(go go go :D )

There is a perpetual fog over the graveyard, limiting clear visibility to 30'. Everything further away is just a shadow wading through the fog. High walls surround this section of the graveyard, and just to the east is a narrow shore and the poisonous waters of the Stojanow. An old map acquired from the council shows the general layout, so the party is not completely clueless. The boat deposits the party at the narrow dock adjacent to the eastern gate. (Place yourselves in U-V 19-20)


1 square = 5 feet; visibility=6 squares

This message was last edited by the GM at 08:06, Mon 16 Nov 2015.

  Librand is first off the boat, taking a few quiet steps through the gates to ensure they were not about to walk into an ambush by the 'formerly-living'. The eye-witness account called for in the proclimation was going to be challenging with the thick fog hanging about.

 "I never saw reason to sticking folks in the ground. They've either continued on...or they haven't, which burying them seems to do little to slow them down." the halfling mused quietly to the others as they caught up. With the weather against them, Librand drew a pair of fighting knives for when they crossed pathes with those who required guidance back to the afterlife.

---

OOC:
 AC 14, HP 9/9
  Starting off at U-19
  Perception Check: 5
This message was last edited by the player at 02:45, Sat 14 Nov 2015.

Ghere gave Librand the point, he was a scout after all, following at the prescribed 20 foot.

Everyone have +6 tHp.
Starting off-map along Line 19.

Although he did not speak of it, Rurik was delighted to step off of the boat that had ferried them over to the Valhingen Graveyard and get his feet on something solid again . . . the narrow dock wasn't exactly solid ground, but it felt a lot steadier than the boat. The Dwarven warrior had been nervous and fidgety the entire time that he had been on-board the boat, for he had the strong impression that the damned thing was entirely too topsy-turvy, and would tip him overboard at the drop of a hat.

Taking a deep breath to calm himself as he stood on the dock, Rurik readied his shield and warhammer, and waited beside Ghere to allow Librand to move ahead. That would give the scout the opportunity to move quietly if he wished, without being given away by the tell-tale clink-clanking of Dwarven heavy armor.

Rurik squinted ahead into the fog that seemed to cover the graveyard. Although Librand was still in sight, already some of the details of his equipment were becoming indistinct in the wispy tendrils of the fog. "Ain't sure whether this fog is a good or a bad thing from our point of view," he remarked quietly to Ghere.

OOC:

Rurik will stand beside Ghere, 20 feet behind Librand, off-map on Line 20. Thanks for those temporary Hit Points, Ghere! :)
This message was last edited by the player at 15:04, Mon 16 Nov 2015.

Ghere opened his hands. "Depends on what we are facing" he murmured back. "Probably bad."

Yer welcome. I very nearly went Healer instead, but the tHp keep people alive better imao.

Brak leans against the wall next to the iron gate, peeking around the corner of the wall, "Huh, so how long do we let Librand go? Hold until we hear the yelp?," he whispers.

Start just off at W18.

Rurik chuckled at Brak's gallows humor, and whispered a reply.

"Nay, it ain't like we're tryin' to get rid of the lad. We need to stay close enough to have eyes on him, I'd say."

  Librand proceeded forward a few steps, the hard gravel crunching under his boots as he cautiously sized up the narrow path. Looking to the structure to his right, he considered a different perspective might aid in avoiding any ambushes.

  Turning a half-step back, he pointed at solidly built Ghere and made a quick motion for him to move up. "Give me a lift, would ya?" Librand whispered when the human joined him and sheathed his daggers to free his hands should he need to pull himself up whatever difference their combined height left in reaching the roof of the structure. Maybe the bow would prove a more useful weapon after all...

Ghere closed up, then shrugged, leaning his pole-ladder against the side of the building and gesturing to Librand to walk up it.

Ooc- Yes Librand, we have had problems with walls before you joined.

When Librand decided to move up to the top of the building to the right and Ghere silently readied the ladder that he carried so that the Halfling could climb up, Rurik moved forward and took up a guarding position.

He squinted and peered into the swirling fog and listened to see if his ears could pick up any warning sounds that were mayhaps beyond his range of vision.

OOC:

Note: Rurik began this mission 20 feet behind Librand (who started in U-19).

Move: Rurik will move ahead 25 feet to T-20.

Action: Rurik will look and listen. 19:15, Today: Rurik Ironhand rolled 20 using 1d20+3 with rolls of 17. Perception Check.

