Strange Fortune

[Shakedown]

Jacinth looks from Brother Cel Rau to Valette, trying not to smirk. She nods her head at the pale man. "Hey. Come sit."

[Lolerskate]

Yasha eyes the party thoroughly sizing up each individual at the table. "How may this humble member of the clergy be of service to you" he declared in a voice that sounded hoarse as if it had been damaged from shouting.

[Shakedown]

"We need some help finding someone who is in, uh, a state that appears to be your area of expertise." Jacinth fiddles with her hair. "Ugh, we've been traipsing about the wilderness for so long, I'm so rusty. Do you like dead things?"

[Aeti]

Valette rolls her eyes. "What my eloquent companion means to say, is that we are in need of someone to speak to the spirits of several bandits recently deceased, in order to track down a missing object of some kind."

[DrunkyTheClown]

Both dogs' eyes and ears shift when they feel eyes pass over them. A light tapping can be heard as the larger snow dog, Arf, wags his tail against one of the table legs.

[Lolerskate]

Yasha ponders the situation for a moment, murmuring to himself in an unintelligible whispering tone. Finally his eyes focus one again on the companions. "Indeed I hold the power to grant you what you seek, but why pray tell, do you think you are in a position to make such demands. What can you possibly offer me for this service?"

[Shakedown]

Jacinth inspects the end of a strand of hair. "We're lots of fun. Or, if you hate fun, we could probably compensate you. If it's sex or power you're after..." she drops the hair and shrugs. "Money can get you those."

[lando_zeus]

"Well, I cannae speak for everybody, but some of us are quite keen on using our travels as an opportunity to gather rare and valuable objects. Decent coin to be had by that."

[Lolerskate]

Brother cel Rău puts a hand on his heart. With a cunning smile he declares "There has always been a special place in my heart for ancient artifacts and heirlooms. I suppose I can help you for the time being."

[Aeti]

Valette finishes her breakfast and stands. "Now that we're in town, I've got a few errands I can get done. I'll see you back here tonight. Let me know how the investigation goes." Picking up her pack, Valette hurries out into the brisk air, with Eyne fluttering behind.

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no, she doesn't just drop dead now that she's not being played

After completing their meal in a more leisurely manner, everyone gets ready to leave. Yasha makes a brief trip upstairs to grab his gear. When he returns, his robes bulge around his half-plate. A morning star hangs at his side. Soon you step out into the crisp mountain air of the Ayolo morning.

The streets are devoid of crowds and bystanders this early in the morning. Everyone you see is hurrying this way and that, so you make good time to the police station. A different watchman is on duty at the front desk, but he quickly waves you through.

As you go down the steps and reach the morgue, something feels... off. The stairwell in front of the old wooden door is warmer than you remember last night. Whiskey and Arf especially feel the wrongness, the oily foulness of something unnatural.

[!rorak]

"Oh, joy. Hope the Demon's still kickin'," murmurs Duncan. He pulls out his rapier and very carefully approaches the door.

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Check for traps, listen for anything beyond the door and move silently checks?

[Shakedown]

Jacinth eyes the stairwell, loosens her neck, and draws her rapier.

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Same as Duncan, spot, listen, move silently

[Aeti]

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Check for traps: You did not find the traps. You don't find any traps
Spot - it's a closed wooden door, and you don't see anything unusual.
Duncan doesn't hear anything. Jacinth hears a faint noise like gentle but insistent wind blowing through a canyon.

[DrunkyTheClown]

Whiskey raises both ears and cautiously tests the air ahead of them, sniffing vigorously as they approach the door. He appears to concentrate for a moment, and then cutely utters something unintelligible.

Arf follows closely behind, and upon feeling the tension rising around him, readies himself for action, poised towards the door.

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Whiskey Listen +5.
Whiskey casts Detect Magic.
Arf Listen +5.

[Aeti]

Whiskey can sense a strong magical aura emanating from within the morgue.

[DrunkyTheClown]

Whiskey stalks forward and gives the door a nudge...

[Aeti]

The door opens into a scene of chaos. In the centre of the room is a vertical window, a portal of some kind, formed from swirling, coruscating light. The portal casts red light around the room, making the familiar room seem nightmarish. Motes of light flick away from it like fallen rubies or popping embers. The tools previously in orderly rows along the walls are scattered across the floor. As the portal turns, it draws the room's chill mist into a slow vortex.

You don't have long to stare, though. As the brave hound opens the door, a low groaning begins. The sound issues from the mouths of four familiar bodies. Four bandit corpses stand gracelessly before the portal. Their eyes gleam with red light, as if lit from inside. The unholy corpses raise their hands like claws and begin to move.

