Gurgun slid the two doors open, revealing a vast dark hall. It was circle, though bisected where they entered, and most features were lost in shadow. Barely visible above, the ceiling was a great dome, with a second smaller dome at its apex. It was transparent, with faint light of stars spilling in.

Those with the ability to see in darkness noticed a glass altar at the room's centre, where perhaps  starlight from the apex dome would illuminate it. Looking up, the interior of the large dome was inscribed with hundred of ancient elven symbols, signifying death, the afterlife and strange funeral rites. [Darkvision. Speak Language: Elven]

The music was louder here, but there was no obvious source.


OOC: Spot checks, please.

OOC: Spot 17

OOC: And the rest of you to keep things moving.
19:49, Today: DM BadCatMan, on behalf of Jorn Brightcaller, rolled 7 using 1d20-2. spot.
19:48, Today: DM BadCatMan, on behalf of Slove, rolled 8 using 1d20+7. spot.
19:48, Today: DM BadCatMan, on behalf of Garel Astur, rolled 5 using 1d20+3. spot.
Uh, never mind then.


Though she stayed well clear, Dula peered over Gurgun's shoulder, impressed with the sight. "This is a ceremonial hall, where the star elves conducted their funeral services. The body would have been laid on that altar. Proper care and respect for the dead was very important to them."

[Private to Gurgun Nightwhisper: There appeared to be a dark object embedded within the translucent glass altar, though its rippling shape obscured what it might be.]

Gurgun approaches the altar, wondering of its function and what it is he may have seen embedded in it. He did not recognize it from his readings.

OOC: Knowledge religion 6

Slove watches.
He puts his mind to what he can remeber of such things.

22:55, Today: Slove rolled 8 using 1d20+3. Know religion.

OOC: It's an altar. :p


As soon as Gurgun crossed the threshold, the mournful music rose in volume, while orbs of pale light appeared and descended from the upper glass dome. These orbs flew around the room, rising and falling, ducking and diving and weaving around each other in complex and fascinating patterns. [Spellcraft 20: ghost sound and dancing lights. CL 20th.]

Then slender elven shadows appeared all around the room, standing free like those they'd fought a few days ago. Making no move to attack, they began to slowly dance in time to the music, gyrating their bodies and waving their arms around and up into the air. A sweeping procession lead them around the hall. [Will save DC 12 to disbelieve. Spellcraft 21: silent image. CL 20th.]


OOC: Please roll Spot, Listen and Initiative.

[Private to GM: Hide 17, Move Silently 30, 26/26 hp]

Garel was a bit taken aback between the lights, music and ghosts dancing.

Holding his quarterstaff in his offhand, he watched in semi wonder.

Thinking through his available spells was all he did as he watched and waited to see what the others would do.



OOC: Hold action-waiting to see if we are attacked before I counter. (Innit 7)

03:12, Today: Garel Astur rolled 7 using 1d20+5. Spellcraft DC 20 Ghost sound dancing lig.
03:11, Today: Garel Astur rolled 12 using 1d20+3. Listen.
03:11, Today: Garel Astur rolled 14 using 1d20+3. Spot.
03:11, Today: Garel Astur rolled 7 using 1d20+2. Innitiative.
03:09, Today: Garel Astur rolled 11 using 1d20+6. Will save DC 12.

Gurgun has no trouble seeing the elven figures for what they are: images and magical trickery. They are just images; look for who controls them!

will: 26
initiative: 10

Jorn stares at the magical display for a moment, before shaking his head;

"Typical elven mages. All that power and they spend it on dancing pictures."

19:09, Today: Jorn Brightcaller rolled 17 using 1d20+8. Flit Listen.
19:09, Today: Jorn Brightcaller rolled 28 using 1d20+8. Flit Spot.
19:07, Today: Jorn Brightcaller rolled 28 using 1d20+13. Spellcraft Ghost Sound.
19:06, Today: Jorn Brightcaller rolled 32 using 1d20+13. Spellcraft Silent Image.
19:06, Today: Jorn Brightcaller rolled 7 using 1d20+2. Initiative.
19:05, Today: Jorn Brightcaller rolled 18 using 1d20+4. Will Save.

