Jan 23, 2026 10:58 pm
Chase hearing the commotion will have bow in hand but will be ready to shoulder and draw steel if need be.
Rolls
initiative - (1d20+3)
(17) + 3 = 20
Chapter 3.5: The Temple of Merikka
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Jan 23, 2026 11:36 pm
Other might obviously believe Arya must be dead but rushing Morton dives for her arrow ridden body frantically trying to deal with the many arrows in her.There are tears forming in his hazel eyes as her life-giving blood was boldly leaching away from her as the pool of red blood around has already formed. There are just too many arrows in her for him to stop the bleeding. Even with the one in chest that surely would kill her, he wouldn't give up.
(Yep. Arya was living on borrowed time, and it just cashed in.)
Jan 24, 2026 4:09 am
Round One
(this is followed by round two)
Here are the details of the guardroom of the undead in the Temple of Merikka:
Dimensions: Each square is 10' on a side, so the room is 80' long x 30' wide.
Exits: There are three obvious exits from the room: the door in the center of the western wall (where the PCs are entering), and two doors in the southern wall.
Furnishings: There are simple wooden benches pushed up against the north and south walls.
Light: The only light source is Arya's shield, just inside the doorway in the western wall. The eastern end of the room is in Dim Light.
Undead: There are eight undead guardians, wearing scraps of the armor they wore in life and armed with short bows and swords. Their flesh is almost completely decayed, indicating that they've been dead for months at least.The heroes start the combat just outside the open doorway, with the room beyond lit by dead Arya's still-glowing shield.
From the open doorway, Chase looses an arrow, but it speeds through a skeleton without dealing it any damage and cracks off of the wall behind it. The pieces of the arrow bounce off of the far wall and clatter to the ground.
Heedless of his own fate, Morton scrambles through the door, making incoherent noises of grief as he lay down, grasping Arya's lifeless body to his own. So many arrows...
The magic animating the corpse moving it like a marionette, Skeleton 7 advances, pulling an arrow, nocking it, drawing, and loosing it at Chase a split second after the ranger has released his own attack.
The arrow whips past Chase and ruffles Ferranzo's hair as it passes over the halfling's head and skips off the wall to Ember's right.
Silently Skeleton 8 performs the same actions, but aims its arrow at Morton lying in the pool of blood on the floor.
Morton takes 7 piercing damage!
"Someone grab Morton and close that damned door!" Ember shouts.
"Amber has the right of it, we need to funnel them to us." Eugenios says, followed by the arcane syllables that form a blurred magical force surrounding his body, shimmering like a heat haze. The Special Investigator darts into the room as the other skeletons are drawing their bows, grabs Morton, and drags him back through the door. The half-elf leaves a bloody trail and struggles weakly to reach for Arya's arrow-ridden corpse, but grief and the shock of his wounds render him unable to resist being pulled out of harm's way...in fact, he doesn't resist. Those arrows hurt. Back out of the skeleton room, the gnome adds a tip to his companions, nodding toward the undead: "Crushing their bones will work more effectively then sharp edges."
Skeleton 5 and Skeleton 6 choose their targets and loose their arrows.
Myrtha flings up her shield, but is just slightly too slow to deflect the shaft. An arrow punches into Eugenios' gut. He's taken hits in his job before - it's an occupational hazard - but somehow it never gets any easier to take.
Eugenios takes 4 piercing damage!
Myrtha steps into the room, grabs the door, and steps back, mostly closing it. The hallway with the heroes is plunged into near darkness, lit only by the sliver of light coming in around the edge of the door from dead Arya's shining shield still in the room with her corpse and the skeletons.
"Downstairs is an illusion to fool passerby into thinking this is still the temple to Merikka," Not fazed by the low light by virtue of his dwarf eyes, Aanbo stands ready by the door. "THIS here is more proof that the cult has evil intentions."
Just then the four other skeletons' arrows thud into the heavy door, shaking the wood under Myrtha's hands.
20 - Chase (12/17)
19 - Morton (1/15)
19 - Skeleton 7, Skeleton 8
14 - Eugenios (4/8) Mage armor, Cursed
14 - Skeleton 5, Skeleton 6
12 - Myrtha (23/30)
11 - Aanbo (19/27)
11 - Skeleton 1, Skeleton 2, Skeleton 3, Skeleton 4
8 - Ferranzo (8/8)
4 - Ember (7/12)
(this is followed by round two)
[ +- ] Guardroom details
Here are the details of the guardroom of the undead in the Temple of Merikka:
Dimensions: Each square is 10' on a side, so the room is 80' long x 30' wide.