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Everybody roll for initiative!
Edit: Roll it in the OOC to avoid clutter ;)
I'll give you guys a couple days then roll initiatives for anyone who didn't have time to check the thread over the weekend, just to keep things moving.

[Shakedown]

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Inspire Courage. Everyone gets +1 to resisting Fear and Charm effects and +1 on attack and weapon damage. STill don't know how to write this!

[!rorak]

Duncan moves in behind Whiskey and beside Tharin.

"Great, they're already up! What've we got to ask 'em again?"

[DrunkyTheClown]

Arf bounds down the remaining steps and stops in front of Whiskey, a growl rumbling from his throat as he stares down the abominations.

Whiskey 'grumbles', and both dogs instantly seem to have increased slightly in mass. He pads quickly around the door afterwards.

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Arf moves to L7
Whiskey casts Bull's Strength on himself.
Arf is also affected due to 'Share Spells'.
Whiskey 5-foot steps to M7
Bull's Strength rounds remaining: 30

[Lolerskate]

Brother cel Rău quickly appraises the corpses before laying a cold hand on Tharin's shoulder.

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Brother cel Rău casts Virtue on Tharin. Tharin gets +1 hp,

[Aeti]

The zombies move forwards in one sudden charge, a wordless roar ripping from their dead throats. Whiskey dodges one of the hurtling bodies, but two of them slam into Arf. The sterile instruments wielded by the zombies are soiled with canine blood.

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Ceresse - Charge - 6 damage to Arf
Burvhin - Charge - 8 damage to Arf
Jak - Charge - miss
Tik- move to L8

In-game your characters don't know all their names but I'm using them so you know who is doing what - I've also put labels for each of them down on the combat grid, I hope that helps!

Edit: I already screwed up names. Fixed now!


Order:

Jacinth
Duncan
Whiskey
Yasha
Zombies
Thorin

[DrunkyTheClown]

In the midst of being struck twice, Arf's yelp of pain melds with a snarl as he snaps at the animated corpse moving around him.

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Attack of Opportunity
Arf attacks "Tik - Zombie"
Attack Roll - (1d20+9)[22]
Trip Attempt - (1d20+5)[24]
Bite Damage - (1d6+6)[7]
I haven't factored in flanking because I'm not sure if it works for attacks of opportunity.

[Aeti]

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You wouldn't get a flanking bonus because he provokes an AoO before he is flanked

You deal 7 damage to Tik and trip him. He's prone

Nics turn!

Thorin steps forwards and his war axes slash towards the falling zombie.
(1d20+4)[14]
(1d20+4)[21]

[Aeti]

Both axes slam into the zombie, dealing (1d10+5)[9] and (1d10+5)[14] damage! His head is separated from his dead body in a gout of black blood, and the glow of his eyes fades.

Whiskey and Duncan notice the red portal seems to dim, and shrink slightly. Its circular outline wavers imperceptibly.

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Jacinth
Duncan
Whiskey
Yasha
Zombies
Thorin

[Shakedown]

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**** it's my turn! I'm going to continue with my Inspire Courage story and move up to L10

[!rorak]

Duncan moves up behind Whiskey and skewers one of the zombies with his rapier.

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(d20+7)[13]

(d6)[5]

[Aeti]

Duncan's thin rapier sinks deep into the grey flesh of the zombie, but the hole created by the withdrawing blade is barely visible. Duncan feels like his attack was far less effective than he expected.

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Burvhin struck, but takes no damage.
Edit: Andy forgot the +1 damage boost from Mia's dramatic rendition of Little Red Riding Hood, Burvhin takes 1 point of damage.

Jacinth
Duncan
Whiskey
Yasha
Zombies
Thorin

[DrunkyTheClown]

Whiskey, cornered, lunges with gnashing teeth at his nearest assailant.

Arf turns and snaps viciously at the undead who Duncan had just thoroughly stabbed.

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Whiskey attacks Jak.
Attack Roll - (1d20+4)[14]
Bite Damage - (1d4+2)[5]

Arf attacks Burvhin.
Attack Roll - (1d20+9)[20]
Bite Damage - (1d6+6)[8]
Trip Attempt Strength Check - (1d20+5)[16]
Bull's Strength rounds remaining: 29

[Aeti]

Canine teeth slash and tear at rotted flesh. The dog's mouths are filled with the taste of foulness. Arf has a good grip but he is unable to topple the hulking undead.

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Jacinth
Duncan
Whiskey
Yasha
Zombies
Thorin