17:01, Sun 16 May: Slove rolled 21 using 1d20+9. INITIATIVE.
17:00, Sun 16 May: Slove rolled 14 using 1d20+3. will save.
17:00, Sun 16 May: Slove rolled 11 using 1d20+7. spot.
17:00, Sun 16 May: Slove rolled 19 using 1d20+7. listen.
OOC: Slove, please remember to post your rolls.


The two had risen from their slumber against the glass altar, aroused by the drifting lights, by the sweet music, by the smell of delicious life. They stole, silent as death, around the funeral chamber, keeping to the far edges, to the corners, to the dark dancing shadows, creeping ever closer...

Jorn's seeing-eye bat squeaked a sudden warning, and that was all the warning they got as two of the dancing shadows seemed to detach themselves from the troupe. Then they launched themselves at the party, screaming with maddened rage. With only moments to get their guard up, the twisted claws only just missed raking across their skin. [#1 slam attack 15 @ Gurgun, miss. #2 slam attack 8 @ Jorn, miss]

They weren't shadows, they soon realised, but the animated corpses of elves in tattered robes with hands twisted into claws, skin pale and white, their mouths gaping with needle-like teeth, and with wild eyes that burned with utter hatred.


Round 1:



G: Gurgun Nightwhisper
S: Slove
G: Garel Aster
J: Jorn Brightcaller

1, 2: Undead Elves

S: Dancing Shadows

Effects:

Darkness / Dazzling Lights: Between the darkness and the disco lights, everyone gets 20% concealment in the funeral hall.

Initiative: green if its your turn
26 - Undead Elves
21 - Slove
10 - Gurgun
 7 - Garel
 7 - Jorn
This message was last edited by the GM at 12:27, Tue 18 May 2010.

Gurgun manages to dodge and block the slam, then retaliates with a kick-punch combination. The kick really only lowers the guard of the undead, but the punch crashes right into its skull. Go back to your resting place; your time among the living is over!

OOC: Assign dodge to the undead I'm facing, 16:19, Today: Gurgun Nightwhisper rolled 7 using 1d8+3. Damage 2.
16:19, Today: Gurgun Nightwhisper rolled 23 using 1d20+6. unarmed FoB 2.
16:19, Today: Gurgun Nightwhisper rolled 11 using 1d20+6. unarmed FoB 1.

Slove lets go with two arrows.

OOC
06:16, Today: Slove rolled 10 using 1d8+3. damage.
06:15, Today: Slove rolled 13 using 1d20+10.
06:15, Today: Slove rolled 21 using 1d20+10. Attack with arrow.

Mid-Round Update:

The undead thing flinched under Gurgun's fist, but it was surprisingly hard and tough, not like the zombies they'd faced already. [Miss (1-20): 71, Gurgun hits. #1 slightly damaged]

Slove let fly two arrows right over Jorn's head, one striking the other undead in the eye-socket, putting one blazing orb out. [Miss (1-20): 57, Slove hits. #2 moderately damaged]

Updates:

#1 slightly damaged
#2 moderately damaged

Initiative: green if its your turn
26 - Undead Elves
21 - Slove
10 - Gurgun
7 - Garel
 7 - Jorn

Garel had removed a shuriken from his belt pouch.

Attempting to throw, he realized he couldnt get a good shot and threw wide at the last minute.


12:59, Today: Garel Astur rolled 6 using 1d20+4. Throw shuriken.

Not expecting danger, Jorn was caught by surprise by the attack. His eyes widened at the sight of the undead elves, uttering a curse as they leap forward into the group and straight into his face;

00:19, Today: Jorn Brightcaller rolled 24 using 1d20+9. Knowledge (Religion) Identify Elves.

The dwarf did a quick side-step away from his attack, muttering the words for transformation and protection as he did. The dwarf's flesh ripped and flowed, hardening into the tough scales of a Tren.

[Free]5ft to L10
[Move] Draw Spiked Chain
[Cast] Alter Self, transform into a Tren

And as suddenly as they had come, the undead creatures turned and ran away, disappearing back into the ranks of shadow dancers, obscured by the darkness and flashing lights, moving as silent as the grave. [Undead Withdraw, hide]


OOC: Roll Spot and Listen to try to locate them, but you suffer -5 Spot (due to strobe lighting) and -10 Listen (due to loud music).

