Chapter 4: Shadows and Piercing Light

[Zhym]

"Agreed," says Elethil. He moves back to the choke point and readies his sword. He will bash any skeletons that approach with the flat of his blade.

Long sword (THAC0 16): [1d20+7] = 2+7 = 9, Dmg: [1d8+9] = 3+9 = 12 (S/M) [1d12+9] = 2+9 = 11 (L)

[onlyme]

Whitsell rubs his holy symbol while uttering his wish for the skeletons to leave them alone

[Grognardsw]

Flynn the fighter girds for any on-coming undead.

Flynn sword [1d20+1] = 9+1 = 10, dam [1d8+2] = 3+2 = 5

Deceidon aims his bow to fire arrows.

Bow Attack Arrow #1: To Hit [1d20] = 16, Damage [1d6] = 3
Bow Attack Arrow #2: To Hit [1d20] = 1, Damage [1d6] = 1

[Rukellian]

The group makes a dash towards the webbed entrance and starts to retreat through the corridors. Some of the members stay behind however and try to fend some of them off. It is at this time that Whitsell starts to enter a sort of prayer. Four of the shambling skeletons react to this and turn around, heading back to the temple. Many still remain though and the warriors' combined efforts only take down two of the approaching skeletons. 12 hostile enemies still remain, and continue to close in fast. (Remember, bladed attacks deal half damage against skeletons, using the flat of the blade counts as blunt which deals normal damage and missiles are automatically reduced to 1 damage, 2 if critical.)

----

Sunshine, who did not stick around the for skeleton fight, flees with the group back through the corridors. As he makes his way through the winding corridors, he takes note of the weakened supports barely holding certain areas of the tunnel up. The whole place looks like it could collapse at any moment. The elf's ears pick up the sounds of distressed cries up ahead. Investigating the source of the problem, it quickly becomes apparent that their own way out has been blocked by a partial cave-in of the tunnel. It will take some time to move the big rocks and debris out of the way.

Actions!

[Grognardsw]

Flynn and Deceidon start moving rock with the others, hoping to create enough space to scramble through. They glance back frequently in case enemies approach.

[Zhym]

Elethil continues to bash any approaching skeletons with the flat of his blade.

Long sword (THAC0 16): [1d20+7] = 13+7 = 20, Dmg: [1d8+9] = 2+9 = 11 (S/M) [1d12+9] = 11+9 = 20 (L)
Long sword (THAC0 16): [1d20+7] = 19+7 = 26, Dmg: [1d8+9] = 3+9 = 12 (S/M) [1d12+9] = 5+9 = 14 (L)

[onlyme]

Whitsell takes his sword and swings it flat , hoping to break off a few exposed rib bones, rather than pierce anything.

long sword attack [1d20+4] = 13+4 = 17 thac017; damage [1d8+4] = 5+4 = 9
long sword attack [1d20+4] = 16+4 = 20 thac017; damage [1d8+4] = 2+4 = 6

[Rukellian]

With each round being a minute long, and having more than two people on removing the rocks and debris, there will be an opening wide enough for everyone to escape through in 5 minutes time.

First round: Deceidon and Flynn join Amberlynn and Sunshine in helping remove the rubble and rocks. The rocks are large, the piles of debris very heavy. It takes the strength of two people to move something out of the way. Seeing their group members unclog the tunnel, Whitsell, Elithil and Captain Hal work together to help fend off the oncoming skeletal undead, buying precious time.

Elithil and Whitsell swing true as each of their attacks brings down a skeleton. Captain Hal misses at first, using the edge of his blade instead of the flat, but after observing the success of his companions attacks, he adopts the method as well and manages to bring a skeleton down on his second swing.

Most of the skeletons attacks are parried away in the middle of combat, however, one manages to sink its shortsword deep into one of the Captain's arms. Hal yelps in pain, having been caught with his guard down, and staggers backwards a bit. He starts to bleed profusely. Not wanting to risk any heavy blood loss, he steps away from combat and starts to tear at his clothing, creating make shift bandages.

5 skeletons downed on the first round, 7 remain, as far as Elithil and Whitsell can see.

Actions!

[Zhym]

Elethil bashes two more skeletons.

Long sword (THAC0 16): [1d20+7] = 17+7 = 24, Dmg: [1d8+9] = 1+9 = 10 (S/M) [1d12+9] = 11+9 = 20 (L)
Long sword (THAC0 16): [1d20+7] = 20+7 = 27, Dmg: [1d8+9] = 5+9 = 14 (S/M) [1d12+9] = 11+9 = 20 (L)

Seems a shame to waste a critical hit on something with a max of 8 HP. Maybe Elethil hit one so hard it smashed into another skeleton and killed it, too.

[Grognardsw]

"Quick now!"

Deceidon and Flynn continue to dig.

