Book 1 - Chapter 5.1: Dark Wings, Darker Deeds

[Asta]

Turning north and leaving the road, you ride for a few hours over the open plain. Eventually, in the distance you spot the copse of trees the old man mentioned. Its a stand of evergreens, surprisingly thick given how rare trees are on the steppe. Above them you can see a fair number of black birds circling in the sky, either crows or ravens. When you are still about a hundred meters out, Scathach pulls her horse to a stop.

"I don't think we'll be able to go in on horseback, the branches look too thick. We going quiet, or just walking in?"

[pringerbeam]

     "What are we? Thieves? The old man said nothing of beasts that needed slaying by the shrine. We should just go forth and figure out what this coin is for." Replied Thedrin.

[Asta]

Scathach shrugged in response to Thedrin's comment and followed after him as he waded through the dense foliage, though not before drawing her bow and knocking an arrow.

After a not insignificant amount of audible rustling, your group pushed through to the other side into a small clearing. At the center, was the shrine you were seeking. More importantly however, were four other figures standing nearby. Two of them, humans as best you could tell below their hooded robes, were near the shrine. The other two were a pair of animate skeletons, though they looked less imposing than the skeletal knight you encountered in the barrow several months ago. Scattered about the area are several crates, each one containing lumps of Dark Essence that glow softly with anti-light.

The humans do not seem at all surprised by your arrival, easily heralded by your trek through the brush. The nearest one to your group unsheathes a large sword that was strapped to his back and falls into a ready stance as the skeletons clack and rattle into position.

"Oi, who the fuck are you!?" the sword wielding man shouts as he takes a step closer...

[info]Roll for initiative.
Roll20 Link[/info]

[pringerbeam]

[info] Initiative [blockquote]Rolled 1d20 : 1, total 1[/blockquote][/info]

[Throndir]

[Info][blockquote]Initiative 1d20+5 : 6 + 5, total 11[/blockquote][/info]

[Oath]

[info]Initiative: [blockquote]Rolled 1d20+6 : 7 + 6, total 13[/blockquote]
[/info]

[Asta]

"You picked a bad spot to stumble into friend..." the cultist wielding the greatsword threatens as he moves in on Thedrin. The cultist brings his sword down at Thedrin's shoulder with a furious swing, but the paladin's shield is there to meet it as it falls. The blow lands much heavier than one would think, but is turned aside safely.

Scathach sidles sideways and fires off an arrow at the skeleton nearest her, but the projectile bounces harmlessly off its skull. "I knew we should have gone in quiet!"

The second cultist, skulking along the edges of the clearing, moves in closer, drawing a dagger from his belt.

[okay]Cultist 2 attacks Thedrin, miss[/okay]
[error]Scathach shoots Skeleton 1, miss[/error]
[info]Cultist 1 moves.[/info]
[info]Cecilia to go.[/info]

[spoiler]Initiative Order: Cultist 2, Scathach, Cultist 1, Cecilia, Rhenri, Skeleton 2, Skeleton 1, Thedrin
Roll 20 Link
Round 1:
Cultist 2 attacks Thedrin, miss
Scathach shoots Skeleton 1, miss
Cultist 1 moves[/spoiler]

[Oath]

Cecilia drew her staff towards her, concentrating as she cast mage armor on herself. The battle might not seem as dangerous as some of the others that she had been a part of recently, but it was better safe than sorry.

[info]Casting Mage Armor on myself.

Prepared spells: Mage Armor, Color Spray, Sleep
[/info]

[Throndir]

The moment the group stepped into the clearing, they were immediately attacked.

"When ya'll are hurtin', just be sure you did it to yowahself! Ain't proper manners ta come out sword swingin'!" Rhenri called out, getting her stance readied, and focusing her abilities to fire an arrow at the same time.

[info]Swift: Stance of the Piercing Rays
Standard: Dimensional strike, point-blank shot, at Cultist 1.
[blockquote]attack 1d20+7 : 5 + 7, total 12[/blockquote]
[blockquote]piercing 1d8+1 : 5 + 1, total 6[/blockquote]
[blockquote]fire 1d6 : 5, total 5[/blockquote]
Move: Get behind a tree for some cover.

[/info]

[spoiler=Dimensional Strike Reference]DIMENSIONAL STRIKE
Discipline: Veiled Moon (Strike)
Level: 1
Initiation Action: 1 standard action
Range: Melee or ranged attack
Target: One creature
Duration: Instant
By shifting slightly between two worlds, the disciple confuses the senses of his foe so he may land his attack more easily. The initiator initiating this strike causes his foe to be flat-footed to this attack.[/spoiler]

[Asta]

The arrow whipped dangerously close to the cultist's head, but passed him by without harm. "Tch. You bastards." he growled in response.

