The Black Stairs IC

[Helfdan]

Athelstane

The paladin grits his teeth under the relentless assault, and stirkes back fiercely.

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Let's try this again, power attack 2
attack (1d20+8)[15]
damage (1d8+6)[10]

[Philistine]

Dast

Transferring his mace back to his weapon hand, Dast charges down to Athelstane's side and strikes at the second creature.

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Attack: (1d20+9)[18] vs. #12
Damage: [/roll]1d8+2[/roll]

AC decreases to 18.

[Philistine]

OOC: Oops.

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Let's try that damage roll again: (1d8+2)[3]

[AmberVael]

Sibyl looks over at the other carriage and takes aim, then slings a ray of enervating energy over at the torch wielding ghoul.

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Ray of Enfeeblement.
Ranged touch attack: 1d20+4=23
Strength penalty: 1d6 2=6

The ghoul with the luminous swarm spell needs to make a reflex save for 17 or take 1d6=6 damage.

I really need to work on my spell selection. I'm practically useless over here.

[wxdruid]

Thaelrid moves around his cover and advances towards the fight, stopping when he’s about 40 ft from the ghoul (#1) he wounded previously. As he advances, he also notices the white haired man in the shadows watching the fight.

The defenders renew their attacks, the fighter strikes out at the ghoul with the torch (#3 (previously missed by Doreen)) and his blade sinks into its flesh. The servants do their best to keep the ghouls at bay as the new arrivals jump into the fray.

The ghoul (#11) in front of Athelstane is enraged by his actions and jumps forward for a full attack but the ghoul ineffectively slides down his armor, unable to find any purchase for his claws or teeth. The other ghoul (#12) moves forward for an attack against the heavily armored paladin and is equally ineffective. The luminous ghoul (#9) lunges for a servant and falls on its face as it misses. The servant hurriedly takes a 5 foot step to the side and prepares to hit it while it’s down.

Dast moves forward to attack the other ghoul (#12) near Athelstane. His mace slams into the ghoul’s side, but the creature barely feels it.

Doreen goes to help the fighter and the servants. She moves against the nearest ghoul (#3) and it falls under her attack. The torch falls to the ground and gutters out.

Sibyl reaches out with one hand and a ray spell finds the other ghoul (#1) with a torch. It sags beneath the attack, the torch falling from its fist and it almost falls over. The luminous ghoul is on the ground and resists the side effects from the spell this round.

Athelstane renews his attack against the ghoul (#11) that has relentlessly attacked him. His long sword bites deeply into the ghoul’s side, enough for the creature to feel it and falter. He almost sliced its top from its bottom, but the ghoul is hanging on and will certainly fight til the bitter end.

---------- round 3 ----------

Initiative

Thaelrid 21
Defenders
Ghouls (7 left, #9 is now luminous and by the npc’s/carriage, #11 is in front of Athelstane, #12 is near Athelstane and the remainder are near the carriages (4), the torch wielding ghouls have been dissuaded or killed
Leader of the Ghouls (in the shadows)
Dast 9 (3rd round of Bless)
Doreen 7
Sibyl 4
Athelstane 4

[mangosta71]

Thaelrid, abandoning his defensive stance, raises his scimitar high and rushes at the ghoul. The blade hums as it twirls through the air.

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Charging ghoul 1.
(1d20+11)[22] Attack
(1d8+6)[14] Damage

AC reduced to 15 (16 versus the ghoul he is attacking, though if it falls he will designate the next nearest ghoul as his dodge opponent). Also, as undead, ghouls are immune to ability drain/damage such as Ray of enfeeblement.

edited to add the spoiler tag

[AmberVael]

Also, as undead, ghouls are immune to ability drain/damage such as Ray of enfeeblement.

A coruscating ray springs from your hand. You must succeed on a ranged touch attack to strike a target. The subject takes a penalty to Strength equal to 1d6+1 per two caster levels (maximum 1d6+5).

((Emphasis mine. It is not drain or damage.))

[wxdruid]

Thaelrid charges the weakened ghoul and it has a difficult time trying to defend itself against the elf with the scimitar. Thaelrid raises his scimitar high and completely cuts the ghoul in two when he brings it down.

The fighter doesn’t seem too happy to have help, but he gruffly acknowledges Doreen with a slight nod of his head. He renews his attack one of the ghouls (#4) trying to climb up onto the carriage. His bastard sword bites deeply and as he wrenches it out, the ghoul falls to the ground although it immediately tries to get back up.

