63: Never tell me the odds

[Ebiris]

[12:42] <@Ebiris> Hot on the trail of the elusive Than imposter, the party follows the somewhat limping Val through the steadily thickening forest South of Lessmus. It's slow going, both for Val to acquire and maintain the scent that he doggedly pursues and for Lucie to keep him from blundering into anymore traps, thus the miles crawl by and afternoon steadily darkens towards evening. The forest's shadows darken and threaten all manner of ambush and trickery to waylay the heroes in their righteous pursuit...
[12:43] <@Rudy> "It's dark," grumbles Rudy, putting a light spell on the end of his crossbow.
[12:44] * @Lucie walks with her mace at the ready, also lit up for ease of travel.
[12:45] * @Henrietta was about to do likewise with her flail, but two light sources really is quite enough.
[12:45] <@Ebiris> "At least they'll see us coming!" Liamae remarks cheerfully, before lowering her voice, "Don't worry, I can see for miles with just starlight. I'll see them, too."
[12:45] <@Ebiris> OOC: Strike, I'm dumb
[12:46] <@Ebiris> Val barks before putting his nose back to the ground!
[12:48] <@Ebiris> OOC: roll perception guys?
[12:48] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+8 dog
[12:48] * +Hatbot --> "Ebiris rolls 1d20+8 dog and gets 21." [1d20=13]
[12:48] <@Rudy> OOC: Also Myra is there, sorry
[12:48] <@Lucie> roll 1d20+14 hatsense
[12:48] * +Hatbot --> "Lucie rolls 1d20+14 hatsense and gets 23." [1d20=9]
[12:48] <@Henrietta> roll 1d20+2
[12:48] * +Hatbot --> "Henrietta rolls 1d20+2 and gets 7." [1d20=5]
[12:48] <@Rudy> roll 1d20+14 m
[12:48] * +Hatbot --> "Rudy rolls 1d20+14 m and gets 21." [1d20=7]
[12:48] <@Rudy> roll 1d20+1 r
[12:48] * +Hatbot --> "Rudy rolls 1d20+1 r and gets 10." [1d20=9]
[12:52] <@Ebiris> Another ten minutes pass after lighting up when Val abruptly stiffens and Lucie can barely see someone a hundred and twenty feet ahead rising out of some bushes and levelling a bow at the party!
[12:52] <@Ebiris> OOC: roll init everyone, this is a surprise round so only Lucie. dog, and archer get to go
[12:52] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+2 Val
[12:52] * +Hatbot --> "Ebiris rolls 1d20+2 Val and gets 10." [1d20=8]
[12:52] <@Rudy> roll 1d20+5 rudyinit
[12:52] * +Hatbot --> "Rudy rolls 1d20+5 rudyinit and gets 20." [1d20=15]
[12:52] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+2 archer
[12:52] * +Hatbot --> "Ebiris rolls 1d20+2 archer and gets 7." [1d20=5]
[12:52] <@Rudy> roll 1d20+6 myrainit
[12:52] * +Hatbot --> "Rudy rolls 1d20+6 myrainit and gets 14." [1d20=8]
[12:53] <@Lucie> roll 1d20+8
[12:53] * +Hatbot --> "Lucie rolls 1d20+8 and gets 12." [1d20=4]
[12:53] <@Henrietta> roll 1d20+3
[12:53] * +Hatbot --> "Henrietta rolls 1d20+3 and gets 10." [1d20=7]
[12:53] * Ebiris changes topic to 'Rudy > Myra > Lucie > Henrietta > Val > Archer'
[12:54] <@Ebiris> OOC: Go Lucie
[12:55] <@Lucie> "There, in the bushes!" Lucie shouts to her companions as the lone figure appears. She immediately bolts forward to try and close the distance before this mysterious assailant can shoot them all down.
[12:58] <@Ebiris> OOC: running or double-moving, Lucie?
[12:58] <@Lucie> OOC: whichever gets me farther!
[13:02] <@Ebiris> Val hares off right after Lucie, albeit not quite as fast as her sudden burst of speed! She's almost in the archer's face, where she can clearly recognise him as the wispy-haired young man from earlier. But with his bow drawn he takes the target readily available to him, even with a displeased snarl at how readily his attempted ambush was foiled. Not that that stops him shooting an arrow in her face before hustling back another thirty feet!
[13:03] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+9
[13:03] * +Hatbot --> "Ebiris rolls 1d20+9 and gets 25." [1d20=16]
[13:03] <@Ebiris> roll 1d8+2
[13:03] * +Hatbot --> "Ebiris rolls 1d8+2 and gets 10." [1d8=8]
[13:04] <@Ebiris> The arrow hits Lucie right in the chest, punching through the flesh just above her breast and robbing her of breath momentarily! She recovers swiftly, seeminly not at a fatal wound from the attack...
