Noticing one of his companions being swarmed by rats, Ivan ignores the minor threat of the birds. He drops his weapon and pulls out a flask of fiery red liquid before throwing it onto the rats, trying to avoid harming the goblin as much as he can.
The fire goes right through the rats with no effect, but catching Bupkis in the splash.
Bupkis' Force Ward protects him from the fire splash damage.
Feeling queasy, Daseem looked at the swarm with worry. He wasn't at all sure he could do anything with it, still he wasn't one to just give up. He stepepd between Scrabbler and Menrozzar and swung his oversized weapon in a great arc while whispering, "Gorum" The the sword emitted a pale blue light as the lord of battle imbued it with a fraction of his power!
Daseem manages to kill some of the rats, but them being incorporeal and his weapon being of the wrong make to fight swarms spoils the result.
Scrabbler frantically climbed an angry bird in his efforts to get away from the rat swarm.
Scrabblers attack leaves the gryph staggered. The rats drain the last strength out of Bupkis leaving him unconscious on the ground. The gryph would like to attack Scrabbler, but can't and stumbles backwards into the water filled pit to his death.
So cold...so cold. Bupkis slumps to the floor.
Using his sword to kill rats was ridiculous, it was entirely the wrong weapon for the job. Unfortunately it's what he had so he put his back into it as he swung his weapon with a great scything motion. As before he whispered 'Gorum' and his weapon glowed with a feint radiance.
Scrabbler nimbly avoided falling down the hole and whirled around to face the swarm again. Bupkis was down. Scrabbler looked horrified.
He had nothing that could harm these things. He had his new bombs, but no way to light them. Lacking any other option, he ran around to the other side of the swarm and got ready to try to drag Bupkis free.
Daseems desperate attempt to kill the rats is enough to kill off some and the rest of the rats disperse and disappear in the shadows.
Menrozzar runs over to Bupkis and checks to see if he's still breathing.
Ivan sighs as finally the incorporeal rats are dispersed. If there are more O' the likes O' those things, we may need ta' better prepare. Hows the little one then? Ivan sniffs, despite his natural displeasure of orcs and goblins, the two goblins had grown on him, like a fungus, and he was loath to add another body to the pile of the past few days.
Gradually, the piercing cold seems to recede. Bupkis loses track of time. He becomes aware of something crouching over him. The light is too bright to make out what the it is, but feels no fear. "Bupkis dead?", he asks.
As his eyes adjust, he sees a large, ursine creature, with fur that looks like cloth. The creature speaks, "No, you are not dead. Rest now — Bear watches over you."
"He's only unconscious, but that...ghostly rat swarm sapped his strength - and some of mine. We need to get him to the Sanctuary for healing." Menrozzar can feel that his armor and equipment are heavier than they once were - the cold that had leeched from him by the rats wasn't good for him. "Daseem, could you carry him?"
"Scrabbler not like ghost rats," the goblin muttered. He happily lead the way out of the orc hole.
Daseem stares blankly at the immobile form of Bupkis. To his surprise he was all choked up, the goblin's antics where surprisingly endearing. To Menrozzar he asked, "I-i-is he?!"
"Yes, he's only unconscious. That ghost swarm sapped his strength and some of mine. Daseem, could you carry him to the sanctuary?"
Menrozzar stood, feeling the weight of his armor and equipment heavily.
Ivan grabs the goblin finging him over his shoulder. "Let's get goin' before more of that pests come out." the additional load is no issue for the dwarf. He just walks his regular slow speed stoically, out of the cave, through the water and through the lower part of Trunau that lies mostly in ruins.
In the sanctuary there are still a lot wounded citizens but as the group walks in with the goblin hanging lifeless over Ivan's shoulder the solemn atmosphere is broken and a busy search for some cleric who still has the proper magic prepared gets all on their toes.
Finally one is found and as she casts the spell on Bupkis, he comes to his senses again and opens the eyes.
"I'm glad he didn't become another victim of this cursed orc raid. the High Priestess Varvatos tells with relief.
Bupkis sits up and says, "Bupkis thanks you!" He tries to get up and says, "Still feel weak — armor too heavy for now."
He takes off his armor and backpack. "Someone carry extra things for Bupkis?"
As she works, Ivan will also ask her Ye wouldn't 'appen to 'ave any holy water would ye? we need to return to those caves soon, 'an I fear we may need to do so quickly if we are ta' learn anythin' O value. His face is a set in a stone grimace. He would also take bupkis's things, the extra weight not meaning to much to him yet.
"You're welcome." Varvatos tells, and nods to the priestess to go back to caring for the other wounded.
To Ivan she replies "Sure. How much do you need?" Going through the inventory in her mind she adds "Is that on you, or the militia?"
