Melinda’s Concentration check: 1d20+19 = 35 (Success)

Melinda’s Attack (Skeleton): 1d20+21 = 30 (Touch) (Hit)

Eldritch Chain Damage: 7d6 = 29 (Magic) (Dead)

Melinda’s Attack (Skeleton): 1d20+21 = 39 (Touch) (Hit)

Eldritch Chain Damage: 14 (Magic) (Dead)

Melinda’s Attack (Skeleton): 1d20+21 = 31 (Touch) (Hit)

Eldritch Chain Damage: 14 (Magic) (Dead)

Melinda’s Attack (Skeleton): 1d20+21 = 23 (Touch) (Hit)

Eldritch Chain Damage: 14 (Magic) (Dead)

I took a breath, and unleashed another blast at the mindless undead. I kept my movements tight, and clean, not giving any openings. Not that I had anything to worry about from these skeletons, but getting sloppy could invite disaster. Even in my old world, after all, we had the dark god Murphy who ensured ill luck struck those who were overconfident. I felt no need to draw the very real gaze of Beshaba, Goddess of Misfortune, to me. Thankfully, these skeletons were as brittle as the ones before, and several of the closest were returned to death.

Skeletons’ attacks x4 (Melinda): 1d20+1 = 12 (Miss)

Skeletons’ attacks x5 (Frostmane): 1d20+1 = 8 (Miss)

Skeletons’ attacks x4 (Vestele): 1d20+1 = 13 (Miss)

Skeletons’ attacks x3 (Siora): 1d20+1 = 8 (Miss)

Skeletons’ attacks x4 (FDW1): 1d20+1 = 11 (Miss)

Skeletons’ attacks x2 (FDW2): 1d20+1 = 17 (Hit)

Damage: 2d6+2 = 12 (Slashing) (DR 10/Magic)

Skeletons’ attacks x3 (FDW3): 1d20+1 = 5 (Miss)

Skeletons’ attack x3 (FDW5): 1d20+1 = 20 (Crit Threat)

Confirm Crit: 1d20+1 = 21 (Confirmed Crit)

Damage: 6d6+6 = 19 (Slashing) (DR 10/Magic)

Skeletons’ attack x2 (FDW6): 1d20+1 = 9 (Miss)

Skeletons’ attacks x3 (FW1): 1d20+1 = 18 (Miss)

Skeletons’ attack x1 (FW2): 1d20+1 = 3 (Miss)

Skeletons’ attack x6 (FW3): 1d20+1 = 19 (Miss)

Skeletons’ attack x6 (FW4): 1d20+1 = 10 (Miss)

The skeletons advanced, swarming around the two groups of the living. Their rusted blades found no purchase against us, though I heard yips and growls from the wolves as they were hit. That was fine by me. The more the wolves were worn down before they got in range of us, the better.

Siora’s Concentration check: 1d20+21 = 30 (Success)

Siora’s CL Check: 1d20+12 = 29 (Success)

Fireball Damage: 10d6 = 37 (Fire)

Rena’s Will Save (Shadow Evocation: Fireball): 1d20+22 = 32 (Success, 1/5 damage)

Rena’s Ref Save (Shadow Evocation: Fireball): 1d20+16 = 21 (Fail, full damage)

Damage: 7 (Fire) (Fire Resistance 10)

FDW2’s Will Save (Shadow Evocation: Fireball): 1d20+6 = 7 (Fail, full damage)

FDW2’s Ref Save (Shadow Evocation: Fireball): 1d20+7 = 17 (Fail, full damage)

Damage: 37 (Fire) (Fire Resistance 5)

FDW4’s Will Save (Shadow Evocation: Fireball): 1d20+6 = 24 (Success, 1/5 damage)

FDW4’s Ref Save (Shadow Evocation: Fireball): 1d20+7 = 14 (Fail, full damage)

Damage: 7 (Fire) (Fire Resistance 5)

FDW5’s Will Save (Shadow Evocation: Fireball): 1d20+6 = 22 (Fail, full damage)

FDW5’s Ref Save (Shadow Evocation: Fireball): 1d20+7 = 27 (Success, half damage)

Damage: 18 (Fire) (Fire Resistance 5)

Siora took a breath as she stepped back, towards the white wolf. She kept the movements of her hands small and controlled, keeping the single skeleton within reach of her from spotting any opening. As she finished her chanting, shadows formed in her outstretched hand, before they turned to orange flames. The orb launched out, and exploded in the middle of the wolves and skeletons. When I glanced her way, she simply shrugged, and said, “Illusions can harm, if the mind believes them to be true.”

FW1’s Attack (Skeleton): 1d20+20 = 34 (Hit)

Damage: 2d6+10 = 17 (Slashing) (DR 5/Bludgeoning)

Flaming weapon: 1d6 = 2 (Fire) (Dead)

FW1’s Attack (Skeleton): 1d20+15 = 22 (Hit)

Damage: 2d6+10 = 19 (Slashing) (DR 5/Bludgeoning)

Flaming weapon: 1d6 = 4 (Fire) (Dead)

FW1’s Attack (Skeleton): 1d20+10 = 13 (Miss)

FW1’s Bite (Skeleton): 1d20+13 = 33 (Hit)

Bite damage: 1d8+8 = 11 (Piercing) (DR 5/Bludgeoning) (Dead)

Skeletons’ AoO x2 (FW1): 1d20+1 = 3 (Miss)

FW2’s Attack (Skeleton): 1d20+20 = 39 (Hit)

Damage: 2d6+10 = 17 (Slashing) (DR 5/Bludgeoning)

Flaming weapon: 1d6 = 2 (Fire) (Dead)

FW2’s Attack (Skeleton): 1d20+15 = 18 (Hit)

Damage: 2d6+10 = 16 (Slashing) (DR 5/Bludgeoning)

Flaming weapon: 1d6 = 4 (Fire) (Dead)

FW2’s Attack (Skeleton): 1d20+10 = 19 (Hit)

Damage: 2d6+10 = 18 (Slashing) (DR 5/Bludgeoning)

Flaming weapon: 1d6 = 2 (Fire) (Dead)

FW2’s Bite (Skeleton): 1d20+13 = 18 (Hit)

Bite damage: 1d8+8 = 16 (Piercing) (DR 5/Bludgeoning) (Dead)

FW3’s Attack (Skeleton): 1d20+20 = 25 (Hit)

Damage: 2d6+10 = 18 (Slashing) (DR 5/Bludgeoning)

Flaming weapon: 1d6 = 2 (Fire) (Dead)

FW3’s Attack (Skeleton): 1d20+15 = 35 (Hit)

Damage: 2d6+10 = 17 (Slashing) (DR 5/Bludgeoning)

Flaming weapon: 1d6 = 2 (Fire) (Dead)

FW3’s Attack (Skeleton): 1d20+10 = 21 (Hit)

Damage: 2d6+10 = 15 (Slashing) (DR 5/Bludgeoning)

Flaming weapon: 1d6 = 6 (Fire) (Dead)

FW3’s Bite (Skeleton): 1d20+13 = 23 (Hit)

Bite damage: 1d8+8 = 11 (Piercing) (DR 5/Bludgeoning) (Dead)

FW4’s Attack (Skeleton): 1d20+20 = 21 (Miss)

FW4’s Attack (Skeleton): 1d20+15 = 31 (Hit)

Damage: 2d6+10 = 18 (Slashing) (DR 5/Bludgeoning)

Flaming weapon: 1d6 = 1 (Fire) (Dead)

The demontouched warriors lashed out with their flaming swords, and all around them the skeletons they faced returned to death. Two of the wolves broke free of the skeletons besetting them, and advanced, their eyes already looking our way. The other two reduced the numbers facing them substantially. There would not be too many more skeletons before long.

FDW1’s attack (Skeleton): 1d20+11 = 17 (Hit)

Damage: 1d8+10 = 17 (Piercing) (DR 5/Bludgeoning) (Dead)

FDW2’s attack (Skeleton): 1d20+11 = 13 (Miss)

FDW3’s attack (Skeleton): 1d20+11 = 23 (Hit)

Damage: 1d8+10 = 13 (Piercing) (DR 5/Bludgeoning) (Dead)

FDW4’s attack (Skeleton): 1d20+11 = 17 (Hit)

Damage: 1d8+10 = 12 (Piercing) (DR 5/Bludgeoning) (Dead)

FDW6’s attack (Skeleton): 1d20+11 = 23 (Hit)

Damage: 1d8+10 = 14 (Piercing) (DR 5/Bludgeoning) (Dead)

The dire wolves attacked, and the number of skeletons decreased. Those who found themselves free of any other foes moved forward, eager to get to us. Fortunately, they were still too far away to be any true trouble to us.

Rena’s Attack (Skeleton): 1d20+20 = 33 (Hit)

Damage: 2d6+16 = 21 (Piercing) (DR 5/Bludgeoning)

Vile Damage: 1 (Vile) (Dead)

Rena’s Attack (Skeleton): 1d20+15 = 26 (Hit)

Damage: 2d6+16 = 24 (Piercing) (DR 5/Bludgeoning)

Vile Damage: 1 (Vile) (Dead)

The priestess howled in frustration that her wolves were being held up by paltry undead. Using her greater size and reach, she lashed out with her spear, which grew in her hands, and skewered the two closest skeletons through their skulls, returning them to their slumber. “Press forward! Destroy the outsiders! Feast on their flesh!”

Frostmane’s attack (Skeleton): 1d20+22 = 24 (Hit)

Damage: 1d8+17 = 20 (Piercing) (DR 5/Bludgeoning)

Freezing Bite: 1d6 = 5 (Cold Immunity) (Dead)

Frostmane’s jaws crushed another skeleton’s body as a matter of course. I could practically feel the tenseness in his shoulders from where I stood. I knew why he was annoyed, since I felt the same way. This multitude of weak enemies were no threat to us, but foes who we had fought and easily dispatched before were making us look inept in comparison. The only solace was that they were geared for attacking groups of weaklings, while we focused on taking out individual elites. Plus, none of our people had been harmed by the skeletons, which wasn’t something that the wolves could say.

Vestele’s Attack (Skeleton): 1d20+10 = 18 (Hit)

Damage: 1d8+2 = 3 (Bludgeoning)

Skeleton’s Will Save (Disruption): 1d20+2 = 16 (Success)

Vestele’s Attack (Skeleton): 1d20+5 = 17 (Hit)

Damage: 1d8+2 = 4 (Bludgeoning) (Dead)

Vestele grunted as she swung her morningstar, smashing one of the skeletons next to her with a similar one-two combo. As the skeleton fell, she looked around. Just loud enough for the rest of us to hear, she uttered, “We don’t need to work too hard, I think. Let the wolves take out most of the skeletons. They are too melee focused, and even the priestess prefers melee to using her spells.”

Melinda’s Concentration check: 1d20+19 = 34 (Success)

Melinda’s Attack (Skeleton): 1d20+21 = 30 (Touch) (Hit)

Eldritch Chain Damage: 7d6 = 27 (Magic) (Dead)

Melinda’s Attack (Skeleton): 1d20+21 = 37 (Touch) (Hit)

Eldritch Chain Damage: 13 (Magic) (Dead)

Melinda’s Attack (Skeleton): 1d20+21 = 41 (Touch) (Hit)

Eldritch Chain Damage: 13 (Magic) (Dead)

Melinda’s Attack (Skeleton): 1d20+21 = 37 (Touch) (Hit)

Eldritch Chain Damage: 13 (Magic) (Dead)

Once again, I unleashed a blast of eldritch power, and chained it to three skeletons after it hit the first. Each one was shattered, if not reduced to powder, when it was hit, but that did not matter. There were more behind them. “I could always fly ahead and start blasting the Priestess, give her something else to think about. But getting into range to truly hamper her would be risky, especially with the rest of you so far away.”

Frostmane’s AoO (Skeleton): 1d20+22 = 41 (Hit)

Damage: 1d8+17 = 20 (Piercing) (DR 5/Bludgeoning)

Freezing Bite: 1d6 = 5 (Cold Immunity) (Dead)

Melinda’s AoO (Skeleton): 1d20+21 = 35 (Hit)

Damage: 2d6 = 10

Frozen Fury: 1d6 = 1 (Cold) (Cold Immunity) (Dead)

Skeletons’ attacks x7 (Melinda): 1d20+1 = 4 (Miss)

Skeletons’ attacks x5 (Frostmane): 1d20+1 = 11 (Miss)

Skeletons’ attacks x3 (Vestele): 1d20+1 = 8 (Miss)

Skeletons’ attacks x2 (Siora): 1d20+1 = 17 (Miss)

Skeletons’ attacks x2 (FDW1): 1d20+1 = 5 (Miss)

Skeletons’ attacks x2 (FDW3): 1d20+1 = 21 (Crit Threat)

Confirm Crit: 1d20+1 = 7 (Regular Hit)

Damage: 2d6+2 =7 (DR 10/Magic)

Skeletons’ attack x3 (FDW5): 1d20+1 = 5 (Miss)

Skeletons’ attacks x1 (FW1): 1d20+1 = 19 (Miss)

Skeletons’ attack x2 (FW3): 1d20+1 = 18 (Miss)

Skeletons’ attack x4 (FW4): 1d20+1 = 12 (Miss)

The skeletons swarmed around us. Frostmane and I got our hits in when a couple of the mindless wretches advanced too quickly, giving us an opening. But more skeletons replaced them, and we were beset by blows. None of them did more than glance off armor, thankfully, but they only needed to get lucky once to ruin our day.

