Tyrandro wonders where he wakes. Sleepyhead? Was it all a dream? Beut there are no spiders around, no wounds on his body...
Just when Iolana jokes he realizes I died of fear, how embarrassing. Recollecting his memories he tells "What light? At first there was the castle, trying to suck me in. And once I got away from that, it was more like an endless cue at the administration. I didn't even get close to Pharasma's Boneyard."
Once he feels like it, he gets up. Checking that the proprietor of this bone castle is out if earshot he asks "How about we ask the orcs next door if they have a spare room. All these undead are unsettling."
Fluffy is pulled out of his gloom mood once the life comes back into Tyrandro. But he holds back with the slobbering.
Iolana gives the mummies a suspicious look, "I'd like some dinner and wine please." she asks trying to test them out. "Fluffy also needs a bone. He's had a hard day. Poor thing."
A mummy goes into a cupboard and brings over a plate with assorted meats and cheeses and also a bottle of wine with one glass to pour it in. "Hrrnnn!!!" says the mummy.
Laori says, "Oh yeah, I should mention most of the food here is served cold. The whole mummies and fire thing. I hope you don't mind."
The mummy then thinks about Iolana's second request and finally reaches into its own chest and pulls out a rib with a loud crunch then throws it to Tunstall to chew on.
Good to see you back, Tyrando. Too bad you didn't grab some paperwork so we could jump the cue if we decide to stay.
As for the orcs, I doubt they appreciated us sneaking into the castle. No doubt some kind of ritual guardians.
Fluffy is appalled by the mummy. He likes fresh meaty beef bones. No dried out sandy, disease ridden mummy ribs.
"I guess the orcs want the castle for themselves, judging by the ones we found dead inside." Tyrandro objects. "That might predispose them against us. But if we tell them, that they can have the castle once we're done..."
"On the other side - Isn't there some magic that creates a home which is a bit less undead and pain themed? Tyrandro asks looking at Iolana, hoping she would pull something out of her hat.
Let the orcs have the nasty cursed castle after we get the sword? I suppose that would be a fair trade.
As for a magic home, I have no spells that can create one.Hm...I suppose I could create a crude room by using my Wall of Stone spells.
"So be it," says Count Sial. "I suppose I would like to see the interior of the castle for myself."
"Fine," says Laori disappointed. "I guess Mr. Stuffypants should get a chance to have some fun before the stick goes any further up his ass. Well at least I got these neat new skulls to talk to while I wait." She plays with Mandraivus' skull in one hand and the orc's head in her other like sick puppets. "Bye-bye." she mimes with their mouths.
Assuming you avoid the orcs again, you return back to the where you left off without incident. There are still a number of doors if you continue west down the hallway. Otherwise there are some other doors to the south, as well as back downstairs or upstairs.
"I could teleport us back and forth between an inn and the castle, but that seems a waste of a spell. I don't have a spell that makes a house. I suppose there is one I can learn some day."
She eats the offered food, and drinks the wine. "Thank you."
She waves goodbye to Laori and her talking skulls. "That woman is seriously disturbed."
"Let's continue west. No reason to go a different direction."
If we get this place cleared out, it would make a simply marvelous fortress to the Midnight Lord. Maybe give Nidal a toehold here.
The next room along the way is a private audience chamber.
A once-elegant desk sits to the northeast in this room, its strewn with moldy scrolls, a human skull, a tarnished candelabrum, and other ornaments. A tall-backed but moldy chair sits beyond the desk, while several smaller chairs lie strewn in disrepair throughout the room. An immense but sagging portrait of an armored man leading an army through rugged hills hangs askew on the north wall.
There is a magical signet ring here that can enable the wearer to understand any written or spoken language and help understand the history of items.
Plus another skull we can give Laori
On the way back to the castle Tyrandro walks aside Iolana. He seems to be all at sea.
"Are you following a deity?" he asks out of nowhere. Even though death has become but a minor nuisance as it seems, it set his mind on a track. Where would Pharasma send him, when he reached her courtyard. Asmodeus might look like a good option if you like reliability and binding contracts. But even though the end will be reliable too, its hell. Literally.
"Not really. When I call out to a god it's Desna. She's embodies the confidence in her abilities and herself I'd like to have. What about yourself? Do you follow a deity? Was the Boneyard your final destination?"
"Grab the ring and the skull, and let's keep moving. I don't know if I want to put any ring on that we find in this place. It could be cursed or a way to watch us." She taps the ring they found in the Labyrinth.
You still have that thing? He could be watching right now! Aim it at some wall fungus so he can watch it grow.
"Following is a strong word, but our families deity is Asmodeus. We're from Cheliax after all. But facing the path to Asmodeus' realm I'm wondering if that really is a good idea. That guy is the ruler of hell..."
Tyrandro takes the skull. "I've never thought that a skull could be a proper souvenir." The ring he hands over to Iolana, to check it for magic properties.
