The Rod of the Seven Parts - IC

[Cogito]

Although you have of course all heard of each other, know each other, even, it is still quite uncomfortable to suddenly have to work together. Each of you is an outstanding and renowned personality, not to mention rather famous with the children and the opposite gender, and having to share the stage with 4 others of the same calibre... Well, at least you don't have to cope with the usual dunderheads who can't even cover your back.

The University's orders seem simple enough, get to Xen'drik, reach the basecamp of famous explorer Dorius Lyrriman Clebdecher, a gnome Loremaster of distinct status within the Morgrave University's elite, and then to retrieve what the fabulous gnome obviously could not.

The first part you have already mastered, as well as the second, with the help of a guide and a few intimidating gestures to keep of the drow skirmishers.
You are indeed now standing in the midst of what seems to have been a huge giant temple, the overgrowth having been cleared off in large parts, and large armors together with sceletal remains littering the various entrances to the building.
Although the camp consists of a few dozen tents, only 6 poeple come to greet you. 5 rather tired humans, and a single gnome who looks perfectly refreshed, if a bit bored.
"Ah, welcome, welcome," Dorius greets you in a rather pompous manner. "We have been waiting for you, of course. And I must say it is a pleasure to meet the most famous adventures of the civilized world. Now I'm certain that our little expedition here will not be for nothign after all. If you would follow me to my tent, we can discuss matters there," he finishes his introduction with a little bow.

[Wiz]

Alain Cannith

The well-known wizard waves his hand dismissively, "As Beggar Dane says, 'Flattery and a copper piece will get you a cheap ale in the market.'" He glances around at the temple as the gnome escorts the five newcomers to his tent. Once inside he looks at Dorius thoughtfully, "So... what is it that has stalled your expedition to this point, and where are the rest of your people?"

[Sepp]

Horus Kiast

"Answer the second part first. I saw no graves, so either they are somewhere inside the temple, dead, or something has been eating them." Horus says, making a visual sweep of the perimeter for tracks before stepping into the tent.

[BurntOfferings]

Lyle

Always the suspicious sort, Lyle surveys the camp looking for anything that seems out-of-place before following the others into the tent.

Once inside, he crosses his arms and looks down his nose at the obviously incompetent gnome. He waits in silence for Dorius to answer Alain's question.

[Maurkov]

Otho

Otho-Eagle flies down and resumes gnome form. "Nice place," he says, as he follows Dorius. He says over his shoulder, "Vandalin, guard."

[The_Snark]

Angel

The strange warforged follows the others to the tent silently, ducking low to get in; it has to be over a foot taller than any of the others here. She is probably a better word than it; the warforged is shaped more like a statue than the standard model, and the statue that provided the inspiration was apparently a winged female human.

She waits pasively for the gnome to answer the questions, unable to think of anything she might add.

[Cogito]

Dorius remains silent until your inside the by far largest tent. The inside is full of tables, chairs, and strangely enough, carpets. An everburning lantern in the middle of the tent enhances the bit of daylight that manages to pierce both the thick forrest and the wall of the tent.
Dorius gestures towards 6 chairs around the center table, all in the respective sizes to fit the group. A few documetns are sprawled upon the tables surface, all of htem at least partially covered by a half-finished map of what seems to be the temples underground levels.
At last Dorius takes a seat himself.
"Well, you are right with two of your suspicions Horus," the gnome makes a short pause before adding, "I may call you by your given name, may I not?" This is obviously a rather rethorical question at the group as he quickly continues with what you hope might be an explanation.
"Although we managed to dispose of the skeletal guards outside the temple, we didn't suspect any of them to be inside, all the more as our divinations didn't reveal any more creatures," Dorian explains very slowly, savouring every word of his story as though it was the newest drama of Luca Syara. "I suspect deposits of lead might have blocked any detection, but I don't know for sure. The real problem though, he makes a particularly dramatic pause, "is that you are not the first reinforcements we received. There is something extremely powerful down there, and I want to have whatever it guards."

[BurntOfferings]

Lyle

Lyle leans forward ever so slightly.

"After all the time you've spent here, you simply must have at least some inkling of what we'll be facing in there. Come now doctor. No holding back." He smiles. "Help us to help you."

[Wiz]

Alain Cannith

The wizard raises an eyebrow. "Exactly who have you sent down before us, and how experienced were they? It might help us to gague what we're up against." The wizard looks the gnome loremaster in the eye, "Also, you are exploring this temple for some reason... surely you have an idea what it might contain. It is ludicrous for a team of our expertise to have been assembled just because the guardians are so powerful that something good must be in there..

[Sepp]

Horus Kiast


Horus nods, watching the gnome careful. "I agree with Alain, you are holding something back. And that 'something' could get us killed. Which would be regrettable." He says dryly.

[Cogito]

Dorius begins to blink rather rapidly when Alain gazes directly at him, and he averst his eyes after a moment. "They haven't told you, then, have they?" Another dramatic pause.
"If the results of my research are correct, and the almost ever are, there is an artefact down there which was used by the Dal Quor invaders against the ancient giants," Dorius says mainly to Alain.
"But I really do not know what is down there, although I suppose that it can only be undead or golems. The drow haven't been sighted anywhere near here since we killed the first raid party that ambushed us. As for the poor fellows we sent down before you, they were elite Deneith mercenaries, a dozen of them, and they cost us a fortune."

OOC: I let the civilized world of Eberron remain as low-level as it was built in the first place, so elite would be around 7th level

[Maurkov]

Otho

Otho looks up from the maps to Alain and Lyle. "Your previous employers must have been more forthcoming than mine. So often they have known more than they would say, I had given up even asking."

He thinks for a minute before addressing Dorius, "If no scouts reported and none of your spells penetrated, fine. Tell me about the skeletons. How old would you say they were? Had they been well maintained? Were there other kinds of undead? Anything incorporeal?"

To his companions, "We all understand the value of preparation. It's fortunate we have a famous diviner on our team. I know a few spells that might help: Commune with Nature won't penetrate the structure, but will at least give us a perimeter. If the structure is old enough, Nature may have reasserted Herself, and I'll learn more. I could also send xorn through the ground to probe the defenses. They, with Chain of Eyes, could reveal what so far has remained hidden."

[Cogito]

"As they were all skeletons of giants, and wearing ancient breastplates which were common for the old giant civilization, I'd say they were several millennia old, but in perfect condition. I didn't notice any incorporeal creatures, and I'm only guessing the existence of golem's because they were often used to protect important sites. I'm no expert in the field of divination, but I tried every spell that can be blocked by lead, which is why I suspect the mentioned lead deposits. And I don't expect that the temple's underground chambers show any signs of plant-life."

[BurntOfferings]

Lyle

Smiling down at his gnome companion, Lyle drawls in his Adarian accent, "It's all just a matter of asking... persuasively." His smile and the gleam in his eye as he looks back at Dorius promise dire consequences if any omissions lead to trouble. "But don't worry. I'm good at ferreting out those small details that are sometimes 'overlooked'." His smile widens a bit before he joins Otho in examining the map.

All business now, "Perhaps you could convince some small rodent, easily overlooked, to explore the upper levels?"

What time of day is it? Will we be camping for one night before going in?

[Cogito]

The gnome remains silent at your comments and looks a bit apprehensive now, determinedly staring down at the map, which shows the surroundings of the temple, the topmost level, which consists of one single hall, which is, of course, not intact anymore, and the way down. Nothing further.

[The_Snark]

Angel

Angel shifts at the mention of golem guardians; she has experience fighting such creatures from time spent in the Mournlands. Unfortuately, as the others discuss how best to obtain information she is lost as to how she can contribute. Knowiing what she faced would likely not do her any real good, but she is aware that it is not the same for others, such as the wizard. And maybe they would require rest. She remains silent, waiting to see what they decide to do.

[Sepp]

Horus Kiast

Horus remains silent as well, frowning in thought as he strokes his chin. Knowing what they are facing is always advantages, but he leaves the questioning to the others, knowing they are just as experienced as he, and therefor far from fools. Besides, if they miss something he can always speak up.

[Maurkov]

Otho silently berates himself for not buying the Scarab of Golem Bane for Vandalin when he saw it offered in the markets of Sharn.

"I think I have enough information to query the animas. Talk amongst yourselves."

Otho finds a patch of bare earth. He removes his shoes, bows to the four directions, and slips into a trance. Ten minutes later, he returns with news.

If the tent is within 1000' of the farthest parts of the ruin, Otho will cast here. Otherwise, he'll move closer and order Vandalin to defend. He casts Commune with Nature, seeking facts about the ground/terrain around (and under) the ruin, powerful unnatural creatures, and (in case there are Tyranosaurs lurking) the general animal population. Otho gives an unvarnished report, so you can post the results here instead of sending a PM.

[Wiz]

Alain Cannith

The wizard looks thoughtful. "I can send an Arcane Eye in for ten minutes of remote scouting. Alas, I do not have some of the better spells for information gathering in this way."

[Cogito]

At first you sense only the remains of the slain skeletons, as well as the surrounding trees. Then, suddenly, you feel the presence of all kinds of predatory animals and birds. The temple seems to reach far below the earth as the only thing you sense in that direction is blankness, except for single vague presence of something unnatural enough to penetrate the thick walls and ceilings of the temple. It is clearly undead.

[Wiz]

Alain Cannith

After listening to Otho's report, Alain nods, glancing at the map again. "I will go and see what my Arcane Eye can see of this passage down." He steps outside the tent and goes up to the marked entrance of the temple. He sits down, crosslegged and casts his spells.

I will cast Darkvision, and then Arcane Eye. The eye will move at maximum speed into the main entry hall and to the entrance going down. It will then proceed, scanning. It will last for a total of 10 minutes and with my variant it can scan while moving at 20' per round (rather than 10' per round).

[Maurkov]

Otho

"Alain, take Vandalin with you. Vandalin, defend.

"Denieth know their way around the undead. It's unfortunate none returned. If our divinations are blocked by a protective shell, perhaps they could be successful from inside the structure.

"Golems, traps and fell undead. Tomorrow is going to be a long day."

[Cogito]

You can see the inside of the temple quite clearly from the perspective of the Arcane Eye, the huge main hall with the gigantic hills of what were probably columns in ancient times is completely overgrown by the jungle, except for a few paths made by the expedition. One of these leads towards a downward ramp in the corner of what you guess is a side hall. Until now everything was perfectly visible but as the eye advances further down everything suddenly becomes black and white, and you land in a shot hallway which ends in a circular room full of corpses of Dorius' workers. It seems that something with long claws has ripped them almost into shreds. from the circular room which is, as the rest of the ruins completely unadorned, two hallways leave, one to the right, the other to the left, but before you can decide which direction to take, the eye fades into nothingness. You are quite surprised at this, as you think the duration of the spell couldn't be up already. But then, the hallways were huge in size and it took some time to inspect parts of the walls and ceilings, which all seemed to be made of the same kind of ancient stone.

[Maurkov]

Otho

"It killed but didn't eat them. Unnatural." He says it like a curse. "We can track it if we have to."

[The_Snark]

Angel

The warforged watches silently, holding a steel-shod staff in one hand, although she doesn't rest on it. She doesn't need to, after all. Finally, she ventures to speak. "Are we ready to go? Yet?" Her voice isn't timid, not exactly, but it's definitely somewhat diffident.

[Sepp]

Horus Kiast

Horus nods in agreement with the warforged. "We have time to scout in person, I think, if we are all up to it. And more specific details of what we are to face would be invaluable, as it seems the magics are not able to penetrate the temple from here. At least, not very effectively. He turns, and addresses Dorius. " None of the Deneith came out, correct? And.." He turns to Alain "..your eye only saw workers corpses, not mercenaries... so they must have gone deeper. If we can find their bodies, we may learn more."

[Cogito]

Dorius shakes his head slowly. "No, none."
"But now you mention the corpses," Dorius begins after short pause, "I have told the mercenaries, that each of the workers carried a few flasks of a mixture of Alchemist's Fire and Holy Water. I suppose they have taken them all with them, but it you find the bodies of the mercenaries, you might want to search them for the flasks, if they have not used up all of them."

[Sepp]

Horus Kiast

Horus gives a slight smile. "We shall do that, I am sure. It would be a shame to see their supplies go to waste." He says to Dorius, before turning to the others. "I say we set out to scout immediately, unless someone has a good reason not to."

[Wiz]

Alain Cannith

The wizard nods after everyone has responded to his report. "We can start with an initial scouting, and return to the surface to rest."He smiles, "I can understand the anxiousness to be underway, just remember, there's no need to hurry here. What we are facing has waited centuries, if not millenia, for us."

[BurntOfferings]

Lyle

"Indeed. It would be a shame if someone got hurt.

"Isn't that right, Dorius?"

Lyle proceeds to work through a number of stretching exercises, in preparation for fulfilling his traditional role. He then takes a deep, calming breath.

"I am ready to proceed. Remember, keep close, but not too close."

[Maurkov]

Otho

"Keep close!? You want to scout ahead?"

[BurntOfferings]

Lyle

"That was the plan, wasn't it? Or do you have more pressing business elsewhere?

