As the group nears the more intact tower, within about 30 yards or so, most of the people notice something among the sands in front of the tower. Califax and Novo don't see anything but Burikan, Sathras, and T'Vala are able to get a better sense of what it is in the sands ahead. They pass the information along to the others; Ahead scattered in the sands is what appears to be be scraps of some sort of material and larger fragments of what may be bone. As this information is being passed around every aht-ra at once stops dead in its tracks, refusing to move forward one more yard. Every one of them trembles visibly and everyone in the group notes that the feeling of wrongness that has been growing takes on an almost palpable taste of evil.

OOC: Aaban and Shadow may make Intelligence checks at even odds.

Shadow looks around, trying to figure out why the animals are so nervous.

Sathras peers at the area of devastation. "Sathras think something bad happen here. Sathras got a bad feeling about this place." He idly tries to kick his heels into the aht-ra in the hopes that it might move forward a bit more.

Aaban looks blankly at the scattered remnants ahead, focused on keeping his aht-ra under control.

Califax scans across the area and shakes his head.

I agree with you there Sathras.  I think being ready is called for.

He slides from his mount and starts to enact one of his spells, making gestures as if strapping on a suit of armour, as he does so a shimmering of actual armour starts to appear around him.

(ooc: 10:59, Today: Califax rolled 10 using 1d20+2. Casting Armor of the Aeriad.  Well that will give me PR 4 for a bit.)

T'Vala makes sure his hurlant is ready, peering ahead into the dimness; "I don't know that we can force our mounts to move ahead, I would be concerned about them panicking again and possibly bolting. If there is something to fight we would probably be better off dismounted anyhow."

Murron can just barely be seen nodding in agreement with T'Vala as he checks his bow to make sure his arrow is set properly; "I would agree as I know that even though I have trained to fight in the saddle it is still easier to fight not having to control a mount as well. Plus I would hate to lose my mount and have to be walking. This situation is bad enough as it is and heading towards worse by the minute it seems. Sathras needs shelter badly, more than the rest of us, so regardless of what is ahead our survival through the night may count on that tower."

"So... we leave aht-ra," Sathras asks. He pats the neck of the beast under him. "We turn aht-ra loose? Or we butcher to have food later?"

T'Vala speaks out before Murron can reply to Sathras; "I think we leave them for now but come back for them once we find out whatever is up ahead. They don't appear to want to bolt but won't go forward either. Perhaps Shadow can impart to them that we are not abandoning them but rather will return once it is safe."

"Hmmmm.... Oh?  Yes.  I can do that," she says in reply to T'Vala's statement.  "After careful thinking, I realized where I recognize this... sensation.  I have both felt and been taught of this particular feeling we are experiencing. It is quintessential anti-nature, necromantic, and generally considered evil.  Which would explain the other visitors to this place."

She nods and dismounts, placing her hand on the forelock of her mount, leaning in and pressing her face to its.

Dii dismounts from her stilled Aht-Ra, and readies her bow at the behest of the actions of those around her. "If it lives, it can die. If it's "unliving" it can die again."

Burikan dismounts and pats his mount on the head.

"Maybe I will get to eat you yet!"

He loads his krin while waiting for the others to get ready to go ahead on foot.

Sathras clambers down from his aht-ra, his tail swinging wildly as he tries to maintain balance.
"Sathras will carry stuff. Will take water and food. Other heavy stuff." He slowly sets about adjusting his own pack and belongings and will wait for anything from others as well, but he clearly stumbles and has trouble standing even with his own load.

---

Today: Sathras the Bold rolled 4 using 1d20-1. Laborer.

Califax make's his tri-bow ready, the sense of this place was really getting to him and making him nervous.

Hopefully this feeling will abate once we have some cover around us.

Aaban gathers necessary gear from his aht-ra, stowing what is required in his pack.  He loads and readies his crossbow, then waits for the others.  When all is made ready, just as they are about to set off, he makes a prayer to Aa.

"Omniscient Aa who sees all, lift the darkness from the eyes of your humble servant, that the secrets of our dark enemies may be revealed."

The group dismounts and gathers what gear they see fit as Shadow is able to commune with the mounts, convincing them to remain here while the group checks the towers. Aaban is successful invoking the aid of Aa, piercing the gloom out to 50 feet, allowing him to see clearly. The towers and whatever is in the sands are still out past his augmented vision and are still shadowy. As the night deepens the air temperature continues to fall, everyone now noticably uncomfortable but Sathras suffering in particular. The intact tower of the pair awaits just ahead, hopefully a place to hole up and get warm, but the sensation of evil grows with each step.

OOC: So the group starts out about 90 feet from the tower. If I could have an idea of how people are situated, who is doing what, and who is in the lead that would be appreciated.

Shadow looks at Sathras and pity actually crosses her features.  She adjusts her own gear and begins plucking things off of his pack that she can carry.

She keeps close to him, despite his slow pace.  She places her slightly warm hands on his bare arm, trying to infuse him with some of her body heat.

"Not much farther my friend," she says gently.  "Just a bit farther and we can build you a nice fire."

She turns to look at the towers, scanning the area around them.  Her vision easily piercing the gloom.

Califax stays more to the centre of the group, sweeping his tri-bow over each flank.  He pauses for a few seconds to run a finger in a pattern on his fore head to cast a spell to improve his night vision.  The summoned armour that he had been wearing vanishes as they move.

(ooc: 11:38, Today: Califax rolled 20 using 1d20. Mark of Midnight.
Well I think that critical success will go into doubling the range to 120ft, giving 10 minutes of good vision in darkness.  On the downside the armour will have dropped by now.)
This message was lightly edited by the player at 14:46, Mon 16 Apr 2012.

Sathras slowly swivels his head from side to side, slowly putting one foot in front of the other, plodding towards the tower.

---

With a speed of -2 and a -2 penalty to his rolls because of the cold, Sathras is moving slower than everyone else, I'd imagine. So, he's probably at the back of the group, but steadily moving towards the tower.

Looking at the group of once acquaintances, now friends she calls out quietly to them.

"We are only as fast as our slowest," she remarks.  "I can small, quiet, and need no light to see.  This gloom does not hinder me in the slightest.  If you would like, I can scout ahead a bit, but I would rather we stay overall more close to our cold friend here."

She says nothing else, but begins to tuck things into her pack and adjust it so that it is quiet.

In reply to Shadow Seeking the Light (msg #20):

"I'll go with you Shadow. It wouldn't serve to have you isolated without any protection. I'll follow behind you about 20 feet." With that, Dii makes sure that all her weapons are secured, and continues to keep her bow at the ready.

OOC: "Dii Ahnah rolled 26 using 1d20+8. Stealth +8."
I wasn't sure if any additional dif mods apply.

Novo:

"I too, shudder at the thought of having one of us left alone in... This. I will accompany Sathras." He stands by Sathras and half leans against his staff.

She nods and shrugs and moves into the darkness, unhindered by it herself.

Aaban begins to move forward.  "Perhaps we should all stay together.  Thus far, separating has only magnified problems.  If we move together, the sooner we get inside, and Sathras under cover."

"I don't plan on being too far ahead, but I can see unhindered in the darkness," she replies very quietly.  Her distant expression focused on the darkness beyond.

Sathras nods to all of this, slowly, and begins plodding across the sands towards the towers.

Murron stays near Sathras, to assist in keeping his friend heading towards the towers. Since the tower is much closer he switches to his shortsword and shield, especially being in close proximity to the main mass of the group; "Just follow me friend, hopefully my luck will not sour the group and we all are before a blazing fire soon."

T'Vala loosens his sword in its sheath but keeps his hurlant at the ready. He falls in slightly behind Dii and to the outside so he can have a clear shot if need be. He hopes to himself that the aht-ra will be OK until the group figures out what is going on.

Burikan brings up the rear. He can move much quicker but feels best letting those more stealthy lead the way.

The group moves towards the intact tower, the aht-ra watching them with every step they take. Shadow and once within 50 feet Aaban and Califax see a tall set of double doors mostly intact and partially open in the tower. Shadow can also see that the other tower is pretty well collapsed. Much more visible once closer it is quite obvious that the scraps and pieces in the sands scattered around the front of the tower are fragments of bone, flesh, and limbs that appear to have been dried by the desert heat. There is an obvious carrion stench now being carried by the swirling winds and the feeling of wrongness and evil is almost overwhelming.

