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 .