"The magicker!"  Bunny's voice rang with an alarm that stirred her own body to action.   "He's callin' on a hound lahk yours, Claiss'!"

By the last word she was already moving.  Pistol cocked and aimed high, she strode between the Dracil and the young red-head's tiger friend.  Her boots tracked through the blood of the fallen Mother as she fetched up behind their own summoned hound, glowing with its celestial light, and again the pistol gave its sharp report, filling the air with acrid smoke.  Plucking a cartridge then from her own supply, Bunny reloaded for the retaliation that would surely come.

---

OoC:

Move Action: Move 25ft to P10.
Standard Action: Fire at Mage.
Free Action(s): Reload. w/Own Cartridge

Position: P10

Bunny Cotillion rolled 17 using 1d20+8.  Pistol Attack Mage +1Bless -1Dazzled +1PBS.
Bunny Cotillion rolled 5 using 1d8+1.  Pistol Damage +1 for PBS.

Active Effects: Comprehend Languages 30m;  Enhanced Diplomacy on Bunny 1m; Bless on Everyone; Shield of Faith on Zassil

Bless & Shield of Faith 1/4 rounds

Expended:
Powder & Shot: 3
Paper Cartridge: 1
Grit 4/4

Claissa was heartened to see their combined efforts bring down the ogress far more quickly than she'd expected, though the fight wasn't over yet. Her first thought in reply to Bunny was that considering how her own summoned dogs had done in the last few days, they needn't be overly considered, but it was only a fleeting thought in the heat of battle. "We'll see about that," she said instead. Her dander was clearly up now. "Niri!"

The tiger looked up from her latest quarry as Claissa suddenly reversed her earlier direction and made a rapid advance. She needed to have her eyes, and pointing finger, on her next target. The skeleton would just have to be endured for now, much as she disliked hearing the sound of a dog in pain - fortunately it was only temporary due to the nature of the spell. Thus, she aimed straight for the mage working on the spell. "Get that guy!" she called out, and Niri advanced quickly on him. So quickly, in fact, that her summoned dog had to move out of the way to avoid being jostled. Claissa added her own attack spell in advance of it all, as well.

OOC:
Claissa:
-Move: Move to O10.
-Standard: Casts Acid Splash on the wizard. (Claissa is casting around a corner here, so I'm not sure if there's a cover bonus involved.)
06:31, Today: Claissa Silver rolled 12 using 1d20+4.  Acid Splash on wizard (ranged touch, +1 Bless).
06:32, Today: Claissa Silver rolled 2 using 1d3.  Acid Splash damage, just in case a 12 hits touch AC on the wizard.

Niri:
-Move: Move to N11/O11. Since the dog has the same init I'm guessing it can 5' step out of O11. This might trigger an AoO from the skeleton though since Niri has to move around Claissa. In which case, her AC is 24 against it :)
-Standard: Bite the wizard.
06:37, Today: Claissa Silver rolled 15 using 1d20+4.  Niri biting Wizard (+1 Bless).
06:38, Today: Claissa Silver rolled 9 using 1d8+2.  Wizard bite damage (+1 die type/damage from Enlarge).
Also, if a 15 does hit, Niri goes straight for the grab!

Dog:
-Free: 5' step from O11 to N12.
-Standard: Bite the wizard.
06:41, Today: Claissa Silver rolled 11 using 1d20+2.  Summoned dog bites wizard. I really doubt that hits.

Zassil was quickly bypassed by Claissa, Niri and Bunny, all of whom moved quickly in to other tactical positions to attack the mage mostly. Wanting to prove his ability to help the group out despite his terribly-weakened state, he shuffled towards the skeleton, moving more slowly then before, wheezing a bit as he struggled with the weight of things more than he ever had.

His breath coming hard, he tried to swing the morningstar at the undead creature, but his arm could barely lift the weapon and his aim was horribly awry. He glared at the skeleton as he gasped for air, wondering if he was truly worthless in that moment.

Move to P-11 and swing feebly at skeleton, missing horribly.

20:51, Today: Zassil rolled 2,2 using d20,d8-3.  Morningstar vs Skeleton.