Despite some of the members the group is surprisingly quiet, the sands and the wind helping to muffle any noises. However once the group gets to around 50 feet they hear a maniacal giggle emanate from behind the doors and a voice speaks out that oozes malevolence and barely contained madness; "I smell you, I smell you all. Such an assembly of delicacies come calling. A bright priest and a nature witch, not something often seen together but I have tasted both in my travels. I don't know nor do I care what you seek, but this is my place now and I hunger. So please, come forward and embrace your fates."

The eerie voice finishes with a horrific laugh that seems more like a scream. A moment later the doors are flung open and several forms shamble out. Most of them are rotted and withered but one was obviously a Rajan. That one's flesh is studded in places with flecks of the purple glowing fragments and a pair of larger fragments flicker where his eyes once were. Simultaneously from the sands around the doors hands in various levels of intactness crawl forth, moving inexorably towards the group, a purple fragment embedded in each one. Shadow, Aaban, and Califax can see just behind the shambling forms is a tall and slender being; long claws on its fingers, a forest of sharp teeth in its mouth, and eyes bright with madness. This being is festooned with scraps of flesh, ribs, and vertebrae. It begins speaking in a dark, guttural, gurgling voice that somehow still has a rhythm to it.

OOC: So there are 12 crawling hands, 3 zombies, 1 zombie studded with those flecks, and the being within the tower (Shadow and Aaban can make Int checks and anyone with Arcane Lore may also make a check to see if they have an idea of what it is). The hands are 20 feet away, the zombies 45 feet, and the being 50 feet away inside the tower.

Sathras tries to focus, thumping his tail against the sands to force his blood to move swifter in the cold. He reaches to uncoil his long, spiked war-whip; the red iron glints dully in the dim, cold light. The big lizard half hopes to keep some of the horrors away with the length of heavy, spiked iron.

NOVO:

Gaining a bit of perspective on what Sathras is trying to do, Novo conjures an idea. He begins to focus his tone while holding his arms out and speaking in a low prominent baritone toward Sathras.

OOC: "rolled 24 using 1d20+7. Novo: Arcane Lore +7."

Casting "The Corpusants of Santel Mowzfyre", total of 4 plasma streams focusing on Sathras' arms, tail and core. Going for the "ignite" effect to heat up Sathras. He will attempt to stay about 40 feet from Sathras (range is 60') and continually "heat" him for the duration of the spell (6 minutes).

"rolled 11 using 1d20-2. NO"The Corpusants of Santel Mowzfyre" -2."

"May this minor lightning inspire you, my friend."
This message was last edited by the player at 23:56, Sun 22 Apr 2012.

Suddenly, Diis collected "battle-cool" leaves her. All she can perceive is Shadow, the eerie voice from the tower, the purple specks glowing from the zombies, and now small streams of lightning behind her where the party was. She begins to wonder how these "entities" perceive her as well. She's hidden to normal eyes but unsure if these creatures detect life. In a moment of desperation where standing in one place is assured death, she decides to trust in her ability to be unseen just moments longer. She puts her bow away and draws her bastard sword. Then she starts putting one foot in front of the other, gradually picking up speed...

OOC: "Dii Ahnah rolled 16 using 1d20+3. Tactics +3."
She wants to charge attack/run through the "multi-specked zombie". What are the mods for charge again? +SPD to Dam. but at what neg?

Aaban's eyes the undead and the creature behind them, trying to determine if he may have learned of such a thing before. 

He sights down his loaded crossbow at the zombies and the creature, and raises his voice, steady in the face of the horrors.  "Omnipotent Aa, shine your holy light upon us, and defend thy servant from these blasphemies."  As he speaks, a white glow envelops him.

Califax raises his Tri-bow to his shoulder and takes aim, his enchanced vision from the spell making the darkness of this place no hinderance.  Squinting at the Creature in the tower trying to determin what it was did not call anything to mind so working on the premis that removing the controler would likely assist in defeating the attackers he proceeded to fire.

(ooc:12:31, Today: Califax rolled 6 using 1d20+3. Arcane Lore.
12:37, Today: Califax rolled 18 using 1d20+5. Tri-bow attack DoD not included. If hit the DR8 (+2DR included from strike deeper spell triggered on firing the bow))
This message was last edited by the player at 11:39, Tue 24 Apr 2012.

Gaining momentum and distance rather quickly, Dii attempts to gore the multi-specked Rajan zombie.

OOC: "Dii Ahnah rolled 14 using 1d20+7. Charge Attack (Bastard Sword) +7."
Dmg 11 +3(SPD) +1(Cals ward)= 15, if it hit.
This message was last edited by the player at 04:39, Tue 24 Apr 2012.

Burikan raises his krin and lets an iron bolt loose at one of the shambling undead."

06:22, Today: Burikan rolled 14 using 1d20+10. Krin attack.

As Dii charges at the strange studded zombie T'Vala raises his hurlant and sends a silver bolt speeding at it. The bolt strikes it squarely in the chest just before Dii reaches it. Knowing he has no time to reload he slings the hurlant and draws his silvered longsword and surveys the incoming assailants.

OOC: 11:54, Today: T'Vala rolled 17 using 1d20-1. Hurlant vs. shard studded zombie. (full success)

Murron wades in to strike at one of the more "normal" zombies but the stench staggers him for a moment and his strike goes wide. He is able to steel himself against the horrific smell and moves his shield into position, hoping to intercept the blow he knows is coming.

OOC: 12:03, Today: Bringer of Darkness, on behalf of Murron, rolled 2 using 1d20+1. Shortsword attack on zombie 1. (failure)
12:03, Today: Bringer of Darkness, on behalf of Murron, rolled 11 using 1d20. CON check vs. stench. (full success)
12:06, Today: Bringer of Darkness, on behalf of Murron, rolled 6 using 1d20-3. Shield parry on zombie 1. (partial success)
This message was last updated by the GM at 19:31, Mon 30 Apr 2012.

Shadow dances out of the way of battle, focusing her attention on the voice of the speaker.  She seems to be puzzling out a riddle, trying to think of something... anything that will be of use to the party.

She utters a harsh word, an almost frown upon her lips, but the nature in the area seems numb to her call.

Round 1

In the dim light it seems as if hell itself has broken free of its gates. Groups of the crawling hands leap and skitter into the group as the zombies, including the one flecked with purple crystals, shamble into the group. The stench as the zombies reach the group is nigh-unbearable.

Aaban, wielding his crossbow and calling to his god, surrounds himself with a glowing nimbus of light. Burikan raises his krin and looses a bolt at an advancing Dracartan zombie but it just deflects off the remnants of the scale armor it wears. The foul creature shambles forward relentlessly, smashing Burikan with its fist [Burikan 32/35]. Califax likewise raises his tri-bow, sighting on the strange creature who seems to be commanding the others. His bolt flies at it, slicing a line along its hide an instant before it finishes its evil incantation [Ghast 39/42]. The scraps of flesh and bone festooning it knit themselves into a ghastly armor around it as it hisses in anger. Moments later Califax is swarmed by 4 of the crawling hands which leap at him, grasping. One flies past as he twists away but the other 3 latch on with crushing grips [Califax 20/20, grappled x3].

As Dii charges the strange crystal-studded Rajan zombie T'Vala's silver bolt rips past her, striking it full in the chest but it does not break stride [RSZ 26/30]. Dii charges at it with her bastard sword point first, but does not strike squarely as it shambles side-to-side [RSZ 24/30]. It moans, perhaps in strange delight as it brutally smashes her with a sidelong blow of its arm [Dii 24/28]. Murron lashes out at one of the Dracartan zombies as is advances but his blow goes wide as he gags on the stench for a moment, collecting himself. He has the presence of mind still to bring his shield across, easily deflecting the zombie's clumsy swing. Novo calls out an incantation, the strange plasma streams playing over Sathras's form, warming him some. A group of the strange animated hands leap at Novo, all 4 of them latching onto his form, one almost on his throat [Novo 20/20, grappled x3, critically grappled x1 (-5 to escape grapple)].

