Fire and other things could hurt a ghost, but not as we might expect. Same is true for our weapons, even though magical weapons can harm ghosts, it´s much more difficult. It´s not clear if we would have to fight though. Some ghosts can be redeemed when you help them. Maybe we can find out more about this one? He seems to stay in his place. We can go there and if he attacks us, i could use my magic to hold him at bay and prevent you lot becoming ghosts.
"Now boys there’s no need to fight. The followers should be burned and returned to Sarenrae. I will preside over the rites. As for the others, I don’t have any preference. They were beyond the redemption of Sarenrae and don’t disserve and true burial. We should leave them for the scavengers but they might make them ill. A mass grave would suffice."
She turns to Ibuki, smiling at the half elf."Ibuki, even though these smilers are beyond redemption, they should not be risen again. As a rule I hate undead, I've had one following me around since i was a child. It is always hiding things on me.." She flashes him a smile as she starts to the chaple.
As she walks past Ibuki, Val stops and rests a hand on his shoulder leaning in and at a bare wisper says, "Besides you can find much better things to make your servents. Not that I endorse that kind of thing."
As she walks towards the chaple she says over her shoulder. "Leave the ghost to me. I will free it from this world to be with Sarenrae."
Ibuki makes a puzzled face at Valtyras statements as well as her familiar attitude.
Looking after her, he stunned stutters:
She...she...she has an undead following her? Since childhood?
He looks around.
Did you know that? Or see anything? I´ve never noticed something there!
Valtyra smiles at Ibuki, a musical giggle escapes as she says,"Thats because it only bugs me and wont let anyone see it. He is more of a nuisance than anything really. My littlest brother always said one was following him too but I haven’t seen him in a long time." A far away expression comes over Valtyra. She sighs bringing herself back to the present.
"Mmm... Welp, that was disappointing. Eh, doesn't matter. Call me when you want something stabbed." Muga shrugged and closed his eyes, continuing to lie on the stairway.
Yvell calms down but the sting is still present his arms were folded. He noted Muga's reaction to his.. the man was a brute and clearly enjoyed battle. Most likely a follower of Gorum or similar, not that it lessened his opinion of him, it was more an observation. " Ibuki I have already told you what I know and much about such a creature, you failed to listen to it. He will return most likely unless one of those two things are somehow fixed. I cannot say which. I do know that if it come to it we ca readily defeat it several times. As for your magicks.. we shall see. Captain do you have the key to that Chapel? "
Yvell seems to not react too much to Valtyra's reveal either by lack of speaking or thinking it fine, it isnt clear.
The Captain hands you the key.
As you wait for nightfall, you dig a mass grave for the smilers outside of the ruined fort, and set funeral pyres for the dead Sarenites.
A full moon hangs over Aldronard's Grave as you head to the chapel. When you get closer, it looks to be a blood moon, then quickly changes back to white. Even from outside, you can feel an ominous and deadly presence watching you.
Yvell notes the change in the atmosphere and is sure of one thing.. such a being should not continue to occupy this world. They need move on. " Are you all ready? because what lies on this side of the door may well be an enemy.. I hope his soul is not so corrupt as to have fallen so low " Yvell readies to open the door
Doing some preparations of casting mage armor on everyone who enters and can´t do it him/herself and shield from his wand.
This will protect you from even a ghost. For some time and in parts only of course.
Gentlemen as always, Ibuki let´s Yvell the precedence.
Please, after you! He then enters too.
Yvell opens the door when everyone is ready.
Map.
Aeron kicks Muga softly in the side to wake him up.
I think we are heading in. Get yourselh ready.
She draws Oblivion as Yvell begins to open the door and moves up to the entering group.
"Mmm.. yup." Muga takes his position.
Entering the Chapel, you see the roof has collapsed leaving masses of rubble on the ground. You can feel a dark presence watching you. After you all enter, the doors slam shut.
A ghostly paladin appears before you. He wails and sobs, hovering a foot above the floor.
Auehda follows their friends in, out of solidarity if nothing else. They wait for Valtyra to speak, leaving their hands well away from their weapons.
Yvell holds himself Steady not wanting to come off a threatening this one time and thus without weapon out. He would wait for Valtyra's attempt at the ghost, then either his own or Ibuki's.. If anything they were able to fight it.. He just wasnt sure if that will send the spirit away
Map.
*gulp*
So it´s really a ghost and looks like one of those fanatics, a paladin. Let´s hope he´s a bit more reasonable...
Greetings, oh mourning one. May we ask what troubles your ethearal heart?
The ghost ignores Ibuki and continues to sob, cupping its face in its hands.
Allright, should i try my spell? He seems to busy with himself. No wonder he never left there. Who knows what made him a ghost...
"Why do you cry so, Paladin of Sarenrae?" Valtyra says as she walks towards the ghost.
Yvell grows frustrated at Ibuki's complete faux-ignorance when he was aware of what might be what made the am that way. He clearly ignored it because he wished to test out his spells. It was aggravating. Yvell did not voice this however he simply grunted and waited for Valtrya to finish her method, because pestering the ghost was clearly not a good idea.
Auehda scans the ruined temple for any items of significance, as well as anyone besides themselves and the Ghost-Paladin. They give Aldronard a toothy smile.