Round 2:


1 and 2 are no longer visible

G: Gurgun Nightwhisper
S: Slove
G: Garel Aster
J: Jorn Brightcaller

1, 2: Undead Elves, hiding

S: Dancing Shadows

Effects:

Darkness / Dazzling Lights: Between the darkness and the disco lights, everyone gets 20% concealment in the funeral hall. And Spot -5.

Music: Listen -10

Initiative: green if its your turn
26 - Undead Elves
21 - Slove
10 - Gurgun
 7 - Garel
 7 - Jorn

[Private to Jorn Brightcaller: "Wights are undead creatures given a semblance
of life through sheer violence and hatred. A wight’s appearance is a weird and
twisted reflection of the form it had in life. Wights lurk in barrow-mounds, catacombs, and other places thick with the aura of death, where they nurture their hatred. They seek to destroy all life, filling graveyards with their victims and populating the world with their horrid progeny." (MM1)

You recall that, as well as being Undead, Wights are quite stealthy and can drain the life from their victims, and those slain will rise again as Wights themselves.]
This message was last edited by the GM at 03:53, Sat 22 May 2010.

The dwarf managed to get a good look at the elven monstrosities when one of them assaulted him. Pulling away, the dwarf-tren hissed;

"Wights. This be a bad place to fight'em. Foul creatures be impossible to see or find, and their touch dangerous. There was this tale of a dwarf, Old Grimaxe, whose party was ambushed by wights while mining an old tomb. The next day the poor fella found himself surrounded by eight of the beasties, including three of his comrades who perished the day before."

Jorn squinted in the bright lights, waiting for the creatures to show themselves. The moment they do the dwarf attempts to blast them with his own version of glitter.

[Ready] Cast Glitterdust on the first wight to appear. If possible, cast it on both of them.

(Temp post until spot and listen resolved)
Slove Looks into darkness and shadows to see the creatures.

OOC:
11:19, Today: Slove rolled 19 using 1d20+7. listen.
11:19, Today: Slove rolled 20 using 1d20+7. Spot.

If he spot or hear any he fire his arrows.

OOC: Don't forget your Spot and Listen checks. First pair is free (a reaction), second pair will cost you a move action.
[Private to Slove: You see something in G3.]
This message was last edited by the GM at 12:43, Sun 23 May 2010.

Slove lets two arrows fly.

OOC:
22:56, Today: Slove rolled 12 using 1d20+10. Attack with arrow.
22:56, Today: Slove rolled 11 using 1d20+10. Attack with arrow.
(never going let my wife role for me again!!!)

Garel had been fooled by the dancing ghosts, lights and music.  One thing that hadn't fooled him was they were undead.

Raising his holy symbol he said, "By the power of Mystra, I command you to flee."


OOC: Turn undead.

02:40, Today: Garel Astur rolled 21 using 1d20+3. Listen.
02:39, Today: Garel Astur rolled 12 using 1d20+3. Spot.

OOC: Garel, feel free to roll your turning check and turning damage. [Private to Garel Astur: You don't see anything however.]

Others, you should have seen Slove fire in north-westerly direction.

Mid-Round Update:

If Slove thought he saw something, then he evidently missed it, for his arrows clattered harmless against the far wall. [both miss]

Initiative: green if it's your turn, dark green can still do more
26 - Undead Elves
21 - Slove
10 - Gurgun
7 - Garel
 7 - Jorn

Garel looks around and listens for any sound from the undead attempting to hide as he tries to turn them.



OOC: Maximum hit die of any undead turned 4.  Maximum number of hit dice of undead affected 10.  In a 60' radius of me...as long as they do not have total cover and i have line of effect, not sight.

06:00, Today: Garel Astur rolled 10 using 2d6+3.
05:59, Today: Garel Astur rolled 14 using 1d20+2. knowledge Religion bonus to Turn Check.

Mid-Round Update:

There was a distant hiss of fear as Garel raised his symbol of Mystra. He couldn't see the effect his divine power had on the wights, but in his heart he knew that he'd disturbed them greatly. [Turn Undead successful, both Wights turned]

Which however left them hiding in a darkened room, until whenever the effect wore off...

Updates:

Wights Turned

Initiative: green - your turn, dark green - can still do more
26 - Undead Elves
21 - Slove
10 - Gurgun
 7 - Garel
7 - Jorn
This message was last edited by the GM at 01:16, Tue 25 May 2010.

Listen: 8, Spot: 15