"Watchit watchit watchit...," Y'lovisa tries to warn as the skeleton's axe comes down on Karst. Wincing she reaches out again to offer more of her healing for the paladin. She then again causes bells to ring out around the undead foe.

(BA: Healing Word, 2nd 9)

(Action: Toll the Dead, DC 15 WisST, 13 on fail)

Aradurk moves into melee range, long sword before him. He moves in a circle around the Minotaur trying to get to a spot where the beast will have to turn to face me or leave his flank exposed then I attack with my long sword with great speed.

Attack: 14 Damage: 4

IF

I hit, I will expend a Superiority point to use Trip Attack:

And takes 5 damage

and 

STR DC 14 or target lands prone 

Karst accepts the hit from the skeleton's axe, using Y'lovisa's healing and the opportunity to remain close to hack into the creature's hip bone, cleaving it from its body. Without any central leverage, the skeleton collapses into an axe and a pile of bones.

"Well, then. It seems Glendale and Roccar knew what they were doing recommending you," Fumbles' voice rings through the sudden silence. The gnome stands nearby calming the horses.

OOC: Each character has received 150 XP for defeating the minotaur skeleton.

Karst smiles at Fumbles' remark.  "I think we all know that could have gone badly, I'm glad our new friend has such keen senses and detected the creature in time. "

Walking over to the creature he picks up the axe that sheared through his armour so effectively, testing it out to get a feel for the balance.  "I may hang on to this, a souvenir of our time together."  He then lifts the skull of the creature and stares at it for a few seconds "But you are nothing I care to hold on to." as he lets the skull fall carelessly to the floor.

“Not sure why I froze there. Was suddenly reminded of being back in my old marching crew. And the thing that killed most of them. Good work on rhat critter, Karst.

Y’lovisa. - you definitely seem no stranger to the night life. Good eye on you - saved our bacon for sure.”

Aradurk looks visibly shaken at the memory but grateful for current company.

   "Thank you. That was the largest skeleton that I've had the pleasure to meet." She turns to the gnome. "I imagine that was what Roccar's men were referring to?"

"That seems likely," Fumbles replies. "I suggest we finish our rest. It's not long to the tower, and I want us at full strength. Y'lovisa...yell loudly if any more massive skeletons come rambling toward us, yeah? We'll let them make Karst angry, that seems to work out well."

The monster's battle axe bears the semblance of magical crafting. Its color has yet to dull and its edge is unworn and razor sharp.

OOC: Battleaxe, +1 has been added to Karst's inventory.

"You could take a spell of the watch Fumbles, you didn't tire yourself out too much in the fight." Karst settles back down to rest after checking his wounds aren't too bad, he then adds "Y'lovisa, my thanks for your healing magic, and your sharp eyes." he is asleep in moments, hand near the battle axe he has claimed from his defeated enemy.

"I'll watch, Karst. Sun's almost up, get your rest," Fumbles says. 

When the party awakes, Fumbles has saddled the horses and stoked the fire. "Heard screams in the night," he explains, "Nothing came close but I say we get moving. It's only a few hours to the tower now. I don't know where Ivar or Uldrem have gotten off to but we can't afford a delay. If there is anything about the plan you would like to change, now is the time to do it."

The weather is slightly colder than the day before, but the sky is clear and free of rain.

OOC: Characters have gained the benefits of a long rest. Y'lovisa (and Uldrem if he returns) can take this opportunity to change their prepared spells for the day.

“I’m a little concerned at how we’re gonna pull this off without the little death magic wielder. Being able to burrow under the spot and do his mojo on the guard I need to kill; not minor stuff. Really hope Uldrem gets back. Damn curious about Ivar too - hope to pit his tactical skills alongside mine to keep us slightly safer.”

”So what is our next step Fumbles?”

"Aradurk is right, we need to regroup and plan for how we approach this without the necromancer and the archer.  The tunel was an intergral part of the plan, I don't see us clearing the ground without setting off the alarm otherwise." Karst nods in agreement to the half-orc's point.

     Y'lovoisa wakes early to conduct her prayers as the sun rises and the others discuss the circumstances. He rises and dusts off her knees. "I can animate the guard once we take it out. It's not something that I have tried before so..." She opens her journal to go back over her notes from the briefing and turns to the gnome. "Fumbles, can we approach from the opposite side of the door that is being guarded? If so, then we can wait until the patrol is almost out of sight and follow behind at the same pace they are moving. By the time we get to the guard, the patrol will be on the opposite side of the tower." 

"Our next step is to reach the tower and assess our situation, I suppose," Fumbles answers, "If our intel is correct, Y'lovisa, it will be fairly simple to avoid the patrol. Keep those sharp eyes open during our approach."

The large tower comes into view before an hour of riding has passed, and another hour brings you close to its perimeter. The strange white stone tower seems impossibly slender and delicate. The landscape around the tower is distinctly odd. Jumbled, volcanic rock with deep-cloven crevices surrounds the tower's foot in a perfectly circular area, standing out from the gentle turf-covered hillsides around it, as if the tower was raised somewhere else and then deposited here along with all the scenery within a thousand yards.

A single orc guard is in view at the foot of the tower, near its only door. There is almost no cover for nearly 500 feet in front of the guard. A patrol is circling the tower counter-clockwise, marching slowly in formation.

"At their pace, they could take an hour to circle around to the same point," Fumbles estimates, "I leave the approach up to you."

Tracking:
If the tower is the center of a clock, the party is at 6 o'clock. The lone orc guard and the tower door are facing the party. The orc patrol is currently at 10 o'clock, moving counter-clockwise.

(How far around do we need to go to get out of sight from the guard - 3 or 9 o'clock? Are we in heavy tree cover right now?)

Whispers to the group:
"So as soon as the patrol get completely out of sight of the lookout, the plan is for me to take my potion of greater invisibility then dash over and kill the lookout, right?"

"Then we dodge the patrol and follow you in, while they are in the blind spot behind the tower." Karst nods in agreement "It's a good plan, may fortune favour you Aradurk."

    "Ah... umm... Do you think you can take it out in one strike? If trained properly, it will sound the alarm at the sign of trouble."

OOC: 10 o'clock or 2 o'clock would take you out of sight of the guard by the front door. You are currently in the cover of foothills, but once you approach within 500 feet there is no cover.

Feel free to plan as long as you'd like, and I will advance once an action is posted.

Whispering:
"The trick is going to be quaffing the potion so I am not spotted but is still in play when I sneak up behind him and take him out. I can bag his head, manacles on his wrists, and take out his throat.

Y'lovisa, for the timing top succeed however, I bet you are going to need to be near to cast your spell so you will need to have gotten across in time to do your magic before the patrol gets around.

And we have to get back out of sight."

(What's the radius of the tower again at the base? I thought I had that answer but I can't find that number anywhere.)