She has had a change in attitude. Once her followers
are out of Sight, Yeraa offers an apology for her earlier suspicion.
She admits that the PCs have proved the truth of
their convictions by demonstrating bravery in facing Six
Kings and recovering Zaarani's solitaire.
Yeraa makes a formal declaration of alliance with the
PCs, if she has not already done so. The town of Graywall,
where the last piece of the Crown is hidden, is the Wordbearers'
destination. Yeraa says the Kech Volaar would be
honored to have the party travel at their side.

Before dawn, (but not before the PCs recover their healing surges, HP, and daily powers) one of the goblin scouts alerts everyone to an approaching enemy....

From ahead comes a skittering of loose rock. Yeraa looks up, then
qUickly draws her sword with a snarl. Shambling Up the path
before you are five of the Kech Shaarat hobgoblins you fought
earlier, their mutilated bodies risen as horrid zombies. in the
forefront is the dead BIadebearer leader, a scimitar clutched tight
in his bloody hands.

---

Using Guild of the Hero roll20. https://app.roll20.net/join/48848/eGkyJw

  "Thanks for the kind words Yeraa, hopefully we hold up to the expectations we've set."  Inn music theme goes here.

  With the approach of even more undead, Matt sighs as he prepares for Hammer Time™  "Somehow, I think killing them will be harder the second time around."  What, you're expecting a fight that occurs when you have several NPC allies to be more difficult than usual?  That would be crazy.

  OOC:00:40, Today: Matt rolled 25 using 1d20+5 with rolls of 20. Initiative.
Oh my.

Angel says, "Take down the leader first!" and moves to the side, fires a bolt at the lead zombie's shoulder, causing him to spin just enough for Angel to shoot again and hit the zombie in a vital part that causes massive damage. She then disappears behind a rock, although her allies can see her just fine.

---

Move: To be perfectly in line to shoot Chib
Minor: Quarry Chib
Standard: Preparatory Shot v Chib. Hit(17)!
 dmg: 7
 Quarry dmg: 4
ACTION POINT!
Fleeting Spirit Strike v Chib. Hit(21)!
 dmg: 24
 Sneak Attack dmg: 7
 Shift to hide behind rock.
 Stealth roll: 17

Chib HP: 54 - 7 - 4 - 24 - 7 = 12
This message was last edited by the player at 08:14, Mon 19 Nov 2012.

Matt moves to Adam's side, but unfortunately swings wide on what should have been an easy finish.  Yeesh.

---

Move: Duh.
Standard: Shield Feint, Rolled. A. Three.  Miss, (13 total).

Marks:  Chib Marked by Matt.

Chris said it was my turn, so I'm going to assume for now that all the enemy who acted before me did was a double move/Move+missed charge.

Matt HP: 42/42 S 10, V 11, AP 1.

Two goblin zombies step closer and fire their shortbows, but both miss their targets.

Adam decides to try and skirt past the boss zombie to flank it.  It begins to take a stab at Adam, but Matt smashes it!  Seeing the enemy defeated, Adam prepares for the remaining zombies.

---

Move.  Zombie AoO -> Matt AoO Kersmush!  Standard: Ready charge for first enemy in range.

Mits takes a step forward and raspberries at the nearest zombie, tormenting what passes for it's mind and making black goo spill from it's ears.

"Looks like none of these are the type to throw exploding ichor," she observes, "So we should be safe enough lined up like this.  But they'll be rushing us very soon.  Might wunna be ready with one of your radiant kersplosions, Carla."

---

Rolled a 3.  Mockery on G1 hits!  O.O
Future reference: if anyone misses with a melee, Mits will help them along with Rhyme Of The Blood-Seeking Blade.

Carla gives Mittens a bright smile. Literally, as she lights up the area by glowing like the angel she is. She holds her hands close together and an orb of electricity begins to crackle between her hands.

---

Minor: Light of Order
Standard: Readied Vanguard's Lightning
Trigger: Enemy comes within range

The weakest looking zombies shuffle forward!  Carla destroys one with her zap, and Adam another with his charge, but a third survives to charge Adam back!  But Adam dodges!

Maverick picks up a stray stone and slings it at the zombie that's next to Adam, felling it easily. Without another word, he hurries forward to the rock ahead of him to disappear behind it. Plain view of his allies, like Angel, but hidden from enemies.

---

Standard: Basic Ranged v Z3. Hit(16)! Z3 ded.
Move: To rock.
Stealth: 29

The hobgoblin zombies shuffle forward, apparently slower than the rotters.  Three of them swarm Adam, but he holds his own, and a fourth looks like it's heading for Matt.

Yeera steps forward and points her sword at the approaching hobgoblin zombie, buring it with dire radiance!  "Not one step closer!" she commands.

Two more goblins appear at the mouth of the cave.
This message was last edited by the GM at 23:59, Mon 19 Nov 2012.

Angel steps out and quietly says, "That's what you think." to the zombie that's headed for Matt. She buries a crossbow bolt into the zombie, but it's still going. Though it looks pretty bad off now. Angel would comment to Matt about finishing the thing off, but A) That's obvious. And B) It's the nearest enemy to Matt anyway.

---

Move: Out from behind rock to shoot H4
Standard: Probing Strike v H4. Hit(28)!
 dmg: 8
 SA dmg: 6
 Effect: +1 to your next attack roll against the target before the end of your next turn.

H4 HP: 26 - 14 = 12

  Matt could rush out and attempt to finish off the already wounded zombie, but he has different plans.  The hammer smith moves up behind Adam and backhands the closest zombie with his shield, sending it staggering back as Matt moves in besides Adam.

  "So, that whole more tactics thing.  Making sure they can't flank us unless they want to be easy targets themselves counts right?"  Matt wasn't going to admonish Adam for rushing off on his own into a zombie horde, that was the initiative order's fault.

---

Move: NW of Adam, Duh (with angle to avoid AoO)
Tide Of Iron: Vs H1, Hits (19 AC). 9 DMG.

Effects: Matt pushes H1 one SW, Shifts into H1's old spot.
Marks: Matt Marks H1.

H1 HP:  40-9 = 31/40

Matt HP: 42/42 S 10, V 11, AP 1.

I wonder if the 'Closest Zombie to Matt' was invisible?  Or if we're working off a different standard for what "closest" is, as the closest one had full health.  I don't regret my choice of actions though, since it will mean Adam won't get multiflanked.  9 Damage wouldn't have finished off H4 anyways.

The zombie archers shoot and miss!

Carla toddles over to Matt and Adam, standing behind the two meatshields big men. The child angel then unleashes divine energy in the form of an echoing (albeit adorable and toddler-like) voice, "Awake!"

At this, the zombies all get blown back, the weak one slams against a rock and falls to pieces, crumpling on the floor in a heap. The others look to be in a daze. All of them look to have been seriously injured by the divine energy.

---

Move: To right behind Adam
Standard: Rebuke Undead v H1 - H4. Hit(10,28,12,21)!
 dmg to H1,H3,H4: 15
 dmg to H2: 24 (rolled max on crit die)
 H4 dies.
 Push H1-H3 2 squares (and they are dazed)

H1 HP: 31 - 15 = 16
H2 HP: 40 - 24 = 16
H3 HP: 40 - 15 = 25
H4 HP: 12 - 15 = -3

Adam steps over to the zombie closest Maverick, slashes it's neck, then punches it's head off.  "That was... impressive, Carla."

Mits moves to stand defensively in front of Yeera and finishes off one of the zombies with a shot from her bow!

---

H2 HP: 16-16= bonked!  whee!

Maverick comes out from behind the rock, slings a stone at the goblin zombie that isn't hiding behind a rock and with an audible THUNK, hits the zombie in the head. Maverick finishes slinking off to the other rock, near Matt and crouches behind the rock.

---

Standard: Fleeting Spirit Strike v G2. Hit(20)!
 Shift 3, away from rock he was hiding behind.
 dmg: 17
 SA dmg: 6
 Total dmg: 23
 Shift 3 more to be in front of Matt and behind another rock.
 Stealth check: 28

G2 HP: 31 - 28 = 3

The hobgoblin zombie lurches at Adam, but the fighter is able to evade the attack!

Yeraa sings a encouraging song for the group then charges the hobgoblin zombie, stabbing it with her bastard sword!

---

H3 HP: 25-7=18
Feature I forgot about her:
Bard's Valor (when an ally within 10 squares bloodies an enemy or
reduces an enemy to 0 hit points)
The triggering ally gains 6 temporary hit points.

The Wordbearer goblins pile out of the cave!  Those with ranged weapons shoot at the hobgoblin zombie, nearly finishing it off!

---

H3 HP: 18-12=6

  Now that the undead horde has been significantly thinned out, Matt heads over to intercept the most intact zombie and advance the symptoms of decay right in their zombie kneecaps, bringing it in line with the rest of the 'Brush away from redeath' enemies. 

---

Move: Duh.
Standard: Steel Serpent Strike vs G1, Hits (21 AC).  17 DMG.  G1 Slowed, can't shift.

Effects:  G1 Matt Marked.  G1 is Slowed, and Can't Shift until End Of My Next Turn.
Whoo! 6 Temp HP for Matt! (Bloodied G1).

G1 HP: 20-17 = 3

Matt HP: 42+6/42 S 10, V 11, AP 1.

Angel moves forward and fires in quick succession at the zombies in the back. Her first bolt aimed at Matt's zombie manages to go RIGHT through an empty spot where a living creature would normally have some guts or flesh, not harming the zombie in any way. The second bolt finishes the other zombie who is, of course, no threat to Matt.

---

Move: 10' Southeast of Mittens, 10' North of Adam
Minor: Quarry on H3.
Standard: Twin Strike v G1, G2. Miss(15), Hit(23)!
 dmg: 6

This is where a +1 would have been perfect. But as low of HP as these guys currently have, if I hit him with setup strike, he'd die anyway. XD

G2 HP: 3 - 6 = Re-dead.

The last zombie punches Matt!  And it doesn't even hurt.

---

Matt HP: 42+6-3=42+3/42 S 10, V 11, AP 1.

"You hit like a corpse!" Mittens mocks.

The zombie collapses.

Adam shrugs.  "Well... with that taken care of...  Perhaps we can finish our night's rest?"

"I think at this point, a short nap at best would be expected if we don't get moving in ten minutes to avoid more zombies."

Angel says, "Well sure, but at this point, we can expect to be attacked by zombies no matter where we go. Unless there IS, in fact, a safe place we can go from here that's near enough to not bother going back to sleep...?"

Yerra shrugs.  "None I know."

Mits yawns.  "Me neither.  But I don't foresee any more combat for us tonight.  Not that I saw this last one coming...  Starting to wonder if my crystal ball is broke.  Couldn't even see ahead a few seconds to help Matt that one time."

"Sleep sounds good," Adam agrees, "The Wordbearers did a good job spotting that last ambush, so we should be fine."

  Matt didn't exactly trust Mitten's precognition outside of the occasional dice buff anyways.  Though through no fault on Mittens's personal part.  "Right, let me know when I'm needed up then."

Angel nudges Mittens. "Your crystal ball isn't broke. Just jaded. It confused a horde of zombies with normal wildlife or scenery because it's become so commonplace for us."

Angel, Carla and Mav all head back to sleep.

The Emerald Claw is the obvious suspect for haVing raised
the Kech Shaarat warriors as undead, but any search
of the surrounding area shows no sign of the Claw's
presence.
Yeraa is anxious to discover why her scouts didn't
return, leading the party along a side trail running up and
around a low peak. There, the PCs not only find the Kech
Volaar well, but they make a surprising discovery.

A dilapidated airship floats moored to the cliff face by a tight
web of ropes and lanyards. The name "Kordanga" graces its prow
in faded black letters. The crew is a mix of humans, goblins, and
hobaobli11S, including a half-elf at the helm with the Mark of
Storm 0n his forearm.
Yeraa is relieved to see that no harm has come to the seekers,
but Tikulti reports that they and the crew drove off a
Claw attack just minutes before. Although no lives were
lost, alchemist's fire arrows damaged two of the airship's
struts. Yeraa tells the PCs that Kordan8a has come from
Graywall to pick them lip. Now, that trip is delayed.
Delan, a taciturn House Lyrandar exile, leads the
friendly twelve-person airship crew ofKordanga. The captain
has worked for Yeraa and the Kech Volaar for about
a year now. From the crew, the PCs learn that the lower
decks contain the crew's quarters and the barracks for
the Kech Volaar seekers and the PCs, converted from old
cargo space.
It takes a day for the ship's crew to make repairs, during
which time a character who succeeds on a DC 15 Insight
check realizes that the Emerald Claw's tactics weren't
designed to seize or destroy the ship, but to damage it.
From that conclusion, the PCs might deduce that the
Claw's purpose was not to prevent their journey to Graywall,
but to delay it.

---

Mits rolled a 1.  Adam rolled a 2.  Also, link 2 roll20 for Tim: https://app.roll20.net/join/48848/eGkyJw
This message was last edited by the player at 15:49, Mon 10 Dec 2012.

Angel, Carla and Maverick are apparently in the mindset that these things just simply happen. I mean, just the other day, they were attacked by enemies they already killed. Nevertheless, the three are more than happy to help out. Angel's idea of helping out usually involves "suggestions", but she proves to seem somewhat presumptuous. However, her ideas are undeniably good ideas and time savers.

Carla waits on people, serving cold glasses of water or other such menial chores her little self can do. Of course, she is more than happy to get to small spaces when needed.

Maverick pretty much does what he's asked, though he occasionally shows disdain for Angel's approach and well, anyone who might be trying to boss him around.

Angel does, however, immediately back down if someone calls her on bossiness. No matter how bad her diplomacy roll, she is too paranoid of making enemies of friends at the moment to not be on her best behavior.

---

Insight rolls:
4(+9),3(+11),2(+8) Yep, all three of my characters rolled low. XD

Diplomacy roll to keep Angel from seeming bossy: 6+2=8
Intelligence roll to see if Angel has good ideas: 15+1=16
This message was last edited by the player at 16:12, Mon 10 Dec 2012.

  It was a nice change of pace to put tools to use building and repairing things like Matt used to, instead of smashing people and places apart.  "I'm not the only one figuring this damage was aimed only to delay, am I?  You don't need to be Mitten's to see someone hoping we do all the work for them and trying to pick up the results later."

OOC:  Insight, 23 total.  WHOOO Detective (Or missing master) Guardian Fighter!

"Our enemy needed time to prepare a trap for us," Mittens says, "Redundant bard is redundant."

Adam hrms.  "But we've already accomplished what we needed to here.  Only reason I can see for that sort of delaying tactic is if they're expecting re-enforcements soon or if they're fortifying a position.  If they had the numbers to overwhelm us now, there's little reason not to.  So we need to hurry lest they be ready for us."

Mits is banging the side of her head, trying to force a prediction.

"I see...  A hated face.  Demise.  Invisible thieves.  And I sense a dark betrayal.  Poison!"

Why couldn't it have been something nice for once? Lucky thinks to himself with a groan.

