The party re-forms its standard marching order and peers ahead through the gloom.

A round, high-ceilinged cave opens up in front of them, perhaps thirty or forty feet ahead. A flat boulder sits in the center of the cave. Behind the boulder the cave continues back into darkness.

---

Map updated.

The boulder mentioned in the description is at AT56.

Morg cleans his warhammer and puts it away, while slowly walking towards the cave opening, looking at the floor, walls, and roof for traps and other nasties.

---

Move: 10' (half speed) to try and be quiet, hugging the northern wall of the cave if he gets to the opening.

04:47, Today: Morg Danforge rolled [13] using 2d20+1, [keeping] the lowest dice only with rolls of 12,17. Stealth check (disadvantage from chain mail): approaching cave. [My roll should have kept the lowest, instead of dropping it.]

05:00, Today: Morg Danforge rolled 4 using 1d20+3 with rolls of 1. Perception check: looking for traps or hostiles on the floor, wall, and roof.

Asano stays close behind the friendly shields protecting the front of the group, his wand ready to lash out at the first hostile foe that is seen. He continuously scans the darkness ahead and above for any threat to the group.

OOC:
Perception- 12
Stealth- 13
Keeping ray of frost on deck if anything hostile comes charging out of the darkness at the party.

Mayon follows along, a bit more warily than before. He holds his quarterstaff in one hand, leaving his other free for spellcasting as he keeps his eyes out for any more movements or suspicious bodies.

07:59, Today: Secret Roll: Mayon Graycross rolled 20 using 1d20+4 with rolls of 16.  Perception.
07:59, Today: Mayon Graycross rolled 7 using 1d20 with rolls of 7.  Stealth.
Has drawn his quarterstaff, keeping one hand free to use his focus when necessary.

The group makes it to the threshold of the cave opening without incident. The cave has two narrow exits, one leading north and the other south.

The boulder in the center of the cave is about six feet across, eight feet long, and three feet high. Dark stains color its top.

Mayon notices the ceiling right above the cave opening is somewhat lower than the rest of the cave.

---

Map updated.

"Huh...there's a weird sort of slant to the ceiling right here. Wonder if that's natural?" Mayon comments aloud, glancing up with a slight frown. It seemed a bit odd to him.

But not as odd as that boulder. Gripping his staff, he begins moving closer to get a look at that stain, hoping it's not what he thinks it is.


15:03, Today: Mayon Graycross rolled 22 using 1d20+4 with rolls of 18.  Cautious perception.
Still keeping an eye out should anything move or otherwise seem dangerous.
15:03, Today: Mayon Graycross rolled 13 using 1d20+4 with rolls of 9.  Investigate boulder.
If he can get close enough, at least.
Ready to smack with his quarterstaff should anything jump out within five feet of him.

Morg looks up to where Mayon is glancing while slowly moving to the southeastern wall, ready to help him should he need it.

As Mayon and Morg move forward into the room, something large falls down from the ceiling above Morg's head.

Two forms jump down from above directly after the object crashes to floor. One of them falls heavily to a ruined knee when it hits the ground. The two eye the group menacingly with rotted grey eyes and draw rusted swords.

---

More zombies!

Morg, you should make a DC 12 Dex save (with Advantage, since you were looking up) or take 7 bludgeoning damage from a box of rocks that hits you on the head. No damage if you make the save.

Z1 fell more heavily than Z2, but both look somewhat damaged from the fall.

Map updated.

Round 1 Initiative Order:

Who	Init	Status
Mayon	17
Morg	12
Bram	10
Verthel	8
Asano	6
Zombies	5
Jak	4

This message was last edited by the GM at 17:54, Sun 05 Feb 2017.

Mayon yelps at the sudden ceiling zombies, then glares and grips his quarterstaff with both hands as he takes a swing, too close to really get a spell off. "Why can't dead things just stay dead?!"

No movement this turn.
11:02, Today: Secret Roll: Mayon Graycross rolled 14 using 1d20+1 with rolls of 13.  Quarterstaff Z2.
11:02, Today: Secret Roll: Mayon Graycross rolled 2 using 1d8-1 with rolls of 3.  Two-handed, bludgeoning damage.
A bladelock, Mayon is not :P

Morg jumps away to avoid the box, and mutters "I hope no-one at home hears of that." to himself.

He takes out his warhammer while running to a zombie, and tries to hit it.

---

Move: toward Z2 (or Z1 if Z2 is down).

Action: attack Z2 (or Z1 if Z2 is down) with warhammer hits AC 15 for 9
bludgeoning damage.