The Moon Maidens and their temple have given me thought as well. Perhaps if I survive all of this I will journey to their temple. It would be nice to have a home.
"They would for sure welcome you. But we're members of the Sun Clan now. I have no idea how the two clans would react if we'd apply for a change."
"But I have to admit, that I like the moon tribe's choice weapon a lot better than the eye to eye smashing our brothers from the Sklar-Quah prefer. Where do followers of Desna end up? In the big void between the stars?" he ask ssuspiciously as Ayako would go for Desna too.
"I think her followers end up in the stars. That would be nice, looking the world from the stars."
The space between the stars can be welcoming just as the stars are. No doubt lots of wandering about.
Tyrandro doesn't look persuaded. The moon and stars are nice to look at, but as a place to be they are beyond his imagination. And a chaotic goddess of luck is a bit much of a change. "I'll have to check on some of the faiths once we are back in civilisation."
Iolana pockets the signet ring without putting it on and you continue your religion conversation while you walk over to the next room.
The next room just to the west is a waiting room.
Several ratty, ruined couches sit against the walls here, interspersed by small tables or shelves containing broken bottles of wine or serving trays covered with sheets of mold.
Tyrandro becomes overwhelmed for a brief moment by the conviction that he has come to plead for mercy from Kazavon, but knows the warlord will not grant it. This is followed a heartbeat later by an urge to commit suicide by leaping from the castle walls. This phantasm passes quickly, but likely leaves him disturbed nonetheless.
"Did you feel that too? I got the unpleasant feeling that I might not have the time to decide on a deity later. This castle definitely wants us dead." Tyrandro tells, visibly shaken.
I didn't feel a thing, but I wouldn't be surprised if there are haunts or ghosts trying to get into our heads. Ayako is unsure if there is a haunt in the room as she has no ability to detect one.Let us not tarry then
The double doors to the south open to the Great Hall.
Thick wooden columns, their sides caked with dust, support the ceiling of this large hall. Between them, in the center of the room, sits a large fire pit, its ashes long cold. Many old stains mar the floor, some surely of spilled food and ale, though several darker ones appear more grisly in origin. At the southern end of the hall, a wide dais rises where the lord’s table could be set to oversee affairs in the hall. In the center of the dais is a great chair carved of oak and studded with iron rivets. Down one step and to the left of it is a smaller, less elaborate chair of oak.
'Sitting' on the smaller oak chair is a humanoid figure who’s body fades into mist below the hips, while its upper, ghostly torso is bound in lengths of writhing chains. Four ethereal chains bind it but one of them is severed.
It rises up from its seat and speaks. "I've sensed your disturbance. This is my castle and you don't belong here! But you've also destroyed Castothrane so one of you must take his place."
A chained spirit is the tormented soul of one who was charged, cursed, or honor-bound to guard a certain place or object, only to be slain in the course of such duty. Such a dishonored spirit returns as a misty approximation of its living form, except now burdened by loops of constricting chains and inescapable locks, all representing its bonds of duty. Reaching out with these chains, these tormented undead claim allies, binding other unwilling sentinels to the same charge with which they are eternally cursed.
Among the rarest known manifestations of undead, the chained spirit can exist only in an area of extreme misery combined with a potent source of necromantic energy. In the case of Scarwall, the castle’s history of violence, combined with the vengeful attention of Zon-Kuthon, made the castle the perfect cradle for the generation of a chained spirit. Others may well exist on Golarion, or could yet come to manifest, but at this point, the chained spirit of Scarwall may be the only one of its kind.
A chain spirit gains its power from its spirit anchors and cannot be truly destroyed until all of its spirit anchors as destroyed first.
Tyrandro uses his boots and starts shooting while the evil overghost holds his monologue. "This might take a while. If you could spare a haste?" he asks the ladies.
Fluffy doesn't like ghosts. He hides behind the others.
Ayako will cast Death Ward on Tyrando
Tyrandro hits the ghost with two arrows. Being incorporeal, the arrows don't hurt it fully.
The chained spirit remains in place but its chains have incredible range. He whips three chains clear across the room to batter Tyrandro over the head. And although incorporeal, the chains feel as solid as regular steel (ghost touch). All three hit and pummel Tyrandro in a painful flurry. Not only that but Tyrandro feels the chains try to sap away some of his essence as well.
Not only that but the wounds it took quickly begin to heal.
Sial speaks. "Fascinating. That spirit appears to be the ghost of Mithrodar, Kazavon's second in command. But if you studied your history, you would know that. It would seem that Mithrodar has taken over rulership of the castle in Kazavon's place. What do you make of that broken chain? Do you think it bears any significance? I suggest we be wary. He may be a powerful foe."
Sial then casts haste on the party.
Sial's eidolon Asyra rushes forward fearlessly to attack.
Asyra gets brutally whipped in the face for daring to approach it.