Maverick seems to be jotting down notes. Then says, "A hated face... could be that elf with the skull-mask. Demise.. well yeah. Our enemy will meet their demise. Invisible thieves... we need to get ourselves some means of proof against thieving. And the ability to counter invisibility somehow. Maybe by leaving ketchup or chalk or something on the ground for the thieves to step in and leave a trail. Dark betrayal... I'll get back to that. Poison... do any of use resist the effects of poison?"

Carla raises her hand.

Maverick says, "Then after we're betrayed, maybe Carla can take point with Matt. Dark Betrayal... how do we prepare ourselves for that?"

Angel says, "One way is to eliminate any *need* of betrayal. Another way is to not have friends in the first place. Can't be betrayed if there's nobody to betray you. Lastly, we need to be very aware of our surroundings and agree ahead of time that we will each take turns leading the team. If whoever leads us is the traitor, they can't *lead* us into a trap if they aren't leading. So switching up leaders would reduce the chance."

  Matt can deal with a good chunk of save ends Poison attacks, Item or plot related poisons are likely not Keyword covered in his case.   "I haven't lost enough optimism to expect it to be one of us that would knowingly do that sort of thing."  Unless the Raven queen wants to move up the timetable for bringing cool people into the afterlife.  She could be kind of a possessive *censored* that way, just look at the stock description of revenants for one thing.

EDIT: People back from the dead sporting raven claw stylized forearms and lower legs? Nah, totally a coincidence.
This message was last edited by the player at 06:30, Sat 15 Dec 2012.

"Well said, Matt," Adam agrees, "After all we've been through together, none of us would knowingly betray the others.  But I've been told it's easy to frame someone or for circumstances to give the appearance of betrayal.  So let's all keep in mind that appearances can be deceiving.  And I'm more than happy with someone else being the official 'leader.'  Not that we've ever made a choice without everyone having a chance to offer a better idea.  But either Matt or myself should take point at all times or I'll feel like a craven worm for hiding behind my friends who aren't built to take as much of a pounding."

Mits gives up on banging her head.

"Nothing else that isn't obvious.  Like... we'll be fighting more undead.  Oh well.  Maybe I should just stick to singing songs about the past."

Carla goes to put a comforting hand on Mittens, smiles up at her, and shakes her head. She offers up a note. Mittens will find it reads "Never give up. Your predictions help." There is a smiley drawn after the sentence. :)

Angel says, "I'm not saying it would be one of us. But if someone were to influence us with magic or set us up, it could very well be one of us. Even if no ill intent was there. Nevertheless, I am touched you all feel so confident about me." She puts an arm around Matt and another around Adam in a kind of side-hug to both. "Still, I think we'll be alright as long as we all keep that faith in each other. Whoever else might betray us, I won't be so heartbroken."

Maverick says, "I would... if it was Yeera or her people. It's possible one of her own might betray Yeera too."

Angel says, "Then we'll have to kick the betrayal's butt, subdue the traitor, and find out what the cause is. Until then... at least we see it coming. Thanks, Mittens."

  Matt nods, "Seeing people attacking us coming is just routine.  Seeing more subtle problems coming is a bit more niche, at the very least."  Matt's still bitter about all prior promises of aid getting home turning out to be the empty kind, but has decided that was a problem with Mittens's source and not Mittens herself.

  At least he's not as whiny about it as a certain Paladin with a magic shield.  Then again, Matt didn't have Tiamat regularly chasing him either.

An hour after KordanBa leaves the vicinity of Six Kings,
Graywall comes into view.
You see a faint pall of smoke alonB the western horizon. At your
side, one of the crew confirms that this is Graywall, about two
hours out.
Approximately three hours after leaving Six Kings, after
flying about 60 miles, KordanBa sails into Graywall.
Graywall passes below you, a sprawlinB mass of stone buildinBs
and canvas workers' shelters obscured by the smoke of wood fires
and furnaces. The wall that surrounds the town shows siBns of
recent and onBoinB construction. To the west rise new buildinBs;
to the east are weat quarries where stone is cut. Ahead, your
destination is the foreiBn quarter, called the Calabas-or, as the
locals refer to it, "the Kennel."
Graywall has nothing resembling an airship dock, so KordanBa
moors above the House Orien enclave in the foreign
quarter, where Delan has allies. Further, the Graywall
Orien enclave can't afford to turn away the Kech Volaar's
business.
THE ORB
Either here or earlier on the airship, Yeraa tells the PCs
of the final missing component of the Crown, and of the
Wordbearers' plans for retrieving it.
"Dhakaani ruins are the deep foundations of Graywall, and it is
there that our seers say Murkoorak's orb lies. Rumor and leBend
place it beneath what has become the Calabas. Now, the circlet
will show us the way."
While Yeraa pinpoints the location ofMurkoorak's orb
within the foreign quarter, the PCs can accompany the
Wordbearers as security. In any event, the characters have
some time to wander the foreign quarter (or any other part
of the town) on their own if they wish.
Streetwise Check
DC 12: Emerald Claw aBents have been spotted in the foreiBn
quarter in recent days (thouBh the PCs see no siBn of them).
DC 17: Demise was here for a time, but she teleported to
Sharn a day aBo by way of the Orien enclave.
THE ROAR
Yeraa and her seekers trace Murkoorak's orb to an ancient
goblin shrine located beneath the Roar-a huge open plaza
within the Calabas.
For the better part of a day, you walk the foreian quarter with
Yeraa and her best seekers, as the circlet allows her to subtly
sense distance and direction to the orb. In the end, you find yourselves
led to a weat public plaza. This is the Roar, named for the
House Tharashk draaonne statue at its center.
Show the players the illustration "The Roar" (see Adventure
Book One, page 31).
Yeraa stops suddenly in a space between two tents. ''This is it,"
she whispers, but when you look around, she taps her blade on
the cobblestones. "Below. Two hundred feet or so. The orb is
buried here."
Armed with this knowledge, the group returns to KordanBa,
where Yeraa consults an old map that indicates
that the orb's hiding place is an ancient goblin shrine now
buried beneath the cobbles of the plaza. Claiming the orb
should simply require digging down to it-in the center of
one of the busiest parts of the town. Yeraa suggests setting
up a fake merchant stall to cover the digging. Once the
job is done, KordanBa, the PCs, and the Word bearers can
return to Sharn victorious.

The PCs and the Kech Volaar must find some way to conceal
an archeological dig they are about to undertake in
the middle of the Roar. By night, the plaza becomes the
Goblin Market, a great bazaar where monstrous races and
humanoids rub shoulders and nearly everything has a
price. The noise and chaos of the market gives the PCs and
the Wordbearers the cover they need.

This encounter is a skill challenge in which the PCs
disguise and guard the goblin dig site over the course
of a night. The default assumption is that the PCs use
Yeraa's idea and set up a market stall over the site of the
dig. However, if the PCs have other ideas, run with them.
The only stipulation is that the seekers' activities be fully
obscured, including covering up the noise of the dig and
having some way to hide approXimately 10 cubic feet of
cobblestones and dirt. Simply shielding the site with walls
on all sides and putting up a "Keep Out" sign will attract
the attention of House Tharashk. The PCs must create the
impression that they belong in the market.
The choice of what kind of stall to set up is left to
the players, and you should let them make those plans
themselves. A party that has an abundance of treasure
or mundane gear might decide to sell some of it off. PCs
who came to town with cash on hand could resell relics or
stolen goods obtained from the town's less savory quarters,
after roleplaying those risky shopping expeditions.
The relatively small price of 10 gp obtains a stall tent
with side walls and tables high enough to obscure the goblins'
dig. Layout the poster map and pick one ofthe larger
enclosures in the market as the place where the Wordbearers
and the PCs set up shop.
By arrivin8 early, you lay claim to the spot Yeraa identified,
qUickly settin8 up your stall to obscure the di8 site from all sides.
The seekers already have the cobblestones pried up from the
8round as other stalls be8in to fill the space around you.
Midway through the skill challenge (after either 6 successes
or 2 failures), the Wordbearers reach their first goal.
The Kech Volaar are experts at excavation, di88in8 swiftly
throuah six feet of 8 rave! and dirt to find a cracked slab ofbloodred
stone. With pry bars and rock hammers, the seekers force an
openin8, revealin8 a fivefoot-wide shaft headin8 directly down.
The H8ht of a shrouded lantern shows a rouah rock wall laden
with handholds and footholds.
Yeraa's plan is for the Word bearers to descend while the
PCs hide their activities by continuing the skill challenge.
If any of the PCs are insistent on accompanying the Wordbearers
down, Yeraa explains that the shrine below is a
goblin holy site that might be warded against nongoblin
intruders. She thinks it's less risky for her and her seekers
to do the dirty work.
She points to the PCs' sendin8 stone (or gives one to them
if they returned hers earlier). With such an easy means
of staying in contact, she has no fear of being ambushed
below without access to help. Although Yeraa needs the
circlet to find the orb, she does not object to leaving the cord
with the characters for safekeeping if they insist she do so.

NIGHT IN THE MARKET
Givin8 the Wordbearers time to find the orb requires equal parts
observation, distraction, and in8enuity.
Setup: The PCs must play the part of Graywall merchants
while they keep unwanted attention away from the
goblins' dig. Each round of the skill challenge represents
about one·halfhour of time. At your option, award a +2
bonus to checks on which the players effectively roleplay
their interactions with customers, merchants, and the
other folk of the Goblin Market.
Level: 4 (XP 875).
Complexity: 5 (12 successes before 3 failures).
Primary Skills: Athletics, Acrobatics, Bluff,
Diplomacy.
Athletics (DC 11): Two characters engage in some entertaining
demonstration of physic31 prowess to keep passersby :?
distracted away from what's happening in the st31l. z
Two PCs can put on a demonstration of combat moves,
with one character making the check while the other aids
him or her.
This skill can be used to gain 1 success per round in
this challenge. No more than three Athletics checks can
be attempted during the challenge.
Acrobatics (DC 11): The character uses the roar of the
crowd to cover the goblins' hammers with a display of juggling,
tumbling, or some other type of performance.
This skill can be used to gain 1 success per round in
this challenge. No more than three Acrobatics checks can
be attempted during the challenge.
Bluff(DC 13): The character entertainingly inflates the
history of wares being sold, invents a fanciful tale to charm
or distract passersby, or diverts the attention of a customer
who sees evidence of the dig.
This skill can be used to gain 1 success per round in
this challenge.
Diplomacy (DC 12): The character placates an angry
merchant, sweet·talks a monstrous mercenary band
looking for a fight, or stays on the good side of a passing
Tharashk patrol.
This skill can be used to gain 1 success per round in
this challenge.
Secondary Skills: InSight, Perception.
Insiaht or Perception (DC 12): By watching onlookers
carefully, the character knows who among the crowd
might be a potential problem, and how to approach that
person to distract him or her.
Each successful InSight check or Perception check,
grants a +2 bonus to the next primary skill check made in
this challenge.
Success: The PCs manage to keep up their charade
long enough for the Kech Volaar to successfully complete
their mission in the hidden shrine below.
Failure: The PCs gain no experience points from this
skill challenge, and their actions draw the hostile atten·
tion of a group of orc mercenaries. The orcs suspect that
the PCs are hiding something valuable within the stallsomething
they plan to steal. These mercs know the
market well, and they time their attack to coincide with
the absence of any Tharashk patrols.
Level 4 Encounter (850 XP)
• 1 orc eye of Gruumsh (level 5 controller; MM 204)
• 2 ore berserkers (level 4 brute; MM 203)
• 2 arc raiders (level 3 skirmisher; MM 203)
To stage this encounter, cluster the PCs around the stall
and put each orc in a square adjacent to at least one char·
acter. The mercenaries make melee attacks only, and they
all flee as soon as anyone of their number is bloodied.

"The Roar:"
http://images1.wikia.nocookie....es/6/6f/Seekers9.jpg

The Kech Volar:
http://cdn.obsidianportal.com/...6654/wordbearers.jpg

When they were wandering the foreign quarter, Angel and Maverick wound up picking up some information that seems to check when both of them compare notes: the Emerald Claw had been here recently. Neither Angel nor Maverick know anything more on the topic, though, and that's all they *need* to know to make more haste.

When Yeraa presents her plan, Angel, Carla, and Maverick all seem to think it's a good idea (and don't have any better ideas). Carla *does* seem uncomfortable with the idea, but she doesn't object.

Angel agrees that the cord should go with Yeraa to make finding the artifact go faster.

Once the tent is set up, the group begin their act (unless some reason Matt, Mitts or Adam wind up feeding my post to the fail gator by deciding against Yeraa's plan);

Angel does some REDICULOUSLY amazing feats of acrobatics that even her team had no idea she could do. She does some foot archery ( http://timothius.deviantart.co...ry/?q=angel#/d5bxnqj ), and walks on a tightrope while juggling, drawing attention completely away from the tent for a time. She isn't just juggling light-weight things, either. She is juggling 5 to 8 lb objects. Carla assists with these performances where she can, such as providing arrows or doing a single-hand stand on Angel's hand, flittering her wings to help balance.

Maverick helps too, mostly doing backflips or other such not-totally-showoff style acrobatics, and only in an attempt to aid Angel in stretching out the performance. He even takes a turn at tight-rope walking, though he doesn't juggle while he's at it.

At one point, though, someone insults Maverick and he glares at them, looking ready to attack, but Angel smooths it over, petting Maverick and hiding him behind her while explaining it was a misunderstanding.

When it comes time to over-embellish about the items being sold, Angel and Carla assist Maverick, making his story believable. Maverick seems decent at coming up with stories for the items he sells. Hilariously, he drops hints at what the characters have ACTUALLY been through. Such as an item having been coveted by a demon, an item being from another world, an item that had been used to uncover untold treasures... so on.

At one point, Angel is so confident from how well she has been doing, she decides to do some arm wrestling with Adam. Seems her confidence has strengthened her beyond her normal limitations and is putting up an amazing arm-wrestle.

Maverick demonstrates combat maneuvers and, to the amazement of passers-by, seems to not only know what he's doing, but occasionally kicks the butt of volunteers who challenge how authentic his combat prowess is.

Through it all, Angel and Maverick seem pretty insightful and spot people's intents  well enough. But Carla seems to be tuned into the universe as she predicts and often passes notes to the others, explaining what would be best for who. Angel eagle-eye spots most of the people Carla seems to predict.

All around, the night seems to be going great!

---

Angel Streetwise: 11 + 2 = 13
Carla Streetwise: 1 + 3 = 4
Mavvy Streetwise: 9 + 3 = 12

None of my characters made the DC 17.

Athletics(DC 11), Acrobatics(DC 11), Bluff(DC 13), Diplomacy(DC 12)

Angel Insight: 7 + 9 = 16 (grants +2 to a skill)
Angel Perception: 14 + 9 = 23 (grants +2 to a skill)
Carla Insight: 17 + 11 = 28 (grants +2 to a skill)
Carla Perception: 8 + 6 = 14 (grants +2 to a skill)
Mavvy Insight: 8 + 8 = 16 (grants +2 to a skill)
Mavvy Perception: 3 + 8 = 11

 Angel Athletics: 20 + 6 = 26*
 Angel Acrobatics: 18 + 12 = 30 (+4 from Carla and Maverick assist) = 34*
 Angel Bluff: 9 + 2 = 11#
 Angel Diplomacy: 19 + 2 = 21*

 Carla Athletics: 11 + 0 = 11#
 Carla Acrobatics: 15 + 1 = 16*
 Carla Bluff: 9 + 4 = 13#
 Carla Diplomacy: 11 + 4 = 15*

 Mavvy Athletics: 10 + 6 = 16*
 Mavvy Acrobatics: 10 + 12 = 22*
 Mavvy Bluff: 11 + 3 = 14 (+4 from Angel and Carla assist) = 18*
 Mavvy Diplomacy: 1 + 2 = 3 :p

* 8 successes, # 3 assists, :p 1 failure.
This message was last edited by the player at 23:42, Thu 20 Dec 2012.