Sathras, sluggish from the cold struggles to clear his mind and loosen his muscles as one Dracartan zombie lurches forward, grabbing him around the throat, the stench all around him [Sathras 34/34, grappled]. Shadow attempts to use the power of Nature to assault the shadowy creature but is not able to successfully channel the magic. She is beset by a quartet of the crawling hands which leap at her, 1 missing but 3 others strike true. One attaches with a particularly crushing grip near her liver while one of the other 2 does not seem as securely holding on [Shadow: 22/22, critically grappled x1 (-5 to escape grapple), grappled x1, partially grappled x1 (+5 to escape grapple)].

OOC: Today: Bringer of Darkness rolled 18/13,24/19,10/5,17/12 using 1d20+8,1d20+8,1d20+8,1d20+8. Crawling Claws Group 1 (4 claws) grapple vs. Califax (3 successes, Califax grappled x3)
Today: Bringer of Darkness rolled 26/23,17/14,21/18,20/17 using 1d20+8,1d20+8,1d20+8,1d20+8. Crawling Claws Group 2 (4 claws) grapple vs. Novo (4 successes <1 critical>, Novo grappled x3, critically grappled x1)
Today: Bringer of Darkness rolled 22/18,25/21,15/11,9/5 using 1d20+8,1d20+8,1d20+8,1d20+8. Crawling Claws Group 3 (4 claws) grapple vs. Shadow (2 successes <1 critical>, 1 partial success, Shadow grappled x2, partially grappled x1)
Today: Bringer of Darkness rolled 14,19,23 using 1d20+8,1d20+8,1d20+8. Attacks DZ1,DZ2,DZ3
DZ1 rolled a 14/4 with a clubbing blow vs. Murron (failure, no damage)
DZ2 rolled a 19/11 with a clubbing blow vs. Burikan (full success, 3 damage <after PR>)
DZ3 rolled a 23/14 with a choking grasp vs. Sathras (full success, Sathras grappled)
Today: Bringer of Darkness rolled 22/18 using 1d20+11. Attack Rajan Special Zombie clubbing blow vs. Dii (full success, 4 damage <after PR>)
Today: Bringer of Darkness rolled 8 using 1d20+7. Ghast Spellcasting (partial success, armor spell active for 10 rounds)

Crawling Claws are AL 6, PR 1
CG1: 4/4, 4/4, 4/4, 4/4
CG2: 4/4, 4/4, 4/4, 4/4
CG3: 4/4, 4/4, 4/4, 4/4

Dracartan Zombies are AL 8, PR 4
DZ1: 18/18
DZ2: 18/18
DZ3: 18/18

Rajan Special Zombie is AL 11, PR 6
RSZ: 24/30

Ghast Necromancer is AL 16, PR 1 (PR 3 for 10 rounds)
Ghast: 39/42

Aaban: 23/23 (Shield of Faith, 10 hp shield for 20 rounds)
Burikan: 32/35
Califax: 20/20 (grappled x3*, +2 DR on tri-bow for 10 rounds)
Dii Ahnah: 24/28 (Partial success on CON roll, -2 to all rolls, +1 DR on bastard sword for 10 rounds)
Murron: 23/23 (made CON roll, +1 DR on shortsword for 10 rounds)
Novoptolomeo: 20/20 (4 plasma streams for 6 minutes, grappled x3*, critically grappled x1*)
Sathras: 34/34 (heated by plasma, no cold penalty; grappled)
Shadow: 22/22 (critically grappled x1*, grappled x1*, partially-grappled x1*)
T'Vala: 28/28

(*Those grappled by the crawling claws CAN act other than trying an escape attempt. An escape attempt can be made to try and shake off all the claws at once as an action.)

(Everyone except Dii and Murron please make CON checks at -2 vs. the zombie stench)
This message was last edited by the GM at 03:36, Sat 22 Sept 2012.

Aaban lets fly his silver tipped crossbow bolt at the ghast.  "Back to the Underworld, foul spawn of darkness!" he bellows.  "The light of Aa defies you!" 

He then slings his spent crossbow and readies his mace and shield.

Sathras roars, spreading his arms and prodigious shoulders wide to break the grip of the undead thing that holds him. He then attempts to batter it with his war whip, but he doesn't have the room to bring the heavy length of metal into play.

---

Sathras the Bold rolled 23 using 1d20+6. (CON x2)-2.
Sathras the Bold rolled 18 using 1d20+12. STR doubled to break grapple.
Sathras the Bold rolled 2 using 1d20-3. Attack - War Whip, 2nd Action.
 

Coughing at the stench of the strange claws grasping her, she whispers to the winds around her, summoning them, and begging them to clear the stench away from her and her friends.

Burikan reels back as much from the stench as from the blow. Dropping his iron crossbow he snatches his tarak from it's hanger on his broad back and wheels it around at the undead foe.

07:24, Today: Burikan rolled 20 using 1d20+11. tarak.
07:24, Today: Burikan rolled 9 using 1d20-2. con roll.

Stunned that her attack yielded nothing, Dii simply attacks again.

OOC: "Dii Ahnah rolled 5 using 1d20-6. Bastard Sword +7 -2(CON) -11(AL)= -6."
"Dii Ahnah rolled 4 using 1d20+3. Tactics +3(?)."

Fucking useless

(OOC: 20:41, Today: Califax rolled 6 using 1d20-2. CON roll at -2 for Califax vs. stench.  Doesn't look good as far as rolls go.)

Novo shifts to misplace the animated hand trying to strangle him and subdues the thwart for the time being. He then tries to further shake off all the hands clinging tenaciously to his form, but only puts himself more at their advantage.

OOC: "Rolled 3 using 1d20. Novo: STR (Break Grapple)."

Murron presses the attack on the Dracartan zombie but his thrust goes wide as the sands shift slightly beneath his feet. Expecting a return attack he brings his shield around to try and deflect the incoming blow.

OOC: Today: Bringer of Darkness, on behalf of Murron, rolled 4 using 1d20+1. Shortsword attack on DZ1. (failure)
Today: Bringer of Darkness, on behalf of Murron, rolled 7 using 1d20-3. Shield parry on DZ1. (partial success)

Seeing Novo convered by a number of the animated hands, T'Vala makes his way to him. The edge of his blade starts to glow as the rune Califax scribed activates. He takes two measured swings, each one striking one of the hands but missing Novo's flesh just beneath.

OOC: Today: T'Vala rolled 19,8 using 1d20+6,1d20+1. 2 Longsword attacks on CG2 (Novo). (full success, partial success)
This message was last edited by the player at 19:07, Fri 06 July 2012.

OOC: Just so people are aware, to strike at the hands when they are grappling someone has a difficulty rating of -5 because of their size and trying to avoid striking the person they are attached to.

Califax tugged and swatted at the creeping hands in an attempt to dislodge them from his person so that he would be free to return to the offencive.

(ooc:10:45, Today: Califax rolled 8 using 1d20-2. Brawl to dislodge 'hands'.)

Round 2

Calling out to Aa, Aaban looses a bolt at the scrap and bone armored fiend as it hisses out another incantation. The bolt partially deflects off the foul armor but does graze a line across its hide [Ghast 38/42]. Burikan cleaves at the Dracartan zombie as it clubs at him. The zombie's strike goes wide but Burikan's cuts into it deeply [DZ2 6/18]. The dark fiend finishes its vile spell, flicking some dried thing towards Burikan which is then propelled by the dark magic. As the thing reaches him it explodes into a small cloud of reeking, writhing maggots which crawl over and around his armor and burrow into his flesh; the stench and sensation is quite unsettling and the fiend laughs maniacally at the sight[Burikan 24/35, make CON check at -4 vs. spell effect]. The 3 animated claws crush Califax's flesh with surprising force as he tries in vain to shake and twist them off, gagging and wretching at the stench of the zombies, a 4th claw leaping onto him and latching on as well [Califax 17/20].

Still struggling against the stench of the zombies, Dii swings wildly at the crystal-studded Rajan zombie before her but her blow goes wide. The Rajan zombie strides in and smashes Dii with another powerful blow from its arm [Dii 20/28]. Murron stabs at the Dracartan zombie before him again with his shortsword but his blow falls short as it staggers and jerks in its movements. He is able to bring up his shield just enough to catch its clumsy return swing to deflect it away. Novo squirms and turns to try and break the grasp of the 4 animated claws but to no avail, still playing the plasma streams over Sathras as he can. The claws apply their crushing grips to him, the sensation unlike anything he has ever felt [Novo 12/20].