"And yes, keep close. I can't search every square inch of the place, and if you wander off on your own, who knows what might happen."

[Maurkov]

Otho

"The plan is 'scouting together,' with at least one of these well armored folk up front. It sounded like you wanted the rest of us strolling fifty feet behind, which seemed unwise. I was mistaken. Please search an area wide enough for my mount to pass. Don't worry, we will not wander.

"And please lay off Dorius. Nobody gets this far without a deep understanding of the risks, his workers and his mercenaries included."

Otho climbs aboard Vandalin, and they take their spot in the marching order. He holds one of the everbright lanterns. At the bottom of the ramp, he will cast his Barkskins. The woody complexioned gnome and dire wolf look odd. The woody complexioned warforged looks bizarre.

"How about we explore until the spells run out?"

[BurntOfferings]

Lyle

He thinks that 50 feet is close? Must be a druid thing.

Lyle heads to the front and leads the way in, crossbow in one hand, everburning torch in the other.

[Sepp]

Horus Kiast

Horus takes his position in the rear, alert and ready for trouble.

[Wiz]

Alain Cannith

The wizard takes his place second to last and casts a spell upon himself, muttering arcane phrases and making odd gestures.

Cast Greater Mage Armor (duration 10 hours).

[The_Snark]

Angel

Angel silently takes a place at the forefront of the line. She doesn't look all that happy at Lyle's decision to go first, and perhaps surprisingly speaks up about it. "Maybe... you should stay behind, unless you're looking for something?" she ventures.

[BurntOfferings]

Lyle

Lyle stares at Angel for a few seconds before replying.

"Well... yes, actually... I was planning on looking for something. Traps. Secret doors and hidden passages too, but mostly traps. But if you really want to go first...." Lyle gestures, offering Angel a place in front, and steps back.

[Maurkov]

Otho

"We should be safe from such until we've overtaken the workers and mercenaries. Then we can descend with greater care."

As the party moves, Otho stays alert. He listens, watches to the limits of his lightsource (240' w/lowlight), and also pays attention to the reactions of his mount (who has scent).

((Do we make it to the circular room?))

[Cogito]

As you descend down into the described hallway, you already know that nothing good awaits you down there; not only by the continous nervous twitching of Otho's mount, but also because of the steady flow of cold that seems to run down your back.

You carefullywalk through the hallway in the desired order, noting nothing but a sweet and mouly scent that soon becomes the overpowering stench of decaying flesh as you reach the circular room where Alain's Arcane Eye vanished.

Now that you can see everything in full color you notice the small bloody trail of what looks like the footprints of small cats, but with unusually large distances between the individual imprints.

[Maurkov]

Otho

Otho whines and chuffs a bark* at Vandalin. He shines his light down each tunnel, then takes a closer look at the prints.

((Identify the creatures: Know, nature [roll0]; Tracking: Survival [roll1]))

*those who speak wolf:
"Easy boy. Smell anything but the carrion? No, you may not roll in it."

[Wiz]

Alain Cannith

The wizard looks around, still seeing in black and white where the torches don't reach. He frowns considering the ruins about him carefully.

[The_Snark]

Angel

As the others glance about, Angel looks down at the bodies. And, more importantly, the footprints. She mourns the deactivated, but she can't do anything for them. "Small... Long legs?" she asks nobody in particular, trying to envision what such a creature would look like. Surely, she thought, it would be fragile. She lowers the slightly glowing end of the staff to get better light.

[Cogito]

Otho can't exactly identify the creature who made this track, but it is clear that is feline in nature and quite large against any first impression. At least it would be quite easy to follow the tracks, not that your companion could be any help with that as he just smells the stench of carrion, nothing else.

As Alain is now standing in the room himself, a lot of things become clear to him. The most important of it is that the tracks belong to something skeletal, probably a predator made undead, which explains the relatively small imprints together with the long distance between them. From your knowledge of old Giant temples you gather that the two corridors will join at a later point to lead first into an antechamber with the bodies of elven servants, then down another ramp to the actual crypts and possibly old libraries. As you concentrate there also seems to be a whiff of the Arcane around the whole underground part of this temple.

Angel hasn't seen such imprints, neither those of the creature itself nor those it left on the bodies, but it reminds her strongly of the feral tigers that roam the jungles.

[Maurkov]

Otho

"What a mess. I can't tell which way they went. Probably both; they could have been through here a few times since the incident, and it's muddled up any indications that might have been left by the Denieth.

"I don't think there's anything we need from these poor souls. Lets go that way (left). Stay very alert, Horus. Those cats might try to sneak up on us."

Otho mounts up again and nudges Vandalin to follow Angel.

[Sepp]

Horus Kiast

Horus pats his greatsword confidently. "Don't worry, Otho, I am alert." He glances at the tracks once, then resumes his focus on their backtrail, perfectly aware of his duty and his skills.

[Cogito]

You take the left corridor and follow the tracks, which are still easily visible. The corridor curves to the right after a while and a few moments later you find yourself in a gigantic hall so high that the ceiling can only be a couple of feet below the ground. The walls are completely different from the unadorned stone of the corridors you have passed, every inch of the green stone polished covered with simple ornaments. Hundreds of small alcoves have been placed in the wall as well, containing roughly human-sized skeletons. The floor of the hall is made of the same polished stone which makes the bloody footprints reflect the light eerily.

The footprints end here, coming from both the corridor you took and the other one opposite. The skeletons of a few large cats lie on the ground half-way between the two entrances to this hall, most bones shattered. It seems that the Deneith mercenaries managed to slay these beasts without any casualties, as you can see not a single human body in the heap of bones.

A lot of bootprints lead down the hall, made barely visible by what blood clung to them, and as you turn around you see that you have left the same kind imprints, although the dry blood is a lot less distinguishable from the dark ground.
After a couple of feet, the mercenaries' trail seems to vanish again.

[Sepp]

Horus Kiast

Horus looks around the room. "Looks like they trapped the cat-things between them, and took them out. Unless the skeletons did it." He says, eyeing them warily. "Seen lots of ambushes in my time...."

[Maurkov]

Otho

Otho barks* some orders at Vandalin, and takes a closer look at the Denieth's trail, intending to follow it.

*Wolftongue:"Help me follow these tracks."

Vandalin doesn't have the track trick (took Air Walk instead), but he has the track feat. If Otho can't simply request his help via Speak with Animals, he will push the wolf via Handle Animal to perform the trick he hasn't learned. Handle Animal [roll0] vs. DC 25. Vandalin Track assist [roll1] vs. DC 10. Otho track [roll2] with a possible +2.

Edit: second natural 1 on tracking. *sigh*Otho gets frustrated at the seamless, flawless, unyielding surface. "Why is it so clean down here?" he snarls, "There should be mountains of dust."

He sighs. "Carry on, I guess," he says to Angel, "Lets just hope they didn't turn off the main path and take some hidden way."

[Wiz]

Alain Cannith

Alain nods at the other corridor. "That's the second corridor, joining up here in this antechamber. The elven servants were buried here. There should be a ramp going down to the next level somewhere here."

[Cogito]

You carefully follow the tracks, remaining within sight of the rest of the group, but you can't find anything after the trail of blood vanishes. What does come to your attention, now that you examine the imprints more closely, is that the characteristics changes rather suddenly some feet before the trail becomes illegible. The mercenaries steps have become smaller, and, as far as you can guess, stiffer. Your companion growls lowly as you want to go onwards. Something is definitely not right here.

You don't need Handle Animal checks for your companion, I mean he is you trusted friend somehow, there is even a companion ability named devotion. Just talk nicely to him ;)

[The_Snark]

Angel

As Otho examines the tracks, Angel moves forwards to keep up with him. The more fragile members of the group shouldn't be allowed to wander off alone. As Vandalin growls, she looks at him as if wondering why, then transfers her unblinking gaze to the darkness. "Forward?"

[Maurkov]

By "smaller" do you mean their stride shortened, or their feet shrunk?Otho

Otho growls in return*. He and Vandalin take a few steps back, and Otho shines the lantern around**. "Not yet. Something very strange here. Alain, Lyle, care to take a look?"


*Wolftongue"Don't just growl. Tell me what you sense, please."**Active SpotActive Spot [roll0]

[BurntOfferings]

Lyle

Lyle takes a look, as requested.

Spot: [roll0]
Search: [roll1]
And just in case, Listen: [roll2]

[Wiz]

Alain Cannith

The wizard looks at the mercenaries tracks before they vanish. "Interesting... they apparently slew the cats, and were not slain themselves... but after their victory their stride and stance begins to change... to take on characteristics similar to the skeletal cats. It's as though they are siezed by the magic of undeath without having died, but perhaps only from being wounded...?" He looks at the rest of the party, frowning. "Has anyone heard of any form of contagious zombification?"

[Cogito]

You here the same growl again followed by a series of barely audible growling and whincing sounds.
"It's not right. Their smell changed. No more fear."

At these 'word' Otho takes a sharp look around, and sees something in otherwise perfectly smooth wall, barely visible in the reflecting light, at about the same height where the tracks change, but before he can investigate this further, Lyle is already inspecting that point in the wall closely.

Lyle sees what seems to be some sort of crystal, and the first thing you think of is a trap.

You search around for any mechanism which could activate the strange crystal, and your experience combined with your instincts make you discover some kind of magical aura, square in shape, right where the tracks change.

OOC: The length of their stride changed, not the size of their feet. See OOC thread.

[BurntOfferings]

Lyle

"Yes, you were right to be wary. This looks particularly nasty. You may want to put a bit of distance between us while I work on this."

He then pulls a set of well-made tools out of his haversack and gets to work.

Lyle has a +18 modifier to Disable Device when using his masterwork thieves' tools.

[Sepp]

Horus Kiast

Horus moves further away from whatever Lyle has found, not wanting to be to close in case he makes a mistake. He divides his attention between the approaches to the room, watching for trouble.

[Maurkov]

Otho

"Good boy." Otho scratches behind Vandalin's ear.

"Lyle, before you touch that, would you like a Death Ward?"

[BurntOfferings]

Lyle

"If you're offering, I'd be a fool not to accept."

[Maurkov]

Otho

<mutter mutter chant; touch.>

"So warded. But be careful anyway."

Otho sets the lantern so as to give Lyle plenty of light, then he and Vandalin move back past the bonepile.

[Cogito]

Lyle begins his handiwork, taking rather unusual tools for disarming a trap, using only what seems to be an overly long needle to trace difficult and delicate paths through the air, right where he knows the traps activation spell must be. It takes several minutes and quite an amount of sweat before... nothing happens.

At least nothing visible. Lyle has managed to break the enchantment around the path in front of them, it is now save to go onwards.

OOC: You know, rogues disabling magical traps surely is a tad strange.

[Maurkov]

Otho

"Thank you, Lyle." Otho hesitates only slightly before crossing the once-trapped area. "You know, there's still a few minutes left on the death ward. If we run into wights or something, don't be afraid to get in there," he deadpans.

"Alain, should we take turns detecting magic so that we don't stumble into the next such trap? I've got two for today."

[Wiz]

Alain Cannith

The wizard ponders. "I have but one... perhaps our scouting should not go past the limit of such spells?"

[Maurkov]

Otho

"Very well. I hope that there are not too many lingering sorceries to confound the spell."

<Mumble chant.> Otho stares off into the middle distance. In a detatched voice he says, "Let's continue."

casting Detect Magic and concentrating until further notice.

[Cogito]

The first thing you notice is the very faint aura of magic everywhere you look. Then you notice the remains of the disarmed trap which still gives off a quite powerful bit of magic. As you go on you notice no other auras, and even as you come to the end of the hall and descent into the deeper crypts nothing seems to happen. The hallways down here are almost as tall as the great hall you have passed, and statues of marble giants line the walls, which means quite something as the stone must have been brought from rather far away. As you marvel at the ancient grandeur Lyle and Otho, who has been busy following the tracks, see something glint white at the end of the hall, shrouded in darkness.

Otho's spellcraft reveals the omnipresent aura to be of the universal type, but he can't place the stronger aura into any category. Otho also notices that his companion didn't seem to notice the glint. The others are rather unknowing at the moment

[BurntOfferings]

Lyle

From behind Angel, Lyle says quietly, "There's something ahead." He pulls a normal bolt from his quiver and readies his crossbow.

[The_Snark]

Angel

Angel halts at Lyle's warning, staring ahead into the gloom for several seconds. "Can someone light it? Up ahead?" she asks, not moving further. She needs to be able to see the threat before she acts on it.

Anyone have a torch or Light spell they can toss?

[Sepp]

Horus Kiast

Horus peers into the darkness about them, then shrugs."Can't help you with that, Angel."

[Wiz]

Alain Cannith

The wizard smiles, "Beggar Dane says to hide your silver when copper will do." He reaches for his belt, "Sometimes we rely on magic too much, when simple alchemy can suffice." He reaches a thumb and forefinger into his belt and pulls out a short rod that could not have possibly fit there. He strikes the end upon the wall raising a shower of sparks until the end of the sunrod begins to burn in ernest. He then offers it to Angel. "Perhaps you can throw this farther than I."