  Alas while Matt's own insight makes Carla's look slightly naive by comparison, that sort of thing is of little help collecting the words on the street in general.  Before the distraction antics, Matt requests Mittens does NOT do a fortune Tellers booth, because she'd probably be too brutally accurate about somebody getting a divorce or something.

  While most of his friends are dealing with high profile showmanship, Matt has a more simple (if loud) setup on his end.  World's smallest (non magical) smithing setup.  He mostly deals with sharpening blades, fixing up the occasional chunk of armor, and developing a small stack of daggers and shuriken.

  He's able to refrain from tossing one of those at the one insulting Maverick as a free demonstration.  Though that may be more a self awareness of his DEX mod not being so hot compared to any self restraint.

  Through all the hammertime, Matt keeps an eye on the proceedings to pass along any visual or emotional cues others *cough, Adam* might miss through the ridiculous heist plan.

---

Streetwise for giggles: 8 (good thing Street check doesnt count towards failures)
Perc/Insight: Auto Pass.
Athletics: Auto Pass even without bonus.

1 Success,  As many Perc/Insight assists as desired from others.

Epic Tim post is epic.
This message was last edited by the player at 06:11, Fri 21 Dec 2012.

"Why not?" Mittens asks Matt, "Afraid I'll have nothing for 'em?  'Cause that's what I'm expecting at this point."

She does what she can to help out, giving accurate, if often tragic histories for the items being bought and/or sold.  Whether Adam loses to Angel on purpose or not is anybody's guess, but he has a smile on his face as he does.  He also helps out, and the team is successful at keeping the plan a secret!

---

Only rolled one 1... which would succeed anyway for most of these DCs.

The crowd is thinnin8 out as the Goblin Market be8ins to shut
down. Then Tikulti's voice suddenly comes throu8h the sendin8
stone. "The orb is found and taken," he whispers. "We are
makin8 our way back now."

You spot a familiar face in the distance. Demise is here, in dark
leather robes, watchin8 you with a thin smile. Nearby, three
8nolls dressed in scale armor cackle as they char8e forward.
Whisperin8, two small humanoid shadows flit from near
Demise toward you.

---

https://app.roll20.net/join/48848/eGkyJw
working on putting map together...

03:10, Today: Matt rolled 11 using 1d20+5 with rolls of 6. initiative.

With a ghostly shriek, the wraiths float forward, charging at Angel with arms flailing.  One manages to hit!

---

Angel HP: 48+4thp-6=26

While the PCs are fighting, someone ascends the tunnel,
but they are invisible.
(Perception DC 15 to hear the person leaving the stall).

Maverick is forced to assume the invisible person ascending is one of Yeraa's people. Seeing the wraiths attack, he narrows his eyes and slinks towards them almost like he's a wraith himself. With a nasty slash, he near-bloodies the wraith, despite it's ghostly nature, then slinks off just as quickly as he came, vanishing into the shadows like a ghost who haunts wraiths...

---

Standard: Fleeting Spirit Strike v Wraith 2. Crit(30)!
 Shift 3 to flank with Angel before attack.
 dmg: 18 + 5 (crit d6) + 5 (Sneak Attack) = 28. /2 = 14
 Shift 3 over to Matt.
Move: To hide behind a tent.
Stealth Check: 29

Wraith 2 HP: 30 - 14 = 16

Demise points a finger at Angel, causing an arcane curse to appear over her head!  She then fires a blast of dark energy at her, but it deflects harmlessly off the statue in the center of the market.

Angel asks aloud, "Why me?" before she steps away from the wraiths and fires at them. The arrow goes right through, but was timed wrong and thus does no harm. Darn you, carnies! However, she finishes moving away and hides behind a tent like Maverick did.

---

Standard: Fleeting Spirit Strike v Wraith 2. Miss(15)
 Shift 3 before attack.
 Shift 3 after attack. Or move. Doesn't matter. She's now behind a tent.

One of the gnolls rushes through the market and savagely charges, but fumbles the attempt, looking rather pathetic.

Mittens takes a step back and fires an arrow into the ghost's face!  "Focus on this one till it drops, then the other one!"

---

Wraith 2 HP: 16-(18/2)=7 Next time You or Ally attack target before End Of Your Next Turn,
Attacker rolls twice and uses either.

A second gnoll mercenary charges Mittens, hitting hard!

---

Retcon!  Last gnoll hit...  Mits shift provoked AoO.  Majestic worded self.
Mittens HP: 38-14-5-15+13 from magestic word = 17, 6 of 7 surges.

Adam steps over and hacks at the merc that most recently hurt Mittens.  "I'll try and keep these gnolls occupied, if you can deal with the ghosts, please, Carla?"

---

Gnoll 2 HP: 54-10=44 and marked by adam

The third gnoll charges Adam, hitting him with it's flail!

---

Adam HP: 43-9=34 and marked by merc 3

Carla begins walking forward, spreading her wings. She whispers, "Leave." and the wraiths and gnolls scream in terror before a bunch of divine beams seem to rain down on them, causing the wraiths and one of the gnolls to back away. They all now know they are up against an angel. She points at the seriously hurt wraith and quietly says, "Rest." With that, the wraith shrieks and vanishes from sight, moving on to the afterlife.

---

Minor: Maledictor's Doom on W1,W2,M1,M2,M3.
 Each target take -1 to attack rolls and save throws until the end of your next turn.
 If the target is hit by a fear attack before the end of your next turn, you push
 the target 1 square as a free action.
Standard: Scourge of Heaven v W1,W2,M1,M2,M3. 20, 29, 13, 11, 23
 dmg: 9 (fear)
 The target also takes -2 to attacks until the end of your next turn.
 Aversion Staff: +2 all your defenses vs target until effect ends.
 Maledictor's Doom: push 1 square.
ACTION POINT!
Standard: Rebuke Undead v W1,W2. 20, 20
 dmg: 6 RADIANT (minimum. Bleh. At least I hit them both!)
 You push the target 2 squares and it's dazed until the end of your next turn.

W1,W2,M3 are all taking -3 to attack rolls and -1 to save throws.

W1 HP: 30 - 7(15/2) - 5(vulnerability radiant) = 18 (Can't regenerate)
W2 HP: 7 - 7(15/2) - 5(vulnerability radiant) = gone (Can't regenerate)
M3 HP: 54 - 9 = 45
This message was last edited by the player at 06:13, Wed 02 Jan 2013.

  Matt looks to his pals,  "So, rush the 'we always knew they were bad news' lady?"  Matt is met with a resounding yes, with a side of Carla going all Angel Of Death Baby on the dead.

  Of course, the problem wasn't the enemies.  The problem was that the civilians were causing more harm than good by not having the sense to make way for an irate hammer and shield wielding man in scale mail.  So Matt goes north around tents and idiots, then he vaults through another tent and around another idiot, forcing him to shoulder rush his way through the tents by Demise and only succeeding in obliterating a tend pole instead of undead skull with his hammer for his troubles.

  Matt looks over to the Civilian next to him that prevented the blacksmith from using a less ridiculous path "This is your fault, by the way."

---

Move: duh.
Move: through a tent, guaranteed athletics save.
ACTION POINT
Charge Vs Demise: Through two tent tiles, guaranteed athletics saves.   Rolled a Three. missed by 1.
  Mittens Reaction: Blood Seeking Blade.  Misses by one ;.;

Effects:  Demise Marked by Matt.

Reminder:  Matt has doomsday AoO/Combat Challenge of +14 Vs. AC; 1d10+10 DMG.

Matt HP: 46/46 s 10, v 11, AP 0.

The remaining wraith vanishes!

Maverick peeks around from behind the tent and fires a bolt at the gnoll who stepped back, hitting it in the shoulder. Maverick then successfully evades the gnoll noticing where he is.

---

Move: To corner of tent.
Standard: Shadow Strike v Gnoll Merc2. Hit(29)
 dmg: 14 (with SA)
 Stealth Roll: 25

M2 HP: 45 - 14 = 31

Demise curses Matt then hits him with her mace!

"Surrender the artifacts and I'll spare you!"

---

Matt HP: 42-7=35

Angel moves up and shoots at the gnoll that's just been injured. Firing two bolts quickly, one hits, the other ironically bounces off the first one. No Robin Hood arrow-splitting this time. "Sorry. I have a policy. When people attack me, I don't stop until they are unconscious or dead." Angel answers Demise matter-of-factly.

It's only technically a lie since Angel would actually try to run to save her life if it really came down to that. But it hasn't yet.

---

Move: To Mittens and Carla
Minor: Quarry M2.
Standard: Twin Strike v M2. Hit(26)! Miss(14)
 dmg: 8

M2 HP: 31 - 8 = 23

One of the mercs shifts to get closer to flanking Adam and takes a swing with his flail, but Adam ducks in time to evade the attack!

Mits shifts, shoots, and misses.

The second gnoll steps forward, swings at Adam, and whiffs.

"Thanks, Carla," Adam says, hacking at the Gnoll that just attacked him.

---

Gnoll 2 HP: 31-12=19

The third gnoll shifts to flank Adam and nearly scores a hit, but Adam parries just in time!

As the pedestrians scatter, Carla glows brightly and headshakes at Demise, shaking her finger scoldingly. Carla doesn't have to say a thing for Demise to know a counter-offer from beyond this world has been made. Namely either stop attacking or get hurt badly.

---

Minor: Light of Order (glow)
Standard: Offering of Justice on Demise

If Demise attacks anyone, she takes 14 dmg. If she doesn't, she gains 5 temp hp.

  "Oh, well since you asked so nicel-"  Matt's interrupted by cursed mace to the gut. "Trying to beat somebody to death is the opposite of offering mercy, even if you're only pretending."   He returns the favor by checking Demise's reflexes, violently...  Matt knee smashes with hammer.

---

Standard: Steel Serpent Strike Vs Demise.  Hit (25 AC).  11 DMG.

Effects Demise marked by Matt.  Demise can not Shift, and is Slowed until End Of Matt's Next turn.

Demise HP: 42-11= 31/42

Matt HP: 35/46 s 10, v 11. AP 0

The remaining Filching Wraith appears next to Maverick as it claws at him, but Maverick has amazing reflexes and dodges even though the wrath had the surprise of being invisible!

Maverick immediately hops backward away from the wraith, pulls out a wand and the wand glows briefly. The wraith feels pain wracking its thoughts and then sees Maverick vanish just like the wraith did!

---

Move: Shift
Minor: Draw wand
Standard: Eyebite v W1's will. Hit(15)!
 dmg: 5 2

W1 HP: 18 - 2 = 16
This message was last edited by the player at 05:55, Thu 03 Jan 2013.

Demise screams when kneecapped!  She braces herself for another attack and yells at her minions, "Get over here and protect me, fools!"

---

Full defense.  Gains the 5 thp.

Angel scoots over to behind Mittens and next to Carla. She fires a bolt into her quarry's chest, piercing his heart. He collapses. "They'll die if they try, fool! How about you surrender and we consider sparing you?"

---

Move: Shift over to Carla
Standard: Twin Strike v M2. Hit(23)! Hit(22)!
 dmg: 16
 Quarry dmg: 4
Minor: Quarry on M3

M2 HP: 19 - 20 = Dead

"Kinda blocked in," Mittens says, "Can't shoot without getting attacked, and nowhere to back away to..."

Adam grabs the gnoll mercenary by the throat and drags him away from Mittens.

"Thanks!"

Seeing Mav step into the open has Mits concerned, so she moves to take a look at what's going on.  She takes careful aim and fires an arrow over the boy's head into the ghost's!

---

Gnoll 3 HP: 54-12=42
Wraith HP: 16-(18/2)=7
This message was last edited by the GM at 05:56, Thu 03 Jan 2013.

The gnoll twists and escapes from Adam's grasp!  It then smashes him with it's flail!

---

Adam HP: 34-11=23

  Matt hardly even gives the Gnoll behind him any attention, as he steps out of the tent and carefully gives Demise's other knee a matching, if less disabling blow.  "Turning my back on an enemy, unfortunately, is an inevitable part of dealing with people who need to be brought down.  You can't run yet though, that much I can safely say."

  Well okay, she could.  But it would be a very bad idea, even with a Gnoll at her side.

---

Move: shift.
Standard: Shield Feint vs Demise, Hits (19 AC). 12 DMG.  +3 To-Hit vs Demise on my next attack vs her.

Giga AoO:  +17 To-hit, 1d10+10 vs Demise at the moment.
Demise Still Marked by Matt.

Demise HP: 36-12= 24/42

Matt HP: 35/46 s 10, v 11, ap 0.

Carla glares at the gnoll that's attacking Adam. The gnoll sees itself begin to bleed maggots and puss. In horror, the gnoll seems to have its guard let down for the time being while the shock of perceiving it all as real has caused him to sustain harm. She then toddles over to the central statue.

---

Standard: Visions of Blood v M3. Hit(24)!
 dmg: 11
 M3 takes -1 to defenses
 Aversion Staff: +2 all Carla's defenses vs target
Move: To the statue

M3 HP: 42 - 11 = 31
This message was last edited by the player at 06:28, Thu 03 Jan 2013.

The filching wraith vanishes again, then floats up 5'.  As soon as it sees Maverick reappear, it charges at him, clawing violently for the dagger artifact!

---

Readied attack: Charge and filch Mav as soon as he can see the boy.  Which triggers right away.  Failed thievery check.
Maverick HP: 37-15=22
This message was last edited by the GM at 06:41, Thu 03 Jan 2013.

Maverick winces as he's scratched hard and manages to move his body such that the wraith doesn't get its claws on the artifact. He retaliates with a nasty stab that ALMOST finishes off the wraith. While its distracted with the wound, Maverick backs away, then heads over to Adam, helping him flank the gnoll while simultaneously daring the wraith to provoke opportunity attacks from the girls that are in its way.

---

Standard: Acrobatic Strike v W1. Hit(26)!
 dmg: 13. SA included. Because:
Master's Wand of Eyebite: When you hit a target with eyebite using this wand, you gain combat advantage against the target on your first attack next turn. You also have a second use of Eyebite due to the power being stored in the wand.
 Shift 1 after attack as part of attack.
Move: To flank with Adam.

W1 HP: 7 - (13/2) = 1

"You'll pay for that!" Demise hisses!

Ghostly maws appear from below and bite at Matt, Adam, Angel, and Carla!

---

Carla HP: 34-13(resist 7)=28
This message was last edited by the GM at 07:07, Thu 03 Jan 2013.

Angel heads over to be next to Carla, then fires at the wraith. Seeing the first arrow fly through it harmlessly, she fires again and finishes it. "Seriously. We've dealt with worse than you, missy. Give up already."

