Sarrah is caught totally unaware, the brazier catching her in the back, her chain mail shirt the only thing keeping her from being burnt badly.
Stannis nearly freezes when the brand goes through the half-orcs eye. Every instinct screams to run after the inquisitor but instead he brings his sword down hard on the nearest.
Falchion
Stannislav attacks one of the brands with his already drawn falchion- with a mighty horizontal slash he cuts the brand attacking him in half. Just as the others begin to react, each brand, having made a single attack, return to their exact original positions, their tips no longer red- as though they had never moved at all. Disturbingly, the brand Stannis cut in half appears to be whole once more.
Any illusion that you might have imagined the whole thing is swiftly interrupted by Morven's piteous moans.
My... Eye...!
Corinne seems to be trying to help the half-orc to his feet but his spirit seems utterly broken. Corinne herself looks ito be in a state of shock.
Sarrah rushes over to examine his wounds...Morven, let me help you!
May the spirits cure thy wounds and bolster thy spirit!
"Is he ok?" Quiddling asks with a quivering voice and steps closer to Sarrah. A look of terror comes into his eyes as he exclaims: "Theodric!". The halfing rushes to the door and tries to open it.
"Theodric! Where are you?" Quiddling calls out into the dark corridor.
Sarrah's healing helps Morven against the pain but Sarrah can tell that the eye is ruined. It would require incredibly powerful healing to fix. Quiddling runs over to the door, finding it once more easy to open. He calls out for Theodric, but no answer is forthcoming, nor is the man visible.
Such as a Regeneration spell.
You have heard of haunts that appear to “possess” nearby items and hurl them around with deadly accuracy and intentions but not specifically about ones such as this. You suspect this is about as dangerous as flying, searing hot brands would normally be. You suspect the brands the haunt leaves will remain until the haunt is somehow destroyed for good.
You have never heard specifically about a haunt such as this. Sure, haunts involving items being tossed around and hurting people. Though you’re not entirely sure, you suspect this particular haunt is tied to stronger psychic forces afoot in this haunted prison. You do know, however, in your studies of Harrowstone, that the new prisoners were subjected to branding. This was both particularly humiliating and painful and left lasting scars.
You have arrived in Harrowstone and have been directed to Kendra Lorrimor's house by a somewhat suspicious old lady. She has just answered the door to you.
Sorry, yes I meant Ravengro. Kendra has just opened her house to you.
"We should not linger here, who knows when those things will spring to life again!", Quiddling calls out over his shoulder still sounding half in shock. He braves the corridor and looks for signs of Theodrics passing on the ground .
"Theodric went this way", Quiddling says and follows the tracks upto the next corner, then he stops to listen .
Quiddling follows the wall to the left (going north) and stops at the first door. He lays his ear to the wood (or stone?) and listenes intently .
Quiddling sees that Theodric's footsteps lead up to the next room along this corridor, on the left. Listening at the door, he can hear faint whispers that do sound like his companion-
It... Burns... Pharasma protect me, but it burns... Why won't it stop burning...
Quiddling waves at his companions, beckoning them to follow. "I can see Theodrics steps", he whispers. The halfing slowly opens the door and peeks into the room. "Theodric, are you there?"
In response to Quiddling's voice, Theodric's raised and panicked sounding voice follows-
After making her initial statement, Arianna averts her eyes from Kendra, being embarassed for being so late and missing the good professor's funeral...
"Your father had aided my grandmother and I a few years back in Vauntil. All he asked in return was favor at a later date...I am hear to repay that favor, whatever that may be. Please forgive my lateness, but the travel to this town was more problematic than I had hoped."
The young woman smiles at you.
Come on in dear, it sounds like I have some explaining to do. Would you like some tea?
Pulse racing, Stannis moves toward the fallen brands, poking them with his boot with sword ready. When they do not move he turns to the others, watching with concern as Sarrah treats the blinded half-orc.
At Quiddling's call he takes one last look and then moves up quickly to join the halfling. We need to find him and regroup. It is not safe to be seperated...
"Some tea would be wonderful. Do you mind if my friend, Kashki, comes in as well? I promise he won't be a bother." she says gesturing to the small fox moving around Arianna's feet.
