Despite the initial tensions from the fight, the rest of the evening went by calmly. With the rest of the watch in place you returned to bed. The orcs resumed their camp, but have two lookouts for the rest of the night. Gharakuh the Unyielding withdrew to a spot just beyond the light, and his shade vanished as the sun came up. You didn't seem to be able to find him again.

The following morning started out overcast. The day appeared dim and gray, with bits of sun occasionally showing between spots in the clouds. Some of you woke up renewed and refreshed, having gained from the last three days a measure of wealth that is rare to come by in this world: wisdom.

Angus, in particular, finally solved the problem of arcane structures his teacher had him try to solve so many years ago. This opened the way to a new pattern of magic in his mind, and all he needed was to put it to paper. With the practical repetition of casting Sleep spells, he now understands how such things can be done better, more efficiently. This manifests in his daily routine as an increased spell capacity.

Aila, too, learned new things. While she may not have been the most accurate combatant in the field, her constant perseverance taught her direction, balance, and steadfast resolve. And practice makes better: her personal strength and resilience were improving.

As you considered whether you should let your wizards rest a few more hours to make up for the lost sleep, the orc scouts returned from their foray into the woods.

With Petar's help you learned they followed the walking bones back to a cave only three miles away at the base of a barren hill, hidden behind large layers of foliage in what looked like a rock slide with many large boulders. They didn't actually enter the cave, as they could have easily been ambushed, but they marked the spot to memory and would lead you there when you are ready. They also noted that they were spotted by several drakes in the sky when coming back, and that they were flying uncomfortably close.

With their numbers back together, the orcs looked to you see what you have planned.

OOC: Alright. New day. You can let your spell casters rest for a few more hours so they can get their spells back.

Waking up late, Angus breaks his fast and studies his spell. Within an hour he is ready to go, finishing his ablutions.

Having taken the last watch in the night, along with the other distraction earlier than that, Aila was happy to doze and meditate while the mages amongst them studied their spells and clerics made their morning prayers.  Still, this left her aware of what was happening around her sufficiently that she was prepared to move along when the others were.

Gharakuh the Unyielding withdrew to a spot just beyond the light, and his shade vanished as the sun came up. You didn't seem to be able to find him again.

Despite the undead's friendliness, Petar hadn't been able to muster up enough courage to seek the spirit out for a chat.  There were so many questions, and things that the ghost must know and have seen.  Petar wasn't tired but he knew he had to sleep, the next day promised to be as dangerous as the last!

They also noted that they were spotted by several drakes in the sky when coming back, and that they were flying uncomfortably close.

"Drakes ... " Petar mutters.  With luck, the drakes were anti-undead as well, and were on the lookout for the walking bones as much as anyone.

A cave three miles away .. not a bad place to start looking for Exidamarall headquarters.

Brulna awoke feeling the pain in her joints from a night lying on the hard ground. The uscular woman rubbed her wrists anxiously. As she closed her wyes and sought the arcane words to her spells in her minds eye. The shapes coalesced within her mind as a rhythmic beat with her soul. With the exhalation of breath the warlock stood up and gathered her supplies.

With the orc scouts leading the way, the group marched onwards in the cloudy day. The forests carried with it an aura of gloom, as if though something had robbed it of warmth and safety one could find. The dark clouds overhead didn't help the feeling either, and scouts found themselves frequently stopping to check their trail.

After a short while, they stopped, and conferred with Regnok.

He in turn tells you,

[Language unknown: "Ven whiesshis ne nd pohoneil. Altic fomopa caiv saaisaer wi neli t esthouthu, beson nt re seeees weilul di chhi nteareart. Trha ulwh uttiel u ntckit p meckhi stamanrat tinas nait atenll. M di noalen sa ckasil ei litho lios ivhasi beant."]

After the scouts explained the situation they resumed the trek in their new direction. This time, they moved slower and paid more attention to their surroundings. The rest of the orcs followed them without saying much, although you can hear them make comments to each other [about the weather, the chances for a good hunt, and what they might find once they get to their destination]. Overall, they seemed to be of good spirits.

You crossed a part of the forest where a number of heavy cobwebs were spun around the tops of the trees and the lower branches. There were a few webbed cocoons with captured animals, large beetles, a fox, a goblin, all dead and dry, drained of their vital fluids and left to decay in the open. The owners of the webs did not seem to be around, although the orcs were keeping their weapons at the ready, paying sharp attention to the uppers branches of the trees.

But soon you left the cobwebs behind, and the forest returned to its normal colors.

It is not too far thereafter that the scouts stopped and crouched, and observed for a long time. They called their battle brothers forward, and pointed at something ahead of you through the underbrush.

As you approached as well, they guided your eyes to what appeared to be a clearing. What was remarkable about the area was the presence of large clusters of wild flowers resembling giant sunflowers, but more green than yellow. They had thick stems, growing from two feet up to almost six feet in height. Their heads were all pointing towards the sun, just like sunflowers do. They had thick and long clusters of roots that dug into the ground. Drooping leafy cups grew from the stems, their openings ringed with spiky appendages that resembled fine combs. It is now that you noticed that there was an aroma of stink, a rot, that came from the flowers. You spotted insects of all types that were flying around them, either on the heads or the drooping cups. As you watched, you witnessed one of the cups close suddenly with a bug in it, which buzzed loudly trying to escape.

However, that was not the reason the scouts stopped the group. Not too far into the flowerbeds were a pair a dead bodies, orcs, if their decaying green skin and leather armor was any indication.

The orc scouts were staying put, quietly scanning the area to see what might have killed them.

---

OOC: Ok, finally got that out. Sorry fellas, work's been getting to me.

So, you have an interesting situation before you.

What will it be?
This message was last edited by the GM at 05:06, Fri 26 Feb 2021.

Angus looked about, beginning to trust their new orc companions. He recognized the haunts of the giant spiders that they passed through earlier, but these plants he did not recognize. They seemed to be man killers of some kind too.

He looked to Brulna and Petar and Aila and the others to make sure they were all seeing the same thing. Venturing out was not an option, fire was.

He in turn tells you,

Petar translates the orcs, who claim the slow going is due to a difficult trail to follow.  The elf has no reason to be suspicious and can imagine the trail looking different day versus night.

The owners of the webs did not seem to be around, although the orcs were keeping their weapons at the ready, paying sharp attention to the uppers branches of the trees.

If the more money-inclinded among them were keen, Petar deems it safe enough to quickly take a goblin head.  Bounty was bounty.  Still, no point lingering here.

They had thick stems, growing from two feet up to almost six feet in height. Their heads were all pointing towards the sun, just like sunflowers do.

"Hmm, carnivorous plants," Petar muses, explaining that such things were not unhead of .. but hesitant to go too close to a man-sized one.  He is sure he's read about these things.  Giant sundews?  Sundrops?  Something like that.

Nature Lore: 11 vs target 17, if applicable
21:39, Today: Petar the Elf rolled 11 using 1d20.  Nature Lore forest on Killer Plants.

Agreeing with Angus, the elf indicates a controlled burn with oil might clear enough monstrous flora away.

"We want to be careful, this far from a settlement.  Too much damage to wilderness will anger any nearby guardians, whether they be fey or merely more familiar stewards like rangers or shamans.  However, since our goals align, hopefully, with any druids or similar, I think we can risk it."

"Another idea is to keep the plants busy by eating something else, fresh meat we might catch by a quick hunt."

As for the dead green orcs, Petar tries to determine the cause of death too, from a distance.  Arrows sticking out were obvious, but if not that, then what?

Petar also asks the red orcs exactly where the opening was.  He looks for any trail the undead might have made, too.

+1 vote for 'kill it!  kill it with fire!' ;)
This message was last edited by the player at 05:41, Sat 27 Feb 2021.

Not quite sure I am following you: the "opening"?

"Is there path around these monsters? Petar you can speak there language... Please."

Brulna thought of a spell that could clear a path, but it was beyond her current talent.

"I have never seen such plants," Aila said, her nose wrinkling at the less-than-pleasant odor.  "I'd rather leave them alone and try to find another way, to be honest."

In reply to Aila (msg # 11):

"We can go around or burn them out. What say you? Ask the orcs Petar."

"Yes, once we know exactly where the cave is, we can decide properly," Petar agrees.  He asks the orcs for a precise indication; hopefully the killer plants could be totally avoided.