[13:04] <@Ebiris> OOC: Rudy
[13:05] * @Lucie staggers several feet, clutching at the arrow piercing her. "So much for taking YOU alive!" she barks at her assailant.
[13:05] <@Rudy> Rudy values volume over accuracy, and technology over the outdated techniques of the past! The crossbow fires rapidly!
[13:05] <@Rudy> roll 1d20+6
[13:05] * +Hatbot --> "Rudy rolls 1d20+6 and gets 17." [1d20=11]
[13:05] <@Rudy> roll 1d20+6
[13:05] * +Hatbot --> "Rudy rolls 1d20+6 and gets 26." [1d20=20]
[13:05] <@Rudy> roll 1d20+6 crittage
[13:05] * +Hatbot --> "Rudy rolls 1d20+6 crittage and gets 11." [1d20=5]
[13:06] <@Ebiris> OOC: does that include range increment for a target 150 feet away?
[13:06] <@Rudy> OOC: I'm just going to say this is the first time range increments have ever happened to me
[13:06] <@Rudy> OOC: And then, no, it doesn't
[13:07] <@Ebiris> OOC: one hit, then
[13:07] <@Rudy> roll 1d8
[13:07] * +Hatbot --> "Rudy rolls 1d8 and gets 4." [1d8=4]
[13:08] <@Ebiris> A bolt whizzes past Lucie close enough to leave her hair fluttering before it embeds itself in the imposter's stomach, pushing partially through his armour! He stagger somewhat himself, but keeps upright!
[13:09] <@Ebiris> OOC: Myra
[13:13] <@Rudy> Myra soars through the sky until she's right over their opponent!
[13:13] <@Ebiris> OOC: Lucie
[13:15] * @Lucie raises one hand to fire a bolt of force at the imposter, thereafter dashing up next to him.
[13:15] <@Lucie> roll 1d20+7 ranged touch
[13:15] * +Hatbot --> "Lucie rolls 1d20+7 ranged touch and gets 27." [1d20=20]
[13:15] <@Lucie> roll 1d20+7 ranged touch crit?
[13:15] * +Hatbot --> "Lucie rolls 1d20+7 ranged touch crit? and gets 14." [1d20=7]
[13:15] <@Ebiris> OOC: hit
[13:15] <@Lucie> roll 4d6 nonlethal
[13:15] * +Hatbot --> "Lucie rolls 4d6 nonlethal and gets 15." [4d6=4, 5, 4, 2]
[13:16] <@Ebiris> OOC: make a reflex save, Lucie?
[13:16] <@Lucie> roll 1d20+6 whuh?
[13:16] * +Hatbot --> "Lucie rolls 1d20+6 whuh? and gets 9." [1d20=3]
[13:16] <@Ebiris> roll 1d6
[13:16] * +Hatbot --> "Ebiris rolls 1d6 and gets 5." [1d6=5]
[13:16] <@Ebiris> OOC: 5 damage, description coming
[13:18] <@Ebiris> Lucie's spell has the faker reeling, but when she runs in to get in his face she finds herself caught in the same sort of trap that got Val earlier! A snare tightens around her ankle and whips up with a nearby tree-branch to hoist her painfully into the air, dangling a few feet off the ground upside down!
[13:18] <@Ebiris> OOC: Henri
[13:19] <@Henrietta> Hurriedly summoning three purple roses, Henrietta sends them after the imposter with a cry of "Stop right there!"
[13:19] <@Henrietta> roll 3d4+3 nonlethal
[13:19] * +Hatbot --> "Henrietta rolls 3d4+3 nonlethal and gets 14." [3d4=4, 4, 3]
[13:19] <@Henrietta> roll 1d20+13 trip
[13:19] * +Hatbot --> "Henrietta rolls 1d20+13 trip and gets 29." [1d20=16]
[13:20] <@Ebiris> Henrietta's roses slam into him one after the other, beating his chest like a drum as he staggers and shakes from the impact before collapsing under her floral assault!
[13:20] <@Ebiris> OOC: free action
[13:21] <@Ebiris> Val runs up towards Lucie and starts bouncing on his feet, jumping up at her and barking wildly!
[13:21] * @Henrietta runs up as well, ready to assist!
[13:23] <@Lucie> "Damn dog, go away!" Lucie snarls, largely blind as her dress has gathered up around her neck in her upside-down state. This hasn't been the most dignified day of her life. "Someone--someone with hands get over here and cut me down! I am going to smash this man's face to pieces.""
