 20
Stab!!!: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5 [Piercing]
Surprise Attack!!!: 1d6 ⇒ 1 [Precision]

Whiiip!!!: 1d20 + 6 - 4 ⇒ (5) + 6 - 4 = 7 [vs. Off-guard]
Knchtp!!!: 1d4 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5 [Bludgeoning]
Sneak Attack!!!: 1d6 ⇒ 5 [Precision]

@AV_DM: So Marietta can now come down and whomp the skeleton guardian….

Luc circles the skeletal champion and brings his magic sword down the on the warrior, who instinctively, raises his shield to block the blow. However, Luc's sword blow is so powerful that it breaks the skeleton's steel shield in two and strikes him, chipping chunks of bone. Luc follows that up with another blow that strikes the undead warrior, who is now shield-less. 16 damage on first blow and 7 damage on the second blow. 23 damage total.

Seren's rapier connects for only 1 point of damage, as her rapier's blade slips through the warrior's ribcage. Creature has piercing 5 resistance.

Marietta grips her bastard sword 2-handed, summons holy energy, strides toward the warrior and strikes the undead champion, but the blow bounces off the warrior's chainmail.
◆Weapon surge ◆Stride ◆Strike

Attack: 1d20 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 6 + 1 = 15...miss

Kelri uses 1 action to drain bonded item and 2 actions to recast Magic Weapon on Kamau's starknife.

Kamau is up.

Kamau steps up, shifting the hold on his dagger so that he can strike with the blunt end of it.

◆ Step (to get flanking)
◆ Strike
Clan dagger +1 attack w/ flanking: 1d20 + 7 + 1 ⇒ (11) + 7 + 1 = 19
Clan dagger damage (bludgeoning): 1d4 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5

◆ Raise shield
After the strike, he brings up his shield to block against this undead creature's next attack.

I am wielding the +1 clan dagger, so doesn't really make sense to cast magic weapon on the starknife, since it's sheathed. Can Kelri step up and cast grease on the 4 squares connecting the two skeletal soldiers. I moved her, and all 4 of those squares appear to be in her 30 foot range.

Kamau's attack lands inflicting 5 damage.
Per Kamau's suggestion, Kelri will change actions and cast Grease on the archers.
Orange soldier: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (5) + 7 = 12...falls
Yellow solider: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (18) + 7 = 25...not affected.

Total damage to Skeletal champion: 24

Round 2: Skeletal champion
Battered and without a shield, the undead warrior remains completely confident in his ability to take the party out! "The battle has yet to begin! Only when your opponent's blood is on the battlefield has it even started!" He grips his longsword and proceeds to attack Luc, since he was most damaged by him. His skill with the sword is masterful and he drives the sword through Luc's stomach, causing the human's eyes to roll back into his head, drop his sword, and his body slump to the ground in a bloody mess! "He did not take as well as he dished out. Now, you, priestess, taste my sword!" The warrior then turns and swings at Marietta twice, drawing blood once.

Longsword: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (19) + 12 = 31...critical
Damage: 1d8 + 6 ⇒ (8) + 6 = 14 x2=28! Max damage! Even with Kam's reaction, which would go off now, Down goes Luc after 25 damage! Dying 2!

The skeletal champion then turns his attention to the war priestess with the bastard sword and wounds her.

Longsword attack: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (1) + 7 = 8...miss!
Longsword attack: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (18) + 2 = 20..hit
Damage: 1d8 + 6 ⇒ (3) + 6 = 9

Round 2: Skeletal Soldiers
Orange Reflex save to stand up: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (11) + 7 = 18...success, stands with 1 action.
Action 2: Stride
Action 3: Longbow attack vs. Kelri: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (10) + 9 = 19
Damage: 1d8 ⇒ 4

Yellow archer strides back and takes 2 shots at Marietta.
Longbow: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (1) + 9 = 10...miss
Longbow: 1d20 + 9 - 5 ⇒ (17) + 9 - 5 = 21...hit
Damage: 1d8 ⇒ 7...Marietta falls unconscious at Dying 1.

Summary of HPs:
Luc is at Dying 2
Marietta is at Dying 1
Kelri is at 9/13
Seren is full hit points
Kamau is at full hit points.
Skeletal Champion is -24 hit points and bloodied (i..e more than 1/2 hps lost).
Skeletal soldiers (x2): Full hit points.
Party is up!

Seren sees her allies drop, one then the other. There is no way they can win this fight without one or the other, and perhaps, they can still escape. She leaps between Luc and Marietta, and crouching tries to heal them as best she can…

◆ Stride ◆ Medicine ◆ Medicine

Luc: Medicine, DC 15: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (14) + 3 = 17
Heal!!!: 2d8 ⇒ (6, 6) = 12

Marietta: Medicine, DC 15: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (16) + 3 = 19
Heal!!!: 2d8 ⇒ (7, 5) = 12

Somehow, amazingly, she succeeds. She shouts to Kamau and Kelri.

”We need to get out of here, away from the archers…”

Seren, are you trying to treat wounds? That takes 10 minutes so you cannot do so in combat. In combat, the best you can do is stabilize with first aid (2 actions), but not give them hps.

I’m using Battle Medicine, with a healer’s kit…

It says “You can patch up wounds, even in combat. Attempt a Medicine check with the same DC as for Treat Wounds and restore the corresponding amount of HP; this doesn't remove the wounded condition As with Treat Wounds, you can attempt checks against higher DCs if you have the minimum proficiency rank. The target is then temporarily immune to your Battle Medicine for 1 day”.

