The pottery shards on the ground are starting to build up and are becoming a movement hazard. As a result, the marked squares are now difficult terrain. However, all characters can jump over them without sacrificing movement if you start and end the jump in “normal” terrain.
Ednyss’s War Pick thrums its metallic rhythm as he swings in a figure eight and dashes Hollow One 15 to shards.
Varielky, fighting for balance as the undead’s hammer strikes her, fails to connect with her riposte against Hollow One 14. But her sword comes up, clipping off the jaw of the Hollow One just wounded by Auger’s spell, then drops down again, smashing it into pieces. She then whips her shield over and down, rotating and dropping with the motion onto the dwarven undead wielding the chain, and it falls onto its back, prone.
Dolkum smashes into Hollow One 20 with his war hammer. The undead raises its broken shield, but the hammer powers through it. The shield and its arm both shatter. But it still stands.
Py flits higher up, and messages, ‘I can’t see in the dark well enough to count them from here. There’s some moonlight, but I can’t see their point of origin either.’ Py is above many of the trees, but some of them reach as high as 100 feet. ‘Wait...I can barely make out something. I thought it was dead trees at first, but they’re evenly spaced. But it’s half a mile east, upslope.’
Auger’s spell fires, but its intended object, Hollow One 17, lunges unexpectedly at that exact moment. The blast passes behind it, powers over prone Hollow One 14 and into the same tree trunk Auger had blasted Hollow One 12 into before. Rough slabs of bark fly off the tree.
Benita recoils at the blast coming from behind her, turns around and glares at Auger for a moment, a strikingly comely face despite the knit brows. With a northern accent he can’t place, she yells in Jenghen (common), “Is this a thing for you, showing up at the wrong time in the wrong place?” With cat-like agility, she sidesteps, leaps over pottery shards, and comes around to strike Hollow One 14 while it is prone, impaling and crushing its foot for 8HP damage, then as the undead rolls onto its back, she twirls and drops onto it, and her scimitar flashes down toward its chest. But the undead raises its chain between its hands, parrying her sword strike, and kicks her off and back with its leg stump.
Amistan has a clear shot at Hollow One 16, and he nocks an arrow and releases in a smooth motion, which crashes through the statue’s ear for 7HP damage, blowing out the opposite side of its ceramic head, but the undead mindlessly advances.
Wad shifts around, circling Hollow One 17 to sidearm Hollow One 16 with his glowing axe, hitting for 9HP. The undead shatters and rough pieces fall to the ground.
Hollow One 14 moves around Varielky to attack Ednyss, swinging its heavy stone ball but it deflects heavily off of Ednyss’ shield.
Hollow One 17 attacks Wad with a stone mace, clipping his thigh for 4HP damage and the dwarf falls to one knee.
Hollow One 19 swings a stone hatchet at Dolkum, but hits only air.
Hollow One 20 shifts to Ednyss and strikes him in the hip with its stone short sword, but the blow deflects off of Ednyss’ armored skirt.
Hollow One 21 attacks Dolkum with a stone morning star. The pointed spheres catch his shield and create an opening, then rake the paladin's arm when the Hollow One yanks back. With his shield out of the way, the undead head butts Dolkum in the chin with its steel helm, for 4HP damage total.
Hollow One 22 attacks Benita with a stone ball and chain, smashing her in the ribs with an upswing and critting for 8HP damage. Lifted off her feet, she is forced to rotate backwards and lands hard on one knee, gasping for breath.
Hollow One 23 attacks Varielky with a stone battle axe, and slices her sword arm for 6HP damage. Her blade is thrown back toward the encampment and her eyes dim momentarily, but the magical sword teleports back into her hand and her eyes beam magical light again. (RP)
Hollow One 27 attacks Dolkum with a stone spear, but Dolkum hooks it left and past him with his hammer, parrying.
More undead continue to shamble into the melee from the east.
Varielky turns to Benita, ready to help her, but she is hit from the side and the sword flies away. "This is why one should only die in battle! Look at what happened to those who lived on!" She roars. Varielky begins to 'swing' with her empty hand, but the sword teleports midway and is now slashing its way at the half-broken enemy. Too many enemies, they have to reduce their numbers. "Focus on them one by one!" She yells. "Even the half-broken ones can attack! Make sure we finish them off before attacking another!"
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Py thinks to continue on ahead and explore the evenly spaced zone, messaging Auger that he will go and take a look he flies east and upslope at full speed.
Responding to Benita (OOC: though he does not know her name of course), Auger says "Yes. I suppose helping you deal with this threat is what I am doing," he says, smiling at her. Reaching into his mind Auger gathers himself for something stronger and viewing a likely spot he creates a momentary zone of silence among the approaching Undead. Momentary as sound almost immediately returns to the spot in an over-loud thunderous rush, damaging all of the undead within range. "Helpful, yes?"
Py
Status: Invisible
Move: Dashes a total of 80' east and maintains his height at ~50' relative to the ground. He should be at O25
Perception: He continues to look for threats in the forest below. 18.
Auger
Move: None
Action: Casts Shatter centered at Y20. 20' radius should affect 28, 27, 29, 21, 30, 31. All must make CON 14 saving throw to take half damage. Since they appear to be made of stone, they have disadvantage on this saving throw. Damage: 20
Persuasion: In case Benita and others might like his charming nature. 23
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Ednyss grunts an understanding to Varielky as he touches his amulet. He hesitates for a second and replies, "One at a time seems to be a fine idea, but I have the ability to completely turn some of them if they come a little bit closer." To himself, he mutters, "A few more seconds..." Meanwhile, he keeps slamming his glowing pick into the skeletons as he barrels forward towards the onslaught. If possible, he continues forward trying to get to a place where the skeletons will all be somewhat close to him by his next turn.