[13:23] <@Rudy> Rudy catches up shortly afterwards, whilst Myra resume her skyward patrol. He says nothing, just leaning against a tree and watching Lucie, so he can preserve this moment in his mind forever.
[13:25] <@Henrietta> "His face had been most thoroughly smashed," Henrietta assures Lucie, slowly and carefully cutting her down to avoid harming her too much.
[13:25] <@Ebiris> OOC: fort save, Lucie
[13:26] <@Lucie> roll 1d20+6
[13:26] * +Hatbot --> "Lucie rolls 1d20+6 and gets 7." [1d20=1]
[13:26] <@Ebiris> roll 1d2 con damage
[13:26] * +Hatbot --> "Ebiris rolls 1d2 con damage and gets 1." [1d2=1]
[13:27] <@Ebiris> Although Henrietta gets Lucie down quite professionally and kindly, it doesn't stop her feeling suddenly woozy as her chest constricts painfully, a burning sensation spreading through her veins.
[13:28] <@Henrietta> "Are you quite alright?" Henrietta asks, taking her time before she is to go and bind their prisoner.
[13:28] * @Lucie tumbles to the ground. Stands, covers herself up again and brushes dirt off her dress, retrieves her hat from where it had fallen off. Gives the fallen man a firm boot to the ribs. Draws herself up and addresses her companions. "This didn't happen. No one speaks of it. On pain of pain. We--" She cuts off with a wheeze as something burns and twists inside her.
[13:28] <@Ebiris> OOC: another fort save
[13:28] <@Lucie> roll 1d20+6
[13:28] * +Hatbot --> "Lucie rolls 1d20+6 and gets 10." [1d20=4]
[13:28] <@Ebiris> roll 1d2 con damage
[13:29] * +Hatbot --> "Ebiris rolls 1d2 con damage and gets 2." [1d2=2]
[13:29] <@Ebiris> Lucie isn't alright. Her blood feels on fire, and her vision swims!
[13:29] <@Henrietta> "You mean the way your dress rode up like that? It looked very painful," Henrietta says in concern. "What if we must tell a healer when we bring you to him?"
[13:30] <@Rudy> "Still looks pretty painful. You alright to keep on?" asks Rudy, eyeing Lucie.
[13:30] <@Ebiris> Val starts sniffing around Henrietta's bound captive, wagging his tail and barking triumphantly.
[13:30] <@Lucie> "Dunno," Lucie murmurs, vision swimming for a moment. "Somethin's wrong. Must have...must've poisoned that arrow, maybe?"
[13:31] <@Ebiris> OOC: fort save
[13:31] <@Lucie> roll 1d20+6 c'mon, I have the hat back on!
[13:31] * +Hatbot --> "Lucie rolls 1d20+6 c'mon, I have the hat back on! and gets 10." [1d20=4]
[13:31] <@Ebiris> roll 1d2 con damage
[13:31] <@Henrietta> At those words, Henrietta rushes to their captive to look for anything like an antidote!
[13:31] * +Hatbot --> "Ebiris rolls 1d2 con damage and gets 2." [1d2=2]
[13:31] <@Ebiris> OOC: perception check, Henri
[13:31] <@Henrietta> roll 1d20+2
[13:32] * +Hatbot --> "Henrietta rolls 1d20+2 and gets 8." [1d20=6]
[13:32] <@Rudy> "Maybe the same shit he had on the dagger?" asks Rudy, suddenly worried, and he rushes over to inspect the man's arrows.
[13:33] <@Lucie> "Mebbe," Lucie mumbles, leaning against a nearby tree.
[13:33] <@Ebiris> Henrietta starts fumbling through the prisoner's pockets and pouches in search of an antidote! Rudy finds a quiver on his hip containing just over a dozen crudely fletched arrows.
[13:33] <@Ebiris> OOC: another fort save, Lucie
[13:34] <@Lucie> roll 1d20+6 traitor bot, TRAITOR TO THE HAT CAUSE
[13:34] * +Hatbot --> "Lucie rolls 1d20+6 traitor bot, TRAITOR TO THE HAT CAUSE and gets 25." [1d20=19]
[13:34] * @Rudy takes a quick look at the tips to see if there's any stuff on them, but then goes to help Henri rifle through the man's belongings!
[13:37] <@Ebiris> By the time Rudy's checked the tips (dry) and Henrietta finally finds four vials in various pockets, Lucie's breathing manages to get back under control. Of the vials, two are squat round jars of black glass with a waxed paper seal tightly bound over the top, while other two comprise a long thin cork stoppered wine-bottle green tube, and a tiny brown bottle with an oversized cork stopper.
[13:38] <@Lucie> "'s'okay now, I think," Lucie says eventually, taking a few careful steps, winging when she puts pressure on the ankle that had briefly been in the noose.