She swings her own chain back at the spirit and comes close but not close enough to hit.
He said we destroyed someone so is that connected to the chain?
"I'm guessing that's it. He doesn't seem to be going anywhere. Should we leave and come back after we've taken care of his other minions? I really like that plan, and he might be less of a problem without those chains. I don't intend to take anyone's place in this horrible castle."
She casts Stoneskin Communal on Seb, Tyrando, and myself.
Seb grabs the undead bane crossbow off Iolana's belt, and loads it.
Edit:
He fires a bolt at the specter.
That sounds like a good idea.
"Agreed." Tyrandro replies and leaves the room, hiding behind the wall, out of reach of the chains.
Iolana casts stone skin. Sebastian is not as skilled with the crossbow and misses.
Tyrandro moves behind the corner.
With Asyra right in front of it, Mithrodar focuses its attacks on her. It hits her with two chains and also reaches out with its hand to drain her directly. It also continues to heal its wounds and is nearly back to full health.
"Come Asyra. We're leaving for now." says Sial.
Asyra uses the withdraw action to leave without provoking. Then Sial touches her and closes some of her wounds.
Then the spectres appear. They seem to have no restrictions, bursting through the back door without opening it and moving through walls if necessary to reach you. There are a total of five spectres. Two attack Tyrandro, one Sebastian, one Ayako, and one Asyra.
The spectres easily touch Tyrandro but the death ward protects him from their energy drain and the stone skin protect against the physical damage. Ayako and Asyra are not so lucky and have to make saves to resist the spectres level drain. Only Sebastian successfully avoids the attack.
Tyrandro deactivates his boots. As the spectres don't seem to be able to hurt him, he simply shoots him without caring about attacks of opportunity.
Ayako shrugs off the chilling effects of the spectre, perhaps her own inner coldness protecting her.
Seeing Sebastion in peril from the undead, Ayako traces sigils into the air, using her own darkness to protect him and then shuffles five feet back(No doubt to Sebastion's great disgust)
Iolana casts magic missile at the specter in front of Seb.
"Thank you Ayako." He drops the crossbow and draws his rapier as he steps to the side. He also attacks the specter in front of him.
Iolana's magic missile is very effective against the spectral creature.
The spectres are easy for Sebastian to hit but without a ghost-touch weapon, he can't do full damage or crit them. He finishes off the one Iolana injured and gets one hit in against the second one next to him.
He simply shoots him without caring about attacks of opportunity.
It takes four arrows for Tyrando to destroy the first spectre then he weakens the second with his last arrow.
Mithrodar shows you that his chains can reach even outside the room as he shoots the three of them out the doorway at Ayako, Iolana, and Sebastian. Ayako and Iolana are caught off guard and are hit but Mithrodar fumbles his attack against Sebastian. Also, Iolana's stone skin absorbs most of the damage against her but she and Ayako still are subject to the Cha draining effect.
Ayako's alien soul once again manages to throw off the draining effects, but she still gets smacked across the face with a chain.
Ow! Sebastion, don't allow yourself to get isolated.
Ayako chants again and steps forwards to the east to touch the Kyton with her protective magic, hopfully protecting her from any further damage, she then steps back to her original spot.
Tyrandro finishes off the next one and then shoots at what else needs shooting and is in sight.
Asyra grips her spiked chain and swings it hard through the spectre multiple times. A second chain on her body animates and attacks the spectre as well. Even weakened by the negative levels, she easily hits the spectre. The creature looks ragged but clings to unlife.
Sial moves up next to Asyra and swings his own spiked chain. It crackles with energy and he infuses it further with arcane energy for full effect. I single strike is enough to finish the spectre off.
Nope, don't have. And won't take it next.
Tyrandro finishes off the last two spectres.
Once the spectres are defeated, Sebastian steps outside the room and slams the doors shut. You hear the chained spirit banging on the door from the inside but it doesn't come through.
Are we going to heal and try it better prepared or retreat to deal with it later?
Iolana manages to fight off the drain. "I vote for retreating, and finding the other three "chains" before coming back. Something tells me that it will be easier if they are broken." she shrugs "or at least different. We can better prepare as well."
"This magic you put on me is really cool. Let's hurry before it wears off!" Tyrandro tells and exitedly runs into the next room.
Ayako follows Tyrando. Very well, I will heal Sial's companion once Iolana's haste spell wears off
Tyrandro winds around to the end of the hallway which opens to the outdoor western parapet. This parapet offers a haunting view of the crater lake and the ragged cliffs beyond.
A narrow parapet runs from the guest wing roof above the courtyard to a small side entrance to the donjon. The heavy oak door leading into the donjon is firmly locked, and the seams around its edges are sealed with lead.
The door in the northern wall of the central roofline opens into a staircase that leads down.
Ayako casts Restoration to cure the Kyton of her negative levels and ability damage
She then uses the Wand of Lesser Restoration to help Tyrando's damge