It is no problem at all. Kendra replies.
After informing you of her father's requests, Kendra moves to get another tea poured for you both. There is a knock at the door.
Could you get that dear? she calls from the kitchen.
"Certainly."
Arianna goes to the door, slightly opening the door and pearing outside...
"Yes, may I help you?"
"He's in here", Quiddling whispers to the tall paladin then treads slowly treads into the room. "It's me. Quiddling. There is no follower of the pallid princes here. Just us.", he says as softly as he can.
Stannis keeps abrest with the halfling, ready to jump in front.
Qu... Quiddling? Theodric's voice comes through the door, a little less shaky. P... Please, theres someone in here with me... A... blue woman. Bring the others, she needs help!
** spoiler omitted **
Damage
You open the door and a pale, rotting necrotic fist slams into you with supernatural strength behind it, winding you and sending you staggering backwards from the sheer force of the blow. Stepping in with the slam, Professor Lorrimor stands before you- still dressed in the fine suit he was buried in. His head is horrible damaged and his neck is caved in, but it is clearly Lorrimor's freshly buried corpse attacking you.
Lorrizombie
Initiative:
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Alerted by the cry of pain from you, Kendra appears in the entry hall with a look of horror on her face as she sees her father risen as an undead. Quickly casting, a bright ray of light appears from her outstretched finger, seeming to burn Lorrimor's undead flesh and diminish him.
Hit VS zombie
Get away from it, Arianna! Kendra cries out somewhat unhelpfully, distracting you just as Lorrimor's undead fist slams into you once more. Your vision blurring, you collapse to the floor with broken ribs. Everything goes dark...
Stabilize:
Arianna lays there, out cold but stable at -5 hp.
Kendra (hit)
Lorrimor (hit)
Kendra (hit)
Lorrimor (hit)
Kendra (hit)
A light blinds you... so bright. Your vision slowly returns, and you can feel that you have just swallowed some kind of liquid. Kendra is stood over you, covered in bruises and barely moving. You seem to be in a bedroom, lying on the bed. Kendra collapses into an armchair in the corner, clearly both exhausted and badly wounded.
"Uhgh...What in the Nine Hells was that? Kendra? If we can survive until morning, I can try to heal us a bit better."
** spoiler omitted **
It was my fathers body, risen from the dead... I defeated it but I was very nearly slain by the hand of my own father. Kendra shudders at the thought.
I left the body in my cellar for now- truth be told i'd rather wait until the others get back to discuss what to do with it. I don't want to panic the village.
"What, who's there?" Quiddling says and looks around in the room trying to locate Theodric and this mystery woman.
Shes... floating...
Behind you Morven continues to moan pitifully as Corinne helps him over to you.
Stannis detects evil in the vicinity of where he thinks Theodric is.
"What, who's there?" Quiddling says and looks around in the room trying to locate Theodric and this mystery woman.
Sarrah rushes into the room looking for Theodric...
The rotting door falls apart as Sarrah rushes into the room, followed by the others. Tangled mounds of moth-eaten fabric sit on several wooden tables, each surrounded by workbenches. Various sewing tools— shears, needles, rolls of thread, boxes of chalk, and other objects lie scattered over the floor, while the arm of what appears to be a skeleton protrudes from a stained heap of fabric to the west. Theodric sits beside the skeleton, hugging his legs in a foetal position, his eyes wide with fear. Theodric does not detect evil presences within the room and so you enter. You see no sign of a floating blue woman in the room.
"There's no one here", Quiddling tries to reassure Theodric and approaches the inquisitor. "Come, we need to leave. We need to get Morven back to the town", he says and extends his hand to help Theodric to his feet.
What did you see Theodric? We don't see anything in this room but more ruin..
Stannis transfers his sword to his left hand and moves forward, reaching out to take Theodric's arm and lift him to his feet.
Theodric doesn't really respond to Stannislav, his eyes are unfocused and he seems to be in shock. He offers no resistance to the heavy-set Raven Knight lifting him up to his feet.
