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: "Trssck oun no. Maplar en any weacan."]

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.