"Wellll" he draws out the word, trying to think of how best to put it. "It was an Asmodean church, so definitely evil. Not triad evil I don't think. Just the usual garden variety evil. I dunno, I didn't go very often."
"Most of the priests were pretty cool, but there was one fire and brimstone guy. Man his sermons lifted the roof I can tell you." he squirms a little remembering them.
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"”Mortie-poo, are you okay? ... "
Mortie-poo shrugs.
"Remember last night when the cake-head fell in Eidi’s lap? Thinking about it again, it was very funny,”
"It didn't have to fall in Eidi's lap, but that it fell at all was very funny to me." Mortimer turns to Eidi. "I am glad for your magic ability to clean tunics soiled thusly."
Curious, he ponders for a moment. "What do any of you think the actual relationship between the Lady Lashonna and the Prince is? He has that portrait of her there in his mansion. To me, they seem mutually locked in some kind of war over land or something -- if the Fool's tale was any sort of analogy."
" ...dancing."
Mortimer happily if not greedily accepts the apple. "OOh, green is the best kind of apple! Thank you!" He bites into it immediately consuming half of it in the effort. "Oh, I'm no dancer. I'm sure Lady Mahuudril figured that out right away. I was just trying to surreptitiously maneuver near the dais where the Prince and Hemriss were conversing -- in the hopes of hearing what they might be talking about."
"We're being followed, is all I was able to glean for sure," he adds.
"[Diamond Lake Church of Asmo] was an Asmodean church, so definitely evil. Not triad evil I don't think. Just the usual garden variety evil. I dunno, I didn't go very often."
Mortimer nods. "I think that because it was the 'garden variety sort of evil' was the very reason it was destroyed by the black dragon, who I believe was an agent of the Triad sort of evil. Did anyone beside me notice how the Prince didn't even bat an eyelash when I mentioned that it had been destroyed? You'd think that if the Prince were the son of Asmodeus he would have expressed some kind of anger or other distress over that event At least I found his apparent boredom and disinterest over that news very curious."
...
Ascaria illuminates the interior of the Church of Blessed Deliverance in an intense display of his god's inner glow. The windows of the building are suitably coated in smoke and char, the gnome gauges the light is unlikely to catch the corner of a passerby's eye, but can't be 100% certain...
The gnome and the half-elf commence to searching for sources of magic that emanate from anything other than the Outcasts. They find nothing within the abandoned husk of the house of prayer which detects as magic.
Solrisa begins an aural study of the interior, her eyes drawing keen to sense what might linger in a church once dedicated to Abadar.
Your initial sweep of the broken pews and altar leave you wanting, until you gaze at your feet. Suddenly, your left foot appears to glow... of evil!! No, wait. Now it's your right foot. No, that can't be right. You move your feet away from each other in a rocking motion, and you realize that there is a point of evil, below you, but you are unable to discern its exact depth/location.
Mortimer takes a good long look at the altar, and its surrounds. For the keen giant's eyes, he is unable to offer more than the elder half-elf.
Your ears, however, avail you of a sound out of your immediate space. Below you, somewhere, you hear a faint, soft moaning of a male voice. It doesn't seem to relate directly to the altar itself. It suggests that the Church of Blessed Deliverance likely has another floor.
For your initial investigations, you do notice that Eri has grown quiet, possibly out of reverence for a dead church.
Something has given Eri second thoughts about this infiltration, and he hesitates to speak about his concern.
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Mortimer glances up from his study of the altar and the floor and looks to Eri.
"What is it, Eri?! Do you also hear that moaning coming from beneath the floor? There's got to be a way down there, but what's gotten into you? You look... like you just saw a bourbon truck tip over. Let's look for secret doors."
Mortimer looks for secret doors.
"We're going deeper in?" Eri goes pale(r). He drops an f-bomb and presses his lips together like he's trying to stop himself from talking.