It’s a one action activity, and is commonly used in battle. Sure, it breaks verisimilitude, but given creatures get three actions each I understand it is an attempt to alleviate the amount of criticals the enemies can dish out…Not sure about the whole stabilising/gaining HP interactions…

If I'm reading the rules on flanking correctly, once Luc is conscious, then I'm still flanking the skeletal champion with him, even though he's on the ground. He has to be able to act, but just because he's flat-footed from being prone doesn't mean he's unable to act. So, in that case, I'm not going to Step to get flanking from Seren.

Kamau shakes his head at this turn of events and swings twice at the skeletal champion.

◆ Strike
Clan dagger +1 attack: 1d20 + 7 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 7 + 1 = 13
Clan dagger damage (bludgeoning): 1d4 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7
◆ Strike
Clan dagger +1 2nd attack (multi-attack, agile): 1d20 + 7 + 1 - 4 ⇒ (20) + 7 + 1 - 4 = 24
Clan dagger damage (bludgeoning): 1d4 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8
CRIT! So 16 bludgeoning damage.

If it's still up ...
Kamau swings his dagger twice, banging the blunt end of the weapon into the skeleton. Then he reaches out with his shield hand, opening the palm, and fingers touching the creature. Silence seems to surround him for a moment, a serene calm that chills even the undead in the room, a serenity that harms the skeletal champion.
◆ Cast lay on hands
The spell doesn't indicate anything about needing an attack roll, so I think he just takes 6 damage. It does, however, get a Fortitude save vs. DC 12 (I wasn't actually expecting to use this offensively, or I might have made my DC a little better) or is at -2 AC for one round.

If it's down after the second Strike, then I'll Raise Shield instead (and let me know, cause it means I still have my Focus Point)

I’m using Battle Medicine, with a healer’s kit…

It says “You can patch up wounds, even in combat. Attempt a Medicine check with the same DC as for Treat Wounds and restore the corresponding amount of HP; this doesn't remove the wounded condition As with Treat Wounds, you can attempt checks against higher DCs if you have the minimum proficiency rank. The target is then temporarily immune to your Battle Medicine for 1 day”.

It’s a one action activity, and is commonly used in battle. Sure, it breaks verisimilitude, but given creatures get three actions each I understand it is an attempt to alleviate the amount of criticals the enemies can dish out…Not sure about the whole stabilising/gaining HP interactions…

Well played, Seren. While I may have an issue that you can do this 1-handed and only takes 1 action, those are the rules. However, I would rule that in Round 1, Luc started the round by moving and flanking and then Seren moved to allow additional flanks, etc. so Luc's action was at the top of the round. So while Luc wakes up due to Seren's healing, his action has passed for this round.

Kamau's first dagger attack misses the skeletal champion, but the second rams right into the skeletal warrior's skull, while he was dodging the first attack and bent over, decapitating the champion! The skeletal body collapses to the ground.

Kam raises his shield with his 3rd action.

I’m not seeing anything that says you can use Battle Medicine with one hand either, so happy to have dropped weapons as a free action. It’s not like Seren’s rapier was much help and she was basically going to go the pummel anyway.

I vaguely remember reading somewhere that being stabilised/healed moves you to the end of the round/initiative no matter what your position was, but I would need to do more research to find the rule…

Kelri strides forward and casts Electric Arc at the 2 skeletons.
Damage: 1d4 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5
Yellow Reflex save: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (19) + 7 = 26...2 damage
Orange Reflex save: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (14) + 7 = 21...2 damage

With regard to getting knocked unconscious in battle, there's errata on Page 459: In the first bullet point under Knocked Out and Dying, change the sentence to “You immediately move your initiative position to directly before the turn in which you were reduced to 0 HP.” So Luc and Marietta's new initiative is 28 at the top of the following Round.

For Battle Medicine, the requirements are: You are holding healer's tools, or you are wearing them and have a hand free. That's why I said it looks like you can do it 1-handed, while wielding a 1-handed weapon in the other hand, for example.

Round 3: Marietta

She quietly thanks Seren with her eyes for saving her life and uses a 3-action healing pulse of energy within 30'.
Everyone heals 1d8 ⇒ 1 damage.

Gotcha, and yes, Seren wears it akin to a bandolier…

As for the initiative stuff, what does “initiative position to directly before the turn” mean? That sounds like going back in time to me. I literally do not understand that. ;)

Oh! well done Kamau! And Marietta, awesome heals!!!

Where are we at in initative? Is it skeleton archers?

Oh! well done Kamau! And Marietta, awesome heals!!!

Where are we at in initative? Is it skeleton archers?

Luc is up at the top of the round in Round 3 and then the archers.

Before when Seren healed him... Luc opens his eyes, feeling the pain, and he sees the elf before him. "My angel....", he manages spit out before pain in his stomach comes back to him. "Bastard put his sword through me!"

Round 3:
Pulled back to reality, Luc grabs his sword and struggles to get up and he strides over to the skeletal archer.

The remainder of this fight with the skeletal soldiers really does not excite me without the champion present, so will handwave the clear result that the party was going to win. Well done! I made the champion elite (Level 3) with Level 1 soldiers and you guys still kicked its ass, so congratulations. 2 critical hits for the party vs. 1 for me only. :( I will be back soon with the epilogue. Also, welcome to Level 2! Ding! I am playing with the free archetype so plan on that as well.