The skeletons clacked and clattered as they approached Thedrin and Scathach respectively, raking at them with their clawed hands. Neither attack found purchase though.

[error]Rhenri shoots Cultist 1, miss[/error]
[okay]Skeletons 1 and 2 attack Thedrin and Scathach, miss[/okay]
[info]Thedrin to go[/info]

[spoiler]Initiative Order: Cultist 2, Scathach, Cultist 1, Cecilia, Rhenri, Skeleton 2, Skeleton 1, Thedrin
Roll 20 Link
Round 1:
Cultist 2 attacks Thedrin, miss
Scathach shoots Skeleton 1, miss
Cultist 1 moves
Rhenri shoots Cultist 1, miss
Skeleton 2 attacks Thedrin, miss
Skeleton 1 attacks Scathach, miss[/spoiler]

[pringerbeam]

     "Use magic on the Skeletons. I'll handle this lout." Said Thedrin as he swung his blade at the Cultist before him.

[info] Standard Action: attack Cultist 2 with longsword[blockquote]Rolled 1d20+6 : 11 + 6, total 17[/blockquote]      Damage (Slashing)[blockquote]Rolled 1d8+3 : 6 + 3, total 9[/blockquote]
Move action: Combat Advice to grant Cecelia +2 to hit Skeleton 2[/info]

[Asta]

After an exchange of blows, Thedrin's sword finds an opening and cuts a line across the cultists leg. Blood begins to soak his pants. With a grunt, the cultist shuffles to his left and attempts to catch Thedrin on a backswing but fails to connect.

Nearby, Scathach puts some distance between herself and the skeleton and fires another shot. In her haste though, the arrow flies wide.

The cultist with the dagger steps closer to the fray and pulls a handful of colored powder from a pouch at his waist. Tossing it into the air near Cecilia and Thedrin he shouts an arcane verse which is followed by a burst of blinding color and light that envelops them both.

[okay]Thedrin attacks Cultist 2, hit, 9 damage[/okay]
[okay]Cultist 2 attacks Thedrin, miss[/okay]
[error]Scathach shoots Skeleton 1, miss[/error]
[warning]Cultist 1 casts a spell. Thedrin and Cecilia to make will saves.[/warning]

[spoiler]Initiative Order: Cultist 2, Scathach, Cultist 1, Cecilia, Rhenri, Skeleton 2, Skeleton 1, Thedrin
Roll 20 Link
[spoiler=Round 1]Round 1:
Cultist 2 attacks Thedrin, miss
Scathach shoots Skeleton 1, miss
Cultist 1 moves
Rhenri shoots Cultist 1, miss
Skeleton 2 attacks Thedrin, miss
Skeleton 1 attacks Scathach, miss
Thedrin attacks Cultist 2, 9 damage[/spoiler]
Round 2:
Cultist 2 attacks Thedrin, miss
Scathach shoots Skeleton 1, miss
Cultist 1 casts a spell[/spoiler]

[Oath]

[info] will save [blockquote]Rolled 1d20+3 : 7 + 3, total 10[/blockquote]
[/info]

[pringerbeam]

[info]Will Save[blockquote]Rolled 1d20+8 : 5 + 8, total 13[/blockquote][/info]

[Asta]

When the flash of dazzling light subsides a moment later, Thedrin remains unaffected having shielded his eyes from the burst. Cecilia however, was caught unaware. Her senses having left her, she collapses to the ground in a crumpled unconscious heap.

[okay]Thedrin resists.[/okay]
[error]Cecilia is Unconscious, Blind, and Stunned for 5 rounds. Now 4 rounds after her turn passes.[/error]
[info]Rhenri to go.[/info]

[spoiler]Initiative Order: Cultist 2, Scathach, Cultist 1, Cecilia, Rhenri, Skeleton 2, Skeleton 1, Thedrin
Roll 20 Link
[spoiler=Round 1]Round 1:
Cultist 2 attacks Thedrin, miss
Scathach shoots Skeleton 1, miss
Cultist 1 moves
Rhenri shoots Cultist 1, miss
Skeleton 2 attacks Thedrin, miss
Skeleton 1 attacks Scathach, miss
Thedrin attacks Cultist 2, 9 damage[/spoiler]
Round 2:
Cultist 2 attacks Thedrin, miss
Scathach shoots Skeleton 1, miss
Cultist 1 casts a spell
Cecilia Unconscious, Blind, Stunned 4
[/spoiler]