”My shoes! My blue booties!!” Solrisa cries in alarm jumping back from her own feet before realizing her mistake. She laughs and smiles with relief. ”Oh, my shoes are fine. Phew! I don’t know that I could defeat my own shoes, I love them too much...but there is evil under the ground here. I can sense it. The Dragon sees it. The Dragon sees all.”
She points to the evil, trying to help triangulate the evil aura. She smiles at Eri as she moves around him trying to see what she should see.
Solrisa looks around. ”We have to find a way down there. Does anyone see a way down there?” She moves back to try the first door she comes to. She hopes to find stairs down.
When others are ready, she will open the door.
The maiden begins revealing what lies behind the four doors towards the Church's entrance. When she opens the final door, the light of the gnome falls on a trap door in the opposite corner of the room, heavily chained, locked, and burdened with partial ceiling collapse.
The lock appears to be of good quality.
"What's it Eri? Are you ok?" the half-elf observes at the eldritch man while Solrisa opens door, but before he can reveal what is going up with him the shouts of a new trap door calls his attention. Eidi moves into the room and inspects the trap door checking it for magical auras.
Then turns back to Eri "Perhaps we should better leave this as it is... but we probably know what happened here anyway too... can you open it friend?"
Eidi casts knock on the trap door locks.
Curious, he ponders for a moment. "What do any of you think the actual relationship between the Lady Lashonna and the Prince is? He has that portrait of her there in his mansion. To me, they seem mutually locked in some kind of war over land or something -- if the Fool's tale was any sort of analogy."
Ascaria thinks a moment before replying, ”I’d like to think she’s a good person, and merely playing with the prince to keep his most evil inclinations at bay. I dunno though. Hopefully we learn more in a couple days at her mansion. We…” he breaks off grinning at his own dim perception, ”Ah, you,” he looks at the group, ”…will have to be extra observant when we visit.”
”We're being followed, is all I was able to glean for sure,” he adds.
”Maybe we should have led them on a wild goose chase before coming to the church.” he laughs at the thought while shrugging off the lost opportunity.
"We're going deeper in?" Eri goes pale(r). He drops an f-bomb and presses his lips together like he's trying to stop himself from talking.
”Aye, deeper and deeper. All the way to the bottom if we must. And quickly too, before we’re discovered and warned off.” he says, looking at the trap door.
When Eidi, or possibly Eri, opens the door, he casts a simple light spell on some bit of detritus and tosses it in the hole as he looks down to see what’s below.
"Oh! Who puts a lock on to try to keep people out of places!?" Solrisa queries aloud after seeing the stout lock. Dropping off her backpack and pulling out his hammer, she goes to work on breaking the lock or just busting open the trapdoor itself.
Should the hammer not work, she will move to the morningstar, and finally, her adamantine blade to cut things open.
When it is open, she will click her non-evil but pro-flying booties together so she might fly down.
"Indeed, who even puts a not-very-secret trap door behind an ordinary door?" Mortimer asks. befuddled.
He waits for someone to do something with the lock, preferably quietly.
He shoves Eri toward the door. "Go to work, Eri."
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Eidi tries to stop Solrisa before she can shatter the lock " Wait noble Solrisa. We might want to seal again this place depending on what we find there. At the least so we can conceal our deeds here. Let's try first to peacefully bypass the lock"
Eri steps forward, gesturing towards the lock securing the chains, and a brief glow envelops the penal metal. A quick pulse, and the lock pops open. The sorcerer lends a hand in clearing the rubble, as well, before stepping back.
"I suggest that one of us remains up here, a set of eyes and ears cocked to hear if our presence has become known in the streets. When you've delved down, I'll even scatter some debris over the trapdoor to mask our efforts." Eri looks quite content with his plan.
...
Beyond the trapdoor is a short but very steep stairway leading down to a small crypt below the church. In places, the ceiling sags ominously. Bones are scattered in heaps all over the floor, and the twelve tombs that sit in rows have been violated. The brick-lined crypt walls have been torn down and narrow, claustrophobic tunnels have been dug through the stony earth.
