Allessandra grows frustrated at this foul thing and takes a mighty swing.

23:21, Today: Allessandra rolled 6 using 1d6. dmg on skin monster.
23:21, Today: Allessandra rolled 17 using 1d20+3. to hit on skin monster.

Gurgun avoids the strangling hold, and using both arms and legs starts to crush the skin thing, bending its head backwards. "Back to the hell you came from!" he growls in between heavy breathing.

12:55, Today: Gurgun Nightwhisper rolled 11 using 1d8+5. Damage.
12:54, Today: Gurgun Nightwhisper rolled 28 using 1d20+12. GC to damage.
12:54, Today: Gurgun Nightwhisper rolled 26 using 1d20+12. OGC.

Allessandra bashed the skin good. [Successful hit.]

With heroic effort, Gurgun tried to crush the bundled skin between his powerful arms and legs. The thing wriggled and squirmed sickeningly, always just oozing just out of his grip. Both of them struggled for what seemed like ages, before the skin slipped free. [Skin's OGC: 28. Equals Gurgun's 28. And both have the same modifier. Rerolled: Gurgun 21, Skin 22. Damn, that was a close thing.]

Now the skin monster was full of holes, gashes and frayed edges, and a lot of bruising. Surely it could not last much longer under this assault.

Round 5:

Gurgun and the Skin Monster are grappling. None of them may threaten squares, they have no Dex to AC (except against eachother) and may not move normally.

Skin Monster is Badly Wounded.

Initiative:
17 - Authiel
14 - Iodaem
11 - Slove
10 - Jorn
10 - Skin Creature
 9 - Allessandra
 5 - Gurgun
This message was last edited by the GM at 15:21, Wed 25 June 2008.

Making a violent downwards thrust with his blade, both hands on the handle, Iodaem sacrificed far too much accuracy for power - and ended up banging the sword against the ground instead.

Seeing that his work is slowly but clearly cutting the creature to peaces and he not damaging his friends Sloves swing his sword again to cut more peaces of the creature.

OOC:
16:40, Today: Slove rolled 12 using 2d6+4. Damge.
16:40, Today: Slove rolled 24 using 1d20+8. attack .

Slove's sword tore into the skin, and with a gods-awful rip, he split in two, right down the empty face and torso. Gurgun was left holding two dangling sheets of skin, which he quickly dropped into twin heaps on the floor.


OOC: It's dead! Battle's over!

Gurgun shudders as the skin monstrosity finally releases its grip.

This place is doomed. Is there no way to simply go back and shut the gate?

Allessandra kneels down near half of the shredded creature, examining its nature and pathology, hoping to learn something of it to put in her report back to the hierarchy of church.

Once they had time to breathe and relax, the adventurers inspected room and the undead horror.

Allessandra could determine little more about the skin monster than what she already could, at least not without the aid of an equipped lab and special spells and reference works.

The skinned orc's clothing hung up on the rack revealed a fistful of change. Some of the grey silken robes were still magically preserved, and might fetch a high price to a collector or fashion-lover.


OOC: Allessandra's Knowledge (Religion) check 19. No new info. It's a Forsaken Shell from Libris Mortis if you're curious.

Gate? Do you mean the portal? Perhaps you should go check... ;)

Slove looks around the place.  As usual he the last to put down his weopon.  He does put away his sword and  pick up his bow.
"I like the place.  Needs cleaning up and few more elves to make it home but I could settle hear.  Once we looked at tower I love see what else this domain has to offer."
He turns to the monk.
"Nothing is totally doomed not even me."
He smiles at Authiel hoping she will back him up with his very dry comment.

We've seen only the beginning of what this place has turned in to, but unless we can pick up a trace of the artefact or of the dragon cultists Gurgun thinks we should get back and seal this place off our world.
Gurgun replies, and heads out; ready to open the next door.

The dressing room contained little more of interest, and had no doors. Sadly, it had just been a dead-end death-trap. But they left feeling glad and relieved that such a nightmarish monster had been slain, and would not be left lurking behind their backs.

So the adventurers swiftly departed, eager to be away from the horrid sight of the skinned orc and the madly staring eyes from a bared face. On the way, they healed up and talked.

The other door from the fountain room led to an empty room, but it had a transparent glass stairway leading up to the next level. There was no hand-rail, and no supports except where the steps joined the wall. The whole structure seemed to float impossibly in the air, delicate and fragile yet they held their weight well.

At the top of the stairs, they came on to a small antechamber. Here a section of the wall was completely transparent, and offered a commanding view of the churning grey seas and the island upon which they'd arrived. There the stone circle stood, brooding and dark, eternally still.

The door on the right was closed, but presumably led deeper into the tower complex.

On the left was a small room - a privy by the looks of it, with a glass wash-basin and taps, and a toilet. It had been recently used too, because whatever means magical or mechanical had been used to clean it had long since stopped working. Now they realised with disgust that making everything out of glass really wasn't such a great idea.

"Perhaps there was some enchantment that obscured the glass that has worn off over time..." Allessandra muses.

OOC: does anyone want some healing, most I see is Gurgun is down a total of 7.

Gurgun only lightly wounded, save healing for later perhaps? Ioadem took a bad beating.

Gurgun moves over to the door, ready to open it as soon as he has cover. He wonders who or what is confident enough to go number two in this place with a host of undead shuffling about a flight of stairs below; perhaps their maker he muses.

OOC: Proposed marching order is Gurgun and Ioadem up front, followed by Allesandra, next Slove, Jorn and Authiel.

Slove sorts out his weapons and get ready.

OOC:
Would usually suggest slove at back.  He a great range weapons and fire into combat.
He also a good tank so if we attack from behind he hold his own until party get sorted out.

""Iodaem, how hurt are you?"