Merrick stumbled forward, performing an awkward dance as he attempted to negotiate around the Ogre Mother's viscera. "Bleck... that's just.... Ewwww that's going to be her...," he muttered as he almost daintily tiptoed around some of the gore before he slipped suddenly.  "Aaaaand that's not coming out," he groaned as managed to catch his footing and reaching his position.

Turning towards the Wizard he imbued one of his cards with a dark and sinister energy before flicking it at the foe.  "It's only a little necromancy," he declared, defensively, as he did so.


Move: Q10; Stricken Heart: Touch AC 12; 5 Negative Energy Damage; Staggered 1 Round; No Save; Spell Resistance: Yes
This message was last edited by the player at 04:32, Thu 11 June 2020.

Lissa grimaced as her musket misfired; the trusty firearm had failed her.  "C'mon..." she muttered.  But that would have to be dealt with later; the musket clattered to the ground even as the pistol in her belt found its way to her hand.

Luckily, the others had been able to conquer the Mother without her.  Though there were still more foes to deal with.  At Bunny's urging, Lissabytta pushed forward.  She almost ran into Bunny when the pistol priestess stopped short to snap off another shot.  But, the blonde scholar managed to catch herself and not mess up her companion's aim.

Unfortunatly, her position didn't allow her a clear shot at the wizard.  The only opponent visible to her (that wasn't already expiring on the cavern floor) was the skeleton engaged with Clarissa's summoned celestial canine.  Lissa leveled her pistol and took careful aim at the skeletal foe.  She knew that firing into the fracus carried an element of danger for the combatants, but Lissa felt that she had to chance it.  The auburn-haired Rembaran wanted to make a difference; Fox willing it would be a positive difference...

---

[OOC:  Follow that Bunny!  And shoot that skeleton...

Position:  P9   Initiative:  5

Move Action:      Move from Q4 to P9
Standard Action:  Fire pistol at skeleton (O11)

  23:04, Today: Lissabytta D'Argento rolled 15 using 1d20+2.  Attack (pistol): Skeleton O11 (+4 base +1 (bless) +1 (luck) -4 (into melee)). - [roll=1591855478.2719.339432]
  23:05, Today: Lissabytta D'Argento rolled 4 using 1d8+1.  Damage (pistol): Skeleton O11 (+1 (luck)). - [roll=1591855527.42874.339432]

Buffs:
  Bless (1 rounds remaining after this)
  Archaeologist's Luck (1 rounds remaining after this one)

Not sure if the '15' hits the skeleton (would have shot the wizard, if Lissa had a sightline to him) - but rolled damage just in case.]

The black cloaked caster staggers in response to Merrick's spell as the card strikes it, followed quickly by Bunny's shot.  The spell it was channeling fails as the damage from the bullet disrupts the caster's concentration.  The wizard reacts to avoid the assault from Claissa's animals, but becomes splattered with acid from her spell as he dodges Niri's bite.


Meanwhile, the remaining skeleton tries to continue clawing at the summoned dog, but before it can rip into the celestial hound Lissa's shot shatters it.

Having it's options limited due to the staggering effect of Merrick's spell, the cloaked wizard calmly regains its footing and starts to cast.  It ignores Niri's and the summoned dog's attacks against it's lapsed attention; their attacks seem to be repelled by an invisible armor around the cloaked mage.

[Language unknown: "Iesini lenill utrom thndro isev ntieauect it onpr."]  The wizard chanted before the glowing disembodied hand floating next to it erupted in flames.  It rushed at Bunny and exploded in fire as it reached her, and another gout of flame leapt from the first explosion and seared Niri.  Bunny managed to avoid the worst of the flames, very luckily, but Niri was unable to escape the damaging fire burst.

The disembodied hand appears once more the the black cloaked wizard's side.