FW1’s Attack (Skeleton): 1d20+20 = 31 (Hit)

Damage: 2d6+10 = 17 (Slashing) (DR 5/Bludgeoning)

Flaming weapon: 1d6 = 6 (Fire) (Dead)

FW1’s Attack (Skeleton): 1d20+15 = 23 (Hit)

Damage: 2d6+10 = 16 (Slashing) (DR 5/Bludgeoning)

Flaming weapon: 1d6 = 6 (Fire) (Dead)

FW1’s Attack (Skeleton): 1d20+10 = 27 (Miss)

Damage: 2d6+10 = 22 (Slashing) (DR 5/Bludgeoning)

Flaming weapon: 1d6 = 5 (Fire) (Dead)

FW3’s Attack (Skeleton): 1d20+20 = 24 (Hit)

Damage: 2d6+10 = 21 (Slashing) (DR 5/Bludgeoning)

Flaming weapon: 1d6 = 5 (Fire) (Dead)

FW3’s Attack (Skeleton): 1d20+15 = 26 (Hit)

Damage: 2d6+10 = 17 (Slashing) (DR 5/Bludgeoning)

Flaming weapon: 1d6 = 6 (Fire) (Dead)

FW4’s Attack (Skeleton): 1d20+20 = 28 (Hit)

Damage: 2d6+10 = 16 (Slashing) (DR 5/Bludgeoning)

Flaming weapon: 1d6 = 5 (Fire) (Dead)

FW4’s Attack (Skeleton): 1d20+15 = 26 (Hit)

Damage: 2d6+10 = 22 (Slashing) (DR 5/Bludgeoning)

Flaming weapon: 1d6 = 5 (Fire) (Dead)

FW4’s Attack (Skeleton): 1d20+10 = 21 (Hit)

Damage: 2d6+10 = 13 (Slashing) (DR 5/Bludgeoning)

Flaming weapon: 1d6 = 5 (Fire) (Dead)

FW4’s Bite (Skeleton): 1d20+13 = 21 (Hit)

Damage: 1d8+8 = 11 (Piercing) (DR 5/Bludgeoning) (Dead)

The werewolves struck once again. Most of the skeletons that had surrounded them were now gone. Some of the werewolves were already advancing, baying for our blood. I couldn’t help but smile at the thought of shutting them up once they got within range.

FDW1’s attack (Skeleton): 1d20+11 = 27 (Hit)

Damage: 1d8+10 = 18 (Piercing) (DR 5/Bludgeoning) (Dead)

FDW3’s attack (Skeleton): 1d20+11 = 24 (Hit)

Damage: 1d8+10 = 15 (Piercing) (DR 5/Bludgeoning) (Dead)

FDW5’s attack (Skeleton): 1d20+11 = 25 (Hit)

Damage: 1d8+10 = 12 (Piercing) (DR 5/Bludgeoning) (Dead)

The wolves not faced with skeletons to cut down charged forward along with the werewolves, flowing around the few skeletons between them and the pack in front of us. Those that had foes closer to hand took care of the matter quickly. The skeletal horde was dangerous enough to be an annoyance to the wolves, but not so dangerous as to be a legitimate threat. They were just an obstacle between the pack and us.

The priestess, too, charged forward, clearly enjoying the fact that her forces had been more readily able to dispatch the skeletons than we had been. Perhaps she had forgotten how we soundly beat her last time? Ah, well. We would just have to reinforce the lesson, then.

Frostmane’s attack (Skeleton): 1d20+22 = 39 (Hit)

Damage: 1d8+17 = 25 (Piercing) (DR 5/Bludgeoning)

Freezing Bite: 1d6 = 4 (Cold Immunity) (Dead)

Frostmane dispatched another skeleton, though his eyes were on the priestess who was getting ever closer. “Might be a good idea to find a way to interfere with her casting, little bird. She’s close enough now that it could pose a problem.” I simply nodded in response. The wolf was right, after all, the priestess needed to be dealt with, sooner, rather than later.

Vestele’s Attack (Skeleton): 1d20+10 = 30 (Hit)

Damage: 1d8+2 = 4 (Bludgeoning)

Skeleton’s Will Save (Disruption): 1d20+2 = 20 (Success)

Vestele’s Attack (Skeleton): 1d20+5 = 9 (Miss)

Lashing out again, Vestele managed to land a blow on one of the skeletons that were surrounding her, but the blow was not destructive enough to destroy the skeleton outright, and it managed to resist the purifying power of the weapon’s enchantment. “You’re the fastest of us, Mel, if you take to the sky. Do something to make the bitch focus on you, and we’ll let the werewolves break through the skeletons for us.”