[13:38] <@Henrietta> Not relaxing in the slightest, Henrietta decides to see what the green tubes contain!
[13:39] <@Lucie> *winging = wincing
[13:39] <@Henrietta> roll 1d20+10
[13:39] * +Hatbot --> "Henrietta rolls 1d20+10 and gets 22." [1d20=12]
[13:39] <@Ebiris> There's only one green tube, and it's easy to tell that there's a potion of cure light wounds in it.
[13:40] <@Henrietta> The brown bottle is next. She really doesn't want to break a seal on something if she doesn't have to.
[13:40] <@Henrietta> roll 1d20+10
[13:40] * +Hatbot --> "Henrietta rolls 1d20+10 and gets 14." [1d20=4]
[13:41] <@Ebiris> It's not magical at all.
[13:42] <@Henrietta> "Drink this if it gets bad again?" Henrietta suggests, offering the cure potion to Lucie. And then, she can finally demonstrate her knowledge of ancient Jovar techniques by binding their captive with her rope.
[13:43] <@Lucie> "Right, thanks," Lucie says, stuffing the potion in her pack for now. "Find anything else interesting? Or are we down to waiting for him to wake up and questioning him then?"
[13:43] <@Henrietta> "We are quite near the lighthouse, so we can take a look there first?"
[13:44] <@Rudy> "Should I leave Myra to sit on him, or are we dragging him around with us?"
[13:44] <@Lucie> "Right. Be dark before too long anyway, so I'd rather get indoors while we can. Have Myra drag him along? I'm sure not touching him, 'cept to rearrange his face."
[13:48] <@Henrietta> That solution works for Henrietta, and she is ready to set off once more!
[13:48] <@Rudy> Rudy nods. "She'll have to stay back or the dog'll flip," adds Rudy, as Myra descends to grab the man.
[13:55] <@Ebiris> Thus the party continues onwards with Myra dragging the unconscious imposter along far behind. It takes an hour, but the forest starts to thin as the cliffs are approached, the lighthouse becoming visible on a rocky  peninsula jutting somewhat into the lake far ahead. The sun has sunk below the horizon now, starlight peeking through sparse clouds and one full moon in the sky (the other being a fairly slim crescent) to provide thin light against the dusk. Of note is the lighthouse, however, which while unlit in its primary bonfire at the top, is surrounded by glowing lights! They sparkle in hues of red, green, and yellow, winking in and out and forming patterns around and above the lighthouse tower!
[13:57] * @Lucie frowns at this display. "Not the usual kind of display for this buildings, is it?" She walks close enough to the building to find a door.
[13:58] <@Lucie> roll 1d20+11 K:A
[13:58] * +Hatbot --> "Lucie rolls 1d20+11 K:A and gets 17." [1d20=6]
[13:58] <@Henrietta> roll 1d20+6
[13:58] * +Hatbot --> "Henrietta rolls 1d20+6 and gets 18." [1d20=12]
[13:59] <@Ebiris> Henrietta and Lucie can both recognise a dancing lights spell when they see it, Liamae having displayed it a few times in their presence already.
[13:59] <@Rudy> "It's kinda pretty, though?" muses Rudy.
[14:00] <@Henrietta> "There must be a wizard in that tower," Henrietta announces.
[14:00] <@Lucie> "Most like. Should we knock, or you figure whoever it is is probably friends with this joker?" She points to the trussed imposter. "I mean, he was headed this way."
[14:02] <@Rudy> "Probably is. Think we should knock anyone? I figure they might lock the door here."
[14:02] <@Rudy> *anyway
[14:02] * @Lucie shrugs. "Go right ahead."
[14:03] <@Lucie> "Best keep his friend out of sight in case someone does answer the door. No reason for this mystery mage to suspect anything ill of us as long as he doesn't see we've got his pal tied up, right? Well, less reason."
[14:04] <@Rudy> "Hey, you're the one with the mace," protests Rudy, whilst Myra lugs the man out of the way.
[14:05] <@Henrietta> "Wait." Henrietta blinks. "Rudy, you can disguise yourself, can't you?"
[14:05] <@Lucie> "Sensible precaution to go armed on the road, what with all we've met on the way. Think you look more genteel because you're toting around a crossbow instead or something?" Lucie hangs back and lets Rudy take the lead here.
[14:05] <@Rudy> "Well, yeah, I can..." replies Rudy, looking very, very unhappy.
