(079) What a Gnome Knows

[waysoftheearth]

That would be exciting!

I thought about it

Um sleep spell and we are in major trouble

I have been thinking about this too. The fairest method will be to dice for their spell selection from a list of the likely options. Sleep would certainly feature among the "likely options". They will have two spells each, as well as the possibility of scrolls...

Can skeletons in DD be killed by arrows and swords?

Technically, the answer to this question is yes. But you didn't ask whether they can be killed by normal arrows and swords. We're about to find out

Are there torches on the walls here?

Yes, this area of the dungeon is dimly lit by infrequent wall torches...

[mgtremaine]

Zem move up towards the front as other either break to flank or move aside. "Walking bones, what madness is this?"

If Wen where he he might talk to them first... But Zem, dwarf + axe = not so good at diplomacy. I will note recall that the back of his Axe is a hammer

[acodispo]

Wetzel turns toward the rear of the column and tries to get an idea what's happening. He's readying his spear and shield, and will join melee if it is provoked by the enemy (or by the party) and has any possibility of reaching the enemy (perhaps with his spear from the second rank) but will not attack first.

[riftstone]

Faengol will drop is old stave, to wield the new stave two handed.

"Spread out, show our numbers!" he hisses to the others.

To the newcomers, he will draw up to his full height and speak with a loud voice "I am Faengol, adherent of the Ancients and Keeper of The Trees. Necromancy is a forbidden rite. How came you by these atrocities?"

[waysoftheearth]

Despite Dopey's warning, Karl scarcely has time to fire into the oncoming foe. None the less his aim is good; his arrow punches through a skeletal eye socket, spinning the awful head around and catching there, but not slowing the crypt horror in the least. And then they are on top of him! Dopey the Hobbet, fighting valiantly at Karl's side in the cramped corridor, deals one of them a serious stab but it doesn't even flinch; Karl manages to change to his sword without being overwhelmed.

Behind them in the arc of the passage there is confusion. Arian backs herself down the fork in the passage way adjacent to her position--creating a modicum of maneuvering space--while Leudigar yells something up the line; Faengol the elf proclaims something about Tree Keepers, but it's difficult to make out over the tight-quarter fighting, and the ghastly skeletons don't seem to be listening...

Owing to the curve of the passage nobody ahead of Leudigar can even see the fighting, let alone any enemy, but the unmistakable ring of battle carries as far as the pantry door. Even in the kitchen, Fried gets a notion of what must be happening, and makes off toward the mess hall via the servery door...

Combat Turn 1

Movement Segment: Dopey retreats as far back as Karl, who can backpeddle no further because Arian is right behind him, Gerhard is right behind her, Leudigar is right behind him, Wetzel is right behind him, and so on.

The skeletons had 3" to reach Dopey, but because he has moved back 1" they must cover 4". Their movement rate is 6", so 4" is greater than half their move. Thus Karl is allowed a bow show at 1" range, momentarily before melee is joined.

Meanwhile those at the other end of the column are alerted to the ruckus going on out of sight, around the corner of the passage; Leudigar's warning carries to them and they at least stop advancing forward. Fried makes 6" (half a move) across the kitchen to the servery door.

Missile/Magic Segment: Karl has just enough time to fire an arrow from his bow: (Man+1 @+2) d20+3 =15 hits; but does no damage (skeletons are unaffected by normal missiles). No other missiles, spells, or spell-like powers are thrown.

Melee Segment: Skelies had to move 4" (more than half) so there will be only one round of melee attacks. Attackers have the initiative:
Two skellies (Man) 2d20=3, 3 (!) two misses.
Dopey (Man+1) d20+1=15, hit; 1d6=3hp damage.
Karl switches weapons and attacks last (Man+1) d20+1=5, miss.

Ref rolls hp for 8 skeletons 8d6=41, 6, 6, 4, 2, 1, 3, 6.

End of turn.

What orders for combat turn two?

[The Red Baron]

If Dopey can see the main passage from here, he tells Karl "Fall back to that passage! We can hit them from two flanks." He keeps fighting until the Karl replies, not wanting to abandon his comrade in arms.

Otherwise, the hobbet keeps futilely hacking away in blind panic.

[coffee]

Karl will happily fall back, if his comrades give him room, but he's not going to let up on his attack until he can.

He fights on!

[sully]

Did The Herald hear any of this, or are he and Zax continuing on?

[acodispo]

Wetzel steps up beside Leudigar and grabs Gerhard's shoulder, pushing the Medium behind him.

"Get behind us!" he rasps.

Then the little man raises his shield and steadies his spear, ready to hold the passage to the pantry with Leudigar while Arian, Karl, and Dopey hold the main passage, hopefully allowing all four (or five) of them to attack skeletons while only two skeletons can attack at a time.

[ehiker133]

Leudigar quickly ascertains what the half-man is trying to do and draws his silver sword and braces his shield, urging Arian, Karl and Dopey to fall back past the intersection, allowing four of them (Karl, Dopey, Leudigar, and Wetzel) to engage the enemy.

"Arian, anything you can do from back there?" he calls out as she backpedals past him.