Belgrin spreads a wide, predatory grin at the ghoul as it rends his flesh.
"Ach, so that's how it is, then? My turn."
Belgrin swings wide in a vicious arc with the blade of his maulaxe, but growls as the ghoul twists back out of range.
Hezar moves to stay off of Belgrins back
He draws and looses.
for
for
@ Landon - technically, you'd need a pretty clear line of site to the Ghoul in order to charge, and your path is a little twisty. However, we're going with it, as I don't like Ghouls :-)
Landon charges at the horrid undead fiend and hews its head from its body!
Charge?: 1d20 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (13) + 3 + 2 = 18damage: 1d10 + 3 ⇒ (7) + 3 = 10
The headless body falls limp to the ground, twitching for a few moments.
Belgrin had thought to attack the Ghoul, but smiles grimly as it falls, headless, to Landon's sword. Instead, he charges the last Ghoul standing.
Attack:
Damage:
The Ghoul deftly moves to the side and avoids Belgrin's attack. As it does so, it lashes out at Duvall, hoping to harm the Helmite in his heavy armour.
Attack 1: bite
Damage 1: bite
Attack 2: claw
Damage 2: claw
Attack 3: claw
Damage 3: claw
Duvall's armour and shield prove an impenetrable barrier, however, as he easily turns aside the vicious flurry.
Hezar deftly takes aim and fires at Ghoul C.
1d20 + 5 + 1 ⇒ (20) + 5 + 1 = 26 for 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 1 = 8
to confirm 1d20 + 5 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 5 + 1 = 8 for 2d8 + 2 ⇒ (6, 7) + 2 = 15
He plants an arrow right in the Ghoul's distended gut, causing it to hiss and spit at you!
Duvall is up next!
Since the ghoul is up close and personal, Duvall roars to Helm and smashes the creature in the face!
@ Ariael - the ghoul up on your level has indeed met it's second death! The map here will show the status of the combatants.
Duvall's hammer deals only a glancing blow to the Ghoul. It laughs as black ichor runs from the wound on the side of it's head.
Landon is up next!
Landon will move to J28 and attack the ghoul
Ariael walks over to the top of the hole and looks down
Landon's bastard sword just narrowly misses beheading this Ghoul as well! His sword misses by just inches.
Belgrin is up next!
@ Ariael - the action is too far down the tunnel for you to see. If you want to join the melee, you'll have to descend 10' down the pit and make your way down the tunnel. The ghoul that attacked you and Janiries has been finished off and it doesnt look like any more approach on this level.
"Get down there and help them Ariael, if you can. I've got the rearguard.."
The swordsman nods and jumps down
slashing damage
Belgrin cleaves into the wretched beast, aiming for its midsection.
Hezar once again maneuvers to fire
[ooc] Longbowfor
Belgrin's maulaxe cuts the Ghoul open, eliciting an inhuman shriek before the undead monster drops to its knees and expires.
All enemies are down!
Anyone on the lower level: you finally get to take a moment to survey the large chamber. Roughly hewn, it's primary feature is a large pit in the centre of the room. Looking in, you can see that the pit is filled with bodyparts, skeletons, and all manner of unspeakable offal. This must have been where the Ghouls kept their vile meals - allowing them to putrefy before consumption. Several of the bodies are relatively recent additions, still relatively intact and wearing their clothes.
On the upper level: Marius comes running in, a vicious gash across his chest, his quarterstaff stained black with vile ichor. Seeing Janiries' injury, he stops short. We were attacked outside by a Ghoul! Elur is dead, the Ghoul caught her by the throat and slew her before I could react. He leans against the wall to catch his breath. It's down now, dead for good this time I hope. Tethys attacked it from behind and I beat it's skull in with my staff. Silvanus' breath, I can't believe how quick it was! One moment Elur was standing there, laughing, and the next.... He shakes his head sadly.
Are you alright Marius? Is there no hope for Elur? She will be avenged.
...and remembered
Hezar will take a careful look around the room and in the pit of nasty.
Looking down the pit, "Who gets the unwelcome task of searching down there for the Lord Stendar?" Landon will then check everyone with visible injuries.
Duvall swallows the bile rising in his throat and turns away from the pit. "We should pour enough oil in there to burn it to ash. But more importantly, where is Elur's body? Once a person is slain by a ghoul...they rise as a ghoul."
