Dr. Hiran Krauss

As Ilura filled in the group on what she had found, the Dr. found a nice quiet spot to help him concentrate on the spell he wanted to cast.  Sitting on a stone with a pool of dark shimmering water behind him and to each side, Dr. Hiran Krauss pierced the veil between this world and the next and drew a spirit toward him for questioning.  Not just any spirit either.  The spirit of his former boss.  The necromancer, Nikadroy Qizproteus.

A deep mischievous laugh reached the Doctor's ears as a glowing deep-purple shape flitted under the water around him.  It was a reflection of something that was not quite there.  "So you want to know what orders I gave my followers for after I perished?" The spirit asked.  "I will tell you.  And not just because I am bound by your spell.  Your pathetic little spell.  But because there is nothing you can do to stop it, traitor.  And because it should be obvious."  The amorphous reflection circled in the water to Hiran's other side.  A bit of ice began forming at the edges of the still pool and the wizard could begin to see his breath.  "My orders were to bring me back.  Death is just a minor roadblock to a skilled necromancer, after all.  I have my lieutenants collecting the resources necessary to reform my body and bring me life once more."

Hirian's fingers are starting to get numb now, and his nose is cold as can be.  The purple shape began lifting up out of the water, no longer merely a reflection.  Whispering to the doctor, it said, "Of course it might be helpful to posses a physical vessel in the meantime.  Yours will do, I suppose.  It really is dangerous to conjure the spirit of a skilled necromancer, you know."

Just as the form touched his skin, Dr. Hiran Krauss was able to end his spell, banishing the spirit back to the other side for the time being.  Warmth began flooding back into the man almost immediately, but the frost on the hair of his left arm lingered a bit longer where the necromancer's spirit had touched him.

What do you do?

---

Eryn

Thinking long and hard about those stories from long ago, Eryn was able to recall something about how skeletons liked to reform when destroyed.  As she tried to recall more details, her focus on the here and now wavered a little.  The tip of her spear absentmindedly drifted to her right and brushed against one of the shell traps.

The slight clanking brought her focus back to reality, but the damage had already been done.  The party could hear a shuffling sound from where you knew the skeletons to be, and you could see the reflection of firelight on the back of its skull as one stepped forward.  There were glowing red orbs deep in the eye sockets and you could tell it was searching for the source of the sound.  It hasn't noticed you yet, but it will in mere moments.

What do you do?

Rirrik:
That's fine.  I imagine you would still be just as blind in complete and total darkness though without magical help.

Hiran dropped to his knees and drove his frosty fist into the sand a look of fear and frustration on his face. "Of course, of course that would be their plan I should have known already.  We have to figure out how he's likely to do it."

Hiran was an intelligent man and worked with the master for a long time but he wasn't a skilled necromancer, more of a doctor who dabbled in information forbidden and unknown.

He dropped his sack of books and began furiously searching through tomes.

"It has to be here, a clue or something has to be here."


I will use 1 use of bag of books to try and find information on what I think the plans will be to bring the master back.  My thinking is any information we can gain gives us an edge on what we are stepping into.

OOC: Current Spells: Magic Missle, Contact Spirits
This message was last edited by the player at 15:36, Mon 13 Nov 2017.

Hiran

If you can create a way to read in the dark, roll me a spout Lore with your +1.  If not, you may still roll your Spout Lore without the bonus, or you may wait until you have a light source.

Hiran runs quickly over to the others. "A light please, I need a light source I must investigate.  Quickly there's no time to explain."

I guess there's another way to find out if Skeleton's can be stunned...

Ilura winced when the shells jangled.  She had turned and was already aiming when the first skeleton shuffled into view.  If she could daze this one, the others might have a chance to take it out quietly enough that the other one wouldn't notice and raise the alarm.

quote:

08:39, Today: Ilura rolled 2 using 2d6.  Called shot to skeleton's head.

There's a +2 on that for dex, but even so, not good enough.

I don't think I can combine moves - so I can't Command my crow and do a Called Shot.  If that presumption is incorrect, then I'd have gotten Thomas in on the action too.  However, in this case, even that wouldn't have helped :(

Does ammo get reduced on every shot or only when I volley and choose that as the consequence of a 7-9?

OOC: Usually you only lose ammo on a 7-9 or if the GM wants it to also be lost on a complete failure but that's usually just time for a hard move which is far worse than losing ammo.