Party Actions
Merrick vs Wizard: Stricken Heart 12 (Touch); Hit for 5 Negative Energy; Wizard Staggered
Lissa vs Skeleton: Pistol 15 (Touch); Hit for 4; Skeleton Destroyed
Bunny vs Wizard: Pistol 17 (Touch); Hit for 5; Spell Disrupted
Zassil vs Skeleton: Mace 2; Miss
Claissa vs Wizard: Acid Splash 12 (Touch); Hit for 2 Damage
Niri vs Wizard: Bite 15; Miss; Opportunity Attack vs Wizard 5; Miss
Summoned Dog vs Wizard: Bite 11; Miss; Opportunity Attack vs Wizard 5; Miss

Xand rolled 5,5 using d20+4,d20+2.  Opportunity Attacks (Niri, Dog).

Enemy Actions
Wizard vs Bunny & Niri: Reflex DC 16; Bunny 24, Success; Niri 12, Failure
  Result: Bunny takes 6 damage, Niri takes 8 damage (Fire)

Xand rolled 24,12 using d20+5,d20+6.  Reflex Saves, Bunny; Niri.
Xand rolled 11,8 using 4d6,2d6.  Fire Damage, Bunny; Niri.

Party Status
Bunny is Dazzled; has taken 6 damage
Claissa is Dazzled
Zassil is Dazzled; has a penalty of -14 Strength; has taken 6 damage
Summoned Dog has taken 5 Damage
Niri has taken 8 damage

Enemy Status
Wizard has taken 7 Damage
Ogre Mother is dead
Skeleton has taken 6 damage and is destroyed




Map Key
B = Bunny  C = Claissa  L = Lissa  M = Merrick  N = Niri  Z = Zassil
X = Cavern Wall  t = Stone Table  p = piles  d = Dancing Lights
l = dim lighting  U = Zombie  S = Skeleton  O = Ogre Mother
W = Wizard  D = Celestial Dog  c = Ogre-Sized chair

This message was last edited by the GM at 08:22, Thu 11 June 2020.

The pistol spoke again in its language of smoke, fire, and lead balls.  "Surrender!  You are outmatched," she called to the magicker.

After a quick reload from Lissabytta's plentiful horn, Bunny surged forward.  With a lack of care coming near to disdain, she passed the dark mage as she entered his sanctum, taking up a spot next to an enormous chair that could only belong to the Mother Ogre.

---

OoC:

Standard Action: Fire at Mage.
Free Action(s): Reload. w/Lissa's cartridge
Move Action: Move 20ft to L13 w/Tumbling to avoid AoO.

Position: L13

Bunny Cotillion rolled 11 using 1d20+7.  Pistol Attack Mage -1Dazzled +1PBS.
Bunny Cotillion rolled 10 using 1d20+8.  Acrobatics for Tumbling to Avoid AoO.

Active Effects: Comprehend Languages 30m;  Enhanced Diplomacy on Bunny 1m

Bless & Shield of Faith ARE GONE

Expended:
Powder & Shot: 3
Paper Cartridge: 1
Grit 4/4

Zassil let out a sigh as the skeleton died almost as soon as he reached it, and certainly not by his own hand. This entire fight he'd been basically useless aside from drawing some attention and attacks.

He strengthened his resolve, which was about all he had left going for him, and moved past the summoned dog and up to the wizard, even a little past the wizard. He swung out with his morningstar, trying his best to at least distract the wizard.

Move to L-12 (I believe the Wizard gets an AoO on Zassil).
Action: Weakly Attack Wizard with Morningstar (AC 15 for 4 damage).

15:12, Today: Zassil rolled 15,4 using d20-1,d8-3.  Morningstar vs Wizard.

Lissa didn't have time to celebrate the bone-shattering impact of her pistol shot.  Besides the thing had looked to be on its last legs.  Or was that just skin and bones?  The blonde scholar's burgundy lips were pressed into a thin line, even as she step up into the space vacated by Bunny.  As she moved, her long, thin fingers plucked another cartridge from her powder horn poured its contents into the pistol, quickly tamping down the shot and powder before for leveling the pistol at the necromancer.

Staring down the barrel of the pistol, Lissa didn't speak - Bunny had already issued the ultimatum.  If the accursed mage so much as flinched - or if any of his creation moved - Lissabytta was prepared to squeeze off another ball of leaden shot.  The wizard might have magical protection, but he'd already proven to be mortal and able to bleed.  So, she was ready to take her chances that the pistol would do its job.

