conversations: human
conversations:  The group is on the road, having left the metropolis of Adamar two days prior. You are less than 10 minutes from the town of Derrag. Reports say that a number of assualts by the undead have hit the city but they were able to hold the monsters off. You were asked to report to the city guard to reinforce their defences and seek a way to stop these attacks.
  
  The city is surrounded by the Forgotten Forest and from where you are it is obscured by the tall trees. However, you can see smoke rising from the tree line in the direction of the town. The smoke is black, and too thick to be a simple fire. Something is wrong.
conversations: Croverus:
conversations: human
conversations:  "That does not bode well." 
  Arzimon loosens his sword in its sheath and fingers the hilt nervously.
   "We should be on our guard; we do not know what horrors may await us." 
conversations: Elfin:
conversations: human
conversations:  Bree looks at the smoke, then at Arzimon. " Aye, lets get moving. Mayhap they need our help now. " She utters garbled words and waves her hands briefly in the air, throwing a pinch of dirt on herself.
  
  (Casting longstrider, +10' speed lasts 1 hour, brings my speed up to 30'.)
conversations: Parlity:
conversations: human
conversations:  "If you do not mind, I shall take the lead." 
  Arzimon will make his way to the front of the party and draw his great blade.
conversations: Elfin:
conversations: human
conversations:  "I'll be somewhere in the middle of the pack, and it would be best to have our two most powerful warriors on either end." 
  Ivellios steps in the middle of the group, his watchful eyes scanning the horizon.
conversations: Angry Rogue:
conversations: human
conversations:  "You might want to quicken your pace if we are to even get there before those abominations scour whatever is left of the town. Onward, gentlemen."  Airlyn marches alongside whoever is at the front of the group, keeping her eyes on the road ahead.
conversations: MOLOKH:
conversations: human
conversations:  Bree falls in beside Ivellios.
  
  (retro: Bree grasps her holy symbol of a humanoid walking under a sun, while she casts her spell.)
conversations: Parlity:
conversations: human
conversations:  After some marching you can see the front gates to the town just ahead through the trees. They are thrown open wide, one of the wooden doors is splintered along its hinges, twisted at an angle. There are footprints and a pool of blood, with trials leading into the gates and the bushes.
  
   
   Spoiler 
  Everyone role spot and listen checks.
   
conversations: Croverus:
conversations: human
conversations:  DM
   
   Spoiler 
  spot  (1d20+2)[ 15 ] 
  listen  (1d20+2)[ 11 ] 
   
conversations: MOLOKH:
conversations: human
conversations:  "Let us keep alert. We may be attacked at any moment."
   
   
   Spoiler 
  Spot and Listen checks:
   (1d20+2)[ 6 ] 
   (1d20+2)[ 18 ] 
   
conversations: Elfin:
conversations: human
conversations:  Spoiler 
  Spot: (1d20+3)[ 20 ] 
  Listen: (1d20+3)[ 17 ] 
   
conversations: Parlity:
conversations: human
conversations:  Spoiler 
   Spot [roll]1d20+6[roll] Listen [roll]1d20+6[/roll]
   
  
  
  Arg, made a mistake, gonna have to double post
conversations: Angry Rogue:
conversations: human
conversations:  Spoiler 
   Spot [roll]1d20+6[roll] Listen [roll0]
   
conversations: Angry Rogue:
conversations: human
conversations:  Spoiler 
   Spot [roll0] Listen [roll1]
   
  
  
  ARRRG!!! really sorry for triple posting....
  
  EDIT: why is the world so cruel.....Im posting rolls in ooc.
conversations: Angry Rogue:
conversations: human
conversations:  Erark remains dead silent, back straight, and looking all ordely and dignififed
conversations: Lerky:
conversations: human
conversations:  MOLOKH and Parlity
   
   Spoiler 
   You spot figures moving out of the corners of your eye, they don't seem to be approaching though, just circling.
   