19:00, Today: Allessandra rolled 28 using 1d20+8. heal check on iodaem.


Once the party is ready to move forward, Allessandra grasps her shield tightly her hand at her mace, ready to draw it or make a move for her holy symbol in case of more undead.

"Don't worry - Authiel patched me up," Iodaem replied with a smile over at the beautiful elf, keeping the enhanced blade in hand as they prepared to move on.

With the explorers assembled and ready, Gurgun slid open the door, only to be blasted by a gust of wailing cold wind. Beyond was a grand hall, perhaps once a ballroom, but now it had been turned into a battlefield. More bodies lay scattered after some terrible battle - orcish and hobgoblin warriors, dead and undead, and elven skeletons. A few new creatures could be seen - great shaggy white hulks of some creature that would be more at home in an arctic waste.

The wind howled in through an open door that led out to a balcony just to their left. The whole ballroom was bathed in thick darkness, with only dim grey light filtering in through some transparent windows set high in the southern walls.

A soft grunt could be heard from somewhere to the right, followed by a creak and shuffle of hasty readiness.


OOC: Map later. Please roll Initiative, 2 Spot checks, and say how you want to advance.

OOC: 12:26, Today: Gurgun Nightwhisper rolled 26 using 1d20+7. Spot #2.
12:26, Today: Gurgun Nightwhisper rolled 9 using 1d20+7. Spot #1.
12:25, Today: Gurgun Nightwhisper rolled 16 using 1d20+3. Initiative.


Gurgun takes a look around, his keen eyes having no trouble piercing the darkness. He readies his sling, prepared to take a shot at anything moving.

Gurgun stuck his head through the doorway to peer into the darkness when...

"Look out!" came a guttural cry from off to the left. He looked across to see a trio of orcs on a high balcony, raising their bows and pointing wildly to the other side of the room.

Movement caught Gurgun's night-sighted eyes, and he saw shadowy shapes drift out of the gloom. No, they were shadows themselves, moving about on their own and sliding silently towards the living.

Round 1:



G: Gurgun Nightwhisper
I: Iodaem
A: Authiel Hannasiel
J: Jorn Brightcaller
S: Slove
A: Allessandra

O: Orc Archers
S: Shadows

Effects:

Orcs are on a balcony, 30 feet above the ground.

Shadowy Illumination within the hall, grants Concealment: 20% miss chance, may make Hide checks. Darkvision cancels this (no miss chance, auto Spots hiding targets).

Light Gravity, as standard.

2 doors on the north wall lead out.

Initiative:
16 - Gurgun
15 - Slove
15 - Orcs
13 - Iodaem
10 - Shadows
 9 - Authiel
 6 - Jorn
 3 - Allessandra
This message was last edited by the GM at 04:20, Wed 16 July 2008.

Moving shadows! One to the left and two to the right. I go left.
Gurgun shouts before setting off (move to K12). Using his Ki he attempts a kick-strike combo but the etheral nature of his opponent proves hard to hit.

08:15, Today: Gurgun Nightwhisper rolled 8 using 1d20+5. Unarmed strike / FOB 2.
08:14, Today: Gurgun Nightwhisper rolled 8 using 1d20+5. Unarmed strike / FOB 1.

OOC: Bah, curse the dice bot! I'm assuming I'm still under the influence of the bull's strength spell.

Slove takes a side step to let the others throw (9N).
He looks at Iodaem.
If you have anther magical weapon Iodaem then can borrow your magical bow.  Otherwise I have no spells or items that will effect shadows unless someone can help me."

Mid-Round Update:

The orcs raised their bows and fired, but the shafts clattered uselessly against the glass walls. The orcish archers hadn't even come close to hitting their targets. [Orcs miss!]

The third orc loosed a silvery arrow that streaked across the hall, and hit the far wall with a squeak of metal on glass. The orc cried out in shock and panic, then pointed wildly at where it had fallen. "Get that arrow! It kill dead good!" he cried. [Orc misses and loses his fancy arrow! d100: 7, arrow survives.]

Iodaem saw where it fell, and shoved his bow into Slove's hand. "Here! You shoot, I'll get that thing!" With a wary eye at the rapidly advancing shadows, he dashed across the ballroom between them, drawing Elf-friend to his hand, dispelling the dark gloom with its forest-light. [Iodaem NPCed: gives bow to Slove, moves to H8, draws sword.]

Gurgun's flying foot and fist passed harmless through the shadow-thing. But it had no such problems. One thin claw-like hand of darkness darted out for his neck, and he felt the chill of death tighten around him, sapping his strength and his life. [Shadow attacks Gurgun! Attack 23, rolls 20, threatens crit, 5, no crit (but then, no effect on critical anyway). Strength damage 3.]

The other shadows glided across the room towards their living prey. One slashed at Slove, but he easily ducked it. [Shadow attacks Slove, 9, miss.]

Map Updates:

Gurgun: moved to K12
Slove: 5ft to 9N
Iodaem: Moved to H8

Shadow: Moves from M2 to M9
Shadow: Moves from F2 to J8

Magic Arrow lands in 5B

Initiative: go!
16 - Gurgun
15 - Orcs
13 - Iodaem
13 - Slove (delayed)
10 - Shadows
 9 - Authiel
 6 - Jorn
 3 - Allessandra

Slove: I'm going to assume that you delayed to act after Iodaem, so you could take the bow. So you may complete your action this round. You take a move action to take the bow from Iodaem, leaving you one standard. Since you still act before the shadows, you can attack them freely in their previous positions.
This message was last edited by the GM at 03:15, Thu 17 July 2008.

Slove fires a arrow at the incoming shadow.

OOC:
09:50, Today: Slove rolled 5 using 1d8+3. damage.
09:49, Today: Slove rolled 16 using 1d20+11. attack with bow.