"If these plants are sentient. Will they follow us? Wish my sista was here... she would run in chopping at them."

[ Exposition for All ]

If Petar's memory serves him right, these are Emerald Skymarrows, a very rare species of plants that are very aggressive, as plants go. They are capable of projecting exuberant fumes at a short distance. Anyone caught unawares inhaling these fumes is easily rendered unconscious. Once incapable of resistance, the skymarrows wrap their prey with their roots and drain it of vital fluids. The roots are remarkably strong, but not exceptionally resilient, which makes getting trapped in them the only real concern.

However, that is not their only method of defense. The plants are capable of launching a volley of piercing seeds from their bulbs as well, which burst open to release a corrosive compound. This corrosive fluid is able to render grievous injury to flesh and bone alike, and is a defensive weapon the plants only use in last resort situations.

One of the most remarkable aspects of these plants is that they are actually mobile. If they detect no prey in the vicinity for a short number of days, they are capable of uprooting themselves and moving to another area. They move slowly, but as long as they have soil beneath them, they can re-root and continue their life cycle.

Anyone encountering these plants is advised to stay at a safe distance, at least 20 yards away. If there is a need to approach, it is recommended that you go by at a run, as their reactions are slow. They can be removed like any other weed infestation: by cutting them down (not advised) or by starving them. The greater opinion is that they need to be burned away as soon as possible in order to prevent their spore release, which brings on the next generation of skymarrows.

Skymarrow compounds and powdered root are often used in alchemical mixtures, and fetch a profit when sold to the right buyer.

The Emerald variety is one of the more "docile" versions of these plants. The Crimson one is known to able to project its corrosive compound into the air, which bursts into flame once in the open, causing severe burns to its prey. The Quartz version is found in caves and has incorporated arcane elements into its biology from rooting into veins of crystals. It has adapted to its underground environment by using its corrosive compounds to dissolve rock and minerals, which it feeds on. It is capable of releasing its seeds as arcane projectiles, and is by far the most dangerous, and mobile, of all the Skymarrow varieties. It is rumored that the Quartz Skymarrow is cunning enough to be considered almost "intelligent". Fortunately, it is only found underground as bright light causes it to become severely lethargic.

---

You explain the situation to the orcs, and they agree that it is best if these 'things' die. But they also see the possibility of keeping them as 'pets' or 'guards'. But that might be for another time. They are concerned with the possibility of burning the forest down, so they will review the area to see how close the flowers are to the trees.

After a short while they return telling you that the plants have rooted in the middle of the clearing, and that if burned there is a good chance that they will not catch the forest in the flame. They also tell you that they do not need to cross through them, as they can easily go around and avoid them, and work to recover the trail again. The opening cannot be too far away now, maybe another half mile.

The scouts are quite amazed at these things. They didn't cross through a field of these flowers when they were returning to camp. They must have moved here over the course of the two hours you have travelled so far.
This message was last edited by the GM at 04:41, Mon 01 Mar 2021.

"These plants are very rare," Petar points out.  "Destroying them is almost a crime .. as we can go around them."

He tries to be persuasive on this point, confident that the orcs will be able to find the trail again.

The elf supposes there was a risk of the skymarrows following them to the cave and trapping them inside, but that would belie a level of intelligence (or at least cunning) that Petar does not abscribe to these plants, well, at least not this variety and he says as much.

Vote changed to: go around them :)
This message was last edited by the player at 06:52, Mon 01 Mar 2021.

In reply to Petar the Elf (msg # 16):

"I have never encountered anything like them before and never heard of them. My life has been in my books, Let's go around them. Brulna? What is your vote my dear? Aila love, your vote too?"
This message was last edited by the player at 12:37, Mon 01 Mar 2021.

"My opinion on the matter remains unchanged," Aila said, giving Angus a withering look.  "I would prefer to go around--avoiding.  We can take the other action should it become necessary."

In reply to Aila (msg # 18):

Angus gets a forlorn look of puppy dog eyes at the look Aila gives him, not meaning to offend.

In reply to Black Angus (msg # 17):

"I say lets go around them." I don't have the power to destroy them yet.

With the general consensus of "going around them" established, the party moves on and skirts around the flowers. The orc scouts resume their tracking, and shortly thereafter find the trail they were looking for. At this point, the terrain has become quite hilly, and rises and drops in the path are quite common. You have been getting closer and closer to taller foothills, but have several more miles to go to actually reach the foot of the mountains.

You suddenly leave the line of trees behind to stand in an open area at the base of a hill with a collapsed side nearby. Small critters and bugs scatter at your approach, and a large flock of birds takes to the air not too far from you towards the west. The ground is covered with the remains of dead animals, small groups of bones scattered all over the area. The fallen side reveals a core of rock covered with lichen and other plant growth, accumulated probably over many years. Oddly, eroded boulders lie scattered about the area. The side of the hill is perhaps over 20 feet high, measured by rough eye estimate. One of the boulders leans dangerously balanced against the rocky remains of the hill, covered in vines and the untold droppings of birds and other creatures.

The orc scouts point at that rock, crouching under it and disappear from sight. Their voices echo hollowly from beyond it, telling you that you have arrived at the cave they mentioned.

Sowen and Olagh seem excited to be here. Their interest is very high, and they approach with open curiosity, ready to step behind the boulder and into the space beyond.

Sowen beams with a satisfied grin, "Finally! Here you are."

Camille is directing her attention at the bones, as if searching for something.

Mysh and LLand are keeping a lookout, as the warriors they are.

Lland asks bluntly, "Is this it? Is this the place?"

The orcs are waiting on you to see what you decide to do.

Bessy the mule is getting nervous and braying frequently.

OOC: Perception rolls.

These are WIS checks at -4. You want to roll below or equal to the resulting value.

In reply to Game Master (msg # 22):

07:59, Today: Black Angus rolled 3 using 1d20.  wisdom check.

OOC: Sorry I've not been on much lately. Real life has been getting the better of me. I'll try to be a bit more active.

22:08, Today: Oswyn rolled 11 using 1d20+4.  Perception (Wis 13).

Aila looked about intently, trying to make sense of the terrain in view.

---

07:43, Today: Aila rolled 16 using 1d20+4.  perception  (vs 13).

No worries. Life is more important than a D&D game after all. As you can see from my own posting frequency, I often cannot maintain a schedule of my own liking either. =)

In reply to Game Master (msg # 26):

I think we all do pretty good overall. Posting is fairly regular here.

The ground is covered with the remains of dead animals, small groups of bones scattered all over the area.

Some kind of predator's place, Petar muses.  Wolves?  Bears?  Drakes?  A sidelong glance towards Sowen and Olagh follows - perhaps their secret will soon be revealed.

The orc scouts point at that rock, crouching under it and disappear from sight. Their voices echo hollowly from beyond it, telling you that you have arrived at the cave they mentioned.

"I think we had better be prepared for anything, from animals to undead," Petar says.  "Get torches and weapons ready, spells, too," he adds with nod to Angus and Brulna.

Camille is directing her attention at the bones, as if searching for something.

Petar comes over and asks if he can help search.

Lland asks bluntly, "Is this it? Is this the place?"

"I hope so.  Otherwise we are back to where we started in the search for Exidamarall."

10:49, Today: Petar the Elf rolled 3 using 1d20.  Good ol' Perception vs 10.

Roll of 3 vs (10-4) .. looks like a success
This message was last edited by the player at 18:51, Fri 05 Mar 2021.

For those of you who succeeded:

Your eyes were drawn to motion in the sky above the tree line. Close to where the flock of birds rose to the sky, you saw a group of winged creatures in the air. They were approaching your location quickly.

It looked like Olagh spotted them, too, as he grabbed his brother by the shoulder and pointed him towards the western sky. Sowen drew his sword silently, and Olagh strung his bow with the demeanor of a man who knows that war sometimes was inevitable.

As the brothers prepared for battle, the orcs grew tense as they followed their eyes.

Regnok, the leader, declared,

[Language unknown: "Fionro ecpa dipewh. O ratnceint hisoveame."]

The orcs dropped their packs and took on their spears.

With the evident preparations going on, Camille, Mysh, and Lland also pulled their weapons and strapped their shields to their arms.
This message was last edited by the GM at 20:33, Fri 05 Mar 2021.