  
  
  All of you hear rustling coming from the bushes around you but nothing appears from the bushes. There is also a bit of rattling, like bones grinding against eachother.
conversations: Croverus:
conversations: human
conversations:  Erark readies his two hammers and gets in a battle ready postion
conversations: Lerky:
conversations: human
conversations:  "Do you see anything?" 
  Arzimon nervously fingers the hilt of his sword.
conversations: Elfin:
conversations: human
conversations:  Nay...but I 'ear tah bones a crackin' like Dwarven wah drums... 
  Erark makes sure to keep his voice down
conversations: Lerky:
conversations: human
conversations:  In a low voice, Bree says, " There be figures circling us and not approaching. We can call out to them, but I fear they be the undead and the town has fallen. "
conversations: Parlity:
conversations: human
conversations:  "Let me just confirm that for you before whatever is hiding there gets a chance to fully encircle and ambush us." 
   
   Spoiler 
  Airlyn casts Detect Undead in the direction of the nearest bushes. If there is indeed an undead aura she will study it for the appropriate duration (3 rounds). After that, or if there is no undead aura, she will continue to slowly turn the cone-shaped detection area around the party and examine anything else she notices until she has checked out everything in her surrounding or the spell ends (duration - 1 min.; range - 60ft.).
   
conversations: MOLOKH:
conversations: human
conversations:  "Let us prepare a defensive formation. I shall take the front; the other warriors should guard the flanks. Any who are not suited to melee combat should stay in the middle.
  Agreed?" 
conversations: Elfin:
conversations: human
conversations:  " Agreed ." Bree steps between Erark and Arzimon. She grasps her holy symbol in her right hand and her morningstar in her left.
conversations: Parlity:
conversations: human
conversations:  Erark joins the formation, giving a grumbled agreement
conversations: Lerky:
conversations: human
conversations:  Originally Posted by MOLOKH 
    "Let me just confirm that for you before whatever is hiding there gets a chance to fully encircle and ambush us." 
   
   Spoiler 
  Airlyn casts Detect Undead in the direction of the nearest bushes. If there is indeed an undead aura she will study it for the appropriate duration (3 rounds). After that, or if there is no undead aura, she will continue to slowly turn the cone-shaped detection area around the party and examine anything else she notices until she has checked out everything in her surrounding or the spell ends (duration - 1 min.; range - 60ft.).
   
   
   
  
  Airlyn Only
   
   Spoiler 
  Your detect undead reports there are undead in the bushes. After studying them there are three auras, two on the left side of the path and one on the right, all three auras are faint.
   
  
  
  The sound of bones continue but nothing jumps out of the bushes at you.
conversations: Croverus:
conversations: human
conversations:  Arzimon glances around nervously, then breathes deeply.
   "Come, let us proceed." 
conversations: Elfin:
conversations: human
conversations:  An arrow flies out from the bushes at Arzomin and goes past, missing him.
conversations: Croverus:
conversations: human
conversations:  "Not so fast, Longblade. Let me finish - those are definitely undead in there. Three of them. You guys take care of the two on the left. I'm going for the one on the right." 
  
  Airlyn points to the location of the two undead auras, then casts Mage Armor on herself and proceeds towards the single aura.
conversations: MOLOKH:
conversations: human
conversations:  Bree lets her holy symbol fall to her chest and raises her wooden shield higher. She says, " There be two blood trails here, one into the bushes and one into town. Let's be saving as many townsfolk as we can. "
conversations: Parlity:
conversations: human
conversations:  should we split up? One group the head to the town and one group to finish these undead? 
conversations: Lerky:
conversations: human
conversations:  "Nay; we will be stronger as a group- we should first deal with this threat, and then move on to the town. Let us give these horrors a taste of cold steel!" 
conversations: Elfin:
conversations: human
conversations:  " Very well. " Bree follows Arzimon, clutching her shield and morningstar.
conversations: Parlity:
conversations: human
conversations:  As Airlyn approaches the lone source, there is a clattering of bones and a skeleton jumps out from the bushes, wielding a shortsword and buckler. Its rags hint that it might have been a member of the town militia. It's about 10 ft from Airlyn, and appears ready to charge at her.
  
  Meanwhile a second skeleton similar to the first exits the bushes to face the res tof the group, a third skeleton stepping into view, notching another arrow in its bow.
conversations: Croverus:
conversations: human
conversations:  Arzimon turns to Bree and grimaces, then with a battle-cry charges straight at the skeleton before the cleric. His greatsword glimmers in the dying sunlight as the blade falls upon the undead horror.
  