For a glimpse you think you saw a blue, spectre of a woman silhouetted around Corinne.
"I fear we need to retreat to miss Lorrimor's mansion", Quiddling says as he helps the broken inquisitor to his feet. He then looks to Stannislav and Sarrah. "Where is Corrine and Morven?"
Perception
Ware! Stannis shouts. There is something surrounding Corrine!
Quiddling is startled by Stannis call. "What? Where? I can't see a thing", he says and let's go of the inquistor. He grabs Theodrics arm a moment later as he regains some of his wits. "I think we should leave now. We need to get Theodric and Morven into the hands of a skilled doctor!", the halfing pleads eagerly while his eyes dart from dark corner to dark corner.
Corinne seems to writhe in agony for a split second and lower her gaze, before her head snaps upright once more. Corinne seems to be wreathed in an almost translucent, ghostly pale blue dress and you can see a similar effect around her face- occasionally a young woman's face becomes vislble for just a moment- much about the ghostly face is blue, including her hair, the tears that run from her pale blue eyes, and the clouds of smoke that drift from her lips when she speaks through Corinne. The voice that comes from the scholarly Corinne is clearly not her own.
You... you are the new guards sent to replace the cowards who locked me in this workshop? Corinne asks, the voice delicate and high pitched with an ethereal quality to it.
Quiddling stands speechless, mouth ajar. When he closes it a moment later he seems to have made up his mind. They had to get out of this ruin. Back to town. Regroup. Equip themselves.
"Yes. We are here to bring you to the court yard. Please follow us"
the halfling says. His voice is quivering. It's the voice of somebody who's seen to much for one day but covered with a blanket of determination. He gestures for Stannis to help Theodric and for Sarrah to bring Morven then starts for the door.
Corinne/??? moves to follow you for a moment, then shakes her head, the ghostly blue face visible again for just a second. Her eyes are sad, as though she has been crying for hours. She raises Corinne's arm, the fingers slowly unfolding to point at you.
No... You are not new guards. Forgive me... it is hard to focus with this vessel's thoughts impeding my own; and past memories are difficult to keep in focus with the present. How long has it been now? What brings you to this dark place? Are you also here to abduct spirits?
Stannis moves between the possessed Corinne and the others (assuming Theodric is capable of walking unaided and isn't just going to fall on the ground). His sword is in a not quite ready position. He seems uncertain but when he speaks it is with quiet determination.
We are here to fight the evil of this place. Spirit, are you friend or enemy? I warn you, you may not have this woman while I have strength.
Quiddling winces as his rouse is foiled. He turns around slowly to face the ghost as his mind is working feverishly for the right thing to say. Before he can produce the right words Stannislav steps in and saves him the trouble.
The halfling stands behind the paladin tense with incertitude. The tall man's words was a little more direct than Quiddling would have prefered but on the other hand he couldn't make up something better himself. Might as well be blunt and to the point. Quiddling moves slightly to the left and for a moment his eyes dart around the room for anything to throw at the apparition, before he realises that it's still Corrine standing before them and cancels the notion.
Stannis moves between the possessed Corinne and the others (assuming Theodric is capable of walking unaided and isn't just going to fall on the ground). His sword is in a not quite ready position. He seems uncertain but when he speaks it is with quiet determination.
We are here to fight the evil of this place. Spirit, are you friend or enemy? I warn you, you may not have this woman while I have strength.
Corinne smiles in wry amusement.
So quick to strike down any undead hmm Raven Knight? Know that I am the only thing stopping the malevolent spirits of this accursed place from descending on Ravengro and Ustalav itself. I am not your enemy- I serve as the warden of this place after they took my husbands spirit, although the greatest among them saps at my strength. It will not be long until he destroys me utterly, unless you are comitted to helping here.
Sarrah walk up and places her hand on Stannis' shoulder in an attempt to re-assure him,
The lady of graves brought us here to stop the evil restless dead from hurting others.
Please...speak your mind, we are here to help put the dead to rest, once and for all!
Stannis seems torn between fighting the spirit and listening to Sarrah. Evidently he did not find any trace of evil and seems completely flummoxed about what to do against something he can't hit with his sword.