Seeing Isvan's faith physically repelling the skeletons gave Spriggy hope. Not that he thought they wouldn't be able to handle a couple of walking bone-dolls anyway. "Brings back memories, eh?" Spriggy commented to Istvan, referencing their previous run-in with skeletons. "If you go these under control, I'll see if there are any others causing more havoc. Here. Let me know if you need anything." Spriggy touched two fingers to his temple, muttered some arcane words, then touched Istvan's temple with the same fingers, creating a psychic connection.

But perhaps he rushed his spell a little too much. Especially since he hadn't had much practice with it yet. When he hurried off to go find other skeletons, he could feel the thought-strings tugging back in some fashion.

---

Casting Telepathy on Istvan:
21:56, Today: Spriggy Glompgut rolled 5 using 2d6+2 with rolls of 2,1.  Cast Telepathy on Istvan.
Failure. But +1 XP!

The skeletons shy away from Istvan. As Spriggy tries to cast, he's distracted by another chant, coming from the forest. Someone else is casting nearby!

Gorrid feels the strength of the Ghostwalk flow over him. But from above, you notice small objects fall in the grass in front of you. As you watch, skeletal dogs dig themselves out of the ground, turning to face... the skeletons!?

The four hounds move toward the original undeads... until a dark chant comes from the forest, causing the dogs to stop, and turn back toward Gorrid. "What? NO! Not him, the skeletons! The SKELETONS!" The desperate cries from above seem to have no effect on the new creatures.

"What have you done?" she demands.

The redhead crosses the room in an instant, grabs the big man by his shirt and holds her rapier point under his chin, "Talk! Who's in the woods and what do they want?"

Her glance through the window shows Sir Gorrid in dire straits, confronted by multiple skeletons!

This a Parley maybe?

12:53, Today: Kharla rolled 5 using 2d6+1 ((1,3)).
- eh if so then XP...GM confirm?

The knight didn't slow when the dogs appeared or when they turned.  His blade lashed out at whatever was directly in his path and he kept running - straight towards the sound of the chanting.

quote:

13:20, Today: Sir Gorrid of Torr rolled 11 using 2d6+3 with rolls of 6,2.  Hack & slash.
13:20, Today: Sir Gorrid of Torr rolled 8 using d10+d4+1 with rolls of 3,4.

Hopefully that's enough to at least knock it out of the way...

Gorrid smashes the skeleton in his way, but the hound skeletons are nipping at your heels. The moment you stop to take a swing, they'll be all over you.

As Kharla grabs the man, he just shakes his head. "They're supposed to help... they're supposed to stop the Dark elves..." He looks at the hounds, as though he couldn't believe what he was seeing.

You can keep the XP.

To clarify, I've cleared the skeleton between me and the woods and I have a free line to the source of the chanting, but once I get there, I should expect to be attacked?  How long until I get there?  Any rolls needed before I get there?

"Dark Elves?" the shock of the name hit Kharla like a hammer and then the absurdity the man's actions followed in its wake, "You're trying to fight Dark Elves with undead?  Seriously?"

She cursed loudly and pulled off her bow, knocked an arrow, and let fly at the hounds harassing Sir Gorrid, "Do what you can to banish those hounds, we'll deal with the Dark Elf.  And when we're done, you'll tell us everything."

06:47, Today: Kharla rolled 9 using 2d6+2 with rolls of 4,3.  Volley.
• You have to take what you can get: -1d6 damage

06:48, Today: Kharla rolled 3 using d8-d6 with rolls of 4,1.  Damage.
- 3 damage to a hound skeleton

He gives Kharla a confused look, before opening his book, searching for something. Meanwhile, your target stumbles as the arrow shatters one of it's legs.

Outrunning the skeletons wasn't too much of a challenge, but outrunning the hounds was harder.  Before he'd gone too far, a pair of them had raced to put themselves between the charging paladin and the figure he could now start to make out, crouched in the shadows of the forest.

He took a large swing with his sword to clear his path again, but he didn't account for the third hound leaping at his back...

quote:

08:34, Today: Sir Gorrid of Torr rolled 5 using 2d6+3 with rolls of 1,1.  Hack & slash.

XP marked

"Oh, that's not good," Spriggy thought to Istvan. He then realized his spell had failed and repeated himself aloud. "That's not good. I hear spellcasting coming from the other side of the inn!"

The elf was already sprinting to get a view of that direction. He let loose a magical missile at the most threatening enemy he could see.

---

Casting Magic missile. Probably at a skeleton chasing Gorrid, unless I happen to be able to spot the caster doing the chanting.

