Romon finds himself staring at Esteriande again and shakes himself out of his musings
"Well if it is done when tis done then it were best it were done quickly. Either the screaming woman gets his Lordship or he gets her and if we are not quick about it then the winner will have time to think about coming after us won't they..I say we strike fast"
"Oh and Aldern is Lord Foxgloves given name Milady..You know him as the Skinsaw Man"
Comprehension dawns on Esteriande.
"Certainment, we must move swiftly zen. She may be more zan a match for any pettite ghoul, but a pack of zem will tear her to peeces, and ze Skinsaw Man will call upon zem to aid 'im, even if she ze stronger."
Esteriande turns to Mucharok.
"Je comprends your caution, monsieur, zat you care for ze well being of your comrades is commendable. 'Owever, zey would not be 'ere if zey were not prepared to take ze risk. I will gladly place myself in 'arms way to protect any zat 'ave ze 'eart to follow me, but in battle notheeng is certain. Flames will not penetrate ze caverns below, and if you are not of ze mind to fight now, zer is no purpose in remaining 'ere: later is too late, later can serve to search ze rest of zis place, is zat is your wish."
His face one of confusion as he is lost in her accent not fully understanding what she is saying, he sterns himself, "We can follow this ghost, but be assured that if any harm comes to my companions from your careless actions I will sever your head myself."
With that he nods to Wolfspirit and begins a slow pursuit of the ghost...he's not trying to catch up, just keep it in sight.
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As the group hustles forward, Marak says to Naria, "I'm not actually clear on this myself. I joined after the others met this 'lordship' individual, and don't have any idea what grudge he bears the Shoanti. It may have had something to do with a goblin attack in Sandpoint and a place called 'the glassworks.'"
"Bien!" Esteriande nods emphatically to Mucharok, and leads the way down the stairs to the ground floor and continues to the steps down to the cellar, her glittering blade ready, ready for any surprises as she glides down the steps ...
Glad to finally be moving and that the tension between the two headstrong but brave leaders Aliwolf pads after big bear, Lunas getting in step with Little Bear as they both follow their masters.
You make your way down through the house and, because you don't have to pause to open doors, catch up with the walking corpse just as she begins to throw herself at a heavy iron door that blocks her way. On the way you pass through what was once a kitchen now littered with the torn bodies of dozens maybe hundreds of rats all off which look similar to the one you found earlier..The womans clothes are in tatters now, a myriad small bite marks on her flesh healing as you watch.
"We need to get through zis door - Romon, mon ami, can you oblige?"
She speaks to the undead woman.
"Madam, if you permit us, we can open ze door."
Inikai speaks in a low voice to Muchorak as Romon checks the door, Your reservations are understandable but let's give her a chance to prove herself. I believe her intentions are worthy. It is her tactical approach that needs adjustment."
Then to Eseriande "My lady, we should let this unfortunate soul have her chance at vengance on Foxglove. It appears to be a personal vendetta. We should stay close so that if she falters, then we can aid her directly. Who can say that she will not turn her wrath upon the living once she vents it at Foxglove?"
Naria follows the others clearly not looking all to pleased with the situation.
"My lady, we should let this unfortunate soul have her chance at vengance on Foxglove. It appears to be a personal vendetta. We should stay close so that if she falters, then we can aid her directly. Who can say that she will not turn her wrath upon the living once she vents it at Foxglove?"
"Oui, I agree - quite likely we will 'ave our 'ands full with ghouls anyway, and she is motivated by revenge, it seems. I will not deny 'er right to satisfaction," Esteriande replies. "She must 'ave been beautiful," she muses, "and 'ee destroyed zat beauty."
Marak wracks his brains but cannot identify the creature the woman has become either..she is certainly no ghoul.
Know Religion
The corridor at this point is only 5 feet wide..Romon can try the door but with a penalty for squeezing with the undead woman who continues to throw herself at the door unheeding of your words.
"ALLLLLLDEEEERRRNNNN!!!!!"
Muchorak nods at Inikai acknowledging his words.
As the appiration continues to hurl itself at the door Muchorak turns to their new companion, "If it is revenge that drove this creature to this state of death, or if it was the great spirits will to bring this soul back for such a task." He sighs, "It appears they have failed as a simple door can block the creation, or the rage is not strong enough."
If Romon goes up to the door, Muchorak will be close by and if the creature attacks Romon; Muchorak will lash out with everything at the appiration.
Esteriande looks thoughtfully at the door. Are the hinges exposed?
Inikai questions the wisdom of following the floating corpse but he cannot come up with a better course of action. He looks on at the abominable thing and wonders if it will turn on them if it cannot bypass this door. What brought her back from Pharasma's Boneyard? he asks himself.
Inikai
"The woman...the floating woman, she is a spirit of vengenace who returned to pursue her killer. I think we are safe in her company, at least from intentional harm by her hand." Some of the others might note that as Inikai speaks his hand drops down to his belt and rests on a vial of holy water.