(OOC: There are so many targets that I am using this wording for Ednyss' targeting Target A; if A is dead, then attack B; If B is also dead then attack C = A --> B --> C)
Ednyss attacks Hollow One 20,which is missing its shield arm after Dolkum’s attack a few moments ago. His war pick surges through its neck, its helmed head flies into the darkness and the body shatters. Then Ednyss turns and hits Hollow One 14 for 10HP. Already wounded by Benita, it too staggers and crumbles to dust. The war cleric advances to V23, where Hollow Ones continue to advance toward him, surrounding him on both sides.
Varielky’s sword slices through Hollow One 23 straight through its upper body, then swipes its legs, severing them at the knees -- which were still trying to roundhouse kick her. The undead crumbles to bits and falls.
Dolkum extends up and over, then drops his hammer down on the back of Hollow One 19’s neck. It pitches forward and Dolkum brings up an armored knee, smashing through its chest but it fights on.
Py zips out of telepathic range. (OOC: it will take about 6 minutes for Py to fly the half-mile and back with reconnaissance information).
Auger’s statement draws a look from the burly dwarf next to Benita, the meaning of which is hard to make out. At least, he doesn’t decide to attack Auger. Benita is gripping her abdomen in pain, but continues to glare as Auger’s thunderous spell, meanwhile, explodes through Hollow Ones 28, 31, 27, 29 for 11HP each. The magic which animates them now barely continues to hold their spider web-cracked forms and weapons together, while Hollow Ones 21 and 30 take 5HP damage each.
Benita, facing backwards after having been turned around by the force of the blow she just received, regards Auger curiously for a moment. But as a fine grey powder of porcelain dust poofs over Benita’s head from behind, her attention focuses to her left. She ducks under an oncoming blow from Hollow One 22, then kicks out, stopping its forward motion in its tracks. Responding to Varielky, she shouts “Hit them hard!” She continues her rotation, and with a criss-cross pattern of long and short blades (OOC: Action surge), she pounds the undead relentlessly and it falls and cracks open.
Amistan notches and releases another arrow which whizzes at Hollow One 30, hitting it in the abdomen for 5HP damage. Already weakened by Auger’s spell, its belly gives way, and the top and bottom halves separate from each other, its chest and arms pulling forward, its legs still walking inexorably toward the carriage.
Wad also acknowledges Varielky’s lead with a roar. With a fast exhalation of breath, he taps Hollow One 17’s chin with his shield, “Ha!” causing it to lose its balance for a moment, windmilling. Wad inhales deeply, pulls his axe all the way back and then it snaps forward in a roundhouse (OOC: Action surge). As the undead finds its balance again, the axe meets it head on, and the Hollow One is cut nearly in half, the pieces shattering when they strike the ground.
Hollow One 25 advances to attack Auger with a stone ball and chain. It swings around above the undead’s head and drives down, but is deflected by Auger’s mage armor.
Hollow Ones 24 and 26 attack Wad with stone short sword and battle axe. The sword comes in under his shield, striking his thigh for 3HP.
Hollow Ones 32 and 33 attack Benita with stone spear and mace, as she stumbles on pottery shards. They both hit, battering her between them, for 7HP damage total.
Hollow Ones 28, 34 attack Varielky with stone short sword and battle axe. Surrounded, the shield maiden doesn’t see the last one lunge in, and the axe crits for 8HP damage.
Hollow Ones 27 and 29 attack Ednyss with stone spear and stone mace, and both hit, bruising him under his armor for a total 9HP damage.
Hollow Ones 19, 21 and 31 attack Dolkum with stone spear, mace, and ball & chain, and the mace goes low and cracks his knee, a crit, for 8HP damage total.
The undead continue to advance, and three stream past toward the carriage.
Ednyss maintains his concentration through the first blow, but the second one shakes him and his mind slips in its focus from his spell causing the glow around his War Pick to slowly fade out.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Varielky blocks the first blow and immediately retaliates against the undead by thrusting her longsword under the shield. While doing so, she is hit from behind and screams in pain. She maintains her composure, for now at least, and makes an attack against one of the hurt Hollow Ones around her. After commanding everyone else to attack the half-broken, she can't act opposing to her own words, even though that attack from behind was particularly painful. Varielky listens to the exchanges made with the new person, but only half-mindedly. She must focus on this fight first, and quickly end it. Some have gotten past them. She cannot let her oath be broken so quickly. "Someone stop the ones approaching the cart! Flint, they're coming towards you!" She shouts as she smashes her shield into one of the Hollow Ones near her, trying to knock it prone so that Benita can land her deadly attacks on it. Lately, she had been calling many of you by your real names, more and more often.
Reaction: Riposte manoeuvre against the HO that missed her (I believe it was 28? You didn't specify exactly.) Attack: 26 Damage: 31.
Action: Attack against the nearest wounded HO. In case there aren't any, against the HO that landed the crit on her: 16 Damage: 10. BA: Shield Bash against HO24, or any other in case that one is down already. Athletics: 12.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Hearing a call to protect the cart Auger opts to ignore the Undead directly upon him and again opens his mind to cast his thunderous spell, exhausting his ability to do so again in the process. "We are protecting this cart then? So be it!"
(OOC: Py is beyond my control as a player right now?)
Py
He flies and flies
Auger
Action: Casts Shatter centered at V18. Con saving throw 14 at disadvantage to take half damage. Should target: 30, 37, 39, 40, 19, 21, 31. Damage: 7
Move: Auger hopefully dodges an opportunity attack and moves up to R18
(OOC: Auger's damage roll is not showing right now so attempting again. If it does not work DM please roll for the damage instead)
Shatter Damage try #2: 12
(OOC: and now the original damage roll is showing - I don't know what happened - you know which roll I would choose)
(OOC: Alright... Small problem... Given that everyone already took their turns, it is slightly odd for me to be posting this action as it would likely change what almost every other character would do... Or at the very least who they are making their attacks against. Up to @1973 to let us know how to proceed, but I don't think others would keep their turns exactly as posted given that most of the undead might be turned now...)