  Librand offered Ghere a silent nod of thanks, impressed by the human's forethought in having the ladder-like contraption already on hand. With little hesitation ascended the ladder and crawled onto the roof, keeping low so as to avoid notice, but still hoping the greater height would offer an advantageous point of observation for graveyard.

OCC:
 AC 14, HP 15/9+6

 MOVE: T-19, T-18, S-17, R-16

1 square = 5 feet; visibility=6 squares

The small pary advances cautiously.

Librand climbs the crumbling masonry of the small building; It seems to be some sort of tomb, but the paintings on the walls have long since faded, and the reliefs show but generic images of the afterlife. The view from above would be better if there wasn't that damn fog limiting the visibility to 30' (6 squares). The door at S18 is thick, wooden, and slightly askew, apparently jammed. A good shove should open it, though. (a single action from a reasonably strong person)

The hedges are more like tangles of thorny vines now, but a good axe should take care of one in no time (a single action with a suitable slashing implement). Over the hedges to the north, Librand can just about make out that many of the gravestones are overturned and the graves dug. He can't make out any details, however.

There is no wind at all; the fog condenses in thick droplets on exposed metal. A deathly stillness wraps around you, disturbed only by the sounds of gravel under your feet.

Ghere looked at the door, then shook his head. He wasn't happy about leaving that behind them. Snapping his fingers to get Librand's attention, he waved him back down again, collected his pole, then indicated the door.

Ghere's snapping his fingers attracted Rurik's attention, and he glanced over his shoulder to see the Human waving Librand down from his position up high and pointing towards the door of the small building that they were standing beside.

Rurik nodded, both to let Ghere know that he understood, and that he agreed with him. To the Dwarven warrior's way of thinking, making sure that the interior of the building was clear would both prevent unpleasant surprises -- well, at least with respect to anything that might be lurking inside the building -- and would give the strike-team an easily-defensible position with the possibility of resting there, if need be.

After nodding to Ghere, Rurik stepped in front of the door and readied himself to shove it open and step in, once everyone was ready.

OOC: Rurik will step from T-20 to S-19.

"Might be trapped." Ghere said quietly. "You know, tomb robbers and such. Better let the expert go first."

  Librand was walking a short circuit around the structure's roof trying to get a better view of the graveyard to the north and south When he heard Ghere's snapping. The youthful halfling's head poked over the edge, looking down at his trio of cohorts With confusion. Seeing Ghere wave him down, Librand simply slid over the roof's edge allowing himself to hang before dropping gracefully the remaining five feet.

  "Why trap it? Its already kinda open." he responded just as quietly to the human's statement. Readying his blades once again, he looked between Ghere, Brak, and Rurik for the signal to enter.

"Check anyway please." Ghere waved him on.

"Once ye check it over," Rurik added, "I'll lead the way inside."

He stepped aside to give the Halfling sufficient room to do his job.

  Librand blinked his silvery eyes with confusion. "Me? Um...sure." He said with an uncertain shrug. He slipped his knives back into their sheathes and stepped up to the door, sizing it up to determine how most likely a trap would be rigged to it.

 "Y'know, I generally prefer to hunt with my bow. I mean traps have their uses depending on your prey I suppose. But unless it ends 'em quick I don't like to let them suffer..." Librand continued to ramble softly about hunting almost more to himself than any listeners as he poked and proded for any tells of a trap's pressence.

---

OCC:
 Investigation Check: 8
This message was last edited by the player at 13:21, Tue 24 Nov 2015.

1 square = 5 feet; visibility=6 squares

Rurik advances carefully towards the suspicious door.

Ghere proves there's no limit ot healthy paranoia. After all, if there's no trap to be seen, it only means there's an unseen trap around.

Librand pokes around the door a little bit, managing to not uncover a trap the hard way. Perhaps he should take his job more seriously.

The druid remains in the background, sullen and quiet. This is not his an environment he can relate to or even appreciate.

There is a soft rustling from inside the bulding in response to Librand's scratching sounds and the quiet voices of the party.
This message was last edited by the GM at 13:07, Tue 01 Dec 2015.

"Okay Rurik, then myself, then Brak, then Librand. Ready, go!"

Rurik heard noises inside the small building that reminded him of Fall's dry, fallen leaves being blown about by a soft breeze. He silently pointed to the building to concentrate his companions' attention to the building, and he suspected that they would have heard the same noises that he had.

The Dwarven warrior nodded to Ghere when the Human quietly called out a suggested order of entrance, then pushed on the door. It resisted slightly, but Rurik was able to open it without too much difficulty.

Stepping into the doorway with his warhammer and shield at the ready, he paused for an instant to peer into the interior of the building . . .