[Maurkov]

I posted in the OOC thread, but will repeat here: Otho's everbright lantern shines much further than his detect magic detects. If he senses an aura he should very clearly see its source.

Edit: Reading comprehension would be a good thing. Ok, the auras are from before. Otho's lowlight must be revealing something beyond the others' range-- so the glint is between 120' and 240' away, (and beyond the range of his dancing lights).

Otho

"Yes, there's... something. Go ahead and throw it."

[The_Snark]

Angel

Angel takes the sunrod, hefting it for a moment to get a sense for its weight, and throws it, the brightly glowing end of the iron rod clattering as it rolls on the stone floor.

Um, should I treat this like a grenadelike weapon? She's aiming for a spot about 70 feet away. [roll0]. AC for a square is 5, but range penalties probably apply... oh, well, it'll probably be close enough.

[Maurkov]

((70'+30'/60'? That's not much extra illumination over the 120' supplied by the everbright.))

Otho watches the sunrod arc forward, bounce, and roll.

"Did you want that a bit further out?"

[Cogito]

Angel puts a bit too much strength into her throw and the sunrod lands about double the intended distance away after rolling and bouncing onwards. You can now barely see that the hall ends in a circular hall and a huge wooden door. As the rod has stop rolling forward you can see something humanoid slipping into the remaining shadows, those with Low-Light vision see a semi-transparent, glowing ghost of a Dark Elf.

[Maurkov]

Otho

"I see an elf spirit, just left of straight ahead." He points with his lantern arm. "It's still beyond Flamestrike range. Ready for battle."

Init [roll0]

[Sepp]

Horus Kiast

Horus mutters an oath, and draws his blade, peering into the darkness ahead. "Spirits... nasty, hard to hit..." He trails of, but is clearly ready for the attack.

Initiative [roll0]

[The_Snark]

Angel

Angel likewise readies the stave she carries, moving cautiously forwards. She halts once and looks back to Horus and the others, making sure that they're following. "Watch the walls..."

Initiative [roll0]

[Cogito]

As the majority seems to want to switch to turn-based posting, please post your initiative (roled at the beginning of the encounter, only), your current hp, your AC, your Saving Throws, and the name of any spell effect upon you together with its remaining duration in rounds (the Deathward spell in effect has 3 minutes = 30 rounds left) with every post inside a spoiler. Makes it easier for me to run this, thank you.

As you move forward you can see that the ghost is hovering totally still, waiting for you to come nearer to where he now is. You now can see that the Drow wears a similar armor to those of the giants' statues, together with an oversized longsword, again similar to those of the giants'. Even those of you who don't knowthat much about the ancient giant culture do know that this must be an honor for the Elf.

Only now you notice the dozen other figures standing along the circular wall. These must be the Deneith mercenaries, each of them having a somewhat blank stare about them, each of them with their longswords drawn and their shields ready.

But all they do is waiting in silence for you to come nearer; a silence so complete that it makes you shivering mentally.



1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 A B C D
1 _ _ _ d d d d d d _ _
2 / M M M M \
3| |
4|M M|
5| G |
6|M M|
7| |
8|M M|
9| |
A|M M|
B| |
C| |
D \ _ _ _ _ _ /
E | A |
F | H |
G | VO |
H | VV a |
I | L |

Well, just imagine it is somewhat circular and the depicted map only shows the parts you can comfortably fight in. Each of the wall parts mean 5 ft. which means each row is five feat vertically and each second column are five feat horizontally. The other stuff is rather self-explaining, 'a' is Alain, 'A' is Angel. Feel free to exchange positions before the first rounds or move your character up to 5 ft. in any direction. As for notation, the ghost stands on field (5,3). I hope the map is good enough to play with. As your opponents are doing nothing, post your actions using the map for reference.

[Sepp]

Horus Kiast
Inti:20 Move: 40 HP: 119 AC: 27 Fort:12 Ref:8 Will:8

Horus grips his sword, wary but confident and ready. He scans the room, ready for movement, but doesn't advance. "Lyle, Alain, Otho, can you see or detect any traps on the floor or walls? And... are those mercs enthralled, or possessed, or what? An undead elf, honored with giants armor.... well, that just bodes unpleasantness." He waits, not wanting to step into a trap and have to fight undead or possessed mercs at the same time.

Talking is a free action, usually, so I will post his movement and attack (if applicable)when he gets his answers.

[The_Snark]

Angel

Angel halts, glancing back once at the others to ensure they are not going in ahead of her. No, they were smarter than that. The odd warforged's statue-like eyes glow white for a moment as she examines the auras present in the chamber. The mercenaries were probably dead, she thought. Living things couldn't stay that still. And they needed to eat, too. But it was best to be sure.

Initiative [roll0], Detect Evil. Scanning to include the ghost and several of the mercenaries.

[Maurkov]

..000000000111111111..
..123456789023456789..
18######++++++######18
17##..M..M..M..M..##17
16#................#16
15#................#15
14#M..............M#14
13#...G............#13
12#M..............M#12
11#................#11
10#M..............M#10
09#................#09
08#M..............M#08
07#................#07
06#................#06
05##..............##05
04######..A...######04
03######.VO.H.######03
02######.VV.a.######02
01######.L....######01
..000000000111111111..
..123456789023456789..



Otho

"Horus, I think they're still alive."

Otho shouts at the ghost in Giantspeech, "Release these humans, slave."

[Sepp]

Horus Kiast
Inti:20 Move: 40 HP: 119/119 AC: 27 Fort:12 Ref:8 Will:8

Horus curses. "Can you free them, or do we have any options but killing them?"

[Cogito]

The ghost answers you, probably in an ancient variant of giant, as you can barely understand him: "Who are you to call me slave? Release them of the spell yourself. You should be able to if you dare to call me a slave."

Dhe Drow's voice is loud and clear, but where your shouts echoed through the halls, everything falls silent again the moment he stops speaking.

[Maurkov]

Otho

"I call you slave because it is the word for your kind in the giant tongue. I call you slave because fifty thousand years after the fall of the giant empire, you still wear their livery. If it is not as a servant, why does your spirit linger in this realm and this tomb?"

[Wiz]

Alain Cannith

The wizard watches this exchange while his eyes rove about the walls, carfully considering what effects he might be able to achieve.

[BurntOfferings]

Lyle

Init: [roll0]
Current HP: 88
Saves: Fort +9, Ref +13, Will +6
Spell effects: death ward (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/spells/deathWard.htm) (30 rounds)

Lyle scans the room, looking for obvious traps as well as any place where he might hide and snipe at his enemies from the shadows. He keeps his crossbow ready, aimed at the closest mercenary.

He whispers, "We shouldn't endanger ourselves to save these incompetents. They knew the risks. I should be able to take out two, maybe three mercs before they even know what hit them.

"What is the drow spirit babbling about?"

[Cogito]

"I... I cannot think of any reason why I should tell you my history. Now turn back and leave these halls or step forward and engage my minions."

While Otho and the ghost are speaking Angel has focused her mind on the ghost, detecting a strong evil aura of undeath with the ghost and a moderately evil aura form the leftmost mercenary.

Knowing exactly how the kind of trap he encountered earlier looks, Lyle scans the room but can't find any evidence for a trap, although the ghost's behaviour is suspicious. Areas to hide in or things to hide behind are nowhere to be seen, that is until you look upwards into the dark. A fly spell would be handy...

The first thing that springs into Alain's mind is to try and dispel the magic that possesses the mercenaries, although he is not sure if the trap's spell was far to powerfull to try it.

[Maurkov]

Otho

[Giantspeech]"I see no reason to fight your minions."

"Don't waste time on the Denieth. Destroy the ghost and later, if it's possible, we'll free the others." Couching it in a way that might appeal to Lyle, Otho says, "Earning favors from that House is never a bad thing."

To the group he says, "Cover me."

Otho begins to cast.
spellcraft DC19:Airwalk, shared between Otho and Vandalin

[Wiz]

Alain Cannith

Toward the back of the party, Alain also begins to make some arcane gestures and work a spell.

Cast Greater Invisibility on Lyle.

[Sepp]

Horus Kiast
Inti:20 Move: 40 HP: 119/119 AC: 27(31) Fort:12 Ref:8 Will:8

Horus moves forward and left 40 feet, and takes a defensive posture, watching the drow ghost with a sneer.

Moves to 07,07, and uses Total Defense. +4 Dodge Bonus to AC.

[The_Snark]

Angel
Init: 3 | HP: 133/133 | 29 | Fort: +14 Ref +6 Will +10 | Barkskin (+4 AC, duration- over an hour) | Immunities: Critical hits, mind-affecting, nonlethal

Angel watches, trying to decide what to do if it should come to blows. The ghost was the strongest, and normally she would have struck at it as soon as possible; but with the mercenaries, things became more difficult. If she attacked, she could be surrounded, and the others would be cut off from her... and besides, hadn't Otho said they were alive? She shouldn't kill them...

... but nor could she allow them to harm her companions? It was a dilemna. Maybe one of the others could solve it. "You can free the Deneith?" she asks; she's not looking behind her, so it's impossible to tell whether she's speaking to Alain or Otho. Perhaps both.

Readied attack against the first attacker to get within her range. She deals nonlethal damage to the mercenaries, but attacks the ghost for lethal damage; add 4 to the attack roll if the ghost closes. Attack [roll0], damage [roll1]

[BurntOfferings]

(( Isn't Angel's initiative 18 (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showpost.php?p=3365243&postcount=77)? ))

Lyle

Init: 14
Current HP: 88
Saves: Fort +9, Ref +13, Will +6
Spell effects: death ward (29 rounds)

Taking advantage of his invisibility, Lyle moves forward and fires off a bolt at the ghost.

Moving forward to 08, 08 (a 40' move).
The crossbow is magical, but the bolts aren't. Non-magical ammo fired from a magic launcher will overcome DR XX/magic, but I have no idea if they have a chance to hit an incorporeal target or not; let's say that Lyle doesn't know, either. It's a learning experience! :smallwink:

Attack: [roll0] (+1 for Point Blank Shot, +2 for invisibility)
Incorporeal miss chance (assuming that there's any chance at all, let's say that I hit on a 51-100): [roll1]
Damage: [roll2]
Let us know if you want to roll miss chances secretly.


Map with Alain's, Horus's, and Lyle's moves:

..000000000111111111..
..123456789023456789..
18######++++++######18
17##..M..M..M..M..##17
16#................#16
15#................#15
14#M..............M#14
13#...G............#13
12#M..............M#12
11#................#11
10#M..............M#10
09#................#09
08#M......L.......M#08
07#......H.........#07
06#................#06
05##..............##05
04######..A...######04
03######.VO...######03
02######.VV...######02
01######..a...######01
..000000000111111111..
..123456789023456789..

[Cogito]

The ghost watche Horus move with a calm face, showing only a hint of anticipation; he only raises his weapon with both hands when hes sees Lyle becoming invisible.

As Lyle and Horus look at the ghost aver heaving advanced, they feel an ice-cold stream of dread flooding their hearts, and only with all the resilience they can muster the feeling is slowly retreating.

As soon as Lyle has a clear head again he aims at the ghost and shoots. The ghost expected something to come from Lyle's general direction but he doesn't manage to evade the shot and it hits the Drow. And passes through him without any damage done.

With a glint of glee in his eyes the drow moves back towards the large door and without him having said somethign the mercenaries all move to protect him.

(Now post round 2)

Map:

..000000000111111111..
..123456789023456789..
18######++++++######18
17##.......G......##17
16#...M..M..M..M...#16
15#M..............M#15
14#....M......M....#14
13#...M........M...#13
12#.M............M.#12
11#................#11
10#................#10
09#................#09
08#.......L........#08
07#......H.........#07
06#................#06
05##..............##05
04######..A...######04
03######.VO...######03
02######.VV...######02
01######..a...######01
..000000000111111111..
..123456789023456789..

[BurntOfferings]

Lyle
Init: 14
Current HP: 88
Saves: Fort +9, Ref +13, Will +6
Spell effects: greater invisibility (9 rounds), death ward (28 rounds)
Cursing his luck (silently), Lyle creeps forward and takes another shot.

Moving carefully and silently to 09, 11 (a 15' move). Feel free to nudge Lyle forward or sideways 5 feet if someone with a higher initiative needs to move through here. I wanted to go ahead and post my move in case I don't get a chance over the weekend.

Hide: [roll0]
Move Silently: [roll1]
I don't want to make it any easier than necessary for the mercs to find me.

Attack: [roll2] (+1 for Point Blank Shot, +2 for invisibility)
Incorporeal miss chance (again, let's say that I hit on a 51-100): [roll3]
Damage: [roll4]

Map:

..000000000111111111..
..123456789023456789..
18######++++++######18
17##.......G......##17
16#...M..M..M..M...#16
15#M..............M#15
14#....M......M....#14
13#...M........M...#13
12#.M............M.#12
11#.......L........#11
10#................#10
09#................#09
08#................#08
07#......H.........#07
06#................#06
05##..............##05
04######..A...######04
03######.VO...######03
02######.VV...######02
01######..a...######01
..000000000111111111..
..123456789023456789..