Exits: There are three obvious exits from the room: the door in the center of the western wall (where the PCs are entering), and two doors in the southern wall.
Furnishings: There are simple wooden benches pushed up against the north and south walls.
Light: The only light source is Arya's shield, just inside the doorway in the western wall. The eastern end of the room is in Dim Light.
Undead: There are eight undead guardians, wearing scraps of the armor they wore in life and armed with short bows and swords. Their flesh is almost completely decayed, indicating that they've been dead for months at least.
From the open doorway, Chase looses an arrow, but it speeds through a skeleton without dealing it any damage and cracks off of the wall behind it. The pieces of the arrow bounce off of the far wall and clatter to the ground.
Heedless of his own fate, Morton scrambles through the door, making incoherent noises of grief as he lay down, grasping Arya's lifeless body to his own. So many arrows...
The magic animating the corpse moving it like a marionette, Skeleton 7 advances, pulling an arrow, nocking it, drawing, and loosing it at Chase a split second after the ranger has released his own attack.
The arrow whips past Chase and ruffles Ferranzo's hair as it passes over the halfling's head and skips off the wall to Ember's right.
Silently Skeleton 8 performs the same actions, but aims its arrow at Morton lying in the pool of blood on the floor.
Morton takes 7 piercing damage!
"Someone grab Morton and close that damned door!" Ember shouts.
"Amber has the right of it, we need to funnel them to us." Eugenios says, followed by the arcane syllables that form a blurred magical force surrounding his body, shimmering like a heat haze. The Special Investigator darts into the room as the other skeletons are drawing their bows, grabs Morton, and drags him back through the door. The half-elf leaves a bloody trail and struggles weakly to reach for Arya's arrow-ridden corpse, but grief and the shock of his wounds render him unable to resist being pulled out of harm's way...in fact, he doesn't resist. Those arrows hurt. Back out of the skeleton room, the gnome adds a tip to his companions, nodding toward the undead: "Crushing their bones will work more effectively then sharp edges."
Skeleton 5 and Skeleton 6 choose their targets and loose their arrows.
Myrtha flings up her shield, but is just slightly too slow to deflect the shaft. An arrow punches into Eugenios' gut. He's taken hits in his job before - it's an occupational hazard - but somehow it never gets any easier to take.
Eugenios takes 4 piercing damage!
Myrtha steps into the room, grabs the door, and steps back, mostly closing it. The hallway with the heroes is plunged into near darkness, lit only by the sliver of light coming in around the edge of the door from dead Arya's shining shield still in the room with her corpse and the skeletons.
"Downstairs is an illusion to fool passerby into thinking this is still the temple to Merikka," Not fazed by the low light by virtue of his dwarf eyes, Aanbo stands ready by the door. "THIS here is more proof that the cult has evil intentions."
Just then the four other skeletons' arrows thud into the heavy door, shaking the wood under Myrtha's hands.
20 - Chase (12/17)
19 - Morton (1/15)
19 - Skeleton 7, Skeleton 8
14 - Eugenios (4/8) Mage armor, Cursed
14 - Skeleton 5, Skeleton 6
12 - Myrtha (23/30)
11 - Aanbo (19/27)
11 - Skeleton 1, Skeleton 2, Skeleton 3, Skeleton 4
8 - Ferranzo (8/8)
4 - Ember (7/12)
Rolls
Myrtha initiative - (1d20+2)
(10) + 2 = 12
Jan 24, 2026 4:12 am
OOC:
@mathias0077 @WanderOne - please post turns for Chase and Morton.@matmaisan I rolled Myrtha's initiative for you. She's going on 12, right in the middle of the round.
Jan 24, 2026 4:37 am
For Morton's turn, he moves to Arya and went prone trying to save a dead person. Decorating himself blood red mostly.
Side note: Perhaps being prone might save him on arrow fire.
Side note: Perhaps being prone might save him on arrow fire.
Last edited January 24, 2026 1:49 pm
Jan 24, 2026 7:44 am
Mother Arkon’s zeal and sense of urgency had grown into a death wish, and Myrtha failed to step in before the priestess. Now she gazed in shock at the fallen form of Arya, and gasped in horror.
OOC:
Thanks for rolling Myrtha’s initiative spaceseeker19, and please disregard my own roll. I misread your message. Life has been a bit too hectic, and I have fallen behind in all my games. Last edited January 24, 2026 7:47 am
Rolls
Initiative - (1d20+2)
(17) + 2 = 19
Jan 24, 2026 1:31 pm
Chase will move to the door and draw, aim, inhale, exhale, loose. He will then move back a bit to let the others do what they need to do.