The Dracartan zombie gripping Sathras's throat squeezes mightily as Sathras works to pry it free [Sathras 30/34], which he is able to do with a great surge strength. Pulling out his war whip Sathras tries to smite the foul creature but he is in too close to be effective. Noticing the approaching stench Shadow is able to conjure a small globe of pure air around her head which wards off the foulness. The 2 claws attached to her apply their bruising strength to her flesh. The claw that had been weakly attached finds a firm grip and the claw that leapt past her leaps on her this time, grabbing on firmly [Shadow 18/22]. T'Vala approaches Novo, seeing him covered in the strange claws. His silver longsword glows slightly as a rune activates and he takes two measured slashes at 2 of the claws. Each strike cleaves one claw in twain, dropping them to the sands twitching [CG2 0/4, 0/4, 4/4, 4/4].

OOC: Today: Bringer of Darkness rolled 16/16 using 1d20+8. CG1 (1 claw grapple vs. Califax) <full success, Califax grappled x1>
Today: Bringer of Darkness rolled 19/19 using 1d20+8. CG3  (1 claw vs. Shadow) <full success, Shadow grappled x1>
Today: Bringer of Darkness rolled 16/16 using 1d20+8. CG3 (1 claw vs. Shadow to re-grapple) <full success, Shadow grappled x1>
Today: Bringer of Darkness rolled 17/10 using 1d20+8. DZ1 vs. Murron (partial success, no damage after partial shield parry)
Today: Bringer of Darkness rolled 11/1 using 1d20+8. DZ2 vs. Burikan (failure, no damage)
Today: Bringer of Darkness rolled 16/11 using 1d20+11. RSZ vs. Dii (full success, 4 damage <after PR>)
Today: Bringer of Darkness rolled 12 using 1d20+7. Ghast spellcasting (full success, 8 damage to Burikan <CON check at -4 vs. spell effect>)

Crawling Claws are AL 6, PR 1
CG1: 4/4, 4/4, 4/4, 4/4
CG2: 0/4, 0/4, 4/4, 4/4
CG3: 4/4, 4/4, 4/4, 4/4

Dracartan Zombies are AL 8, PR 4
DZ1: 18/18
DZ2: 6/18
DZ3: 18/18

Rajan Special Zombie is AL 11, PR 6
RSZ: 24/30

Ghast Necromancer is AL 16, PR 1 (PR 3 for 9 rounds)
Ghast: 38/42

Aaban: 23/23 (Shield of Faith, 10 hp shield for 19 rounds, made CON roll vs. stench)
Burikan: 24/35 (made CON roll vs. stench, +1 DR on tarak for 10 rounds)
Califax: 17/20 (grappled x4*, -3 to all rolls from stench, +2 DR on tri-bow for 9 rounds)
Dii Ahnah: 20/28 (Partial success on CON roll, -2 to all rolls from stench, +1 DR on bastard sword for 9 rounds)
Murron: 23/23 (+1 DR on shortsword for 9 rounds)
Novoptolomeo: 12/20 (4 plasma streams for 59 rounds, grappled x2*, partially grappled x1*, made CON roll vs. stench)
Sathras: 30/34 (heated by plasma, no cold penalty; made CON roll vs. stench)
Shadow: 18/22 (critically grappled x1*, grappled x3*, Calming Winds around her head for 50 rounds <safe vs. stench>)
T'Vala: 28/28 (made CON roll vs. stench, +1 DR on longsword for 10 rounds)

(*Those grappled by the crawling claws CAN act other than trying an escape attempt. An escape attempt can be made to try and shake off all the claws at once as an action.)
This message was last edited by the GM at 03:41, Sat 22 Sept 2012.

Shadow grits her teeth and then closes her eyes, drawing in a deep breath.  She mutters under her breath and touches one of the claws gripping her...
This message was last edited by the player at 19:50, Fri 06 July 2012.

Sathras growls, taking a step back away from the thing he's dislodged. He brings his whip around in an over-head arc. He allows the momentum from the heavy whip to pull him forward, falling with it and his own weight behind the silver gauntlet he wears on his off hand. He punches the dead Dracartan in the face and is satisfied with the crunch of bone.

---

Sathras the Bold rolled 11 using 1d20+2 with rolls of 9. War Whip, attack 1.
DR 12 after the zombie's PR.
Sathras the Bold rolled 8 using 1d20-2 with rolls of 10. Brawl, attack 2.
DR 5 after the zombie's PR.

I'm assuming that's DZ 3, the one that attacked previously. Also, the notes say I'm grappled but the text says I threw him off. All of the above assumes I threw him off and then attacked him twice since I was free.

In reply to Sathras the Bold (msg # 56):

OOC: Yes, you are no longer grappled. That was an oops on my part where I forgot to change that in the status section. :-)

Aaban glances around, sees T'Vala assisting Novo, and rushes to Sathras' side, swinging his adamant mace in a powerful arc, and rewarded with a solid blow as it crunches into the zombie.

(OOC:  11:31, Today: Aaban rolled 12 using 1d20-2. mace attack on zombie fighting Sathras. DR 9 after armor -- between this and Sathras, this should finish it?)


"Sathras!" he calls to his companion, "Use those mighty hands Aa has blessed you with to start pulling the claws from Califax and crush them!  We'll need his bow." 

Burikan shakes off the foulness of the spell and presses forward. With a feral grin that matches the evil laugh of the dark fiend, Burikan wheels his blade over head and brings it down upon the undead Dracartan that he was engaged with.

20:27, Today: Burikan rolled 19 using 1d20+12. tarak.
20:24, Today: Burikan rolled 16 using 1d20-4. CON check at -4 .

Not having much option after biting off more than she can chew, Dii resigns to continue attacking the Rajan Zombie.

OOC: "Dii Ahnah rolled -2 using 1d20-6. Bastard Sword +7 -2(CON) -11(AL)= -6"
Today: Bringer of Darkness, on behalf of Dii Ahnah, rolled 21 using 1d20+3. Tactics.
This message was last edited by the GM at 15:33, Fri 07 Sept 2012.

Califax continued to struggle with the clawing crushing hands.  The stench was also having an effect on him eyes watering as he struggled to fend off the attacks.

(OOC: 10:36, Today: Califax rolled 14 using 1d20-2. Brawl to dislodge hands. Well thats progress at least.)

Still working on assisting Novo with dislodging the grasping claws T'Vala again takes two measured swings with his longsword against 2 different claws. Again he is able to strike the claws without touching Novo's flesh beneath them.

OOC: Today: T'Vala rolled 14,9 using 1d20+6,1d20+1. Longsword attacks on CG2 (Novo). (full success, partial success)

Murron, seeing Dii struggling with the strange zombie and others still covered by hands decides to forego an active defense to press his attack against the zombie. He thrusts twice with his shortsword, the first thrust going wide as he overestimates the range but the second strikes the zombie although not squarely.

OOC: Today: Bringer of Darkness, on behalf of Murron, rolled 4,8 using 1d20+1,1d20-4. 2 Shortsword attacks on DZ1. (failure, partial success)

In reply to Murron (msg # 63):

Novo attempts to remove another of the zombified hands, but to no avail.

OOC: "rolled 2 using 1d20. Novo: un-attach 1 hand (no mods)".

Round 3

Rushing in to assist Sathras, Aaban swings his mace in a mighty arc and it strikes the Dracartan zombie solidly but even with the crunching of bone it the crushing blow does not seem to be as effective as it could be [DZ3 11/18]. The shadowy fiend hisses out another incantation and a spike of bone launches itself at Aaban but it is absorbed by the holy light surrounding him, shattering into tiny fragments. Burikan and the Dracartan zombie he is facing strike at each other. The zombie strikes him with a heavy blow [Burikan 21/35] which throws him off just a touch but he is still able to slice it in twain with his tarak [DZ2 0/18]. Califax is able to twist and struggle against the crushing grasps of the hands and is able to shake them off of him [Califax 13/20] but they leap back onto him once they hit the sands. One of them latches on again with a crushing grip while the other three achieve significantly weaker holds, struggling to attach themselves firmly [Califax 13/20, critically grappled x1 (-5 to escape grapple), partially grappled x3 (+5 to escape grapple)].