Curses, Eryn thought, as the clattering shells caught the attention of a skeleton. She swiftly drew her spear closer to her side, ready to fight.

Ilura was quick on the draw, however, and had already made the first move. In the dark Eryn was unable to tell if the clattering sound of the arrow hitting something solid meant that the shot had missed, or if the skeleton simply did not care about being struck at all.

"Everyone, get ready," Eryn said. "They are coming for us!"

The red glow in the otherwise empty skull sockets made the undead quite menacing, but it was the bones walking seemingly without support that gave this one its frighteningly unnatural appearance.

"That thing is haunting!" she said as she came up next to Ilura. "All I remember hearing about them is that they put themselves back together even if you break them apart."

Eryn shivered as she steeled herself behind her shield and took a few steps forward. If she could put herself between Ilura and the skeleton, her shield could protect them both.

quote:

Eryn rolled 6 using 2d6+1.  Defend against incoming skeleton.

Darn. That's a failure. :)

Ilura was about to take her shot when Hiran ran up and started asking for light.  That small distraction was just enough to throw off her aim and Ilura's arrow sailed harmlessly through the skeleton's collarbone and clanked off the rock wall behind it.  The skeleton immediately turned toward the ranger and approached, bearing a rusty butcher's knife.  The second skeleton appeared around the corner too.  This one's glowing red eyes were set in the skull of a deer, despite the rest of its body being human, as far as you could tell.

Just as the skeleton was withing striking range, Eryn stepped in front of the reanger with her shield at the ready.  Or, at least she tried to.  The mighty warrior did not notice the black starfish on the rock she was about to step on and she tumbled forward as it squished beneath her boot, bringing Ilura down with her.  The two end up in a jumbled heap before the approaching skeletons.  The nearest one takes a swing at Ilura.

Rirrik and Marcus, you see two of your comrades in immediate danger.  What do you do?

Ilura, take d6 damage.  Don't forget about your armor.

Eryn, you can either help yourself or Ilura avoid the skeletons' next attacks.  Tell me who, and tell me how.  The other takes d6+1 damage.


You can combine moves if it makes sense.  In this case I don't believe it would have improved your roll though.  Only your damage if you had rolled a 10+

Ammo is kind of abstract in Dungeon world.  6 ammo does not mean 6 arrows.  You can shoot them all day long as long as you keep rolling well.  And as Hiran said, usually you only lose ammo if you choose that option on a 7-9 volley roll, or a GM move gets rid of some.

"Spawn of a Barghest!"  The knife pierced through the leather and stabbed into the ranger's left shoulder.  She struggled to regain her feet, drawing her short sword as she did so.  When fighting with her mentor, combat had been an elegant dance.  But her new compatriots seemed to be listening to a different tune.  She'd have to adapt quickly if they were going to stay alive.  On the plus side, the glowing red eyes made it easy to know where to strike.

"Thomas, KILL"

quote:

10:17, Today: Ilura rolled 5 using 1d6.  Damage from skeleton.

With armor, that's a 4

quote:

10:27, Today: Ilura rolled 4 using 2d6.  Short sword on Skeleton w/ crow's help.

At least we're consistent...

"Damn it we don't have time for this." Hiran sets his bag of books down in the sand in front of him trying to shield them from any uprising water.  He then calls forth the destructive magics the overlord taught him so long ago.  The spell causes his eyes to bug out and turn bloodshot as he controls a large ball of pure destructive force.  He sends it forth aiming for the skeleton that threatened his fumbling companions.


OOC: 12:52, Today: Dr Hiran Krauss rolled 4 using 2d4.  Magic Missle Damage.

12:49, Today: Dr Hiran Krauss rolled 14 using 2d6+2.  Magic Missle on skeleton.

Unspeakable words erupted from Eryn as she slipped and took Ilura with her. Things happened quickly then. The skeleton was on them in a flash, striking Ilura before Eryn had time to react. Magic light flew past her prone form, striking the skeleton and rattling its bones.

Hiran. Has to be, she thought. Eryn took the opportunity to scramble back on her feet, attempting to raise her shield once more. She wasn't quick enough, however, and even as the fighter tried to push back against the undead attacker, the skeleton's rusty blade slipped past the shield's edge and scraped across her chainmail. She felt the sting as it happened, and hissed with anger.