"Drakes! Get ready to fight and possibly die, there are several of them!"

After pointing out the incoming flyers, Petar scans the sky closely to get exact numbers and types.  "Let's try to drive them off with arrows and spears," the elf says, repeating the latter word in orcish as well.  "Maybe they won't attack prey that puts up a pointed defense!"

Hopefully there was enough cover nearby for all, even the mule.  Of course, they could all just go into the cave but that seemed a little rash - no point getting trapped in there, Petar thinks.

Actions
Move to cover.  String bow and get ready to shoot while also trying to figure out how many and what colours.

OOC: Ok, I'll buy me some time today by keeping to a one-post-a-day schedule max. This way others can post as well before we rush the action too far ahead.

And I also buy me some time in case I need to make a map.

Brulna squinted at the location the elf pointed to. The muscular witch wondered if she could hit them at this range?

After tshe took a deep breath the woman shook her hands and prepared to cast a spell when one of the beasts came into range.

ooc: MAGIC MISSILE

"If I die to a drake, send word to my family of my honorable death."

Oswyn readies his battle axe and moves up to slightly higher ground, awaiting combat.

Not having a weapon of range, Aila heeded Petar's admonishment to seek cover.  Except for the hair daggers, she carried nothing with a point, but she did still have her "big stick" at hand as she moved to take cover until a more opportune time.

In reply to Aila (msg # 35):

Angus, being without offensive spells or a range weapon, joined Aila with his staff.

You watched as the flying creatures approached. It now became evident that they were large and lizard like, with leathery wings, lizard-like heads, and clawed hands and feet. Their overall shape resembled something akin a small wyvern, with only four legs, and a relatively short tail. Their coloration was of a bright grass tone, with darker tones on top and lighter ones along their underbelly. If anything deserved the name of "drake", these things were it.

They flew with great speed, and as they came over the clearing, they flew closer to the ground.

That is when Brulna unleashed a Magic Missile at the lead.

The glowing arrow flew straight and true, aimed at the first drake in the formation, who for a moment attempted to turn and dodge. The missile, however, would not tolerate such deviations. Despite the motion, it just turned elegantly and struck it a small measure to the side. You could hear a growl in the air from the creature as the arrow slammed into it, leaving a visible blackened spot and exposed flesh. It raised an arm into the air and guided the others towards the first of the rocks on its side of the clearing. They landed one of the larger boulders, perhaps 75 feet away, hunching like predator birds over the edges. It was close enough to see them clearly, but far enough to assure that any overt hostilities would have to cross the distance first, giving both parties enough warning of imminent intent.

The lead drake, clutching his injured side, spoke in a sibilant western common loud enough for everyone to hear.

"Leave here now, Sorevak, or you will break the compact. It will be war."

Sowen, followed closely by his half-brother, stepped up.

"You have hidden this riddle for far too long, Coldrit. It is now over. Take your brothers with you and never return, or you will have to deal with us."

"Those are unwise words, old one. War it is."

The creatures rose into the air again, turning back in the direction they came from. Neither Sowen nor Olagh attempted to do anything to stop them. When the creatures were out of sight past the trees, Sowen turned and said with urgency in his voice,

"It is done. We are now committed. Let's explore this cave and see what we find."

He turned to Olagh and added,

"I believe we can trust them. Go and summon the others. We are going to need them. Tell them the compact has been broken."

Olagh nodded silently and turned to face a south-eastern direction. There, before your eyes, his body and possessions transformed into the shape of a drake, but this one colored with a rusty orange. This drake took into the sky and flew off at a fast speed. He was soon out of sight past the trees.
This message was last edited by the GM at 16:56, Sat 06 Mar 2021.

Camille stormed up to Sowen, pushing everyone else out of the way. She grabbed the trademan-soldier by the collar with fury in her eyes and screamed at him.

"Where is my sister?!"
This message was last edited by the GM at 17:07, Sat 06 Mar 2021.

Petar had been about to shoot but Brulna's magic beat him to it.  In those tense moments after, the elf wondered what kind of chances they had against a group of the monsters.  Maybe Exidamarall had charmed them, or allied with them .. maybe the drakes were the new cult??

The lead drake, clutching his injured side, spoke in a sibilant western common loud enough for everyone to hear.

Surprised at the parley, Petar is even more surprised as Sowen and Olagh reveal their true natures.  He had suspected them of .. something .. but of being drakes themselves?   Petar is speechless as the drakes argue.

"War it is .. wonderful," Petar mutters to himself.

When the creatures were out of sight past the trees, Sowen turned and said with urgency in his voice,
"It is done. We are now committed. Let's explore this cave and see what we find."

"How much time do we have?  What are we facing?  Can you tell us more, Sowen?" Petar asked, a bit plaintively.  Just then, Camille barged up, a lot more passionately and the elf moved beside her in solidarity.  Hopefully they would all remain friends despite the sudden revelations.

Brulna looked on astonished at the sudden change. As Olagh transformed into a drake. "If his nme is even Sowen.... what have stumbled upon"

Aila stood, quite fascinated by the drakes, some of what the strange ghost of an orc-king had said starting to make sense.  Green ones dangerous, ember ones less so.  Where does rust fit in? Aila thought as the one she had known as Olagh transformed and departed.

For the moment, though, she was interested in just how Sowen--or was it Sorevak==was going to respond to the questions which had been put to him, and her eyes darted to where she had last seen the orcs with the red skins, to see what reaction they might have.

OOC: Hey folks, just got back to normal today. Work had one of those crisis that demands all your attention and damn the torpedoes. It just finished today, so I can go back to paying attention to other details. I have a backlog of email I need to catch up to.

But my head is spinning and I feel thoroughly exhausted. I will have to sleep this day out.

Brulna looked to the male elf and Angus and asked aloud, "did either of ye have any idea that the two were dragonkind? I surely didn't. And if so do ye think the orcan knew either?"

In reply to Brulna (msg # 43):

"Only those with True Sight knew. I do not have it."

Brulna looked to the male elf and Angus and asked aloud, "did either of ye have any idea that the two were dragonkind? I surely didn't. And if so do ye think the orcan knew either?"

"It was a secret, and well kept," Petar replies.  This is why he was pressing Olagh for more.  Considering Camille's reaction, it was likely Doromas didn't know either ... which meant it was certainly a little known thing around all of Emberdell.   How many more .. were-drakes??! .. were there among the populace?

In reply to Black Angus (msg # 44):

"My head was always in my books on the farm. Except when I was working next to my sista. Pardon there broken common comes out at time. We have so much to learn Angus..."

Brulna looked to the elf as he spoke. Then responded.

In reply to Petar the Elf:
"So... you think the orcs knew? So many mechinations at once. I can't wait to delve deeper." A smile sprouted on the stern woman's face.

In reply to Brulna (msg # 46):

Angus smiled at Brulna, "I think you do fine Brulna, just fine! Your sister did too. I just don't know why she went back to the farm so quick, she feared nothing!"

In reply to Black Angus (msg # 47):

Brulna sighed, "My sista has a blood lust. She can hack anything, but can she can get... lost in the  moment."

The orcs stepped back in surprise, raising their spears and pointing them at the man they knew as Sowen. Regnok's face frowned, his mouth opened as if to say something, but closed again. He approached Petar and said,

[Language unknown: "Nde, tinne tic aten res hecawa ast whiwe anysheart olthi? Unwit our k venhatwhi?"]

With a hand gesture he tried to calm his warriors down. They seemed unsure of the situation. Drakes to them had been dangerous and brutal in the past, but here, this one was not attacking. This one was actually intelligent and civilized, and yet, also capable of changing its form.

Sowen, still smiling even with Camille at his neck, raised his hand apologetically but firmly. "I assure you I don't know where your sister is. But I believe that if we follow where this is leading, we have a good chance of finding her. I am on your side. I hope you believe me." He sheathed his sword and assertively pulled her hands from his collar and took a step back. She allowed him to do it, turned around and stepped away as well, fidgeting nervously.

Lland approached, sword in hand.

"What is the meaning of this? Are you a drake, too?"

"Yes. I am. It's a bit of a story, but now is a good time as any, I suppose." His carefree smile returned to him. "And I can tell it while we explore the cave behind that rock." He approached the side of the boulder, but noticed that no one was following. He sighed.