---

[OOC:  Shift position to hopefully catch the necromancer in a cross-fire...

Position:  P10   Initiative:  5

Swift Action:     5' step to P10
Move Action:      Reload pistol with abundant paper cartridge
Standard Action:  Ready action:  Fire pistol at wizard (M11), if aggression ensues..

  21:47, Today: Lissabytta D'Argento rolled 14,4 using 1d20+2,1d8+1.  Attack/Damage (pistol): Wizard (M11) - just in case (readied action). - [roll=1591937265.97343.339432]

Applied -4 for firing into melee, potentially...

Buffs:
  Bless (0 rounds remaining after this)
  Archaeologist's Luck (0 rounds remaining after this one)

Buffs expire this round...]

Claissa had a pretty simplistic view of morality at times. For example: intentionally hurting Niri was a capital offense. She didn't exactly disagree with the idea of offering to let the mage surrender, since he might have information they needed, but at the same time, she didn't have a command for Niri along the lines of "enforce a surrender order," and she wasn't about to put her tiger at risk to uphold Bunny's desire for mercy.

"You'd better do it before you get eaten," she agreed flatly as her animals continued their attack on the mage. "Stay right where you are and give up, and I'll call her off." Unfortunately, the gravity of the threat was undercut by Niri shrinking just then, as well as her dog managing one more bite before suddenly vanishing from the plane. Still, she had one more spell in reserve - if the wizard still wanted to go at it, Niri could get big again in a hurry.

OOC: If Bless has worn off, so has Enlarge Person, sadly. I imagine Lunk might be surprised outside!

Claissa:
-Standard action: Ready an Acid Splash on the mage if he moves or takes an offensive action.

Niri:
-Full: Full attack.
02:14, Today: Claissa Silver rolled 8 using 1d20+3.  Niri biting wizard, normal size now.
02:14, Today: Claissa Silver rolled 16 using 1d20+3.  Niri clawing wizard 1. I think that's a miss from what I've seen, but I could be wrong.
02:15, Today: Claissa Silver rolled 22 using 1d20+3.  Niri clawing wizard 2. Probably a hit?
02:15, Today: Claissa Silver rolled 4 using 1d4+1.  Claw 2 damage.

Dog:
-Standard: Bite (then vanish)
02:16, Today: Claissa Silver rolled 6 using 1d20+2.  Celestial dog bite attack.

The party surges towards the lone wizard, wrapped in his heavy black cloak.  The caster remains calm and unperturbed, a harsh cackle echoing through the cavern at Bunny's demand for surrender.  Her shot is avoided, and it steps aside from Zassil's mace as the cast moves away from the dracil and into a swipe from Niri's claw.

It ignores the tiger, Claissa, and Lissa as they pelt it with their attacks; clearly this necromancer intended no surrender.  Instead it produces a scroll from underneath its cloak, holding it from the top and bottom as it reveals its hands for the first time, covered in thick, featureless black gloves.  It's concentration ins undeterred by the barrage against it and the cloaked caster reads from the magical scroll in its raspy, harsh voice.

[Language unknown: "Isstng p Riomwa, itntas his howinger!  Catin di set man rutth eeieni es ma!  Ol!"]  The scroll glowed a fiery and bitter green as the mage directed its energies towards the slain Ogre Mother.  The disembodied hand took hold of the energy to spread it as directed, only to pause and burn up.  [Language unknown: "Haca?"] came an expression that could only be surprise from the cloaked caster, directly before it was enveloped by the same energy from the spell.


The dark and concealing hood of the cloak pulled back as the caster reeled, revealing the bare and bony skull of a skeleton.  Then the cloak dropped to the ground as though there was no mass beneath it.  It settled upon a pile of fresh, desiccated ash on the ground; with a no-longer animate skull resting at the top.

The cavern was suddenly silent; no more enemies and no further interaction from the pile of ash that stood where the caster had been moments before.  Zassil felt his strength immediately return as the curse on him ended.