The servant wields the makeshift weapon, thumping the previously downed luminous ghoul on the back, but otherwise not doing much to the creature other than keeping it down.

Two ghouls circle the carriages, waiting for a good attack, while the two around Athelstane and Dast attack, biting and clawing at their opponents. The ghoul (#11) attacking Athelstane is getting frustrated; he hasn’t broken through the paladins armor yet. The ghoul (#12) attacking Dast almost makes it through, but Dast gets his shield up in time to deflect the undead creature.

---------- 1st half of round 4 ----------

Initiative

Thaelrid 21
Defenders
Ghouls (6 left, #9 is now luminous and by the npc’s/carriage, #11 is in front of Athelstane, #12 is near Athelstane and the remainder are near the carriages (3)
Leader of the Ghouls (in the shadows)
-----------------------------------------------------------
Dast 9 (4th round of Bless)
Doreen 7
Sibyl 4
Athelstane 4

[mangosta71]

((Emphasis mine. It is not drain or damage.))

((My mistake - haven't read the spell description in a while.))

[Philistine]

Dast

Dast grunts as the ghoul slams into his shield, then brings his mace up to strike at the creature again. "Hells take you!" he gasps.

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Attack: (1d20+7)[20]
Damage: (1d8+2)[5]

[Helfdan]

Athelstane

"For Heironeous!" Athelstane slashes fiercely, aiming for the ghoul's neck.

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Attacking ghoul #11 (1d20+10)[20]
Damage (1d8+4)[10]

If it drops, and #12 still standing, will cleave:
Attack (1d20+10)[11]
Damage (1d8+4)[6]

He then declares shield defense (+1 to AC for 22 against one foe)
as follows:
On #11 if its still standing
or
On #12 if 11 falls and 12 survives
or
On the nearest one after he moves if 12 is dead(see below)

If 11 falls, use move action to move 20' towards the beleagered carriage. If #12 is alive, would risk attack of opportunity (note ac would be 22 as above)

wow.. too many contingencies )

[Lex-Kat]

Doreen

When Doreen arrives, she stabs at the prone luminous ghoul (#9). If it dies, she'll go towards the nearest ghoul that is circling.

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Attack (1d20+8)[25]
If hits, damage (1d6+2)[3]

Spot check, to notice fighters dislike of my "help." (1d20+5)[8]

[AmberVael]

Feeling that she should save a little bit of her magic just in case there was something more dangerous lurking, Sibyl frowns and looks around, trying to locate anything out of the ordinary in case there was a trap. As she looks around over the various lights of the scene, she gets an idea, grins, and casts a spell. Four eerie orbs of light appear, and Sibyl points towards the remaining clump of ghouls and speaks an order.
"Kill them."
The orbs begin closing in with frightening quickness.

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Okay, so Sibyl is just trying to mess with people's heads here. She cast Dancing Lights to summon, and I quote:

Four glowing spheres of light (which look like will-o’-wisps)

Figuring that they realize she is a spellcaster from what she has already done, she's faking that she summoned four will-o'-wisps and is essentially ordering them to kill the ghouls (who would stand no chance against such creatures).

In reality, she's sending dancing lights at them.
So here is a bluff check:
1d20+9=28
And because of the situation, an intimidate check might also be in order:
1d20 5=19
It may not be necessary, but I thought just in case.
I'm just trying to get them to run.

Now, another DC 17 save for the luminous ghoul...
Damage: 1d6=6

[wxdruid]

Thaelrid charges the weakened ghoul and it has a difficult time trying to defend itself against the elf with the scimitar. Thaelrid raises his scimitar high and completely cuts the ghoul in two when he brings it down.

The fighter doesn’t seem too happy to have help, but he gruffly acknowledges Doreen with a slight nod of his head. He renews his attack one of the ghouls (#4) trying to climb up onto the carriage. His bastard sword bites deeply and as he wrenches it out, the ghoul falls to the ground although it immediately tries to get back up.

The servant wields the makeshift weapon, thumping the previously downed luminous ghoul on the back, but otherwise not doing much to the creature other than keeping it down.

Two ghouls (#5, #6) circle the carriages, waiting for a good attack, while the two around Athelstane and Dast attack, biting and clawing at their opponents. The ghoul (#11) attacking Athelstane is getting frustrated; he hasn’t broken through the paladins armor yet. The ghoul (#12) attacking Dast almost makes it through, but Dast gets his shield up in time to deflect the undead creature.

Dast’s mace slams into the creature, it staggers for a moment and then it’s ready to renew its attack.