[Sepp]

Horus Kiast
Inti:20 Move: 40 HP: 119/119 AC: 27 Fort:12 Ref:8 Will:12 Fast Healing 4 (12 rounds) Combat Stability (12 rounds)

Horus moves forward, engaging the closest mercenary. "Sorry, Angel, I think we have to fight them." He calls as he moves (to 11,04), knowing her paladin code may be causing her some concerns. As he approaches, he attacks (http://invisiblecastle.com/find.py?id=1337052), probing the mercs(at 12, 03) defenses, his blade trying to throw him off balance (http://invisiblecastle.com/find.py?id=1337055).


Map

Well, I tried to put one here, but it was ugly!

[Maurkov]

OthoInit:18 Move: 50' (mounted) HP: 108/108 AC: 28 Fort:12 Ref:7 Will:15 Effects: Barkskin (+4, shared), Air Walk (shared)

Vandalin: HP 68/68 AC 26 Fort +10 Ref +9 Will +7 Effects Barkskin (+4, shared), GMF (+2), Air Walk (shared)

"Ignore the humans; the elf is the threat. Vandalin, Defend." Otho guides Vandalin up and forward while casting another, more involved spell.

Move to (10,07)-(12,06), 15' up. Yes, I forgot '11' on the column numbers. Cast Summon Nature's Ally V. Auto success on Handle Animal, Ride (Guide with knees and Fight with Warhorse) and Concentration (Moving Mount) checks. I'll choose the spell particulars when it goes off on Otho's next turn.

[Wiz]

Alain Cannith

The wizard gestures and makes more arcane sounding words. Suddenly, his form blurs and there are several wizards, blurring and shifting around each other, coming together and separating. All of them point to the elf, "We need to stop him."

Cast: Greater Mirror Image

[The_Snark]

Angel
Init: 3 | HP: 133/133 | 29 | Fort: +14 Ref +6 Will +10 | Barkskin (+4 AC, duration- over an hour) | Immunities: Critical hits, mind-affecting, nonlethal

Angel remains silent, and begins to advance. Her expression at Horus's words is unreadable, but then the statue-like face is difficult to read in any case. Her advance is deliberate and methodical as she considers how best to get to the ghost. It would have the mercenaries shield it, and she couldn't simply bludgeon her way through them... but if she could close with it quickly enough, she might take it by surprise.

"Can you free them?" she asks again, directing her question mostly at Alain; the gnome seems to be focused on destroying the ghost.

Greater Mirror Image has a casting time of an immediate action—you can cast another spell, and you don't even really need to cast it until someone attacks you...

Angel moves to 10, 11, just beside Lyle, although she doesn't know that.

[Cogito]

..000000000111111111..
..123456789023456789..
18######++++++######18
17##.......G......##17
16#................#16
15#M..............M#15
14#...M..M..M..M...#14
13#...M..M..M..M...#13
12#.M............M.#12
11#..H....LA.......#11
10#................#10
09#................#09
08#................#08
07#................#07
06#................#06
05##..............##05
04######......######04
03######.VO...######03
02######.VV...######02
01######..a...######01
..000000000111111111..
..123456789023456789..


As Horus moves in on the mercenery he strikes at him the moment he comes into range. The quick lunge with the longsword from behind the mercenary's shield hits with precision, but not with enough power to overcome Horus' armor.
Horus uses the now open defence to hit the mercenary so effectively that he loses his balance and falls prone.
Lyle's aim is flawless this time and you see the projectile rip through the half matter the ghost is comprised of. A mingled expression of pain and surprise distorts the ghost's face and the mercenaries in front of the ghost begin to slowly move into the general direction of Lyle.
While the mercenaries close in on the party, the area around the ghost becomes unnaturally dark, and even the still burning sunrod on the floor is unable to drive away the sahdows.

(Next Round)

[BurntOfferings]

Lyle
Init: 14
Current HP: 88
Saves: Fort +9, Ref +13, Will +6
Spell effects: greater invisibility (8 rounds), death ward (27 rounds)
A pox on spellcasters!

Feeling that firing ineffectually into the darkness would be a waste of bolts, Lyle targets some meatier fare, then shifts his postion slightly.

Thanks to Rapid Reload, Lyle can take two shots with a full attack action. He'll target the merc at 5, 13 12, 13. If the first shot drops him (hey, it could happen), the second shot will target the merc at 8, 13 11, 13.

Attack 1: [roll0] (+1 for Point Blank Shot, +2 for invisibility)
Damage: [roll1] plus [roll2] sneak attack.

Attack 2: [roll3]
Damage: [roll4] plus [roll5] sneak attack.

Lyle will then take a 5 foot step to 8, 10.
Map:

..000000000111111111..
..123456789023456789..
18######++++++######18
17##.......G......##17
16#................#16
15#M..............M#15
14#...M..M..M..M...#14
13#...M..M..M..M...#13
12#.M............M.#12
11#..H.....A.......#11
10#......L.........#10
09#................#09
08#................#08
07#................#07
06#................#06
05##..............##05
04######......######04
03######.VO...######03
02######.VV...######02
01######..a...######01
..000000000111111111..
..123456789023456789..

[Sepp]

Horus Kiast
Inti:20 Move:40 HP:119/119 AC:27 Fort:12 Ref:8 Will:12 Fast Healing 4 (12 rounds) Combat Stability (12 rounds)

"I am not going to be attacking that ghost while it's thralls are attacking me." He calls; but he checks his swing as he moves forward.

5 Foot step to 12,04. Doesn't provoke AoO
Attacks (http://invisiblecastle.com/find.py?id=1344252) split between both foes. Merc at 13;05: 22 hit Merc at 12;03; 29 hit
Damage (http://invisiblecastle.com/find.py?id=1344254) dealt by attacks. Mer at 13;05 17 damage Merc at 12;03 13 non lethal damage
Trip (http://invisiblecastle.com/find.py?id=1344264) attempt on merc that isn't prone. Merc at 13;05
Critical (http://invisiblecastle.com/find.py?id=1344256) confirmation and damage. Merc at 12;03
Cleave (http://invisiblecastle.com/find.py?id=1344272) if critical drops foe. Merc at 13;05

Map

..000000000111111111..
..123456789023456789..
18######++++++######18
17##.......G......##17
16#................#16
15#M..............M#15
14#...M..M..M..M...#14
13#...M..M..M..M...#13
12#.MH...........M.#12
11#........A.......#11
10#.......L........#10
09#................#09
08#................#08
07#................#07
06#................#06
05##..............##05
04######......######04
03######.VO...######03
02######.VV...######02
01######..a...######01
..000000000111111111..
..123456789023456789..

[The_Snark]

Angel
Init: 3 | HP: 133/133 | AC: 25 | Fort: +14 Ref +6 Will +10 | Barkskin, Rhino's Rush (1 round) | Immunities: Critical hits, mind-affecting, nonlethal

Angel continues advancing forward, and as she nears the mercenaries, her stride lengthens. By the time she has closed the gap between her and the mercenaries, she is moving considerably faster than would be expected given her size.

Startlingly, she completely ignores the mercenaries, moving straight through the middle of them and past them to the ghost. Her staff glows even in the dark as she utters a single word of Celestial, thrusting it straight forward into the ghost.

Cast Rhino's Rush, and charge the ghost with a Charging Smite. Power attacking for 6, 2 of which is transferred to AC rather than attack bonus. She draws attacks of opportunity from 2 of the guards this way.

Attack: [roll0], damage [roll1]. Extra damage from Powerful Charge: [roll2]

Incorporeal miss chance (hit on a 51-100): [roll3]. I don't know if the darkness miss chance stacks with the incorporeal miss chance, but if so I'll let you roll it. Note that the smite attempt is not expended on a miss, although the spell is still gone.

The guards might go before her, but she'll still charge as long as there's a gap she can go through to get to the ghost, even if it means taking more attacks of opportunity. If not... hmmm, I'm not sure what she'll do then. Probably attack one of the mercenaries for nonlethal damage.

[Maurkov]

Otho moved up last round,
Move to (10,07)-(12,06), 15' up. Yes, I forgot '11' on the column numbers., which is important for where the SNA V goes off.

Init:18 Move: 50' (mounted) HP: 108/108 AC: 28 Fort:12 Ref:7 Will:15 Effects: Barkskin (+4, shared), Air Walk (shared)

Vandalin: HP 68/68 AC 26 Fort +10 Ref +9 Will +7 Effects Barkskin (+4, shared), GMF (+2), Air Walk (shared)
Otho

Otho draws a spirit from Lamannia to aid him. It arrives; a unicorn.

"Get them out of here," he shouts, "they are compulsed." And at the nearest mercenaries, "Stay close to the unicorn if you value your souls."

"Now, back to you..." Otho says. Furrowing his brow, he casts again. Flames rip through the shadows where the ghost stood. "Okay, sic." he gives the command, and Vandalin charges to attack the ghost. Otho just holds on. ((... if Otho can still see the ghost. Otherwise, I'll rework my turn.))

Summon the unicorn to (6,13-7,12). It's Magic Circle Against Evil emmination will hopefully supress whatever is making the mercenaries fight against us. I'll leave it up to you, Cogito, to determine how the timing works, but ideally the unicorn could move around and envelop mercs in the Circle, freeing them, and they could move with it while it sweeps up more.

[roll0] spell penetration
[roll1] flame strike damage (Ref DC 20 half)
[roll2] Bite Attack (includes +2 GMW, +2 Charge)
[roll3] damage
[roll4] concealment 1-20 misses
[roll5] incorporeal 1-50 misses

[Cogito]

..000000000111111111..
..123456789023456789..
18######++++++######18
17##..............##17
16#.......VO.......#16
15#M......VV......M#15
14#...MUUM..M..M...#14
13#...MUUM..M..M...#13
12#.MH...........M.#12
11#........A.......#11
10#......L.........#10
09#................#09
08#................#08
07#................#07
06#................#06
05##..............##05
04######......######04
03######......######03
02######......######02
01######..a...######01
..000000000111111111..
..123456789023456789..


The battle ends in a matter of seconds:
While Horus and Angel move forward to engage the enemy, Lyle aims at another mercenary, and the area around the ghost is bathed in flame. While Horus' opponent becomes unconcious a unicorn appears out of nothing and Vandalin charges through the air at the ghost, and as the wolf's huge jaws snap at the drow, he starts screaming in pain and vanishes.
The mercenaries seem to come out of some kind of coma, looking around puzzledly at the party, and especially at the charging Angel, who stops as soon as she sees the ghost destroyed, and Lyle lowers his crossbow.

(combat won, xp later)

[Maurkov]

Otho

"Who's a good boy? Who's a good boy?" says Otho, rubbing Vandalin's head. He looks over his shoulder and blows the settling ash off his nose. To the unicorn he says, "Belay that order. Instead, heal the wounded."

The unicorn can cast CMW (2d8+5) and CLWx3 (1d8+5), which should be enough to get the injured mercenaries ambulatory.

[Sepp]

Horus Kiast

Horus eyes the scorched mark on the floor where the ghost was, and grins. "Lets hope it's always that easy. Now, lets get these mercs to the surface, and rest up for tomorrow." He walks to within ten feet of where the ghost was, and stops. "Did it leave any curses behind?"

[Wiz]

Alain Cannith

As the wizard steps forward, multiple images of him fusing and bluring speak in unison. "That was over quickly... almost... too quickly."

[Maurkov]

Otho

"They can leave curses behind? Alain!"

[The_Snark]

Angel

Angel comes to a stop slowly in the middle of the mercenaries as the ghostly elf screams and vanishes. She stares for a moment at the mark on the floor as if uncertain what to do. At the mention of a curse, her eyes turn white again as she examines the place where the ghost died for any possible taint.

Detect Evil.

[BurntOfferings]

Lyle

Still invisible, Lyle drops back to the room's entrance to refill his quiver and retrieve his torch.

[Cogito]

The unicorn helals the wounded mercenaries quickly before bowing slightly towards Otho. A few moments later it disappears.

You might have wondered who the Deneith leader might be as they are all wearing identical outfits down to the boots.
While the unicorn was healing the wounded, the rightmost mercenary stepped forward.

"Thank you," he begins in a deep baritone that doesn't seem to be confused at all about the current situation.
"It seems that my men and I sprung a quite well-hidden trap that left us under the command of this ghost. I guess you are the reinforcements? I think I have seen most of you before... Nevermind. Shall we advance together or do you prefer to return to the camp."
The leader's calm voice is somewhat unsettling under these circumstances but the other mercenaries don't seem to think the same; they are now standing in two rows, waiting for orders.

In the meantime Angel closely examines the spot where the ghost hovered only moments before, but besides the usual residue of slain evil there is nothing to be detected.

[Sepp]

Horus Kiast

"I'm fresh, though the others may need to head to the surface and refresh themselves." Horus says, looking at Alain and Otho with a raised eyebrow.

[The_Snark]

Angel

With nothing more than traces of evil left in the room, Angel lowers her steel-shod staff. "I can continue," she says simply, but looks at the spellcasters. Both had used magic, she recalled. Not for long, but would they want to return to the camp already?

