The summoned rat next to Sophie is more nimble than expected, and it dodges both of the Oracle's claws.
Bert has similar trouble with the rat next to him, as it too avoids both of his attacks.
Teilaenthis has more success as his magically enhanced earth breaker hits the incorporeal spellcaster and appears to disrupt its form somewhat.
Dr. Von Herzog finally gets a spell off and the magic missiles appear to damage the ghost as it would a corporeal target.
Vivian slashes the rat adjacent to her and it disappears with poof.
Moving forward into the fray, Tara calls out the the apparition. "Professor Feramin, is this anyway to behave? You are long overdue with your meeting with Pharsma."
Realizing that the ghost of the Splatter Man is casting magic missiles, Theodor casts shield to protect himself.
Tara moves closer to the Splatter Man's ghost, while Theodor casts a spell to protect him against Magic Missiles.
The spirit snarls at Tara when she uses his real name and floats 5 feet away from Teilaenthis to position himself to cast a spell. Four more magic missiles fly from him his hand, each hitting Teilaenthis, Tara, Sophie, and Stefan respectively.
The rat next to Sophie attempts to bite her again, but doesn't even come close to penetrating her defenses.
Initiative (Round 4)
Splatter Man/Rat
Bert [14 Dmg] <= Up
Vivian [4 Dmg] <= Up
Theodor [11 Dmg] <= Up
Sophie [15 Dmg] <= Up
Tara [11 Dmg] <= Up
Teilaenthis [16 Dmg] <= Up
Stefan [8 Dmg] <= Up
Effects
Bless: +1 morale bonus to attack rolls and saves vs. Fear
"Ugh!" groans the doctor as he's hit by a magic missile.
Overcoming his feeling of self-doubt, Stefan casts a spell. A faintly-glowing blue circle forms in front of him, betweeen himself and the ghost.
Sophie slashes at the near rat, trying to remove it from the situation.
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Bert moves into the room and says, "Sophie, step back from the rat, let me have some room, please."
Teil keeps the pressure on the ghost.
Dr. Von Herzog protects himself from further magic missiles by casting a Shield spell on himself.
One of Sophie claws strike at the summoned rat harassing her and it returns back to its home plane.
Bert moves closer to the ghost, while Teilaenthis successfully strikes the spectral foe once again with his weapon.
Theodor attacks
The much larger Theodor advances on the Spatter Man, tightening the strategic noose on the ghost.
Tara sighs wearily as the splatter man hits her with his spells. "Fine. You don't want to settle down nicely, then I guess it is no more Miss Nice Cleric." Grasping her holy symbol, Tara fills the room with positive energy to heal. Most everyone sees there wounds patch up.
Tara floods the area with healing positive energy and everyone but Bert heal some or all of their injuries.
Vivian takes a brief breather as she decides her next course of action.
The Splatter Man casts another spell defensively, and another round of Magic Missiles erupt from his hands. Two of them bounce harmlessly off the magical Shielding of Theodor and Stefan, but two others hit Teil and Tara.
Then, with an arrogant smirk, the Splatter Man floats into the floor, disappearing from view.
X 1.5 Empowered = 6 Damage
X 1.5 Empowered = 7 Damage
Initiative (Round 5)
Splatter Man
Bert [14 Dmg] <= Up
Vivian <= Up
Theodor [2 Dmg] <= Up
Sophie [6 Dmg] <= Up
Tara [9 Dmg] <= Up
Teilaenthis [13 Dmg] <= Up
Stefan <= Up
Effects
Bless: +1 morale bonus to attack rolls and saves vs. Fear
Bert moves forward leaving space for Sophie and swings his magically enhanced halberd at the ghost.
Teil readies an action to slam the ghost if it comes into range.
Stefan readies an action to cast another magic missile when the ghost reappears.
Uncertain of what's coming next, Sophie moves forward and casts a spell on Bert's, Teil's, and her own weapons.
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Theodor readies an attack against the ghost as soon as he gets in range.
Come back and face me coward!
Touching her holy symbol, Tara looks around the chamber. "I wouldn't try to antagonize him any more than we already have. Who knows what other nasty tricks he can pull?"
Sophie enhances some of the group's weapons, while everyone else either waits for the ghost to return or readies themselves to attack it. Six seconds later, the Splatter Man re-emerges from the floor in a cell on the east side of the room. Stefan fights through his self-doubt and casts two more Magic Missiles which successful strike and damage the ghost.
Once properly above ground, the Splatter Man begins to cast another spell with a long casting time.