15:20, Today: Spriggy Glompgut rolled 8 using 2d6+2 with rolls of 2,4.  Cast Magic Missile.
The spell works, but... "You draw unwelcome attention or put yourself in a spot. The GM will tell you how."

Damage:
15:21, Today: Spriggy Glompgut rolled 5 using 2d4 with rolls of 4,1.  Damage.

Gorrid waves at the first two canine, only to suddenly feel his legs get pulled from under him by the third. You roll on your back as the hounds circle you, ready to go for your throat. Thankfully, a magical blast apart one of them. But you still have to deal with two foes while on your back.

Spriggy gets in sight of Gorrid as skeletal beast take him to the ground. You manage to blast one, but you hear another spell being cast. From the forest, you see a skull bathed in dark energy, flying straight at you.

Gorrid, you'll have a -1 to Hack and Slash while on the ground, but getting up will require a Defy Danger as the hounds are trying to keep you down.

Being on the ground was never a good thing.  On the positive side, bones weren't that heavy and Sir Gorrid had a remarkable amount of muscle mass for a man of his age.  He used his sword and shield to force the hounds to the side and struggled back to his feet.

<orange>

"What the-" Spriggy began, but he didn't even have time to finish the thought. Purely on instinct, the bard cartwheeled to the side to avoid being struck by the skull spell approaching him. Unfortunately Spriggy had never been very nimble for an elf, but it seemed hopeful that he still managed to avoid the worst of whatever curse or hex had been tossed his way.

---

23:42, Today: Spriggy Glompgut rolled 8 using 2d6 with rolls of 4,4.  Defy Danger + Dex: evade spell.

Bardic Knowledge question: "What was that?" (What was the spell that was aimed at him?)

Kharla draws another shaft, concerned as she sees the hounds pull the knight to the ground.  But before she can fire again a bolt of black catches her eye as a dark skull flies towards the bard.  Spying the source she lets a bolt of her own fly towards the caster.

07:59, Today: Kharla rolled 7 using 2d6+2 with rolls of 2,3.  Volley.
• You have to take several shots, reducing your ammo by one

08:00, Today: Kharla rolled 1 using 1d8 with rolls of 1.  Damage.
- ha! wasted ammo for that

Istvan, still Turning, walks toward his friends//toward where all the trouble is coming from. He hopes to be a small sphere/zone/area of undead-free-ness in a turbulent situation...

Gorrid manages to push back the beasts, but sees one of them, the one damaged by Kharla, step into the remains of it's fallen comrade. It's broken leg makes it stumble, but it soon recovers, with it's damaged bone replaced by those of it's friend.

Spriggy recognize the thing is a Skull Spirit, a necromantic creation often used for assassination. You manage to dodge it, but you stumble in the direction of another group of skeleton, one of whom takes a swipe at you, scratching your armor. He only dealt 1 damage.

Kharla starts peppering the forest with arrows, getting a satisfying cry of pain, though not one of dying.

Istvan manages to keep the skeletons away from himself, but the skull seems like a more dangerous threat. You may stop it from getting close to you, but it won't flee like the skeletons.

Istvan walks toward Spriggy, hoping to help protect him, at least somewhat, with his Zone Of Undead-Be-Gone.

At least if he has Spriggy's back, nothing else can attack him from that direction, Istvan figures. (He also trusts Spriggy to see and understand how Istvan is trying to help.)

"You still good with the skeletons?" Spriggy asked Istvan, standing back to back with the cleric. "If you can keep them back, I'll try and take care of that Skull Spirit before it goes after someone else. It's a necromantic assassin of sorts."

And with that, Spriggy loosed yet another arcane blast at the flying skull. "Ungoloth moriarcan meroosh fosh!" His magic flew true, but not with as much oomph as he might have hoped.

---

Casting Magic Missile at Skull:
15:12, Today: Spriggy Glompgut rolled 10 using 2d6+2 with rolls of 2,6.  Cast Magic Missile at skull.

Damage:
15:13, Today: Spriggy Glompgut rolled 3 using 2d4 with rolls of 2,1.  Damage.

Sir Gorrid used his sword to slice through the head of one of the hounds and continued to try to move towards the necromancer.

quote:

15:01, Today: Sir Gorrid of Torr rolled 10 using 2d6+3 with rolls of 1,6.  Hack & slash.
15:01, Today: Sir Gorrid of Torr rolled 14 using d10+d4+1 with rolls of 10,3.