[Maurkov]

Otho

"I don't see the harm in going a bit farther. While Lyle examines the really big door, I'd like to ask a few questions, ah, Captain?" Otho looks for some indicator of rank on the Denieth leader. "I'm curious about the effect that captured you and your men. How much do you remember from the time you were in its thrall?"

[BurntOfferings]

Lyle

Lyle carefully examines the really big door, while the others speak with the mercenaries. Once he finishes, he surreptitiously studies the mercenary leader.

[Wiz]

Alain Cannith

"We can go on, but do remember, this was to be a reconnisance."

[Cogito]

Lyle closely examines the plain black wooden double door, but he can find nothing similar to a lock or any opening mechanism. The good thing is that he also can't find any traps.

While Lyle is inspecting the door, the mercenary answers, paying no attention at Otho's questioning address.

"I think it was a magical domination effect; it fit with the description I received during training. As for the things I can remember since being enchanted, I remember everything quite clearly. We were forced to come here to the door. The ghost was nowhere to be seen, and we had to wait here until you arrived; that was when I first saw the ghost myself. Luckily our unit was equipped with sustaining rings to save costs."

[Maurkov]

Otho

"Domination," Otho nods, "So the unicorn should have helped. Did anyone notice a lifting of the power a moment before the ghost was dispersed?" Otho keeps an eye on Lyle as he works on the door.

[Sepp]

Horus Kiast

Horus follows the conversation with some interest, but says nothing, leaving the questioning to Otho.

[Cogito]

The soldiers who were near the unicorn nod to Otho's question.
"It seems that the unicorn's aura did help," the leader says with a look at his men.

[The_Snark]

Angel

Angel looks at Otho as he questions the guards, although she keeps her main focus on Lyle and the doors, but as the gnome pursues his line of inquiry, she keeps looking back at him, looking slightly puzzled in a blank way. Why did it matter if the unicorn had freed the mercenaries or the ghost's destruction had?

[BurntOfferings]

Lyle

Lyle gives the large door a good hard shove, just to test it. He then makes his way back to the others.

[Sepp]

Horus Kiast

Horus glances at Lyle. "Couldn't budge it, huh?"

[Maurkov]

Otho

((Since Otho wasn't interested in scorching mercenaries, I assume the Flame Strike included a chunk of the door. Any visible effect? Are there hinges on our side? Are the doors bound with metal?))

"So that we may work together effectively, I'd like to know the capabilities of your men. What tactics do you favor? I have expended a lot of power, and the only large area spell I have remaining is Spike Stones. We'll need a code word.... If I call out rowan it means I am laying down that spell; between us and the enemy, I would think. It will then be unsafe to advance. Excuse me a moment."

"Does anyone have an adamantine edged weapon with which to hew through the door?"

[The_Snark]

Angel

Angel speaks up at Otho's last question. "I can get through the door. If there's no magic on it.," she adds; she's not sure what types of spell might protect it, but she knows that there could be magic that would keep her from smashing through it. She looks to the others. "Should I?"

[Wiz]

Alain Cannith

The wizard steps forward to look at the door. "Let's see what we can fathom here... the ghost went through it... but of course he's a ghost." He glances around. "There are many excellent ways of sealing a door with magic or mechanics... the best way of course is to make people not see the door at all. But in a dead end room, everyone will naturally be searching for secret doors... unless of course you give them a door to puzzle over... even if it isn't a door at all." He frowns, "Then again, I could be overthinking the matter."

[Maurkov]

Otho

"If it is, in fact, a door," Otho winks, "I can assure you that there is magic on it. Nothing made of wood could survive here for so long without magical protection. Whether that protection nullifies what you have in mind, I cannot tell you. If you can attempt your method without risking injury, please do so. My own plan would be to transform into something tough and claw my way through. I only hesitate because I hate getting splinters under my fingernails.

"Lyle, would you like a lift so you can check the top half of the door for unpleasant surprises?" Otho prods Vandalin to descend to ground level.

[The_Snark]

Angel

Angel nods—she's forgotten that wood tends to decay when not magically enhanced, such as that used to make warforged. His first comment is lost on her, though; what would it be other than a door?

In any event, he seems to think it is all right. She turns to the door and moves towards it again, stride lengthening until she is moving at a near-run again as she smashes shoulder-first into the door.

Strength check to break down the door: [roll0]. Not sure if I get a bonus for charging, but if so, add a +3 bonus to that... If the first attempt is unsuccessful, nothing happens, and nobody objects, Angel will take 20 for a 29 to break down the door.

[Cogito]

The commander nods at Otho's explanation, but waits for the genral discussion to end before starting to speak:
"With our number we usually employ the standard flanking tactics, staying defensive until we have the positional advantage. Against obviously weaker opponents or a large number of foes we employ phalanx tactics. But we will adjust everything to your group, of course."

In the meantime Angel tries to run in the door, which seems to be a smooth plane except for the smallest of space between the two halves. But nothing happens except for the same dull sound that echoed through the halls when Lyle gave it a shove. After a good two dozen tries Angel gives up her plan, the door not showing a single scratch.

At least nothing unpleasant happened.

[Sepp]

Horus Kiast

Horus moves next to Angel, and studies the door. "Got to be enchanted. Alian, any ideas what could be on it?" He asks the mage, then turns back to watch Otho interviewing the mercenaries. The seem competent enough, and he should have no trouble adjusting his tactics to match theirs, though he isn't quite sure if they can be trusted yet.

Still, it is good of Otho to talk to them, make sure they understand /not/ to get in the way of his spells.

[Maurkov]

Otho

Once Angel stops battering the door, Otho realizes he's been staring and unconsciously clenching his jaw. Seeing that she's uninjured and can't fatigue, he shrugs and turns back to the mercenary captain.


"With our number we usually employ the standard flanking tactics, staying defensive until we have the positional advantage. Against obviously weaker opponents or a large number of foes we employ phalanx tactics. But we will adjust everything to your group, of course.""Oh, that should be fine. Our wizard is no evoker, so I don't think you need to be concerned about mixing with the enemies' lines. Alain, do you have anything to add?"

[Wiz]

Alain Cannith

The Wizard nods, "Only that I prefer to use magic to enhance my allies rather than blast everything in sight. I have been using a bit of it though, so as we proceed, I must be cautious."

[Maurkov]

Otho


"...rather than blast everything in sight...."Otho purses his lips but does not interrupt.

"Yes. Well. Do you have any you'd care to try on the door?"

[Wiz]

Alain Cannith

The wizard raises a brow, then shrugs. "Best to see what we're dealing with first." He chants a short phrase and gestures in the direction of the door.

Cast Detect Magic.

[Sepp]

Horus Kiast

Horus walks over to Alian, watching with interest.

[Cogito]

As Alain concentrates his mind upon the flows of magic within his sight, he almost becomes blinded by the multitude of auras he notices on and around the door. Half closing his eyes, he can manage to discern 7 auras, 2 of the Evocation school, 3 of the Abjuration school, 1 of the Illusion school, and one of the Conjuration School which is the most powerful of the seven.
It might take a while to work out more information and a way to get through the door, but form Alain's experience it would be unwise to use brute force. Before Alain ceases to concentrate on his spell, the single auras seem to meld into the background and an unfamiliar script which is somehow similar to that of the Giants appears all over the door, slowly fading back into nothingness as the spell ends.

Extended Spellcraft checks together with the continued use of detect magic or better spells and several Knowledge and Decipher Script checks (I did the first round of those already) could yield some results. But this takes time without a real specialist.

[Maurkov]

Otho

Otho takes Vandalin up and around and they check the bottom, sides, and top of the door.

If he can find even a ~1/2" gap, his small snake form would let him wriggle through to see if the portal is more easily opened from the other side.

[Wiz]

Alain Cannith

Alain describes everything he sees in detail. As he sees the script forming, he whips out his glyphbook, flips to a blank page and chants a quick phrase gesturing at the page as though he was holding a stylus.

Cast Amaneunsis, attempting to copy the script before it fades.

[Cogito]

Although Alain quickly casts his spell, nothing happens; the wizard is able to decduce from the kind of failure that the inscriptions are almost certainly magical.

Otho is only slightly more successful in his search. The door is pefrectly fitted into the wall and completely undamaged. Which is not true for bits of the stone which was affected by the Flame Strike, although only to leave small, a few inch deep scratches which went unnoticed during the closer inspections of the door itself.

You might be able to work your way "around" the door.

[Maurkov]

Otho nods his head when he sees the blasted stone. They always forget that part.

"Alain, if you've got nothing for today, I think I can Stone Shape around it tomorrow."

[Wiz]

Alain Cannith

The wizard nods, "Perhaps we should withdraw and rest, beginning again on the morrow."

[Maurkov]

Otho

"Very well. Before we go, perhaps we should look for the tomb of that elf ghost. He may well be back tomorrow, and it'd be nice to have more than just brawn with which to combat him. With our luck he's buried just past the door, though. Lyle, would you like to organize the search, or would we just get in your way?"

Otho takes his light and shines it up the walls and across the ceiling (trusting is magically augmented sight to note any imperfections that might warrant additional searching). Then he gives the floor the same treatment.

[Wiz]

Alain Cannith

The wizard looks confused. "Wait. You said you could get us beyond the door tomorrow... with stone shape, but before we retire, you want to search for the Elf's tomb... which is beyond the door?"

[Maurkov]

Otho

"Might be through there. Might be right under your feet. We should take these ghost-free moments to check."

[Cogito]

Beside the fissures in the wall and the floor where the flame strike hit, Otho notices nothing but perfectly immaculate craftmanship.

If you want to search for the ghost's remains, the hall with all the elven slave graves might be the right point to start, although it could be quite tiresome to find the right one.

[BurntOfferings]

Lyle

Speaking quietly, Lyle says, "There's nothing more we can do here today. This door requires magic, and our party doesn't have the appropriate spells ready. If you think that finding the spirit's remains would be helpful, then we should search in the graves we passed on the way here."

[Sepp]

Horus Kiast

"So, we are heading out to prepare the spells we need? This was supposed to be just a scouting trip, so that makes sense. Plus, we can report that we found the mercenaries."

[Maurkov]

Otho


"[W]e should search in the graves we passed on the way here."Otho looks at Lyle quizzically. "Is that what those were? That's a better idea. Lets search there."

((OOC: Oops. Not sure how I forgot passing those on the way in.))

When we get back to the elf graveyard, Otho will look around for any graves that look particularly large or ornate. "Alain, did the giants have a ranking system to these things? I expect our dutiful-beyond-death elf to have a position of honor. Or can you Locate Objects on that armor or big sword he had?"

[BurntOfferings]

Lyle

Once the party backtracks to the graveyard, Lyle spends a few minutes walking slowly along the walls, checking for traps as well as evidence of the ghost's remains.
He's not being rushed or distracted, so Lyle will take 10 on his Search checks for a total of 26. He can check a 5'x5' section every round. First he'll check a 5' square of floor next to the wall, then he'll check the adjoining 5' square of wall (hopefully there's more than alcove in a 5' span of wall). Lyle will be able to search 25' of floor+wall per minute.


Otho((OOC: Oops. Not sure how I forgot passing those on the way in.))
I'm sure the fact that that was posted two weeks ago helped. Lyle only "remembered" it because of Cogito's last post. :smallwink:

[Wiz]

Alain Cannith

The wizard carefully looks over the graves to see if he can discern any order of ranking. "I have no spells to help here, but often the discerning eye can yield more than the best spells."

[The_Snark]

Angel

Angel moves just behind Lyle as he searches the graves, seemingly reluctant yet again to let him go too far ahead. It's slow going, though, leaving the warforged plenty of time to think over the difficulty of the door.

Eventually, she ventures to Alain, "Maybe the gnome could help with the writing on the door?"

[Cogito]

Lyle's search is successful, though probably not in the way he wanted. The first grave he searches contains an Elven skeleton, complete with armor and weaponry quite similar to that of the ghost. And so do all the others he can reach from the ground.

The only difference between the graves is the ornate writing on the wall of each alcove (which Lyle can't decipher), probably displaying the names and/or rank of the dead.

[Maurkov]

Otho

Disappointed, Otho says, "Considering, I suppose we should be happy that there was only one ghost. We should take at least one of these up with us-- for archeological purposes."

*Detect Magic*

"Maybe more."

[Wiz]

Alain Cannith

The wizard looks thoughtful, "We might want to be careful about disturbing the dead, considering at least one of them has decided to manifest itself here again. After the threats are removed, then the archaeologists can do their work."

[Sepp]

Horus Kiast

"I have to agree with you. Disturbing entomed elves is likely a poor decision."

[Maurkov]

Otho

"If you ask me, this whole thing is an abomination. After you're dead, your body should be returned to Eberron, not offered to Kyber-- even symbolically. We should unentomb the lot, disenchant them, and toss them in the jungle to finally rot.

"As for practicality, almost all spirits long ago departed for Dolurrh and are not coming back. Those that linger should be... given directions."

"But all that is old religion. I will bow to the will of the majority."

With little artiface Otho adds, "There could be loot."

[BurntOfferings]

Lyle

Leaning down to the gnome druid's ear, Lyle asks quietly, "So, do you see anything worth bringing back for... closer examination?" He then looks up at the graves higher in the wall, wondering if he'd simply find more of the same.