"Let the might of Takal Demesh repel you from this fight. Return to your grave, as this is not your battle." Ednyss shouts as he raises his shield to the sky and the emblem engraved on it becomes full of divine energy as the light spreads out 30 feet from him engulfing most of the undead. After shouting his warning, Ednyss waves a hand and commands his spectral shield to finish off one of the few undead that is too far to be affected by his warning. As he turns the undead, he quickly calls out the ones that he senses are not affected by his spell and offers some advice, "The ones that are turned will flee of their own accord. Focus our attacks on the ones that resisted the command."
Move: None
Action: Channel Divinity: Turn Undead As an action, you present your holy symbol and speak a prayer censuring the undead. Each undead that can see or hear you within 30 feet of you must make a DC 15 Wisdom saving throw. If the creature fails its saving throw, it is turned for 1 minute or until it takes any damage. A turned creature must spend its turns trying to move as far away from you as it can, and it can’t willingly move to a space within 30 feet of you. It also can’t take reactions. For its action, it can use only the Dash action or try to escape from an effect that prevents it from moving. If there’s nowhere to move, the creature can use the Dodge action. This affects every undead except for HO40 and HO22.
Ednyss’ spiritual weapon smashes the remains of the Hollow One whose legs it had earlier removed from it, and he begins to intone his prayer.
Varielky’s riposte misses, but dancing in a counterpoint against the shifting light beams emanating from her eyes, the red-steel blade slices off Hollow One 34’s weapon arm, then drives deep into its chest. It crumbles into dust.
Dolkum’s blow to Hollow One 21 drives into its side, where a Word from Idiwala tuba-blasts outward shattering it to dust. ‘SVALL!!’
The Hollow Ones continue to surge forward, and as Ednyss utters his prayer, three of them grapple him and threaten to squeeze the breath out of him. Then, struggling under their lifeless weight, the war cleric raises his shield. One of the Hollow Ones fights to pull it back down -- to no avail -- and radiant light pulses out from its surface, passing harmlessly through all living things, but cutting through the necrotic energy which binds purpose to the unthinking forms of the haunted undead like a dwarven pick through soft limestone. Their hold on Ednyss suddenly releases, their weapons drop to their sides, and all of them stagger back in the direction they came. All, that is, except for two (39 & 40), shambling inexorably toward Granophyre’s carriage as Amistan’s eyes widen in fear and Flint grimaces and hefts his axe.
Auger has kept the last Hollow Ones in view, and his spell crashes through them, rendering them to dust, and Amistan drops his bow, relief clearly drawn on his face. Flint walks up and pokes the remains with his axe before he is satisfied that they have been rendered harmless.
Surrounded by mounds of cracked pottery shards, everyone can take a breath. The assault has ended.
(OOC: since you now have a moment to look at each other, and Auger is, of course, a stranger to the party -- as the others are to him -- please take a moment to describe your character.)
Varielky notices the stranger approaching the cart and dashes forward to intercept him, jumping over the piles of ceramics to reach in time. By the time she gets there, the stranger is only a few feet away from the cart. (You said R18, so Varielky runs to R17, (or another appropriate place if we don't really track position now). She can get there if she dashes in one turn (I know we're out of the initiative, but still).) There isn't much space between the man and the cart, but she still gets between them. "One more step forward and we'll have to see if you can do to me whatever it is you did to those statues before my blade pierces your heart."
In front of Auger stands a short Human woman, about 158 cm tall (~5' 2"). Below her livery of the Core of Onyx, Auger can see the shape of a breastplate armour, although it is weirdly shaped as if it doesn't match her exactly. Made for someone a little shorter and wider, so it seems. The shade of purple of her skin is very light. Her hair is bright-brown (about what I use to paint her words above, just in a more natural shade) and is braided into one thick and long braid, reaching lower than the centre of her back. She stands in front of Auger with a round, wooden shield raised between her and Auger, and a red-steel, sharp tip of a sword pointed at Auger's chest from the side of the shield. She's a bit hard to look at, however, since both her eyes emit bright light and she is looking directly at Auger. Plus, since there wasn't much space between Auger and the cart - the space she entered - the two of you stand quite close; her shield only a few centimetres from Auger's body.
"Walk back, slowly. Then, state your name and start explaining. Nobody just happens to walk such a road this late at night, right as we're attacked by a mob of dwarven corpses."
Flint has also advanced between Auger and the carriage doors. He is a brawny dwarf wearing a tunic which bears the sigil of Core of Onyx, over fine chainmail. Over that, a light half-cloak of deep black lined with fine golden thread, and on his head, a top helm fashioned in the shape of a cut gemstone. He bears an ornate battle axe held in one hand, and stands silent and menacingly before Auger, who is now cornered by Flint and Varielky under the tree (at T19).
Amistan follows suit, moves back to the top front passenger seat of the carriage, and notches an arrow but it hangs down at his side. Auger sees his ice-blue eyes peer steadily out from under a leather hat with a large round rim, from which fall dark, sandy-colored dredlocs over his shoulders. A human, his weathered face bears an impenetrable expression, lit by the flickering light of the campfire.
Benita, the other human woman with a black ponytail and wearing leather armor under livery bearing the Core of Onyx sigil, sheathes her weapons and moves closer, folding her arms and cocking an eyebrow.
The other dwarf, Wad, who had noticed Auger before, moves closer, his battle axe still gripped in his hand, and his eyes are glued to the path taken by the retreating undead. Auger sees that he and Flint bear a remarkable family resemblance, and are dressed uniformly.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Auger raises his hand and steps back as much as he can, allowing his confusing mist to fade away, slumping against the tree in exhaustion. Seeing no one relax he pauses to consider for a moment, he had not expected distrust after supplying so much help.
All else see a thin man of average height, approaching his middle years, his skin as deep and dark a purple as they have ever seen on a human and his hair in a widow's peak is dark brown, almost black. His robes fit well over leather armor and he carries a quarterstaff and has a dagger and a handaxe by his side that he makes no move towards using. In the light of the lantern Auger still carries you can make out small details. He has a small necklace and the sign of Piya upon it. Noticing the quarterstaff you will see that it has been a partial object of some intricate carving of patterns. His pack is filled with tools of various sorts. Everything is covered with a thin layer of dust. He is clearly weary and you can sense the disappointment at a lack of trust. He begins to speak.