Party Actions
Merrick vs Wizard: Spell Card, Touch of Bloodletting 1; Miss
Bunny vs Wizard: Pistol 11 (Touch); Miss
Zassil vs Wizard: Mace 15; Miss
Niri vs Wizard: Bite 8, Claw 16, Claw 22; Miss, Miss, Hit for 4
Lissa vs Wizard: Readied Shot 14 (Touch); Hit for 4
Claissa vs Wizard: Readied Acid Splash 22 (Touch); Hit for 1
Niri AoO vs Wizard: Bite 22; Hit for 5

Xand, on behalf of Claissa Silver, rolled 22 using 1d20+3.  Readied Acid Splash.
Xand, on behalf of Claissa Silver, rolled 1 using 1d3.  Acid Damage.
Xand rolled 22 using 1d20+3.  Niri AoO Bite.
Xand rolled 5 using 1d6+1.  Niri AoO Damage.

Enemy Actions
Wizard: Reads Scroll; Concentration vs Damage 4, 1, 5; Success, Success, Success
  Caster Level Check for High Level Scroll: Natural 1; Scroll Mishap

Xand rolled 18,27,27 using d20+7,d20+7,d20+7.  Concentration Checks.
Xand rolled 5 using 1d20+4.  Caster Level Check.

Party Status
Bunny is Dazzled; has taken 6 damage
Claissa is Dazzled
Zassil is Dazzled; has taken 6 damage
Summoned Dog has taken 5 Damage
Niri has taken 8 damage

Enemy Status
Wizard has turned to ash
Ogre Mother is dead




Map Key
B = Bunny  C = Claissa  L = Lissa  M = Merrick  N = Niri  Z = Zassil
X = Cavern Wall  t = Stone Table  p = piles  d = Dancing Lights
l = dim lighting  U = Zombie  S = Skeleton  O = Ogre Mother
W = Wizard  D = Celestial Dog  c = Ogre-Sized chair

This message was last edited by the GM at 12:36, Fri 12 June 2020.

The tension in the spring eased as Bunny let the hammer gently back to rest, then holstered her pistol beneath the draping blanket over her shoulders.  It was but a few steps crossing to the pile of bone and robes.  There she lowered herself down, squatting on her haunches over the remains of the necromancer.  Brushing aside the hood of the robe, she plucked his skull up and turned it to regard the empty sockets of eye and nose.

"Alas ... " she drawled.  "Why don't we take a look around here?  See what this here one had got himself up to."  Then, with a casual toss, she chucked the naked head back over her shoulder.

"Cranberries."  Bunny sniffed the air as she rose from the remains of the wizard.  "Ah do believe that smell of burnt hair is me.  Why don't we all gather together with Lunk after we're done in here?  Ah will see what Ah can do about healin' us up."
This message was last edited by the player at 21:55, Fri 12 June 2020.

Zassil staggered for a moment and then suddenly drew in a deep gasp of air. He coughed, once, hard. Then he straightened back up slowly, no longer hunched over trying to carry all the weight of himself and his gear.

"Oh....MUCH better. My strength is returning!" He restrained a shudder. "I'm very glad that was only temporary. I could barely walk."

He nodded to Bunny Cottontail. "Yes, we should make sure there is nothing else here to harm anyone, no more Ogres or anything." He then smiled. "There also might be things of value with the metal they were collecting."

"I wouldn't," Merrick begins to object as Bunny had reached for the skull before he trailed off a moment too late, "touch... that..."  Moving awkwardly to avoid stepping in any more vicera he jigged around the remains of the Ogre mother shaking his head.  "Normal people don't just shrug off negative energy like a calm breeze," he advised with some worry as he glanced about.

"Actually I'd suggest not touching anything without determining if it's arcane or necrotic first.  This entire place feels off..."

Lissabytta watched warily as her shot barely scratched the mad caster.  Then did a double take as the gaunt... nay, skeletal figure simply disintegrated in a flashy (at least, as flashy as any dark, necromantic magic could be), if macabre, manner.

The thin blonde Rembaran scholar let out a deep exhalation, realizing only then that she'd been holding her breath while the robed figure's last moments played themselves out.  She took in another deep breath before repacking her pistol with another shot from her powder horn.