OOC:
I was aiming at 1 but I think Aanbo bumped my elbow. HahahaLast edited January 24, 2026 1:32 pm
Rolls
to hit, damage - (1d20+7, 1d8+3piercing)
1d20+7 : (1) + 7 = 8
1d8+3piercing : (1) + 3 = 4
Jan 24, 2026 4:08 pm
matmaisan says:
Thanks for rolling Myrtha’s initiative spaceseeker19, and please disregard my own roll. I misread your message. Life has been a bit too hectic, and I have fallen behind in all my games.OOC:
It happens to all of us. Thanks for checking in. I hope things ease up for you soon.Jan 24, 2026 4:14 pm
Round one, continued...
From the open doorway, Chase looses an arrow, but it speeds through a skeleton without dealing it any damage and cracks off of the wall behind it. The pieces of the arrow bounce off of the far wall and clatter to the ground.Heedless of his own fate, Morton scrambles through the door, making incoherent noises of grief as he lay down, grasping Arya's lifeless body to his own. So many arrows...
The magic animating the corpse moving it like a marionette, Skeleton 7 advances, pulling an arrow, nocking it, drawing, and loosing it at Chase a split second after the ranger has released his own attack.
The arrow whips past Chase and ruffles Ferranzo's hair as it passes over the halfling's head and skips off the wall to Ember's right.
Silently Skeleton 8 performs the same actions, but aims its arrow at Morton lying in the pool of blood on the floor.
Morton takes 7 piercing damage!
20 - Chase (12/17)
19 - Morton (1/15)
19 - Skeleton 7, Skeleton 8
14 - Eugenios (8/8) Cursed
14 - Skeleton 5, Skeleton 6
12 - Myrtha (23/30)
11 - Aanbo (19/27)
11 - Skeleton 1, Skeleton 2, Skeleton 3, Skeleton 4
8 - Ferranzo (8/8)
4 - Ember (7/12)
From the open doorway, Chase looses an arrow, but it speeds through a skeleton without dealing it any damage and cracks off of the wall behind it. The pieces of the arrow bounce off of the far wall and clatter to the ground.
OOC:
DM's note: this is dramatic description of Chase's miss, and should not be interpreted as skeletons being immune to piercing damage.The magic animating the corpse moving it like a marionette, Skeleton 7 advances, pulling an arrow, nocking it, drawing, and loosing it at Chase a split second after the ranger has released his own attack.
The arrow whips past Chase and ruffles Ferranzo's hair as it passes over the halfling's head and skips off the wall to Ember's right.
Silently Skeleton 8 performs the same actions, but aims its arrow at Morton lying in the pool of blood on the floor.
Morton takes 7 piercing damage!
OOC:
@Mathfuric - please post Eugenios' turn.20 - Chase (12/17)
19 - Morton (1/15)
19 - Skeleton 7, Skeleton 8
14 - Eugenios (8/8) Cursed
14 - Skeleton 5, Skeleton 6
12 - Myrtha (23/30)
11 - Aanbo (19/27)
11 - Skeleton 1, Skeleton 2, Skeleton 3, Skeleton 4
8 - Ferranzo (8/8)
4 - Ember (7/12)
Rolls
Skeleton bow attack on Chase AC 18 (partial cover), piercing damage - (1d20+4, 1d6+2)
1d20+4 : (13) + 4 = 17
1d6+2 : (1) + 2 = 3
Skeleton 8 bow attack on Morton AC14 (DISADV from prone) - (2d20l1+4, 1d6+2)
2d20l1+4 : (1618) + 4 = 20
1d6+2 : (5) + 2 = 7
Jan 24, 2026 5:43 pm
"Someone grab Morton and close that damned door!" Ember shouts.
Last edited January 24, 2026 5:44 pm
Jan 25, 2026 9:37 am
Watching the mayhem of body’s falling in the fatal tunnel as each person silhouetted themselves in the doorway, "Amber has the right of it, we need to funnel them to us. Crushing their bones will work more effectively then sharp edges." He shrouds himself in magical armour before reaching into the door to grab a limb of the morning Elf, and looks for help . . .
OOC:
Cast mages armour, will to assist someone to drag Morton to safety, as brute strength in not his forte.Jan 26, 2026 6:22 am
Round one, continued...
"Someone grab Morton and close that damned door!" Ember shouts.