She tried to regain her balance as she prepared to throw her weight behind a new strike. They needed this thing down, and fast.

Ilura's animal companion took flight, and as it sped past her Eryn reflexively took a step back. Missing her opportunity to strike, she instead returned to a defensive stance, determined to protect her ally despite her initial failure.


I took the hit.

quote:

Eryn rolled 4 using 1d6+1.  Damage from skeleton.

With armor, that's 2 damage. Down to 21 HP.

Attempting to defend my ally again.

quote:

Eryn rolled 9 using 2d6+1.  Attempting to Defend again.

Partial success. Hold 1.

Marcus hasn't faced any undead since his squireship with Tiberon, and the although he was aware what waited in the cave, the approaching skeletons woke up some memories he thought were buried. But clearly not deep enough. Closing his eyes for a moment, he pushed through the image of the brother he lost and readied his shield and blade.

But much happened in those few seconds. The animated creatures were upon them, and he moved to stand next to Eryn, swinging his blade in an attempt to sever the connection between bones, paying little heed to his own safety. He wanted to tell how they should proceed, but apart of knowing that there were rituals that dealt with eternal rest, which he didn't know how to perform, he came up short.

6 damage to skeleton, but he gets an attack back.

21:12, Today: Marcus rolled 8 using 2d6+1.  Hack and Slash skeleton.
21:14, Today: Marcus rolled 6 using 1d10+1.  Damage.
21:13, Today: Marcus rolled 6 using 2d6-1.  Sprout lore - undead.

Rirrik shook his head at the scene that unfolded mere moments before. The possibility of stealthily stalking their prey fell apart before their eyes like sand falling through one's fingers. Rirrik jumped back with his bow still in hand. He fired shot after shot while moving back, hopefully out of their reach. Finally one arrow caught hard on a clavicle, snapping it. Rirrik let a small excited yip escape his snout.

17:20, Today: Rirrik Lollygag rolled 5 using 1d6.  Damage.
17:11, Today: Rirrik Lollygag rolled 9 using 2d6.  Volley.
Reducing ammo by one.
OOC: Ofcourse, it still requires some light. Not like predator style thermal vision (which would be pretty cool).

Ilura's blade slipped neatly between the skeleton's ribs, harmlessly, just as Hiran's magic blasted away at its shoulder.  The force of the magical impact caused the skeleton to pivot and wrenched the blade from Ilura's grasp.  You could hear it clatter somewhere in the dark before making a splash.

Then Marcus came in swinging, taking the first half-shattered skeleton to pieces with his blade.  As the glow started to leave the abomination's eyes and it fell to the ground, its arm twitched one last time, striking out at Marcus. Even as its brother fell, the antlered skeleton stepped up and began clawing at Marcus's shield.

A split second later though, the antlered skeleton staggers backward as an arrow shattered a portion of its chest.  It's eyes flickered, then flared up again as it tore at Marcus and Eryn's shields once again.  And to make matters worse, the dim firelight around the corner was now getting closer.  Marcus may not be able to remember much about undead in general at the moment, but he was certain that the moaning sounds approaching indicated zombies.

What do you do?

Illura, your blade is somewhere in the dark at the moment.

Marcus, take d6+1 damage.  Mark XP if you haven't already for your Spout Lore.

Eryn, feel free to use your hold where appropriate, or continue to save it for later.

Hiran and Rirrik, you're good.

You can all hear zombies approaching noisily.

The fighters and mage seemed to have the skeletons well in hand, and she had proved herself less than competent.  Taking the loss of her sword together with her aching shoulder as a sign that perhaps melee combat wasn't the best strategy at the moment, Ilura fell back and took up a flanking position a descent way away from where she knew the zombies would emerge.  This wasn't the time to go digging in the stream for her sword, especially in the dark.

Readying her bow and aiming at the area of growing firelight, she calmed her breathing as her mentor had trained her.  She opened her senses, listening, watching, smelling.  A flick of her head sent Thomas to help survey the darkness.  The zombies were the obvious threat.  She didn't want to be surprised by anything else.  And perhaps there was something in this cavern that would be helpful in the coming fight.

quote:

16:38, Today: Ilura rolled 10 using 2d6+3.  Discern Realities (with crow's help).