   
   Spoiler 
  Making a charge attack against the skeleton, PAing for 1 point.
  Attack:
   (1d20+9)[ 20 ] 
  Damage:
   (2d6+8)[ 12 ] 
   
conversations: Elfin:
conversations: human
conversations:  ((Oh snap, I forgot to say: Everyone roll for initiative!))
  
  Skeletons
   
   Spoiler 
  Melee Skellies (1d20+5)[ 20 ] 
  Archer Skellie (1d20+5)[ 6 ] 
   
conversations: Croverus:
conversations: human
conversations:  Spoiler 
  initiative  (1d20+2)[ 3 ] 
   
conversations: MOLOKH:
conversations: human
conversations:  Spoiler 
  Oops, sorry.
  Initiative:
   (1d20+2)[ 19 ] 
   
conversations: Elfin:
conversations: human
conversations:  Spoiler 
  initiative:  (1d20)[ 14 ] 
   
conversations: Parlity:
conversations: human
conversations:  Bree follows Arzimon into battle.
  
   
   Spoiler 
  Runs to the left of Arzimon and attacks the melee skeleton if it survives Arzimon's attack.
  
  Otherwise runs to the archer skeleton. Beats down the bushes to remove cover and clear the way if it has cover left by her turn. Will attack if she has actions left.
  
  Attack roll:  (1d20)[ 10 ] 
  Damage roll:  (1d8)[ 3 ] 
   
conversations: Parlity:
conversations: human
conversations:  Spoiler 
   Skeleton attacking Arzimmon
  Hit  (1d20+1)[ 2 ] 
  Damage  (1d6+1)[ 3 ] 
  
  Skeleton attacking Airlyn
  Hit  (1d20+1)[ 5 ] 
  Damage  (1d20+1)[ 17 ] 
   
  
  
  As the skeletons attack they both miss their targets. The one facing Arzimmon raises its buckler to try and defend itself, but his sword smashes through it, destroying it completely.
conversations: Croverus:
conversations: human
conversations:  Spoiler 
   Archer Skellie
  Attack  (1d20+2)[ 17 ] 
  Damage  (1d6)[ 6 ] 
   
  
  
  The archer skellington notches a second arrow, aiming at the cleric now and firing off a strong shot, hitting the cleric for 6 damage. It reaches into its quiver for its next arrow.
conversations: Croverus:
conversations: human
conversations:  " Aaaa! " Bree screams in pain as the arrow strikes her. She cowers under her shield and pokes at the archer with her morningstar.
  
   
   Spoiler 
  fighting defensively +2 ac -4 attack AC 18/16 hp 2/8
  Attack  (1d20-4)[ 4 ] 
  Damage  (1d8)[ 1 ] 
   
conversations: Parlity:
conversations: human
conversations:  (retro) Bree cowers under her shield as she stands next to the archer skeleton.
conversations: Parlity:
conversations: human
conversations:  Airlyn easily dodges the skeleton's blow and looks at it in annoyance.
  
   "So this is the way you are going to be, is it?" 
  
  She shoots her arm at the skeleton's skull in an atempt to grab it's head.
  
   
   Spoiler 
  grapple start
  touch attack:  (1d20+2)[ 18 ] 
   
conversations: MOLOKH:
conversations: human
conversations:  OOC
   
   Spoiler 
  I'll just assume an 18 hits it's touch AC and play on.
   
  
  
  Grabbing the skeleton's swordarm with one hand and plunging her other hand's fingers into it's eyesockets, Airlyn starts to violently shake and pull it's head.
  
   
   Spoiler 
  grapple check  (1d20+6)[ 18 ] 
  dmg  (1d3+2)[ 4 ] 
   
conversations: MOLOKH:
conversations: human
conversations:  "Make haste! Let us send these foul abominations back to the abyss, that we might all the swifter discover the source of this taint upon the lands of Light!" 
conversations: Elfin:
conversations: human
conversations:  The skeleton struggles, trying to break free of Airlyn's grasp.
  
   
   Spoiler 
  
   (1d20+1)[ 11 ] 
   
conversations: Croverus:
conversations: human
conversations:  Lifting his mighty greatsword above his head, Arzimon charges at the skeleton archer.
  
