Corum strides purposefully through the sitting room and moves to open the northern door but he finds it to be sturdy and locked.
--------------------
Greyston moves further down the corridor to get a better view of what is happening. As he does so, Jagar growls and Nasrin begins mouthing a warning that something smells foul down there but before she can do so, something bursts out from behind the crates.
The thing resembles a gray, emaciated child, with cobwebs and dust for clothes and a fox skull for a head. It carries a small, broken doll in one hand and as soon as you see it you begin to hear the sobs of desperate children fill the air.
Have you come to play with me? it asks Greyston, cocking it's fox skull head to one side. Please, I just want someone like me to play with.
Hit
Fail
The creature nips out at Greyston with tiny teeth. The bite causes barely any damage but Greyston feels a sudden unexplained malaise fall over him.
Having bitten Greyston, the thing then cries out in glee:
Granny Nan, Granny Nan! Some playmates are visiting, can you put some tea on the stove?
It then rushes past Greyston and into the sitting room between Sapphire and the door to the south.
Sapphire watches in astonishment as the creature with a fox's skull for a head dances around her and blocks the southern doors.
She begins speaking her familiar combat mantra...
...but the words become stuck in her throat as the dry dust clinging to the creature seems to settle in her throat, and she loses her spell.
Slitting her eyes, she simply swings her still-flaming sword down at the thing.
She then moves out to the side to make room for the others and get out of Del's line of sight.
Jagar snarls and leans into the little monstrosity.
for and
Nasrin moves into the space Sapphire just left, adjacent to the mockery of childhood. "Witch's taint!" she curses as she swings her sword down on the thing.
for
Del seems ready to press onward without bothering with the chest, much like he's been urged to do up to this point but then stalls as Elleross dismisses the idea. Scratching his head in confusion, the half-orc quips, " Do you have some reason to think the critical key to defeating a white dragon is in that troll's chest or did we not pour over these other rooms because you didn't get a chance to suggest we do so first?"
several reasons. he says in response to the half orc as he looks quickly at the contents of the chest and casts detect magic
locked boxes usually yield objects of value, the sword for Instance is magic if anyone wants to use it he says as he turns away from the chest and moves out of the room, following Corum and the others.Looking into the sitting room Elleross feels even more on edge as he scans the room.
This must be Granny Nans room, the lair of the witch! If that hag is here I will destroy her
he thinks coldly as he moves into the room
The chilling doll creature appears suddenly and he remembers the vile doll that they encountered on the way to the tower and he remembers how it was created and he feels his anger burning deep in the pit of his stomach
Greyston screams out as the small child runs out from the boxes biting him and continues towards the others. He stumbles backwards continuing towards the boxes away from the child.
Elleros this was knowledge religion as the creature is undead.
An attic whisperer spawns as the result of a lonely or neglected child's death. Rather than animating the body of the dead youth, the creature rises from an amalgam of old toys, clothing, dust, and other objects associated with the departed—icons of the child's neglect. The widely varying materials that fuse together to form these creatures lead to attic whisperers with vastly different appearances. Attic whisperers linger in the places where they were formed, typically old homes, orphanages, schools, debtors' prisons, workhouses, and similar places where children might be discarded. When an attic whisperer first forms, it does so without a skull—this does not impact the creature's abilities in any way, but it usually seeks out a small animal's skull as a form of decoration soon after it manifests.
An attic whisperers haunts shadowy, forgotten places like old buildings and dilapidated institutions, places that were once homes to both young children and subtle evils. Hiding in drafty attics and moldy basements, an attic whisperer might lie dormant for decades while the quick go about their lives—often a scant floor away.
The coming of a new child, though, rekindles some hope in the creature, its animating spirits motivated by loneliness, and ever seeking comfort and companionship. Once an attic whisperer finds a potential playmate, it does all it can to ensure it will never be lonely again by attempting to lure its friend to it, singing nursery rhymes, leaving trails of old toys, or calling out in the stolen voices of other children.
A creature bit by an attic whisperer must make a DC 16 Will save or become fatigued for 1 hour. A fatigued creature that is bitten is instead exhausted for 1 hour, and an exhausted creature falls asleep for 1 hour if bitten. The sleeper can only be roused by killing the attic whisperer or by using dispel magic, remove curse, or similar effects. The save DC is Charisma-based.
