Dantrian nods, "Yes, that is correct. You would need to react quickly to bring one of those to bear against such a foe, however." He looks over his shoulder to Anton, "You have already found the remains it seems and this planchette will only afford us one yes-or-no question of this particular spirit. I suspect a query such as, 'Will burying your remains put your spirit to permanent rest,' would be more beneficial."
Janos shrugs. "It's worth a shot, Anton. I would have said we bury them in the Restlands with full rites, but let's see what the spirit himself says."
Scowling at the thought of further delay, B'yelka says, "Should we spend a week preparing the body for burial?" Sighing dramatically the bard collects herself and continues with a smile. "If the spirit is quiet for now, how long will that remain true? Would it be better to deal with a full funeral when we are done here?"
I'm happy to try to commune with them. Whether they are receptive to me is another thing. I believe they will only answer yes, no or maybe so Dantrians suggestion is likely to give a definite answer. Is there anything else that could give us more useful information?
He takes the planchette carefully and begins laying it out.
Actually, before we do this shall we make sure we are safe here? Well, relatively safe I mean.
Dantrain responds to B'yelka's complaint and Anton's question at the same time, "We do not know how long until this spirit reawakens. I would recommend haste."
"Go ahead, Anton. Drosil and I will keep watch. The others can try to intervene if something happens."
Anton kneels down before the board.
As you wish He says, taking a deep breath.
Spirit. I, Anton Klasnic, servant of the Lady of the Roads and representative of the people of this land beseech you. I believe you are tormented, spirit, and would know if laying your remains in the Restlands would grant you peace? Answer me and see it done.
He places his fingertips on the planchette and waits.
B'yelka clutches her scourge tightly, standing several paces away from Anton as he reaches out to this angry spirit. Hell or Ghosts, no sane men should call to the beyond.
"Much appreciated, thank you Dantrian." He gulps the potion down with relish.
He winces slightly as the rest of his burns heal. He gives a genuine smile to the party, especially to Anton, who risked the same injury by reaching into the fire. "I'm glad I have all of you to back me up! Now if only they had a potion to cure my coat!" he quips, sadly pulling off the last remains of his purple peacoat. He stares down at his flimsy undershirt and flexes his non-existent muscles. Should have done more athletic training before I left. He fingers his hair and, to his horror, the tips of his braids are singed. Bonbon wiggles in commiseration.
Tibideau snaps out of his self-absorption and watches Anton attempt to commune with the spirit. His thoughts wander briefly to his older sister. Monique would be so jealous that I get to see this!
The little marker spells out "No."
Drosil sighs. "Well, I guess that's that. Let's take the remains from this place, regardless - perhaps we can ask Father Grimburrow, or do more research to determine what other options we may have."
"Perhaps the answer isn't just giving the spirit rest, but respite from how he died." Janos pulls out a waterskin and pours a small bit over some of the bones.
The bones steam and hiss, but after a few seconds the water is evaporated.
Frustrated by the helpfulness of the spirit B'yelka says in a mocking tone, "Maybe we could just throw him in the lake, there." She points to the water not too far away.
That would certainly douse them and perhaps his anger also.
"Let's take him swimming!" Tibideau says gaily. "Do we have something to carry the bones?"
His delight subsides when he catches a flash of himself in the lakewater near the room. I'll never be able to find a suitable hair stylist in Ravengro.
As the party moves the burning bones towards the swollen lake, B'yelka lingers in the back, her mind adrfit in it's own sea. What will could hold a spirit to this place? What rage! She shudders as she imagines the burning searing pain of living immolation.
Once the bones hit the water they seem to float briefly on the surface, steaming as they change from black to white. They sink quietly into the water, and out of sight.
Dantrian turns his gaze from the sinking bones to the group, his expression typically flat, "Curious. I wonder how many more troubled spirits like that one we might encounter."
I wonder how many of us this place will claim as well, but it is best to not dwell on such things. Still, I cannot help but wonder how these people will react if... when... the beast takes over once more. I can feel it even now, itching at the back of my mind.
Dantrian shakes his head, as if doing so might dismiss unwanted thoughts from his mind. "Shall we continue onward?"
Janos walks up to the water and the wall that is being slowly consumed by it. "Let's head this way. We'll at least know the room will be open to the water."
B'yelka sees Dantrian's worry in his eyes and nods in agreement. "A lot of people, good and evil, died here. I expect many more of these troubled spirits. All the more reason to make haste, I think."
Janos opens the door to the next room. The northeast wall of this room has partially fallen, revealing the dark, murky waters of the pond outside. Moldering training dummies and other similar equipment hint that this room may have once been a training area for the guards. In the northeast part of the room, the floor around a dark, jagged hole is surrounded by black scorch marks.
"What on earth happened here?"" He glances back at the others and then enters the room more. "I wonder if there's any equipment still in good shape."
He walks forward, tentatively, to inspect the hole.
Janos can't really see much down the hole, it's very dark.
Dantrian approaches the hole, stopping beside Janos. Without looking at the ranger, Dantrian addresses him conversationally, "Perhaps a little assistance?" He produces one of the sunrods they acquired from the false tomb, lights it, then tosses it down. "If I recall, the Warden and his men were sealed in a lower level of the prison, sacrificing themselves to ensure the incarcerated would not escape. Perhaps we have found an alternate route to those lower levels."