"The Ghouls caught us all by surprise Marius. I should have been more alert." Janiries would sigh wearily, still grasping the wound on her arm to try and stop the bleeding.
Upon heading Landon's words, the elf would further remark. "I think we found the Lord Stendar and his adventuring party. He was a Lathanderite priest, was he not? Travelling with three companions. One outside and two in the pit." For emphasis, Janiries would lift up the ghoul's tunic with her rapier, showing off any markings indicating the following of Lathander.
I will search the pit. Mayhaps they left something to be returned to family members. If you could stay with me Sir Duvall and perhaps one other. I recomened we make some basic fortifications and are certain the signal is functioning then go save who we can.
"You sure you want to go down in there, Hezar?"
I absolutely do not. But we need to know for sure if it is Stendar, or his party.
Then he walks over and whispers so only Duvall can hear If I die tell Lafali...I still don't like him
Hezar claps Duvall on the shoulder and gives a hearty laugh, pleased with his joke.
"You're crazy!" Duvall chuckles, shaking his head. Then he walks over and picks up the sunrod and tosses it in the pit. "Anyone have a rope?"
"Used up what ah had with the work up top. Let me see if this thing leads off anywhere else..."
Belgrin begins examining the perimeter of the room, looking for other tunnels, doors, or secret entrances.
Marius nods sadly. I'm so sorry, but I'm sure. I tried to help ... healing isn't my specialty, but I had a cure spell memorized, I cast it on her, but it was too late. Looking at Janiries, he grimaces. The bastard slashed my chest with his claws - hurt far worse than that scourge you're carrying around. And hell's teeth! One of the priests should look at that arm!
And Janiries is correct: the remains of the Ghoul on the upper level are still clad in robes that bear the symbol of Lathander, though they have been torn at and ripped.
To those on the lower level: Hezar's search of the charnel pit is not in vain! He finds the following:
- a heavy mace (of masterwork quality!)
- 3 small vials - containing what may be potions?
- 2 small scroll cases, stopped with wax
- a small pouch (containing 3 amethysts)
- a fine looking dagger
- a silver belt buckle, of very fine design
- a number of coins: 121 gold (mostly of Tethyrian mintage), 73 silver, and 41 copper. You also find three small silver bars, each several ounces in weight, with the number 25 and the seal of the city of Zazzespur on them
- many broken weapons and shields, and heavily damaged suits of armor
Belgrin finds no further passages, save the one heading north. Following it for a short distance shows that it is sealed with rock and dirt, and has been for a very long time.
As Hezar tosses things out of the pit. Well I found some things that are useful here folks. Sir Duval, Brother Landon? Can either of you magic this stench off of me. I think I might be sick. Also can anyone see if they know what these potions are...possibly scrolls here as well.
Nodding to Marius, Janiries would lean up against a wall while gripping her arm with her other hand.
"Yeah, I think the priests can do with looking us all over. And burying Elur."
Duvall shakes his head again and backs away when Hezar climbs out of the pit. "Uh...you might want to wallow in some horse dung - it'd sure smell better than that! But you can do that outside - let's take all of these things out in the open air, before I pour oil in this pit and burn off this offal."
Duvall then takes a look at the scrolls, calling over Landon for assistance. He examines the seals and then opens them to examine the contents.
The scene outside is unpleasant, to say the least. Elur lies crumpled on the ground in a pool of blood, her beautiful face hidden in the dirt. The Ghoul lays nearby, it's head crushed, and black ichor still bubbling out.
Marius' companion, the panther Tethys, is making sad whining sounds and favouring his front left paw. He settles down close to Elur's body and headbutts her several times, hoping to wake her. She doesn't stir.
Hezar walks over to Tethys.
I know boy. I know. He fishes out some leftover rabbit and tries to feed him and rubs his neck and back.
While Duvall tends to the wounded, Landon will concntrate on the deceased. Taking a simple scarf and wrapping it tightly around his face, he searches the 'priest' for any heraldic items like a signet ring or amulet, he then grabs the ghouls and drags them down into the burning pit.
Belgrin wipes his axe head before securing his weapons. "Bloody undead...always make such a mess of everything. Not two days in and we've already lost someone. Whoever spurred this little outbreak has nine hell's worth a crimes ta answer for. Least now we know the tunnel's secure for the time bein'.