OOC:

Action : Open the door to the building.

Move: Rurik will step forward from S-19 to S-18. What he does next will depend upon what he sees when he peers into the building (the remainder of his Move action and the right to comment upon what he sees are reserved).
This message was last edited by the player at 19:49, Tue 01 Dec 2015.

Ghere tapped Rurik on the shoulder as he went through the door. "Tempus bless."

Rurik, you have advantage on your next attack roll.

  Librand glances back at the quiet dwarf after Ghere declares the order they should use, his small features screwing into subtle grimace for being told to wait to enter. With a small flourish, he whipped out both daggers and readied for any trouble while Rurik made way into the small structure.

1 square = 5 feet; visibility=6 squares

The door makes an infernal amount of noise as Rurik opens it. Half of it is scraping of wood against floor, the other part is rusty hinges being disturbed for the first time in years. Inside sit four undisturbed sarcophagi; everything is covered by a thick layer of dust and what plaster fell form the coiling during the long years of neglect. The lods of the sarcophagi are carved in the likeness of their occupants - apparently a lineage of nobles, all male, all depicted with a slender dress sword. The lines of their faces remind you of Porphyrys Cadorna.

After drawing a few breaths, half-expecting the lids to fly open and undead monstrosities to assault you, you realize everything is quiet.

Too quiet.

There's a cut-off dwarven curse and the sound of feet on the gravel before you realize Brak is gone, only swirling fog where he used to be.

Ghere turns to the north, spotting movement; first he notices pairs of glowing lights shining through the thick fog. Gradually, the bodies attached to those lights come into view, revealing the creatures to be rather fitting to the environment. Several skeletons advance unsteadily, clutching long since rusted blades, their attention focused on the living interlopers. More of them approach from the hedges to the south. The bones of their feet make a curiously hollow sound as they walk on the gravel.

"Shit! Contact North, skellies. And we have lost Brak!"
Ghere stepped back and sideways, clearing the way for the melee types, and leveled a finger, blasting chunks off the first skeleton.

Rurik had expected to find trouble inside the small building, which was now revealed to be a sepulcher. Which makes sense, given that we are in a graveyard, he thought to himself. When nothing moved inside the building the Dwarven warrior slowly exhaled, and Rurik realized that he had been holding his breath as he stepped into the doorway.

A moment later he heard Ghere curse and call out that skeletons were approaching from the north. The hairs rose up on the back of Rurik's neck -- he had heard of such things as walking skeletons, but had never before experienced such a thing, and had halfway put such tales down to the effects of too much ale. But now, it appeared that such tellings had been quite truthful.

Hearing a sound from behind him and to his left, Rurik spun around and spied a skeleton coming around the corner of a hedge to the south. So, there are two groups of them? Bollocks!

"They are coming at us from the south, as well. I'll move to try and block that group," he called out to his companions.

Putting his words into action, Rurik moved into position and swung his warhammer at the first skeleton in line -- he could see more moving behind it through the wispy tendrils of fog. The heavy hammer struck the creature in the arm and crushed it into shards and splinters. The skeleton stood in place and shuddered for a moment, then collapsed at Rurik's feet in a shower of loose bones.

OOC:

Communication: Calling out to Ghere and Librand.

Movement: Rurik begins the round in Square S-18, and he will move to Square Q-20 (20' of movement); Movement path: S-19, S-20, R-20, and Q-20.

Action: Rurik will attack the Skeleton in Q-21.

09:48, Today: Rurik Ironhand rolled 15 using 1d20+6 with rolls of 9. Melee Attack v. Skeleton (AC 13). Hit!

09:49, Today: Rurik Ironhand rolled 12 using 1d20+6 with rolls of 6. Advantage Attack (Courtesy of Ghere).

09:50, Today: Rurik Ironhand rolled 14 using 2d8+6 with rolls of 5,3. Damage (Bludgeoning: Skeletons Vulnerable).

Note: The RAW say that creatures who have a vulnerablity to a certain damage type suffer double damage. Rurik's warhammer deals bludgeoning damage, to which skeletons are vulnerable, if I remember correctly. I have not yet applied this rule in 5e, but I interpreted it to mean that the weapon's damage is doubled (2d8), but not the additional damage due to Strength (+4) or the Dueling Fighting Style (+2).

09:52, Today: Rurik Ironhand rolled 8 using 1d10. Hit Location. (Right Arm.)
This message was last edited by the player at 15:17, Sat 12 Dec 2015.