What should I be on the lookout for?
What here is useful or valuable to me?
What here is not what it appears to be?

Hiran grabs his bag of books and begins to move away from the cave.  "They know were here, the master knows we are here. We must learn more about what they are attempting before we do this again or were going to get swarmed." Hiran knew the master's tactics he knew what was about to happen and he couldn't sit and watch people he respected be murdered the same way he saw so many be slaughtered before.

As the zombies got closer the voices of the damned that swarmed Hiran began to laugh and cry out. "They are coming for you Doctor." "It's time to meet the same fate that we did." "Suffering comes for you Doctor Krauss!"

Hiran grit his teeth and ran the opposite direction of the water up the hill above the cave and onward away from the threat. He waved his arm to encourage the others to follow.  He stops still in range to cast another spell at the remaining skeleton hoping it would give the others time before the undead swarm arrives. The screaming voices in his ears reminded him of his old self what he used to be and the magics he called forth followed suit.  These bolts of decay and terror incarnate form in his hand encased in a shell of arcane force.  Hiran releases the bolts from his hands and they fly into the still standing skeleton peppering it with several quick blasts in succession.



OOC: 18:16, Today: Dr Hiran Krauss rolled 7 using 2d6+2.  Magic Missle on remaining Skeleton.

18:16, Today: Dr Hiran Krauss rolled 4 using 2d4.  Magic Missle Damage.

I will take some Danger for that partial success.

Rirrik tried to move himself into a better position to strike the antlered skeleton without putting an arrow Marcus or Eryn. He should have been paying attention to his footwork. He felt his paw slip up from under him and in the stumble his shot went wild. Who knew where or in who it would end up...

18:44, Today: Rirrik Lollygag rolled 4 using 2d6.  Volley.

At first Eryn thought that the clattering sound in the darkness was a skeleton's knife being dropped as it fell, but a moment later she saw Ilura retreat, blade no longer in hand.

Although his attack was effective in reducing their foe to a pile of bones, Marcus had placed himself in harm's way to do so. Eryn leapt forward towards the second skeleton, interrupting its assault and giving it less of an opening to strike. Its horrible claws bore down upon their shields with unrelenting fervor, however, and the fighter could tell that Marcus was struck by bony fingers at least once during the scuffle. How bad it was, she could not tell, but he kept standing and so she stood her ground as well.

More magic from Hiran peppered the antlered skeleton. Eryn couldn't help but be impressed. Their weapons barely scratched its bones, but magic seemed to do the trick. She could see the creature's eyes flicker. Was the magic destabilizing the spell that kept it alive somehow?

Seeing a chance to finish it off, Eryn brought her spear to rest on her shield's edge, and thrust it forwards towards the deer skull in front of her. The tip had been fashioned to penetrate human armor, but she had a feeling it could shatter human bones as well.


I use my Hold to protect Marcus from the skeleton's attack, halving the damage he will recieve.

quote:

Eryn rolled 12 using 2d6+2.  Hack and Slash at skeleton.
Eryn rolled 2 using 1d10.  Deal damage to skeleton.
Eryn rolled 8 using 1d10.  Re-roll damage (Human Fighter move).

I don't want to mess up again when I got such a good attack roll, so I'll use my damage re-roll here. Result: 8 damage (2 piercing).

Hiran was able to retreat to higher ground along the cave wall.  From his place of relative safety, he was able to blast the skeleton with magic once again.  However, his rocky perch had very uneven footing and the intricacies of spellcasting distracted him from maintaining proper balance.  The wizard began to teeter on the edge of his outcropping, surly about to fall.

However, with the combined efforts of Hiran's magic and Eryn's mighty strike, the enemy skeleton didn't just fall apart.  It exploded apart!  Magic-laced splinters of bone erupted everywhere, peppering Eryn and Marcus in fine bone powder.  One of the antlers even cartwheeled through the air, knocking Rirrik upside the noggin as he was trying to see where his stray arrow had gone.

Throughout this excitement, Ilura was busy scouting out the approaching zombies.  From her new vantage point she could see three of them approaching, dragging burning firewood logs as crude clubs/torches.  An action that was very unnatural for a typical zombie.

That was not the only thing unnatural about them though.  They looked almost as if they had been stitched together with spare parts from a fish market.  Sure, they were mostly human, but one had tentacles instead of arms.  Another had a long sawfish blade where its hand should have been.  The last one's entire head was replaced by that of a swordfish.  It was downright ghoulish and bizarre.