"I see. Let's do it fast, before 'they' return." He sat on a rock and put his pack down. There, he pulled out a whetstone and began to sharpen the edges of his long sword.

"Yes, I am a drake. My name among my kin is Sorevak. I am one of many, and we live among the hills and mountains, and sometimes in towns, among people. We keep secret as we believe others would fear us, but we want the same things everyone else wants: to live in peace and enjoy our days, have children and grow old. But among our kin there are differences. Not to paint too broad of a picture, we have different ideals. There are the green drakes, who are more of a mind to take what they want by force, and there are the ember drakes," he pointed at himself with a flourish of a motion, "who desire to work with others in peace. There are others as well, but here, among these foothills, only green and ember have made nest.

We embers have lived here in a truce with the greens for generations. But lately, there has been a shift in power. Something has stirred the greens into attacking travellers, and pushing at their boundaries. With this change the orcs in the hills have also taken up arms and come down into the plains, and closer to Emberdell. We tried to learn what happened, only to discover that undead had begun to roam the forests south of the mountains. We learned that the greens were hiding something, and attacking anyone who came to the hills, but that news cost many lives. We realized that the peace we had had for so long was now at risk of breaking. When adventurers arrived and became the first front, we joined them to learn more. We have had no luck, that is until you arrived. You were the first ones to find good information, and to lead us to this place. The fact that we were challenged by Coldrit, the head of the clutch, means we have arrived at the right place. They will be back soon, and there will be more of them. The only reason they didn't attack us, even after your spell, is that we outnumbered them three to one. But that won't last long. Whatever they are protecting in here, we need to learn what it is, take it, or break it so they can't use it. I am sorry to have dragged you into this 'family conflict', but if we didn't act, I believe they would have become bolder and struck further. And I didn't want the fight to reach Emberdell."

He tested the newly honed edge of his sword and found it to his satisfaction. After stowing his equipment away, he stood again.

"We should get started. We don't want to be here when the rest of them return. My brother, Olagh, will gather many of our kin, but that may take too long. When the greens return they will be a score or two in number. It would be wise to be far away from here by then."

Mysh let out a whistle of a breath. "Two score? You mean, we've been surrounded by drakes all this time? There better be some good gold in there."

Camille asked softly, "Do you think they found my sister?"

"Priestess, I cannot tell you. I do not know. But the other adventurers didn't return, and neither did our brothers. I can only hope for her life, and if she is alive I promise you I will help."

Camille nodded silently. She gripped her mace firmly, checked the straps on her shield, took a deep breath, and steeled herself for a trip into the cave. "Let us start." She looked at Petar for instructions. "Let's get in there."

---

OOC: Sorry, fellas, I've not been feeling too well lately. That work detail I had to pull left me exhausted, quite drained. I am just beginning to feel Ok again, so I thought I'd try creating this post. I think it came out well.

Angus lined up to go inside the cave to see what they could find. He found Brulna and aligned with her.

Regnok's face frowned, his mouth opened as if to say something, but closed again. He approached Petar

Petar was careful to listen closely and offer the orc leader proper respect.  Now was not the time to alienate these new allies, and the elf believed any future battles had better be with the red orcs, and not against them.

"I see. Let's do it fast, before 'they' return." He sat on a rock and put his pack down. There, he pulled out a whetstone and began to sharpen the edges of his long sword.

"Thank you, Sowe-, er, Sorevak.  I admit you had me completely fooled, even just a few days ago when we first met I had assumed you and your brother were simple farmers with very little experience.  I doubted you would survive any battles and felt your greed for bounties was short-sighted.  I'm glad this is not the case.  Please, tell us as much as you can as the more everyone knows, the better ...."

***

"Priestess, I cannot tell you. I do not know. But the other adventurers didn't return, and neither did our brothers. I can only hope for her life, and if she is alive I promise you I will help."

Camille nodded silently. She gripped her mace firmly, checked the straps on her shield, took a deep breath, and steeled herself for a trip into the cave. "Let us start." She looked at Petar for instructions. "Let's get in there."

"I think we are all agreed to press on?" Petar said, semi-rhetorically.  Yes, this might be some kind of diabolical trap, but the elf wasn't so completely rattled that he was going to give in to paranoia.  Better to get in the cave and accomplish something.

Unless someone was vehemently opposed, they had better get started.

As they go in, torches lit and ready for guardians and traps as best they can, Petar asks Sorevak: "Do you think Gharakuh knows your nature?"

Also: "Would the greens really join forces with necromancers?  Or do you think something else is going on?"

Petar was hopeful for more insight.  Perhaps the looming battle against the Coldrit drakes could be avoided by uniting against common enemies.
This message was last edited by the player at 18:22, Sat 13 Mar 2021.

"Best to get going, then," said Aila, preparing to lead the way into the unknown.  "Will the orcs stay with us, Petar?"  There was just a slight expression of frustration, quickly giving way to calm, that she was unable to communicate to find out for herself without intermediary.

She added, "I'm fairly confident that Gharakuh did know, but it seems that he only offers information when directly asked."

"Angus I only have one spell left for the day. Is your repertoire better than mine?" Brulna unsheathed her mace and held easily within her grasp.

In reply to Brulna (msg # 53):

"I have mine yet, two spells." he replied to her.

OOC: Make sure you have a marching order. The party and the orcs are now a large group. And you'll be needing light. Who's holding light?


You stepped into the space behind the large rock, and witnessed what appeared to be a large opening through the rock and dirt. Not but a few feet into it began a series of gently sloping steps that led downwards into the ground. The walls here were made of packed dirt, and widened to almost nine feet in width, but it was not simply dug out and supported. The smoothness of the passage was entirely unseen, so well crafted that you could run your hands over it and scarcely notice any roughness. You doubted this was made by any master craftsman who might be alive today. As you proceeded down the steps, the ground became a series of elegantly placed basalt tiles, alternating in patterns and colors. The curved ceiling rose to about 12 feet in height and displayed a relief of images along a foot and a half band of light stone. It depicted scenes of men and woman in fields and cities, then the arrival of skeleton soldiers, and then a procession where the men and women walked into a 'fire' where they were turned into skeletons themselves. At the end of the story series was a figure in a large cloak, holding a staff with raised hands, under what seemed to be a 'skull sun', which shone rays of darkness below. The relief repeated as you progressed through the tunnel.

You notice that there is now a light blue glow behind you.

Gharakuh's shade is visible behind everyone else, following you as you move ahead. The orcs turned to watch, and Regnok asked,

[Language unknown: "Aiolna oseve tahat on? Ou heran diwehini nialmo day ardal."]

"I have never been away. I am not physical when in sunlight. But in darkness, I can show myself, and speak... and fight."

Satisfied with the answer, the orcs continued to follow you.

You continued your descent and noticed the slow appearance of light ahead of you, shining now up the steps. As the steps ceased you now faced a smooth even walkway. To the left and right were wall sconces holding skulls, long narrow bones with pointed horns. You remember these from three days ago, when you found one among the remains of the dead orcs after you fought the stirges. Here you see these skulls with fires in their eye sockets, silently guarding the passage you are in. Looking ahead, you see perhaps a dozen of these, one on each side, about 30 feet apart each. At the end of the illuminated passage you could see a large wooden doorway, closed.

As you approached the skulls you noticed ahead that where two of these should have been the wall has been broken. Two tall and narrow breaks dug about two feet into the dirt, with the broken remains of the walls thrown haphazardly in front of it. The metal sconces lay among the debris, unconcerned.

In reply to Game Master (msg # 55):

Angus held a torch high as they descended into the depths of the earth. He recognized the story told in the pictures as the one told of the necromancer Exdimerall, or whatever his name was. Angus didn't much care if he said it right or not. The history was good, the magic he learned could prove useful! He still planned on growing great in time, hoping it would speed up a bit, he was anxious.

Brulna was all woman, he noticed, he had become enamored with her sister as well he remembered, but that wasn't serious, Brulna was his equal intellectually as well.

The smoothness of the passage was entirely unseen, so well crafted that you could run your hands over it and scarcely notice any roughness. You doubted this was made by any master craftsman who might be alive today.

Petar was impressed, but also knew that with magic anything was possible.  Also, the ways of olden leaders and slave keepers was such that wonderous things could be built quickly with little thought to cost and worker welfare.

It depicted scenes of men and woman in fields and cities, then the arrival of skeleton soldiers, and then a procession where the men and women walked into a 'fire' where they were turned into skeletons themselves.

