i will do a move action det evil
perception
Erius, Illiana, & Remy:As Remy's head snaps around toward the trees, listening, you suddenly hear a cry for help from further in the trees. The three figures begin to move more quickly, apparently following the voice.
erius will run towards the figures and hit one when (if) he gets in range
Illiana will shift in the open to get a good line of sight on the figures and take a moment to ascertain which are friendly and which are not.
Several long seconds pass, as the figures continue to move. Erius runs off into the trees towards the pursuing figures. Meanwhile, Illiana and Remy move closer to and around the copse, trying to get a better picture of the situation.
A man dressed in leathers, wearing a festival mask in the shape of a wolf, comes running around the edge of the copse. He wields a kukri in each hand and sports bloody wounds on the neck and leg. From behind him, exiting the treeline, comes a skeleton, yellowed bones clattering as it rushes to catch the man. Two more can be seen in the trees, with Erius moving up fast upon them.
Initiative
Remy rattles off a few words is a strange language, perhaps a battle cry, as his hands make deft movements. His right hand shoots forward in an overhand throwing motion and a shimmering silver dagger tumbles ane over end with unerring accuracy towards the skeleton chasing the masked man.
iniative
Ren is running, relieved to see people ahead rather than more of the undead. He sees one of the figures hurl a silvery dagger that spins past him at amazing speed. It strikes the skeleton, shattering the sternum and cracking through the spine, felling it.
One of the skeletons turns on the closing Erius, while the other continues its pursuit of Ren. The first moves to meet Erius, clawing at him, but he evades its strike by throwing himself to one side.
The other angles its way out of the trees this round. It is able to move within striking distance of Ren, emerging from the trees to his right.
Wolfmask suddenly stops in the middle of his tracks and reversing the kukris strikes backwards with both blades at the same time.
Ren attempts his tricky maneuver. Had his opponent been one of flesh and blood, his blades would likely have inflicted grievous wounds. However, the blades simply slide through ribs and scrape old, hard bone, causing only superficial cuts to the thing.
erius attack (when it is his turn) PA+1 2handed swing with quaterstaff
attack
damage
Illiana runs up with her new found club and brings it down on the head of the nearest skeleton.
Iliana advances, moving to the right of Erius and swinging her club in a wide arc. The blow connects with the side of the skeleton's skull, shattering it. The bones collapse.
With his nearest opponent down, Erius takes two and a half strides, then brings his staff around, up, and then down hard on the next skeleton's skull, splitting it down the middle and sending the skeleton into a heap at his feet.
Remy charges toward the lone skeleton facing the wolf masked man, unused to attacking while running he misjudges the speed of his charge.
Remy nearly overshoots the skeleton entirely, overextending his swing as he skids to a halt. The skeleton turns on him and swings its claws at him.
Unfortunately, his charge leaves him unbalanced and open to attack. As he attempts to square himself against his opponent, the skeleton catches him across the back and shoulder with one strike, then across the midsection with the second, leaving many ragged, bloody tears in its their wake.
Ren turns towards the skeletons, once again changing the grip on his kukris and silently cursing the bad luck that follows him this evening.
Illiana sees the man with dual kukris fighting the skeleton and runs over to help. She stands behind the skeleton and swings the tree limb once again.
or
Ren turns on the last remaining skeleton as it savages Remy, slashing and chopping with little effect. Illiana then moves into a flanking position with Ren and swings cursing her luck as the thing ducks under her swing.
erius charges and attacks the last skel
damage
Erius weaves through the trees, coming up on the skeleton and boxing it in. As he steps in he brings his staff down in an arc and connects with the skeletons collarbone, shattering it and the shoulder. The skeleton collapses, leaving the four of you, some wounded, facing each other over the remains of your final enemy.
Ren raises his head and howls to the night sky. Then he pulls his mask from the face, and says: "I owe you my life."
Remy is obviously in excriciating pain, but he greets the unmasked warrior with a smile. "As long as the living stay living and the dead stay dead right?"
we need to look for survivors, do any of you have any woodlore?
"I do, friend. Just give me a moment to bind my wounds, and I'll join you to look for them..."
REn quickly ties his wounds so that they do not bleed any more , and then he slowly turn around himself, using his knowledge of nature to try to predict where would any survivors hide in the forest
"Greetings, where could these things have come from?", Illiana says with a smile then a furrowed look.
Considering the influx of folk to the inn, which alerted Ren to the danger, it seems likely that most of the runners managed to escape unscathed. Examining the landscape, he notes two likely areas for refuge, assuming passage back into the village was blocked:
1) There is a stream near here that runs fast and deep. Crossing it, or taking refuge on any rocks or small islands could be a possibility. These walking piles of bare bones seem ill-equipped for swimming.
2) Further off are a stand of horse chestnuts. They have lower hanging branches and could afford a person an easier climb to escape than the trees in the immediate area.
Illiana searches the piles of bones looking for any clues as to their origin or something shiny.
perception.
Closing his eyes as if from pain, Remy hides the telltale glow that passes over them as his vision shifts, allowing him to see into the arcane spectrum.
Perception:
Illiana: These skeletons are old, yellowed, and have dirt clinging to them. Their state seems to indicate that they were not buried in coffins, but rather directly in the earth. They have no remnants of armor or clothing upon them. You do note that one has cuts in in two concurrent ribs. Another has a gold piece sized hole in the skull. This damage appears old and does not coincide with your weapons.
Remy:You concentrate and get faint auras of magic lingering about the bones, but no other sources show within the range of your spell.
assuning ren shares his knowldge, erius says "lets go and investigate the stream and then those chesnut trees over there, pehaps we may find some survivors"
Addendum to my previous post:The skeletons appear to be human remains.
Would the party like to follow Erius' suggestion?
"Yes, let us go" Ren tiredly says.
The lot of you head for the stream, hearing the water before it actually comes in sight. As you reach its banks, you can see several large rocks scattered in its flow, though none appear to be harboring survivors, nor are there any on the other bank.
A bit further downstream is a small island, perhaps ten or twelve feet across and some twenty to thirty feet long, covered in scrub and a few trees. It appears possible to hop from rock to rock to reach it.
"Should we check that island?", Illiana asks as she begins to hop to the first dry stone.
that sounds like a good idea Erius follows Illiana
Illiana rather nimbly hops from rock to rock, reaching the island easily.
acrobatics!
splash goes Erius!!
tries again
Erius hops out about halfway, then slips, falling into the water. It is rather cold. Though the flow is fast-moving, the area is rocky enough that he doesn't get swept up with the current. Hauling himself back up on the rock, he carefully makes his way after Illiana to the island.
Ren gets about halfway across and loses his balance, nearly toppling into the water. He manages to catch himself before slipping in, scrambling back into a standing position upon a rock. Once he regains his balance, he carefully picks his way across, joining the other two on the island.
While we're waiting for our remaining player to make the crossing, I'll take perception checks from those that have made it to the island. Perception checks all around, please.
Illiana gives a cursory glance around the small island, enough to determine that there are no other people on it, nor does their seem to be any immediate evidence that they were here.