"I heard sounds of fighting. I have abilities that can help. I came to help. Is this the way of the wider world where such help cannot be trusted? I am Dannel Fetherlac and called Auger by those who know me. I am from a small village in Anshin I doubt you have heard of in Anshin Subprefecture."He pauses to look around and see if anyone is relaxing.
"I am traveling to Kalahata and I do move at night but for good reason I'm happy to share momentarily. I only approached this carriage because one of you called for its protection in this fight. If you would hear more I would enjoy a cup of tea by your fire. Perhaps we can share for a moment. Why you were attacked by undead in exchange for my purpose here."
Auger will tell stories of his travels and delay while waiting for Py to return. He does not reveal his true purpose until he can communicate with Py again.
(
OOC: If needed.
Persuasion: 16
Deception: 7
)
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
DM of RotFM | AUGER the Warlock (Archfey & the Chain) / Shadow Sorcerer in Age of Resurgence | Rahui & Javier in Sea of Memory
The carriage door swings open, and Granophyre stands at the entrance. You hear Tuff exiting on the far side.
Auger sees in the carriage doorway, another dwarf, much older than any of the others, with long white hair and beard, wearing a comfortable-looking red coat over exceedingly fine dwarven scale mail under cream-colored light tunic and hose. Gold-rimmed spectacles perch on his nose, and his face has the complexion of brown stone, almost of petrified wood. His movements are as assured as royalty, and he peers at Auger carefully, noting his pendant, his mode of dress, everything, it seems. His eyes also cast about at the piles of pottery shards, knowingly. A small brass or gold figurine in the shape of a sparrow’s body balances atop his head, grows wings and flutters them for a moment as it loses its balance momentarily, then they retract once again like flowing mercury into its metallic form, and it returns to seeming quite inert.
Tuff comes around the far side of the cart. His complexion, Auger notices, is rough and siltstone-colored, and a white beard cascades like an arctic waterfall from his moustache, stopping at a line just below his collarbone. He wears chainmail under a fine tunic, and breeches woven of those particular fibres drawn from subterranean lichen which dwarves of means particularly enjoy, but which other races find itchy and uncomfortable in the extreme. Over this, a black waist-length wool coat, finely embroidered with white and silver threads. Atop his head, a four-tipped hat bearing what must be his family crest.
His glance encompasses the group, then snaps to Mittens’ fallen tent. “The Cat!,” he says, urgently, and glances at Tuff and Wad inquiringly. They shake their heads, and their brows arch, hairily, toward Varielky and Benita. Tuff asks again, “Varielky, Benita. It is your watch. Where is Mittens?” His eyes fall again on Auger, guardedly.
(OOC: Here is a sketch of the carriage. There are stairs on either side which flip down to allow access to the passenger compartment.)
(Also, I forgot to mention, Varielky looks in her mid-twenties, as she is.)
"I don't know. Just as these things appeared, he suddenly rose out of his tent, carried by someone. He gave us a short farewell and then flew away so fast he was gone before I could react. Then the things began to attack, then this person showed up." She points at Auger. Whether she was convinced or not, her superiors are the ones who should make the decision, so Varielky doesn't lower her weapons. "What should we do with this one? He helped us protect the carriage, but I find it strange he appeared just at this time. He claims to have heard fighting sounds, but that means he was already close." Varielky awaits further orders or a change of the situation. For now, she holds her shield in front of her and the sword pointed at the man. He sounded mostly convincing to her, but she also had a feeling he isn't telling all the truth. Everyone has their secrets, she knows, but his circumstances aren't normal. She doesn't trust him.
Benita regards Tuff with a bored expression, her crossed arms now seeming impertinent, as her tone surely is. "Flew off with a little elf girl just in time to miss the fun. He was a Moeitu follower, wasn't he? Maybe this was his way of saying 'Goodbye, fools.' "
She continues, in a more subdued tone directed mostly toward Varielky, "This Southerner tried to help. If it was me, I would have waited down the road. Why risk your life for strangers? But he chose to join our side of the battle." She still glares at Auger though: 'don't get any ideas.'
Granophyre seems interested in Auger. He looks to Tuff, gesturing with his fingers to allow the company to relax. Tuff turns to Varielky and Flint. His glance shows approval, but he nods slightly and makes a subtle gesture as if to say, 'you may lower your weapons.'
In his mind Auger tells Py to get a view and see how many more are coming. Find out where they are originating from.
Auger re-positions, unleashes another blast, hoping to topple more of them in a line.
Py
Action: Uses Invisibility per his ability
Move: Moves 40' to Y25, climbing to 50' up
Perception: 14
Talk: Will communicate a count and location to Auger
Auger
Move: To R24
Action: Target HO17 with Repelling Blast, hoping to topple it 10' into 14 and 12. Attack: 8 Damage: 2
Talk: Will relay information from Py if there is anything to share.
DM of RotFM | AUGER the Warlock (Archfey & the Chain) / Shadow Sorcerer in Age of Resurgence | Rahui & Javier in Sea of Memory
Shield and hammer got it!
War Hammer against HO20 - Attack: 23 Damage: 8
Round 6 Results
The pottery shards on the ground are starting to build up and are becoming a movement hazard. As a result, the marked squares are now difficult terrain. However, all characters can jump over them without sacrificing movement if you start and end the jump in “normal” terrain.
Ednyss’s War Pick thrums its metallic rhythm as he swings in a figure eight and dashes Hollow One 15 to shards.
Varielky, fighting for balance as the undead’s hammer strikes her, fails to connect with her riposte against Hollow One 14. But her sword comes up, clipping off the jaw of the Hollow One just wounded by Auger’s spell, then drops down again, smashing it into pieces. She then whips her shield over and down, rotating and dropping with the motion onto the dwarven undead wielding the chain, and it falls onto its back, prone.