She gives Carla a quick look. Carla just gives a thumbs-up to indicate she's OK. Angel goes back to looking around at the fight.

---

Standard: Twin Strike v W1. Miss(14)! Hit(21)!
 dmg: 7
Move: To Carla

W1 HP: 1 - (7/2) = gone

The gnoll mercenary tries to push Matt away from Demise but fails

Adam slash and pummels the gnoll he has flanked near to death!

Mittens then meows at it, and it drops to the ground motionless.

---

Gnoll 3 HP: 31-28-10=KO

  This time around as the Gnoll again fails to aid Demise, Matt swings a backhand at them... Maybe if he had bothered to take his eyes off Demise, Matt would have hit the Gnoll.  Still, the blacksmith lands another clean blow against the Named NPC.  "Oh, I believe you mean that.  Got to take you seriously as long as you're able to fight, after all, even if you've had bad luck following up on the threats so far"

---

BEFORE TURN.
Reaction:  Parry and Riposte Vs Gnoll 1.  Miss.

Matt's Turn
Standard: Shield Feint vs Demise. Hits (23 AC).  10 DMG.

Effecs: Matt Marks Demise (again).  +3 to next attack vs Demise (so +17 to-hit version of Giga AoO on the block).

Demise HP: 24-12= 14/42  Bloodied   

Carla heads north towards Demise, coming up from behind the remaining gnoll. She does to the remaining gnoll what she did to the last one to about the same effect. The gnoll looks freaked out and checks himself briefly as if noticing wounds that aren't there.

---

Move: to be in range of M1 without putting Matt in blast 3.
Standard: Visions of Blood v M1. Hit(16)!
 dmg: 9
 Aversion Staff: +2 defenses v M1.
 M1 takes -1 to defenses.

M1 HP: 54 - 9 = 45

Maverick uses his wand again, wracking the gnoll's mind while making Maverick invisible to the gnoll. Maverick trusts Matt has Demise well in hand now.

---

Standard: Eyebite v M1. Hit(18)!
 dmg: 7
Move: Northward. Hiding behind tent.
Stealth check: 24

M1 HP: 45 - 7 = 38

With little else she can do, Demise whacks Matt with her mace.  And curses Maverick.

---

Matt HP: 35-9=26

Angel trots closer and fires a bolt in each of Demise's sides, almost putting her down. "If you can help it," Angel comments, "Don't kill her. Knock her out. She likely has information we need."

---

Move: Towards Demise/Matt.
Standard: Twin Strike v Demise. Hit(23)! Hit(19)!
 dmg: 11
Minor: Quarry on M1

Demise HP: 14 - 11 = 3
This message was last edited by the player at 15:02, Thu 03 Jan 2013.

The gnoll continues it's futile attempts to push Matt away from Demise.

Mittens raspberries Demise and the darkmage collapses!  Her face then contorts to that of a doppelganger!  Adam charges the gnoll, slashing it with his sword!

---

Demise Claw Doppelganger Darkmage HP: 3-10=KO
Gnoll HP: 38-9=29
Disclaimer: just because THIS doppleganger reverts back to it's natural white hair, gray-skinned state when defeated, doesn't mean that Terdisas will.

  Now that Demise has been brought down (So, the lady wearing a mask hiding her face was also in disguise as a species. that's like, DOUBLE disguise!), Matt moves to a more advantageous position and... Misses the Gnoll.  He stops to consider this, and comments "Okay, why can't we hit eachother?  We're both past two for two here."

---

Move: Shift
Standard: Swing and a miss.  THREEEEEEE.

Carla does the same thing as last turn. Whatever it is she's doing, to the team, it more or less looks like she's been staring at the gnoll, but he is clearly acting like something is crawling on him.

---

Standard: Visions of Blood v M1. Hit(20)!
 dmg: 6 and -1 defenses
 Aversion Staff: +2 defenses v M1.
 Astral Majesty: +1 defenses v M1 because he's bloodied now.

M1 HP: 29 - 6 = 23

Maverick heads over to the gnoll and opens a nasty gash in it's side, where its kidney USED to be.

---

Move: To be adjacent to the gnoll.
Standard: Clever Strike v M1. Hits(28)! <- CA granted by attack.
 dmg: 15 (using SA)

M1 HP: 23 - 15 = 8

Angel walks up to the gnoll and ducks slightly so she can aim upward. She puts a bolt straight through its head from under it's chin. As the gnoll collapses, she looks over at Demise's body and smiles. "Thanks for not killing her, everyone."

Maverick says, "Did anyone else hear someone invisible leave the hole half a minute ago?"

---

Move: To flank with Maverick
Minor: Quarry M1
Free: Point Blank Crossbow
 Effect: You must use this when you make a ranged attack;
 The attack does not provoke opportunity attacks.
Standard: Basic Ranged v M1. Hit(25)!
 dmg: 10
 quarry dmg: 6

M1 HP: 8 - 16 = very dead.

  "Yeah, I noticed something along those line.  I figure like you, we were all somewhat busy trying not to die to chase things we can't see."  He considers demise, then looks back over to the little blacksmithing setup  "Yeah, I'm thinking elaborate bundle of chains would be better than just rope over their wrists.  Could one of you... Aside from Carla without an very detailed note, go check on our friends below while I deal with that?"

OOC: Short Rest, Matt uses two surges (thanks Song Of Rest!)
<red>Matt HP: 52/52/red>  S 8, v13, AP 0

Initiative: 19
This message was last edited by the player at 06:44, Fri 04 Jan 2013.

Mits of course sings her song of rest.  "Well that explains the invisible thieves and hated face I foresaw."

Adam move over to the tent and picks up the sending stone.

"Yerra, this is Adam.  We were just attacked by a Doppelganger posing as Demise, some gnolls, and a pair of wraiths.  They were defeated readily enough.  How are things on your end?"

"We have the artifact," she answers, "We're on our way back up."

Angel asks, "If Yeraa has the artifact... then what did the invisible thieves steal?" she gets to work on dragging the bodies to a central spot and helps Matt however she can on securing Demise.

Maverick leans on Mittens, resting and her song of rest seems to almost completely restore him. He doesn't comment on the situation other than to seem relaxed.

Carla sits, closes her eyes, and heals up.

---

Surges spent:
Angel not spending a surge.
Carla spent 1 surge. Surges now at 6/7
Maverick spent 1 surge. Surges now at 5/6

Carla HP: 28 + 12 = 37 (Max HP)
Maverick HP: 22 + 13 = 35

You hear scraping from behind the screen of your market
stall, signaling the safe return of Yeraa and the other seekers.
"Friends!" shouts Yeraa, her voice ragged. "We have returned."
The Word bearers emerge into your stall, clearly worse for
the wear. They are stiff and ill at ease.
Tikulti, isn't with them.

The pcs can make Insight checks if the players suggest it.
Otherwise, use their passive Insight scores.
Insight Check
DC 10 Although the seekers wear the seeming of life, you see
shredded flesh clinging to exposed bone. Oversized claws extend
from their gnarled hands.
DC 12: The creature that looks like Yeraa is not as you
remember her. Dark fire traces her twisted form. Noticing your
piercing gaze, mocking laughter racks her and she attacks.
pes who fail the Insight check are surprised by the dreadclaws.

TACTICS
Yeraa engages in melee, maximizing the effect of her dread
wrath aura as she uses terrifyinB splendor to knock pes
prone for her allies. She prefers dark howl to claw attacks.
Early in the battle, she uses Bluff and her livinB seeminB to
pretend to be under a curse or in some way compelled.
If a target buys this tactic, she can attack with combat
advantage.

Would your character grant C.A. to a friend being forced to attack them?  Neither would mine.

The dreadclaw reavers make claw attacks against pes
knocked prone or dazed by the darkliege's attacks. Against
other foes, they flank to gain combat advantage.
Though these creatures were once the Kech Volaar the
pes knew and trusted, the undead they have become are
beyond saving. They mock and laugh at any attempts at
communication as they fight to the death.

Zombie Yeraa lets out an otherworldly shriek that envelopes the group in a dark necrotic cloud, knocking several of the heroes over!

---

Hit Carla, Angel, Mav, and CRIT Mits.  <Red>10 necrotic damage, (22 to mits) and the target is knocked prone. </Red>
This message was last edited by the GM at 18:52, Fri 04 Jan 2013.

The zombie goblins move to surround the group and attack!  And all fail.  Even against prone enemies.  Maybe they were reluctant to hurt their former allies?

  Matt is off to a good start, and a bad one.  The good start is still being on his feet unharmed.  The bad start is horribly botching both his attacks against the undead.  You'd think by now Matt would have more than enough practice against the Undead, but noooo.

---

Reaction: Parry vs R1. Miss.
Standard: Shield Feint Vs Yeera, THREEEEE.  Miss.
Minor: Rain Of Steel.

Marks: R1, Yeera.

RoS:  1d10 DMG to any enemy that starts next to Matt.

AoO: For now, Matt WILL still take AoO's that present themselves against Reavers, despite the 5 Necro damage hitting a reaver with AoO would trigger.

Matt HP: 52/52 S 8, v 13, AP 0
This message was last edited by the player at 07:46, Fri 04 Jan 2013.

Angel's necklace glows and protects Angel from the harmful effects of the shriek, although she was still toppled by it. She then heads northward. "Yeraa..." she says in heartbroken anger. But time enough for mourning later. She takes aim.

---

Immediate Interrupt on Yeraa's turn: Resist 10 from Yeraa's attack
Move: Stand from prone
Minor: Quarry Yeraa
Move: Exiting aura northward

Plan to hurt Yeraa BADLY on Angel's next turn.

Maverick hops to his feet, backs away from the zombie near him, then slings a stone at one of the zombies who hasn't attacked just yet before disappearing behind one of the tents. The stone hits the zombie hard, nearly knocking its head off.

---

Standard: Fleeting Spirit Strike v R4. Hit(29)!
 Shift north 3 spaces
 dmg: 24
 Shift north 2 more spaces
Stealth: 28

R4 HP: 56 - 24 = 32
This message was last edited by the player at 07:53, Fri 04 Jan 2013.

Noticing that the zombies are focusing their attacks on prone enemies, Adam steps forward with a serious frown and attacks the one he figures is most likely to go after Mittens and hacks it's left arm off!

"This isn't the first time familiar faces have shown up as zombies," Adam says, "But this time it's personal.  How did one invisible enemy take out the entire team?!"

The zombie he attacked laughs and says, "Poison!  Betrayal!"

---

R5 HP: 56-21=35

The two damaged goblin zombies attack Adam, but he dodges their claws!

Carla climbs to her feet and quietly says, "Live." with that, most of the enemy, Yeraa included, go flying back 10 feet and look a bit zonked.

---

Move: Stand from prone
Standard: Rebuke Undead v R1-5 and then Yeraa. Miss(10), Hit(17), Hit(20), Hit(17), Miss(9), Hit(26)
 Yeraa's aura does 5 necrotic. Carla resists 7, negating that damage.
 dmg: 9 *radiant* (All of them are vulnerable 5 radiant) = 14 dmg total
 You push the target 2 squares and it's dazed until the end of your next turn.
 Aversion Staff: +2 all your defenses vs target until effect ends.

Indicated all hit enemies with purple dot.

R2 HP: 56 - 14 = 42
R3 HP: 56 - 14 = 42
R4 HP: 32 - 14 = 18
Yeraa: 55 - 14 = 41
This message was last edited by the player at 15:54, Fri 04 Jan 2013.

"Thanks, Carla!" Mittens says as she hops back up.  She sings an encouraging song and fires an arrow right into zombie yeraa's throat!  She winces a little from the Dread Wrath's aura, but she knocks another arrow and shoots a second arrow into the enemy's nose!

"She's all yours, Angel."

---

Retcon!  Forgot to mention Adam activating Rain of Steel.  R4 and R5 would have taken damage at the starts of their turns.

R4 HP: 18-9=9
R5 HP: 35-8=27
Zombie Yeraa HP: 41-18-11=12
Mittens HP: 43-22-5-5=11

Zombie Yeraa gurgles from the arrows in it's throat and lunges at Adam but he deflects her claws with his sword!

One of the dazed zombies lundges at Mittens, scraping off more flesh and making Mittens close to out of the fight. Another attacks Mittens to no avail, and another attacks Matt, also to no avail.

---

R1 hit Mittens for 10 hp.

Mittens HP: 11 - 10 = Terdisas land! (1 HP)

  Matt takes offense to his friends being hurt.  Well, he always does, but them getting really really hurt is a special kind of offense.  "Yeah, stop that."   A simple request, made as Matt sidesteps and strikes the nearest reaver to draw them away from Carla, then grabbing the arrow sticking out of Yeera's throat and twisting.

  In the end, Matt holds an intact arrow as Yeera's head falls.  "...Who makes your arrows mittens? I'd like some pointers from them."

---

Move: Shift down.
Standard: Cleave Vs R1, Hits (25 AC).  8 DMG, cleaves 4 Yeera.

Effects:  Mark R1, Reminder about Rain of steel.
Delayed, Rain of Steel damage vs R1... 2 damage, plink!

Yeera HP: 4-4= Deads.
R1 HP: 56-2-8= 46/56

Angel hears the sounds of Mittens being ravaged and hurries to where she can see Mittens better. "Mittens! Heal yourself and back away!" she requests the obvious, but follows up with assisting in this matter. Well... trying. She heads right up to the zombie to flank it with Mittens and that's when her crossbow decides to jam. Annoyed, she pushes past the jamming and then very systematically shoots both flanking zombies in the eyes, blinding them and severely wounding them!

---

Move: To where she can see Mittens.
Minor: Quarry R3.
Standard: Fleeting Spirit Strike. Rolled a 1. >.>
 Shift 3 to flank with Mittens in order to gain CA.
Free: Point Blank Crossbow. So... no AoO.
ACTION POINT!
Blinding Barrage v R2, R3. Hit(18)! Hit(27)!
 dmg: 22
 SA dmg on R3: 8

R2 HP: 42 - 22 = 20
R3 HP: 42 - 30 = 12

Maverick tries to throw a stone at the zombie, but misses. Desperate to succeed and help his mom have an escape, Maverick already had another stone loaded even as the first one was flying. He lets loose another stone and manages to down one of the zombies! It's a small victory since there is still another near Mittens, but thankfully it's still blinded.

---

Shadow Strike v R3. Rolled a 3 qwldewhdoeui!
ACTION POINT!
Basic. Ranged. Hit(27)!
 dmg with CA: 16

R3 HP: 12 - 16 = -4

Adam swings at the zombie who side-steps.  The sword merely removes a strip of dangling flesh.  Adam sighs.

---

R5 HP: 27-2=25

One of the goblin dreadclaws charges Matt and hits a vital spot, infecting it with necrosis!  The other claws at Adam but misses!

---

Matt HP: 52-11=41 and ongoing 5 2 necro save ends.
This message was last edited by the GM at 07:38, Sat 05 Jan 2013.

Carla moves over to be at Mittens and Angel's sides, then calls down those divine blades the group is now accustomed to. While one zombie manages to "walk between the rain drops" somehow, the other two aren't so lucky and get the full brunt of it.