B'yelka nods silently, watching as the sunrod drops into the darkness, it's light briefly illuminating the walls. I would not choose to jump head first into this one!
"I'm not sure there's a bottom to that..." He back away from it, suddenly worried about what might happen if he lost his footing. Janos then turns his attention to the guards' dilapidated gear. He starts to search among the items tossed around in the room, hoping to find something either usable or of value.
Drosil begins looking for other exits from this room. "Unless we're concerned that something is going to try to emerge from there, I suggest we leave it for later. We still have quite a bit of ground to cover."
Anton walks up beside Janos.
I cant see anything down there. Maybe its some kind of drainage into the pool outside. Hang on.
He pulls a sunrod from his pack, lights it, and drops it down the hole.
He also notes the double doors leading into the next room.
We should check there next.
Tibideau seconds Drosil and Anton. "I suppose it would be prudent to search the rest of the top floor before we descend into the depths. After Janos is finished searching this muck, let's head through the double doors."
The sunrod falls for about two seconds before plunking onto a floor covered in broken burnt bits of wooden machinery twenty feet below. The noise and light elicit a familiar shrieking noise from below as three flaming skulls come rocketing up out of the hole.
Anton:
Drosil:
B'Yelka:
Dantrian:
Tibideau:
Janos:
Skulls:
Initiative
Anton 21
Dantrian 16
Skulls 13
B'Yelka 12
Tibideau 10
Drosil 8
Janos 6
Round 1; Initiative 16
Cursing under his breath, Dantrian maneuvers slightly to his right, ensuring one of the ignited skulls is positioned directly between himself and Anton. He tries to bring his morningstar to bear, hefting it with both hands as he brings it crashing down in an over-head arc.
HP: 17/17
AC: 15 (11 T / 14 FF)
CMD: 15
F/R/W: +4/+4/+0
Hero Points used: 0/2
Prepared Mutagen: Dexterity [ ]
Prepared 1st Level Extracts (2+1): cure light wounds [ ], shield [ ], enlarge person [ ]
-Ongoing Effects-
n/a
As the skulls come blazing out of the hole Anton nocks an arrow in a smooth, practiced motion and lets fly.
Round 1
Initiative 21
As the skulls come blazing out of the hole Anton nocks an arrow in a smooth, practiced motion and lets fly. The arrow chips the jawbone off the first skull to emerge
Initiative 16
Cursing under his breath, Dantrian maneuvers slightly to his right, ensuring one of the ignited skulls is positioned directly between himself and Anton. He tries to bring his morningstar to bear, hefting it with both hands as he brings it crashing down in an over-head arc. The morningstar's head crushes the skull to dust.
Initiative 13
The two remaining skulls attempt to slam into Janos and Drosil.
The clumsy undead are easily dodged.
"Me and my big mouth..." Drosil recovers from the shock of something actually emerging from the hole, and swings his blades at the nearest skull.
Janos dodges the skull and steps around it to position himself on the other side from Dantrian and be able to face both skulls. He swings his axe hard at the flaming undead spirit.
I knew no good would coming of taunting this place by dropping stones into their pit. B'yelka holds her thoughts as she steps closer to the fray, behind Drosil, and strikes at the remaining skull with her scorpion. With a whhisssh*CRACK* as her whip flashes past the Fetchling's blades and, though dramatic, meets utter failure.
Gleeful at the sight of more flaming skulls despite his recent injury, Tibideau skips over to Dantrian and pokes him in the shoulder.
Round 1
Initiative 12
I knew no good would coming of taunting this place by dropping stones into their pit. B'yelka holds her thoughts as she steps closer to the fray, behind Drosil, and strikes at the remaining skull with her scorpion. With a whhisssh*CRACK* as her whip flashes past the Fetchling's blades and, though dramatic, meets utter failure.
Initiative 10
Gleeful at the sight of more flaming skulls despite his recent injury, Tibideau skips over to Dantrian and pokes him in the shoulder.
Initiative 8
"Me and my big mouth..." Drosil recovers from the shock of something actually emerging from the hole, and swings his blades at the nearest skull. It shatters as his short swords tear through it.
Initiative 6
Janos dodges the skull and steps around it to position himself on the other side from Dantrian and be able to face both skulls. He swings his axe hard at the flaming undead spirit. Destroying it.
End Combat
Dantrian lowers his guard as the last skull shatters. "Perhaps they are not so hard to dispatch when one is not distracting by trying to extinguish flames in a burning building," he offers wryly. "What a nuisance."
"Still dangerous I think, especially if they were just guards." B'yelka pauses, frowning. "Guards would imply intelligence, no? Are haunts known to be rational?"
"Good work. I think we;re getting the hang of this." Janos return to rummaging around with the guard's equipment. "Doesn't take much intelligence to attack someone disturbing your area. Animals will do that too. It might mean they aren't mindless, but not necessarily intelligent."
Drosil nods, "I agree - much easier this way. That said, let's keep exploring. I don't want to be here all day. Shall we try for these doors over here?" He motions to the double doors to the auditorium .
Yes, lets press further in. But be wary.