[Cogito]

While Lyle is wondering about the graves that lie out of his reach, Otho's magical gaze wanders over all of them.
It takes a bit, but finally the druid notices several magical auras of no special shool, high up and almost below the ceiling.

[Maurkov]

Otho points.

"I don't know if those are loot or traps, though. You're probably best equipped to deal with either. Need a lift?"

Otho makes room on the (Air Walking) dire wolf.

[BurntOfferings]

Lyle

With some reservations, Lyle climbs aboard the dangerous-looking animal, holding on tightly as they soar up to the interesting site.

"Steady now. This will take a few minutes." Holding his torch high, Lyle carefully examines the region of the wall that Otho indicated as magical.

Lyle is going to take his time and take a 20 on his Search check, for a Search result of 36 (or 40, if there are two or more active abjuration spells within 10 feet of each other for 24 hours or more).

Just in case there's a trap, here's the Disable Device check: [roll0]

[Sepp]

Horus Kiast

Horus moves back ten feet, to be out of the splash zone. "Be careful" is all he says, turning his attention to the hallways about them.



Watching for an ambush, just in case.

[Cogito]

Now Lyle and Otho are close to the auras, they can see a more elaborate alcove , heavily worked with gold and inlays. In the alcove you see a single Elf skeleton with a burial armor similar to those of the other graves. There are four auras alltogether and they seem to come from the armor, the shield, the sword, and an amulet arount the skeleton's neck.

Careful not to fall down, Lyle searches for any traps or magical runes that might protect the grave, but can find nothing. Everything seems save; the Elven warrior's arms and armor are within arm's reach.

[Maurkov]

Otho

Otho dismounts (but stays close enough to continue sharing the spell with Vandalin). He takes the sword first, then the amulet, then the shield. Once those are stowed in saddlebags, he'll take the armor in pieces.

((If no surprises happen...))

When the three descend, Otho says, "Thank you for your patience. I hate leaving a tomb empty handed."

[Cogito]

You can pack everything without interruption.

[The_Snark]

Angel

As Otho and Lyle finish bringing down the elf's shield, Angel speaks up. "If spells will work on the wall around the door, is that protected by magic also? I could likely bring that down." More than she usually says at once; it sounds as if she's been thinking this over a while.

[Wiz]

Alain Cannith

The wizard nods, "Why don't we try that tomorrow after resting. I think we've made an excellent initial foray."

[Sepp]

Horus Kiast

Horus rubs his hands together, nodding. "You're the mage, Alian, whatever you think is best."

[Maurkov]

Otho

Otho happily takes his prizes to the surface. "Amazing what you can find in a giant's tomb," he says just as the mercenaries emerge.

"Anything happen up here while we were gone?"

[Cogito]

The group emerges into the warm, wet jungle air and is somewhat surprised that it is already dark; the moonlight is just enough to let everybody see enough to get back out of the ruins and into the camp.

The moment the party is back, Dorian comes out of his tent, apparently rather interested in what you have to report.
When he sees that every single mercenary has returned, he he claps his hands a few times. "Brilliant! I knew I got the right people for this. So, what did you find out?"

[Maurkov]

Otho

Otho answers, "We learned that the giants have loyal servants and really big doors. The servant was the ghost of an elf, which we dispersed, but I suspect hasn't found his way to Dolurrh just yet. Alain can tell you about the door."

He breaths deep, enjoying the night air.

[Wiz]

Alain Cannith

The wizard looks impressed, "Multiple spells, tightly interwoven. The spells come together into a form that looks like Giant's script, but I am still working on mastering the language, so I couldn't tell you exactly what it said."

[Cogito]

At the description of the door Dorian's eyes light up.
"I knew it!", he cries joyfully, his voice higher than normal. "I can't wait to see it myself, is it save enough to venture down there without you, or-do-we-have-to-wait-until-tomorrow?", he asks the group, only quickly mumbling the last part.

[Wiz]

Alain Cannith

The wizard looks thoughtful, "It's probably best we wait until the morrow, go in fresh."

[Sepp]

Horus Kiast

"You have to wait for tomorrow, I am afraid. But don't worry, it's waited ten thousand years, another day won't matter."

[Maurkov]

Otho

"Not safe. The ghost could return. What's for dinner?"

[Cogito]

"Aww, well...." Dorian says disappointedly.
He then turns around to go back to his tent, pointing over to another, larger one. "Food will be brought to your tent, I'll see you tomorrow." Having said that, he leaves.

[Sepp]

Horus Kiast

Horus heads to the large tent eagerly, anticipated dinner. Nothing like a hot meal to help him relax.

[Cogito]

Unsurprisingly, the inside of the tent is just the same mossy white as the outside. The tent would have enough room for 10 people, but there are only enough beds for your group. The beds are nothing luxurious, but as it is quite unusual to even have beds...
As Horus enters a round table is just being loaded with rather good-smelling food. It seems that this camp has an excellent hunter, and a great chef, and you wonder if this would be the case if Dorian wasn't the leader of it.

[Maurkov]

Otho

"Vandalin, Guard."

Otho enters the tent. He tries out a bed. He strips off his armor and leaves it in a pile on the lower half (like he'd need the leg room), then helps himself to the repast, piling a plate high. More from habit than distrust, he Purifies it (offering the same service to the others), and digs in. He lingers over the wine.

Later, he puts Vandalin on stay and heads for bed. "Wake me," *Yawn*, "if you have to."

[The_Snark]

Angel

Angel isn't at all sure why it's so unsafe to be going back down somewhere they had only just come from. After all, wouldn't the ghost be more likely to come tomorrow than to appear again so soon?

Still, it looked as if the others needed the food and rest. They'd had to do a fair bit of walking to get here, after all. The odd warforged stops outside their tent with the wolf (it had to sleep too, didn't it?) and settles into a stable position next to the entrance, at rest resembling a slightly larger-than-life statue of a woman in plate mail.

[Cogito]

The camp's guards go their job well enough, and the night passes without any notable incident. As the group exits their tent, Dorian is already waiting together with two assistants, who are carrying rather heavy-looking backpacks. "Ready to go down?"

[Sepp]

Horus Kiast

"Ready." Horus mumbles around a mouthful of breakfast, before giving his gear one last check.

[Wiz]

Alain Cannith

His mind bursting with newly memorized spells, the wizard nods. "Ready."

[BurntOfferings]

Lyle

"Likewise."

(( We did show Dorian the elven armor and shield, right?
EDIT: Guess not. Lyle wouldn't mention them if Dorian didn't already know about them. ))

[Maurkov]

Otho

"Oh! Yes, we found something." Otho gets the armor, shield, sword, and amulet from Vandalin's saddlebags. "Why don't you take a look at those while we make sure the ghost is still gone? We'll meet you at the bottom of the big stairs."


Spells cast:
GMF(extended) on Vandalin (+2/+2 for 20 hours)
Longstrider on himself (+10 move for 10 hours)

[Cogito]

Dorian looks at the armor for a few minutes, before letting everything bring into his tent. "This kind of armor supports my theory, that's good, very good," he says conversationally, but not very interested.
"Now, let's go down. After you."

[Maurkov]

Otho

Disappointed that his patron will be so close at hand (and envisioning a nasty possession scenario), he nods. "Lets go then. Vandalin, defend," he points at Dorian. "And please keep the mercenaries close to you."

Otho takes his place in the marching order (on foot, longstriding for 30'), and keeps a keen eye out for ghosts.

[Wiz]

Alain Cannith

The wizard holds up a hand, "Wait... which theory?"

[Cogito]

"So you think we should take the Deneiths with us? I considered to send them home, now we have you here," Dorian says, abit surprised. "Well, could you please tell the Deneith seargeant that we need him and his group here within 10 minutes?" The assistant, who had just returned from bringing the elven armor and weaponry to Dorian's tent, groans barely audible and jogs towards the mercenary tent.
"I suppose we will be waiting some time. As to my theory," Dorian begins to tell Alain, You might have heard the stories of how an ancient and powerful artefact has played some role in the defeat of the Quori invaders (indeed Alain has heard about this), although most sources vaguely speak of Dragon magic. Through some extensive research I have discovered that such an artefact should indeed exist. Not only that but apparently this artefact is also the main reason why the Giant Empire fell apart. The same sources also say that the artefact has been destroyed, and its pieces sealed in the seven most important Giant temples. The description you gave me of the door you found matches rather well with those from the ancient inscriptions. If this is indeed the resting place of one of the artefacts pieces, we have made a great discovery."

[Maurkov]

Otho

"So you think we should take the Deneiths with us?"
"If you're entering the tomb, I think we should use every available resource to ensure you make it out again. It's up to you, though.

I still want you and your entourage to stay behind us while we see whether the ghost is back. When you and Alain are finished discussing the history of this place, you should let us get a head start."

[Cogito]

"Okay, although it seems overly careful to me. But then I'm not known for my caution. Ah, the mercenaries are ready. Well then, I'll wait a few minutes before following you with the Deneiths."
Dorian seems to be rather impatient by now, and as as soon as teh party leaves he begins walking in circles and speaking to himself.

[Wiz]

Alain Cannith

The wizard looks confused, "I know about the artifact... you told us about that. But how does the elf's armor figure in?"

[Cogito]

"Oh, that's a simple matter. The Elves were slaves, and there was only one time Elves had the chance to rise to military ranks. The Giants needed more men to fight during the invasion, as their people had almost been driven to extinction. This makes perfectly clear that this temple, or at least the door, must have been built in that period."

----
Retracing their steps from the day before, the party reaches the door without incident. Everything looks the same as yesterday, except for the fissures in the wall and floor, and the blood from the wounded mercenary, which both have vanished. Wondering why the rest of the place wasn't affected in the same manner, the party takes a closer look at the imprints and bones from the fights that have taken place before their arrival; they also have begun to slowly vanish. It seems that the magic of or behind the door has some preserving effect upon the surrounding area.
But you have almost no time to think further about the subject, because Dorian and his entourage have arrived.
Without a word Dorian takes an old tome from the stuff his assistants are carrying. He opens it only for a moment, apparently rereading a short passage, before, with a few gestures and some words, he levitates to search every square inch of the door. About 10 minutes later, he oulls a handkerchief out of a pocket, unwraps it, and takes out a small green lens. While he holds it in the palm of his left hand, Dorian casts another spell, which neither Otho nor Alain can identify, although to Alain it has some similiarity to the Analyze Dweomer spell.
"Ah, I feared as much."
A few moments later Dorian stands before you again.
"I suppose that at least some of you know what a Prismatic Wall is,"(All have heard about the spell, Alain knows exaclty how it works) Dorian begins his explanation. "It seems that a variant of this spell has been cast upon the door in such a way that a Prismatic Wall will come into existance once we manage to open the door, which, incidently, is not that much of a problem. Knwoing this, we have two ways to procede. Either I will open the door after we have prepared anything necessary to overcome a Prismatic Wall, or you manage to circumvent the door by going through the wall. Either way, I would like to get some additional equipment from Stormreach before we procede."

[The_Snark]

Angel

Angel speaks for the first time today, having been silent throughout breakfast and their discussion with their employer. "Going through the wall is easier..." She has no idea how to get a magical barrier down, but she knows it isn't easy. She looks down at Dorian. "What equipment?"

[Cogito]

"I'm lacking certain spells which are necessary to purge the defenses of this door, and to defend against anything we might find behind it."

[Maurkov]

Otho

"Which spells? Perhaps we already have what you require-- not for bringing down a prismatic wall, but for what lies beyond."

[Cogito]

"We definitely need protection against any negative energy wielding undead, any resistance against elemental forces, and of course enough healing for al of us; some emergency reatreat spells might also be useful."

[Maurkov]

Otho

"I have a deathward to protect Horus; I believe Angel is immune to such insults. I have one Protection from Elements, though I've found it's generally too late to use it by the time you know you need it. We have enough wands to heal us several times over, but only a few spells for more rapid healing. I'm not too concerned about retreat, but if it's a rout... surely you have something for emergencies?

"I would like to proceed. Angel, would you like first "crack" at making a path?"

[Cogito]

"If the mercenaries are equipped for proceeding," Dorian says with a questioning glance at the Deneith leader, who nods curtly, "well, I myself have a few trinkets to ward me against the usual obstacles an explorer has to face, and I always have a teleport and a planeshift ready if things should become too risky. So if you can provide enough healing for all of us we can at least try and procede. If you can tear down that wall... Should we secure the area with a wall of force or do you think it will work without that?" Dorian pauses only for a second before answering the question himself. "Just to be safe. A single scroll can't hurt the university's coffers." A moment later the scroll has crumbled to dust and Dorian points at the ceiling above. "If we remain here nothing should hit us."

[The_Snark]

Angel

Angel is uncertain why their employer wanted to delay; he'd looked eager to get here just a little while before... but then, there were a lot of things people did that didn't make a lot of sense to her. After a moment, she realizes that the gnome—in his usual longwinded way—has said he is ready.