Even as the others started to look around the cavern, Lissa trotted back to her misfiring musket to pick it up and inspect it for a moment.  She'd wrap it in its oilskin sheath soon enough, but there wasn't quite the time right now.  Instead, the blonde explorer simply secured the longarm to the straps on her pack.  Then she trotted towards the entrance for a brief moment to make sure that the chamber with the metal pile and table were still clear, that Lunk was still resting near the Father's corpse (though she didn't want to disturb him, simply make sure that he was not being ambushed or anything).

Then she headed back to join the others further in the cave.  Along the way back to the group, Lissabytta made sure that the Mother was still prone.  She briefly checked to see if the fallen ogress was still alive - though she suspected given the pool of blood surrounding the bestial caster that the Mother had moved on.  Still, with all of the walking corpses about, it never hurt to check...

---

[OOC:  A perception check... just in case?

  19:17, Today: Lissabytta D'Argento rolled 24 using 1d20+5.  Perception/Wis check:  Bodies?  Ambush?  Anything usually or exotic? - [roll=1592014624.04215.339432]

Or anything out of the ordinary?]

Lissa's investigation back through the ogre cavern reveals everything as it had been left.  The bodies laid out on the stone table remained as they were; it seemed as though they had not yet become animated to join the ones recently destroyed.  Her cursory examination of the slain Ogre Mother showed that she was dead; having bled out since being mauled by Niri.  And not at all animate, despite the efforts of the erstwhile necromancer; the corpse was in the crude burlap robe she had always worn and had a tight-fitting pair of leather gloves over her hands.  The Mother's gloves looked very out of place.

A search of the cavern commenced.  In the pile of ash leftover from the caster, Bunny found the heavy black cloak the necromancer had been wearing.  Under the cloak and covered in the ash was a mastercrafted dagger, a scroll case containing two spell scrolls, and a heavy pouch containing what appeared to be magical spell components.

The arms and armor from the destroyed undead amounted to a mastercrafted longspear, light crossbow, suit of chainmail, and small steel round shield.  In addition, there was a more standard but serviceable battleaxe, longsword, chain shirt, studded leather, and case of crossbow bolts.  This was in addition to the carved, over-sized greatclub that the Ogre Mother had been wielding.

Within the deepest chamber of the cavern sat a crude ogre throne, it was decorated with animal hides and skulls.  There was also a wooden desk that looked like a recent addition to the cavern; it was not fashioned by ogre hands.  Atop it were three blank sheets of parchment, a few stoppered inkwells, an inkpen, and two thick tomes.  One was open to a page written in a language unfamiliar to any of you.  The second was closed, but the cover was marked with a symbol that you all recognized as the arcane symbol for the school of Necromancy.

And in a corner was shoved some objects of value; a cursory inspection revealed coins and other objects crafted from precious metals.  There were few, and they were cast into piles as though forgotten and unimportant.

"Ibuh aleska, senie ehk ekay."  The word sounds had come to her ear from the necromancer, even as the gift of the Spoked Wheel had shown her the meaning, and she repeated them to herself as she worked at the suit of chain links, shoving little by little into the opening of her pack, forcing what seemed like a larger object into a container too small to hold it.  "Eebuhl solatska."  The words of the necromancer rolled out odd and awkward in Bunny's south Rembaran drawl as she recited the words from memory.  "Ah think that Magicker mahght have been speakin' the Abyssal tougue," she conjectured.

"These things always come out much easier than they go in," she commented to anyone and no one in particular after the chain suit had dissapeared into the black opening of her bag.  Bunny then picked what appeared a bracelet of platinum - or was it silver - from a nearby pile.  "These things seem worth a fair bit of coin," she commented.  "Funny how they almost seem to have been discarded.  Perhaps the metal that this necromancer was after was not coin afteh all."

OoC:
Bunny Cotillion rolled 21 using 1d20+2.  Appraise.

That didn't turn out half bad.  Appraise the worth of the stuff.