Dii is still locked in conflict with the Rajan zombie and the stench continues to affect her. She tries to study its movements to time her swing but the stench just keeps her reeling and her swing goes wide. She is able to deflect the Rajan zombie's mighty return swing off of one of her bracers as it staggers slightly in the sands. Murron hopes to finish his zombie so he can aid someone else and forgoes his defense to stab twice at it, striking it with a glancing blow that deflects off its armor then a more solid hit that strikes true [DZ1 16/18]. The foul creature strikes Murron with a glancing blow that is mostly deflected off his armor [Murron 22/23]. Novo struggles in vain to shake off the hands as they continue to apply their crushing grips on him [Novo 10/20]. He is still able to keep the plasma streams on Sathras to provide him with warmth.

Sathras swings his war whip in a mighty arc at the Dracartan zombie he faces, smiting it with a solid blow that yet does not seem to faze it as it would a normal being [DZ3 15/18]. He switches to punching it with his silver gauntlet as Aaban moves in to assist him, that blow partially deflected by the zombie's armor [DZ3 14/18]. The zombie's powerful swing at Sathras goes wide in the sequence of the attacks taking place. Shadow feels the crushing grips of the claws on her [Shadow 12/22] but is able to calm herself sufficiently to summon forth quiet energy from within her. Touching the claw with the strongest grip, vital energy infuses it and the positive energy overwhelms its necromantic force causing it to boil away to vapors [CG3 0/4, 4/4, 4/4, 4/4]. T'Vala continues to aid Novo, his silver longsword cleaving the remaining pair of claws in two [CG2 0/4, 0/4, 0/4, 0/4] freeing Novo from their crushing grasps completely.

OOC: Today: Bringer of Darkness rolled 15,14,13,25 using 1d20+8,1d20+8,1d20+8,1d20+8. CG1 vs. Califax. (3 partial successes, 1 critical success, Califax partially grappled x3, critically grappled x1)
Today: Bringer of Darkness rolled 19 using 1d20+8. DZ1 vs. Murron. (partial success, 1 damage <after PR>)
Today: Bringer of Darkness rolled 23 using 1d20+8. DZ2 vs. Burikan. (full success, 3 damage <after PR>)
Today: Bringer of Darkness rolled 11 using 1d20+8. DZ3 vs. Sathras. (failure, no damage)
Today: Bringer of Darkness rolled 13 using 1d20+11. RSZ vs. Dii. (partial success, 0 damage <after PR>)
Today: Bringer of Darkness rolled 7 using 1d20+6. Ghast spellcasting. (partial success, 5 damage to Aaban's Shield of Faith)

Crawling Claws are AL 6, PR 1
CG1: 4/4, 4/4, 4/4, 4/4
CG2: 0/4, 0/4, 0/4, 0/4
CG3: 0/4, 4/4, 4/4, 4/4

Dracartan Zombies are AL 8, PR 4
DZ1: 16/18
DZ2: 0/18
DZ3: 11/18

Rajan Special Zombie is AL 11, PR 6
RSZ: 24/30

Ghast Necromancer is AL 16, PR 1 (PR 3 for 8 rounds)
Ghast: 38/42

Aaban: 23/23 (Shield of Faith, 5 hp shield for 18 rounds, made CON roll vs. stench)
Burikan: 21/35 (made CON roll vs. stench, +1 DR on tarak for 9 rounds)
Califax: 13/20 (critically grappled x1*, partially grappled x3*, -3 to all rolls from stench, +2 DR on tri-bow for 8 rounds)
Dii Ahnah: 20/28 (Partial success on CON roll, -2 to all rolls from stench, +1 DR on bastard sword for 8 rounds)
Murron: 22/23 (+1 DR on shortsword for 8 rounds)
Novoptolomeo: 10/20 (4 plasma streams for 58 rounds, made CON roll vs. stench)
Sathras: 30/34 (heated by plasma, no cold penalty; made CON roll vs. stench)
Shadow: 12/22 (grappled x3*, Calming Winds around her head for 49 rounds <safe vs. stench>)
T'Vala: 28/28 (made CON roll vs. stench, +1 DR on longsword for 9 rounds)

(*Those grappled by the crawling claws CAN act other than trying an escape attempt. An escape attempt can be made to try and shake off all the claws at once as an action.)
This message was last edited by the GM at 15:00, Fri 12 Oct 2012.

Sathras grunts with effort, nodding to the Aamanian knight. "Help others. Sathras finish this one." With that he attempts to slam his gauntlet-ed fist into the undead Dracartan again and again... with little result.

---

Sathras the Bold rolled 5 using 1d20-2. Brawl, attack 2, silver gauntlet.
Sathras the Bold rolled 8 using 1d20+3. Brawl, silver-gauntlet.

So, a partial and a failure. After armor, DR 5 to DZ 3

Burikan does not even wait to admire his handiwork as the undead Dracartan falls in two pieces at his feet, instead he whirls around and attacks the Rajan zombie engaged with Dii Ahnah. The red iron tarak, already covered in gore spins around and makes for the creatures legs.

09:33, Today: Burikan rolled 19 using 1d20+12. attack with tarak. Tarak DR 15

OOC: If Aaban and Sathras can each give me an INT roll to see if you notice something in particular that would be great.

The white clad Aamanian shakes his head sadly at Sathras.  "I can't give them the help they need.  Only you could." 

Regardless, he quickly moves on toward Califax, swinging his mace at the most firmly attached hand, looking to smash it and knock it free.


OOC:
20:53, Today: Aaban rolled 13 using 1d20. mace attack -- trying to take out the hand latched on to Califax.  If Califax can shake others loose, he'll try to hit them on the ground.
20:51, Today: Aaban rolled 2 using 1d20. INT check. He sure didn't notice anything. 

The gripping hands bring her to her knees and she tries to pry them off.

Having freed Novo from the grasping claws T'Vala glances around. He sees Shadow struggling with a triad of the horrid things and moves to assist her. He takes two powerful but measured swings, each swing catching one of the claws but avoiding Shadow's skin.

OOC: Today: T'Vala rolled 11,17 using 1d20+6,1d20+1. Longsword attacks on CG3 (Shadow). (2 full successes)

Murron presses his attack again, thrusting viciously with his glowing shortsword at the foul creature. His first thrust pierces deeply through the armor. His second thrust glances off the armor and wrenches his wrist, causing him to drop his blade to the sand between him and the zombie. He curses at his ill luck, hoping to be able to snatch the blade up quickly.

OOC: Today: Bringer of Darkness, on behalf of Murron, rolled 19,0 using 1d20+1,1d20-4. Shortsword attacks on DZ1. (full success, critical failure)

Still reelling from the stench and with multipule clawed undead hands grasping at his clothing and limbs Califax flailed in an attempte to dislodge one that had a weaker grip on him.

(ooc: 12:35, Today: Califax rolled 7 using 1d20-2. Attempt to throw off one of the partials.  That looks like a partial success to me.)

Novo, having been cleared of the hands, takes a moment to intone a spell. The air around him crackles with energy for an instant then a globe of pure air encases Dii's head, purging the zombie stench from her nostrils.

OOC: Today: Bringer of Darkness, on behalf of Novoptolomeo, rolled 27 using 1d20+9. IIII at lvl 1 (clean air spell) on Dii. (critical success, +5 to new CON save vs. zombie stench for Dii)

With Burikan stepping in against the gem-studded Rajan zombie, Dii staggers back, still gagging on the stench somewhat. An instant later a globe of pure, sweet air surrounds her head and it enables her to throw off the nausea from the stench. Seeing Califax beset with claws she steps to him, sweeping her bastard sword in an arc, catching the one latched on him solidly. She follows her swing through to try and cleave one of the ones leaping from the sands but the swing goes high.

OOC: Today: Bringer of Darkness, on behalf of Dii Ahnah, rolled 15 using 1d20+5. New CON save vs. Stench. (full success, stench penalty removed)
Today: Bringer of Darkness, on behalf of Dii Ahnah, rolled 20 using 1d20+3. Tactics roll vs. crawling claws. (critical success, +5 on actions vs. claws engaging Callifax)
Today: Bringer of Darkness, on behalf of Dii Ahnah, rolled 14,4 using 1d20+6,1d20+1. Bastard Sword vs. Cr Claw (Califax). (full success vs. attached claw, failure vs. leaping claw)
This message was last updated by the GM at 12:32, Tue 23 Oct 2012.