---

Move: To be adjacent to Angel and Mittens
Standard: Scourge of Heaven v R2, R4, R5. Hit(20)! Miss(12), Hit(28)!
 dmg: 13 (max!)
 The target also takes -2 to attacks
 Aversion Staff: +2 all your defenses vs target

R2 HP: 20 - 13 = 7
R5 HP: 25 - 13 = 12
This message was last edited by the player at 07:29, Sat 05 Jan 2013.

Mits smiles at all the concern for her health, steps back, and pats her injuries.

"Be healed, Mittens!"

With that several wounds close.  She then neener-neener-neeners one of the zombies who collapses in a heap!

---

Mittens HP: 1+13=14

One of the reavers attacks Matt but fails!

  More good news bad news.  The good news is that Matt shrugs off the lingering necrotic effects much like the 19 trillion other times he's been subjected to it with little damage.  The bad news is he botches the swing terrible as he repositions himself so the zombies don't have a clear and free path to Mittens and Carla.

---

Move: Shift.
Standard: Shield feint fail.
Save throw: 19, pass.
Marks R1 again.

Matt HP: 41-2=  39/52.  S 8, V 13, AP 0

Angel gets in front of Mittens protectively, but not without putting herself right between Adam and Matt for her own protection. She fires a couple shots at one of the zombies. One goes through it harmlessly, where a chunk of flesh used to be, but the other hits dead center and finishes the zombie off.

---

Move: Between Matt and Adam.
Minor: Quarry R5
Twin Strike v R5. Miss(nother 1), Hit(26)!
 dmg: 10
 Quarry: 3

R5 HP: 12 - 13 = ded
This message was last edited by the player at 07:50, Sat 05 Jan 2013.

Maverick scurries into combat and drives his sword into the zombie that's been bugging Matt.

---

Move: To be adjacent to R1
Standard: Clever Strike v R1. Hit(30)! (with CA due to clever strike)
 dmg: 21 (With SA)

R1 HP: 46 - 21 = 25
This message was last edited by the player at 07:55, Sat 05 Jan 2013.

Adam swings with his sword and hits the dreadclaw for minimal damage, but Mits shoots to help with his punch... downing the enemy.

"Thanks..."

When Adam moved to flank the enemy, it took a swing at him but Matt smushed it with his hammer just as Mittens put one last arrow into it!

  Matt isn't really quite sure what a proper reaction would be to have in this situation.  The fact all this tragedy happened in the middle of a city square is somewhat throwing him off.  "Odds of them getting a proper burial, alongside dragging Demise out of here to answer questions even if I have to practice horseshoe attachments on her?"  Oh dear.  Matt is displeased.  That's mistreatment of blacksmiting that is.

OOC: Use one surge, (yay song of rest).  Max HP.

Matt HP: 52/52 S 7, V 13, AP 1.
This message was last edited by the player at 17:58, Sat 05 Jan 2013.

Carla begins quietly doing a ritual while people are resting. She herself is resting, being sure to sit and carefully do parts of the ritual while she is resting.

Once the ritual is complete, that disc she had before to carry kruthik eggs materializes. She tugs on Matt, sits on the disc, points at Yeraa, then points where she's sitting. Then hops off the disc.

---

Tenser's Floating Disk.
Arcana check: 16 (Which means it will hold 500 lbs)

"Slim," Adam answers gravely, "But I'm with Carla.  I'm still going to try."

When the last dreadclaw falls, the pes can readily identify
the fallen as the former Word bearers, all transformed
into monsters. Tikulti grabbed the orb and the circlet after
he killed the Wordbearers, but didn't take their other
items before he set them on the pes. If the characters
search the corpses, among their regular equipment, they
find Yeraa's +2 resounding bastard sword (level 7 item), Govaan's
+2 leather armor (level 6 item), Yeraa's journal, and
100 gp_
As soon as the PCs have assessed the situation and
gathered what they wish, and perhaps taken a short rest,
a House Tharashk patrol enters the market. The half-orc
guards initially take a greater interest in property damage
from the two brawls than they do in the dead_ Unless the
PCs are determined to hang around, they can slip away
from the Roar before the guards come close.

Adam busies himself loading bodies onto Carla's disc while Mittens tearfully explains the entire story to the guards who are flabbergasted at the scene.  Witnesses confirm the story so the guards write it off as self defense and wish the adventurers a speedy revenge.

  "I suppose the market will have less invisible ghost pickpockets to worry about, we're a public service once again." if a violent one.  The Gnolls are on their own for burial and disposal.

  "Fortunately for us, I believe all our tastes in revenge lean towards certain and swift, rather than lingering and elaborate."

Angel says, "Infuriating... we knew the betrayal was coming. We knew the thief was coming. Guess it didn't occur to me they might be one and the same, thus we might be distracted with combat and unable to stop the runner. So how do we track them? I doubt it will be so convenient as them actually working for Demise..."

Maverick is helping Angel load a body as he says, "Let's hope it is. But if it isn't, Demise might still be able to help."

Once the group is on it's way out of the city, Mittens thumbs gingerly through Yerra's journal.  She'll occasionally comment on what she reads aloud.

Y:E:RAA'S JOURNAL
This well-worn, leather-bound book contains Yeraa's
notes on her quest for the Ashen Crown_ It also describes
the failure of the first Wordbearer team (one survivor)
in Ashurta's tomb, and the fact that "tomb robbers" stole
Ashurta's blade.

"Those 'tomb robbers' would be us.  She didn't know at the time our intentions or just how undeserving Ashurta was of her respect..."

Her later notes speak of the PCs. The records are poetic,
describing persons and deeds, and likely to be flatt~ing.
Yeraa also records that she plans to learn and perform the .,
Rite of Arkantaash in Ashurta's tomb, which is a holy site of
ancient Dhakaan. The journal notes that Tikulti knows and ~
approves of the choice to use Ashurta's tomb-he seemed
pleased and thoughtful when Yeraa suggested it.
In the book, Yeraa records how she met Tikulti in
Rhukaan Draal, the capital ofDarguun. It's clear that she
admires the knowledgeable and brave hobgoblin in more
than a profeSSional way.
Furthermore, Yeraa's book includes the names of her
contacts in Sham, Graywall, and Darguun. Prominent
among them is a trusted advisor, the seer Huugan of Rhukaan
DraaJ. She planned to carry the completed Crown
back to him.

"I wonder of Olaakki would vouch for the trustworthiness of this 'Huugan.'  Or vice versa.  It's hard to know who to trust now."

Once safely outside the city, Mittens sings the doppelganger back to consciousness.  She of course looks none too happy to find herself captured.  "I'd sooner die than tell you anything!"

  "I suppose that depends on which one of them, if any, Tikulti runs off to.  Or if one of them suddenly 'finds' the pieces."

  He looks to the fake lady, "Yeah, I could see why.  What if we threaten to kill you twice though?  First time, and then the second time when you turn undead like half of everything we run into these days."

  This party, most parties, really need a magic item of 'Detect if enemy knows anything, or if Module never assumed they would live so whatever'.

Angel says, "We *have* already killed several people twice over. But that was to just get them out of the way... we now have nothing better to do than get information from you. That means I don't intend to kill you. That would be better than you deserve. I have other methods."

Angel pulls out a feather and starts sliding it gently across Demise's skin, searching for ticklish spots.

Maverick gives a weird look in Angel's direction, but doesn't say anything.

Carla covers her mouth like she was giggling.

This would be one of those "Assumed to be dead" NPCs.

The interrogation is successful, but the heroes learn nothing from her that they wouldn't have figured out or found out by other means eventually.


The PCs can take whatever course of action they wish
in the aftermath of the Wordbearers' transformation
and the theft of the Crown components. However, they
should eventually work their way back to the Orien
enclave and Kordanga.
Delan and the Kech Volaar airship crew are shocked
and horrified when they learn the fate of the seekers.
Delan tells them that the enclave was buzzing not an
hour ago about a teleportation to Sharn. That's a rare
event in the "backwater" of Graywall, especially when
one had already occurred so recently. One of the crew
heard that it was a doppelganger who made the trip,
suggesting that someone in the enclave knows more.
The PCs' desire to reclaim the stolen components of
the Crown or to seek vengeance on Demise or Tikulti
for the deaths ofYeraa and the seekers should see
them qUickly bound for Sharn, a little over a day away
by airship. Delan offers the PCs the services ofKordanga
to get them there (see encounter 27). The PCs
can instead buy a Linked Portal ritual in the Orien
enclave, for the normal fee of 50 gpo (If the PCs teleport,
give them an extra level 8 magic item in a later
encounter to replace the one they would have gotten in
encounter 27.)
Streetwise DC 10: An hour or so of talking to
people in the Orien enclave reveals that the teleportation
customer was a doppelganger in black leather. He
carried a bejeweled rapier.
Streetwise DC 15: If the PCs make inquiries about
the earlier trip, they fj nd that a thi n female elf in Aereni
garb, complete with funerary mask, teleported to Sharn
a day before their arrival in Graywall. She traveled with
a knight of the Order of the Emerald Claw.

"As much as I appreciate the offer of the airship crew, I favor the quicker rout of teleportation," Adam says.

  Matt may have a sufficient degree of stoicism, but he wouldn't want to bet money on his endurance checks if Angel had her way with him... Wait... There's no way to make that come out right is there?

  "Faster, and we're less likely to have undead seagulls attack us on the way or something.  Hmm, teleportation could be habit forming."  He looks to Demise, "So, put her our of our misery?  Or give her a head start running after breaking a leg?"

Angel ohs and looks at Demise. "Let's check with Olaakki. We were going to ask him how trustworthy Huugan is anyway. We'll leave Demise with him and leave her fate in his hands. That and I'm sure he'll give Yeraa and crew a better burial than we could hope to accomplish while we use that time to pursue her betrayer."

With that, she leads the team to Olaaki.

Mittens leans over and whispers in Angel's ear, "The doppleganger we just interrogated was only impersonating Demise.  The real necromancer villain is still at large."

Olaaki is as welcoming as ever and understanding when he hears of the heroes leaving him with making funeral arrangements.

"They shall have a burial befitting friends of such brave souls...  and a one that will ensure that they won't be reanimated as undead ever again."

"Much appreciated, friend," Adam says.

---

In the interest of the team facing the boss fight with all their dailies and such, the heroes are unable to find Demise's lair this game day.  And just so you know, the encounter alluded to in the previous narrative was a fight with a young blue dragon that had nothing to do with story.  Since this thread isn't about grinding xp, I'm glad we skipped it.  AC 21 and 232 HP would be a chore to chip away at especially considering the stunned, -2 to attacks (save ends) power.

  "Thank you.  I suppose it's obvious when we say they deserved better.  But then, so did most things we've had to deal with it seems."  Before Skeleton archer number 38 became a skeleton, he was going to be a dad!

  Yeah, Random Minotaur fight was cool to just be badasses.  Random dragon fight with that sort of thing... Not so much against Stun "You miss your turn" spam.

After basking in the awesomeness that is Olaakki, Angel heads with the others to teleport to Sharn look for Demise's lair. No reason to waste any more time. However, finding Demise's lair before the group is utterly exhausted doesn't happen and Angel secures a single hotel room for the entire group (Or takes up Olaakki on his offer to let the group stay at his place if he has room). Not out of stinginess, but paranoia. She insists the group has to stick together from now on.

Carla and Maverick don't object at all.
This message was last edited by the player at 08:15, Thu 10 Jan 2013.

Mits and Adam don't object.  Mits sings a lullaby for everyone before sleep time.

A CALL TO REVENGE
Tikulti still has the sending stone formerly owned by Yeraa,
and the PCs have its companion.

If the PCs don't contact him, he eventually calls them.

"The endgame approaches, and you still have something I need.
I've taken what I have to my comrades in Sharn. I think you've met
my lady friend and her Karrnathi pawns? Anyway, play along
and chase me if you have the guts. It should be interesting, at
least, since I'll be able to talk to Kalaes first. I wonder which of us
he'll believe in the end? I suppose you'll have to find me and force
me to confess. That should be fun. Of course, you could just hand
over the Crown pieces. We'll contact you when you get to Sharn."

The clues here reveal that Tikulti is working with Demise
and the Claw. If the players don't figure that out, their PCs
might with a DC 12 History or Streetwise check. Tikulti
is confident that the PCs have no chance against Demise
and the Emerald Claw. In any case, he and Demise prefer
their enemies dead. "Endgame," on page 19 of Adventure
Book One, continues the story in Sharn.

(Apparently they module doesn't explain how the PCs figure out that Demise is waiting for them at Ashurta's Tomb.  I'll just figure the villain gives directions.)
This message was last edited by the player at 08:23, Thu 10 Jan 2013.

  Alas, the PC's had sold the sending stone to pay for the teleportation...  Okay, no.  But that's how it could have gone in a campaign where they has to count their coins.

  "I suppose, as much as we dislike him, we could just wait until they get bored and impatient enough to come to us.  He's probably on a timetable if he had to murder Yeera and the rest in what was technically the middle of a busy market."

Angel says, "They have the rest of the crown, though."

She talks into the sending stone, "And what if we don't play along? What if we just decide to not bother anymore? You need what we have, so we could just say screw you and go our merry way."

"Because now it's personal," the villain boasts, "And it's better to just walk into my trap now than to spend the rest of your lives looking over your shoulders wondering when the next ghostly ambush will be.  Wondering who you meet will sell you out for the bounty on your heads.  Think about it.  We're necromancers.  We've got all the time in the world."

*Evil laugh*

Adam silences the sending stone by stuffing it back into it's holding pouch.

"What he doesn't know is that we have the local authorities on our side and can show up with a small army."

"Buuut they can't get involved officially because of political reasons," Mittens reminds.

Adam sighs.

  "Necromancy is kind of expensive though.  Bodies are cheap, spell components not so much.  Then there were the Gnoll mercenaries, loss of trained cultists, I don't think this guy has any sense of pattern recognition."  Oh sure, its inevitable they head off to the obvious trap within 24 hours.  But Matt's not going to pass up ridiculing the flaws in Evil's business plans.

Angel nods to Matt. "A pretty common theme for our enemies. Remember the two-bit thugs who try to toll a bridge fought to the death for their two bits, even after they saw how badly we were beating them? This latest guy probably thinks we're no match for him and his boss, but when things go south for him, he'll fight to the death anyway. Granted, if I were him, I'd probably think it's fight or die at that point."

Carla offers a piece of paper to Adam. It reads "For all their wealth and power, they have lost the most important wealth and power that we possess: heart. We love each other and we cared for Yeraa. This poor soul has nothing to fight for, really."

Adam reads Carla's note aloud for the group, assuming that's what she wanted.  He nods to her then to Matt and Angel he adds, "Fortunately we do have pattern recognition.  So I'm going to the authorities about this cult of necromancers who have no for the delicate political situation they're so worried about and would think nothing of murdering people to fund their obsessive quest.  Maybe that will motivate them to lend us some backup."

Mittens fidgets.  "It will...  But the backup will be pushovers compared to us..."

"So be it."

"And they'll want the artifact when we're done."

"Are you saying they can't be trusted?"

Mits fidgets some more "They can...  presently.  But the crown is a very valuable, powerful, and tempting object.  Also, consider how much of a headache we'll spare the authorities if the crown were accidentally 'destroyed' or 'lost.'  No more politically sticky situation!  I think the crown will be safest in our posession."

