Return to the Catacombs

[redwarrior]

Dorath Takes a couple rapid steps forward, and slings at the creature to Conweena's shield side #7, hoping to at least disrupt its attack.



Sling THACO 20 [1d20+2]=19+2=21 damage [1d4+1]=2+1=3

[sunphoenix]

Harker is ready for the coming attack alerted to the presence of evil, barking out directions, "Hold Position.. we hold the doorway.. make them come to us!"

He pointedly steps in front of Treasta making the skeletons engage him blocking their way to the Cleric of Paldon... raising his shield and bastard sword and swinging at the first one to come within sword reach!

Initiative [1d10]=1

Attack 1# Bastard Sword-1hd [1d20+1]=2+1=3

The swing is badly timed but striking is not his major concern... merely holding them off for Treasta to rebuke them with her divine blessing...

[Ithril]

These flesh-less guardians close on your position quickly. Conweena, closest to the niche in the SountWenzt corner is attacked first, the bony claws dig into her shield leaving deep gouges. Two of them reach Traesta, but their uncoordinated attacks nullify their advantage.

Harker, surrounded now by four of the eyeless adversaries makes a broad swing, engaging them all, more to keep them at bay than to actually strike any. The tip of his weapon rings as it barely catches the edge of a bone. Dorath's sling makes a whir as he winds it, clearing the passage.

Traesta begins her chanting, calm and sure of the power of Paldon.
Conweena, is equally purposeful with her axe, bringing the blade down deeply into a skull (number 8), shattering it. The hollow bones, weak and dry, crumble beneath her blow.
Dorath's stone flies towards the group, striking the skeleton on Conweena's left direct in the skull, but it passes through making a distinct 'popping' sound as it does so. The skeleton seems unbothered.

Finally Traesta finishes her prayers with a resounding command that echoes in the large chamber. She holds the symbol of Paldon aloft, as high as she can reach, and the skeletons all immediately focus their attention on it. They seem to resist for a moment, but then they are overcome, and they retreat back to the niches they were hidden in, where they resume their slumber.

Lannas is awestruck "What is this power your god has against the dead who walk?" He seems unsettled by what he has just witnessed.

You file into the room, no longer concerned for the hidden recesses now that you know their secret. Ahead is a short passage ending in another door, coated with thick dust and cobwebs. As you get closer, you see that the door is slightly ajar.

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[Rex]

Conweena

"Should we destroy them, one at a time?"

[gurusql]

Traesta

Traesta answers back quickly like it was a reaction and not a thought, "Yes, Paldon is the god of the sun, healing, inspiration, and life. He is an enemy of dark creatures, especially the undead. He commands they be destroyed."

[Rex]

Conweena

"One at a time then, watch my back."

Conweena will move to the first alcove with a skeleton in it and advance in and attack it.

Battle Axe [1d20+1]=20+1=21 to hit [1d20+3]=4+3=7 damage

[gurusql]

Traesta

"Got it!"

[sunphoenix]

Harker nods, "Indeed... one at a time.. I've got your Back. Leave no unquiet - evil dead unvanquished at our backs... smash them all!"

[BackworldTraveller]

Igber joins in - carefully levering the bones apart at the "joints" then breaking them on the niche's sill

And checks for any other items the niches may hold.

[ravenn4544]

Pebble also helps to permanently put to rest the skeletons before moving forward.

[redwarrior]

Dorath will start in on one with his staff.

[gurusql]

Traesta

Traesta is "supervising", but watching the groups back.

[Ithril]

Not one to speak without taking action himself, Harker moves towards the nearest niche; Igber, Pebble, and Dorath, goaded by Harker's reckless courage follow suit, each choosing their own niche to cleanse. Lannas voices his reservations about the idea (something about sleeping dogs), but Harker's action is too resolute and quick for him to register anything Lannas might say.

The disturbed webs no longer conceal the bones within, so Harker is easily able to strike true, destroying one of the skeletons with little effort. Unfortunately, this disturbance immediately revives the other skeletons, and they lash out without warning at anyone near their cove.



surprise attacks (numeric order) 18, 7, 18, 17
Harker is struck
Igber is not struck
Pebble is struck
Dorath is struck

Traesta, Conweena, and Lannas watch in horror as the dormant skeletons once again reawaken, charging out of their niches with deadly intent. Their companions Harker, Pebble, and Dorath scream in pain as the bony claws of the skeletons find new warm flesh on their fingers. Igber screams as well, but fortunately only from fright, and not from pain... yet. Blood flows as the four of them shrink from the task they had in mind.


Skeleton attack damage roll 4, 3, 2
Harker takes 4 points
Pebble takes 3 points
Dorath takes 2 points

Before your companions can react, the skeletons strike out from their niches seeking more of the fresh blood they once again sense. Their slack jaws seem to take on a menacing smile as they bear down on the warm life that they sense.

Harker and Dorath are fortunate, because the niches they are near only contain one viable skeleton. Igber and Pebble, however were not so fortunate.