Dolkum smashes into Hollow One 20 with his war hammer. The undead raises its broken shield, but the hammer powers through it. The shield and its arm both shatter. But it still stands.
Py flits higher up, and messages, ‘I can’t see in the dark well enough to count them from here. There’s some moonlight, but I can’t see their point of origin either.’ Py is above many of the trees, but some of them reach as high as 100 feet. ‘Wait...I can barely make out something. I thought it was dead trees at first, but they’re evenly spaced. But it’s half a mile east, upslope.’
Auger’s spell fires, but its intended object, Hollow One 17, lunges unexpectedly at that exact moment. The blast passes behind it, powers over prone Hollow One 14 and into the same tree trunk Auger had blasted Hollow One 12 into before. Rough slabs of bark fly off the tree.
Benita recoils at the blast coming from behind her, turns around and glares at Auger for a moment, a strikingly comely face despite the knit brows. With a northern accent he can’t place, she yells in Jenghen (common), “Is this a thing for you, showing up at the wrong time in the wrong place?” With cat-like agility, she sidesteps, leaps over pottery shards, and comes around to strike Hollow One 14 while it is prone, impaling and crushing its foot for 8HP damage, then as the undead rolls onto its back, she twirls and drops onto it, and her scimitar flashes down toward its chest. But the undead raises its chain between its hands, parrying her sword strike, and kicks her off and back with its leg stump.
Amistan has a clear shot at Hollow One 16, and he nocks an arrow and releases in a smooth motion, which crashes through the statue’s ear for 7HP damage, blowing out the opposite side of its ceramic head, but the undead mindlessly advances.
Wad shifts around, circling Hollow One 17 to sidearm Hollow One 16 with his glowing axe, hitting for 9HP. The undead shatters and rough pieces fall to the ground.
Hollow One 14 moves around Varielky to attack Ednyss, swinging its heavy stone ball but it deflects heavily off of Ednyss’ shield.
Hollow One 17 attacks Wad with a stone mace, clipping his thigh for 4HP damage and the dwarf falls to one knee.
Hollow One 19 swings a stone hatchet at Dolkum, but hits only air.
Hollow One 20 shifts to Ednyss and strikes him in the hip with its stone short sword, but the blow deflects off of Ednyss’ armored skirt.
Hollow One 21 attacks Dolkum with a stone morning star. The pointed spheres catch his shield and create an opening, then rake the paladin's arm when the Hollow One yanks back. With his shield out of the way, the undead head butts Dolkum in the chin with its steel helm, for 4HP damage total.
Hollow One 22 attacks Benita with a stone ball and chain, smashing her in the ribs with an upswing and critting for 8HP damage. Lifted off her feet, she is forced to rotate backwards and lands hard on one knee, gasping for breath.
Hollow One 23 attacks Varielky with a stone battle axe, and slices her sword arm for 6HP damage. Her blade is thrown back toward the encampment and her eyes dim momentarily, but the magical sword teleports back into her hand and her eyes beam magical light again. (RP)
Hollow One 27 attacks Dolkum with a stone spear, but Dolkum hooks it left and past him with his hammer, parrying.
More undead continue to shamble into the melee from the east.
You are now situated like so.
Please post Round 7 actions.
DM for Candlekeep Mysteries // Dev Hornd in Curious Critters // Eclipse Faraway in Gallows Dancer
Dolkumm follows through on the parry, and hammers HO19
Attack: 14 Damage: 7
Varielky turns to Benita, ready to help her, but she is hit from the side and the sword flies away. "This is why one should only die in battle! Look at what happened to those who lived on!" She roars. Varielky begins to 'swing' with her empty hand, but the sword teleports midway and is now slashing its way at the half-broken enemy. Too many enemies, they have to reduce their numbers. "Focus on them one by one!" She yells. "Even the half-broken ones can attack! Make sure we finish them off before attacking another!"
Varielky
Py thinks to continue on ahead and explore the evenly spaced zone, messaging Auger that he will go and take a look he flies east and upslope at full speed.
Responding to Benita (OOC: though he does not know her name of course), Auger says "Yes. I suppose helping you deal with this threat is what I am doing," he says, smiling at her. Reaching into his mind Auger gathers himself for something stronger and viewing a likely spot he creates a momentary zone of silence among the approaching Undead. Momentary as sound almost immediately returns to the spot in an over-loud thunderous rush, damaging all of the undead within range. "Helpful, yes?"
Py
Status: Invisible
Move: Dashes a total of 80' east and maintains his height at ~50' relative to the ground. He should be at O25
Perception: He continues to look for threats in the forest below. 18.
Auger
Move: None
Action: Casts Shatter centered at Y20. 20' radius should affect 28, 27, 29, 21, 30, 31. All must make CON 14 saving throw to take half damage. Since they appear to be made of stone, they have disadvantage on this saving throw. Damage: 20
Persuasion: In case Benita and others might like his charming nature. 23
DM of RotFM | AUGER the Warlock (Archfey & the Chain) / Shadow Sorcerer in Age of Resurgence | Rahui & Javier in Sea of Memory
Ednyss grunts an understanding to Varielky as he touches his amulet. He hesitates for a second and replies, "One at a time seems to be a fine idea, but I have the ability to completely turn some of them if they come a little bit closer." To himself, he mutters, "A few more seconds..." Meanwhile, he keeps slamming his glowing pick into the skeletons as he barrels forward towards the onslaught. If possible, he continues forward trying to get to a place where the skeletons will all be somewhat close to him by his next turn.
(OOC: There are so many targets that I am using this wording for Ednyss' targeting Target A; if A is dead, then attack B; If B is also dead then attack C = A --> B --> C)
Move: As needed to make attacks
Action: Attack (War Pick)
(Against HO20 --> HO14 --> HO27 --> HO28) Attack: 19 Damage: 9
Bonus Action: War Priest (War Pick)
(Against HO20 --> HO14 --> HO27 --> HO28) Attack: 25 Damage: 10
Move: Any remaining movement (if all enemies within 5 feet are dead) used to position as centrally as possible
“The mark of a successful DM is when you have caused more player deaths with doors than dragons, demons, or devils.”