Definitely enough to disintegrate one head - and maybe more than one :)

"You're pretty new to this 'summon the undead' thing, aren't you?" the redhead asked the man while she sent another arrow in the direction of the shadowy figure just inside the treeline.

21:10, Today: Kharla rolled 13 using 2d6+2 with rolls of 5,6.  Volley.

21:10, Today: Kharla rolled 6 using 1d8 with rolls of 6.  Damage.
- better!

She had the distance now and the height of the 2nd story helped.
This message was last edited by the player at 02:24, Thu 05 Aug 2021.

Istvan manages to hold back the skeletons, giving Spriggy a chance to fire at the skull. But rather than break apart, the skull starts to laugh. A horrible, horrible laugh that wakes a primal fear into your souls...
Unless you two feel like running away, you'll need to Defy Danger to stand your ground!

Gorrid manages to bust the hound blocking his path, and close in on the necromancer. The elf tries to muster another spell, only to be distracted by Kharla's arrow.

The large man shakes his head. "I just... I was hoping I could defeat a necromancer... learn how to better control the dead wolves. I thought that could turn the table on the dark elves... using their own tactic against them..."

The paladin rushed at the magic user with his shield, then brought the pommel of his sword down hard on the back of the creature's head.

"Nighty night..."

quote:

21:49, Today: Sir Gorrid of Torr rolled 10 using 2d6+3 with rolls of 1,6.  Hack & slash (stun).
21:50, Today: Sir Gorrid of Torr rolled 13 using d10+d4+1 with rolls of 8,4.

I'm sure nothing bad will come of taking this particular prisoner... ;)

Istvan, with all his wisdom, tries to focus on his bond with Noric, god of darkness, god of freedom, freedom from fear...

(09:00, Today: Istvan Vanoson rolled 6 using 2d6+2 with rolls of 2,2.  Using wisdom to fight fear.

FAIL. Istvan gets 1 xp.)

NOPE. Istvan runs for it, back toward safety-- or just wherever that evil skull isn't.

Perhaps it was Spriggy's confidence in Istvan, or perhaps it was because he knew it wasn't real, but the skull's fear washed off of Spriggy like water off a duck's back. He still felt it. Deep in his bones. But he managed to muster enough resolve to ignore it.

When he noticed Istvan wasn't holding quite as strong, the bard's resolve only doubled. He shook a fist at the skull and belted out a defiant chorus.

"The bells have chimed, the bargain struck,
The strikes and blows will test our luck,
Your foul magic taints our souls,
But you're the one who's end now shows!"

"Begone!" And with that, Spriggy unleashed another salvo of arcane magic at the skull, letting his resolve fuel its power. Perhaps even recklessly so.

---

Defying Fear with wisdom.
14:59, Today: Spriggy Glompgut rolled 12 using 2d6+1 with rolls of 5,6.  Defying Danger with Wis.
Sweet!

Using Arcane Arts on Istvan so that "their mind is shaken clear of one enchantment."
15:05, Today: Spriggy Glompgut rolled 11 using 2d6+2 with rolls of 6,3.  Arcane Art - snap Istvan out of enchantment.
Double sweet!

I figured since all the other rolls were 10+ then I might as well cast a Magic Missile too.
15:13, Today: Spriggy Glompgut rolled 8 using 2d6+2 with rolls of 1,5.  Cast Magic Missile at skull.
Due to the narrative, I feel like the appropriate drawback here is "The spell disturbs the fabric of reality as it is cast—take -1 ongoing to cast a spell until the next time you Prepare Spells."

Damage:
15:14, Today: Spriggy Glompgut rolled 8 using 2d4 with rolls of 4,4.  Damage.
Triple sweet!!

"What the....did he....no.....Gods preserve us....no....surely n....no.....nooooooo...." Kharla appears transfixed staring out the window towards the distant treeline, her confused stammering matching the look of horror on her face.

Slowly she lowers her head and sighs loudly, "Yes......yes he diiiiiiiiid...."

After a moment she looks up, frowns at the fellow with his book, catches sight of Spriggy valiantly facing off against the floating skull in an awe-inspiring moment of pure bard-bad-assary....but can only muster a small nod to acknowledge the impressive heroics before firing off an arrow in a half-hearted attempt to assist.  Something just seems to have completely deflated Kharla's mood.

19:48, Today: Kharla rolled 10 using 2d6+2 with rolls of 4,4.  Volley.

19:48, Today: Kharla rolled 6 using 1d8 with rolls of 6.  Damage.
- go girl.  now whether it actually hurts a spirit or not....

This message was last edited by the player at 03:31, Fri 06 Aug 2021.