Skeleton Attack Rolls (numeric order) 7, 14, 3, 10, 7, 6

The burning pain of the fresh wound in his arm does not stop Harker from defending against the skeleton's continuing assault.

Igber, caught between two dried corpses, finds he is overwhelmed, and though he avoids the danger of one, he cannot avoid both sets of slashing fingers. He feels the fire of pain as the ancient dead fingers slide along his arm, drawing fresh young blood, and he again cries out, this time in great pain.

Skeleton attack damage roll (against Igber) 2

Pebble, too is caught with two violent opponents, but his stronger defense allows him to escape further injury. Dorath is fortunate that he only has one opponent at hand, and he also avoids the slashing dangers.


Everyone: Please declare actions and roll initiative and (if applicable) attack rolls.
I'll have to reassess experience point distribution for this encounter. Sorry, Gurusql.

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[gurusql]

Traesta

For the record, the plan was to destroy them one at a time, not the way it turned out at all.

Traesta will attempt to turn them again.
Init: [1d10]=4
Random d20: [1d20]=9

[Rex]

Conweena

That was my intent anyways, if my wording wasn't clear I apologize.

She moves to and attacks #6.

Battle Axe [1d20+1]=20+1=21 to hit [1d8+3]=3+3=6 damage
Natural 20.

[BackworldTraveller]

Igber backs up into the corner, luring the skeleton by the simple expedient of slashing with his dagger...

Combat Roll: [1d20]=17

Sadly, his luck holds when the blade does almost nothing!

Dagger Damage: [1d3]=1

[redwarrior]

Dorath continues his declare action of swinging his staff.

init [1d10]=8
Staff [1d20]=13
Damage [1d6]=1

[sunphoenix]

Harker swings his Bastard Sword at the unquiet dead his determination to END this conflict.. and put them to rest...

Initiaitive [1d10]=6
Attack 1 w/Bastard Sword - Skeleton 1# [1d20 + 1]=2+ 1=3, Damage [1d8 + 3]=7+ 3=10

Sigh... again..Still 2nd level Can't hit crap!

[ravenn4544]

Pebble swings his sword ferociously at the attacking skeletons.

Init [1d10]=3

Longsword Attack [1d20+1]=20+1=21

Long sword damage [1d12+2]=10+2=12

[Ithril]

The restless skeletons continue to strafe at you mercilessly. Igber and Pebble are each flanked on both sides by skeletons, and they skillfully avoid the searching claws as they engage their own version of steel claws. Traesta, not expecting this unholy resurrection, fumbles through the collar of her shirt, seeking the symbol of Paldons power.

When Traesta finally finds the powerful symbol of Paldon, she holds it aloft, and once again commands the undead within her sight, but her words only echo in the stone chamber this time, incomprehensible for the disturbance of the melee. Her attempt to turn the unholy skeletons fails.

Pebble finally brings his long sword up in a powerful arc, shattering the hip bones that serve as a base for the evil assaulting him. Large chunks of hip and femur scatter fall to the floor, followed by the crashing sound of a splintering rib-cage. Unprepared for her failure, Traesta helplessly watches as the others fight.
I would calculate the additional critical hit damage for this strike, but the damage dealt was enough to destroy it anyway, even at the 50% penalty for an edged weapon.

Igber slashes at his opponents, and though he feels the blade of his meager dagger bite into the dried bones, it is clear that his weapon is ill suited for opponents who do not have flesh.

Igber dances yet with his opponents, only the quickness of his feet saving him from the bones the seek his flesh. Harker and Pebble are more fortunate to have hardened armor for the bony fingers to probe, and they fail to cause harm. Likewise Harker is unable to find the mark that will unset the bones set against him.

Dorath, in a corner with another of the all-too-active bones finds that a thick enough wad of his cloak will frustrate the bony fingers that are only so long in spite of their strength. but the opponent he faces has no such padding. The quarterstaff makes a loud crack striking the bones, unfortunately it only cracks some of the spine, and the form carries on as before unaware or uncaring about the damage.

Lannas finally breaks his fear, and comes to Dorath's aid with his falchion. The broad oddly curved blade finds the damaged area of the spine, splitting it from it's place in the standing mockery of life which finally collapses motionless.


Lannas initiative and attack roll [1d10]=10 [1d20]=12

Lannas damage roll [1d6+2]=4+2=6

Conweena reaches Pebble finally, and shows that the mass of her heavy axe head is superior to other bladed weapons, as once again it's broad weighty head smashes through the skeleton without resistance, sending splintered bones to every corner of the room.


Conweena critical strike damage [1d8+3]=6+3=9

Three skeletons remain. Two have cornered Igber, and one is cornered by Harker.

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There's a bit of debate on Dragonsfoot about how turning actually affects them, and the results of pursuit and continued attacks on turned undead. I figure just allowing you to smash them to pieces without protest is poor sport. It also allows for a more even distribution of xp this way.