These tunnels were created by repeated applications of Stone Shape.
A twisted, feral, gray-skinned man with large jagged fingernails, sharp teeth, red eyes, and festering skin sits atop a pile of bones. His body seems frail and emaciated save for his belly, which is disturbingly round and full. He wears the tattered remnants of once fine robes of Abadar over his chain shirt.
As your light breaks across the room, he begins to shriek in gibberish.
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Solrisa moves up to address the shrieking horror. As it is garbed in Abadaran robes, she hopes that not all hope is lost.
"Tell me, oh, excuse me, are you available to sell us some information? We require answers...and will pay for them," Solrisa asks with a smile and few coin to spare, but hopeful of an exchange.
Diplomacy
The shrieking slows, but it doesn't stop. The shrieking softens, but it doesn't silence.
"These tunnels were created by repeated applications of Stone Shape..."
Eidi moves his staff adding shield to his protections. Then walks behind Solrisa casting heroism on her for extra help.
The half-elf tenses when the babbling man makes its appearance. And helps Solrisa with a guidance and blessing of the faithful.
"We need to understand what happened here. We were expecting heretics of Asmodeo, not a keeper of the Master of the First Vault. Abadar would be praised if we could save civilization in this part of the world"
Ascaria moves to the bottom of the stairs (singe move if it matters) and tries to help Sol calm the crooner down, though he expects bloodshed as this is almost certainly the evil they detected.
"It really is OK old one. We're after some information, can you help us? Please don't shriek." he says calmly.
The shrieking stops.
The ghoul before you stands more erect, its hands spreading its robes out, to little effect. They are dirt-covered, and torn about his legs, as if his feral movements dragged them behind in his travels through the tunnels.
Then it speaks.
"You have questions? What is it you wish to know?" Its voice is dry, but very much human, a faint baritone which must have been very calming in its day.
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Solrisa freezes up, completely forgetting why there were there. She delays for a moment, hoping the right questions come to mind.
"Uhm...do you like my booties?" Solrisa looks down and holds out her right blue boot of flying for the abject undead horror to admire. "We had a questions about else too, though, was it about a dragon?"
Solrisa looks at Eidi, who might know.
"Or what do you know about the Ebon Triad? OH WAIT! NO! It was about green little wormies!?! No, wait, it'll come to me..." Solrisa is very confused.
Eidi shakes his head hiding his face under the palm of his hand "Emm... well... yes. Those are good questions, but we also would like to know what happened in this temple, why it is closed and who did kill you..."
"Or what do you know about the Ebon Triad? OH WAIT! NO! It was about green little wormies!?! No, wait, it'll come to me..."
The ghoul appears ready to answer the maiden, when she commands him to wait, so wait, he does.
"Emm... well... yes. Those are good questions, but we also would like to know what happened in this temple, why it is closed and who did kill you..."
"Vandals!! Tried to burn the whole thi... kill me? What do you mean by that? I am very much alive. Abadar has seen to my needs, so that I may see the Church rebuilt to its former glory."
The shrieking stops.
[ ... nomnomnom ...] Mortimer can now be heard casually munching on the apple.
"You have questions? What is it you wish to know? ... Vandals! ... "
"Uh, guys? Remember that guy we found under Sodden Hold? This guy is waaaaay more advanced."
He shrugs, chewing the last of the apple. "Well, if you can't beat 'em, join 'em."
He holds up the remains of the apple (for once he didn't actually eat the core) as if it were his holy symbol. He approaches within 15' of the creature and says,
" ... We can see you are very much alive..." He tries not to appear doubtful when a strip of rotting flesh falls from the creature's armpit. "Sorry about that. So, are there books about, scripture? Things maybe you yourself wrote -- with help or otherwise -- laying around here? Did anything survive the fire?"
