Round 2
In the hallway, Phineas still coughs so badly that he can take no further action. He tries to motion to his allies to flee, but it's lost in a paroxysm of choking coughs.
Fortitude save
Once more, Athromar resists the smoke incapacitating his allies.
And once more, he attacks the shadow with its immortal enemy, positive energy.
Channel Positive Energy - Harm Undead -
Shadow: -5 HP
While Athromar's golden blast of light does wash more of the shadow away, it's not enough, as the killer continues to drain strength from Blacklock, leaving him straining to even hold his club, even as Cira and Phineas shelter in the hallway.
Recovering his breath and his wits, Phineas sees Blacklock getting slowly drained of vitality by the shadowy creature. He also sees Athromar bringing forth the positive energy of his deity, and seeks to do the same. He grasps the holy symbol round his neck and fervently calls on the good power of Erastil to rid his friends of this scourge.
Shadow HP: -8
While Athromar and Phineas work together, blasting the spectre with golden light, it still seems to shrug off the bulk of the attack. While Cira manages to stop coughing for a few seconds, long enough to send a crossbow bolt flying at the shadow. However, it clatters off the wall a few feet from the shadow's head. In any case, it distracts the creature, long enough for it to flinch involuntarily, allowing for Phineas to escape its grasp.
Frowning at the lack of effect, Phineas doesn't know how else to damage the spectral creature and tries once again. "Deadeye, we need you now more than ever. Help your servant protect his flock from this deadly foe."
Athromar adds his prayers to those of Phineas, "Sarenrae, aid us, return to the grae this shadow!"
Channel Positive Energy to Harm Undead
Shadow HP: -15
The shadow writhes in pain as the combined brilliance of Phineas and Athromar's channels. However, even with all the divine might presented, the specter still refuses to die. However, Cira's crossbow bolt does manage to find its way directly into the shadow's head, in what should be a finishing blow...
...only to pass harmlessly through the undead menace as though it doesn't even exist. Fortunately for Blacklock, though, the shadow dismisses him as harmless, and moves past the gasping beggar to instead attack Athromar. The cleric's armor does nothing to stop the shadow's attack, and he feels weaker as his own armor begins to weigh him down beyond normal.
Despite the havoc this shade is wreaking on his allies, Phineas remains steadfast in his belief in the power of Erastil, Still gripping his wooden symbol the young acolyte calls forth the positive energy to harm the undead foe.
While Phineas' channel does almost nothing, the shadow does look to be in a sorry state, just a few wisps of darkness at this point. When Athromar follows up, the final blast of golden light vaporizes the last vestiges of the specter, leaving the room empty once more.
...Except, of course, for the choking smoke.
Athromar looks to his friends, "Let us pull back. We are likely too weakened to move forward further until we assess our health".
"There was something in that brazier, a dagger, I think." says Phineas, wanting to retrieve it before they group retreats from this room. Wrapping his cloak around his hand, and gasping for a large breath, Phineas rushes over to the brazier to retrieve the weapon, trying hard to not breathe any of the choking black smoke.
Carefully using his cloak to protect his fingers from hot metal, Phineas removes the dagger from the brazier and then returns to the hallway, where the smoke is less.
"Not sure if this useful, but didn't want to leave it behind," he says shrugging. "Based on what Roldare said, I bet that key is useful too. It was a near run thing to retrieve them."
You all retreat from the room, returning to Roldare's room. The cobbler seems to have calmed down even more, and, while his mind is clearly shattered and cannot remember much of what to expect, he does tell you that you'll be going for a swim, and the 'keys and shields' are important. He keeps doing this, as well, muttering endlessly until asked to stop. With his help, you find some supplies in this room, including: a number of bedrolls, a pair of bullseye lanterns with 4 flasks of oil, 5 days’ worth of rations, two potions that are labeled as “healing,” and one potion labeled 'for illness.'
"I feel weakened as well. Well enough to keep going though I would prefer to rest if that is an option of course we cannot know if it is as we do not know what or why our foes have entered this place..."
Blacklock identifies the potion a a potion of lesser restoration.
Blacklock identifies the potion a a potion of lesser restoration.
"While I agree with the sentiment Blacklock, we can't help the girl if we are dead ourselves. Phineas, your thoughts?"
Feeling a bit sheepish, Phineas shrugs. "It touched me but only barely. Blacklock does not look good. I think we should rest here where it's relatively safe and see what tomorrow brings."
The night passes uneventfully (if a little uncomfortably), and you all wake up the next morning refreshed.
Glad to be rid of the rather annoying Roldare again, knowing his companions are reduced in strength, Phineas follows along cautiously, hoping they have an easier day of it today.
As you leave Roldare, Cira comes up and says, "I'm going to stay behind and see if I can help Roldare recover. If he remembers anything else, I'll come running. Okay? Stay safe."
Exploring the stairs, they rise a short way, before descending again, opening into a spacious room. One half of this lofty chamber has a lowered floor, with stairs on either side to reach the bottom. Standing opposite the door is a tall wooden statue of Kassen grasping a gigantic wooden shield in each hand. One of the shields is inscribed with the word “home,” while the other reads “family.”
Blacklock's rock hits its target, and bounces off with a clunk, clattering across the floor.
Blacklock peers down the hallway, only to see a door just a few feet away. There is no motion in the room or reaction from the surrounding area.
Blacklock finds no triggers or traps on the staircases.
Phineas follows the plucky rogue into the room with the statue of Kassen. He has a reverent air about him as he looks around the room, honoring the founder of his hometown.
"Didn't Roldare say daggers and shields? Could these be the shields he meant?" Phineas will examine the statue more closely to see if the shield could be removed.
As Blacklock reaches the bottom step, the statue begins to move, activating a pressure plate just in front of it, and a loud clacking sound fills the room as all the stairs turn 45 degrees, changing the staircase into a slide. While Phineas slides down the stairs, Athromar, having just started down the staircase, gets the worst of it, and he slides all the way down on his back as the statue steps forward at him menacingly!
Blacklock's swing, while enthusiastic, bounces off the creature's tough exterior without so much as denting the ancient wood.