"Hmmm."

  "People get our help because it would be inconvenient for them otherwise from a health standpoint, we don't get help because it could be inconvenient from a social standpoint for others.  Right.  I might have suggested not even bothering to bring the pieces with us, but then Maverick couldn't stab them with the historical relics they are after."

  Sometimes it was the little things.  Like a knife between the enemy's ribs.

Maverick smiles. He can not deny the hilarious irony of stabbing someone with a relic they are killing people to get.

Angel says, "We have each other. That is enough."

Carla nods.

Angel follows the directions given.

"War is more than a social inconvenience," Mittens mews before cheering up.  "Which is why I'm so proud of my friends who are willing to risk their necks to prevent it!"

Adam nods to Angel and leads the way after asking Olaki to alert the authorities if the team hasn't been heard from by dinner time.

---

So we're skipping the 1st encounter, right?

Jaenus, Demise's apprentice (1)
2 Emerald Claw stalwarts (E)
2 kruthik young zombies (K)
3 weak kruthik zombies (Z)
The creatures here are expecting enemies, but they're also
working to set up undead guardians.
When the PCs enter the tunnel area, read:
You follow the familiar tunnelleadina to Ashurta's tomb until
you see liaht emanatinafrom the crypt's entry chamber. Ahead,
you hear voices.
"We'llaather these animates to auard this entrance with
you," says a raspy male voice. "Then I will rejoin Demise to prepare
for the ritual."
"Aye, Jaenus," says another male voice.
The PCs can approach stealthily and try to surprise their
enemies. If the characters carry a light source, the creatures
here know they're coming automatically when they
reach the edge of the tactical map. Otherwise, the PCs
make it to just outside the tomb's antechamber before
combat starts.
When the PCs can see their foes, read:
A willowy male elf with a stylized skull tattoo on his face stands
amona kruthiks that have oozina wounds on their bodies. He
bears a rod of black bone. Two heavily armed and armored
humans stand nearer your entry point, their tabards and shields
marked with the symbol of the Emerald Claw.
The PCs should recognize J aenus from meeting with him
at Shava House. He attacks when he sees them.
This message was last edited by the player at 05:37, Sun 13 Jan 2013.

(Affirmative. Can skip minor boss if everyone else is cool with it. He's not the guy who taunted Angel, so he's off the hook.)

OOC: Emerald Claw:  Yes, they will recycle EVERYTHING you have fought as Undead, even the bugs.  Yeah, skippage if desired.

Regardless of circumstances, the villains here heard the
disturbance in the tomb entry. Unwilling to risk investigating,
Tikulti, the tiefling, and the shadowskull are hidden
(see below). The stalwarts stand in place, acting like oblivious
guards.
Moving to this area quietly allows the characters to
glimpse the layout before the battle. (The characters need
no light in the passage to this room-magic light illuminates
it.) The villains wait until the PCs enter the room to
attack.
When the PCs approach the western doors, read:
The iron doors at the end of the stairway are open to the lit room
beyond them.
When the PCs see the room, read:
This room is little chan8ed since your last visit, except aU the
bones once in the alcoves are 8one. The fiendish statue is lowered
into the floor, leavin8 the passa8e to the inner tomb open. Two
Emerald Claw kni8hts flank that doorway.
If the PCs have line of sight to one or more of their hidden
foes, use these Perception checks.
Perception Check
DC 12: A black skull floats silently in an alcove, shadows
dancin8 around it like smoke.
DC 14: A sallow doppel8an8er with Tikulti's dark armor
and rapier lurks in an alcove.
DC 16: A horned female humanoid with dark skin and
darker leather armor skulks in an alcove, short flame like blade
drawn.

Angel pops out, fires a crossbow bolt at the tiefling, hitting him in the gut with a painful wound, and disappears back into the place she came from.

---

Minor: Quarry Fireblade
Standard: Fleeting Spirit Strike v Fireblade. Hit(26)!
 Shift 3 out to good position.
 dmg: 21 (Was initially 8 from double 1's. Got permission for re-roll from GM)
 SA dmg: 9
 Shift 3 back to start position.
Move: N/A

Fireblade HP: 71 - 30 = 41

  Hopefully, either Maverick or Adam comes along to help Matt with the southern side of the room.  Regardless, Matt goes for his plan of action used in the last fight involving a doppelganger leading the enemies, and charges the grey skinned jerk.

  Even though it was a swing and a miss, at least Matt didn't have to waste an action point to get here.

---

Move: Duh.
Standard: Charge vs Tikulti, Miss (17 AC).

Effects: Matt Marks Tikulti.  At least the enemy bonus vs AoO isn't bigger than my bonus to AoO.
Will Use Parry If Tikulti misses me with melee

Matt HP: 52/52 S 10, V 13, AP 1.

The Tiefling roars in rage, charges Angel, but fails to connect with it's fiery blade.  It then slips back.

The Emerald Claw soldier charges Adam but stumbles and fumbles.

Maverick slinks around the group and then lurks up behind the Emerald Claw Stalwart, stabbing him in the back... or ON the backside of the guy's armor. CLANG! Maverick just narrows his eyes.

---

Move: Around
Standard: Fleeting Spirit Strike v E1. Miss(19)!
 Use shift to get flanking. Hence 19 attack.

Tikulti jokes with and mocks the PCs during the fight,
and he reveals his desire for immortality as a sentient
undead at this point.

Tikulti jabs twice at Matt but misses.

The Shadowskull floats to the middle of the room, near the ceiling, and blasts Carla with a dark blast that explodes into several grasping shadows that grab her and the heroes next to her!

---

Carla HP: 38-17(resist 7)=28 and restrained
Angel HP: 59-5=54 and slowed
Mittens HP: 43-5=38 and slowed
Adam HP: 49-5=44 and slowed
This message was last edited by the GM at 06:25, Fri 18 Jan 2013.

The other soldier flanks Matt and stabs his kidney with the tip of a broadsword!

---

Matt HP: 52-15=37 and marked by E2

Adam hacks at the soldier he and Maverick have flanked then grabs him!

---

E1 HP: 62-11=51 marked, -2 to attacks, grabbed

Mits fires a shot at the nearest enemy.  "Now there's a double chance to hit him."

---

E1 HP: 51-13=38 and next attacker rolls twice to hit

  "I guess you haven't noticed, but becoming an undead being seems to only lessen your life expectancy.  Or at least that's what my pattern recognition has shown me."  It would only prolong things, but at the very least he could make the enemy have to work to keep him flanked.  It seems Matt has pulled an Adam, or at the very least the two of them have switched tendencies the past few fights.

  Matt's banter also involves a retroactive hammer blow upside Tikulti's head, as he steps back and is less successful in striking the other guy.

---

  Retroactive Reaction: Parry vs Tikulti, Hits (29 AC). 10 DMG.
Move: Shift.
Standard: Shield Feint Vs E2, Miss (16 AC).

Effects: Matt Marks E2.  Tikulti grants CA to party until end of my next turn.

Tikulti HP: 142/142- 10= 132/142

Carla looks at the nearby Emerald Claw Stalwart and finds out these still-mortal people seem to not have the resistance to death's filth that undead tend to have. With that, she takes in a deep breath and casts a power on Tikulti and the other stalwart, knowing it will cost her getting hurt, but also knowing she can punish the one hurting her for it:

Carla casts her power. Seeing the vulnerable little angel, the Stalwart near her swings his sword at her, causing her to cringe in pain! But the stalwart finds necrotic energy escape from Carla, crawl up his sword and cause his arm to decay a bit! Adam also takes the chance and swings at the stalwart, hitting him hard! "That's what YOU think!" Adam yells at the stalwart sternly!

Carla is not looking too well. Granted, most of her hurt is from being kinda sick.

---

Minor: Know Weakness on E1
Standard: Scourge of Heaven v E2, Tikulti. Miss(17), Hit(25)!
 dmg: 10
Provokes AoO from E1 v Carla! Hits(23)!
 dmg to Carla: 8
Immediate Reaction: Deathcut Hide Armor!
 Trigger: An enemy hits Carla.
 Effect: triggering enemy takes 1d10+2 necrotic dmg
 dmg: 11

Carla knew what she was doing and it worked. She took advantage of the CA Matt just provided (which negated the -2 attack she was taking from restrained), managed to HIT Tikulti, got hit for 8 damage, and as a result, the enemy has suffered 36 damage collectively.

Tikulti HP: 142 - 10 = 132
Carla HP: 28 - 8 = 20
E1 HP: 38 - 11 - 15 = 12

Angel moves over to be next to the statue, turns and fires at the stalwart that the group was beating on. Her bolts hit. One hits the guy in the decaying arm. The other hits him in the heart. She says nothing in response to Tikulti yet. This fight, she figures, might actually pose a bit difficult if Carla's near bloodied so fast.

---

Move: 2 squares to be adjacent to statue while on stairs. (Slowed allows this)
Minor: Quarry E1
Standard: Twin Strike v E1. Hit(30)! Crit(33)!
 1st hit dmg: 2
 2nd hit dmg: 11
 Quarry dmg: 2
 crit dmg: 2
 Total: 17

E1 HP: 12 - 17 = ded

The tiefling moves in, hits Mittens with it's fiery sword, then retreats again!

---

Mittens HP: 38-7=31

Maverick waves his wand at the fireblade, but can tell the fireblade can still see him. Annoyed, Maverick heads over to the southern statue and hides so nobody can see him.

---

Standard: Eyebite v Fireblade. Miss(8)
Move: To behind south statue
Stealth check: 26
This message was last edited by the player at 08:03, Fri 18 Jan 2013.

The Shadowskull fires a dark blast at the dark skinned lady, but Angel manages to barely dodge despite her situation.

Meanwhile, while Matt is busy dealing with the Stalwart, Tikulti backs off and throws a shuriken right into Matt's face, blinding them.  The Stalwart takes advantage of this to smash Matt down into the ground with his broadsword.

Well, Carla's looking pretty good right about now by comparison at least?

---

  Shadowskull
Standard: Ghost Ray vs Angel, Miss (15 Will).
  Tikulti
Move: Shift NE
Standard: Blinding Barrage (encounter) Vs Matt, Hit (28 Reflex).  9 Damage, Matt Blinded.
  E2
Standard: Imposing Smite (Encounter) Vs Matt, Hits because of CA (19+2 AC).  Since Mittens is back at the door, no Bard Power Dodge for Matt.   19 Damage, Matt knocked Prone.

Effects: Matt marked by E2.  Matt Knocked Prone.  Matt Blinded until End of Tikulti's next turn.

Matt HP: 37-19-9= 9/52 HP. V 10, v 13, AP 1.

I think the worst part about Adam planning to leave, is that this is what's going to happen to Matt every fight from then on ;P
This message was last updated by the player at 08:34, Fri 18 Jan 2013.

"Lalala!" Mittens sings her majestic word, "Music to heal the hero!"

Thunk!  She fires an arrow into the fireblade's chest!

"Someone finish it off, please, thanks!"

---

Matt HP: 9+13+4 = 26 (and can shift?)
Fireblade HP: 41-22=19

"On my way, Matt!"

Adam rushes forward then LEAPS over the steps to stand defensively over Matt.  He then grabs the enemy and body-slams him!

---

Grappling Strike, ACTION POINT!  Slamming rush CRIT!
E2 HP: 62-11-14=37 and prone

  Matt totally takes a free action out of sequence to give a Thumbs Up.  "I can't see it, but I can hear the ass kicking."

  Also, DO A BARREL SHIFT!

  Turn content!  Matt quickly rises to his feet, backs off since he'd likely just walk groin first into a sword while blind, and takes a breather.

---

Freebie Shift.
Minor: Stand.
Move: Shift.
Standard: Second Wind. +2 Defense.

Effects:: +2 Defense, yaaay Second wind.

Matt HP: 26+13= 39/42S 8, V 13, AP 1.
This message was last edited by the player at 15:36, Fri 18 Jan 2013.

"Sure thing, Mitts!" Angel aims from behind the statue and fires, hitting the tiefling in two spots so painful that the sudden pain spike knocks him unconscious. "Tiefling done! I think he'll live long enough to talk!" Angel assures the group.

---

Stealth: 22
Standard: Probing Strike v Fireblade. Hit(33)!
 dmg: 10
 SA: 11

Fireblade HP: 19 - 21 = KO

Carla pitter-patters out towards the group and looks around. Figuring she should be the one to deal with the floating SKULL, she looks it in the eye sockets and shakes her head, finger-shaking at it.

---

Move: Towards the rest of the group
Standard: Offering of Justice v Shadowskull
 dmg: 14

Shadowskull will take 14 RADIANT dmg if it attacks on its next turn. Shadowskull is special case: Radiant causes its regen to fail for a turn.

With the fireblade down, Maverick doesn't have to wait. Having learned the enemy's armor is simply too much, Maverick comes around from behind the statue and manages to slip his blade in between what little cracks there are while the stalwart is distracted with Adam and being on the ground. "Wish you could've seen it, Matt. We'll just have to punish Tikulti for keeping you from seeing it. Then demonstrate with the corpses later."

---

Move: To flank with Adam.
Standard: Piercing Strike v E2. Hit(29)!
 dmg (with SA): 17

E2 HP: 37 - 17 = 20

The stalwart stands up, grunts and says, "You're NEXT, kid!" as he slices a wound in Adam! "But YOU first, heathen!"

---

Move: Stand from prone
Standard: Basic v Adam. Hit(29)!
 dmg: 7

Adam HP: 44 - 7 = 37

The shadowskull pauses... then nods at Carla.  It floats for cover.

---

Offering of justice accepted!
Shadowskull HP: 64+5thp

Tikulti backstabs Adam, transforming into his hobgoblin form!

"LOL!  It was all I could do to keep from busting out laughing when you were talking about poison and betrayal!  I'd been feeding the Kech Volar the first component of the poison for weeks!  All it took was a whiff of the second part and they all dropped like flies!"

---

Adam HP: 37-30=7

Maverick does a reprise of last stab without a word.

---

Standard: Piercing Strike v E2. Hit(19)!
 dmg: 16

E2 HP: 20 - 16 = 4

Adam sidesteps to make room for Maverick then takes a breather.

---

2nd wind.
Adam HP: 7+10=17

  Matt may feel it's a bit risky considering the last results of assuming things, but TOUCH OF DEATH is a bit stronger of an assumption.  So he circles behind the Doppelgoblin and introduces Tikulti's knee to his hammer, while Mittens shoots her arrow into the other to make sure the guy can't quite dodge.

---

Move: Odd angle to not trigger AoO, but doable with 5.
Standard: Steel Serpent Strike. Hits! (21 vs AC+ Mittens Power). 17 DMG.
Reaction: Mittens Blood Seeking Blade, Hits (23 AC), 9 DMG.

Effects:  Matt Marks Tikulti.  Tikulti is slowed, Can't Shift until End Of Matt's Next Turn.

Good thing Matt has AoO buffs, so he breaks even (plus CA advantage) vs the guy's bonus vs AoO.

Tikulti HP: 132-9-17=  106/142

Carla walks over and puts her finger to her mouth as she touches the stalwart. As the stalwart collapses, it takes a wild swing at Maverick, who easily dodges it.