1 square = 5 feet; visibility=6 squares

(as I read vulnerability rules, you roll the usual damage, then this is doubled.)

Ghere's magic scorches the leading skeleton. The undead stares at the warlock with a quiet, hateful fire in its eyes, then charges.

Rurik moves to block the other group of skeletons. His warhammer makes short work of the first one, the blunt weapon crushing the animated bones with ease. The dwarf can almost see the dark magic evaporating as the skeleton finds final rest.

Librand is nowhere to be seen.

The skeletonsshamble forwards, rusty blades raised. Two surround Ghere as the warlock retreats to a corner, and a third stabs at Rurik. _{(the dice gods take their revenge)} All hit, drawing blood from the heroes. Those are minor wounds, however. (Ghere suffers 8 damage, Rurik 4 damage)

The obvious tactic was to fall back through the gate making them come at him in single file, but that would leave Rurik's back open, not something Ghere was comfortable doing. Better to close and he turtled up behind his shield, binding their weapons with his spear, and closed up on Rurik. "Bare is the back without brother to guard it" he chanted, letting Rurik know that he was there.

Full defense, disengage action, move to Q20
AC 20 HP 12

"Where the hells did Brak and Librand go?" Rurik growled angrily. Although he did not acknowledge it as of yet, there was considerable comfort to be found in the fact that Ghere had his back -- it allowed the Dwarven warrior to concentrate on striking the skeleton that had just wounded him.

This time Rurik feinted high and went low with his attack, his warhammer striking the skeleton in the leg and pounding it to dust. As had been the case with the previous skeleton, animated bones collapsed with a rattle and skittered this way and that across the ground.

OOC:
Action: Rurik attacks the skeleton in Q-21:  20:45, Today: Rurik Ironhand rolled 23 using 1d20+6 with rolls of 17. Melee Attack v. Skeleton (AC 13). Hit!

20:47, Today: Rurik Ironhand rolled 12 using 1d8+6 with rolls of 6. Bludgeoning Damage (x2) v. Skeleton. Per the DM's comment, I think that the skelton suffers 6(x2) +6 Damage = 18.

20:48, Today: Rurik Ironhand rolled 3 using 1d10. Hit Location . Left Leg.

1 square = 5 feet; visibility=6 squares

(vulnerability: you just roll damage as normal, add modifiers, then double the final result. Also, I assumg Ghere moves to Q19 - that makes much more sense than bumping into Rurik.)

Ghere, with his excellent grasp of tactics and the current situation, repositioned tactically, leaving the skeleton duo unable to land a telling blow as he did so.

Rurik hewed both leds from the next skeleton to face him, its bones disintegrating into dust and the  echo of adrk magic even before hitting the ground. Only its rusty weapon clatters onto the gravel path. At this rate, the rest of the undead should pose no problem, right?

The undead move forwards in silence, the evil light of their eyes burning with hunger. The well coordinated way the team meets them with makes them unable to score a hit. The dark magic animating them makes them immune to petty considerations such as rage and hopelesness however, and they continue with their assault.

Ghere cased his spear, it having served it's purpose for the nonce, but kept his shield up. Leveling a finger at the skeleton he had damaged before, he finished it off with a blast to the chest. It seemed that She counted these as much of an enemy as anything else, for the familiar reward tented his codpiece.
This message was last edited by the player at 10:53, Sat 19 Dec 2015.

Rurik heard the tell-tale crackling of outgoing magicks from behind him, and it seemed clear that Ghere was whittling down the odds that were facing the two adventurers.

For his part, the Dwarven warrior concentrated upon the next skeleton to come around the corner of the hedge. He swung his heavy warhammer at the creature's head, and smashed it like an eggshell. The animated bones collapsed, and Rurik readied his warhammer for an attack against the next foe that he knew would step up to take the place of the creature that he had just destroyed.

Unfortunately Rurik was a bit over-eager, and swung his hammer too soon when the next skeleton stepped in. The hammer's heavy head went whistling by the creature's rib-cage, but did no damage.

"Bollocks!" Rurik muttered under his breath.

OOC:

Action: 23:54, Yesterday: Rurik Ironhand rolled 25 using 1d20+6 with rolls of 19. Melee Attack v. Skeleton (AC 13). Hit!

23:55, Yesterday: Rurik Ironhand rolled 11 using 1d8+6 with rolls of 5. Damage; [x2 (Bludgeoning Damage)] =  22 points of damage.

23:56, Yesterday: Rurik Ironhand rolled 10 using 1d10. Hit Location. Head.

Note: Rurik attacked the skeleton in Q-21.