A grim history, or hopefully only a tapestry of tales, not actual fact.  Petar was sure the Exidamarall vision of the world was along these lines.  A whole world of undead, eternal, undying.  Such evil ... it seemed impractical: stagnant, limited in scope, without all the potential progress that living things promised.  Out of chaos things advanced, in great leaps sometimes.

<i>"I have never been away. I am not physical when in sunlight. But in darkness, I can show myself, and speak... and fight."</i>

At the rear of the troupe, Petar was closer to Gharakuh and nodded.  "Great Gharakuh the Unyielding, what do you know of this place?" he asked the specter.

My thoughts are to keep the orcs in a bloc, either at the back or front as they wish.  That way we can have the same arrangement of lights as before.  There are quite a few orcs, right?  I get the feeling they will want to be at the front - typical glory hogs ;P

***

You remember these from three days ago, when you found one among the remains of the dead orcs after you fought the stirges.

Petar reminds them of Doromas' examination:



"It should be safe to approach the door ahead," Petar says.  "Continual Light isn't dangerous, itself," he adds, trying to sound convincing.

Question about the caved in walls: does it look like something smashed in from the corridor, our something burst out INTO it?
This message was last edited by the player at 15:03, Mon 15 Mar 2021.

Aila was quiet as she made her way through the passage, her eyes darting about to take in the sights about her even as her staff made certain of the steps before her as she took each step.  The images were, to be certain, quite disconcerting.

She paused as she saw the place where the walls had been disturbed--beyond disturbed, destroyed.

"Lland, Oswyn," she said, turning to the dwarves behind her, "what can you tell of the way the walls have been disturbed?"

Wish I had brought a torch... The mage squinted and tried to get a look around the cascading shadows the burning torch left in its wake. Mace in her right hand Brulna kept pace with the others.

Both dwarves in the party agreed that the walls here were not made by hand. They were made by magic. They don't know which magic, but there is no sign of hewn stone or chisel strike anywhere.

At Aila's question, Lland, stepping forward, barely glanced at the wall before he answered with certainty,

"This one's easy: something broke 'out' of this wall."

There was a pause in the dwarf's thoughts.

"That means... oh..."

He raised his weapon and stood at readiness before the other skulls.

"Recently?" said Aila, shuddering as she thought about just what sort of things might be bursting from walls.  Nothing natural about this, nothing natural about any of this.

She looked back, wondering if Gharakuh would answer Petar, knowing that every bit of information was of great value.

"I have never walked this hall before. But I remember the telling of Exidamarall's "dream"." He paused to look at the images on the bar-relief. "This is the telling of that dream, where he stands before a world "awakened" from the curse of death into an immortal life, or "life eternal under the flame of shadows" as he used to call it. We thought him insane, but he was powerful, and commanded many followers."

As Lland raised his weapons to alert, he added,

"Yes, you would be wise to be careful. These lights are guardians. I have seen these before. They can be fierce warriors, but they fall beneath the power of holy light as easily as any other necromantic construct."

<i>"Yes, you would be wise to be careful. These lights are guardians. I have seen these before. They can be fierce warriors, but they fall beneath the power of holy light as easily as any other necromantic construct."</i>

Petar makes sure Camille hears that part - he isn't sure just how much 'holy light' the Priestess could muster at any given moment but there were set to find out, considering the sheer number of skulls.

Perhaps only a few were true 'warriors', the rest just lights.

Two tall and narrow breaks dug about two feet into the dirt, with the broken remains of the walls thrown haphazardly in front of it.

"Two feet deep," Petar murmours.  "Something tall but ultimately small.  Hmm, drakes?  A burrowing animal?  Be wary, in any case.  Onwards to the door, carefully," the elf urges.

Angus sticks by Brulna, torch held high with his staff at the ready to protect her if she needed it.

Brulna held her mace in two hands as she slowly padded after the leaders in the group. Her mass hunched in case of ballista aimed at them.

Aila reached down for a small bit of rubble, something that seemed light enough to throw, as she wanted to throw this past the "eyes" toward the door.

Once finding the suitable stone, she said, "I want to make sure nothing else will come leaping out, so we can entice them out rather than being surprised."

Of course, should that prove uneventful, she was ready to move forward, although now taking her staff to make sweeping side-to-side motions across the floor of the passage.  Clearly, something about this whole area had her expecting something unpleasant.

Alia's "baiting" did not give her any success. The torches, gruesome and bizarre as they were, continued to shed their light in stony silence. Even the orcs behind her audibly breathed a sigh of relief when nothing happened. However, they did not relax their guard as you continued down the hallway.

You continued in silence towards the large wooden door at end, when, approximately halfway through, you heard a muffled thud from beyond the far-away door. A male voice could be heard, although it was not a language you recognized by any means.

But that was really not the primary concern that drew your attention: from all directions around her, Aila heard cracks in the stone walls, and bits of masonry falling to the ground. Suddenly, but not surprisingly, the walls erupted outwards below the sconces, showering rock and dirt everywhere. Seven foot tall headless skeletons broke through the dirt and rock, placing their feet squarely into the hallway.

"Finally, a fight!" exclaimed Lland, weapons ready and eager.

The skeletal bodies having no heads didn't prove to be a problem for them: they reached upwards to the sconces, picked up the burning-eye skulls, and fastened them on top of their lifeless spines.

Then, all at once, they turned their heads towards you.

OOC: Ok, working to get this moving. We have no surprise here, as this was clearly expected by both sides. =)

But we need to roll initiative: Aila, you are ahead, go and roll a D6+1.

This is a pre-fight map, to give you an idea of what it looked like before the skeletons came out. It is a long hallway, with many sconces and lights. You are ahead, the orcs are behind you, and the shade of Gharakuh is last.


[ Underground Hallway - Round 0 - Establishing Initiatives ]

Aila slid her hands back on the staff, taking a readying position.  She had rather hoped to trigger this in smaller increments, but now that the fight was here, she was ready.

---

22:00, Today: Aila rolled 6 using 1d6+1.  initiative.

((I forget whether we want high or low ... ))

In reply to Aila (msg # 68):

high!

"Sleep don't work on the dead!" He readied his staff.
This message was last edited by the player at 12:02, Tue 30 Mar 2021.

Seven foot tall headless skeletons broke through the dirt and rock, placing their feet squarely into the hallway.

"Finally, a fight!" exclaimed Lland, weapons ready and eager.

Petar strained to see what was happening.  At least there was a lot of light.

"Maybe we don't have to fight ..." the elf muttered.

"Let us pass!" Petar hollered.  "We are here to bring the living back into the daylight, nothing more."

Hardly optimistic that the necromancers would parley, Petar nevertheless was willing to see what develops.  Meanwhile, he readies his bow in case a clear shot presented itself at some point.
This message was last edited by the player at 02:34, Wed 31 Mar 2021.

Double post  meh
This message was last edited by the player at 02:31, Wed 31 Mar 2021.

Petar's words echo through the hallway but if the creatures heed them remains to be seen. For a few moments, the skeletons size you up, gauging just what has come into the hallway.

But that moment is a moment too long for them, and that is all you need to get into the fray first.

[ Underground Hallway - Round 1 - PCs ]


OOC: Party wins initiative.

What do you want to do?

"Back to the grave where you belong!" said Aila, taking a solid swipe at one of the nearby skeletons (#1).

---

21:31, Today: Aila rolled 9 using 1d20.  to hit. (AC10, but I think that's probably not good enough)
21:34, Today: Aila rolled 6 using 1d6.  unlikely damage.

In reply to Aila (msg # 73):

08:30, Today: Black Angus rolled 3 using 1d6.  damage.

08:29, Today: Black Angus rolled 13 using 1d20.  to hit.

Angus swings his staff, whiffing in the wind,

Angus, where would you like to move to? And which one would you like to attack? Remember to give me a movement sequence in squares and a target number as well.

Ugh... this April's Fool color is really jarring. =)

In reply to Game Master (msg # 75):

The color is hideous, just move up on the left and swing at the one closest to me without getting killed I hope!

With the skeletons out in the hallway, there is simply no way to avoid this confrontation.