   
   Spoiler 
  Charging, 1Pt PA.
  Attack:
   (1d20+9)[ 23 ] 
  Damage:
   (2d6+7)[ 14 ] 
   
conversations: Elfin:
conversations: human
conversations:  The archer skeleton feebly raises its bow to try and defend itself but you shatter it to pieces just as thoroughly as the other skeleton. The only remaining skeleton is the one grappling with Airlyn.
conversations: Croverus:
conversations: human
conversations:  Bree grasps her holy symbol and prays.
   
   Spoiler 
  Casting Cure light wounds spontaneously on self.  (1d8+1)[ 6 ] 
   
conversations: Parlity:
conversations: human
conversations:  "Quit squirming, you!" 
  
  Airlyn continues to tug the skeleton's head.
  
   
   Spoiler 
  She moves into the skeleton's space to maintain the grapple and tries to rip it's head off, God-of-War-style.
  
  grapple  (1d20+6)[ 21 ] 
  dmg [roll1d3+2[/roll]
   
conversations: MOLOKH:
conversations: human
conversations:  Its body pulls violently and its head rips off. For a moment the head appears to try to scream silently and the body reaches for the head then falls into a heap. Everything grow quite as the bones settle on the ground.
conversations: Croverus:
conversations: human
conversations:  "Whew. That was quite something." 
  Arzimon wipes sweat from his brow and strides back to the front of the group.
conversations: Elfin:
conversations: human
conversations:  With no sign of any more enemies, the group can safely move on if they wish.
conversations: Croverus:
conversations: human
conversations:  Airlyn eyes the skull in her hand and then the bushes where the skeleton appeared from.  "Hm."  She walks into the bushes, pushing them aside and looks around.
   
   Spoiler 
   Spot  (1d20+2)[ 12 ]  for anything that might give hints about the skeleton's creation, purpose ot anything related to it in general.
   
conversations: MOLOKH:
conversations: human
conversations:  " It was, ye and Airlyn are great at fighting these creatures. " Bree looks at the archer skelly. " I wonder what poor soul became this terrible creature. "
  
  " If this blood trail be fresh, mayhap we should follow it. Survivors may've fled ".
  
   
   Spoiler 
  Rolling Spot check for clues.  (1d20+3)[ 17 ] 
   
conversations: Parlity:
conversations: human
conversations:  OOC: Just so you know, Spot checks indicate you only lok for something, actually searching (moving stuff, feeling around, etc) is Search checks.
conversations: Croverus:
conversations: human
conversations:  Spoiler 
  I decided Spot was more appropriate because she's just looking around rather then crouching and searching, but as you wish: Search  (1d20+3)[ 16 ] 
   
conversations: MOLOKH:
conversations: human
conversations:  OOC: Makes sense, well maybe both checks can be done, first just to look around, then to get a closer look.
  
  Airlyn
   
   Spoiler 
  
  You glance through the bushes and spot some footprints from the skeleton leading back towards a tree. After searching around a bit, moving bushes aside, you find a tree with a large slash in the trunk about stomach level and a blood spatter, witha  small pool of blood leading around tot eh other side of the tree. A broken pitchfork lies a few feet to the side.
   
  
  
  Parlity
   
   Spoiler 
  
  The blood trail is too scattered, probably by the skeletons, but you find a pile of... it looks like dead skin and hair, you can almost make out what might have one been someone's face.
   
conversations: Croverus:
conversations: human
conversations:  " This ... this be the most gruesome thing I've ever seen. Arzimon and Airlyn, look at this! It be like the skeleton crawled out o the skin! "
  
  " I don't be thinking there's any survivors out here. We can give these skeletons a proper last rites after we check for survivors. Let's go inside town, " Bree says grimly.
conversations: Parlity:
conversations: human
conversations:  Spoiler 
  Is there something on the other side of the tree? If not...
   
  
  
  Grimacing, Airlyn walks out of the bushes and heads for the party still with the skeleton's head in hand.
  
   What? Are you done over there? If everyone else is ready as well, we should head out." 
conversations: MOLOKH:
conversations: human
conversations:  "Repulsive indeed. Whatever has done this shall pay, you can be sure of it."
   Arzimon turns back toward the rest of the party.
   "Are you ready to proceed?" 
conversations: Elfin:
conversations: human
conversations:  " Ready, " Bree says.
conversations: Parlity: