Arloric tries to keep pace with Alexa so she doesn't get caught out alone.
Yes , she will try her best to keep up
Awakening in the morning with Alexa in her arms, Darya smiles, whispering a quite prayer to Shelyn for bringing them together amid the turmoil and chaos, reminding her of the true beauty in the world, despite the need for war and vengeance. Brushing her fellow aasimar’s hair away from her peaceful face as she gently kisses her awake, the paladin gives her a radiant smile. ” Good morning beautiful”
-----------
With an enjoyable awakening behind her, and her devotions to Ragathiel in preparation for the coming strike at the heart of the cemetery, Darya stands, armed and armored, alongside her companions, ready to act as the opening volley begins.
Smiling as Alexa moves in with her signature silent grace, the Ragathiel’s Firebrand swiftly follows, ready to engage any opposition they might find.
"...rrrrr..." Alexa blinks several times and lets out a little cat-like growl as Darya wakes her up.
"...'s too early--" She starts before her eyes snap open in realization.
"...oh." She blinks the sleep out of her eyes, looking up at Darya with a smile. "...morning."
"Morning!" Darya says, returning the smile. "I definitely wish it was too early." she says with a grin, replaying the last night in her head.
"There's nothing I would love more than to sped the day in bed with you...but alas..." she says, leaning in to give her companion a lingering kiss. "This'll have to do...until later at least
As you make your approach, you see three ghouls dart out from around tombs and surge towards you. Two are moving at a full run, while the third seems to be holding back a bit in order to keep pace with the others.
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Alexa lets out a giddy chuckle as Darya kisses her.
"...next time, it's going to involve sketches. And maybe some paint, if I can find some."
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Alexa glares at the incoming ghouls, holding her ground and assuming a defensive posture.
"Ooohh... I'd never pass up the chance to be one of your masterpieces." she replies with a beaming smile. [smaller]"I suppose we should get dressed and armored up."
Striding to the front to give Telerin cover to cast safely, Darya draws Radiance, the sword's glow a perfect match for the golden glow emanating off of her to spread over her companions, bolstering them all for the battle that was now fully engaged.
Alexa sighs and nods. "...right."
In that moment, Alexa the Giddy New Lover vanishes, and Alexa the Scout and Spy emerges, hard-eyed and stoic as she gathers up her gear.
As you approach the tomb and the advancing ghouls, you see a fourth dart out from the corner of tomb to the south and surge towards you.
Arloric begins the familiar droning hum that began the echoes of nature's song...
The two ghouls running in from the west slow down and line up with their companion, advancing on the party slowly.
The elven wizard will begin to chant Ast tshrnor tow/tow thsrnnor ast
as 3 eldritch bolts in the shapes of silver dragons emerge from her outstrethced hand to strike at ghoul 2
magic missile
Telerin's magic nearly drops one of the advancing ghouls. It continues towards the party but it has been seriously injured.
Alexa zeroes in on the maimed ghoul and strikes!
As Alexa darts across in front of her to take down Telerin's target, Darya completes the crossover maneuver, charging one of the other ghouls, completing an x across the battle field as she brings radiance slashing in with deadly force.
Alexa and Darya meet two of the ghouls in combat, and with slashing of steel both of them fall to the ground, dead (again).
The ghoul next to Darya retaliates with a vicious strike, lashing out with teeth and claws.
It tears into her skin.
The ghoul to the south moves in to engage with Arloric, gnashing with its teeth.
Arloric dodges the attack with ease.
Arloric continues the song, and retaliates by hacking at the ghoul!
Arloric retaliates by stabbing the ghoul with his seax.
Alexa lunges at the ghoul Arloric stabbed, leaping to flank it!
Alexa darts into position behind the ghoul and stabs with her gladius. It seems like it should hit, but some invisible force just barely nudges it away.
The elven wizard will begin to chant Ast tshrnor tow/tow thsrnnor ast
as 3 eldritch bolts in the shapes of silver dragons emerge from her outstrethced hand to strike at a wounded ghoul, otherwise ghoul 4
magic missile
Telerin's bolts strike the ghoul sandwiched between Arloric and Alexa, and it falls to the ground.
The over-extension of her charge leaving her open to the ghoul's retaliation, Darya lets out a growl of pain and rage as the creature bites and claws her skin.
As her divine health dissipates the worst effects of the wounds, the Champion of Ragathiel brings her glowing blade to bear, her first strike, a powerful cut to knock the undead off balance before she completes a dazzling spin maneuver, aiming to take the ghoul's head.
Darya cuts the last ghoul to pieces, and you find yourselves standing alone next to the tomb. Shallow, circular steps lead up to the entrance. The stone double doors are shut.
You can hear the muffled sounds of battle to the south.
Arloric raises his seax as a victory salute as the song comes to a close.
"This land shall be liberated, one turf at a time!"
He turns to Alexa.
"Let's see what these ghouls were guarding, shall we?"
"Let's."
Alexa checks the doors.
"Think you can handle the locks?" Darya asks with an encouraging grin.
Alexa gets to work on the lock.
The lock on the doors turns out to be rather sophisticated and doesn't open easily.
Alexa tries again to unlock the door but it refuses to cooperate. Frustrated, she takes a deep breath and makes a third attempt, and this one successful with an audible click.
"Knew you had it." Darya says quietly as she readies her sword, moving to a position to face anything that might lie beyond.
Alexa performs a brief inspection of the doors and states that they seem safe. Darya pushes them open, letting sunlight spill in to the supernaturally dark interior. The wide entry lets in enough light that you can see, but only barely so.
The floor is covered in ashes, bones, and shattered pottery. Niches line the walls, and given the setting it suggests that they held funerary urns that now lay smashed beneath your feet. The bones have been gnawed on and are too large to have originated here. Those that are still recognizable appear to be human or humanoid.
Another set of doors lies further in.
Arloric removes his eyepatch and lets his dark eye see.
Looking into the darkness beyond, Darya lets the bit of concentration she usually has focused slip, her golden halo manifesting itself above her head.
Sword and shield held in a ready position, she leads the way into the crypt.
Arloric notes that there are tracks in the ashes, and there's a cleared path leading between the inner and outer doors from fairly regular travel. The light from Darya's halo doesn't reveal anything more.
The inner doors are closed.
Alexa checks the inner doors.
Alexa stands aside so Darya may open the door.
"Door's safe."
"Tracks in the ashes, both coming AND going. The ghouls are in and out regularly. Something important to them must be down here," Arloric comments in a low voice. "Probably tougher things than their door-men deeper down."
Darya pushes the doors open, bringing her shield up as she moves into the chamber.
The doors open up without resistance, and Darya's light spells into the chamber beyond. This is the crypt, proper, and you see the remains of larger urns, now smashed, in alcoves along the walls.
A spectral form of a ghoul with bat-like wings moves into view and reaches out to touch her.
She feels its hand pass into her, and a coldness as part of her fortitude is drained away.
Using her 1st level peal of power, she will recast magic missile at the incorporeal ghoul
force damage/magic missile