[14:06] <@Ebiris> Approaching the rocky prominence rising up from the cliffs over the lake, the lighthouse starts to become clearer. It's clearly old and in poor repair, the stone tower worn and crumbling in places, the roof over the top partially collapsed. Around the base is a boxy wooden outbuilding that looks fairly rotten even from a distance, faint light glimpsed between cracks in the wood. However, surrounding the lighthouse and occupying most of the peninsula lies a small army of guards... undead ones, to be precise. Skeletons clatter bonily as they walk around jerkily, while zombies shamble more slowly and deliberately all around the exterior. In fact, a few skeletons seem to have already noticed the well-lit party, pausing at edge of the tree-line and regarding the group with expressionless skulls...
[14:06] <@Henrietta> "Never mind." She shudders. "Those things will notice a trick, after all."
[14:06] <@Rudy> "You know, I'm thinking we have other concerns," he mutters, doing a quick count.
[14:07] <@Lucie> "Think maybe we want to try back tomorrow in force and in better health," Lucie says, perhaps unnecessarily.
[14:07] <@Ebiris> OOC: roll perception?
[14:07] <@Henrietta> roll 1d20+2
[14:07] * +Hatbot --> "Henrietta rolls 1d20+2 and gets 17." [1d20=15]
[14:07] <@Rudy> roll 1d20+1 rudy can count!
[14:07] * +Hatbot --> "Rudy rolls 1d20+1 rudy can count! and gets 6." [1d20=5]
[14:07] <@Lucie> roll 1d20+14 NUMBERS
[14:07] * +Hatbot --> "Lucie rolls 1d20+14 NUMBERS and gets 27." [1d20=13]
[14:08] -> *Rudy* Half a dozen or so?
[14:08] -> *Henrietta* over a dozen at least.
[14:09] -> *Lucie* Not counting anything behind the lighthouse? Twenty plus, minimum.
[14:10] <@Lucie> "You know what, let's bring this to the local authorities, what there are of 'em, at least, and see what we can all do together tomorrow? Not liking five-to-one odds when I'm walking around burning off some fool's poison still."
[14:11] <@Rudy> "Uh, if you're feeling bad you're feeling bad," replies Rudy. "I don't really want to give this guy time to realise someone's after him, but..." He shrugs. "Henri?"
[14:12] <@Henrietta> "Have you ever seen rural authorities that can handle that many skeletons?" Henrietta asks dubiously. "In any case, let us shoot at them and lure them into the forest after us. If they come, then I can catch most of them with my plants."
[14:13] <@Rudy> "To be honest, I've never seen rural authorities," replies Rudy, but he levels his crossbow and shoots at the nearest skeletons nonetheless!
[14:13] <@Rudy> OOC: init?
[14:13] <@Ebiris> OOC: sure
[14:13] <@Lucie> "We've been traveling all day. We can come back tomorrow with Liamae and whoever else in town's fit to do something about it, if anyone, but at least we'll be rested up. And look, we don't know what else might be in the tower, and there's undoubtedly the wizard somewhere, and DAMMIT RUDY--"
[14:14] <@Henrietta> roll 1d20+3
[14:14] * +Hatbot --> "Henrietta rolls 1d20+3 and gets 13." [1d20=10]
[14:14] <@Lucie> roll 1d20+8
[14:14] * +Hatbot --> "Lucie rolls 1d20+8 and gets 19." [1d20=11]
[14:14] <@Rudy> roll 1d20+5
[14:14] * +Hatbot --> "Rudy rolls 1d20+5 and gets 19." [1d20=14]
[14:15] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20 fuck rolling individually for this many
[14:15] * +Hatbot --> "Ebiris rolls 1d20 fuck rolling individually for this many and gets 3." [1d20=3]
[14:16] * Ebiris changes topic to 'Lucie > Rudy > Henrietta > Stuff'
[14:16] <@Henrietta> "We can thin the herd at the very least!" Henrietta insists, bringing out fresh, red roses.
[14:16] <@Ebiris> OOC: Lucie
[14:19] * @Lucie scowls at Rudy, raises her left hand in his direction and generates a swell of colors to disorient him before hs can actually start this fight. "Did you miss the part where we're outnumbered FIVE TO ONE?"
[14:19] <@Lucie> OOC: roll will, Rudy!
[14:19] <@Rudy> roll 1d20+4
[14:19] * +Hatbot --> "Rudy rolls 1d20+4 and gets 18." [1d20=14]
[14:20] <@Lucie> OOC: bah, it was DC 18 :(
[14:20] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+2 belated dog
[14:20] * +Hatbot --> "Ebiris rolls 1d20+2 belated dog and gets 17." [1d20=15]
[14:21] * Ebiris changes topic to 'Lucie > Rudy > Val > Henrietta > Stuff'
[14:22] <@Ebiris> The colours wash over Rudy, but unlike many Lotus Dragons before, he is unmoved!