Unable to help himself he then adds, "Also ... you know -- hygiene?" he mutters. He casts his eyes heavenwards in the hope of divine intervention, "Abadar?! -- I mean, for the sake of Abadar -- if you want us to help rebuild this church to its former glory -- maybe consider a nail trim for starters."
Solrisa claps and shouts gleefully, finally remembering after Eidi asks the right questions.
"Yes, that's it! What happened to your church? Maybe we can help rebuild it! I'm very good at stonework! And Eidi is very resourceful, and Mort...oh MortiePoo is very good too! Tell us what happened here, please!"
"Well..." begins Ascaria, somewhat incredulous at the whole conversation, "I dunno that the church will be rebuilt any time soon, but do please tell us what you've been up to all the time you've been down here."
"Also, what else is down here if I may ask? Are there catacombs and the like? What all is here?" he peers at the edge of his sight, wondering what lies beyond.
Eidi sighs frustrated at the creature "Well... let's see... then start from a different perspective. Who are you? What is your name?"
The half-elf elder nods at Ascaria's questions then he goes to the point adding more from himself "Who were the vandals and what was their purpose for burning down the church?"
"My name is Rhorsk, servant of Abadar. Why burn down a church? You seek purpose in the ashes. It's a foolish errand... brings no peace. Now that you've freed me to return to the upper floor, the Church shall be rebuilt with Abadar's many gifts."
Rhorsk turns to Ascaria. "I've been waiting, down here. I've been able to create a small network which allows me to receive nourishment from Abadar, so I may press on." Then he turns to look up and upon Mortimer.
"Yes, yes, I wrote something. Perhaps you have read it? A History of Alhaster? I have spent some time in Alhaster, and have tried to understand what lies beneath the smiles of its citizens."
The creature cleric shifts expectantly on his pile of bones.
This individual is certainly a ghoul, chaotic evil undead creature which arises from various reasons. Legends hold that the first ghouls were either cannibalistic humans whose unnatural hunger dragged them back from death or humans who in life fed on the rotting remains of their kin and died (and were reborn) from the foul disease—the true source of these undead scavengers is unclear.
This one is 'gravetouched'. Rhorsk can remember himself, which is highly unusual for such cursed creatures. He might even retain abilities he had in life...
Solrisa smiles back at the unholy abomination. ”Yes, hi, I am Solrisa, and this is Eidi, and Ascaria, and MortiePoo.”
Solrisa shakes her head about the mention of reading. No, it was not likely she had read the book.
”A History of Alhaster? No, I don’t think I’ve read that. Do you have a copy of it? Or know where I can find one? Or can you tell us the highlights?” Solrisa asks, always liking a good story.
"Rhorsk!" the name resounds in Eidi pointy ears like an echo of the past "You are that Rhorsk! We have read your book of course"
"And there you were talking about a cabal of Asmodean heretics, who where them exactly? What is the "Writhing Dead"?" the half-elf can hardly hold himself from bathing the creature with questions, to the point he forgets to explain the others what a rare and ravenous undead he is for fear they will want to destroy it "There is so much knowledge in you! You must share!"
Ascaria peers at this Rhorsk a little more carefully. He knows he's undead. The living just don't slough off their skin like that. I mean... it's dangling!
"So... you wrote A History of Alhaster? Impressive. I too glanced a little at the tome, though I didn't read it as thoroughly as I might have. Still, a very fine work. You should be proud." He thinks a moment, "Proud. You know, and happy with what you've accomplished. Maybe it's time to lie down a bit, and let others carry the mantle for you. You know, lie down and take a loooong sleep."
"We could help you, if you'll but let us. So let's chat amiably enough, and then help you, ah, chill."
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This individual is certainly a ghoul, chaotic evil undead creature which arises from various reasons. Legends hold that the first ghouls were either cannibalistic humans whose unnatural hunger dragged them back from death or humans who in life fed on the rotting remains of their kin and died (and were reborn) from the foul disease—the true source of these undead scavengers is unclear.