Round 7 Results
Ednyss attacks Hollow One 20, which is missing its shield arm after Dolkum’s attack a few moments ago. His war pick surges through its neck, its helmed head flies into the darkness and the body shatters. Then Ednyss turns and hits Hollow One 14 for 10HP. Already wounded by Benita, it too staggers and crumbles to dust. The war cleric advances to V23, where Hollow Ones continue to advance toward him, surrounding him on both sides.
Varielky’s sword slices through Hollow One 23 straight through its upper body, then swipes its legs, severing them at the knees -- which were still trying to roundhouse kick her. The undead crumbles to bits and falls.
Dolkum extends up and over, then drops his hammer down on the back of Hollow One 19’s neck. It pitches forward and Dolkum brings up an armored knee, smashing through its chest but it fights on.
Py zips out of telepathic range. (OOC: it will take about 6 minutes for Py to fly the half-mile and back with reconnaissance information).
Auger’s statement draws a look from the burly dwarf next to Benita, the meaning of which is hard to make out. At least, he doesn’t decide to attack Auger. Benita is gripping her abdomen in pain, but continues to glare as Auger’s thunderous spell, meanwhile, explodes through Hollow Ones 28, 31, 27, 29 for 11HP each. The magic which animates them now barely continues to hold their spider web-cracked forms and weapons together, while Hollow Ones 21 and 30 take 5HP damage each.
Benita, facing backwards after having been turned around by the force of the blow she just received, regards Auger curiously for a moment. But as a fine grey powder of porcelain dust poofs over Benita’s head from behind, her attention focuses to her left. She ducks under an oncoming blow from Hollow One 22, then kicks out, stopping its forward motion in its tracks. Responding to Varielky, she shouts “Hit them hard!” She continues her rotation, and with a criss-cross pattern of long and short blades (OOC: Action surge), she pounds the undead relentlessly and it falls and cracks open.
Amistan notches and releases another arrow which whizzes at Hollow One 30, hitting it in the abdomen for 5HP damage. Already weakened by Auger’s spell, its belly gives way, and the top and bottom halves separate from each other, its chest and arms pulling forward, its legs still walking inexorably toward the carriage.
Wad also acknowledges Varielky’s lead with a roar. With a fast exhalation of breath, he taps Hollow One 17’s chin with his shield, “Ha!” causing it to lose its balance for a moment, windmilling. Wad inhales deeply, pulls his axe all the way back and then it snaps forward in a roundhouse (OOC: Action surge). As the undead finds its balance again, the axe meets it head on, and the Hollow One is cut nearly in half, the pieces shattering when they strike the ground.
Hollow One 25 advances to attack Auger with a stone ball and chain. It swings around above the undead’s head and drives down, but is deflected by Auger’s mage armor.
Hollow Ones 24 and 26 attack Wad with stone short sword and battle axe. The sword comes in under his shield, striking his thigh for 3HP.
Hollow Ones 32 and 33 attack Benita with stone spear and mace, as she stumbles on pottery shards. They both hit, battering her between them, for 7HP damage total.
Hollow Ones 28, 34 attack Varielky with stone short sword and battle axe. Surrounded, the shield maiden doesn’t see the last one lunge in, and the axe crits for 8HP damage.
Hollow Ones 27 and 29 attack Ednyss with stone spear and stone mace, and both hit, bruising him under his armor for a total 9HP damage.
Hollow Ones 19, 21 and 31 attack Dolkum with stone spear, mace, and ball & chain, and the mace goes low and cracks his knee, a crit, for 8HP damage total.
The undead continue to advance, and three stream past toward the carriage.
You are now situated like so.
Please post actions for Round 8.
DM for Candlekeep Mysteries // Dev Hornd in Curious Critters // Eclipse Faraway in Gallows Dancer
Concentration Check 1 (DC 10): 20
Concentration Check 2 (DC 10): 6
Ednyss maintains his concentration through the first blow, but the second one shakes him and his mind slips in its focus from his spell causing the glow around his War Pick to slowly fade out.
(OOC: I Will post my turn in a separate post.)
“The mark of a successful DM is when you have caused more player deaths with doors than dragons, demons, or devils.”
Varielky blocks the first blow and immediately retaliates against the undead by thrusting her longsword under the shield. While doing so, she is hit from behind and screams in pain. She maintains her composure, for now at least, and makes an attack against one of the hurt Hollow Ones around her. After commanding everyone else to attack the half-broken, she can't act opposing to her own words, even though that attack from behind was particularly painful. Varielky listens to the exchanges made with the new person, but only half-mindedly. She must focus on this fight first, and quickly end it. Some have gotten past them. She cannot let her oath be broken so quickly. "Someone stop the ones approaching the cart! Flint, they're coming towards you!" She shouts as she smashes her shield into one of the Hollow Ones near her, trying to knock it prone so that Benita can land her deadly attacks on it. Lately, she had been calling many of you by your real names, more and more often.
Varielky
Taking a deep calming breath, shrugging his massive shoulders, Dolkumm takes a step towards HO21 and swings his holy hammer just so...<devine smite>
AttackAttack: 13 Damage: 8
divine smite 8
divine smite critical if it applies 14
- Edit to add - if HO21 has been turned then he will cast cure wounds on himself 2
Hearing a call to protect the cart Auger opts to ignore the Undead directly upon him and again opens his mind to cast his thunderous spell, exhausting his ability to do so again in the process. "We are protecting this cart then? So be it!"
(OOC: Py is beyond my control as a player right now?)
