Emotionally drained by the events of the battle, Belledonna takes little part in inquiring of this new, fortuitously encountered, individual; particularly as it becomes plain he shares some connection with Victrix. Instead, her gaze remains focused with palpable intensity upon the foes still massed upon the far embankment.
Taking advantage of the lull in combat, Brud soars along on the updrafts to surveil the opposing force.
Sosiel ushers the party to a hastily erected tent that is serving as Irabeth's command structure.
You walk in to see the Paladin barking orders, she glances over at you and says Thank the Inheritor you took that bridge. We might not get surrounded now.
Irabeth gestures to a Hand Drawn Map of Aron Kir's make. We have demons on one side and undead on the other. Luckily the demons aren't able to teleport, they are Schir and relatively lower ranking fiends. But in great numbers they threaten to overwhelm us. We hold one bridge and are watching the other, the other bridge is partially collapsed so they will have trouble crossing the Ahari. We can stall them there if they do. The Ghouls are only active at night, during the day they stay buried. I shudder to think of the damage they could inflict were we to stay encamped here for too long. Something is driving them to mass and attack though....its not normal behavior for those things.
Konny studies the map.
"I think we should clear out the ghouls. So we do not have enemies lurking behind us once we cross the river. I guess we should find out what is driving them and eliminate it if at all possible." Konny glances at Irabeth. "But I would greatly appreciate if we could sleep first before we engage the enemy again. From what you say about their night activity, we should double or even triple the guards for tonight."
Kaladin looks at the map briefly but feels out of his depth when it comes to military tactics and keeps his peace.
Still when Konny suggests taking out the ghouls, he has something to say, "There's a few stronger undead tha canne abide tha' sun, lik a vampir or Sommat, if its controllin' em then tak it oot 'n' away ya go."
"All the more reason to do it tomorrow during the day." Konny responds. "That might be the reason uncle Anvil always said tomorrow is another day. Then again he might have said it just because he felt lazy at the moment."
"The greater threat is goin tae be night assaults fae th' ghouls, it seems tae me. Ah think we shuid tak' thaim first."
Victrix nods in agreement. "Aye, sounds loike a good idea. Dependin' on 'ow long it takes us ta secure the castle, we moight take more casualties than acceptable if we don't deal with the ghouls."
"So let us investigate what is stiring up the ghouls first thing in the morning. Shall we keep watch during the night or are the soldiers up to it?" Konny is trying to finish the conversation and go resting.
The party and army rests the night and upon waking Irabeth reports that a half dozen Paladins were slain in the night by waves of attacking Ghouls. She plans on leading the bulk of the Paladins that way today and smashing the ghouls, and have Sosiel and Brighton consecrate as much of the area as she can.
In the 16 years Citadel Drezen remained in crusader
possession, thousands of defenders lost their lives
defending it. Originally, the citizens set aside this field to
bury their dead, consecrating the ground to prevent the
rise of undead. Eventually, the carnage became so great
they resorted to cremating remains and sprinkling the
ashes across the field. The magical protections have long
since faded, and the cemetery is now a desolate place where
nothing grows save for a population of ghouls. Even the
demons and their allies avoid it.Even a cursory
observation of the graveyard notes that one vault seems
particularly corrupted-this stone building stands at the
western end of the graveyard, and seems to be cloaked in
rippling shadows even during the day, not that daylight
ever gets all that bright in the Worldwound.
Kaladin sleeps fretfully, telling Navi, "Undead scare meh silly Lass. Meh tricks dinnae work on 'em lik they do wit' daemons. Still I've prayed fer guidance, lets hope I'm up to tha task..."
Noticing some of the Knights are up and about, Kaladin says, "I'll be running a ward 'gainst evil. If yer close ta meh, it'll help ya too. I'll also be sharing in ya pain today, my life force ta power yours, if that's ok with ya..."
Though she was able to sleep well in the aftermath of the bridge's capture, the news of paladins being slain in the night by ghouls brings Victrix's mood down considerably.
She swings her greatsword a few times before resting it on the ground. "Sounds loike a good idea. Also, if yeh've got anythin' that can foight paralysis, it'll be a massive 'elp. Bloody ghouls..."
The memory of Torag's ruined chapel evidently isn't sitting well with her. "An' whoever's directin' 'em is probably quite powerful too. Nobody wander off--splittin' up 'asn't been workin' out so well fer us lately."
Kaladin replies, "I know a charm tha may 'elp if ya get paralyzed..."
"Agreed. We shuid stick th'gither here."
Konny memorizes the same spells in the morning.
"Actually, the splitting worked quite well, but I am not too keen to repeat that experience."
"Waipounamu me o ratou ara wairangi. Tenei ko te aha tatou e hoki to tatou tupapaku ki te whenua. E na taua mea whakarihariha kahore mau." Belledonna snarls as she contemplates the ghouls 'den'. Nodding in agreement at Victrix' directive to stay close with the others, she considers her own capabilities against the unliving. Shaking her head, "My talents remain as always they have. I can do little against the dead directly, but much to ward the rest of you."
Upon learning of the night's depredations, Brud opts for a more defensive selection of spells.
The party travels towards the Haunted Vault, and spots many ghouls but they keep their distance and do not approach the heavily armed group.