20:44, Today: Morg Danforge rolled 15 using 2d20+1, dropping the lowest dice only with rolls of 7,14.  Dex save with advantage vs. box of rocks.

21:02, Today: Morg Danforge rolled 15 using 1d20+6 with rolls of 9.  Attack Z2 (or Z1) with warhammer.

21:03, Today: Morg Danforge rolled 9 using 1d8+6 with rolls of 3. Warhammer bludgeoning damage to Z2 (or Z1).

Asano jumps, surprised as the zombies fell from the ceiling. As the party moves to engage the undead monstrosities, Asano plants his feet and lashes out with an icy bolt at the creature facing Mayon. The ray catches the animated corpse full in the chest and bits of the creature immediately shatter in icy chunks.

OOC:
Ray of Frost attack- 22
Ray of Frost damage- 8

Bram had been wary as he followed the others into the new cavern, but once again he was startled by the zombie ambush.  He thought that an ambush from above with a dropped box of rocks seemed unusually clever for brain-rotted undead automatons, but there was no time to ponder such things now.  He charged up to the front and buried his woodaxe into a zombie's guts, then stepped around to its flank and raised his shield against the counterattack.

---

Move up to AV58, attack Z2 if it's still alive by my turn, or Z1 if not.

23:53, Today: Bramwell Caulder rolled 6 using 1d8+3 with rolls of 3.  Battleaxe damage.
23:52, Today: Bramwell Caulder rolled 18 using 1d20+5 with rolls of 13.  Battleaxe attack.

Still not sure if his mockery would work on an undead creature, Jak didn't want to be completely useless once more. He moved up to support his friends, drawing his shortsword as he did so. He swung, expecting to miss again but was surprised when he connected quite well!

OOC: Will move up to either AU 59 or 60 depending on which is open and which zombie is still up by the time he goes - if either are.

10:40, Today: Secret Roll: Jakrynn Redgate rolled 20,7 using d20+4,d6+2 with rolls of 16,5.  Shortsword attack/damage on zombie.

One zombie takes several damaging hits, but manages to stay upright. Both wordlessly snarl in a hideous mockery of life as they swing their crude swords at Bram and Morg. Morg takes a small wound to the side while Jak rushes forward and fells one of the undead.

---

Map updated.

Round 1 Summary:

Mayon attacks Z2 - HITS for 2 bludgeoning.

Morg moves to AU60 and attacks Z2 - HITS for 9 bludgeoning.

Bram moves to AV58 and attacks Z2 - HITS for 6 slashing.

Verthel does nothing.

Asano attacks Z2 - HITS for 8 cold damage, and Z2 speed is reduced by 10' until the start of Asano's next turn.

Z1 attacks Morg - HITS for 3 bludgeoning damage . Z2 attacks Bram - MISS.

Jak moves to AU59 and attacks Z2 - HITS for 7 piercing. Z2 is DEAD


Round 2 Initiative Order:

Who	Init	Status
Mayon	17
Morg	12
Bram	10
Verthel	8
Asano	6
Zombie	5
Jak	4

Mayon sighs in relief as the first zombie falls, giving Jak a grateful nod. "Thanks for that." He wasn't much for being in close combat and was thankful for the opening.

He then swaps the quarterstaff to a one-handed grip and moves to a clearer spot before switching to his preferred method of combat and firing a blast of magic from his hand.

Movement: 30 feet, AV60 to AV56.
Action: Eldritch Blast
20:00, Today: Mayon Graycross rolled 8 using 1d20+5 with rolls of 3.  Eldritch Blast Z1.
20:01, Today: Mayon Graycross rolled 1 using 1d10 with rolls of 1.  Force damage.
Sigh...

Morg turns his attention to the zombie that hit him, dodges Mayon's blast, and swings his warhammer at the undead rock dropper.

---

Move: 10' from AU60 to AT58.

Action: attack Z1 with warhammer - hits AC 15 for 14 bludgeoning damage.

07:29, Today: Morg Danforge rolled 15 using 1d20+6 with rolls of 9.  Attack Z1 with warhammer.

07:31, Today: Morg Danforge rolled 14 using 1d8+6 with rolls of 8.  Warhammer bludgeoning damage to Z1.

As the first zombie drops, Asano levels his focus at the second, lashing out with another magical ray of freezing energy. The energy isn't as focused this time around, barely leaving a rimefrost across the undead creature.

OOC:
Ray of Frost att- 14
Ray of Frost dmg- 2

No one looked more surprised than Jak when the zombie went down to his shortsword. Granted, it was very much a team effort with everyone trying to bring it down - but still Jak was surprised to have struck it and that it dropped.

He moved to aid with the second zombie, swinging with a bit more confidence this time though not as much strength maybe.