Py
He flies and flies
Auger
Action: Casts Shatter centered at V18. Con saving throw 14 at disadvantage to take half damage. Should target: 30, 37, 39, 40, 19, 21, 31. Damage: 7
Move: Auger hopefully dodges an opportunity attack and moves up to R18
(OOC: Auger's damage roll is not showing right now so attempting again. If it does not work DM please roll for the damage instead)
Shatter Damage try #2: 12
(OOC: and now the original damage roll is showing - I don't know what happened - you know which roll I would choose)
DM of RotFM | AUGER the Warlock (Archfey & the Chain) / Shadow Sorcerer in Age of Resurgence | Rahui & Javier in Sea of Memory
(OOC: Alright... Small problem... Given that everyone already took their turns, it is slightly odd for me to be posting this action as it would likely change what almost every other character would do... Or at the very least who they are making their attacks against. Up to @1973 to let us know how to proceed, but I don't think others would keep their turns exactly as posted given that most of the undead might be turned now...)
"Let the might of Takal Demesh repel you from this fight. Return to your grave, as this is not your battle." Ednyss shouts as he raises his shield to the sky and the emblem engraved on it becomes full of divine energy as the light spreads out 30 feet from him engulfing most of the undead. After shouting his warning, Ednyss waves a hand and commands his spectral shield to finish off one of the few undead that is too far to be affected by his warning. As he turns the undead, he quickly calls out the ones that he senses are not affected by his spell and offers some advice, "The ones that are turned will flee of their own accord. Focus our attacks on the ones that resisted the command."
Move: None
Action: Channel Divinity: Turn Undead
As an action, you present your holy symbol and speak a prayer censuring the undead. Each undead that can see or hear you within 30 feet of you must make a DC 15 Wisdom saving throw. If the creature fails its saving throw, it is turned for 1 minute or until it takes any damage.
A turned creature must spend its turns trying to move as far away from you as it can, and it can’t willingly move to a space within 30 feet of you. It also can’t take reactions. For its action, it can use only the Dash action or try to escape from an effect that prevents it from moving. If there’s nowhere to move, the creature can use the Dodge action.
This affects every undead except for HO40 and HO22.
Bonus Action: Command Spiritual Weapon to attack HO22
(Against HO22) Attack: 18 Damage: 7
Free Action: Talking
“The mark of a successful DM is when you have caused more player deaths with doors than dragons, demons, or devils.”
Round 8 Results
Ednyss’ spiritual weapon smashes the remains of the Hollow One whose legs it had earlier removed from it, and he begins to intone his prayer.
Varielky’s riposte misses, but dancing in a counterpoint against the shifting light beams emanating from her eyes, the red-steel blade slices off Hollow One 34’s weapon arm, then drives deep into its chest. It crumbles into dust.
Dolkum’s blow to Hollow One 21 drives into its side, where a Word from Idiwala tuba-blasts outward shattering it to dust. ‘SVALL!!’
The Hollow Ones continue to surge forward, and as Ednyss utters his prayer, three of them grapple him and threaten to squeeze the breath out of him. Then, struggling under their lifeless weight, the war cleric raises his shield. One of the Hollow Ones fights to pull it back down -- to no avail -- and radiant light pulses out from its surface, passing harmlessly through all living things, but cutting through the necrotic energy which binds purpose to the unthinking forms of the haunted undead like a dwarven pick through soft limestone. Their hold on Ednyss suddenly releases, their weapons drop to their sides, and all of them stagger back in the direction they came. All, that is, except for two (39 & 40), shambling inexorably toward Granophyre’s carriage as Amistan’s eyes widen in fear and Flint grimaces and hefts his axe.
Auger has kept the last Hollow Ones in view, and his spell crashes through them, rendering them to dust, and Amistan drops his bow, relief clearly drawn on his face. Flint walks up and pokes the remains with his axe before he is satisfied that they have been rendered harmless.
Surrounded by mounds of cracked pottery shards, everyone can take a breath. The assault has ended.
(OOC: since you now have a moment to look at each other, and Auger is, of course, a stranger to the party -- as the others are to him -- please take a moment to describe your character.)
DM for Candlekeep Mysteries // Dev Hornd in Curious Critters // Eclipse Faraway in Gallows Dancer
Varielky notices the stranger approaching the cart and dashes forward to intercept him, jumping over the piles of ceramics to reach in time. By the time she gets there, the stranger is only a few feet away from the cart. (You said R18, so Varielky runs to R17, (or another appropriate place if we don't really track position now). She can get there if she dashes in one turn (I know we're out of the initiative, but still).) There isn't much space between the man and the cart, but she still gets between them. "One more step forward and we'll have to see if you can do to me whatever it is you did to those statues before my blade pierces your heart."
In front of Auger stands a short Human woman, about 158 cm tall (~5' 2"). Below her livery of the Core of Onyx, Auger can see the shape of a breastplate armour, although it is weirdly shaped as if it doesn't match her exactly. Made for someone a little shorter and wider, so it seems. The shade of purple of her skin is very light. Her hair is bright-brown (about what I use to paint her words above, just in a more natural shade) and is braided into one thick and long braid, reaching lower than the centre of her back. She stands in front of Auger with a round, wooden shield raised between her and Auger, and a red-steel, sharp tip of a sword pointed at Auger's chest from the side of the shield. She's a bit hard to look at, however, since both her eyes emit bright light and she is looking directly at Auger. Plus, since there wasn't much space between Auger and the cart - the space she entered - the two of you stand quite close; her shield only a few centimetres from Auger's body.
"Walk back, slowly. Then, state your name and start explaining. Nobody just happens to walk such a road this late at night, right as we're attacked by a mob of dwarven corpses."
Varielky
Flint has also advanced between Auger and the carriage doors. He is a brawny dwarf wearing a tunic which bears the sigil of Core of Onyx, over fine chainmail. Over that, a light half-cloak of deep black lined with fine golden thread, and on his head, a top helm fashioned in the shape of a cut gemstone. He bears an ornate battle axe held in one hand, and stands silent and menacingly before Auger, who is now cornered by Flint and Varielky under the tree (at T19).
Amistan follows suit, moves back to the top front passenger seat of the carriage, and notches an arrow but it hangs down at his side. Auger sees his ice-blue eyes peer steadily out from under a leather hat with a large round rim, from which fall dark, sandy-colored dredlocs over his shoulders. A human, his weathered face bears an impenetrable expression, lit by the flickering light of the campfire.