[onlyme]

Whitsell continues removing unwanted skeletons...
long sword attack [1d20+4] = 13+4 = 17 thac017; damage [1d8+4] = 7+4 = 11

[Rukellian]

Though the stalwart fighters put up quite the fight, they find that the skeletons move with ungodly speed now, their swords hitting against armor more frequently and more quickly than before. (They won initiative, a 1 was rolled for your group) Elithil is surprisingly nimble though and dodges the sword swings, Whitsell's plate armor forcing the swords to slide right off. Regaining their stances after being rattled with failed attacks, Whitsell and Elithil strike back with great ferocity. Elithil, using the flat of his blade, strikes two skeletons, sending them flying towards the cavern walls into heaps of bones. Whitsell, adopts a similiar approach and takes down a skeleton that is in front of him, taking but one hit as well to bring the fiend down.

As more skeletons start to walk over the remains of its predecessors, the group members unclogging the caved in tunnel starts to make some noticeable progress. A few of the heaviest rocks have been successfully moved and now its just the monotonous grind to get the rest of the earth and wooden supports out of the way. Even Amberlynn, probably the most fragile of the group, is pitching in now and helping scoop up rocks that are in the way.

3 more rounds until the entrance is wide enough for the group to pass through again. Three more skeletons once again take up the front lines of the undead wave, attacking the two fighters with all they have. Whitsell and Elithil can tell, from the lighting they have that there are at least 6 more in view. The echoing sounds of something else can be heard approaching the skirmish as well, the scraping of chains and... an intense heat.

Actions!

[Grognardsw]

Deceidon and Flynn frantically move rock.

[onlyme]

Whitsell keeps swinging his sword like a baseball bat, hoping to keep the bones at bay.

long sword attack [1d20+4] = 7+4 = 11 thac017; damage [1d8+4] = 4+4 = 8

long sword attack [1d20+4] = 16+4 = 20 thac017; damage [1d8+4] = 6+4 = 10

[Zhym]

"What in the name of—?" says Elethil as he keeps smashing skeletons. "I thought we stopped the ritual!"

Elethil realizes his strength would be better used helping the party dig out of this place. "If someone would take my place smashing bones," he calls, "I think I can speed our exit."

As soon as someone comes to a position to swap off against the skeletons, Elethil the mighty will go excavate.

[Zhym]

Would Elethil, with his great strength, be any quicker at clearing the way? If so, would he be able to swap positions with someone from the rubble-clearing team without giving skeletons a free attack or losing a round? It seems, now that we're so far into it, that Elethil's strength would be more useful clearing the way out.

[Rukellian]

Would Elethil, with his great strength, be any quicker at clearing the way? If so, would he be able to swap positions with someone from the rubble-clearing team without giving skeletons a free attack or losing a round? It seems, now that we're so far into it, that Elethil's strength would be more useful clearing the way out.

His higher strength stat would cut down the 3 rounds left to just one if he were to contribute to the debris clearing, he will be exhausted though and will not be able to attack twice in a turn while in that condition. I will leave this up to you guys, how you want to swap out characters, but know that switching places will open up an opportunity of attack for a skeleton, allowing it the chance to hit you before you finish swapping.

[Zhym]

Post edited.

[Grognardsw]

Flynn jumps over to replace Elethil. "Back undead!" He swings his sword at the nearest skeleton.

Sword Attack [1d20] = 15, damage s/m [1d8] = 5, damage L [1d12] = 10
Flynn has a +1 or 2 I think.

[Rukellian]

Yikes! It's been a week already. Sorry for neglecting this for so long.

Elithil, realizing that his strength would be better served unclogging the tunnel, quckly swaps places with Flynn to expediate the excavation. Two skeletons swing at Elithil, hoping to catch him during this swap, but miss on both occasions. Flynn and Whitsell hold up the staunch defense as they bring down skeleton after skeleton with their attacks. The undead foes manage to slip their blades between plates of iron and the shoulder of the fluid moving swashbuckler. Both combatants cringe in pain as their blood is drawn (Flynn loses 4 hp, Whitsell 5), but quickly counterattack with second strikes of their own.

The skeletal group has been brought down to one remaining straggler, however, the blazing heat that was noticed earlier is now making itself visible. Flames whip around the corner of the tunnel, chains following soon afterwards. The heavy breathing of a monster echoes with steam as its arm wraps around the wall.

"What in the name of—?" says Elethil as he looks over his shoulder. "I thought we stopped the ritual!"

Just as the elf finishes speaking, the last of the heavy debris clogging the tunnel breaks loose. A narrow opening is now available for the group to slip through.

After having finished bandaging his wound, Captain Hal looks up towards the fiery creature that is approaching and swears under his breath. "The cultist ritual master must have died back when the room collapsed! Quickly now, everyone get through and out of this damned place. With any luck, the tunnel will collapse on this thing, GO!" Hal stands in a defensive position with his longsword out at the ready; it looks like he is intending to fend off the beast while everyone escapes.

Actions!