00:01, Today: Rurik Ironhand rolled 10 using 1d20+6 with rolls of 4. Action Surge (Readied) Attack v. Skeleton. Miss.

1 square = 5 feet; visibility=6 squares

Another skeleton disintegrates, this time from Ghere's magic, his dark energies mixing with the evil reanimation magic producing a tiny sparkling whirlwind as they cancel eachother out.

Rurik crushes another skeleton into itty bitty splinters of bone, his frustration having little effect other than adding an element to the sounds surrounding the small battle. The thick fog seems to absorb all sound without effort.

The skeletons lash out, the one stepping up over the remains of the last skeleton Rurik disintegrated managing to stab the hero in the right shoulder. (4 damage to Rurik)

One can almost imagine an evil wizard, looking at the scene in a crystal ball, cackling...

There was no question but that Rurik was more effective than him here, and Ghere went on the defensive, focusing his power on enhancing Rurik. The problem was missed blows, so that was what he worked on.

Rurik, your next attack has advantage.

Rurik grunted when one of the magicked skeletons struck him, and when Rurik attacked the skeleton that had wounded him, his warhammer struck the foul creature a little easier than was normally the case. That's Ghere's magicks at work most likely, the Dwarven warrior thought to himself. The warhammer's heavy head struck the skeleton in the ribcage and smashed it to the ground.

When no more skeletons came around the corner of the hedge, Rurik turned to face the creatures that had been on his shield-side.

"Thanks for that," he remarked to Ghere. "Better odds, now."

OOC: 10:44, Today: Rurik Ironhand rolled 21 using 2d20+6, dropping the lowest dice only with rolls of 15,9. Melee Attack, (w/ Advantage) v. AC 13. Hit!

Note: Rurik's attack was directed at the skeleton in Q-21.

10:46, Today: Rurik Ironhand rolled 14 using 1d8+6. Damage. Total damage (bludgeoning): 28.

10:47, Today: Rurik Ironhand rolled 7 using 1d10. Hit Location. (Torso.)

1 square = 5 feet; visibility=6 squares

The duo works well in a defensive situation. Ghere allowed the dwarf more movement and attack options by interfering with the other two skeletons, the final result being yet another skeleton reduced to dust.

The interference comes at a price, however. The remaining skeletons manage to score a shallow wound on Ghere (4 damage).

That's about all they manage to do, however. The rest of them get taken out in short order as well. (count the last 3 skeletons as destroyed as well)

Everything is quiet again, apart from the heavy breathing of the two remaining party members. There is just bone dust and rusty fragments left where each skeleton was disintegrated... The fog seems to thicken.

What next?

Ghere heaved a sigh of relief. "That could have gotten very nasty there. Let us find Librand and Brak."

In reply to Ghere (msg # 38):

Even though things had gone well, Rurik was still breathing heavily from the exertion of battle. "Agreed, on both counts," he replied to Ghere.

"I am concerned about Brak's and Librand's disappearance in a place such as this."

"I agree, but we have to find them before we can do anything about it." Ghere moved to where he last saw Librand, looking around.

Librand and Brak were last seen just around the corner of the small mausoleum to the norteast of the two adventurers. They could have disappeared into the fog towards the northeast grave plot; or perhaps towards the centre of the graveyard? The fighting disturbed the gravel path enough that the two weren't able to find any obvious tracks.

So it will take a guess to find those two.

Ghere looked around. "It us unlikely that they moved past you without notice, and I suspect that climbing over these hedges would leave obvious signs. If they went North they would have been caught up fighting that group that closed on us from there, So, South, North and East are unlikely. I say we go West.

Rurik nodded at Ghere's suggestion and replied, "Let's give it a try. My armor is better than yours, so I'll take the lead."

With that, the Dwarven warrior moved off down the path, the gravel cruching lightly under his boots. "Damn this fog to the hells," he muttered. "I can see better than this in absolute darkness."

1 square = 5 feet; visibility=6 squares

Continuing along the path westwards, the duo comes to the largest building in the graveyard. On the old map they acquired it's marked as "mortuary". Its huge fdouble doors seem in disrepair; one of them even hangs off its hinges, allowing the two to peek into the room beyond.

The floor there is strewn with fragments of wooden furniture and caskets; several fonts and rusted metal items are pushed up against the walls of the room. Just at the edge of vision, almost obscured by fog, two large humanoid shadows loom. They stand there, unmovingly. They obviously don't breathe, nor seem to pose any immediate danger. If anything, they look like desiccated corpses.