11:09, Today: Secret Roll: Jakrynn Redgate rolled 17,3 using d20+4,d6+2 with rolls of 13,1.  Shortsword attack/damage on zombie.

The surviving zombie banged and scrabbled against Bram's shield, relentless in its hunger.  He pushed the monster back and reached out to chop it down with his broad axe blade.

---

Battleaxe hits 21 AC for 6 slashing

10:34, Today: Bramwell Caulder rolled 6 using 1d8+3.  Battleaxe damage.
10:34, Today: Secret Roll: Bramwell Caulder rolled 21 using 1d20+5 with rolls of 16.  Battleaxe attack.

The remaining zombie absorbs vicious attacks from all sides. Pieces of the animated corpse lay strewn about the cave floor, making the rock slick in places underfoot.

The horror staggers toward Jak and swings its blade at him almost lazily. The bard attempts to dodge but slips on a piece of rotted entrails, and the weapon strikes him solidly on the knee.

---

Map updated.

Round 2 Summary:

Mayon attacks Z2 - HIT for 1 force damage.

Morg moves and attacks Z2 - HIT for 14 bludgeoning.

Bram attacks Z2 - HIT for 6 slashing.

Verthel does nothing.

Asano attacks Z2 - HIT for 2 cold damage, and Z2 is slowed by 10' until the start of Asano's next turn.

Z1 attacks Jak - HIT for 5 bludgeoning.

Jak attacks Z1 - HIT for 3 piercing.


Round 3 Initiative Order:

Who	Init	Status
Mayon	17
Morg	12
Bram	10
Verthel	8
Asano	6
Zombie	5	slowed 10' until start of Asano's turn
Jak	4

Mayon grits his teeth in frustration as it stays standing, and shoots one more burst of magic in hopes of finishing it off. As he does, he looks over at Jak. "Are you okay?"

19:47, Today: Secret Roll: Mayon Graycross rolled 12 using 1d20+5 with rolls of 7.  Eldritch Blast Z1.
19:48, Today: Mayon Graycross rolled 4 using 1d10 with rolls of 4.  Force damage

Asano strolls across the battlefield, taking a position near the unexplored tunnel to the right. As he does so, he spots an opening in the melee and launches another freezing ray of energy at the remaining zombie. Frowning at the weak focus of the ray, Asano knock the crystal-tipped wand against his palm, gives it a quick polish, then tightens the bindings of the focus. "Hope that fixes that problem," he mutters.

OOC:
Ray of Frost att- 8
Ray of Frost dmg- 1
Move to AX57
This message was last edited by the player at 03:51, Fri 10 Feb 2017.

---

Has Morg noticed whether any kinds of attacks on the zombies by the party seem better or worse than normal?

If Z1 hasn't yet been destroyed, then:
Action: attack Z1 with warhammer - hits AC 22 for 9 bludgeoning damage.

10:00, Today: Morg Danforge rolled 22 using 1d20+6 with rolls of 16.  Attack Z1 with warhammer.
10:01, Today: Morg Danforge rolled 9 using 1d8+6 with rolls of 3.  Warhammer bludgeoning damage to Z1.

Otherwise, if Z1 is down, he instead goes back to the entrance of the room to see if he can spot anything where the zombies jumped down from.

10:11, Today: Morg Danforge rolled 12 using 1d20+3 with rolls of 9.  Perception check, looking where the zombies jumped down from.
This message was last edited by the GM at 22:19, Fri 10 Feb 2017.

Bram grew increasingly uneasy at the sight of the numerous wounds dealt to this creature, any one of which could be fatal to a living thing.  There was nothing else to do but persist, even if it meant hacking the monster into giblets too small to fight back.  With that thought he chopped at the zombie, opening up yet another wide wound.

I think a 12 vs. AC probably hits for 5 slashing

14:46, Today: Bramwell Caulder rolled 5 using 1d8+3.  Battleaxe damage.
14:46, Today: Bramwell Caulder rolled 12 using 1d20+5 with rolls of 7.  Battleaxe attack.

The zombie continues taking hits from all sides. Morg slices off the zombie's sword arm but still it shambles around. A bolt from Mayon blasts off its head at the neck, but its ruined body remains erect.

Bram slices its torso in two with a sweeping cut from his battleaxe, and finally the creature collapses to the floor, as whatever unholy force keeping it animated flees its body.

Looking up, Morg sees that the zombies must have been standing on a narrow ledge just above the entrance to the cave. There doesn't appear to be anything up there now.

---

Map updated.

XP for group: 100/4 = 25. You all are currently 50 XP away from level 2!

Where to?