Carla then fires a bolt of divine energy at Tikulti, bit hits just at his feet.

---

Move: To E2.
Minor: Death Knell on E2.
Standard: Avenging Light v Tikulti. Miss(12).
Memory of 1k lifetimes: +1
Stalwart uses Fanatic on Maverick. It wasn't very effective (total of 18 v AC)

Mittens moves to be right next to Tikulti

"Hurr I'm so clever, durrp!" she mocks, "I'm going to attack the mocking cat and fail in spite of knowing it's Hammer Time!"

"I kill you!" Tikulti says, stabbing at her!

---

Point blank Viscious Mockery.  Tikulti AoO misses.  Will Edit: Matt AoO hits, 12 DMG.

Tikulti HP: 106-12-12=82 and -2 to attacks!
This message was last edited by the GM at 16:45, Fri 18 Jan 2013.

Angel hurries closer to the others. She fires a crossbow bolt right into his left kidney. Rather painful. "Leave this one alive if possible." Angel requests darkly.

---

Move: To the rest of the group
Minor: Quarry Tikulti
Standard: Probing Strike v Tikulti. Hit(25)!
 dmg: 16
 Quarry: 5

Tikulti HP: 82 - 19 = 63

Tikulti swings at Matt. "I'll take you ALL! And when I'm done with you, I'll make you my undead servants! Just like Yeraa! Hahahaha!"

---

Standard: Riposte Strike v Matt. Crit(31)!
 dmg: 15

Tikulti HP: 39 - 15 = 24

The shadowskull lurks lurkishly, then suddenly glares at Angel, wracking her mind with nighmares of ghosts!  To her, the skull appears to become ghostly as well!

---

Angel HP: 54-14=40

Maverick lunges forward and finds Tikulti is just as fast as he is tough, dodging Maverick's attack.

---

Move: To flank with Matt
Standard: Piercing Strike v Tikulti. Miss(17)

Angel ignores the fact she was hit by the nightmares and focuses on Tikulti. She hates him, wants him down, and THEN she can worry about tophat skull. With a serious expression on her face, she shoots a bolt each in his chest, cracking his sternum. The fact both bolts land in the exact same spot betrays her deadly aim.

---

Standard: Twin Strike v Tikulti. Crit(34)! Crit(33)!
 dmg: 22
 quarry: 5
 crit dmg: 1

Tikulti HP: 63 - 28 = 35

Carla shoots light at Tikulti and misses again.

---

Avenging Light v Tikulti. Miss(14)

Adam slashes Tikulti then goes for a punch, but the second swing misses.
"Surrender!"

Thunk!  Whiff!  Stab!  Mittens' 2nd go at point-blank ranged attacks doesn't go quite as well for her as the last time.  But at least she shot him!

---

Tikulti HP: 35-9-14=12
Mits HP: 31-9=22
This message was last edited by the player at 17:41, Fri 18 Jan 2013.

  Matt, like the rest of the party, is getting tired of heating Tikulti say stupid and mean things.  So he blocks the Doppelganger's riposte with his shield, and slams his hammer into their jaw.  finally dropping them.

  "Finally... Now we just need to fight a flying skull that looks pretty much unharmed...  That skull is so doomed."  That said, he walks over towards the thing.

---

Tikulti Interrupt: Riposte, Missses Matt (rolled a 2).
Standard: Shield feint, hits (27 AC).  13 Damage (thanks Gauntlets of blood!)

Tikulti HP: 12-13= OUCH.... Well, Chris said it was 12 HP in the Roll20.  I'll let em edit last post later.

The shadowskull glares at Matt like it did to Angel, again causing ghostly nightmares!  It then floats away from him.

---

Matt HP: 24-10=14 OOPS!  Bard feature means it missed!
This message was last edited by the GM at 04:25, Sat 19 Jan 2013.

"Lalala!" Mittens sings her majestic word, "Music to heal the hero!"

Twang!  She fires an arrow but misses the shadowskull

"Someone finish it off, please, thanks!"

---

Matt HP: 14oops! 24+13+4=41 (and can shift)
This message was last edited by the GM at 04:24, Sat 19 Jan 2013.

Adam chucks a javelin at it and misses.

Carla fires a beam of light at the skull that seems to rip some of its ghosty effects from it. She then heads over to one of the statues and hides.

---

Standard: Avenging Light v Shadowskull. Hit(25)!
 dmg: 15 (Max!)
Move: to behind a statue
Stealth: 16

Shadowskull HP: (64+5) - 15 = 54 and can't regen

Maverick goes and hides behind that southern statue again, then flings a stone from his sling, barely missing the skull.

---

Move: To south statue to hide.
Stealth: 34
Standard: Shadow Strike v Shadowskull. Miss(20)
Stealth: 31

Angel rushes over to a statue and fires a couple crossbow bolts at the skull. One goes right into the eye socket. The other passes harmlessly through the mouth.

---

Move: To statue for cover.
Stealth: 16 for CA. Doesn't work.
Minor: Quarry Shadowskull.
Standard: Twin Strike v Shadowskull. Hit(27)! Miss(19)
 dmg: 11 (with quarry)

Shadowskull HP: 54 - 11 = 43

Matt walks closer to the skull, and throws his hammer upside it's everything.

---

Move: Duh.
Standard: Ranged Basic vs Shadowskull, hits (a lot), 9 DMG.  Marks Shadow skull.

Shadowskull HP: 43-9= 34/64

The Shadowskull gives Matt its carebear stare again and this time subverts Matt's will!

---

Ghost Ray v Matt. Hits(19)!
 dmg: 6

Matt HP: 41 - 6 = 35

Mittens arrows it!

---

Shadowskull HP: 34-18=16

Carla shoots and misses.
Maverick shoots and misses.

Angel shoots and scores! Two grazing shots that barely do anything.

---

Twin Strike hit both shots!
 dmg: ....9 total. With quarry.

skull HP: 16 - 9 = 7

Adam chucks a javelin at it and misses.

  Matt may not have rolled a Critical, but the end results may as well have been the same thing.  The blacksmith walks under the skull and throws his hammer once more, splitting it in half as the Top Hat drops onto his head.  He catches the monocle, and flips it across the room to land on Carla.

  "Aaaand we're done here."

---

Move: Duh.
Standard: Throw, Smash.
Free Action: STYLE.

Skull HP: 7-Hammer Time= Crunch.

After resting up, the team moves on through the familiar tunnels.

As the PCs approach the closed doors, they hear soft
chanting (a DC 12 Perception check recognizes Demise's
voice). Even if she has been warned, the elf continues
preparing for her ritual. If the PCs are stealthy, they can
surprise her with DC 10 Stealth checks. However, if the
doors are not opened carefully, they stick on the bone
piles, requiring Medium and Small characters to squeeze
through. A DC 12 Athletics check (standard action) is then
required to force the doors fully open.

[Not bothering with a surprise round beyond entering the room]

Use the illustration "Final Demise" (see Adventure Book
One, page 32). This battle uses the poster map for Ashurta's
Rest.

http://fc01.deviantart.net/fs4...e_by_SteveArgyle.jpg

When the PCs can see into the area, read:
Ashurta's tomb is chan8ed only sli8htly since you last saw it. No
bones Iin8er in the alcoves; instead, they are piled around the
northern doors. Mummified corpses with Aereni tattoos lean in
a few alcoves.
The immense statue remains in the center of the room, but a
silvery circle of arcane symbols surrounds it. Demise stands to
one side of the circle, dutchin8 her black staff
Several hunched, ashen corpses tattooed with Aereni desi8ns
stand between you and her. They bare fan8s and flex their
clawed hands as they eye you hunsrily.
"Welcome," says Demise.

"Thank the Host you've come," says Gydd in a hoarse voice.
Her hands are bound to Ashurta's sarcopha8us. She looks hag-
gard and ill-treated. "Get me out of here!"

Gydd Nephret, Dreadclaw Soulbound (G) Level 5 Lurker
Medium natural humanoid (undead)
Gydd appears as she did in life. A DC 17 InSight check pierces the
illusion.

[Let's use passive insights.]

The closest lunges forward at Adam.  "So much fresh flesh!  A this one's a feast!"

Mits starts her song of courage then fires twice at Demise!

"Best thing for slaying devils like you is an Angel!"

She then hurries to be next to the pillar in the room.

---

Saga Of Rivalry.  Arrow Of Kill Omen.   Angel gains +2 T-Hit Vs Target Until End of Enc. and crits on a 15 or more.
Demise HP: 174-23-5=146
This message was last edited by the player at 06:39, Sun 20 Jan 2013.

"Kill that one first!" Demise demands, pointing at Mittens.

"Soft flesh!"

One across the room charges Mittens and claws her!

"I'm stuck in place!" she informs the others, "Some kinda dark poison!"

---

Mittens HP: 43-6=37 And immob, save ends.

"We'll save you, Gydd," Adam says, "But first we must take care of these villains!"

He fails to hit the ghoul that attacked him, but decides to go after Demise next.  The ghoul attacks and misses him as he rushes past and leaps next to her, slashing her good, but his sword only breaks the first layer of her magical protection!

"Nevermind the girl," she shrieks, "Kill THIS one first!"

---

Demise HP: 146-26=120

Carla shakes her finger at Demise, and Demise now knows the weight of divine retribution hangs over her like the Sword of Damocles.

---

Standard: Offering of Justice on Demise.
 dmg: 18

Demise will take 18 radiant damage if she attacks. +5 thp if she doesn't attack.

Another zombie attacks but misses Adam.  Gydd wiggles free of her bonds and moves next to a pillar.  Then one of the ghouls flanks Adam and claws his back!

"Gydd has been turned into an undead!" Adam warns, "It just attacked my mind!"

"No!  I'm still alive!  But something's controlling me!"

---

Miss, miss, hit.
Adam HP: 45-7=38 and immob.
This message was last edited by the GM at 04:00, Mon 21 Jan 2013.

Angel frowns. "You're MINE, Demise!" she growls before shooting a crossbow bolt into Demise's belly. Angel then moves over to behind a pillar and seemingly out of nowhere, another bolt comes flying at Demise.

The camera goes into slow motion as it follows the bolt, which sinks RIGHT into Demise's right breast, into the lung, and out the other side, causing Demise to bleed out.

---

Standard: Guardian Arrow v Demise. Hit(23)!
 dmg: 16
 quarry: 4

Effect: Choose an ally adjacent to the target. Until the end of the encounter, if the target attacks that ally, you can make a ranged basic attack with a weapon against the target as an immediate interrupt. You cannot make this attack if the target is marked by that ally.

Chose Adam.

ACTION POINT!

Standard: Fleeting Spirit Strike. CRIT(38)!
 Shift 3 and hide behind pillar.
 Stealth: 18 (beats Demise's passive perc of 15)
 dmg: 26+12(SA)
 crit dmg: 4
 Total: 42

Demise HP: 120 - 62 = 58
This message was last edited by the player at 04:53, Mon 21 Jan 2013.

Maverick scurries over to the one that attacked Mittens. He slips his blade into the ghoul with ease and twists. Then seems to scurry around the ghoul just so that the ghoul can't see where he went, and vanishes.

---

Standard: Fleeting Spirit Strike. Hit(24)!
 Shift 3 to flank with Mittens
 dmg: 18 (with SA)
 Shift 3 around Mittens
Move: To behind far east pillar.
Stealth: 35

ACTION POINT!

Standard: Go for the Eyes v Demise. Hit(29)!
 dmg: 19 and blinded and can't shift until the end of Maverick's next turn.
Aftereffect: Until the end of the encounter, whenever Maverick damages the target, it takes a -2 penalty to attack rolls and can't shift until the end of Maverick's next turn.

S2 HP: 63 - 18 = 45
Demise HP: 58 - 19 = 39 and BLIND and CAN'T SHIFT

Demise shrieks in from the sudden cascade of PAIN!  Having no new orders, one of the ghouls flanks Adam and chomps his neck!

"OMF!"

Meanwhile another zombie moves to be next to Adam!

---

Adam HP: 38-14=24 and ongoing 5 and dazed save ends

Minor: Rain Of Steel (1d10 DMG to any enemy that starts Next to me).
Move: Duh
Standard: Tide of Iron vs S4.  Hits,  6 DMG, push.
Action Point?:  Readied action, Shift to Adam's spot if Adam shift switches places.

S4 HP: 63-6= 57
This message was last edited by the player at 05:31, Mon 21 Jan 2013.

The last zombie charges Adam but misses.  Demise's eyes glow, then curses and winces from Carla's Offering of Justice as she summons a poisonous cloud over Adam and Matt!  With a parting glare to Adam she turns insubstantial and slinks through the pillar behind her.

---

used ACTION POINT!  and elven accuracy.  and false life.  and poison cloud daily.  and death glare.
Demise HP: 39 +11False life -18offering of justice = 32
Adam HP: 24-4=20
Demise stealth check: 17
This message was last edited by the GM at 06:41, Mon 21 Jan 2013.

One of the Ghouls rushes past Matt and takes a bite out of Adam!  CHOMP!

"How am I still alive?" Adam wonders aloud.

---

Adam HP: 20-8=12

"Adam noo!" Mittens cries, "I'm not close enough to heal him!"

---

Mits, immobilized, can't do much.  So, delaying.

The second ghoul was juuust about to snack on Mittens' neck when it hears Demise's command to go after Adam.  "I'll just... have you for dessert!"  It rushes over to plug the last place Adam could have moved to!

Adam coughs a little on the poison zombie cloud.

No really... How am I still alive? He falls prone.

---

ACTION POINT!  2nd wind +2 to defenses
Adam HP: 12-5-5+10=12
This message was last edited by the player at 07:06, Mon 21 Jan 2013.

Carla starts to glow as her expression turns stern, like that of an angel pronouncing judgement. She holds her hands upward and starts walking closer to the group while slamming her hands downward. A huge beam of light breaks through the ceiling and burns the enemies while surrounding Adam and Matt! Then Carla whispers, "Rest." and the entire enemy force that was surrounding the two tanks go flying 10 feet! The ghouls maintain their footing. The zombies aren't so lucky and go falling into pieces, their pieces burning with a white fire.

One zombie doesn't go flying, but seems to have been turned into a pillar of salt.

The ghouls who had been bathed in the ion beam light are all now perpetually on fire with holy white fire.

---

Minor: Light of Order. For special effects fun. This is IMPORTANT!!
 Effect: You shed bright light out to 4 squares until you end the light as a free action.
Standard: Brilliant Beacon v S1, S2, S3, Z2, Z3, Z4. Hit(18)! Hit(25)! Crit(28)! Miss(10), Hit(18)! Crit(28)!
 dmg: 10 ongoing RADIANT (not that that matters in this fight. But hey, 10 ongoing!)
 Effect: The burst creates a zone of brilliant light that lasts until the end of your next turn. As part of a move action, you can move the zone up to 6 squares. Enemies in the zone take a -2 to attacks, defenses and save throws. The zone ends if you are in it at the end of your turn.
 Aversion Staff: +2 all your defenses vs target until effect ends.
Move: To be in range of Rebuke for all enemies (except Demise and Gydd)

ACTION POINT!