I'll pay for 4, put another 4 on the miltia, if ye have that much. Seems a fair split ta' me, an' ifin' they deem it an unfair assumption on me part, I'll go ahead and give ye me word to pay for tha' other 4 in that case. Ivan rummages around for his coin purse as he speaks.
"We have, what you ask for." Varvatos replies and sends an acolyte to get the vials. "Kurst is not known to be a bean counter. But I appreciate your attitude."
A minute later the coins and vials are exchanged.
Daseem offers to carry some of Bupkis's stuff. He didn't mind the extra weight, and he was happy to help out. When Ivan started getting vials of holy water, Daseem wondered if they should get some other supplies.
Menrozzar asked, "Do you have an potions of the spell that restored Bupkis's strength?"
Bupkis adds, "Shadow rats drain Menrozzar as well. Needs strength to swing weapon!"
Once the party gathers supplies, Bupkis says, "Go back into hole now; find out what orcs do in there!"
"We have, but they are few and very expensive. He will heal with rest. Or he can come back tomorrow when we are back to normal" Varvatos explains.
Ivan nods to bupkis. Aye, I'm glad ye are still able, to be honest, we likely wouldn't have gotten past those... rats, ifn' ye hadn't been with us. Stay close, and keep behind us from now on alright?
Once back at the entrance, he asks No one tried to leave I assume? Good, lets get back down there. He draws his warhammer as they re-enter, angry and ready for a fight.
The cave is unchanged to when the group left. Only the dead rats are no longer incorporeal and the whole floor is a mess of beaten up dead rats.
I say we go straight, less any O' you got better ideas.
Walking further straight into the cave you see the floor drop away into
darkness. Moving closer to the edge of the drop you can see the top of three round stones set apart by the same distance. As you reach the edge you see what those 'stones' are. Three huge humanoid skeletons, each ten feet tall or more, line the opposite wall of the cavern, standing in silent vigil. And just before your feet there are the skulls of those on this side. A wide ramp slopes down to the floor at the western end of this cavern.
Menrozzar moved behind Ivan, ensuring that he and Daseem would both be able to see. Studying the huge skeletons, he asks, "What do you think the odds are they come to life?"
Unable too see well, Daseem whispered a prayer to Gorum, and his chainmail started to glow softly.
Daseem grinned fiercely at Menrozzar, and everyone got the impression that the young man would't complain if they did come to life.
Bupkis follows behind; he tries to move quietly, even though the big folk are making lots of noise. His reduced strength is making him feel vulnerable.
So far the skeletons are all staying in place.
Ivan rubs his beard. If they do, I'll be 'appy to send 'em to hell over again. Is tha' only way down to climb? He asks the latter part as he looks around for stairs or some other way to get down.
... And just before your feet there are the skulls of those on this side. A wide ramp slopes down to the floor at the western end of this cavern.
Well, I say we jus' talk the walk down. Ye boys ready? keep an eye out fer traps though!
As Ivan leads the group on the walk down the wide ramp it becomes clear what the skeletons are. They form a guard of honor to walk through. Ivan lacks the eye for detail, but the one thing to notice isn't trying to be stealthy. One of the skeletons moves out of it's crevice with a spear in its bony hand.
A single shadow rat - like the one you met in the plague house - sneaks out of the rib cage of one of the huge skeletons.
A large shadow rat, as the ones you met in the plague house sneaks up on Bupkis from behind and bites him. That chilling cold crawls up his spine again, sapping the little strength he has out of him.
Menrozzar whirls around. Seeing the rat take Bupkis down, he flies into a vicious bloodrage. He attacks the rat with his hammer, crying a battle cry.
Ivan shouts. I'll keep the giant skeletons attention! The lot O' ye take care O' tha accursed rat 'an join me after! he then moves towards the giant skeleton and strikes out at it with his warhammer.
Bupkis falls to the ground, saying a single word, "Rat!"
Menrozzar makes short work of the rat with a single blow. Bad luck for the rat it wasn't in incorporeal form.
Ivan charges the giant skeleton shield first, deflecting the spear attack and knocks two ribs out of it with his hammer.
Daseem grins as the giant skeleton appears and whispers, "Gorum! I fight in your name, show me thine favor!" He then pads over to it and swings lustily, hoping to shear through the desiccated bone and sinew!
1. Dive Favor (used), Shield of Faith, Protection from Evil, Stunning Barrier
Daseem closes in safely as Ivan already had the attention of the undead. He brings his sword down on on the old bones and breaks some. But his sword is not the right tool to fight this skeleton.
The skeleton steps back and stabs with its large spear at Daseem and then at Ivan.
Ivan lets out an angry grumble as his shield blocks the spear point again. Then he hammers into the skeleton again with his hammer, and slams his head forward at a knee joint. Come on ye bastard! Or I'll bite ye ankles off!
He then takes a small step to put himself between the giant and the other as best he can and half shouts.
Menrozzar, see if you can tend to the others! I'll Handle this bone bastard!