This one is 'gravetouched'. Rhorsk can remember himself, which is highly unusual for such cursed creatures. He might even retain abilities he had in life...
As Solrisa first responds, it is clear that Rhorsk is thinking on an answer, when both Eidi and Ascaria speak up on their acquaintance with the work. The ghoul gestures towards the two, while smiling toothily at the maiden.
"And there you were talking about a cabal of Asmodean heretics, who where them exactly? What is the "Writhing Dead"? There is so much knowledge in you! You must share!"
Rhorsk starts to shift in an agitated manner, as the half-elf inquires about heretics. "Yes, yes. There is more to my accounting than made it into the pages of my History." The ghoul moves down the bone pile a little, beckoning you to step closer. His voice lowers, and he looks over his shoulders occasionally towards the tunnels.
"The cultists were hunted to extinction, or nearly. Captured, executed. The Prince and his help were very good at the work. When I was reasonably sure the bodies would be left on the Graves, I Spoke with them, when I could." The ghoul pauses, to make sure you understand what he means.
"If they were very young, and less loyal to their Triad, I would learn something. And learn something, I did. I learned of Mother Maggot."
Rhorsk looks pleased with himself, but only for a moment, before he remembers himself, and the conversation at hand. "They took from her the obscenities. She set them on the worm-riddled path. The undead that wreaked havoc in dark corners of Alhaster? The Asmodeans didn't understand how to make them, they only received them as docile henchmen, and set them loose where they would." Rhorsk scratches at an arm, as if a memory of worm tunneling crossed his withered mind.
"She met with them, in Alhaster, in a basement. I spent months watching for activity, and found none, so I came to believe that she had run her course."
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As Solrisa first responds, it is clear that Rhorsk is thinking on an answer, when both Eidi and Ascaria speak up on their acquaintance with the work. The ghoul gestures towards the two, while smiling toothily at the maiden.
"Oooh -- right!" Mortimer exclaims, gesturing with the apple core repeatedly at Rhorsk. Magepoint! His aspect changes from excitement to annoyance, and he shakes his head in defeat. "They wouldn't let me into the Library," he grumbles.
The ghoul moves down the bone pile a little, beckoning you to step closer.
Mort looks at the pile of bones, then up at Rhorsk and takes a step backwards toward the stairs. Are you kidding?
His voice lowers, and he looks over his shoulders occasionally towards the tunnels.
Mort peers down the same tunnels, but likely can see nothing due to a certain glare.
Damn that gnome is bright!
His ears deaf to all but Rhorsk, Mort grows pale as the creature discloses the means by which he learned about Mother Maggot, and the brawler drops his apple core.
Is that what happened to the disappearing kids in Diamond Lake?
Torn between wanting to leave as soon as possible, wanting to outright slay the creature, and spellbound by his own morbid curiosity Mortimer finds himself utterly paralysed.
Sweating profusely and grimacing, he stands unmoving with one foot on the bottom stair facing Rhorsk, his fists tightly clenched at his sides.
”She met with them...”
Solrisa scrunches up her face, already losing some of the plot and who was who.
”Excuse me, who is ‘she’? Who met with them?” Solrisa asks brightly, trying to follow along.
"Mother Maggot. That's what they called her. Those who called themselves Asmodeans, but who sought something more blasphemous. She offered the chaos of the worms, and they accepted." Rhorsk doesn't look directly at Solrisa, nor does he turn his gaze on the glow-gnome. His eyes seem content to look at Eidi, instead.
"She...?!" Eidi seems very altered while he let's out a gasp "Might it be Lady Lashonna the Mother Maggot??!"
"You mean she was just creating undead worms and the Asmodeans were collecting them... what did they do with the undead?" the half-elf negates with the head unable to abandon the thought "How did the Mother Maggot look? Was she an elf? A noble and the most strikingly classy elf you have ever witnessed?"