Lissabytta was relieved to see that the fresh corpses weren't reanimated nor that Lunk had been ambushed.  She paused while surveying the Mother's fallen body and plucked the leather gloves from the dead ogress' corpse - careful to try and avoid the pooling blood.  Even though she knew that she could use some simple prestidigitation to clean them if necessary, it never struck her as necessary if one took an extra moment of care.  She rejoined the others further into the cave with the gloves and huge club in tow - dragging the huge wooden object behind her.

Though she didn't want to make a habit of it, the club wasn't too heavy, simply ungainly.  And there might be more important things to tote around.

The blonde scholar naturally gravitated towards the desk; books and parchment being an undeniable draw to the young, erudite Rembaran.  Letting her fingers run over the aged leather, Lissa checked the spines and covers for any symbols or other wards, even going so far as to cast a minor dwoemer that caused her eyes to flare slightly with a faint glow as she checked for persistent and residual magics on and around the desk.  "Let's see what we can see..." escaped her burgundy lips, the eagerness of her tone barely masking the curiosity that was stirred in her.  Lissabytta seemed more than willing to expand the search with her vision, if warranted or anything else around the cave drew her attention.

---

[OOC:  Try to detect any traps/locks (mundane on the book and desk), then a little Detect Magic for good measure...

  17:43, Today: Lissabytta D'Argento rolled 20,30 using 1d20+5,1d20+10.  Perception/Wis and Disable Device/Dex checks:  Books, papers, desk...  and beyond. - [roll=1592181838.99471.339432]

Heh, once again, out of combat - Nat '20' only on a 'just-in-case' Disable Device check... Oh, and do you need any more Knowledge checks of any type from me, Xand?  Remember that Lissa's primary Lore specialty is funerary rites ... ]

"Three out on the table.  Two with flesh still on."  Bunny enumerated as she rose from stowing the valuables and made her way to the desk.  "And three more with nothin' left on them but the bones.  That's eight souls taken from their lives to serve that necromancer."

The book with the symbol on its cover warranted a cautious look, but Bunny pursued that avenue no further than that.  It's the open book that drew her interest, and, after a cursory glance at the unknown language, she flipped first forward one page, to see what might come next, and then back one page to view what had been previously written.

---

OoC: Can I have a Linguistics check on the writing on the open page?  And, does the DC5 Wisdom check to avoid drawing a false conclusion automatically succeed in Bunny's case?

Now that the fight seemed to be over, Niri remained on guard until Claissa hustled over to her, at which point she bumped herself against her mistress's legs in a sign of distress. "Oh, poor baby," Claissa cooed over her with concern as she quickly checked over her injuries and petted her reassuringly. Nobody else seemed too badly injured, and having just fought a necromancer and the undead could wait to catch up with the sorceress until she was sure her companion was all right.

Still, she couldn't afford to just get caught up entirely in that, so she patted Niri one more time and said reassuringly "Okay, we'll get you fixed up soon," before straightening up and casting a Detect Magic as well. She joined in the search but didn't find anything the others already hadn't, not that she really expected to. Looking around in dark caves wasn't really her strong suit. "So, everyone made it through?" she asked as she went, kind of rhetorically since she was checking everyone over visually at the same time. She would notice if somebody was missing. "Thank goodness... Niri can help carry things if need be." That last comment was especially directed at Lissabytta, considering the giant club she was lugging around.

Zassil spoke up, "My strength has returned. I'm happy to help carry things if we need?" It was almost pathetic how eager he sounded to help. How he wanted to prove he could be useful after how little he'd done in the most recent fight. There wasn't a hint of whine or anything in his voice, but it wasn't his normally calm demeanor either.

Merrick is content to let the other's hang back to poke and prod their way through the necromancer's ill-gotten gains.  "So... I have a theory," Merrick offers after a moment as he glances around.  "Because Miss Cotillion might have the point of it and maybe we are taking the ogre's demand to literal.  Maybe they aren't after metal.  Maybe they are after something made of metal; and their sooty friend here," the young man continues gesturing to the pile of ash, "didn't trust them with the details, or rather didn't trust them to understand them?  So they just grab every piece of metal they can find."