[14:22] <@Rudy> "Fuck, okay!" snaps Rudy, lowering his bow. "There's like six of them! You going nuts, Lucie?"
[14:23] <@Lucie> "Just make a bloody plan first, right?" Lucie barks back.
[14:24] <@Ebiris> OOC: Rudy
[14:24] <@Henrietta> "We shoot them and retreat," Henrietta repeats. "Then I grab them with my plants, and we shoot them more."
[14:30] <@Rudy> "That's it? Alright. But are there really twenty of them?"
[14:30] <@Lucie> "Looks like it to me. What, no one taught you to count past your fingers?"
[14:32] <@Rudy> "I just can't see shit," replies Rudy, firing a couple of bolts at the nearest skeletons. "That's it."
[14:32] <@Rudy> roll 1d20+6
[14:32] <@Rudy> roll 1d20+6
[14:32] * +Hatbot --> "Rudy rolls 1d20+6 and gets 13." [1d20=7]
[14:32] * +Hatbot --> "Rudy rolls 1d20+6 and gets 20." [1d20=14]
[14:32] <@Ebiris> OOC: one hit
[14:32] <@Rudy> roll 1d8
[14:32] * +Hatbot --> "Rudy rolls 1d8 and gets 7." [1d8=7]
[14:33] <@Ebiris> One of Rudy's bolts whistles harmlessly through its ribs while the other cracks a vertebrae in his target! Val growls lowly and sticks close to Henrietta's heel, ready to guard her!
[14:33] <@Ebiris> OOC: Henri
[14:35] * @Henrietta decides to strike at that same skeleton with a ray that would disintegrate its ribs entirely!
[14:35] <@Henrietta> roll 1d20+5 ranged touch
[14:35] * +Hatbot --> "Henrietta rolls 1d20+5 ranged touch and gets 8." [1d20=3]
[14:37] <@Ebiris> The ray is errant, lancing through the air over the lake before dissipating entirely! From this, the nearby skeletons seem to have grown tired of waiting, the three all convering on Rudy to wreak their vengeance! Behind them a pair of zombies seem to have noticed the light-show of Henrietta's ray and start shambling over to investigate, but the greater mass seems ignorant.
[14:37] <@Ebiris> roll 3#1d20+6
[14:37] * +Hatbot --> "Ebiris rolls 3#1d20+6 and gets 53." [3#1d20+6 = 14, 18, 21]
[14:37] <@Ebiris> OOC: AC, Rudy?
[14:37] <@Rudy> OOC: 17
[14:37] <@Ebiris> roll 2d4+4
[14:37] * +Hatbot --> "Ebiris rolls 2d4+4 and gets 9." [2d4=1, 4]
[14:39] <@Ebiris> Rudy is rudely bracketed, a skeleton on either side and one right in his face! He ducks the claw-swipe from ahead only to be raked on his flanks by the other two, their decayed skulls showing no emotion as they relentlessly take him apart!
[14:39] <@Ebiris> OOC: Lucie
[14:39] <@Henrietta> "Get back so I can trap them!" Henrietta hisses, ready to act once her allies retreat.
[14:40] * @Lucie looks for the one damaged by Rudy's bolt and takes a swing at it before moving to put some distance between her and the mob.
[14:40] <@Lucie> roll 1d20+7
[14:40] * +Hatbot --> "Lucie rolls 1d20+7 and gets 17." [1d20=10]
[14:40] <@Ebiris> OOC: hit
[14:40] <@Lucie> roll 1d8+4
[14:40] * +Hatbot --> "Lucie rolls 1d8+4 and gets 12." [1d8=8]
[14:41] <@Ebiris> The skull is dashed clean off by Lucie's mace before the oracle flees back into the woods!
[14:41] <@Ebiris> OOC: Rudy
[14:41] <@Rudy> Rudy cries out, and runs away!
[14:42] <@Rudy> OOC: withdraws, yes
[14:42] <@Ebiris> With a safe avenue opened up by Lucie's heroics, Rudy is free to manfully run away! Val does the same, turning with tail between his legs and sprinting off!
[14:42] <@Ebiris> OOC: Henri
[14:43] * @Henrietta retreats to a safe distance, flanking her allies, and then commands the plants at the ground they had just vacated to rise up and ensnare the skeletons and zombies nearby!
[14:44] <@Henrietta> OOC: Ref17
[14:44] <@Ebiris> roll 2#1d20+3
[14:44] * +Hatbot --> "Ebiris rolls 2#1d20+3 and gets 24." [2#1d20+3 = 15, 9]
[14:45] <@Ebiris> The foliage animates at Henrietta's command, whipping around bones to hold them fast! The two skeletons struggle to free themselves, while the remaining undead are unseen by distance and the obscuration of flailing plant-life!