"Amber has the right of it, we need to funnel them to us." Eugenios says, followed by the arcane syllables that form a blurred magical force surrounding his body, shimmering like a heat haze. The Special Investigator darts into the room as the other skeletons are drawing their bows, grabs Morton, and drags him back through the door. The half-elf leaves a bloody trail and struggles weakly to reach for Arya's arrow-ridden corpse, but grief and the shock of his wounds render him unable to resist being pulled out of harm's way...in fact, he doesn't resist. Those arrows hurt. Back out of the skeleton room, the gnome adds a tip to his companions, nodding toward the undead: "Crushing their bones will work more effectively then sharp edges."Skeleton 5 and Skeleton 6 choose their targets and loose their arrows.
Myrtha flings up her shield, but is just slightly too slow to deflect the shaft. An arrow punches into Eugenios' gut. He's taken hits in his job before - it's an occupational hazard - but somehow it never gets any easier to take.
Eugenios takes 4 piercing damage!
20 - Chase (12/17)
19 - Morton (1/15)
19 - Skeleton 7, Skeleton 8
14 - Eugenios (4/8) Mage armor, Cursed
14 - Skeleton 5, Skeleton 6
12 - Myrtha (23/30)
11 - Aanbo (19/27)
11 - Skeleton 1, Skeleton 2, Skeleton 3, Skeleton 4
8 - Ferranzo (8/8)
4 - Ember (7/12)
"Someone grab Morton and close that damned door!" Ember shouts.
"Amber has the right of it, we need to funnel them to us." Eugenios says, followed by the arcane syllables that form a blurred magical force surrounding his body, shimmering like a heat haze. The Special Investigator darts into the room as the other skeletons are drawing their bows, grabs Morton, and drags him back through the door. The half-elf leaves a bloody trail and struggles weakly to reach for Arya's arrow-ridden corpse, but grief and the shock of his wounds render him unable to resist being pulled out of harm's way...in fact, he doesn't resist. Those arrows hurt. Back out of the skeleton room, the gnome adds a tip to his companions, nodding toward the undead: "Crushing their bones will work more effectively then sharp edges."
OOC:
With his 25' Move, Eugenios had exactly enough movement to walk east, grab Morton (bonus action), and drag him 5' back into the hallway. He doesn't need much STR; it's not like he's lifting an unconscious person or dead weight. But he doesn't have enough movement to go back and close the door.Myrtha flings up her shield, but is just slightly too slow to deflect the shaft. An arrow punches into Eugenios' gut. He's taken hits in his job before - it's an occupational hazard - but somehow it never gets any easier to take.
Eugenios takes 4 piercing damage!
OOC:
@matmaisan @CancerMan Please post turns for Myrtha and Aanbo. Both characters are just inside the open door, with Morton laying on the ground between them (also inside the door).20 - Chase (12/17)
19 - Morton (1/15)
19 - Skeleton 7, Skeleton 8
14 - Eugenios (4/8) Mage armor, Cursed
14 - Skeleton 5, Skeleton 6
12 - Myrtha (23/30)
11 - Aanbo (19/27)
11 - Skeleton 1, Skeleton 2, Skeleton 3, Skeleton 4
8 - Ferranzo (8/8)
4 - Ember (7/12)
Rolls
Skeleton 5 target (Aanbo, Chase, Eugenios, Myrtha) - (1d4)
(1) = 1
Skeleton 6 target (Aanbo, Chase, Eugenios, Myrtha) - (1d4)
(3) = 3
Skeleton 5 bow attack on Aanbo AC17 (half cover), piercing damage - (1d20+4, 1d6+2)
1d20+4 : (9) + 4 = 13
1d6+2 : (6) + 2 = 8
Skeleton 6 bow attack on Eugenios AC16 (mage armor and half cover), piercing damage - (1d20+4, 1d6+2)
1d20+4 : (16) + 4 = 20
1d6+2 : (2) + 2 = 4
Skeleton 6 bow attack DISADV roll (from Myrtha's protection) AC16 - (1d20+4)
(12) + 4 = 16
Jan 26, 2026 8:05 am
Demonic Morton was only able to remove some of the arrows that pin cushioned priestess Arya. He was very interfered as the evil skeletons arrow took most of his life away letting his blood now mix with Arya's. As Eugenios pulled weakened Morton away, you couldn't tell whose blood was all about as bleeding Morton donated his share. Arya would have liked that as it was like brother warrior sharing their battle blood. Weakened Morton's studded leather armor was rather stained blood red now.
Last edited January 26, 2026 8:08 am
Jan 26, 2026 4:59 pm
"Downstairs is an illusion to fool passerby into thinking this is still the temple to Merikka," says Aanbo. "THIS here is more proof that the cult has evil intentions."