He's casting Summon Monster II
Initiative (Round 6)
Splatter Man
Bert [14 Dmg] <= Up
Vivian <= Up
Theodor [2 Dmg; Shield] <= Up
Sophie [6 Dmg] <= Up
Tara [9 Dmg] <= Up
Teilaenthis [13 Dmg] <= Up
Stefan [Shield] <= Up
Effects
Bless: +1 morale bonus to attack rolls and saves vs. Fear
"He's summoning another monster..." Sophie announces to the room. Then she moves over to his cell and tries to open the door. "Get after him, Teil."
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"I'll help you Teil, if I can."
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Teil presses the attack.
Use the book Dr. Stefan!
Theodor charges the ghost.
"Yes... of course..."
At Theodor's urging, Stefan takes out the spellbook recovered from the prison's property room. Remebering that the ghost of Vessoriana said that it might have some power over the Splatter Man, he opens it and quickly examines it for any clue as to how to use it against the malevolent spirit.
With Sophie's help, Teilaenthis moves into the cell and uses his enchanted earth breaker to wallop the ghost once more.
The giant sized Theodor follows his lead, advancing to the damaged south wall of the cell and attacking through a large crack. The bloodied handax does it's duty, damaging the spectral wizard somewhat. Furthermore, Theodor is so impressed with the weapon that he finds himself never wanting to let it go.
Dr. Von Herzog recalls that ghosts tend to be attached to objects or people that were important to them in life. Since the Splatter Man was a wizard, damaging or destroying his spellbook might do some harm to him.
Despite being injured by both Teilaenthis and Theodor, the ghost continues to concentrate on casting his spell.
With a shock of realization that destroying the spellbook could defeat the Splatter Man, the doctor is suddenly torn. I could learn these spells myself for use against a greater evil at a later time...
Deciding that the time is not yet right to tear up the spellbook, Stefan attempts to cast one of his own spells again.
...success.
A jet of searning flame arcs from the doctor's outstretched hand toward the ghost.
Dr. Von Herzog fights through his doubt to cast another spell, but the resulting ray flies over over the ghost's head to hit the wall behind him.
There isn't much I can do so far...
Vivian cast a spell at the ghost, hoping to end its existence
Bert moves in and swings his halberd at the ghost.
Vivian casts a Disrupt Undead spell, but also has trouble with her aim and misses the ghost completely.
Bert moves past Theodor and the cell's damaged wall to set himself up for an attack. His enchanted halbard strikes the incorporeal foe, doing further damage to its form. Furthermore, it appears that the Splatter Man's concentration is finally broken and he loses the summoning spell he was casting.
Tara moves closer to the fray as she determines her next move.
The ghost hisses with anger as his spell is lost and it reaches out its spectral arm to touch Bert. Its fingers easily move through the fighter's armor and jab straight into his heart. Bert's constitution is strong enough to ward off the worst part of the attack, but he still collapses from the negative energy damage.
Perhaps to add insult to injury, the Splatter Man takes a 5 foot step through the north wall into another cell.
Initiative (Round 7)
Splatter Man
Bert [40 Dmg; Dying, stabilization check needed] <= Up
Vivian <= Up
Theodor [2 Dmg; Shield] <= Up
Sophie [6 Dmg] <= Up
Tara [9 Dmg] <= Up
Teilaenthis [13 Dmg] <= Up
Stefan [Shield] <= Up
Effects
Bless: +1 morale bonus to attack rolls and saves vs. Fear
Sighing heavily, Tara moves into the room with Bert and touches him. Her hand glows bright and some of Bert's wounds stitch themselves together.
Stefan attempts to cast another spell, but is filled with self-doubt and stops himself.
The combined divine healing of Tara and Sophie bring Bert rushing back to life, while Dr. Von Herzog's spellcasting it thwarted once again by his newfound miserly appreciation of his spell slots.
Theodor press on with his attack.
Bert grabs his halberd and shield and goes into full defense mode.
Teilanethis moves into the cell and swipes at the ghost with his sword. Theodor then follows up with his larger blood splattered handaxe. With the second swipe, the Splatter Man begins to discorporate. Before his form completely fades, he threatens, "This isn't over..."
With the Splatter Man's defeat, Dr. Von Herzog feels his head clear a little, and he seems far less concerned about wasting his spells.
Casting Detect Magic into the room and the hole in the center, you discover 3 distinct magical auras 30 feet down in water-filled oubliette.
Let's heal the wounded, and think of a way to get rid of the Splatter man for ever. I guess blessing his bones, maybe...or sprinkling some holy water on them. What do you think, Tara? Sophie?
As for the waterhole, I know how to swim. I would prefer a warm bath, of course...