.
With a growled, You can not win. and slashes with the knife.
, if hits
At this point the door at the top of the stairs bursts open and through it flies a short man dressed only with a solid gold chain and a plush red bathrobe. Thick greasy black hair pours out of his chest, through his chain out across the top part of the robe. The hair on his head however is lot less magnificent, it is starting to go grey and thin. In his hands he has a long dagger. He looks down at the scene in amazement.
By the divines, what compelled you to attack our customers? He bellows.
Shaken by this the two brigands do not swing their swords just yet.
Saying nothing as yet, Beswaur taps Mathais with the wand from his bandolier.
Mathias, groggy downs another bottle and nods his thanks to Beswaur.
Marcus looks from the man on the stairs, to Beswaur, to Mathias.
Time to go?
It is probably time for you to go. The short man with too much greasy hair says. And tell your other friends that we are not ones to be trifled with, and we won't be as friendly next time At this he scratches his crotch with his free hand.
While backing toward the door, Beswaur says, Yes, I suppose it is. You might want to take this a notice that the authorities are no longer willing to 'look the other way' with regards to certain activities.
.
Mathias shaking off the recent blows looks up.
Knowing kicking in the door wasn't the way to go about this.
Master Velcastos I presume. I am not here to banter in threats but simply business and legal business at that. Now that the Sheriff's way has been proven incorrect perhaps we can sit and discuss a matter as civilized creatures. You recently did business with the church, and I assume that you would like this matter to be closed just as much as the clergy. If you wish to discuss this I will sit and listen and view any documents you may have. After which I think that all parties truly involved will need to sit down and discuss the matter in front of a neutral bystander who can witness for legal purposes only. As was stated the authorities aren't going to ignore your dealings any longer, perhaps this is a fitting avenue to show them that you can be and are a law abiding businessman.
I doubt the cleric wants you interfering in his affairs as much as you intended to little man. Velcastos (for it is he) replies testily. He may try and wrangle out of his debts, he may even try to rip poor Velcastos off, after all I've done for him, but in the end he will pay me what he promised. And I think he would prefer to pay than have me discuss his affairs with you.
He looks down at the party again and gives the matter a little more thought.
And now I am particularly bored, and I have some particularly interesting business to complete, so if you are not gone by the time I am back in my room my associates will continue to beat the snot out of you.
And with that he turns and heads back up the stairs.
Mathias turns and leaves. Fully intending to have some more words with the Priest about his dealings.
Marcus stares defiantly at the wounded thug and his hand drifts towards his sword, but he leaves when Mathias does. Outside in the street he says,
I say we rest up and come back, maybe tonight. See if he is so aloof and dismissive while he's sleeping. How much magic do you have left Beswaur?
The priest lied to us more than once and only with prodding did he ever tell us even a partial truth. Now Velcastos hints that they have more than a single dealing with each other.
We finish the job of course I think the truth has little meaning to this priest and we need to find out what is truly going on. his first lie alone deemed him unworthy of blind trust.
... How much magic do you have left Beswaur?
Very little useful at this time. Though I can give each of you a bit more healing if still needed.
This hour of the afternoon finds Father Athul gently preparing the altar in the church by changing it's four tableclothes. The task is laborious but he seems to be doing it with care, Matching the colors of the clothes with the seasonal colors can be a dull chore and is often haphazardly done but not here. Upon seeing you Father asks in a concerned tone
Did you deal with Valcastos?
No Father, we met his thugs. But he did speak to us and now I suppose looking up at Mathias we have more questions.
The priest turns his head to look at Mathias expectantly.
Yes, Father it seems as if Velcastos has had more than one dealing with you. He also mentioned your payment and that you would pay it on your own. There are mixed tales all around it seems and we are now stuck in the middle. I would greatly appreciate the whole truth.
Yes, I would also appreciate the truth. But I wouldn't say 'we are now stuck in the middle.' Without some honesty, we can just move along and let resolutions occur.
The color drains from the priest's face. His other dealings are blackmail. He says in a shaken voice. He's threatened to ruin me unless I make additional payments. That's all it is. He upped the price on our arrangement but now won't stop until he has everything he wants.
Beswaur turns to Mathais and Marcus, This isn't getting anywhere at this time. Let's go finish cleaning up the haunted building. He can have some time to decide to really tell us the whole truth or figure out how to handle the problem on his own.
Marcus nods I'm sorry Father but I think you need to go to an authority higher than us. What you did was for a good cause, I hope the church will consider that.
The priest looks dejected but says nothing ad the party leaves.
The party makes the trip out to the orphanage without incident. Arriving early evening they camp outside just around back of the graveyard. Despite the haunted location the night passes without incident.
The orphanage looks exactly as it did. The tombs are undisturbed, the front door now hanging slightly ajar and the upper level still showing a festering wound from the fire.
Mathias looks at the priest and shakes his head.
The road to hell is paved in good intentions father. Good intentions lead you here but lies and half truths cut you off from willing aid. I wish you luck in this conflict.
He then turns and follows the party hoping to supply back up on the way out of town.
A quick scan of the graveyard indicates that Mathias is still buried there. This is more of a relief than perhaps it should be.
What is the plan? I say we just go in the front door again and look around. We know there are at least some of those dark spirits. Hopefully the hag-ghost hasn't somehow come back.
I will admit that I have not dealt with the undead as much as either of you probably have. I will follow your lead.
Mathias considers the well but refrains from bringing it up for now as any well would likely not be linked to the building underground, at least not when the occupants were alive.
The wind picks up a little providing a cool breeze.
Marcu, before we go in please apply this ghost salt to some of your arrows. It will make them effective against such ghostly creatures.
Also I received different prayers from Desna this day. So I can give all of us a bit more protection this time.
Mathias preps with his normal battle readiness routine, potion and wand if Beswaur is still willing. He lights a torch and carries it in his right hand.
Lets free these trapped souls.
Ok, I will cast a guarding spell on each of us. If when the ghosts are encountered I will try to hide us from their perception. But don't count on that working.
Beswaur pushes open the door.
Marcus lights his own torch and follows the others into the house. I think we should start upstairs again, find those evil shadows.
The door creaks open the the entrance way is exactly how everyone remembers it, right down to the puddle of putrid water on the floor. Beswaur's detect evil registers no evil in his immediate vicinity.
Mathias checks each step before applying his weight but clearing the building from top down does make sense to him. He starts up the stairs as Marcus suggested.
The stairs creak ominously again, but Mathias makes it to the top without being beset upon by unnatural creatures.
Mathias rechecks the same rooms as before
Marcus follows behind, sword and torch at the ready.
Turning into the burnt out bedroom there is a translucent pile of ash on the floor that certainly wasn't there two days ago. When Mathias steps foot inside the room suddenly the ash seems to transform back into the ghost of the woman, except this time she is completely wreathed in flame. Mathias blinks and suddenly she is gone and the translucent pile of ash remains on the floor.
Beswaur's detect evil indicates two beings of evil in the north western side of this upper story.
Beswaur mutters, over there guys pointing to the north west.
.
pointing to the pile of ash.
Was I the only one to see that?
Saw it, don't know what it means. Mayhap after we deal with these others we should properly bury those ashes.
Marcus chuckles nervously I guess she is still mad about last time, but yes we should lay her to rest.
Marcus heads down the west hallway.
Mathias follows a step behind and to the opposite wall from Marcus.
As the party rounds the corridor the two shadowy forms bend through the walls and try to corner them in the corridor.
They look fully recovered.
The relevant statistics
Dark Form 1 - AC15, Touch 15, Incorporeal, HP19
Dark Form 2 - AC15, Touch 15, Incorporeal, HP19