[14:45] <@Ebiris> roll 2#1d20+2 strength checks
[14:45] * +Hatbot --> "Ebiris rolls 2#1d20+2 strength checks and gets 40." [2#1d20+2 = 19, 21]
[14:46] <@Ebiris> Both of them break free with a tearing of leaves, stalking onwards to get the nearby Lucie! But the grass still impedes them, slowing their progress down so that they only manage fifteen feet...
[14:46] <@Ebiris> OOC: Lucie
[14:47] <@Lucie> OOC: I'll hold and see if my teammates can slow them down first.
[14:47] <@Ebiris> OOC: Rudy
[14:48] <@Rudy> Having learned from his mistakes, Rudy shoots the nearest skeleton before retreating anew!
[14:48] <@Rudy> roll 1d20+9
[14:48] * +Hatbot --> "Rudy rolls 1d20+9  and gets 22." [1d20=13]
[14:48] <@Rudy> roll 1d8+1
[14:48] * +Hatbot --> "Rudy rolls 1d8+1 and gets 9." [1d8=8]
[14:49] <@Ebiris> Rudy's bolt crashes through the undead shoulder, almost knocking the arm clean off! The corpse remains upright, however, straining forward to take revenge... Val meanwhile doubles back and appears at Henrietta's heel once more!
[14:49] <@Ebiris> OOC: Henri
[14:50] * @Henrietta tries her ray again, this time with hopefully better aim!
[14:50] <@Henrietta> roll 1d20+5 ranged touch
[14:50] * +Hatbot --> "Henrietta rolls 1d20+5 ranged touch and gets 24." [1d20=19]
[14:50] <@Ebiris> OOC: hit
[14:50] <@Henrietta> roll 1d6 disrupt that same undead
[14:50] * +Hatbot --> "Henrietta rolls 1d6 disrupt that same undead and gets 2." [1d6=2]
[14:51] <@Ebiris> The skeleton struck abruptly falls into a clattering collection of bones, the impetus controlling it no longer enough to maintain unlife!
[14:51] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+2
[14:51] * +Hatbot --> "Ebiris rolls 1d20+2 and gets 19." [1d20=17]
[14:52] <@Ebiris> The remaining visible skeleton is undeterred, rushing out of the foliage to attack Lucie!
[14:52] <@Ebiris> OOC: You can take your held action
[14:53] * @Lucie tries to knock that grinning head off its shoulders before it can strike her!
[14:53] <@Lucie> roll 1d20+7
[14:53] * +Hatbot --> "Lucie rolls 1d20+7 and gets 10." [1d20=3]
[14:53] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+6 no such luck
[14:53] * +Hatbot --> "Ebiris rolls 1d20+6 no such luck and gets 19." [1d20=13]
[14:53] <@Ebiris> OOC: AC?
[14:54] <@Lucie> OOC: unless we've been out here for five hours, my armor is still up, which means AC 20.
[14:54] <@Ebiris> OOC: we might have been. At what point specifically did you cast it?
[14:54] <@Lucie> OOC: I think cat ambush
[14:55] <@Ebiris> OOC: you're fine, then
[14:55] <@Ebiris> Lucie's defensive swing is too high, the skeleton lunging in to puncture her heart with bony claws! It's only with a shower of sparks at the last instant that the blow is deflected aside!
[14:55] * Retrieving #dunes modes...
[14:55] * Ebiris changes topic to 'Rudy > Val > Henrietta > Lucie > Stuff'
[14:55] <@Ebiris> OOC: Rudy
[14:57] <@Rudy> Since it's busy, Rudy feels comfortable firing not once at this skeleton, but twice!
[14:57] <@Rudy> roll 1d20+7
[14:57] * +Hatbot --> "Rudy rolls 1d20+7 and gets 24." [1d20=17]
[14:57] <@Rudy> roll 1d20+7
[14:57] * +Hatbot --> "Rudy rolls 1d20+7 and gets 13." [1d20=6]
[14:57] <@Ebiris> OOC: one hit
[14:57] <@Rudy> roll 1d8+1
[14:57] * +Hatbot --> "Rudy rolls 1d8+1 and gets 8." [1d8=7]
[14:59] <@Ebiris> The first bolt is aimed well, going right through an eye-socket and embedding itself in the back of the skull! The follow up falls wide, keeping him from dotting both eyes, however! Val follows along with Henrietta, remaining close to her and not attacking.
[14:59] <@Ebiris> OOC: Henri
[14:59] <@Henrietta> "Get it, Val!" Henrietta gestures at the skeleton still menacing Lucie.
