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Interesting Encounters: Necromancer's Onslaught

Interesting encounters are short descriptions of encounters that GMs can use to build on.  They combine unique aspects of different types of foes, terrain, skill checks, weather, combat, etc in order to provide more unique challenges than hit monster; repeat.

In this encounter, we have a path that runs up to the top of a hill.  The path is sunken into the the hill as you go up, so there is a steep earthen wall that leads up to the full height of the hill to the left of the path.  The weather is dreary with light rain.  The path is mud and pretty slick.

At the top of the hill on the path is a portal.  Undead are pouring from the portal and following the path to attack the PCs.  Disabling the portal requires a magical check to identify and magically cancel the 6 runes around the portal.  This takes enough time that undead will definitely be harassing the PC dealing with it.

To the left of the path at the top of the hill, above the steep earthen wall, is the necromancer and a few guards.  The guards are armed with ranged weapons and can target the PCs pretty much anywhere.  The necromancer can also cast spells at the PCs from this location and attempt to heal the undead.  Reaching the necromancer and guards requires climbing the steep earthen wall which in the rain is a muddy mess.  There is a slight chance that the mud will break loose, unleashing a mudslide on those below and swallowing up anyone in its path.  This chance increases throughout the encounter as rain weakens the wall.

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