The whistle of fletching past his ear reminds Aanbo of the encroaching danger. Eugenios's advice is solid like granite; his clan taught similar tactics for tunnel fighting. The monk stands ready just inside the door with his quarterstaff, prepared to smash the first skeleton that brings its bony limbs through the door.
The whistle of fletching past his ear reminds Aanbo of the encroaching danger. Eugenios's advice is solid like granite; his clan taught similar tactics for tunnel fighting. The monk stands ready just inside the door with his quarterstaff, prepared to smash the first skeleton that brings its bony limbs through the door.
OOC:
It seems like the skeletons are just shooting arrows. Aanbo will remain at the door and take the Dodge action. He will also use his Reaction to Deflect Missiles if the skeletons shoot at him.Rolls
Deflect Missiles (if needed) - (1d10+5)
(2) + 5 = 7
Jan 26, 2026 8:24 pm
Despite her shock, Myrtha moved decidedly to grab the door and almost completely close it.
OOC:
Not sure if Myrtha can act yet, but as soon as she can she will pull the door near closed, so any skeletons wanting to hit them will either have to shoot at more than half covered intruders, or draw their melee weapons and close into melee, at which point she’ll open the door and help Aanbo fight off the vanguard.Jan 27, 2026 12:10 am
Round one, continued...
Myrtha steps into the room, grabs the door, and steps back, mostly closing it. The hallway with the heroes is plunged into near darkness, lit only by the sliver of light coming in around the edge of the door from dead Arya's shining shield still in the room with her corpse and the skeletons.
"Downstairs is an illusion to fool passerby into thinking this is still the temple to Merikka," Not fazed by the low light by virtue of his dwarf eyes, Aanbo stands ready by the door. "THIS here is more proof that the cult has evil intentions."
Just then the four other skeletons' arrows thud into the heavy door, shaking the wood under Myrtha's hands.
20 - Chase (12/17)
19 - Morton (1/15)
19 - Skeleton 7, Skeleton 8
14 - Eugenios (4/8) Mage armor, Cursed
14 - Skeleton 5, Skeleton 6
12 - Myrtha (23/30)
11 - Aanbo (19/27)
11 - Skeleton 1, Skeleton 2, Skeleton 3, Skeleton 4
8 - Ferranzo (8/8)
4 - Ember (7/12)
Myrtha steps into the room, grabs the door, and steps back, mostly closing it. The hallway with the heroes is plunged into near darkness, lit only by the sliver of light coming in around the edge of the door from dead Arya's shining shield still in the room with her corpse and the skeletons.
"Downstairs is an illusion to fool passerby into thinking this is still the temple to Merikka," Not fazed by the low light by virtue of his dwarf eyes, Aanbo stands ready by the door. "THIS here is more proof that the cult has evil intentions."
Just then the four other skeletons' arrows thud into the heavy door, shaking the wood under Myrtha's hands.
OOC:
@rpgventurer @WhtKnt - please post turns for Ferranzo and Ember. You are in Dim Light now, but either one of you can open the door to full light and line of sight on the skeletons again (it's not locked or even fully closed) if you wish.20 - Chase (12/17)
19 - Morton (1/15)
19 - Skeleton 7, Skeleton 8
14 - Eugenios (4/8) Mage armor, Cursed
14 - Skeleton 5, Skeleton 6
12 - Myrtha (23/30)
11 - Aanbo (19/27)
11 - Skeleton 1, Skeleton 2, Skeleton 3, Skeleton 4
8 - Ferranzo (8/8)
4 - Ember (7/12)
Rolls
Secret Roll
Jan 27, 2026 12:17 am
Ember, having only a bow and knowing that it will be dismally ineffective against skeletons, elects to hold her action.
Jan 27, 2026 10:36 am
Fizzlehelm had worked on adrenaline pulling Morton out of the room, and hadn’t noticed the arrow until he stepped back from the Warlock and looked down. "Oh F . . . !" he announced in his native Keolish.
Last edited January 27, 2026 10:37 am
Jan 27, 2026 7:11 pm
Ferranzo stays where he is. He waits for the door to open once more so he can see a target.
Jan 28, 2026 4:58 am
Round one, completed.
Ferranzo and Ember wait, ready to react if the door should open or another danger present itself.
Not breathing, not speaking, the undead do not give clues as to what they're doing on the other side of the door.This ends round one.
Ferranzo and Ember wait, ready to react if the door should open or another danger present itself.
Not breathing, not speaking, the undead do not give clues as to what they're doing on the other side of the door.
OOC:
But each of you can try to roll a Perception check as we begin the next round. It will be difficult, but you might perceive something through the slit between door and jamb.load next