Standard: Rebuke Undead v S1, S2, S3, S4, Z2, Z3, Z4. Hit(19)! Hit(24)! Hit(21)! Hit(24)! Crit(28)! Miss(13), Hit(22)!
 dmg: 9
 Effect: You push the target 2 squares and it's dazed until the end of your next turn.

S1 HP: 63 - 9 = 54 and ONGOING 10 radiant damage
S2 HP: 45 - 9 = 36 and ONGOING 10 radiant damage
S3 HP: 57 - 9 = 48 and ONGOING 10 radiant damage
S4 HP: 63 - 9 = 54
Z2 HP: 1 - 9 = Dead
Z3 HP: Will be Dead
Z4 HP: 1 - 9 = Dead

Mittens has a cuppy-cake cat mouth and says, "Well... That was nice."

Thunk!  One of the ghouls takes an arrow to the knee.

---

S4 HP: 54-8=46

Gydd slinks around a corner and glares at Angel, sapping her strength, and clouding her mind to where the attack came from!

---

Angel HP: 53-8=45

The only ghouls still next to Adam claws at him!

---

S3 HP: 48-10-2=36 failed save vs ongoing
Adam HP: 12-5=7 and immob, save ends

Angel doesn't care about Gydd's attacks. A) Gydd claims she's being mind-screwed. B) Angel hates Demise. And C) Demise is probably the reason Gydd is attacking her friends anyway.

Angel fires two more bolts at Demise, both of which sink into Demise just before she can phase them, giving more pain.

---

Move: Around where Angel last saw Gydd to where she knows she saw Demise go.
Standard: Twin Strike v Demise. Hit(31)! Hit(36)!
 dmg: 4(8/2) + 3(7/2) = 7(Which is 15/2 anyways, so math works either way)
 Quarry dmg: 6/2 = 3

Demise HP: 32 - 10 = 22

Maverick rushes at where he's pretty sure Demise is hiding and charges at her. To Demise, what looks like a possessed little boy seems to materialize from nowhere coming from behind her just as she had taken shots from Angel!

---

Move: Towards Demise
Standard: Handspring Assault v Demise (Using as a charge). Rolled a 1.
RELIABLE!! HAHAHAHAHA!

The ghoul Matt had shoved aside earlier lunges at Adam!  "Must feed!"

A hammer upside the face tends to interrupt that.

---

S4 HP: 54-18=36

  Matt eyerolls at Gydd, as he coughs out some poison  "You're a zombie.  I can tell even with my eyes closed.  I'm sorry but we never knew you well enough for this to be very shocking, just kind of a downer at most."   As one of the Ghouls fails to flail at Adam, Matt misses one swing, nails them with the backswing, then grabs Adam by one leg and drags him over to Mittens (Watch your head Adam!).  "Here, now it's my turn to be an idiot."   That said, Matt turns right back around and rushes the fallen Ghoul, bringing the hammer down on the fallen enemy.

  Oh dear, Matt is being sarcastic.  Matt's supposed to be one of the polite alts.

---

AoO vs S4: Hits, 18 DMG.
Reaction: Parry S4, Miss.
Minor: Grab Adam.
Move: Drag Adam.
Standard: Chaaarge vs S4, Hits.  11 DMG.


S4 Vs Adam.  54-18-11= 25/63
Matt HP: 35-11= 24/52 S 7, V 13, AP 0.
This message was last edited by the player at 08:54, Mon 21 Jan 2013.

Demise narrows her eyes at Maverick.  "Ashurta's blade!"

She blasts him with a dark ray that saps his health and grants it to her!

---

Maverick HP: 42-12=30
Demise HP: 22+4thp

"Want... revenge... but must obey!"

The ghouls rush toward Adam, getting beaten badly for their reckless charge, but they fall upon the downed fighter and feast on his flesh!

---

S1 HP: 54-18-15=21
S2 HP: 36-16-6=14
Adam HP: 12-6-13=-7

Adam lays helpless, slipping closer to death.

---

Failed all saves.  Adam HP: -7-5=-12

Carla never thought she might actually hurt something by directly hitting it with her staff, but there it is.

Carla seems to be saying a quick prayer. In a ray of light, another cherub seems to appear on top of Adam. It's Sparky! He stands ready with his chain and in a cute little toddler voice says, "I'm here, sis."

---

Move: Shift northwest to no longer be adjacent to the ghouls.
Minor: Sustain Brilliant Beacon
Minor: Angelic Protector.

Mits shoots one of the two ghouls nomming on Adam, destroying it!

"Lalal...  Hmm."

She thinks better of using majestic word on Adam just yet.

---

S2 HP: 14-15= bonked

One of the ghouls runs around the pillar to get a better angle then charges at Matt.

---

S3 HP: 48-10=38

Angel stays focused on her target, trusting her allies to do the rest. The cute voice causes her to briefly consider "who has a baby sibling that just joined the fight?" but she does not divert her gaze. Two crossbow bolts go flying through Demise.

---

Twin Strike v Demise. Hit(34)! Hit(32)!
 dmg: 18

Demise HP: 22+4thp - 18 = 8

"You want Ashurta's blade so bad?" Maverick growls. "I'll GIVE you Ashurta's blade!" this said as he drives the blade through Demise, finishing her off!

---

Standard: Piercing Strike v Demise. Hit(28)!
 dmg: 8!

Demise HP: 8 - 8 = KO!

Demise screams before she breathes her last!  The ghouls laugh!  "We shall feed on her too!"

The one next to Matt stands back up, and claws at Matt!

---

S4 HP: 25-3(rain)=22
Matt HP: 24-7=17 and immob, save ends

Three.  That sums it up against S3.

Matt Marks S3.
Save vs Immob.

"More food!"

The ghoul next to Sparky attacks!

Sparky gets an impish smirk on his face as the ghoul attacks him. He blocks the attack with the chain then twirls it around, smacking the ghoul hard! "Chew on THIS, you big meanie!"

The giant ion beam moves over to be on top of Matt.

---

Standard: Sparky attack v S1 ref. Hit(23)!
 dmg: 17
Minor: Sustain brilliant beacon
Move: Move brilliant beacon to be on top of both ghouls near Matt

S1 HP: 21 - 17 = 4
This message was last edited by the player at 07:24, Thu 24 Jan 2013.

"Neener neener neener!" Mittens taunts.

The ghoul's head explodes!

"Lalala!  Healing music for Adam!"

Adam begins to wake.

"Hello, adorable cherub!"

---

s1 HP: 4-7=splode

Adam stands back up.  "Friend of Carla's I'm guessing..."

He charges the nearest enemy.  "Where's Demise?"

---

s3 hp: 48-17=31
This message was last edited by the player at 07:32, Thu 24 Jan 2013.

Gydd does her sneaky, glare-at-Angel thing, hurting her brain again.

---

Angel HP: 45-7=38

The ghoul adam attacked tries to take a bite out of Matt, but fails.

---

s3 hp:31-10=21

Once again, Angel seemingly ignores Gydd, but answers Adam. "Maverick finished her off." she rushes over to flank the ghoul Adam just attacked.

She fires a bolt at the ghoul point-blank, mostly to cause it to swing at her so Matt can SMACK it upside the head. While that happens, Angel hops backward and finishes the thing off. "Just one more and then we can deal with Gydd..."

---

Move: To flank with Matt
Minor: Quarry S3
Standard: Basic Ranged. Miss(17)
Provoke AoO from monster!
Provoke AoO from Matt! Hit(29)!
 dmg: 16
Monster actually gets to attack. Miss(15)
Immediate Reaction: Fox's Cunning. Hit(22)!
 Shift back 1
 dmg: 15 (includes quarry dmg)

S3 HP: 21 - 16 - 15 = DEAD

Maverick comes around the corner with Ashurta's blade in hand, blood coating it. He flicks the sword to the side, throwing the blood to the ground as he approaches from behind the remaining ghoul and stabs it in the back!

---

Standard: Piercing Strike v S4. Hit(20)!
 dmg: 13

S4 HP: 22 - 13 = 9

The last ghoul is slain before it can act!

  Matt sighs, as he moves over to put scenery between him and Gyyd, and catches his breath.  Now that all of the flagrantly obvious undead are dealt with, that left only the clearly obvious undead to deal with.  "Thanks everyone, good to see you back on your Feet Adam...  So, is the next Angel we meet going to look Maverick's age then?"

Baby, toddler, Missing Link,  Angel Bard. it was progress?

---

Move: duh.
Standard: Second wind.  +13 HP, +2 All Defenses.

Matt HP: 17+13= 30/52 S 6, v 13, AP 0.
This message was last edited by the player at 08:09, Thu 24 Jan 2013.

Mits shoots and the arrow plinks off the pillar.

Adam moves to see what Mits was shooting at.  He then remembers Gydd claiming to be mind controlled.

"I'll try and subdue her."

He heads over to her and gets ready to grab hold of her wrist.

Sparky charges at Gydd. "I've gotchya covered!" and he smacks her with his chain. Thankfully, he keeps to subdual damage just in case.

---

Sparky standard v Gydd ref. Hit(19)!
 dmg: 8

Gydd HP: 53 - 8 = 45

"Please don't hurt me!" Gydd cries!

She backs away and stares into Adam's eyes.

"She vanished!"

He keels over.

---

Sparky HP:  19-5=14 (can't attack her without spending healing surge...?)
Adam HP: 14-5-11=-2, ongoing 5, can't see gydd
This message was last edited by the GM at 08:35, Thu 24 Jan 2013.

  "...Seriously?  He's lucky he's on the floor dying because I'd be doing it for the Has Been Loudly Proclaimed To Be A Zombie over what he just pulled."  Red alert, Matt has progressed into mean spirited.  **** has gotten real.  Even if Matt's accuracy has not as he steps over Adam and wiffs his swing.  Guesss being so annoyed you see red can effect your accuracy.

---

Move: eh.
Standard: Charge vs Gydd, miss.

Effects: Mark Gydd.

"Not again!" Mittens groans.

She shoots to try and help Matt connect, but her arrow bounces off the pillar again.  She takes more careful aim and this time manages to shoot Gydd in the thigh!

Mits struggles and her feet finally move.

"I'm free....  I'M FREE!  AHAHAHAHAAAA!"

She dances a jig.

---

Gydd HP: 45-17=28

Carla waves a hand, causing the brilliant beacon to move while she rushes over to be in view of the combat.

---

Move: Move brilliant beacon over to be on Gydd, Matt, Adam and Sparky
Move: To be in view of battle.
Minor: Sustain Brilliant Beacon.
This message was last edited by the player at 17:27, Thu 24 Jan 2013.

Angel heads over towards the central statue the action, stopping short of the football. With crossbow pointed, Angel says, "Make you a deal, Gydd. Stop hurting us, or tell us how to break the hold over you. Otherwise, we have no choice but to keep hitting you until you fall down!" Angel sounds frustrated, sure, but at least she is offering a way out.

There's really no time to argue about Adam's actions, so she saves that for later.

---

Move: To football The central statue for +1 to-hit. durp.
Minor: Quarry Gydd.
Standard: Readied Twin Strike. Hit(25)! Hit(33)!
 dmg: 13
 quarry: 1. Lost track of how many times quarry comes up a 1.
 TRIGGER: Gydd does not comply to Angel's terms on her turn.

Thankfully, I didn't take ranger/rogue for the damage. I took it for the ACCURACY. Which I still miss with on occasion. XD But gosh, darn it! At least it happens less often!
This message was last edited by the player at 17:45, Thu 24 Jan 2013.

Maverick does go up next to Matt and uses the flat of his blade to smack Gydd silly. "SNAP OUT OF IT!"

---

Move: To Gydd, adjacent to Matt.
Standard: Clever Strike v Gydd. Hit(29)! Haha power that gives me CA!
 dmg: 17 (SA included)

It should be noted, Angel's readied action will do enough damage to down Gydd if Gydd can't help us help her. Which means combat is over either way since if she tells us how to stop her, she will be stopped.

Gydd HP: 28 - 17 = 11

Gydd hisses all undead horror-like, raising her nasty claw to swipe at Matt, but Angel's arrows stop her and she collapses lifeless.

"No monsters left for him to suicide on?" Mittens asks, running closer to Adam, "OK then.  Lalala, song of healing for Adam!"

Adam wakes and looks around for an enemy to slay.  He hurries over to Demise to behead her.  "Judging from all the blood, she was actually a living creature.  Not going to risk her rising as an undead while we're trying to recuperate."

"While this is likely the last time we fight side-by-side, Adam, please don't get yourself knocked out so much in the future.  Your allies will appreciate it if you took a breather in combat if it means you'll not do the yo-yo thing with your life."

"Sure."

  "At this point, I think I'm a bit too frazzled to be certain my decisions are all rational ones."   He's pretty sure his decision not to point out that zombies have plenty of blood, is a good one though.  "I think I'll get over it now that nothing is currently trying to kill us" or themselves.

  He looks over to Mittens,  "Wait, Adam's leaving?  I'm glad we all made it through this so far alive, but I think that's more surprising than seven zombies at once being potentially lethal."

Angel frowns. "When were you going to tell the rest of us?!"

"Mittens is a prophet, remember? Even Adam probably didn't know he was leaving." Maverick reminds.

Angel says, "...that actually makes things worse. Is it the last time we fight with Adam because he dies? Because Mittens dies?"

"More an educated guess than a prediction," Mittens says, rubbing behind her head, "With the Emerald Claw defeated and the artifacts recovered, it's unlikely there'll be any more combat before we all return home.  And since Adam is a prince, he'll prolly have to return to his castle.  And unless his guards fail, he won't be in any combats any time soon.  Lalala song of rest."

Mittens begins to sing her song of rest.

"No more combat?" Adam asks, "Sounds like good news to me.  Needless to say, you all will always be welcome to stay at my place."

Angel says, "Personally, now that we have *all* the artifacts, I'm expecting *more* attacks than ever. Especially from the politicians who couldn't be bothered to help us. How much you wanna bet Olaaki will laugh in an evil maniacal laughter when we offer him the relics;" She impersonates Olaaki best a human girl with no real impersonation experience can impersonate a male hobgoblin. "You fell for it. You trusted me! Did you not learn what happens to people who trust? Now prepare to die!"

She head shakes. "I'm unsure where we should take the relics. I don't trust anyone but you guys."

  "Honestly, who else is left that deserves the things aside from us?  Even if we probably wouldn't do anything with them beyond stab people more.  We don't really know enough about the world politics to just hand them over to someone who just seems nice anyways."

  He doesn't comment on how Adam leaving them to go back to princely things, would require them actually getting home finally after so many empty promises on that subject.

  Matt was also very, very hazy on how paying for a resurrection for Yeera would work out, if she had already been a zombie.  He had heard of a guy who had been turned into a bone golem get resurrected later, but he somehow thinks this might not apply.

Mits bites her lower lip and answers Angel and Matt.  "Hence my mentioning earlier...  We should either destroy them or lie about them having been destroyed in the fight.  Even if Olakkii turns out perfectly trustworthy and good hearted, he wouldn't have the strength we do to keep them from falling into the wrong hands."

"Makes sense to me," Adam agrees, "Let's figure out what each one does then decide what to do with them."

He takes them from Demise's body and hands them out.

(Will post the stats of the things sometime)