Gan takes a few moments of quiet contemplation as he observes the view, heartened by the scene. His human aspect overrides the stoicism of his divine traveler with an influx of emotions--joy, hope, and, finally, resolve. He moves to leave with his companions.
For the first time since the caravan arrived at Brinestump, Callomeleth smiled as he took in the beautiful sight atop the castle tower. "Half a moment longer, Tybus," he says softly. "It's freeing up here." He listens to the distant sound of the waves falling upon the shore, feels the warm sun and the cool air upon his skin, watches the dancing light of the sun upon the rolling waves at sea, trying to take in all of the tableau at once.
"Thank you for that, Shelyn," he says at last. "I needed that." He looks back at Tybus with a nod. "I'm ready again. Let's finish this."
Nothing catches Lamsfel's eye beyond what he has already seen, due in large part to the fact that the balcony looks away from the rest of the castle.
After contemplating the view, the group moves back down the stairs to the room below. Once you have verified there are no new noises to be heard beyond the door Lamsfel listened at before, opening it a crack reveals a narrow hallway leading away to the right, and no signs of life in the immediate vicinity.
"One way's as good as another, right? We're going to end up looking everywhere..."
Sure thing. Ready yourselves. Like before. Tybus cracks open the next door.
The passage actually leads two directions, although the right turn looks like it merely ends at a door leading outside. Going left, though, the corridor looks like it opens out into a large feasting chamber, while a smaller side passage turns south just before you would reach the feasthall.
That's a big galley, Tybus can't help but mutter as he moves along the hallway as quietly as he can muster.
If it's empty, he'll move into the feasthall and pause to check with everyone to see what their senses tell them.
"The Accidental God would approve, no doubt," Callomeleth says as he enters the hall, scanning the corners and ceiling for threats.
The feasthall is quite a large room, and looks to be the central "intersection" space for this floor - four single doors, two double doors and a wide hallway to the south all provide exits, in addition to the small passage you entered from. The chamber reeks of rotten food and bird droppings. A long dining table sits in the middle of the room, heaped with partially eaten animal carcasses and several thick eggshells. There doesn't seem to be anyone here, though.
Phew. The corbies' nest area? Tybus guesses, noting the birdlike offal. He moves around the hall, ready for any danger, and listening at the doors.
Any ideas on which way?
Gan scowls: Those of from the dire corbies--the foul creatures eat their own eggs.
Shaking off his disgust, he moves over to one of the doors.
Lamsfel moves to the door indicated by Gan to listen.
Callomeleth's nose wrinkles at the Gan-creature's revelation. "The crebain are more loathsome than the stories suggest."
Lamsfel's careful probing reveals that the door appears to be stuck, and will require some effort to open. He hears what might be very faint scratching of some kind beyond it, but he's not even entirely sure that what he's hearing is real.
Lamsfel steps back to consider the door. "It appears to be stuck - or it is locked. I think I hear a very faint scratching - animal? prisoner? bait for such as us?" He looks back and forth among the spellcasters, "I weary of opening doors to get attacked. Are you possibly able to see through the door or the wall to what lies beyond?"
Yes, there is some source of evil beyond this door. Prepare yourselves.
As the door-kickers debate methodology, Lamsfel nods to the Shelynite . "Ready yourself, friend."
He readies both blades and waits to see what they reveal.
Callomeleth nods back to Lamsfel and readies his glaive.
Gan muscles the door but it refuses to budge. Tybus, however, seems to have mastered the science of door-bashing, and it gives way under his boot.
The room beyond is narrow but long, only about ten feet wide but roughly twenty-five feet long, running to the north with a westward angle at the north end. Although it may have once been a well-organized storeroom, the fallen crates and broken barrels that fill the room now present a tangle of debris.
A small figure, about the size of a human child, abruptly coalesces in front of you. It is mostly skeletal, but the head is a wolf's skull rather than a human one; tattered rags enshroud it, and the mournful sound of weeping children fills the air.
The wolf-head snaps forward, biting at Gan.
Gan recoils from the bite, shaking off the effects and trying to stab in retaliation.
,
Callomeleth steps in behind Tristan and swings at the skeletal being with his glaive. "In the Rose's name, what is this?"
Attack the beastie. If I have cover, give me a -4.
Tristan's sword hammers into the undead, and large pieces crack and crumble away. Gan and Callomeleth are less successful, though, swinging awkwardly and ineffectively in the tight quarters.
Unable to get closer, Lamsfel waits behind the others, his magical wakizashi ready, looking for an opening.
The crying sounds escalate, taking on the characteristics of children crying out in pain, as the wolf-skull turns to look with empty, staring eyes at Tristan. The thing snaps its teeth at him, and a set of bony claws also reach out, almost as though to caress him.
Tristan feels phantom fingers tickle his throat, then a strange pressure, as though a small child were trying to strangle him. The experience only lasts a moment, though, and he's not sure what's happened afterward.
While unsure of what this thing is, the fact that it appears skeletal at least gives him an idea of what will work against it. He chants a word and sends a blast of positive energy towards it.
Tristan takes another swing at the monster, this time with more force behind it.
,
Lamsfel waits, alert for an opportunity to leap in with an attack.
Gan steps back, stabbing again at the creature with his reach advantage and opening a lane for Lamsfel.
.
Although Gan, Tybus and Tristan can't seem to land a blow on the slippery undead child, Lamsfel manages to pin it down long enough to deliver a solid blow. A second gaping hole appears in its body, and the sounds of weeping children grow louder. A few of the many voices begin to take on form - it sounds as though they are pleading with you to stop.