"Right, we want to find a way to seal the place up. We don't want to touch any of the...ummm...evil...things." Dain looks around the cavern, "It's a strange place to just leave all your...mmm...stuff." Dain takes the vials of oil and acid and puts them in his pack. He unwraps some of the food. How old does it seem?
"I think we found what I smelled in that direction. We can search to see if it killed anyone else, but I believe the other path is where we need to go to end the danger." Silas says as he looks down both tunnels.
"I think it's worth exploring both tunnels. Just in case. So, if you think one is to our destination, let's take the other first."
The western tunnel dead ends suddenly, almost as if the tunneler gave up and later dug the southern tunnel.
Following the southern tunnel, the burrowed tunnel of newly carved earth suddenly ends, as it breaks into a very different-looking chamber. Rocks and dirt cover the smooth stone floor near the mouth of the tunnel. The area is about 30 feet wide and equally long. To the left, the chamber widens into an octagon-shaped area and plunges into a dark room to the right. From the octagon-shaped area, a narrow passage heads south. A steel door covered with runes and symbols stands slightly ajar on the north wall. Iron supports reinforce the stone walls and ceiling.
Tilver looks around the room, moving to the door to the north. He examines the door, but then peers inside the area.
Dain and Magill follow Tilver cautiously. As Tilver approaches the door, Dain says, "Careful, if that door closes, it might take a wish to open it." He examines the door closely before casting Detect Magic.
He points at the door and moves his hand to trace the edge. "Looks like there was some sort of...uhhh...silvery seal here, but its been broken."
The door reveals only a faint and fading magic. Possibly abjuration.
Dain pulls out a crystal prism and casts Read Magic to see if he can make sense of the runes and symbols on the door.
No. They're mostly gone and obscured. He recognizes only certain symbols of abjuration and closing.
Holys squints at the silvery residue Dain indicates.
vs DC 18
"I'm not sure of the significance of that, Dain."
So? What do you do now?
Using the butt of his spear, Dain slowly pushes the door open.
The door opens silently - its hinges still superb after all the ages.
You can see what I described above.
Holys steps into the room, bidding the others follow.
Tilver pulls out his lantern and snaps his fingers, lighting it instantly. "Well, what's the worst that can be inside? Just something that can corrupt us all for eternity..." He steps in through the doorway and shines the light inside.
Beyond the door lies a short passage and a stark chamber with the appearance of a vault or perhaps a prison. The walls and floor are bare. An arch in the north wall gives access to another chamber beyond. As Tilver steps in, he sees sudden motion from the north.
SURPRISE?
INITIATIVE
The shape shoots forward, startling almost everyone, and tries to touch Tilver, but the investigator's uncanny instincts serve him well and he hurls himself back out of the way of the onslaught!
STATUS
Velika - SUPRISED
Malignant Wraith
Holys - 27/32 hp- SURPRISED
Tilver -
Silas - 47/49 hp
Dain -
Dain sees Tilver moving defensively, and quickly calls to the spirits for protection.
Silas sees the creature and steps forward calling on his inner power to ward him.
Tilver steps back and tries to skewer the creature with his spear. "Help!"
Tilver's strike passes through the wraith as through smoke, but he feels some sort of resistance, perhaps on a plane other than the physical. The malignant wraith wails in sudden surprise and pain.
STATUS
Velika -
Malignant Wraith - 5 damage
Holys - 27/32 hp-
Tilver -
Silas - 47/49 hp - Shield (AC 26)
Dain - Shield of Faith (AC 20)
Velika hurries forward to see what causes Tilver's cry for help. Instinctively she starts to sing a song of invincibility. When she gets a view of the room, her brain scrambles to determine what they are facing.
The creature again lunges for Tilver, trying to corrupt his soul with its very touch, but Tilver keeps fighting to keep the thing at bay.
Dain moves into the room - joining Tilver - and calls for the Lady's blessing.
Tilver pauses for a split second to watch the evil swirl before he lashes out again with his spear.
Holys advances and takes out his metamagic rod.
Velika continues to sing, turning the lyrics to emphasize that while she and her companions are surely invincible, this creature which appears equally invincible is at least vulnerable to magic weapons.
So saying, she pulls out Alakabam as she moves into the room and fires at the creature.
With Precise Shot,
Silas moves towards the vague form but stops short of reaching it.
Tilver once again lances the area where the strange being hovers. It shifts and tatters as if its presence on Ptolus were constantly being shredded by an unseen wind. Then the loud report of Alakablam echoes through the ancient halls and the wraith recoils, struck by the magical lead ball.
Angered, it lunges once again at Tilver.
STATUS
Velika -
Malignant Wraith - 15 damage
Holys - 27/32 hp-
Tilver -
Silas - 47/49 hp - Shield (AC 26)
Dain - Shield of Faith (AC 20)
Silas steps forward and tries to tear into the wispy creature that is attacking his allies.
As Tilver pulls back his spear, Dain hops past him and thrusts his own spear at the dark spirit.
Oops. Sure did! Fixed above.
I meant to say how I still get the giggles at the gun's name.
Velika, Tilvver, Holys, go!
Still singing, Velika shoots again, trying to aim around Silas.
With Precise Shot,
Tilver jabs at the evil thing again. He drives the spear at the shade.
Alakablam sounds again, but the soft lead bullet merely ricochets off the wall. Dain's spear misses the ancient wraith, but Tilver's spear strikes more true. Meanwhile, Silas proves himself fearless and bites the undead horror!
and
The wraith lunges at Silas, reaching directly into his torso and snatching away some of his precious life energy!
STATUS
Velika -
Malignant Wraith - 34 damage
Holys - 27/32 hp-
Tilver -
Silas - 42/49 hp - -6 CON? - Shield (AC 26)
Dain - Shield of Faith (AC 20)
Brandishing his metamagic rod, Holys bathes the spirit in fire.
(5d4 base, +5 for Gold Draconic bloodline) reflex save DC 17 for half
Lesser Selective Metamagic Rod uses remaining/total: 2/3
Fireball (CL5) wand charges remaining: 50
Shield (CL1) wand charges remaining: 50
Cure Light Wounds (CL1) wand charges remaining: 50
Spells remaining/total:
2nd (4/4)—scorching ray
1st (6/7)—burning hands (DC 17), mage armor , protection from evil, ray of enfeeblement (DC 15), vanish
0th (at will) —acid splash, arcane mark , detect magic , flare (DC 16), light, open/close (DC 14), prestidigitation, read magic, resistance
Silas feels sick and weak from the terrible touch.
Though the wraith is only half in this world, Holys's magical fire burns it badly. It tries to flee, racing past Tilver, who strike at it with his spear, but misses. The wraith runs for freedom...
STATUS
Velika -
Malignant Wraith - 43 damage
Holys - 27/32 hp-
Tilver -
Silas - 27/34(49) hp - -6 CON - Shield (AC 26)
Dain - Shield of Faith (AC 20)
Silas staggers down the hall after the creature to see where it is and then calls upon his arcane powers to infuse his blade as he prepares to strike at it should it return to attack him.
That thing can't escape the Banewarrens except through the single destroyed wall. Once it gets out, it can go anywhere in Ptolus.
"After it, before it gets into the city!" Tilver races after the evil thing. He gets up close, hoping it will try to keep running rather than turn and face him.
Holys also hustles after the spirit.
Velika will likewise move after the fleeing spirit, picking up he pace of her song as well.
Dain curses as the wraith zooms past him, then shuffles after it as quickly as he can.