Round 4

Aaban moves away from the creature Sathras faces and nears Califax. He swings his mace and strikes the attached claw with a glancing blow which seems to loosen it [CG1 2/4, 4/4, 4/4, 4/4]. The shadowy fiend hisses out a familiar sounding incantation and again a spike of bone leaps from it to Aaban. This time, driven by unholy force, it shatters the white light surrounding him and delivers a staggering blow even through his lacquered armor [Aaban 19/23]. The fiend laughs maniacally as he sees the holy light shattered around Aaban. Burikan, having moved in on the gem-studded Rajan zombie, swings his tarak in a wide arc and strikes it but not squarely and much of the power is deflected by its armor [RSZ 22/30]. The blow does throw off the thing and its swing goes wide of Burikan. Califax tries to shake off the claws and is able to shed the 3 that were not firmly attached but the other claw applies its unholy grip [Califax 12/20]. The three that hit the sand immediately gather themselves and leap again however two of them are intercepted by Dii's arrival so only 1 is able to attach itself again [Califax 12/20, grappled x2].

With Burikan's arrival Dii is able to break off from the gem-studded zombie and moves to assist Califax. Novo, now free from the hands, intones a spell and a globe of pure air encases Dii's head and purges the foul stench from her nostrils. He also keeps the plasma streams focused on Sathras to warm him. Refreshed, Dii presses her attack, trying to discern the best way to fight the leaping hands. She swings once with her bastard sword at the lone attached claw on Califax, cleaving it from him and her return swing on one of the leaping claws goes under it [CG1 0/4, 4/4, 4/4, 4/4]. The claw she missed leaps past her but the other two land firmly on her and she can feel their strength already [Dii 20/28, grappled x2]. Murron strikes out again twice at the zombie he faces, the first strike landing solidly but the second jams on its armor and causes him to drop his blade [DZ1 11/18]. The zombie takes advantage of the opening to strike him with a heavy clubbing blow that jars him [Murron 19/23].

Sathras punches twice at the rotting thing in front of him, missing with the first swing and catching it a glancing blow with the second [DZ3 10/18]. He seems confused why his crushing blows don't seem to be having much effect. The zombie steps in and wraps its decaying yet unnaturally strong hands around Sathras's throat again, starting to squeeze [Sathras 30/34, grappled]. Shadow struggles against the claws in vain trying to shake them but they apply their crushing grips [Shadow 8/22, grappled x3]. T'Vala, having freed Novo from his claws previously, moves in and with two powerful measured swings cleaves two of the claws from Shadow's body [CG3 0/4, 0/4, 0/4, 4/4].

OOC:  Today: Bringer of Darkness rolled 22,20,25 using 1d20+6,1d20+6,1d20+6. CG1 vs, Califax/Dii. (3 full successes, Califaxc grappled x1, Dii grappled x2)
Today: Bringer of Darkness rolled 25 using 1d20+8. DZ1 vs. Murron. (full success, 3 damage <after PR>)
Today: Bringer of Darkness rolled 26 using 1d20+8. DZ3 vs. Sathras. (full success, Sathras grappled)
Today: Bringer of Darkness rolled 12 using 1d20+11. RSZ vs. Burikan. (failure, no damage)
Today: Bringer of Darkness rolled 25 using 1d20+6. Ghast spellcasting. (critical success, 4 damage <after Shield of Faith and PR>)

Crawling Claws are AL 6, PR 1
CG1: 0/4, 4/4, 4/4, 4/4
CG2: 0/4, 0/4, 0/4, 0/4
CG3: 0/4, 0/4, 0/4, 4/4

Dracartan Zombies are AL 8, PR 4
DZ1: 11/18
DZ2: 0/18
DZ3: 10/18

Rajan Special Zombie is AL 11, PR 6
RSZ: 22/30

Ghast Necromancer is AL 16, PR 1 (PR 3 for 7 rounds)
Ghast: 38/42

Aaban: 19/23 (made CON roll vs. stench)
Burikan: 24/35 (made CON roll vs. stench, +1 DR on tarak for 8 rounds)
Califax: 11/20 (grappled x1*, -3 to all rolls from stench, +2 DR on tri-bow for 7 rounds)
Dii Ahnah: 20/28 (grappled x2*, globe of air around head for 50 rounds <made CON roll, safe vs. stench>, +1 DR on bastard sword for 7 rounds)
Murron: 19/23 (+1 DR on shortsword for 7 rounds)
Novoptolomeo: 10/20 (4 plasma streams for 57 rounds, made CON roll vs. stench)
Sathras: 30/34 (grappled x1, heated by plasma, no cold penalty; made CON roll vs. stench)
Shadow: 8/22 (grappled x1*, Calming Winds around her head for 48 rounds <safe vs. stench>)
T'Vala: 28/28 (made CON roll vs. stench, +1 DR on longsword for 8 rounds)

(*Those grappled by the crawling claws CAN act other than trying an escape attempt. An escape attempt can be made to try and shake off all the claws at once as an action.)

Don't forget that you have healing potions (10 hp healing) to save having to try and cast healing magic during combat.

With a small gasp she again tries to free herself from the grasping hands.

Sathras howls, throwing off the entangling arms of the zombie.
Sathras the Bold rolled 15 using 1d20+4. Breaking Grapple.
Then he slams his silver gauntleted fist into the zombie's face but with little effect.
Sathras the Bold rolled 8 using 1d20-2. Brawl, Silver Gauntlet, 2nd action. Partial. DR 9/2 -PR4 = 1 DR.

Murron scoops up his shortsword, thrusting it at the foul zombie but not connecting as well as he could. He brings his shield around deftly to block its counter.

OOC: Today: Bringer of Darkness, on behalf of Murron, rolled 9 using 1d20+1. Shortsword attack on DZ1. (partial success)
Today: Bringer of Darkness, on behalf of Murron, rolled 11 using 1d20-3. Shield Parry on DZ1. (full success)

T'Vala cleaves the last claw off of Shadow, sending it flying to the sands in pieces. He moves quickly over to Califax, swinging his longsword again in a measured attack but although he does strike it it is not a solid blow.

OOC: Today: T'Vala rolled 23,6 using 1d20+6,1d20+1. Attacks vs. CG3 (Shadow)/CG1 (Califax). (critical success, partial success)

Dii gives a mighty shake and twist and is able to send the claws flying onto the sands, with them immediately moving to re-engage. She swings her bastard sword twice, striking one with a glancing blow and clanging her sword against a rock as she misses the second. The jarring blow sends the blade from her hands and it lands a few feet away in the sand.

OOC: Today: Bringer of Darkness, on behalf of Dii Ahnah, rolled 5 using 1d20+3. Tactics roll vs. crawling claws. (failure)
Today: Bringer of Darkness, on behalf of Dii Ahnah, rolled 11 using 1d20-2. Attempt to shake off crawling claws. (full success)
Today: Bringer of Darkness, on behalf of Dii Ahnah, rolled 7,-2 using 1d20+1,1d20-3. Bastard Sword attacks vs. 2 claws. (partial success, critical failure)

Novo looks over the battlefield and surveys his wounds. Picking up some sand and rubbing it between his palms he exhales through the palms, sending the sand flying and bringing into being a brilliantly glowing ball of lightning which orbits his body at dizzying speed.

OOC: Today: Bringer of Darkness, on behalf of Novoptolomeo, rolled 22 using 1d20+2. Somu's Electric Thunder Balls lvl 5. (critical success, 15 point aura for 10 rounds)

Aaban turns towards the tower, his feet stumbling through the sand as he chants prayers to Aa.  "Mighty Aa, omnipotent, shield your humble servant from these fiends most foul!" 

There appears to be no answer from Aa, however.

OOC:  21:00, Today: Aaban rolled 3 using 1d20+1. Casting Shield of Faith lvl 5. (Failure)

Not sure how much ground he can cover while spell casting. 

Burikan brings his tarak up and around hitting the gem covered Rajan zombie with one of the four blades.