Rhorsk shakes his head. "No one could ascertain the identity of this mysterious woman, only her power. Some of the undead were shipped off to distant lands, while others savaged the poorer districts of Alhaster, until the outcry was loud enough, they were purged locally. The undead were mainly zombie-like, riddled with the worms." Rhorsk rubs his neck.
"If you are that interested in investigating her, you can always visit the Sinner's Sanctum, for yourselves. Perhaps someone there was able to set grander eyes upon her face, to lend you an accounting."
The ghoul indicates the general vicinity of the Sinner's Sanctum , leaving you reasonably sure you will be able to locate it, should you so desire.
Ascaria shudders at the realization of what this thing is. Is at its core. Not superficially. Not, petty evil. But Evil with a capital ‘E’. He listens to the conversation as he makes his way up to the creature.
”Mother Maggot. That’s quite a name.”
When Eidi puts the Lady Lashonna together with the Mother Maggot, his mind recoils, and he takes a step back from his meandering path. Pulling the tankard from his belt, he pours in a little wine and takes a swig.* He smiles again, if a little grimly, as the ghoul assuages their fears. He walks right up to Rhorsk and says, ”The Sinner’s Sanctum eh? What sort of place is that for such a name. Is it a gambling house?”
He tries to sound very sincere and relaxed.
Solrisa looks very confused. Confused by Eidi's question. Confused by everything the abomination is saying.
"What? How could that beautiful, nice, elegant lady be evil? No, that's not how it works," Solrisa stamps a bootie down in protest.
"Might it be Lady Lashonna the Mother Maggot??!"
... NO!
As the Gnome steps up, Mortimer tightens his Headband of the LizardHood around his forehead, and quietly steps away from the stair moving behind Eidi nearer to Sol.
Eidi pauses a moment trying to refocus and brings his mental map of the city to his consciousness "Ok, Sinners Sanctum. Yes, that's southeast, near the watchtower in Arena Street. It is curiously the only corner of the city we have not visited yet. We must correct that soon enough" the elder nods "But how does the Writhing Dead sprawling relate to the evil dragons gathering around Redhand?"
The half-elf then he pierces through Rhorsk eyes while trying to forget his ideas about Lashonna and waiting for the undead to answer Ascaria's question "Listen Rhorsk. There was a man by the name of Balakarde. We are looking for him. We know he was looking for you, well, he was exactly looking for your 'Legacy'. Do you know what he might refer with that 'Legacy'? And... did he ever find you?" Eidi insists in this last question.
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"The Sinner’s Sanctum eh? What sort of place is that for such a name. Is it a gambling house?”
Rhorsk shakes his head. "It's a sickhouse. When the infirm are unable to afford the care of the clerics, they visit the Sanctum for more earthly treatments. There is a woman who has dedicated her life to their care. She's an old, withered thing."
"But how does the Writhing Dead sprawling relate to the evil dragons gathering around Redhand?"
For this question, Rhorsk doesn't have an answer. He shrugs his shoulders.
"Listen Rhorsk. There was a man by the name of Balakarde. We are looking for him. We know he was looking for you, well, he was exactly looking for your 'Legacy'. Do you know what he might refer with that 'Legacy'? And... did he ever find you?"
Rhorsk frowns a little, for a while, then slowly begins to nod.
"Balakarde... I think I have met this person, recently, yes. If he was that strange man, then I did meet this Balakarde you are looking for. He asked several questions. The ones I remember... he was interested in what I learned of the Ebon Triad. He tried to describe how the followers of Urgathoa and Lamashtu were also responsible, though I have been largely aware of what it means to be a follower of Asmodeus who turns away from the main path, and incurs the wrath of Zeech. When I mentioned Mother Maggot, he grew more animated. But I told him as much as I told you, so you know as much as he knows for having visited me here."
Watching the ghoul's facial animation, it's hard to read. There are certain muscles that turn at the corners of the mouth which are missing. The brow movements are absent, and his eyes do not blink. The creature doesn't exude earnestness, nor does he appear coy.