As the party gets closer to the Vault, a feeling of dread washes over them, a feeling of wrongness even stronger than when in the depths of the Worldwound. This place is cursed by foul magic.
protected by an unhallow spell (CL 11th) with darkness tied
to it. The unhallow effect is centered on the center of the
vault's roof and surrounds the area to a radius of 40 feet as
well as the entire building interior, thanks to numerous
vents within the roof that allow the magical emanation
to fill the chambers within. This unhallow effect is
particularly long-lasting, as it is fueled by the unquiet
spirits within, and is permanent until dispelled.
Navi flutters over to Kaladin’s ear and whispers, "Kal, I’ve got a bad feeling about this place, it stinks of necromancy.”
Kaladin suppresses a shudder at the thought of going inside and forces the rational part of his mind the the fore. He scratches his chin, and murmurs, "Aye Lass, meh too. Can ye take a wee peek inside? Need ta know what we’re up ‘gainst, but don't go in too deep ya hear?"
Navi nods and suddenly it's as if she's not there, she silently flutters off into the gloom.
"Wait a sec, gonna give ya a good luck charm."
Navi waits for the charm to be cast and then goes scouting.
Kaladin: Air Barrier (1h), Magic Circle Against Evil (70mins) -- AC = 21, 23 vs evil
Navi: Protection From Evil (7 mins)
Life Link: Victrix, Belledonna, Brud, Konny
Memorized spells see here.
Barundar watches as Navi heads off on her own, an expression of concern on his face. "She's bin magiced 'n' all, but...I'm nervous letting her go in thare even a bit wi'oot some hulp. This plece reeks o' evil."
Kaladin paces nervously and agrees, "Aye tha it does. Still the lass is real slippery lik an hard ta spot."
Victrix watches Kaladin's little glowing friend fly off to go scouting.
"If she can fly, I think she'll be fine. Well, that's assumin' she doesn't run inta flyin' beasts or somethin' loike that." She starts before stopping.
No sense making things more tense.
Konny looks at his companions. "Is it just me, or does the vault seems more shadowy than anything around it? Could it be steeped in malign magic?" he says as he absently strokes the scorpion sitting on his shoulder.
"I dinnae think thare's ony doubt about it."
Navi comes back and reports that he saw two undead creatures in the vault. They were wispy and not entire substantial, they looked like bats but only shadows of bats. He was not noticed. He details what the vault looks like.
Navi flutters back and tells the party, "There's some kind of incorporeal undead in there. No idea what type but they reeked of evil. This is a bad place to fight."
Kaladin is intensely relieved when the tiny Lyrakien comes back safely and he urges her, "Tell meh everything ya can aboot em Lass, I'll try n figure out what we're up 'gainst..."
Strength Damage (Su) A shadow's touch deals 1d6 points of Strength damage to a living creature. This is a negative energy effect. A creature dies if this Strength damage equals or exceeds its actual Strength score.
"I agree Barundar, maybe one of our more magicaly gifted companioms could find out more" Konny looks at Bel and Kaladin.
Kaladin listens to Navi's description and says, "Sounds lik shadows ta meh. Nasty things, they siphon tha strength from ya, an if they kill ya they multiply."
Victrix checks her weapons again. "So... which weapons should I use ta take 'em on?"
Recognizing the prompt for what it is, Belledonna snorts mildly before limning her perceptions toward the arcane spectrum. So fortified, she examines their surroundings minutely.
Kaladin shrugs, "Magical ones at a guess, all tha betta ta hit em with."
"I betcha Radiance wull hurt thaim juist lik' thaim demons, though." the dwarf answers, patting the head of the precious weapon as he grips it.
Belledonna detects a moderate evil evocation (evil) aura surrounding the entire vault. She cannot pinpoint the spell.
"I do trust Biggie to work just as well" Konny adds.
"Tha Lass tells meh it's unnatural dark in there. Mebbe a Daylight spell will help? Oughta help wit Shadows right?", Kaladin sounds unsure, wondering there isn't some other more effective stratagem.
Anyway before the party go in, Kaladin will cast these spells:
Heightened Awareness: 70 mins duration on self.
Resist Eneregy : Negative Energy : 70 mins duration on Victrix.
Shield of Faith : 7 mins - AC 24
Guidance and Resistance on all.
Victrix readies the Mace of the Penitent as Kaladin begins casting his magic.
Once he's done, she starts leading the way. "Shall we?"
Barundar gives a nod. "As good a time as ony!"
Konny fumbles with the lock on the door
Finally he kicks the door in frustration and begins working in earnest
After quite a bit of time (15 minutes) Konny manages to unlock the doors.
The double stone doors swing open to reveal an anteroom filled with dust and smelling of decay. Nothing stirs, Kaladin and Brud are effectively blind due to the heavy shadows that seep from the very walls of the Vault.
"I must be loosing my skills at opening locks. I do not remember when was the last time I struggled so long with such a lock." Konny comments his attempts to unlock the door.
"We shuid hae some wi' night vision in th' front 'n' th' back in case something sneaks up oan us fae behind." Barundar says, tightly gripping Radiance as he stares into the darkness.
Nervously Kaladin whispers, "Gonna try a daylight charm when ya tell meh we're fully inside. Dunno if it'll work lik, but wortha try."
He hisses to Navi, "Lass I canne see, tell meh if I'm walking somewhere dangerous..." Navi replies lightly, "You're walking somewhere very dangerous Kal!"
"Yer nay 'elp lass.", grumbles Kaladin, "Remember our fates are bound together, gods help us."