22:46, Today: Burikan rolled 14 using 1d20+1. tarak against gem encrusted zombie.

Califax attempts to struggle free from the grasping claw that is causing him so much pain.  Twisting and turing in an effort to dislodge the undead thing.

(12:38, Today: Califax rolled 8 using 1d20-6. Brawl, escape grapple.)

Round 5

Aaban moves rapidly in the direction of the chanting ghast, beseeching Almighty Aa for aid. Initially his incantation seems to fail but with a sudden surge he is surrounded by another aura of white light. Burikan steps in to cleave at the gem-studded zombie, striking it squarely while it's return swing goes wide [RSZ 12/30]. Califax is able to struggle and loosens the grip of the remaining claw on him although he still feels some of its strength [Califax 10/20].

Dii is able to shake off the pair of fiendish claws attached to her before they are able to fully apply their strength [Dii 18/28]. She takes two mighty swings with her glowing bastard sword, one swing catching one of the claws with a glancing blow that still separates it into two twitching pieces [CG1 0/4, 4/4, 0/4, 4/4] while the other swing dips too low and clangs off a rock sending the blade a few feet away into the sand. Murron decides to strike and defend himself this time and the thrust of his blade catches the foul creature he faces with a glancing blow [DZ1 9/18], deflecting its crushing blow off his shield. Novo whispers some words while rubbing sand between his palms and moments later a brilliant ball of lightning appears and orbits his body.

Sathras is able to break the foul zombie's crushing grip on him before it can damage him fully [Sathras 26/34] and punches the thing in the face with his silver gauntlet but it doesn't even stagger [DZ3 9/18]. The zombie tries to grab him again but he is able to slip out of its way. Shadow is able to shrug off the remaining claw, still receiving some of its bruising force as she does so [Shadow 7/22]. T'Vala swings his glowing silver longsword in another measured strike and slices the claw that Shadow shrugged off into two pieces that drop to the sands [CG3 0/4, 0/4, 0/4, 0/4] then he slides over to Califax where even though his second swing from his longsword is a glancing blow it still has enough power to cleave the hand from Califax [CG1 0/4, 0/4, 0/4, 4/4]. The shadowy ghast near the tower hisses in rage at T'Vala slicing its minions into pieces and it hisses out another dark incantation. It finishes the spell by pricking its own flesh with one of its claws and a dark drop of blood drops to the sands. An instant later T'Vala cries out and blood is seen to flow from all his facial orifices. The blood drips to the sand and is seen to flow rapidly to the drop of blood from the ghast as it cackles in unholy glee [T'Vala 20/28].

Everyone's attention is caught at least briefly by a pair of brilliant flashes followed by roaring explosions and two flaming wrecks falling from the skies behind the group, each wreck a distance from the other. It is just barely possible to see small things falling from each flaming wreck and dropping rapidly to the sands, on fire.

OOC:  Today: Bringer of Darkness rolled 22 using 1d20+8. DZ1 vs. Murron. (full success, blocked by shield)
Today: Bringer of Darkness rolled 11 using 1d20+8. DZ3 vs. Sathras. (failure, no damage)
Today: Bringer of Darkness rolled 9 using 1d20+6. Crawling Claw vs. Dii. (failure)
Today: Bringer of Darkness rolled 14 using 1d20+11. RSZ vs. Burikan. (failure, no damage)
Today: Bringer of Darkness rolled 12 using 1d20+8. Ghast spellcasting. (full success, 8 damage <no armor>)

Crawling Claws are AL 6, PR 1
CG1: 0/4, 4/4, 0/4, 4/4
CG2: 0/4, 0/4, 0/4, 0/4
CG3: 0/4, 0/4, 0/4, 0/4

Dracartan Zombies are AL 8, PR 4
DZ1: 9/18
DZ2: 0/18
DZ3: 9/18

Rajan Special Zombie is AL 11, PR 6
RSZ: 12/30

Ghast Necromancer is AL 16, PR 1 (PR 3 for 6 rounds)
Ghast: 38/42

Aaban: 19/23 (Shield of Faith, 10 hp aura for 10 rounds, made CON roll vs. stench)
Burikan: 24/35 (made CON roll vs. stench, +1 DR on tarak for 7 rounds)
Califax: 10/20 (-3 to all rolls from stench, +2 DR on tri-bow for 6 rounds)
Dii Ahnah: 20/28 (grappled x2*, globe of air around head for 49 rounds <made CON roll, safe vs. stench>, +1 DR on bastard sword for 6 rounds)
Murron: 19/23 (+1 DR on shortsword for 6 rounds)
Novoptolomeo: 10/20 (Somu's Electric Thunder Balls, 15 hp aura for 10 rounds, 4 plasma streams for 56 rounds, made CON roll vs. stench)
Sathras: 26/34 (heated by plasma, no cold penalty; made CON roll vs. stench)
Shadow: 7/22 (Calming Winds around her head for 47 rounds <safe vs. stench>)
T'Vala: 20/28 (made CON roll vs. stench, +1 DR on longsword for 7 rounds)

(*Those grappled by the crawling claws CAN act other than trying an escape attempt. An escape attempt can be made to try and shake off all the claws at once as an action.)

Don't forget that you have healing potions (10 hp healing) to save having to try and cast healing magic during combat.
This message was last edited by the GM at 19:25, Mon 03 June 2013.

Gasping, she kneels and fishes out one of the healing elixirs.  Carefully she uncaps it and raises it to her lips and drinks deeply.

Sathras bellows. The roar of the crash and the falling fire behind him is ignored... ignored as much as a gladiator ignores the crowd, focusing on the fight before him, the foe whose fists are trying to take his own. The roar of the crowd is a force, pushing and encouraging, like a hot and fiery prod poking poking poking until rage and fury threaten to overwhelm.

Sathras pushes forward, his gauntlet-ed fist slamming into the crumbling Dracartan once, twice. Though both blows connect, only the first seems to do any sort of harm to the abomination before him.

---

Sathras the Bold rolled 14 using 1d20+3 with rolls of 11. Brawling attack.
vs DZ3 (AL 8, PR 4) - success, DR 9-4= DR 5.
Sathras the Bold rolled 3 using 1d20-2 with rolls of 5. Brawling attack.
vs DZ3 (AL 8, PR 4) - failure

Burikan goes to the well one too many times and fails in his attack as he brings the other end of the tarak down and around.

19:04, Today: Burikan rolled 4 using 1d20+1. attack.

Aaban calls out to Aa, beseeching his aid as he reaches out to the door of the tower where the ghast threatens.

Taking some time to recover from the assault of the grasping hands Califax pulls the vial of healing potion out and swallows it down, still reeling from the stench of the creature.

With the odds looking not so good in their favor, the warrior keeps a tight grip on his short sword. Considering that this may be his last battle, he considers what might happen next if they don't succeed. The source of evil, death is strong, and palpable. Further, there's the crash and more flames behind them. Not sure if the undead will just rise again and again, the Marukan grits his teeth, and throws his weight into his strike, looking to finish off these things for good.

He announces the crash, just in case those around him were distracted from the battle for their lives. "That didn't sound too good. Don't know what was behind that, but stay alert!"

ooc-I believe Murron still has +1 DR magic applied to his strikes.
14:23, Today: Murron rolled 18 using 1d20+5. shield parry.

14:22, Today: Murron rolled 10 using 1d20+7. strike with sword.
DR 6 +1 from magic

It appears that when the skill of DZ1 is factored in, it would be a miss with the short sword however. The Parry should still work though I believe.

The Wrap-Up

The battle by the dark tower rages on for what seems like hours. The group's fortunes wax and wane almost as if the gods are tossing dice to determine their fate. Novo maintains a stream of plasma on Sathras, keeping him warm enough to remain in the battle. Globes of air shelter some from the ongoing stench while others have been able to get used to it enough that they are not retching and gagging. Magics fly back and forth between the group and the ghast, its maniacal laughter sending chills down spines. Dark necromantic spells tear into different members of the group; rotting, wounding, infesting, piercing, and seemingly ripping at the soul itself. No one knows what the flaming wreckage falling from the sky portends and no one has the time to find out, wrapped up in a life or death (and undeath) struggle in the sands.