HP = 93/93 +?? temp
Hero Points = 6
Equipped = None
Conditions = Heroes Feast (10/12h), Magic Vestment (+3, 10/15h), Status (10/15h, Eidi, Eri, Mort, Sol), Wind Walk (10/15h, all), Brightest Light (1/15h)
Life Link (14)(100’) = Eidi, Eri, Mort, Sol
Channel Energy (11/11)(9/9) (DC: 27)(Avoid 8, 35’r, 1/1 swift) (8d6+1+2d6 phylactery)
Amiable Blunder (1/1 if Diplomacy failed by >5, re-roll to avoid worsening attitude)
Rod of Extend Spell (3/3, 6th lvl)
Vest of Surgery (1/1 Heal DC 20 to heal 1d4 ability damage in 1h)
Spellguard Bracers (3/3 Roll concentration twice and take the best result)
Mnemonic Vestment (1/1 Cast spell from a scroll)
Tankard (1/1 Remove Fear), (0/1 Heroism (30min)), (1/1 unbinding to DC 25)
Physician’s Spectacles (1/1 Delay Poison)(Constant: Detect Poison, Diagnose Disease)
Expeditious (3/3 swift +10’ movement)
Melee Attack: BAB +10/+5, Size +1 Damage: +0
Ranged Attack: BAB +10/+5, Dex +1, Size +1 Damage: +0
Spells (Caster Level 15, Concentration +25)
Once per Day: Arcane Mark, Comprehend Languages, Message, Read Magic
Zero (18): Create Water, Detect Magic, Detect Poison, Guidance, Light, Mending, Purify Food and Drink, Spark, Stabilize
First (19): (8/8) Cure Light Wounds, Diagnose Disease, Endure Elements, Enhance Water, Liberating Command, Obscuring Mist, Remove Fear
Second (20): (7/8) Burst of Radiance, Cure Moderate Wounds, Lesser Restoration, Light Prison, Pilfering Hand, Protection from Evil Communal, Status
Third (21): (5/8) Cure Serious Wounds, Dispel Magic, Invisibility Purge, Magic Vestments, Neutralize Poison, Prayer, Speak with Dead*
Fourth (22): (6/8) Blessings of Fervor, Brightest Light, Cure Critical Wounds, Protection from Energy Communal, Restoration, Speak with Haunt*, Terrible Remorse
Fifth (23): (7/7) Air Walk Communal, Breath of Life, Burst of Glory, Cleanse, Cure Light Wounds Mass, Plane Shift
Sixth (24): (5/7) Chains of Light, Cure Moderate Wounds Mass, Heal, Heroes’ Feast, Wind Walk
Seventh (25): (5/5) Cure Serious Wounds Mass, Greater Restoration, Holy Word, Particulate Form
* Caster Level +2
- - -
Ascaria pours a little wine into the tankard and offers it to the ghoul. However, as he leans forward, he casts a spell, though he tries to hide it, and he touches the foul beast. ”Now, now, thank you for all that, but I think it’s time for you to rest. You’ve lived over long, be at peace!”
His voice is a little shrill at the end as he casts Heal which against undead acts as Harm (DC 24 will for half of 150hp, cannot reduce below 1hp).
(heroism) to hide casting as long as possible
(heroism) vs flat footed touch if I successfully surprised him
He takes a 5' step away and shouts, "Destroy it for the abomination that it is! Insane or not, this creature cannot remain."
Rhorsk's eyes enlarge, surprised that the gnome before it has touched it in such a painful way. In moments, the same ghoul eyes bleed black blood, and it shrieks in anger.
Round 18, Init 18
As soon as the ghoul shrieks, Mortimer charges it.
for
The pathetic former Cleric of Abadar collapses in a heap upon its heap, unable to withstand so much hostility within such a short period of time.
The basement of the Church of Blessed Deliverance grows quiet. Occasional rat chitter can be heard coming from any one of the stone-shaped tunnels.