Aila steps forward, swinging her staff against the closest skeleton. It's a good impact, and would have left a bloody bruise if there had been flesh on those bones. As it is, the staff is deflected by the bones' natural hardness. (Miss)

Angus, eager to get into the fight, rushes ahead past everyone and swings his staff side by side with Aila. (Hit! 3 damage.) With a well-placed swing, his staff cracks several ribs off the skeleton forcing it to take a step back.

Lland and Oswyn, seeing as they cannot reach past their team before them, attempt to maneuver their way through their opponents with guile and agility. However, neither one is successful at moving through.
(They tried using a DEX roll to bypass the skeletons to get to the other side of them, but neither succeeded, so they are stuck behind Aila and Angus for the moment.

Oswyn calls out. "Angus! Make way, let the warriors to the front line."

Seeing as he cannot reach his target with his morning star, he opts to put it away and draw his bow.

Camille draws her Symbol of Chiress and shouts out with authority,

"BEGONE, Creatures of Death! You are not allowed to exist in the presence of the Goddess!"

The familiar radiating light of the peace of Chiress emanates from the cleric, filling the hallway with divine essence. However, these creatures are palpably stronger than what you've experienced so far, and of these two, only one recoils from the fight (#1). The other witstands the divine banishment, and resumes its assault.

Sowen, shield and sword in hand, bides his time at the rear of the party, wishing his brother's bow was here.

Towards the other side of the hallway, the orcs react with deliberate intention, being used to combat. With little hesitation, Regnok, the leaders, commands,

[Language unknown: "Hotaun al hou. Estsherea ri hoset oreoveven."]

The first two orcs approach, spears at the ready. (Two misses.) But their attacks are ineffectual, barely connecting with their targets in the narrow hallway. The spears simply pierce the empty space where living flesh could have been. The remaining orcs, having no other way to reach their opponents, wait tensely to witness the results of their comrade's actions.

The shade of Gharakuh silently moves through the assembled melee, reaching the other side by virtue of his intangibility. The skeletons are unable to keep it from passing throught their midst, confusing them as their attempts to hold him at a distance simply pass right through him. From that position, Gharakuh reaches out with a hand (Hit!), touching his rightmost one. A layer of frost and blackness spreads over the skeleton's bones at the base of the arm, fusing with them and then shattering. The skeleton watches mutely as his left arm is broken off from the effect, bones falling to the ground with a clatter. It doesn't seem impressed, not even slowed down. (6 Damage.)

[ Underground Hallway - Round 1 - PC actions ]

---

OOC: Made some mistakes with those rolls. I took the ones that applied where I rolled too many. =)

Ok, I am taking this a bit slower. I am only posting this part of your round's results. I still have to hear from Brulna and Petar's bow shot, assuming he wants to take it.

And... Oops! I included Olagh in the first map renderings, when he clearly should not be there. My bad. I have corrected it now.
This message was last edited by the GM at 03:47, Tue 06 Apr 2021.

Sighting down an arrow, Petar wavers as he decides the chances of wasting an arrow was too great.  He had a feeling the necromancers would present themselves in time, and didn't want an empty quiver then.

Oswyn calls out. "Angus! Make way, let the warriors to the front line."

The elf has to grin, recalling the battle-mage's eagerness to jump right into the thick of battle.  "He'd better have a Shield spell up his sleeves," Petar mutters, worried for his friend's safety.

As the red orcs tackle the rear threat and Gharakuh also joins the fray Petar's grin widens.  Hang on Alinda, we are coming for you!

Actions
-8 penalty so no shot this round, staying put and observing.

In reply to Petar the Elf (msg # 78):

Angus steps back, not because of fear, but because he was told to. Behind the fighters!

Round 1 - Monsters

The sudden and swift reaction of the party didn't phase the skeletons at all. It was the divine light and intention from Camille's convictions that actually made them hesitate, but not long enough for the one stray to discourage the rest.

The single turned skeleton rushed away from the priestess, past the others, and toward the closed gate ahead of him. There he stopped, driving his hands into the wood. The loud *thuds* and scratches could be heard faintly by the group, but the melee drowned almost everything around you.

Angus heard Oswyn's admonitions to pull back and make way for the fighters. But he was not fast enough to withdraw before the flaming skull skeleton before him reached out to tear into his shoulder, ripping through cloth and flesh. (Hit! 3 damage.) There was no jubilant victory call, no sudden rush of confidence. The skeleton moved mechanically, impassively.

Beyond Angus, two more skeletons approached at a brisk but measured pace. It was as if they knew there was no escape and hence, no reason to rush. Their stark flaming faces betrayed no emotion as they stopped merely a few yards before Angus and Aila. Neither did they signify any eagerness or hesitation as their eyes erupted in bolts of fire, a pair of fiery streaks aimed at them. Despite her best efforts, Aila is inhibited by the walls, and dodging can only take her so far. The fiery bolts slam into her midsection, burning through clothes and searing her hard. (Hit! 5 damage.) The other fire bolts, aimed at Angus, goes far to the left, hitting the hallway walls just a few feet past his figure. Angus, holding up his staff in defiance, prepares to swap positions with the warriors. Perhaps there was wisdom in that suggestion.

On the other side of the hallway, the orcs and the shade were keeping their opponents busy. With the limited space to maneuver, the orcs could not take full advantage of their dancing and spinning spear battle style, but they were still competent warriors. Making full use of the extra length of their spears, they let the skeletons approach for a strike, driving their weapons into their frames. (Hit! 6 Damage on 5. Hit! 6 Damage on 6.) Having already lost an arm from Gharakuh's attack, the damaged skeleton could not hold his shape when the spear broke his hip bones apart. The bones collapsed into a heap, the ember flames in its sockets quietly sputtering out into smoke.

The shade cheered as it once again reached out with a freezing hand towards the remaining skeleton before him.

"Yes, drive them back to the hells they rose from."

The skeleton, surrounded, found that it was practically impossible to avoid the cold grasp of the shade. With a touch, Gharakuh had frozen and shattered the lower ribs of the creature, unbalancing its stance and forcing it to a defensive position. (Hit! 2 damage.) It would not be able to withstand another assault.

Further beyond Gharakuh, the last two skeletons approached with cold precision, and stopped before their target to unleash fire from their eyes. The shade turned to face his new enemies. As the flames roared at him, he dodged one set (Miss!), only to be struck in the lower body by the second (Hit! 6 damage). His light dimmed for an instant as the flames bore through his formless body, drawing a trail of moxious fire through him. He took a step back, battered and in evident pain, but regained his footing. He then turned his back to the wall, giving neither opponent an easy shot at it.

[ Underground Hallway - Round 1 - Monster ]

---

OOC: Ok. I think I am back. This is the first day I actually feel well enough to create a solid post. I had been feeling so heavy these last few days it was hard to do much but make little posts in my other games.

So, this is the Monster round. You guys are up!

Angus already posted that he was turning back and letting the warriors to the front line. Good timing, too.

Aila was happy enough to slide aside to let others move to the front, as she dug into her pack for the potion she had been carrying.

With allies front and back feeling the pain of the fire attacks, Petar shuffled back and forth, sighting down an arrow and looking for a shot.

As Aila and Angus retreated there was more space to fire than before and the elf risked a shot, careful to aim high and let the arrow arch downward.  It was akin to trick shots popular among traveling entertainers and festival goers; however there was nothing festive about the current situation!

Actions
Shooting at Skelly#2 .. hopefully with some moving away the penalty is not as severe as before
No matter a 5 = miss

17:46, Today: Petar the Elf rolled 5,4 using d20,d6.  Round 2, shooting at Skeleton 2.

The icy mage went with brawn and went forward mace high and swung with reckless abandonment.

17:20, Today: Brulna rolled 4 using 1d20+2.  attack mace.

Round 2 - PCs

Having experienced the business of these skeletons, Aila was all too eager to leave the heavy lifting to someone with a healthy layer of metal covering them. She withdrew to the rear ranks to allow the dwarves to move ahead.

Petar's keen eye tried to spy a clean path for an arrow to travel. The hallway was too busy, though, with allies and enemies mingling in the melee. Respecting caution so he would not pierce a friend's back, Petar's arrow sails too high, vanishing into the darkness beyond in the hallway. (Miss. You can recover this arrow.)

Brulna, moving ahead and looking to bloody her mace, took a flanking approach past the skeleton, striking from the side. But the skeleton was prepared, watching her the entire time as she approached. Her swing was off, however, without enough momentum from trying to avoid striking the walls around her. (Miss!)