Once outside, Ariael motions to the ranger to come over to him "Hezar, if you would be so kind as to assist me, I'd like to look over the items, see if perhaps any of them are magic in nature. Also, let me rid you of that stench before you make us all sick"
Hezar nods his head, and carefully lays out the items in an orderly fashion to, perhaps make it easier to examine.
He nods his head in thanks at being rid of the horrific odor from the charnel pit. He sighs...relieved.
Nice to be able to breathe through my nose again. I am going to make a quick sweep of the area in case there is anything else around here. Would not do to be attacked again. Hezar knocks an arrow and silently makes his way around the perimeter.
Before Duvall burns the ghouls, Janiries would check the body she assumes to be Lord Stendar, looking for any rings or other identifying jewellery and taking it, helping Landon with his search.
Once outside, she'd happily accept the healing, flexing her arm after the wound is cleaned up.
"What should we do with Elur's possessions? Her share of the loot should probably go to any next of kin, but we could probably use her gear."
When we spoke the first days of our journey she told me her story. Her only kin was a sister that was lost to disease.
"No sense just leavin it for some brigand to pilfer, then. Might as well get what use we can out of it and make sure it's not wasted."
@ Ariael:
a potion of enlarge person; a potion of cure light wounds; and a potion of protection from evil. You'll need to cast read magic to determine the spells on the two scrolls.
@ Janiries: the corpse of the former Lord Stendar does indeed bear an identifying item; a ring, likely made of gold, and with the family crest on it. It pulls easily off the skeletal finger of the dead man. His features have reverted somewhat since death; he would have been a handsome young man, with regal features, in life.
@ Hezar: there's no-one around that you can determine. Your observations seem to show that the two ghouls on the upper level were hiding in the broken latrine, as both have left a trail of waste and filth leading back to there.
As a side note, Marius and Tethys both appear to be injured. The channel provided by Duvall wasn't enough to bring them back up fully.
Elur's body and possessions still need to be addressed.
Janiries would show the ring to Landon, then pocket it. "I'll keep this safe till we get back to the Stendar Estate. I'm sure the Lady Stendar will want it back." She'd then turn to Elur's remains once again.
"Given Elur's nature, I think it'd be more appropriate to cremate her. Would seem a fitting end for one descended from fire. Besides, I think Duvall already started a pyre. As for her gear, we should take possession of it rather than leave it to the bandits, as Belgrin mentioned."
"Good idea, Janiries. Should we wrap her in something and then offered her to the fire? Should we build a new pyre for her, something not tainted by the bodies of the ghouls victims?"
"I'm sure we can find something to wrap her up in. As for building a new pyre, sure if you think we've the time.. but I do have to point out that we could be putting the living at risk if we delay much longer."
I bow to the knowledge of our clerical brothers. I will honor her in my own way.
"We should take the few moments to lay her seperately, it would be disrespectful to 'dispose' of her in that pit."
Seeing Marius and Tethys both injured Landon will heal them.
Afterwards he'll look around for some firewood or burnable furniture to use as an imptrompu fire for Elur.
Does anyone have oil to spare? he asks, looking around for wood with Landon.
"Not sure ya want to go buildin a whole new pyre for one lass...we do have a short time to get where we're goin, 'ere. Long as she's buried in fire, she'll probly not mind much."
Seeing the (highly likely) scornful expressions on his companion's faces, Belgrin relents.
"Ahh, fine then, if we must, then let's get on with it. Me cousins are still waitin on us, but I suppose ye have a point..."
Belgrin then moves to assist landon with his search for kindling material.
Marius clears his throat before speaking. I think it is also worth noting, my friends, that we're now in mid afternoon. If the goal was to reach Tilver's Folly today, then we wouldn't arrive there until this evening, at the earliest. And that's assuming no encounters along the way.
A search of Elur's belongings turns up a note and a scroll - neither the note nor the scroll have been opened.
The note:
The scroll:
Janiries would open up the note, given the lack of any writing on the outside of it to indicate who it was for, then show it to the rest of the group.
"Looks like Elur had someone she wanted to leave things to.. so that solves that problem. And Marius is correct, we're burning sunlight on this task, something that could put any survivors at Tilver's Folly at risk. We have a pyre going already.."