Doreen stabs the ghoul on the ground but it isn’t ready to give up yet. In the heat of battle, Doreen is to busy dealing with ghouls to see any more than the brief nod.

The luminous ghoul continues to resist the damage from Sibyl’s spell. The dancing lights descend threateningly towards the ghouls. The two circling ghouls (#5, #6) look up as Sibyl commands the lights to kill them. They both decide it isn’t worth it, no matter how much they’ve been ordered/commanded. They both dodge and run away into the darkness. The ghoul (#11) in front of Athelstane realizes it’s about to be flanked and the ghoul is utterly frustrated by Athelstane’s AC and starts to beat a hasty retreat. The other ghoul (#12) refuses to feel intimated by a ball of light.

Athelstane attacks the ghoul (#11), separating its head from its shoulders just as it was about to run from the light. He turns to the ghoul (#12) threatening Dast and takes that one apart with one swing of his longsword. With no remaining ghouls to threaten him, he moves toward the carriage with the remaining 2 ghouls.

---------- round 4 ----------

Initiative

Thaelrid 21
Defenders
Ghouls (2 left, #9 is luminous and by the npc’s/carriage and the other one is near the carriages (1))
Leader of the Ghouls (in the shadows)
Dast 9 (4th round of Bless)
Doreen 7
Sibyl 4
Athelstane 4

[mangosta71]

Wrenching his blade free of the shattered corpse at his feet, Thaelrid turns toward the next ghoul. He stomps through the gore as he runs. He makes a backhanded slash at his opponent's chest.

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Assuming the ghoul is more than 10 feet away, Thaerid charges. If not, he'll move toward it and engage. The numbers here assume a charge.
(1d20+12)[18]
(1d8+6)[7]

AC down to 15 (16 versus the ghoul he's swinging at).

[wxdruid]

Thaelrid rushes the ghoul (#4) currently on the ground in front of the fighter. His blade slashes into the ghoul’s back, almost disabling its left arm.

The fighter crunches his bastard sword into the downed ghoul, finishing it off. The servants look around for any remainder and the one near the glowing ghoul hits it again.

The luminous ghoul jumps to its feet and turns to attack the servant who dared to hit it twice.

The leader disappears into the shadows.

----------1st half of round 5 ----------

Initiative

Thaelrid 21
Defenders
Ghouls (1 left, #9 is luminous and by the npc’s/carriage)
Leader of the Ghouls (disappeared)
------------------------------------------------------------
Dast 9 (5th round of Bless)
Doreen 7
Sibyl 4
Athelstane 4

[Lex-Kat]

"Foul creature. Stay dead, damnit!"

Doreen stabs at the luminous ghoul, again.

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Attack (1d20+8)[27]
Damage (1d6+2)[6]

If it dies, she heads back to where the strange man was.

[Helfdan]

Athelstane

Seeing all the foes are down, the paladin nods to Dast. He then approaches the carriage, raising his blade then lowering it sharply in a swordsman's salute. "Is your liege-lady well, warrior?"

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If the luminous ghoul is still alive when my turn rolls around, Athelstane will stab it nonchalantly (Power attack-2) on his way to the carriage, and speak as above.
attack (1d20+8)[13]
damage (1d8+6)[13]

[mangosta71]

Thaelrid quickly surveys the site. "Gather all the bodies and burn them." He joins Doreen. "Any sign of the old man?"

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(1d20+6)[22] Survival check to search for tracks

[AmberVael]

Grinning to herself that her trick worked, Sibyl calls the four dancing lights over to her and keeps them close, trying to dispel the darkness around the group.

[Lex-Kat]

Doreen looks into the darkness. Then kneels down to get a better look at the ground. "No. I can't see anything. Sibyl, maybe you could send one of your killer lights over here, please."

Doreen smiles and slightly shivers. Then says under her breath "Those things give me the creeps." Shivers again.

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Spot check to see any evidence the old man may have left behind. (1d20+5)[16]

[mangosta71]

Thaelrid removes a cloth from a pocket and wipes the gore from his blades, then tosses it onto the flaming carriage. He addresses the survivors of the caravan. "There was an old man skulking here in the shadows. I want to know who and where he is."

[AmberVael]

"Sure thing!"
Sibyl sends her lights zipping over towards Doreen, and heads that way herself.
"What are we looking for?"

[Lex-Kat]

Doreen continues to search for any trace of the handsome man (who said he was old?) she saw earlier, as she tells Sibyl "There was a white haired man standing here, just watching. Something about him was... off. But he wasn't doing anything, so I decided it was best to destroy the ghouls first."