[15:00] <@Ebiris> Val doesn't stop at Henrietta, running right past her to get a bone!
[15:00] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+7 charge
[15:00] * +Hatbot --> "Ebiris rolls 1d20+7 charge and gets 11." [1d20=4]
[15:00] <@Ebiris> But the skeleton moves out of his way with some fancy footwork!
[15:00] * @Henrietta follows through with her flail, for good measure!
[15:00] <@Henrietta> roll 1d20+9 charge
[15:00] * +Hatbot --> "Henrietta rolls 1d20+9 charge and gets 26." [1d20=17]
[15:00] <@Ebiris> OOC: hit
[15:00] <@Henrietta> roll 1d10+6
[15:01] * +Hatbot --> "Henrietta rolls 1d10+6 and gets 15." [1d10=9]
[15:02] <@Ebiris> Henrietta's swinging flail dashes through its ribcage, shattering bones into spinning fragments whizzing through the air before the entire thing tumbles, down and out! From here no other undead are seen picking through the forest to pursue.
[15:02] <@Ebiris> OOC: Rudy
[15:02] <@Rudy> "We got.. two? Out of six? Twelve? Twenty?" asks Rudy, clutching his ravaged waist.
[15:02] <@Lucie> "Guess they're about dumb enough to pick off a piece at a time?" Lucie concedes.
[15:03] <@Ebiris> Val barks three times!
[15:03] <@Henrietta> "Three," Henrietta agrees. "And we can get more! If maybe an elemental gets them going after itself?"
[15:04] <@Rudy> "I can't even be excited about this," complaints Rudy, snapping his fingers and calling Myra over. "Let's just throw enchantments on her and see how many she kills before they bring her down."
[15:05] <@Henrietta> "Would Mage Armor be alright?"
[15:06] <@Rudy> "Sure, and I'll cast Shield-" Rudy pauses. "Why is it called Mage Armor, but Shield isn't called Mage Shield?"
[15:07] <@Henrietta> "Because mages can use shields just fine, but try armor on for size and it's really uncomfortable! Even more so than Lucie's dress, that gets into all sorts of unmentionable places with just a tiny trap!"
[15:07] <@Lucie> "Hell if I know," Lucie says, wondering: "Who is it named these spells, anyway? Take it up with them."
[15:08] * @Lucie glares at Henri. "Did you miss the part where no one's bringing that up ever again?"
[15:08] <@Rudy> Rudy reaches over to cast his spell on Myra. "I'm wearing armor and I'm fine," he points out, once it's done.
[15:09] * @Henrietta does likewise with her own spell. "I keep on forgetting that," she responds to them both.
[15:10] <@Rudy> "Mmhmm. Alright. Go, Myra! Go eat them, or kill them, or whatever!" commands Rudy, sending the brave summoned thing to fight on his behalf!
[15:11] <@Henrietta> "And if it's too much, lure them back here!"
[15:11] <@Lucie> "Yeah, well, it's perfectly comfortable the rest of the time. Why I wear 'em. Let a bit of a breeze in." She shrugs, leaning back against a tree to let Myra do the work for a bit.
[15:12] <@Henrietta> "It does look quite wonderful on you, if we are in a city and have not been traveling through the wilderness for days on end," Henrietta agrees.
[15:13] <@Lucie> "Yeah, well, nobody looks her best for days of travel," Lucie adds, conspicuously ignoring Henri's no-doubt perpetually spotless wardrobe.
[15:14] <@Henrietta> "It does take a lot of time with Prestidigitation, but such is the price we must pay to look presentable," Henrietta agrees. "I think Liamae has her own variant, though. She really likes relying on invisible servants to lend her a hand."
[15:15] <@Rudy> "You'd think she'd outgrow needing help getting dressed, wouldn't you?"
[15:16] <@Ebiris> As Myra flies away and out of sight, occassional sounds of violence are soon heard. Dry bones snap loudly, cracks echoing in the air, while unearthly moans are emitted by the undead no doubt rallying to do battle with her. While the battle can't really be seen through the enchanted foliage and darkness, the winking lights surrounding the lighthouse do suddenly cease shortly after the violence commences.
[17:16] <Lucie> "Nah, Rudy. Not necessarily anything wrong with that, right? It's about being served."
[17:17] * Lucie glances up in the direction of the lighthouse. "Looks like he knows we're here."
[17:19] <Henrietta> "Being served does feel nice, now and then," Henrietta agrees, before hefting her flail. "Do you want to go and say hello?"
[17:19] <Lucie> "I guess. Unless you want to wait 'til Myra's finished?"
[17:19] * Rudy peers through Myra's eyes after a moment, ready to watch how she's doing!