Lland, seeing his opening, moved ahead and swung his morning star. The blow, however, was too slow, and the skeleton easily evaded it. (Miss!)

Oswyn, now past Angus, followed up with his battle axe. With a high arc, he took advantage of the space over his head, and brought the axe clearly into the skeleton's path as it dodged Lland's morning star. (Hit!) The blow was brutal, crushing the skull and tearing the right shoulder and arm right off. The bones collapsed in a heap, scattering over the hallway. The light in its eyes sputtered out. It was becoming dimmer and dimmer in the hallway.

"That's one!", Oswyn quipped to Lland.

Lland looked surprised, but his smile broadened. "Oh ho? You are counting? When were you going to tell me we had a tally going?"

"When you learned how to use that pig stick of yours!"

The dwarves laughed and exchanged a weapon's salute by slapping each other on the shoulders with their star and axe. Then they turned together to faced their enemies.

Mysh, coming in from the rear ranks, made his way past the two dwarves and rushed the pair of skeletons on his own. He had the hallway entirely to himself at this point, and he used it swing wide with his bastard sword. His attack did not bear fruit, however, as the skeletons simply took a few steps back, their reflexes a good match for this warrior. (Miss!)

Sowen, looking at the dwarves, smiled at their courage and success. He turned to Petar and grinned, "Not bad, they are finally getting what they wanted. I would not want to deprive them of their trophies."

Camille, once again, called on her divine patron to banish the undead.

"By the power of Chiress, I banish you!"

The power of Goddess filled the hallway, drawing a visible spectrum of gold and pink light from Camille's holy symbol. It washed over the skeletons like a storm, but they stood their ground, oblivious to the command.

"These ones are stronger. We'll have to break them by hand."

She gripped her mace and prepared to wade into the fight.

On the other side of the hallway, Gharakuh and the orcs were keeping the rear assault at bay.

The orc general's shade took advantage of striking with the distraction of the orcs on the other side, reaching out and freezing the skeleton in place. With a stroke of luck, he struck with a firm grip, freezing the entire skeleton and shattering it into small pieces of ice (Hit! Critical! 12 damage). There was nothing left where it once stood. The space around the orcs dimmed as the flames died out.

Cheering the shade on, the orcs charged past him and confronted the two remaining skeletons on this side of the hallway with mixed success. One of the spears found only empty space as it tried to pierce the orc from a distance (Miss!), while the other one smashed the bones on the chest, throwing splinters in all directions. (Hit! 6 damage). More cheers arose from the orc column as they approached.


Round 2 - Skeletons

Indifferent to the fact that their ranks were thinning, the skeletons moved ahead and engaged the front line on both sides.

Mysh, standing alone, weathered an onslaught of strikes, tearing at his armor and shield, and drawing nasty-sounding scrapes. The metal was tough, however, and he did not give a single inch of terrain. (Miss! Miss!)

On the other side, the skeletons struck with dispassionate ferocity. One of the orcs pushed the incoming bony fingers away, avoiding harm. The other was not as lucky: the skeleton gripped the spear's shaft in a moment of the wielder's uncertainty, and used it to push him out of balance. The orc, unable to find firm footing to move, was caught in the skeleton's follow-up strike and torn through the midsection (Hit! 5 damage). With a short wail of shock he collapsed to the ground. The other orcs roared in defiance, filling the hallway with their echoing voices.



At the far end of the hallway, the previously turned skeleton broke through the gate, casting wide the right door. It revealed a deeper chamber with unusual lights and esoteric sigils beyond it. A woman's voice could be heard from beyond.

"Camille!!! It's a trap!"

Camille came to full attention. "Alinda? I am coming, Sister! Hold fast!"


[ Underground Hallway - Round 2 - Monsters ]

---

OOC: Ok, that moved the fight onward just fine. But it took a bit of writing to complete. I have added a wisp token to represent Gharakuh's position. It's better than just the light aura.

It is now your turn to act for round 3.
This message was last edited by the GM at 04:19, Sat 24 Apr 2021.

"That's one!", Oswyn quipped to Lland.

Sowen, looking at the dwarves, smiled at their courage and success. He turned to Petar and grinned, "Not bad, they are finally getting what they wanted. I would not want to deprive them of their trophies."

"But .. uhm, you'll turn into a drake or something if we start getting routed, right?!" Petar replied with a smile of his own.

Upon seeing an opening at the front rank, the elf scooted forward.  He needed to stow his bow and bring his sword and shield to bear now.  It was a well-practiced advance but still took time.

Actions
1) Move up to stand beside Oswyn
2) Stow bow and draw sword and shield.
3) If the action economyTM permits, then swing at skelly3 too.  Would the Alertness skill help?
Not sure if that's allowed so I will await a ruling before the roll :)
This message was last edited by the player at 03:18, Sun 25 Apr 2021.

In reply to Petar the Elf (msg # 85):

Angus held the torch high to light the way.

Aila found the potion in her pack and drank it.  There was no telling how much fighting was ahead, and she needed to be ready.

OOC: Go ahead and roll your hit point recovery: 1D6+1

((Well, that was pathetic.))

---

11:12, Today: Aila rolled 2 using 1d6+1.

Well, better than 1. =)

Brulna waded in once more in her attempt to batter the undead. She swung her mace ferociously.

OCC: swing at skeleton 3 - 15:13, Today: Brulna rolled 21 using 1d20+2 ((19))
15:17, Today: Brulna rolled 6 using 1d6+2 ((4))..
This message was last edited by the player at 20:17, Sun 25 Apr 2021.

Round 3 - PCs

Sowen looks at Petar with a sideways glance, evaluating the question. With a bit of a serious expression he answers,

"Yes. If the need arises, I will change to my true form. But right now, we need to get past these bags of bones and see what is going on up ... there."

He nods in the direction of the hallway's end, where the open door reveals an interior light of dark purple hue. Something was moving beyond it, but it was hard to tell what that might be from this vantage point.

Petar moved ahead, stowing his bow away, and pulling his shield and sword into readiness. He managed to get into a good position right next to Mysh and by squeezing past the competing dwarves.

OOC: You can move up, put the weapon away, and bring your weapon and shield up, but that's it. No attack this round.

Angus, slightly injured, deferred the brunt of melee combat to the warriors with better protection. He held the light up high for everyone to be able to see.

Aila, now away from the reach of the skeletons, drank a potion of healing, regaining a small measure of her vitality. It seemed to her that this potion was feeble, in her mind the expectation of unrivaled health unmet.

Brulna, eager to get into the fray, found that the fighting space had already been taken. But there were ... alternatives.

Camille, mace and shield in hand, waited impatiently for an opening in the line. She tried to keep guard over both sides, but the orcs were too far away for her to accurately gauge if help was needed.

OOC: Brulna, if you wish to, you may attempt bypassing an enemy by crossing through their space. If you have Acrobatics, it is a DEX-4 roll, if not, it is a DEX-8 roll. Let me know what you want to do. You'll be able to do one regular movement and still attack if you make the roll, otherwise you will remain on your side of the hallway, behind everyone else.

With the hallway now taken with Mysh and Petar, Lland and Oswyn laughed at their missed chance.

"Oh-hoy, I think we missed our chance to add to our score. The elf and the human won't be left behind."

"Right so. There is no better game than a kill-count. What do you say? We give them a few strikes to catch up?"

Mysh, right up front, remained silent, his focus on the targets before him. His bastard sword's edge kept finding the hard part of his enemies, being blunted aside over and over again. (Miss.) But he was nothing if not persistent.


On the other side of the hallway, the shade was again in motion, moving through the line of skeletons to attack from the flank. The skeleton's attempted to avoid the shade's mortal touch, but not well enough. His translucent hand found purchase on the one damaged one, adding a bit more brittleness to its frame. The skeleton slowed ever so slightly from the freezing cold, but it was not enough to bring it down completely. (Hit! 1 Damage.)

The orcs, driven by the desire to claim retribution for their fallen comrade, kept the pressure up. The remaining lead one took advantage of the shade's attack, striking from the rear and breaking more bones in the skeleton's frame. (Hit! 3 Damage.) The skeleton was barely standing, legs and spine torn in many places, but it did not feel pain or discouragement. Even with its impending demise, it simply kept on fighting.