Almost as an afterthought he adds, "From what I have read, if she rose, ...um...in this way...there is sufficient cause and her wrath will be focused only on her murderer and those who bar her path to him. Pharasma herself chose not to retain this woman in the Boneyard and what mortal can question her will?"
Standing in a hallway with a floating corpse while speaking of the goddess of death brings beads of sweat to Inikai's forehead. Please, Romon, hurry with that door he thinks. The walls seem too close and Inikai feels a touch of claustrophobia. Why us? What is bringing such evil to the land and why do we have to face it?
"None, mon ami. She 'as been wronged by one 'oo 'as defiled everyzing zat is good or 'olsome in zis world," Esteriande looks grave.
"We had better find something to act as a ram. Zat way we can shatter zis door more efficiently."
Apparently by RAW squeezing does not penalise skill checks.
Romon looks somewhat dubious but bends to the task,..the distraction posed by the woman means that he takes a full minute and a half to open the lock.
As soon as the lock clicks the Revenant, for that is indeed what she is,bursts through turning to her left where Esteriande knows the stairs to the tunnels below exit.
While Romon works, Esteriande pulls a scroll out of her pack and unrolls it to recite the spell contained on it.
Caster level check (3rd, for DC4):
As soon as the door opens, Esteriande follows the revenant. At the foot of the stairs she will pause a moment to detect evil and scan carefully ahead of her, wary of surprises since last time.
Perception:
The door opens and Romon heaves a sigh of relief as the ghost and party push through. The kitchen of dead rats had unnerved him. Working the door beside the revenant had been worse.
I hope she's worth this.
He pulls out his everburning torch and follows the others.
Esteriande
The woman runs screeching into a large cavern ito which the staircase descends..her cries are met with the answering whoops of Ghouls which issue from the side passages to engage her.
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Marak places his hand to his holy symbol, preparing to unleash Nethys' cleansing fire upon these creatures, but not wishing to risk antagonizing the revenant woman while she's still, technically, 'on their side.'
His dithering costs him, as he finds the action occuring at a mad pace, while he's still trying to decide whether or not to risk channeling...
Initiative
Initiative:
The sight and, more, the stench, of so many undead gives the wolves some slight pause and thus their usually quick reactions are somewhat dulled.
Initative
Initiative
Tactical Map; I assumed ghouls will be in C3, C4, E6, E7, F6, G6 & H6. Our Revenant will be in E5.
Initiative:
Esteriande's action will be to rush the ghouls in C3 and C4 (placing her in D4) so that they cannot threaten the party's flank.
Attack: Damage:
Round 1 initiative order
Revenant 22
Esteriande 20
Naria 18
Inikai 17
Ursus 11
Ali 9+
Ghouls 9
Muchorak 8
Romon 7
Marak 2
The vengeance spirit lashes out at a Ghoul with razor sharp nails
Damage
Damage
the Ghouls lacerated body falls to the ground.
Esteriande engages the two northern ghouls her curveblade slicing a deep gash in undead flesh.
Tough ghouls, Esteriand thinks as hers fails to fall as easily as she expected.
"Stay together my friends! Follow 'er to ze middle passage, I will deal zese annoyances!"
Romon watches in admiration as Esteriande carves the ghoul.
Naria blasts the wounded ghoul with magic missiles
The cries of the revenants and the ferocity of the ghouls shake Inikai and his normally quick reactions are dulled. He stays on the stairs to take advantage of the defense they provide but he does not take action until he sees Naria loose her magic. He then follows with an similar attack from his sattelite.
[dice[3d4+3[/dice]
Naria blasts the wounded ghoul off his feet and the one beside it is slammed by Inikais spell..and as he mistyped
Damage
Ali and Lunas up next followed by the remaining ghouls
Ali and Lunas throw themselves at the ghouls attacking the Revenant
Ali Bite: ends in G5
Lunas Bite ends in H5
Both however miss their Target.
The ghouls attack in their turn
Ghoul 1 Target Lunas Bite Claw Claw
Ghoul 2 Target Ali Bite Claw Claw
Ghoul 3 Target Revenant Bite Claw Claw
Ghoul 4 Target Revenant Bite Claw Claw ..takes 5 foot step to E6
Ghoul 5 Target Esteriande Bite Claw Claw
Ali is both bitten and clawed by her attacker
Bite Damage Claw Damage plus a fortitude saving throw required to resist Ghoul Fever
Two claws tag the Revenant
Claw Damage Claw Damage
Muchorak moves to and swings his longsword on the undead...
Ursus moves to a position behind Muchorak waiting for an opportunity to strike.
When Inikai sees Ali savaged by the ghoul he runs toward her as quickly as possible and fires more streaks of light at her attacker.