Aeron watches the exchange closely,too intent on the specter to necessarily be looking around. Her gaze was focused on the translucent figure, the sword in her had held tight against the length of her arm.
You know we should not be in here. That thing looks unstable. It can turn on us at any moment.
Her statue like pose did not waver though. She could feel the tension in the air.
Thanks to Yvell we know it´s the ghost of Aldronard who killed himself here after his wife was slain far away at home. Let´s meet outside for a short briefing, can we?
Ibuki turns around and leaves the chapel again, waiting for the others to join.
Yvell DOES not leave... Ibuki should have known that before and he stated such. Yvell is still poised however not sure if the ghost evil or not. He also doesnt talk.. As before more words from other sources simply could disturb the apparition more. He does sigh however.
Ibuki stops at the closed door, which he hadn´t heard closing.
Did any of you close the door? Why?
He tries to open it.
Yvell motions over to the Ghost, the one Ibuki had been enamored with not long ago, the sobbing remains of a once great follower of Sarenrae.
Mh, should i just try it? If my spell succeeds the ghost would be my follower for 4 days. If not, it could get funny here. There´s also no way predicting how that Yvell will react. Don´t want him to be all upset again, does seem to have some emotional issues...well being a half-elf is nothing easy for sure. But i can cope with it too, Khonnir was a great help there! Poor Yvell seems to have hooked up with the wrong people. All that law and vengeance. Of course emotional stability comes a little short there.
Shortly after Yvells sigh, you can hear Ibuki Sigh.
Probably for entirely different reasons.
Let me think. The ghost was a paladin of Sarenrae, came here to crusade demons, wife got killed, then he killed himself...it´s a riddle, what moves those people? Maybe he feels he left them alone? Unprotected because he was out here chasing honor in killing demons?
Ibuki casts message, pointing on his companions.
Valtyra, what was your plan? The ghost killed himself because his wife was killed, right? I´m no paladin, but maybe he seeks absolution? There´s no way we´re going where his wife died, must have been long ago. Can we just fake it?.
You don't see anything particularly noteworthy in the room. All there is a rubble and broken statues, pews, etc.
Ibuki tries to open the door but it remains closed as though something is holding it in place.
After Valtyra speaks, Aldronard turns and sees you for the first time. "You! You are a devotee of Sarenrae. And you? A paladin. No. NO!" He begins to shriek, "It was for you who I came north for, Sarenrae! Why couldn't you protect Justinia! Why did you send me away from her?"
He lets out a mournful wail. It echoes in the dilapidated chapel.
1. Aldronard
2. Everyone
Ahhhhhhh
Ibuki cowers down in a corner far away from the ghost.
A frightened creature flees from the source of its fear as best it can. If unable to flee, it may fight. A frightened creature takes a –2 penalty on all attack rolls, saving throws, skill checks, and ability checks. A frightened creature can use special abilities, including spells, to flee; indeed, the creature must use such means if they are the only way to escape.
Frightened is like shaken, except that the creature must flee if possible. Panicked is a more extreme state of fear.
Auehda stands still, looking up at Aldronard with wide eyes and a wrinkled brow, trying to express their empathy. "You not know what gods can do always, Paladin Aldronard. Your family to die is horrible, very horrible, but please, give forgiveness to Sarenrae Goddess. No thing is perfect - not goddess, not life - and no thing is fair. Forgive Goddess. Forgive Aldronard."
Scared Valtyra lets out a scream and channels.
The half-orc jumps out of their composure when the priestess channels. "Valtyra hold on to yourself!"
They pull out their greataxe, drop it, and kick it across to where the aasimar is cowering. "Hold Metal, it help?!"
The wail reverberates through Aeron like a mallet on a gong. The sound hit something within the androids contentiousness. Struck something she had never experienced before. She had stood over caverns and stared into the eyes of beasts, but this... This was something else. This creature was death. It was death and it meant to share its condition with them all. Shaken to her core, Aeron snapped her weapon out and grit her teeth. She felt the weapon humming with the ghosts scream and her hand shook. She focused on the sound and used its discordant melody as her war song. She began to dance. Swaying, she advanced on the creature.
Sing my Oblivion. Sing loud and strong and offer me your ringing music so we may lay low this threat.
As you wish.
The weapon began its own humming then. A warbling noise that seemed to deny the wail resonating from the ethereal paladin and tries to strike the thing down. The blade suddenly flares to life as bolts of electricity begin to arc out along its fine edge. When she comes up to thing, a sudden click is hears as she begins to twirl, tumble, and flip around the creature in an elegant and intricate routine moving around the ghost in a position for the others to attempt a flank.
Aldronard speaks to no one in particular.
"I was a member of the Second Crusade against the Worldwound. Countless knights and warriors of good pledged their lives against the darkness of the Abyss, put their faith in the strength of the gods, Iomedae, Sarenrae. On the battlefield we found only death. Our forces were decimated by the demons, and the Gods' light could not help us."
He sobs. "When I returned home, to lick my wounds and recover, I found out my beloved, Justinia was murdered by bandits. Lowly worms. Sarenrae could not protect us on the battlefield, nor could she save my love. It is Her fault. Sarenrae failed me. I am ashamed to wear her symbol."
Valtyra stopp attacking! It counters my spell!
Striken with horror Ibuki fumbles a shred of raw meat and a splinter of bone and some salt out of his robes, breathless whispering an arcane formula.