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Search (1d20+6)[23]

[Philistine]

Dast

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If Ghoul #9 (Luminous) is still in the fight, then:
Charge to a flanking position with either Doreen or the NPC Servant, and
Attack: (1d20+11)[27]
Damage: (1d8+2)[3]
and go from there.

If all ghouls are down or fled, then:
Dast returns his weapon to the carry-loop at his belt and slings his shield onto his back. "Dast Liphus. You have wounded? Perhaps I can do something for them," he says to the apparent leader of the caravan's defenders. He reaches to his holy symbol and murmurs a few words, causing it to glow radiantly.

((Casting Light on his holy symbol so that he can look at any wounded.))

[AmberVael]

"Oh. What would someone be watching for? Maybe he was a necromancer and made the ghouls attack?"
Sibly frowns and taps her lips as the dancing lights swirl around in a strange little manner, probably following some subconscious commands on her part.

[Lex-Kat]

Doreen glares over her shoulder at Sibyl. "Or maybe, he was some whiney rich git, actually doing something right and staying out of the way. I didn't want to waste time finding out. And I sure wasn't going to just attack him because he's just standing there."

Then she stands up and faces Sibyl. "Maybe, my assesment was wrong, but there is nothing to be accomplished by arguing about it. We need to find him, and maybe find Dekellus. Do you agree?"

[AmberVael]

Sibly pouts as she is glared at, slightly hurt, but mostly just making a big deal out of it because she wanted to.
"It was just a guess...
"And yeah, even if he had nothing to do with the attacks it isn't safe to be wandering around here if there are ghouls about."
She waves he hands and brings the four dancing lights to her hand, pretending to balance them on her palm, then roll them to her pointer finger.
"Should we wait for everyone else?"

[Lex-Kat]

Doreen, looking a little uncomfortable, and feeling bad about raising her voice at Sybil. "I'm sorry. It's just that you're probably right. It irks me that I might have let a monster go, without even attempting to stop him."

Looking back into the darkness, with a look of annoyance. "I'm pretty sure he doesn't need protecting if he's run off after we've destroyed all the ghouls. And we definitely need to wait for the others."

[wxdruid]

Thaelrid rushes the ghoul (#4) currently on the ground in front of the fighter. His blade slashes into the ghoul’s back, almost disabling its left arm.

The fighter crunches his bastard sword into the downed ghoul, finishing it off. The servants look around for any remainder and the one near the glowing ghoul hits it again.

The luminous ghoul jumps to its feet and turns to attack the servant who dared to hit it twice.

The leader disappears into the shadows.

Dast charges over to flank the downed ghoul with Doreen and slams his mace into the creature.

Doreen finally kills off the luminous ghoul, it lies on the ground unmoving

---------- round 5 ----------

Initiative

Thaelrid 21
Defenders (7 dead servants, 3 living ones, 1 fighter (Phineas), and the princess)
Ghouls (all dead)
Leader of the Ghouls (disappeared)
Dast 9 (5th round of Bless)
Doreen 7
Sibyl 4
Athelstane 4

--------------------
After the ghouls are dead, Doreen, Thaelrid and Sibyl inspect the spot where the white haired man was. They find a few footprints around the area, but none of them lead away from the area.

When Athelstane approaches, the fighter looks up as he’s wiping off his sword, but before he can answer, Lysara descends from her carriage. She looks upset and worried about her dead servants and the remaining living ones. She nods distractedly to Athelstane before turning her complete attention on him.

“I cannot thank you enough for your help here tonight,” says the princess. “Without it, we might surely have fallen to these horrible…unliving things. They warned us in Blackbrook that these mountains were dangerous, but I had hoped to avoid such trouble. Alas, it was not to be.”

“But now I have a request of you. As you can see, many of my guards have fallen. More than ever we will need the help and protection of brave warriors such as you if we are to make it through the Black Stairs unharmed. Please, join our caravan. For there is safety in numbers, and when we arrive at my uncle’s manor, I shall reward your efforts with gold.”

Lysara is a pretty young woman, with pale, hard-edged features and long black hair. She’s dressed in fine traveling clothes.

When Thaelrid questions the three remaining servants, they’re quiet and they don’t know anything about the white haired man who was in the shadows.

The servants have cuts, bruises, but none of the three remaining servants have life threatening wounds. The fighter has moderate wounds, but not life threatening. He brusquely responds with his name, Phineas. He brushes off the cleric and acts like his own wounds are not worth worrying about.

((I believe I remembered anything, if you see that I've forgotten anything, please let me know.))