Benita, the other human woman with a black ponytail and wearing leather armor under livery bearing the Core of Onyx sigil, sheathes her weapons and moves closer, folding her arms and cocking an eyebrow.
The other dwarf, Wad, who had noticed Auger before, moves closer, his battle axe still gripped in his hand, and his eyes are glued to the path taken by the retreating undead. Auger sees that he and Flint bear a remarkable family resemblance, and are dressed uniformly.
DM for Candlekeep Mysteries // Dev Hornd in Curious Critters // Eclipse Faraway in Gallows Dancer
Auger raises his hand and steps back as much as he can, allowing his confusing mist to fade away, slumping against the tree in exhaustion. Seeing no one relax he pauses to consider for a moment, he had not expected distrust after supplying so much help.
All else see a thin man of average height, approaching his middle years, his skin as deep and dark a purple as they have ever seen on a human and his hair in a widow's peak is dark brown, almost black. His robes fit well over leather armor and he carries a quarterstaff and has a dagger and a handaxe by his side that he makes no move towards using. In the light of the lantern Auger still carries you can make out small details. He has a small necklace and the sign of Piya upon it. Noticing the quarterstaff you will see that it has been a partial object of some intricate carving of patterns. His pack is filled with tools of various sorts. Everything is covered with a thin layer of dust. He is clearly weary and you can sense the disappointment at a lack of trust. He begins to speak.
"I heard sounds of fighting. I have abilities that can help. I came to help. Is this the way of the wider world where such help cannot be trusted? I am Dannel Fetherlac and called Auger by those who know me. I am from a small village in Anshin I doubt you have heard of in Anshin Subprefecture." He pauses to look around and see if anyone is relaxing.
"I am traveling to Kalahata and I do move at night but for good reason I'm happy to share momentarily. I only approached this carriage because one of you called for its protection in this fight. If you would hear more I would enjoy a cup of tea by your fire. Perhaps we can share for a moment. Why you were attacked by undead in exchange for my purpose here."
Auger will tell stories of his travels and delay while waiting for Py to return. He does not reveal his true purpose until he can communicate with Py again.
(
OOC: If needed.
Persuasion: 16
Deception: 7
)
DM of RotFM | AUGER the Warlock (Archfey & the Chain) / Shadow Sorcerer in Age of Resurgence | Rahui & Javier in Sea of Memory
The carriage door swings open, and Granophyre stands at the entrance. You hear Tuff exiting on the far side.
Auger sees in the carriage doorway, another dwarf, much older than any of the others, with long white hair and beard, wearing a comfortable-looking red coat over exceedingly fine dwarven scale mail under cream-colored light tunic and hose. Gold-rimmed spectacles perch on his nose, and his face has the complexion of brown stone, almost of petrified wood. His movements are as assured as royalty, and he peers at Auger carefully, noting his pendant, his mode of dress, everything, it seems. His eyes also cast about at the piles of pottery shards, knowingly. A small brass or gold figurine in the shape of a sparrow’s body balances atop his head, grows wings and flutters them for a moment as it loses its balance momentarily, then they retract once again like flowing mercury into its metallic form, and it returns to seeming quite inert.
Tuff comes around the far side of the cart. His complexion, Auger notices, is rough and siltstone-colored, and a white beard cascades like an arctic waterfall from his moustache, stopping at a line just below his collarbone. He wears chainmail under a fine tunic, and breeches woven of those particular fibres drawn from subterranean lichen which dwarves of means particularly enjoy, but which other races find itchy and uncomfortable in the extreme. Over this, a black waist-length wool coat, finely embroidered with white and silver threads. Atop his head, a four-tipped hat bearing what must be his family crest.
His glance encompasses the group, then snaps to Mittens’ fallen tent. “The Cat!,” he says, urgently, and glances at Tuff and Wad inquiringly. They shake their heads, and their brows arch, hairily, toward Varielky and Benita. Tuff asks again, “Varielky, Benita. It is your watch. Where is Mittens?” His eyes fall again on Auger, guardedly.
(OOC: Here is a sketch of the carriage. There are stairs on either side which flip down to allow access to the passenger compartment.)
DM for Candlekeep Mysteries // Dev Hornd in Curious Critters // Eclipse Faraway in Gallows Dancer
(Also, I forgot to mention, Varielky looks in her mid-twenties, as she is.)
"I don't know. Just as these things appeared, he suddenly rose out of his tent, carried by someone. He gave us a short farewell and then flew away so fast he was gone before I could react. Then the things began to attack, then this person showed up." She points at Auger. Whether she was convinced or not, her superiors are the ones who should make the decision, so Varielky doesn't lower her weapons. "What should we do with this one? He helped us protect the carriage, but I find it strange he appeared just at this time. He claims to have heard fighting sounds, but that means he was already close." Varielky awaits further orders or a change of the situation. For now, she holds her shield in front of her and the sword pointed at the man. He sounded mostly convincing to her, but she also had a feeling he isn't telling all the truth. Everyone has their secrets, she knows, but his circumstances aren't normal. She doesn't trust him.
Varielky
Benita regards Tuff with a bored expression, her crossed arms now seeming impertinent, as her tone surely is. "Flew off with a little elf girl just in time to miss the fun. He was a Moeitu follower, wasn't he? Maybe this was his way of saying 'Goodbye, fools.' "
She continues, in a more subdued tone directed mostly toward Varielky, "This Southerner tried to help. If it was me, I would have waited down the road. Why risk your life for strangers? But he chose to join our side of the battle." She still glares at Auger though: 'don't get any ideas.'
Granophyre seems interested in Auger. He looks to Tuff, gesturing with his fingers to allow the company to relax. Tuff turns to Varielky and Flint. His glance shows approval, but he nods slightly and makes a subtle gesture as if to say, 'you may lower your weapons.'
DM for Candlekeep Mysteries // Dev Hornd in Curious Critters // Eclipse Faraway in Gallows Dancer