On the plus side, as the zombies approached with their firelight, Ilura was able to see the glint of metal from her lost sword.  It was half submerged in a tide pool between herself and the zombies.

As the zombies round the corner, what do you do?

Hiran

Give me an appropriate Defy Danger if you wish to keep from falling from your perch.

Rirrik

That antler smacking into your head didn't injure you per-se, but it definitely left a mark.  You gain one of the following debilities until you get a chance to tend to the injury.  Stunned (-1 Int), Confused (-1 Wis), or Scarred (-1 Cha).

Ilura

What should I be on the lookout for?

Whatever is leading those zombies.  Their strange actions indicate they are following instructions.

What here is useful or valuable to me?

Your sword, sticking out of the pool over there.

What here is not what it appears to be?

The zombies.  They are augmented.

Take +1 Forward when acting on the answers.

Hiran was too distracted by the voices and his magic to even think about his footing.  The ground crumbles away underneath of him as his bolts are released. He futilely tries to grab for the ledge as he falls hard and flat into the earth at the mouth of the cave.




12:15, Today: Dr Hiran Krauss rolled 5 using 2d6.  Defy Danger + Dex.

Marcus grunted as the skeleton's attack connected, but his armor protected him from any lasting injury. The cloud of bone dust distracted the paladin that he couldn't make it in time to prevent the doctor's fall from the perch. "Are you alright?" he inquired the fallen man as he offered a hand to assist him in getting up just as the grotesque zombies came into sight.

"If we leave now they will flee or be ready for us the next time. We should press this opportunity." Marcus stated as he moved towards the zombies, his shield ready to block their attacks. Whether the others agreed to attack or just needed someone to protect their retreat, the knight was ready. These blood spawns are abominable even for Cherka he grimaced as the wet flops of the flesh dragging on the stone floor became louder and the stench of rotting meat and fish, as well as a hint of something more sinister, hit him.

18:33, Today: Marcus rolled 5 using 2d6.  Defy danger - catch the Doctor.
18:37, Today: Marcus rolled 9 using 2d6+1.  Defend the group.
Hold 1

Rirrik watched his arrow splinter uselessly against the wall. He just managed to get his footing and put away his bow away when a huge chunk of antler clocks him in the head. He lets out a groan and his mind just goes blank.  Without a civilized thought in his mind and only instinct to go on, he finds himself on all fours rushing headlong into the cave away from the fallen skeletons.

OOC: I took the Stunned debility which reads "That last knock to the head shook something loose. Brain not work so good." So I worked that into him just sort  of acting like a scared/wounded animal thought wise. Only simple flight or fight choices.

An argument could be made that I am Confused instead, which is "Ears ringing. Vision blurred. You’re more than a little out of it." but I feel that is more like not being able to perceive what the hell is going on, rather than not being able to think about what to do next. What do you all think?
This message was last edited by the player at 17:59, Tue 14 Nov 2017.

Hiran fell hard, but he was not quite high enough to sustain any serious injuries from the fall.  He did, however, find a sea urchin's spines lodged in his thigh when he pulled his knee out from within a tide pool.  He could feel its poison coursing through his veins and making him a bit woozy.

Hiran

Take -1 Forward for your next action that requires accuracy or precision.  The urchin's poison is making you a little disoriented.

Marcus

I think Hiran was too far away from everyone to be able to reasonably try to catch him, Marcus, so I won't penalize that failed catch attempt.  No XP either though.

Rirrik

Sounds good to me.

Hiran took Marcus's helping hand. "I am fi.." he drones off as the poison from the urchin flows throughout his system. "I may need to sit down for a spell."

Hiran finds a smooth rocky wall of the outer cave face and sits down.  Hiran was a doctor he knew what to do in this situation but he needed help. "Marcus, take this dagger and cut the the urchin off my leg and make a larger incision.  I then need you to suck out the poison and spit it out on the beach.  Quickly before the zombies reach us."


OOC: Making an assumption Hiran would have this knowledge as a doctor but if its at all in question I can make a roll.

That is fine, Hiran.

Marcus, if you do as he asks, I will need a Defy Danger + Dex to do the procedure quickly and accurately.