She moves to the wall, placing her metal-shod staff across her back for now—she doesn't want to risk damaging it. Then she slams into the wall next to the door forcefully, bringing up an arm to focus the blow into a smaller area. She draws back, taking only a moment to make sure the blow affected the wall, and then begins over again, methodically going through the same motion and hitting the same spot each time.

Angel deals 1d4+18 damage on a full power attack, which should damage anything short of adamantine. It might take a while to get through, depending on how thick and difficult to damage the wall is, of course.

If the slam produces no results, she switches over to her staff, which deals 1d6+27 on a full power attack.

[Wiz]

Alain Cannith

The wizard casts a few quick spells.

Darkvision, Greater Mage Armor, Greater Resistance

[Cogito]

Yes it takes a while before Angel is even half through the wall. Until then everything went quite smoothly, but after that, Angel can't make any more progress. She tries a few times more just to be sure, but she is not able to penetrate the wall further. Those who are watching see something blink for a split-second each time Angel's fists slam into the stone. Magical protection maybe? Taking a quick look upwards to where some rubble is hitting Dorian's wall of force the party comes to a likely answer to that question.

[Maurkov]

Otho

Looks up.

Taking a quick look upwards to where some rubble is hitting Dorian's wall of force the party comes to a likely answer to that question.Which is?

[Cogito]

((Oh, yeah... well, the rubble produces the same visual effects as Angel's slam does => It could be a built-in wall of force or similar that blocks your path at the moment))

[Maurkov]

Otho

"Alain, remind me, is disintegrate in your arsenal?"

In case the effect is a property of the stone, or is generated in response to attack, Otho attempts to reshape it. If successful, he hollows out a tunnel and uses the excess material to construct multiple life-sized replicas of himself and Dorian.We're not 11th level, so I already know the answer is no.

2'x2'x5' tunnel; 20 cu. ft.

[Wiz]

Alain Cannith

The wizard shakes his head, "I'm afraid I've not mastered spells of that order yet."

[Cogito]

The wall reshapes according to Otho's wishes and as Angel tests if the spell is still in place her slams pass through the air without any resistance.
"Great, very great! I almost feared I had to use one of my more valuable items. Now, let's go on." That said Dorian gestures to the mercenaries to go first. "Nice statues, by the way", he adds to Otho with a grin.

[Maurkov]

Otho

"Sometimes we defeat obstacles by opposing them. Sometimes we blend with them." Indicating the statues, "I've seen these in gardens around Sharn. I thought I'd try my hand."

Otho pats Vandalin on the head. [wolf tongue]"Sorry buddy. I know you hate this spell." Otho casts Reduce Animal so the direwolf can squeeze through the opening.

"Oh, and lets clear some of the rubble off the barrier, so that we're not trapped in there when the spell expires."

[Cogito]

Otho has barely finished when a scream of pain echoes from the other side of the newly formed tunnel.
We're under attack! Block the tunnel!"
Two of the mercenaries are blocking the passage while the rest drags their three burnt comrades out of the zone of danger. Nothing can be heard for a moment except the groans of the wounded who are treated with wands of cure light wounds. Then, suddenly, the two blocking mercenaries are pushed back by a fiendish leopard who is immediately followed by two more. With a not so much as a flick of the wrist, Dorian becomes invisible just before one of the leopards reaches him. The one who came last attacks Angel, who barely manages to avoid the blow.

So, after a long pause, combat again:


..000000000111111111..
..123456789023456789..
18######++++++#L####18
17##........OVA...##17
16#............L...#16
15#..........H.ML..#15
14#.MM......a.MDM..#14
13#..MM........L...#13
12#...MM...........#12
11#................#11
10#................#10
09#................#09
08#................#08
07#................#07
06#................#06
05##..............##05
04######......######04
03######......######03
02######......######02
01######......######01
..000000000111111111..
..123456789023456789..


You now the drill... and don't forget the information in each post. You may change your position prior to your first action by 5 ft. .

[Maurkov]

Otho
Init:[roll0] Move: 30' (longstrider) HP: 108/108 AC: 24 Fort:12 Ref:7 Will:15 Effects: Longstrider,
Vandalin: HP 68/68 AC 24 Fort +10 Ref +9 Will +7 Effects: GMF (+2)

At Otho's command, Vandalin lunges forward and tries to take a bite out of the nearest leopard. Otho draws his club and bestows an extended Barkskin on Angel if she's within 10' (or Horus or Vandalin).

Attack [roll1] damage [roll2] trip [roll3]

[Cogito]

(So there was someone who read my last post before the edits. I made a mistake and the creatures are now fiendish leopards, as apes couldn't even squeeze through the tunnel according to the rules.)

[BurntOfferings]

Lyle

Init: [roll0]
Current HP: 88
AC: 26, touch 16, flatfooted 26
Saves: Fort +9, Ref +13, Will +6
Spell effects: none
With quick and fluid motions, Lyle loads and fires his crossbow twice into the nearest fiendish feline.

Firing regular arrows from his magic crossbow.
Attack #1: [roll1]
Damage #1: [roll2]
Attack #2: [roll3]
Damage #2: [roll4]

[The_Snark]

Angel
Init: [roll0] | HP: 133/133 | 29 | Fort: +14 Ref +6 Will +10 | Barkskin (100 minutes) | Immunities: Critical hits, mind-affecting, nonlethal damage

Angel draws her stave, stepping in to block the leopard from advancing any further, and delivers a crushing blow to the ribs of the one on her right. Part of her realizes that putting herself between two of them might not be the best thing she can do, but she shrugs that off—if she was damaged, she could be repaired, simple as that.

Angel steps 5 feet to the left, draws her weapon, and attacks the one behind her, using Power Attack for -5/+10. [roll1], damage [roll2]. Flanking bonus has been included, but if the mercenary is unconscious, just remove it.

[Wiz]

Alain Cannith

The wizard casts greater mirror image, and his player goes to Monterey for four days (bad time for a combat, but I have a conference to go to).

Initiative: [roll0]

[Cogito]

((The wounded mercenaries are not represented on the map, in fact hey are with the mercenaries who are standing (kneeling) to the left of you all.))

Everything happens very quickly. Around Alain several copies of himself are suddenly popping into existence; almost simultaneously Lyle fires two precise shots that kill one leopard. Shortly after the bolts have hit their target, the crack of a breaking neck can be heard from where Angel is standing and killing another leopard with one precise strike of her stave. The last of the attackers is then slain bay Vandalin with a bite into the cat's throat.
But the party has no time to rest as an incantation can be heard from the other side of the tunnel. There is no way to hear it clearly enough to understand all of it, but Alain and Otho are almost certain that it is a summoning spell. The mercenaries just look at the party and position themselves to guard the tunnel, while Dorian is still invisible.

Next round.


..000000000111111111..
..123456789023456789..
18######++++++#.####18
17##........O.VAM.##17
16#...........MM...#16
15#..........H.....#15
14#.MM......a..D...#14
13#..MM.......L....#13
12#...MM...........#12
11#................#11
10#................#10
09#................#09
08#................#08
07#................#07
06#................#06
05##..............##05
04######......######04
03######......######03
02######......######02
01######......######01
..000000000111111111..
..123456789023456789..

[Maurkov]

OthoInit: 8 Move: 30' (longstrider) HP: 108/108 AC: 24 Fort:12 Ref:7 Will:15 Effects: Longstrider,
Vandalin: HP 68/68 AC 24 Fort +10 Ref +9 Will +7 Effects: GMF (+2)
Otho tilts his head to the side and nods in time to the chant. "Another wave incoming!" quieter, "but I'd rather fight them here than there. Angel, block the opening for a minute while we get into position."

Otho swings up into the saddle and guides Vandalin over to where Otho can try to look through the tunnel.
Move us to (15,17) while looking through. Reactive spot: [roll0] Otho has lowlight vision.

[The_Snark]

Angel
Init: 10 | HP: 133/133 | 29 | Fort: +14 Ref +6 Will +10 | Barkskin (100 minutes) | Immunities: Critical hits, mind-affecting, nonlethal damage

Angel nods, and takes a step forwards into the tunnel to neatly seal off the opening, readying the stave to smash down on whatever comes through the tunnel next.

Move to 15, 16, and ready an action to attack anything hostile coming in through the tunnel. Power attack for -5/+10, again. [roll0], damage [roll1]

[BurntOfferings]

Lyle

Init: 16
Current HP: 88
AC: 26, touch 16, flatfooted 26
Saves: Fort +9, Ref +13, Will +6
Spell effects: none
Lyle positions himself and waits, ready to shoot the first thing he sees.

Moving to 16, 16, loading his crossbow (a free action), and readying an action to shoot the first hostile target to show itself. Angel will probably provide the target some soft cover, but hopefully Lyle won't accidentally shoot her in the back. :smallfrown:

Attack: [roll0] (includes +1 for Point Blank Shot)
Damage: [roll1] (includes +1 for Point Blank Shot)

[Cogito]

((I'll be waiting for Alain, if you don't mind. Don't want to NPC two characters, at least not during combat.))

EDIT: ((I will start a new round this evening))

[Cogito]

Nothing happens... Then an explosion. Angel, Otho, Vandalin, and the nearest mercenaries have been hit by a fireball. Otho and Vandalin manage to avoid some of the blast, but Angel and the mercenaries are fully hit.
(([roll0] of fire damage, reflex halves. Resolve damage accordingly.))

[Maurkov]

OthoInit: 8 Move: 30' (longstrider) HP: 92/108 AC: 24 Fort:12 Ref:7 Will:15 Effects: Longstrider,
Vandalin: HP 68/68 AC 24 Fort +10 Ref +9 Will +7 Effects: GMF (+2)

Otho marvels at Vandalin's ability to escape such insults while extinguishing a few hot cinders in his own hair. Mumbling to himself he says, "See? That's exactly what I was talking about: If I had known that was coming, I could have made someone resistant. But who knows what energy type the next one will be."

Realizing flippancy in unbecoming when lives are on the line, he imbues his voice with the timbre of command, "Patron, fall back with your guard. This one is ours."

Otho calls on his blood heritage to produce lights; four mystical torches appear and dart past Angel to illuminate the space beyond.

Yay pets with evasion. Could Otho spot the source of that fireball? Otho casts Dancing Lights and sends it ahead. Now can he see what's going on?

[roll0]

[Wiz]

Alain Cannith

The wizard nods at Otho's comment, he shouts "Whoever will make the next moves on the door, I have a contingent energy resistance to cast on them."


(ooc: sorry about the delay, having some difficulties at home... sick baby and such)

[The_Snark]

Angel
Init: 10 | HP: 133/133 | 29 | Fort: +14 Ref +6 Will +10 | Barkskin (~100 minutes) | Immunities: Critical hits, mind-affecting, nonlethal damage

Angel moves forwards into the dark, staff held at the ready. "Light?" she asks—unnecessarily, as it turns out, because Otho is already casting a light spell. She halts as the orbs appear, ready to move once they have illuminated a target for her.

Move forward 15 ft or until she reaches the end of the tunnel, whichever comes first, then holding the rest of her action until Otho's light spell comes into play.

[BurntOfferings]

Lyle

Init: 16
Current HP: 88
AC: 26, touch 16, flatfooted 26
Saves: Fort +9, Ref +13, Will +6
Spell effects: none
Lyle continues to wait.

See here (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=58758&p=3790023).

[Cogito]

..0000000001111111112222222223..
..1234567890234567891234567890..
29#..........................#29
28#.....##............##.....#28
27#.....##............##.....#27
26#..........................#26
25#..........................#25
24#..........................#24
23#.....##............##.....#23
22#.....##............##.....#22
21#..........................#21
20#..........................#20
19#..........................#19
18###########++++++#A#########18
17#######..........VO..#######17
16######................######16
15######..........H.....######15
14######.........a......######14
13######...........L....######13
12######.....MM.........######12
11######................######11
10######....MM.....M....######10
09######....MM....D.....######09
08######...MM...........######08
07######................######07
06######................######06
05#######..............#######05
04###########......###########04
03###########......###########03
02###########......###########02
01###########......###########01
..0000000001111111112222222223..
..1234567890234567891234567890..


Dorian commands the mercenaries to retreat with him, still invisible, while Angel steps through the tunnel, now illuminated by Otho's lights. Both of them can see a vast hall, its walls eerily reflecting the lights and showing enormous mosaics with what seems to be scenes of giant battles. Everything is silent and no creature can be seen anywhere. Just as everyone begins to relax for a second, Vandalin starts to growl at the nearest pillar.

[Maurkov]

OthoInit: 8 Move: 30' (longstrider) HP: 92/108 AC: 24 Fort:12 Ref:7 Will:15 Effects: Longstrider,
Vandalin: HP 68/68 AC 24 Fort +10 Ref +9 Will +7 Effects: GMF (+2)
"Go, go, go," says Otho. He dismounts and ducks as he squeezes through the breach, then calls Vandalin to wriggle after him.

[roll0]. I don't think Otho needs a check to get through a 2x2 opening. Let me know if Vandalin does. Otho moves to (27,20). If he spots the caster he will point him out for the others. If Vandalin can make it that far, he tells the wolf to attack, otherwise it follows him.