The young man frowns a bit.  "If that's the case that's going to be an interesting conversation to have with Rooster.  Not that I'm the suspicious type, of course."

The tone in Zassil's voice pulled Bunny's head up and out of the pages of the dark book.  Closing the pages on one finger to keep her place, she took the book with her, and she went to the Dracil, reaching up to his much taller shoulder to touch him in sympathy.  "Ah do not believe we could have done this without each and everyone of us here workin' togetheh," she said, her words for everyone present as much as for the Dracil.

"And Ah also believe that what we have done here today has staved off a much greater and more dangerous evil in the works.  This here book," she said, raising the book up, her finger still in place, "contains notes taken by the necromancer.  And his notes bear out your thinkin' Mistah Tane.  In these notes he writes about the best ways to go about armin' and equippin' the undead.  Listen to this."  She opened the book, releasing her captive finger and began to read in a cadence of carefully deliberate words and syllables.

"Zombies: Heavy blunt or chopping weapons only.  Incapable of finesse or ranged combat."

"Skeletons: Prefer using own claws but can be forced to wield weapons.  Can be made to utilize ranged attacks.  Armor required to improve low durability."

She stood a moment, letting the words sink in before interrupting with her conclusions.  "Ah believe our necromancer here was lookin' to build himself an army."

With her eyes alight, Lissa scanned the desk and slowly widened her visual purview.  The blonde scholar narrated slowly as scanned, "Nothing inherently magical on the desk... mundane books and parchment - no magical residue..." her hands passed over the tomes, though it seemed to her that at least one of them was likely a spellbook, though leafing through would confirm that later.

Her gaze fell to the gloves that were in her hands, the ones pulled from the Mother.  "Magical, of course..." she noted off-hand, letting her gaze linger for a handful of additional seconds, "Flaring gloves... that's how she was doing it..."  There was almost a twinge a disappointment in her voice as she realized that the Mother's display of arcane power was simply from an item ... almost.  It was as Merrick had noted, the Mother was a charlatan, of sorts.  A patsy given a toy to play with.

But Lissabytta shook herself from her reverie, shuddering at the notion that they'd dodged a magical bullet - a genuine magic-wielding ogress was scary to contemplate (again).  Once again she was thankful that such a thing hadn't come to pass.

Her eyes darted to necromancer's robe as Bunny prodded it, it's aura flickering and shimmering as the item was moved.  "That is," and she pointed to the dark material of the garment, "not surprisingly, magical."  And then her eyes flicked towards one set of skeletal remains, "And that shield." a thin finger pointed towards one of the round shields on the ground, "also looks like it has a magical pall to it..."

She rubbed her eyes, instinctively as they tired from the exertion, and the light around them faded as her concentration broke.  Lissa let out a deep breath, "Not sure what they do yet." referring to the cloak and shield, "Make sure we take them with us, and I will try to divine their properties later..."  She started to gather things that might have any worth, noting with slight envy that Bunny appeared to have an extra-dimensional space in her possession...
This message was last edited by the player at 18:00, Wed 17 June 2020.

"Magical ... "  The words unspoken, in combination with a mildly disapproving look given by the purported priestess of  the patron of inventors and industry, spoke to a subtle tension.  A subtle tension that was quickly dismissed with a shrug.  "Well, if that's what needs to be done, Lissa, then lets get along to it."

After having stowed as many of the ordinary weapons and pieces of armor that her bag could hold, she shrugged back into the straps, no heavier than it had been before.  She made her way then, out of the dark cave and back into the mountain sunlight.

"She is dead, Lunk."  Bunny touched a hand to the giant's shoulder as he sat there next to the body of the Father.  "So is the man responsible for all this unnatural evil."

"But gather 'round now.  Let us see what can be done to repair what strife and struggle hath wrought."

---

OoC: Heal everyone Total of 31hp

Bunny Cotillion rolled 7 using 2d6.  Channel Energy
Bunny Cotillion rolled 11 using 2d6.
Bunny Cotillion rolled 11 using 2d6.
Bunny Cotillion rolled 2 using 2d6.
This message was last edited by the player at 17:23, Fri 19 June 2020.