"Mmm... that's good. And after your chat where did go Balakar..." Eidi opens his eyes wide, Eidi covers his face with a hand as the pieces of dead meat splash all over him, Eidi steps back and readies his staff, Eidi looks stunned and brings down his staff "Ah. Oh. You see... that's why I did not wanted to tell you he was a wickedly evil ghoul"
The elder moves his staff saying arcane words that clean his tunic, while he approaches the tip of the staff to the pile trying to discern with light and detect magic if there is anything of value Rhorsk was keeping for himself "Another piece of knowledge from the world that fades off... all in all, let's see if he left something useful behind"
Eidi is able to find Rhorsk's personal book of prayer, and his silver symbol of Abadar, buried under a small pile of bones towards the back of the basement. The half-elf's exploration with his own magics to detect other sources reveals nothing.
Classically written, it is what one might expect on small poems to civilization, and the prosperity achieved through strong trade routes to beat back the chaos of unruly lands.
Towards the back of the book, there are scribbles which show a slow descent into madness, a small confession of having to eat from the corpses of the Church, then black scrawls laced with blood, which self-flagellate the cleric with words of blasphemy and horror.
He looks guiltily at Eidi, "I am sorry Eidi, but he was entirely too evil to let exist, and so utterly insane, I'm not sure we can believe anything he told us. I mean sure, we can check out the Sinner's Sanctum - I should help the sick anyway if I can as we've some time." He shakes his head, "But that creature's statements cannot be trusted."
"Are there any secret passages down here?" he asks those more observant than himself before shrugging his shoulders if nothing is found.
Eidi dismisses with the hand Ascaria's apologies "It is ok. This was good that he can finally rest and his soul make the trip" he does take the prayer book and all the notes of the old priest.
"Yes, let's make the trip to the Sanctum as it seems there is nothing else here to find" the half-elf helps to find secret passages before the group moves on.
The four separate tunnels in the Basement of the Church of Blessed Deliverance are hardly secret, now that your light is shed upon them. There are no actual secret passages you uncover in other parts of the walls.
You would need to spend a good deal of time to discover their various threadings under Alhaster. The tunnels remain at the same level as the Basement, so it may be reasoned that the tunnels might end in other establishments' basements, or avoid them altogether, in favor of secret passings by. Rhorsk admitted to traveling as far as the Traitors' Graves to interrogate heretic corpses, so one of the tunnels may have served as his private passage, but you were unable to ascertain if he questioned them as human, or as ghoul...
...
Depending on your resolve to investigate the ghoul warrens, you may spend the evening tunneling about, or you may depart for the Sinner's Sanctum this very evening.
When you return to the ground floor of the Church, Eri is waiting patiently. He has taken to mending a part of his cloak with needle and thread. He looks up, and his face assumes a pleasant enough smile to welcome you back.
"So, we're done here, then? Heard some shrieking, then I didn't, and I count four of you, so I'm assuming we're good? Good. Let's be off." When the conversation inevitably turns to paying the Sinner's Sanctum a visit, Eri pulls up short, and provides his own point of view.
"Guys. I think I've reached a limit I didn't know I had until now. I need to spend some time outside of cities, outside of this pursuit of ours. I want to return to Magepoint. I'll have allies there, and the countryside. I need to get right with myself. I hope you understand."
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Solrisa sputters and stomps her foot as both the combat and the conversation end before she could really figure out what was going on.
"Oh Eidi, did we learn what we needed to learn?" Solrisa asks, unsure."I mean, of course we were going to slay that abomination, but...you know, might have given him a chance for last rites or something. I dunno. He seemed hungry. Maybe a nice meal before his execution."
* * *
"Oh Eri! Are you sure you have to go?" Solrisa moves to give her friend a nice, rich, warm hug. "You know where you can find us again, right? And don't be like Mum and my sister and disappear forever, okay?"