The orc line was now reinforced by a fresh warrior from the reserves, but this warrior's spear did not meet its mark, glancing off the bone with a strike at a poor angle. (Miss!)


Round 3 - Skeletons

It is clear now that these things do not quit. Having been reduced to half their number, outnumbered and overwhelmed, they mindlessly kept on going.

Mysh's swings might not have been effective for damage, but they unbalanced one of the skeleton so deeply all it could do was flail wildly while trying to find solid footing. (Natural 1 miss.) The other one struck again with cold precision, but its bony claws simply failed to meet Petar's superior reflexes.

On the other side of the hallway, the skeleton's divided their attention. The shade had drawn one of them to himself, so it was no surprise that it tried to tear his head off with a furious strike. The skeleton's bony hands simply passed through the shade's body with no effect. (Hit! Shade is insubstantial. No effect.)

The other skeleton had more success, though, reaching out to the newly joined orc on the battle line. As the spear glanced off, it stepped up as the orc was pulling the weapon back, took ahold of its shoulder, and tore through its midsection in an upwards strike. The orc barely gurgled a grunt as it was lifted into the air and then fell heavily to the ground, unmoving. (Hit! 6 Damage.) Once again, the orcs growled their frustration throughout the hall.

[ Underground Hallway - Round 3 - Monsters ]

---

OOC: [Yuck, things got busy at work. I am now required to report on my activities every two week. Not so bad, but I spend some extra time writing down everything I do. Meh.]

Good round. The fight is going well on the PC side, where warrior ACs are very high and taking damage is difficult. (Although, once it gets through, it will be lethal.) The orcs are getting whittled down, taking some attrition, but that is to be expected. The shade is doing well, seeing as he's immune to physical damage. Good ally to have.

Brulna, should you wish to attempt to roll past the skeletons we'll add that action to the end of this round.

What is this trap Alinda warned you all about? What are those lights in the chamber beyond?

And so we move on to round 4.

Sowen looks at Petar with a sideways glance, evaluating the question. With a bit of a serious expression he answers

The elf had asked it lightly and felt that, for the man-drake, the concept of shape-shifting was more serious.  Oh, did he have questions for Doromas!   Petar faced the unknown ahead .. some kind of trap the warning had said.

"We are so close," Petar said to Camille as he took his spot at the front and sliced at a fiery undead.  Where you would normally stab something vital was just slippery bone, and the elf can't connect.

Actions
Sword attack vs skeleton#4, 8+2 = 10 to hit, assumed miss

23:43, Today: Petar the Elf rolled 8,4 using d20,d8.  Round 4 Petar vs. Skeleton4.

Aila stood up, looking at the fight--unfortunately, it seemed that things were altogether too crowded for her to re-join the fray, and so she stood ready to move ahead should a gap present itself.

Brulna to far from the action brooded at not being able to sink her mace into a skeletons skull.

Angus just held up the torch since there wasn't much else he could do.

In reply to Black Angus (msg # 96):

"DAMMIT ANGUS ME FEEL LIKE ME SiSTA!!" The female clutched the handle till her fingers popped.

In reply to Brulna (msg # 97):

"We'll get in again Brulna, we'll get in again! Then we can whack the heck out of them!" he utters in excitement!

Round 4 - PCs

"We are so close," Petar said to Camille...

The priestess nodded in nervous anticipation. She watched as the front line worked it's "warrior magic" (just plain bashing the skeletons to pieces) in order to get past them. The hallway was narrow and they would simply get in each other's way.

"I know I should not just run to her. A trap...", the priestess considered. "Dammit!"

As Petar rushed into the front line, the skeleton's attention turned to him. One, two swings, a glacing cut, not enough to actually hurt it. Had it been a living creatures, it would have taken a nasty cut. (Miss!)

Next to him, Mysh the warrior, swung as best as he can. His bastard sword bit into his enemy in the same manner as Petar's blade did, but suffered the same effect: the bone is resilient and needs a stronger hit to break. (Miss!)

Alia, Brulna, and Angus were too far away from the front to have an immediate impact on the melee. They bided their time in a frustrated tension, ready to unleash their fury on the first target close enough to hit. After all these days, it looked like there were more answers to be had here.

Lland and Oswyn muttered behind the lines something about not being able to count these agaist their tallies. But they held their enthusiasm, knowing full well that they needed to let the ones in front finish their task.

Sowen, just like the dwarves, found no immediate targets to strike at, so bid his time. His ever-present smile has been replaced with a nervous smirk as he watched the elf and human strike at the flaming-skull bones keeping the group from making progress through the hallway.


On the other side of the hallway, the melee continued.

Gharakuh, the shade, reached out and attempted to connect with his target, but for once, he was too slow. The skeleton leaned back, getting the shade to miss only by a few inches. (Miss!)

The orcs closest were not faring any better. Their movement had been momentarily compromised with their fallen comrades around them, forcing them to watch their footing and not wanting to step on a wounded, but not yet dead, Da-ash. Their strikes went wild and had little effect. (Miss!, Miss!)


Round 4 - Monsters

In return, the skeletons took advantage of the terrain. The strike towards the shade was far too uncoordinated and missed by almost a foot. (Miss!) But the skeleton striking at the orcs once again met its target, tearing a long gash along the orc's arm, ripping cloth and parts of the leather's fastenings, flinging armor pieces into the air. The orcs, seeing as they were not having much luck lately, engaged a more defensive response but did not give an inch of terrain.

It seemed almost as if the tide had turned for the warriors. The narrow hallway, the flaming bones, and the orcs finding no luck as of the moment, carried over to this moment as well. The skeletons pushed with renewed vigor, slashing ceaselessly at their targets. Mysh took a strike to the arm to would have torn it off of a lesser man (Hit! 4 Damage.) You could his hear his angry pained grunt all through the hallway. Petar's swordplay was magnificent, but there are moments when balance and returning a weapon to its guard position were necessary, and this allowed an opening. The skeleton before him dug into his upper arm with a deep laceration, crimson staining his undershirt quickly. (Hit! 5 Damage.)

---

OOC:

Alright. It's been far too long since I last posted. I am still here and looking to finish the fight. Work is calming down for the moment, and I find myself in better spirits.

Let's see what Round 5 brings to the party.

Positions have not changed on the map yet, so I am not including a new one.

OOC: No, wait, I am wrong. The orcs moved. Here's the new map.

[ Underground Hallway - Round 4 - Monsters ]

The skeleton before him dug into his upper arm with a deep laceration, crimson staining his undershirt quickly. (Hit! 5 Damage.)

Petar gave the skeleton an appreciative grunt - of pain - and wondered what magics made these things skilled at fighting.  You normally had to train for months to years to learn the whys and wherefores of battle and yet here these things were, slipping past his guard with ease.

Ahh, magic.

The wound wasn't bad but certainly would take days to heal.  The elf hoped the Priestess would be able to fix him up if it came to that.  For now, Petar is determined to smash his foe to shards!  A little angry, he went straight for the skull.

Actions
Sword vs Skelly 4
Hey lookie here a Crit.  Looks like this will do max damage (10) plus the rolled 1, for 11?

22:19, Today: Petar the Elf rolled 20,1 using d20,d8.  R5 Petar vs Skel 4 another try.

Status update
2 hp of 7 max
AC -1 (cough cough :P)
This message was last edited by the player at 05:22, Tue 18 May 2021.

OOC: Nice crit. Could not have come at a better time. The skeleton is on its last leg now (no pun intended) =).

In reply to Game Master (msg # 102):

"Get back Petar! You're hurt bad!"

Aila could not do much from her position, but wait for an opening.  And so she did, humming a quiet tune she had learned in her monastery studies.

"Get back Petar! You're hurt bad!"

"Mysh and I've got this," the elf says without turning, just a hint of ouch in his voice.  "Just be ready to step in, Oswyn, if they gey lucky again."

"Aye lad, my axe is ready and sharp should you need to step back. There is no shame is knowing when you are too winded to continue."

Oswyn stands at the ready, both hands firmly grasping the haft of his battle axe. He observes with keen attention the dance of life and death that is the melee before him.
This message was last edited by the GM at 04:30, Wed 19 May 2021.

Brulna felt useless. Here she stood with her mace in both hands, but could near nothing to aid her companions.
This message was last edited by the player at 01:53, Wed 26 May 2021.