Slowly the tide starts to swing in the group's favor. The remaining claw is dashed to pieces then the Dracartan zombies are dropped. The ghast and the purple crystal studded Rajan zombie are the last standing. The Rajan zombie is cut down over and over, standing up with its flesh knitting with unnatural speed. It smashes one person than another, standing and re-standing against the tide of metal and magic brought to bear on it. It smashes one person than another, standing and re-standing against the tide of metal and magic brought to bear on it. The ghast girds itself with dark magic and despite its gaunt frame inflicts horrific wounds on those who close with it. With a grace unnatural it avoids most of the blows aimed at it, even from the best warriors in the group. However the blows that strike take a gradual toll despite its counterattacks with claw and black magic.

Moment by moment the ghast loses strength, black ichor from its wounds leaking onto the sands. It snarls in rage, drawing bits of life from its attackers with its magic but only prolonging the inevitable. Sathras is dropped in a heap to the sands by a vicious strike and Murron is gravely wounded while others bear the signs of battle to varying degrees. The Rajan zombie continues to stand and strike, over and over, seemingly unable to be stopped by steel or magic. Dii Ahnah has a flash of inspiration, calling out to the group and asking if anyone has a torch. Stepping away from the ghast Aaban pulls one out and Novo is able to light it with a stream of plasma. The next time the Rajan zombie falls the lit torch is thrust against it, the flesh searing then catching on fire. The abomination ceases to move as the flames eventually consume it. Burikan finally beheads the ghast with a brutal swing of his tarak and the group stands amid the carnage of the battle.

The stillness of the area feels strange and the wind and darkness surround the group. The bodies of the undead lie everywhere, the purple crystal fragments in the Rajan zombie no longer giving off light.

With Sathras unconscious and many others wounded the group moves to occupy the tower the ghast was in. Fortunately it IS completely intact albeit battered and the doors can be closed against the cold and wind outside. Shadow expends all her energy healing the others although Sathras and Murron remain wounded enough to not continue on. She volunteers to stay with them and heal them once her strength returns. Free from threat for now, the others wonder about the two flaming wrecks that fell off in the distance. Their wounds healed those standing turn their attention to looking out into the distance, fires from the two wrecks still burning despite the winds...

OOC: I know it isn't the best wrap-up but I promised to get things rolling so I wanted to get it done. Even though things were wrapped up everyone receives 10 xp from the battle.

Things learned:

1) The Rajan zombie appeared to be exceedingly strong, likely due to the crystals it was studded with. Fortunately fire successfully kept it "dead" when it fell for the last time, preventing its regeneration.

2) The zombies appeared resistant to crushing blows while slashing attacks affected them normally (as normal as anything undead is anyhow...).

3) The ghast appeared to completely ignore blows from weapons without any enchantment.

People can feel free to talk amongst yourselves about the battle and thoughts about the falling wrecks. I will be working on getting the new people over to the tower or to an intercept by anyone who goes out to check the wreckage. There is also the situation with all the mounts that refused to approach the tower.....are they still there or did they scatter when the explosions happened and the flaming wreckage fell?
This message was last edited by the GM at 16:36, Thu 01 Oct 2015.

((ooc: I've been reading the past posts, but I'm not finished yet. Will be faster.))

OOC: OK so the wreckage of the aerial battle is roughly 500 feet or so from the tower, still burning. I have given the 3 new players additional information and let them know they need shelter....the towers being the best bet. What do those of you in the tower do in regards to the flaming wrecks and also to see what happened with your mounts?

We are almost at the end of October so I think it is a good time to kick things into gear. The wrap-up post is done and both groups have some information they can act on post-battle. Shall we begin?

(Again to remind that I am looking for a couple posts per week on average for a bit more of a relaxed game)

Peering out through cracks in the door anyone who is looking suddenly sees a mote of bright light off in the distance, not far from where the flaming wrecks came down. It seems to rise slightly then comes to a rest. Subtle movement can be noticed from this distance due to the light but as to what the movement is from that is unclear due to the distance, intervening darkness, and the wind-blown sands.

Burikan looks through the cracked door trying to locate the whereabouts of his dractyl. He grunts..."There is something else out there my friends. A light that is not from the fires."

In reply to Burikan (msg # 97):

Aaban steps up beside Burikan, "Can you see anything?  If not, perhaps Aa will grant me his all-seeing vision." 

Califax likewise steps forward, looking through one of the cracks in the door. He hears Aaban's idea and chimes in; "I have magics that allow one to see in the dark but it is only for a short distance, not nearly enough to pierce the gloom out there. I guess what I am saying is if you have a way to see what is going on out there without leaving the tower you may as well use it." He grips his tri-bow tightly, hopeful that there is nothing out there looking to burst its way inside.

Califax thinks a bit more, looking around at the group; "Regardless of what is out there I should take some time to inscribe a glyph that enchants the weapon it is on when it strikes. I can do this to anyone that wants their weapon enchanted, it is easy enough especially taking my time." Regardless of what others may answer he brings out his spellbook and starts going through the pages to find the right spell.

Those looking out through the cracks are just barely able to notice some movement in the dark approaching the light in the distance. That movement appears to be coming from the direction where the flaming wrecks came down from the sky.

Burikan nods towards Califax and hands him his red iron tarak..."Not usr eI fully trust enchantments placed upon my weapons but we have fought side by side, I do not doubt trusting you."

He looks outside again after handing the tarak to Califax..."For sure something moves out there. Still cannot make it out though."

He turns and grabs his Kang and loads the brutal crossbow using both his hands.

Aaban opens his book, and sets to praying, calling out an invocation to Aa and reciting the prayer.


OOC:

14:57, Today: Aaban rolled 12 using 1d20+10.  casting Eye, lvl 4, from book.

The battle against the undead creatures had been brutal, and not even Novo had escaped unscathed. He was hardly a frontline combatant anyway.

Then came the flaming wrecks falling from the sky.

They were in no shape to investigate at the moment, not with the howling wind and the bitter cold chilling the bone. The spirit was willing, but the flesh was weak. They needed a minute to recover.

Dashing into the tower was probably a foolish idea, but... 'it seemed like a good idea at the time'. Fortunately, there was no immediate threat.

So as Shadow healed everyone... the others began peeking out at the wreckage.

Oddly, Novo managed to keep his hat throughout the battle. He took it off now and examined it for damage. One side was dented, and it looked like a claw had sliced into the top. Funny, he didn't recall that blow.

He dusted it off and placed it back on his head.

Next, he pulled out his pipe and lit it with his flame ring. As he took a puff, he looked around the tower. He hadn't got a good look at from the outside, but now he wondered how tall it was. Was there another floor? Did he see a way up?

As Burikan loads his kang, Aaban prays and invokes the power of Aa. His prayer is answered and his sight is simultaneously in the tower and above him. He sends out the manifestation of Aa's sight to see what brought forth the strange light off in the distance. Novo pokes about the tower, easily seeing the staircase that leads up to a second floor and another one leading down below the ground level. T'Vala notices his searchings and remembers something; "Yes yes, those stairs go down to a cellar and from there is a tunnel that connects both towers and also leads all the way to Anasa." Novo also finds remnants of the ghast's victims; some whole and dessicated and others a collection of mummified parts. Fortunately due to the drying effects of the desert there is no smell of rot but dried blood and such is spattered over one area.

Cellar and tunnels? That sounded like a good place for more creatures to be lurking. And while T'Vala told them about the tunnel, he didn't say anything about... Upstairs. Perhaps he didn't know.

"So what is outside? Can you see anything?" he asks the others who are peering out. "I have a telescope; might that help?"

"I can see," Aaban responds, "the light is a floating globe of fire, though I don't know where if came from.  Standing near it are a Jaka, a Cymrilian, and one of the Yassan.  Some zombies are coming out of the burning wreckage..." he trails off, still focusing his sight at the scene, trying to get a count of how many zombies there are.

OOC: Aaban is able to count 4 zombies, 3 of which appear to be Dracartan and the other a Rajan. All are burned in places and mangled but move well enough that they are almost upon the trio in the distance.

Aaban relays the count of the zombies to the others, while loading his crossbow.

"Phew... We all knew this wouldn't be easy," says Dii. "Are we ready for a new battle?" Apparently she is looking for some assurance.