[roll1]
[roll2]
[roll3]
[roll4]

[The_Snark]

Angel
Init: 10 | HP: 133/133 | 29 | Fort: +14 Ref +6 Will +10 | Barkskin (~100 minutes) | Immunities: Critical hits, mind-affecting, nonlethal damage

Angel keeps her staff raised as Vandalin begins growling, moving forwards a few paces cautiously. "Something invisible?" she asks, still scanning the room in case she missed something the first time. Noises don't come from nowhere. Somebody had been in this room.

[BurntOfferings]

Lyle

Init: 16
Current HP: 88
AC: 26, touch 16, flatfooted 26
Saves: Fort +9, Ref +13, Will +6
Spell effects: none
After several seconds pass with nothing to shoot at, Lyle takes up position near the new entrance and quickly peeks into the next room.

Lyle moves to (22, 17) and hides, using the wall as cover.

Hide: [roll0]
Spot (reactive): [roll1]
Updated map (with Otho's and Angel's moves):
..0000000001111111112222222223..
..1234567890234567891234567890..
29#..........................#29
28#.....##............##.....#28
27#.....##............##.....#27
26#..........................#26
25#..........................#25
24#..........................#24
23#.....##............##.....#23
22#.....##............##.....#22
21#..........................#21
20#.......................O..#20
19#.................A....V...#19
18###########++++++#.#########18
17#######............L.#######17
16######................######16
15######..........H.....######15
14######.........a......######14
13######................######13
12######.....MM.........######12
11######................######11
10######....MM.....M....######10
09######....MM....D.....######09
08######...MM...........######08
07######................######07
06######................######06
05#######..............#######05
04###########......###########04
03###########......###########03
02###########......###########02
01###########......###########01
..0000000001111111112222222223..
..1234567890234567891234567890..


I had to guess at Vandalin's and Angel's positions, which are based on the assumptions that Vandalin has no trouble squeezing through the 5' hole, Otho doesn't spot anyone, and that "a few paces" works out to about 5 feet. Apologies for any errors. Let me know and I'll fix them.

[CGCL_Andy]

Init: [roll0]
Current HP: 119
AC: 26, touch 12, flatfooted 25
Saves: Fort +12, Ref +6, Will +8 (+2 against spells on all saves)
Effects: Shield is Floating

Following Angel and Otho's lead, Sygbon crawls through the narrow entrance, steps to the side, and looks for possible threats.

Sygbon double moves to the other room. Assuming he has no trouble getting through the hole he will stand 10 feet to the left of Angel.

Spot: [roll]1d20+1[/spot]

Updated map:
..0000000001111111112222222223..
..1234567890234567891234567890..
29#..........................#29
28#.....##............##.....#28
27#.....##............##.....#27
26#..........................#26
25#..........................#25
24#..........................#24
23#.....##............##.....#23
22#.....##............##.....#22
21#..........................#21
20#.......................O..#20
19#...............S.A....V...#19
18###########++++++#.#########18
17#######............L.#######17
16######................######16
15######................######15
14######.........a......######14
13######................######13
12######.....MM.........######12
11######................######11
10######....MM.....M....######10
09######....MM....D.....######09
08######...MM...........######08
07######................######07
06######................######06
05#######..............#######05
04###########......###########04
03###########......###########03
02###########......###########02
01###########......###########01
..0000000001111111112222222223..
..1234567890234567891234567890..

[Wiz]

Alain Cannith

The wizard steps forward a bit to the front rank, since the warforged is leading the way and casts a spell upon her.

cast Contingent Energy Resistance

[Cogito]

..0000000001111111112222222223..
..1234567890234567891234567890..
29#..........................#29
28#.....##............##.....#28
27#.....##............##.....#27
26#..........................#26
25#.....................GG...#25
24#.....................GG...#24
23#.....##............##.....#23
22#.....##............##.....#22
21#..........................#21
20#.......................O..#20
19#...............SaA....V...#19
18###########++++++#.#########18
17#######............L.#######17
16######................######16
15######................######15
14######................######14
13######................######13
12######.....MM.........######12
11######................######11
10######....MM.....M....######10
09######....MM....D.....######09
08######...MM...........######08
07######................######07
06######................######06
05#######..............#######05
04###########......###########04
03###########......###########03
02###########......###########02
01###########......###########01
..0000000001111111112222222223..
..1234567890234567891234567890..


From his new position (I just suppose movement is okay this way), Otho can now clearly see the dimly lit figure of a large skeleton, slightly out of proportion and with the thickest bones he has ever seen. It seems as if it is silently casting a spell. As soon as it notices Otho, it casts invisibility upon itself. (I'm assuming Alain does not cast his spell but only moves forward a bit.)

[Maurkov]

OthoInit: 8 Move: 30' (longstrider) HP: 92/108 AC: 24 Fort:12 Ref:7 Will:15 Effects: Longstrider,
Vandalin: HP 68/68 AC 24 Fort +10 Ref +9 Will +7 Effects: GMF (+2)
"Too late. I already saw you." Otho selects a wand from his belt and waves it artistically. Once the Angel and Sygbon engage, Otho will send Vandalin in to attack.

[roll0] (in case it moved after casting)
Draw and activate Wand of Fairie Fire.

[roll1]
[roll2]
[roll3]

[CGCL_Andy]

Init:
Current HP: 119
AC: 26, touch 12, flatfooted 25
Saves: Fort +12, Ref +6, Will +8 (+2 against spells on all saves)
Effects: Shield is floating

Sygbon doesn't see the enemy at first, but reacting to Otho's comment and following the gnome's gaze he realizes that the column is covering his view of the adversary. So he moves around quickly to have a better look.


Delaying until Otho goes, then moving 20 feet to the left, if Sygbon can see it (with the help of the Fairie Fire) he will activate his boots (free action, will be hasted so gains another 30 feet of movement), move up to the skeleton and slash down hard with his axe (power attack for -8, wielding the axe two handed)

Attack: [roll0]
Damage: [roll1]

If he can't see it, then he will move up another 20 feet (so a double move) and continue looking.

If you let me know whether he saw it or not, I will edit my post to reflect that in my non-spoilered action description.

-gah, a natural 1 on damage roll!!

[The_Snark]

Angel
Init: 10 | HP: 133/133 | AC 33 | Fort: +14 Ref +6 Will +10 | Barkskin (~100 minutes) | Immunities: Critical hits, mind-affecting, nonlethal damage

As Otho moves off to the side and forwards, Angel instinctively follows, trying to keep abreast of the gnome. If whatever was casting spells in here attacked, she ought to be the one to take the brunt of the blow, not the smaller gnome. Of course, there was Alain, too; hopefully he would stay behind her. Or Sygbon.

Moving 20 feet to the left and 5 feet up, at which point she takes a total defense action.

[Wiz]

Alain Cannith

Not having seen the target, but hearing Otho and seeing him wave a wand at empty air he casts a spell.

Cast See Invisibility on self.

[BurntOfferings]

Lyle

Init: 16
Current HP: 88
AC: 26, touch 16, flatfooted 26
Saves: Fort +9, Ref +13, Will +6
Spell effects: none
Still without a target, Lyle follows the crowd and takes a position behind the pillar. He peeks around to get a look at whatever has everyone else so excited, ready to fire off a bolt.

Lyle moves to 24, 21 and peeks around the column. If he can see the ghost, he shoots.

Attack: [roll0] (includes +1 for Point Blank Shot)
Damage: [roll1] (includes +1 for Point Blank Shot)

OR if he can't see the ghost, he hides.

Hide: [roll2]

New map:
..0000000001111111112222222223..
..1234567890234567891234567890..
29#..........................#29
28#.....##............##.....#28
27#.....##............##.....#27
26#..........................#26
25#.....................GG...#25
24#.....................GG...#24
23#.....##............##S....#23
22#.....##............##.....#22
21#....................L.....#21
20#.....................A.O..#20
19#................a.....V...#19
18###########++++++#.#########18
17#######..............#######17
16######................######16
15######................######15
14######................######14
13######................######13
12######.....MM.........######12
11######................######11
10######....MM.....M....######10
09######....MM....D.....######09
08######...MM...........######08
07######................######07
06######................######06
05#######..............#######05
04###########......###########04
03###########......###########03
02###########......###########02
01###########......###########01
..0000000001111111112222222223..
..1234567890234567891234567890..


Assumptions: Sygbon can see the ghost (thanks to Otho's faerie fire) and can gain an extra 20' of movement from haste after using up his standard movement.

[Cogito]

..0000000001111111112222222223..
..1234567890234567891234567890..
29#..........................#29
28#.....##............##.....#28
27#.....##..........GG##.....#27
26#.................GGV......#26
25#..................S.......#25
24#..........................#24
23#.....##............##.....#23
22#.....##............##.....#22
21#....................L.....#21
20#.....................A.O..#20
19#................a.........#19
18###########++++++#.#########18
17#######..............#######17
16######................######16
15######................######15
14######................######14
13######................######13
12######.....MM.........######12
11######................######11
10######....MM.....M....######10
09######....MM....D.....######09
08######...MM...........######08
07######................######07
06######................######06
05#######..............#######05
04###########......###########04
03###########......###########03
02###########......###########02
01###########......###########01
..0000000001111111112222222223..
..1234567890234567891234567890..


((Not a ghost. G for Giant. I suppose Vandalin is sent in although Angel didn't exactly engage the skeleton))

While everybody is moving in on the giant skeleton Otho manages to bathe the invisible foe in Faerie Fire after he has started to retreat. Together, Sygbon and Vandalin charge forward to engage the mage, but while all attacks easily penetrate the ragged bits of robe the undead is still wearing, his bones take no visible damage. ((No hit, in other words))
The giant mage then casts another spell, leaving no opening for a successful attack, and an ark of lightning hits first Sygbon, then Vandalin.
(([roll0] electricity damage for Sygbon, half for Vandalin (rounded down), reflex halves.))

[CGCL_Andy]

Init: 8
Current HP: 119 -38
AC: 26 + 1(Haste), touch 12, flatfooted 25
Saves: Fort +12, Ref +6 + 1(Haste), Will +8 (+2 against spells on all saves)
Effects: Shield is floating, Haste (8 rounds left)

Sygbon tries to dodge the arc of electric power coming his way. Twisting his body to get out of the way he lands on his feet, grins while taking aim and swings his axe with inhuman speed.

Rolls:

Reflex Save: [roll0] (don't know the DC, please let me know if it was a successful save so I can readjust the Hitpoint total.)

full attack action (2 attacks from high BAB, 1 from haste), power attack (-5 attacks, +10 damage)

Attack 1: [roll1]
Damage 1: [roll2]
Attack 2: [roll3]
Damage 2: [roll4]
Attack 3: [roll5]
Damage 3: [roll6]

[Maurkov]

OthoInit: 8 Move: 30' (longstrider) HP: 92/108 AC: 24 Fort:12 Ref:7 Will:15 Effects: Longstrider,
Vandalin: HP 49/68 AC 24 Fort +10 Ref +10 Will +7 Effects: GMF (+2), Reduce Animal
Otho advances and brings the spectral lights along. He casts a spell while watching how Vandalin acquits himself.
[roll0]
Otho moves to (27,26). The lights move to above the giant. Cast Magic Fang.
[roll1]
[roll2]
[roll3]
Edit: Bad luck. Vandalin takes 19.

[BurntOfferings]

Lyle

Init: 16
Current HP: 88
AC: 26, touch 16, flatfooted 26
Saves: Fort +9, Ref +13, Will +6
Spell effects: none
Still without a target, Lyle continues to follow the crowd, moving left to look around the other side of the pillar. Finally laying eyes on the glowing outline of the giant skeleton, he lines up a shot and fires.

Lyle moves to 22, 22 and shoots.

Attack: [roll0] (includes +1 for Point Blank Shot)
Damage: [roll1] (includes +1 for Point Blank Shot)

New map:
..0000000001111111112222222223..
..1234567890234567891234567890..
29#..........................#29
28#.....##............##.....#28
27#.....##..........GG##.....#27
26#.................GGV...O..#26
25#..................S.......#25
24#..........................#24
23#.....##............##.....#23
22#.....##...........L##.....#22
21#..........................#21
20#.....................A....#20
19#................a.........#19
18###########++++++#.#########18
17#######..............#######17
16######................######16
15######................######15
14######................######14
13######................######13
12######.....MM.........######12
11######................######11
10######....MM.....M....######10
09######....MM....D.....######09
08######...MM...........######08
07######................######07
06######................######06
05#######..............#######05
04###########......###########04
03###########......###########03
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..0000000001111111112222222223..
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[Wiz]

Alain Cannith

Alain nods, seeing the skeleton under it's faerie fire cloak. He makes some quick arcane gestures and points.

Cast Orb of Acid

[BurntOfferings]

(( Alain needs to make a ranged touch attack for his orb of acid. ))

[Wiz]

You're absolutely right... whoops.

rethinking that action in any case...

[Wiz]

Well, I guess it's over... I could see the posts were coming more seldom. Good luck, Cogito... hope that whatever's going on you get it settled well. :)

[Maurkov]

((I think Cogito had/has finals. You mentioned rethinking your action, so I thought we were waiting for you. What do you do?))