Any creature hit by an attic whisperer's touch must make a DC 16 Will save or lose its ability to speak for 1 hour. During that time, the creature cannot talk, cast spells with verbal components, use auditory bardic performances, or use any other ability that requires speech.
As the small creature, looking like little more than a bundle of twigs, dashes into the room Sapphire slashes out at it with her blade. She hears the sobs all around her and although it stunts her swing, she still lands the blow.
Jagar however steps in and seems more visibly shaken, his hackles rising as he bites. His jaws snap at the air and Nasrin has to move in past the wolf to strike.
The small creature reaches out to touch the Druid as she passes.
Hit
Success
She feels something pass over her but whatever it is it passes quickly.
Corum steps up and tries to bring his axe down on the thing but with his party members in the way he cannot do it safely or with any accuracy.
Miss
Hit
Hit
Fail
Fail
Round 1
Seeing the creature Elleross feels a tug of recognition and he searches his memory for the answer.
Passing by several strange objects he stops and reaches out to grasp a small cats skull that rests upon a velvet cusion sure that this is what he needs and as he touches the brittle bone the passages from Holzer's book unfurl within his mind.
Holzer was a Dwarven priest , devoted to Torag and obsessed with the undead, his journals were an accurate and fascinating account of his many encounters with the evil undead that he sought out and destroyed and Elleross had learned much from them ...[/i]
this creature is undead! An attic whisperer do not let it touch you, its bite will drain you until you pass out and it's touch will rob you of your speech he calls out to them as he recognises the evil spirit.
Moving next to Dell he attempts to target it with a spell
Perturbare, Immortui, Mortuum
Round 2
gathering his powers again he unleashes another Ray that streaks toward the attic whisperer before he retreats back to his original position.
Del's face twists into a horrified expression as the tiny creature scuttles past, the echoes of children wailing and crying chasing behind. "Whatever it is, it's not good!" He snaps off a hurried shot as he shakes his head.
With the cries persisting, Del tries to loose another fiery bolt at the tiny horror.
HP: 24/30
AC: 18 (14 T / 14 FF)
CMD: 18
F/R/W: +6/+9/+5
Grit remaining: 2/2
Hero Points remaining: 2
Regular bolts remaining: 47/80
Cold Iron bolts: 40/40
Tanglebolts: 5/5
Ongoing Effects
Vigilant Loading
Gunslinger Initiative
Deadly Aim: -2/+4
Point Blank: +1/+1
Flame Arrow: 12/50
Squicked Out: -1 to hit, -1 damage, -1 Will Saves
Corum finds room to swing his axe again. This time the blade bites deeply.
Pa
Dam
Silently snarling Nasrin sidesteps and opens space for Corum to get his axe into the fight. For her part, Nasrin strikes out again.
for
Jagar understands the danger this tiny thing poses and continues to go after it, hoping to shake the life from it and throw it to the ground.
for and
With a wave of fatigue landing on her, Sapphire eschews casting a spell and focuses simply on trying to hit the creature. Though noting that she might be in the way of others attacks, she hovers off the floor and to the creature's side to try and provide an opening for others after she strikes.
Still feeling draine from the bite of the small child creature Greyston shouts out as he takes out a small vial. "I can't bomb it! Too close quarters !" He then downs his vial
Currently active -
Shield
Mutigen+dex
Cats Grace
Miss
Miss
Granny Nan! The visitors are right outside your door, let's play with them! the little creature cries out gleefully.
It tries to nip at Sapphire and it's little hand snakes out to touch Nasrin but wiser to it's tricks, both women manage to avoid the attacks.
With space opened before him Corum seizes his opportunity and slams his axe down onto the thing.
Pa
Dam
Sapphire flies back next to the creature and lashes out with her blade.
Del sends another bolt into the fray, his face still clearly showing the discomfort of the troublesome cries he hears. "Oh, we'll play with granny soon enough you wretched thing!
HP: 24/30
AC: 18 (14 T / 14 FF)
CMD: 18
F/R/W: +6/+9/+5
Grit remaining: 2/2
Hero Points remaining: 2
Regular bolts remaining: 46/80
Cold Iron bolts: 40/40
Tanglebolts: 5/5
Ongoing Effects
Vigilant Loading
Gunslinger Initiative
Deadly Aim: -2/+4
Point Blank: +1/+1
Flame Arrow: 13/50
Squicked Out: -1/-1/-1 will saves
After almost being cleaved in twain by Corum's mighty blow, Del's bolt punches through the collection of sticks and twigs that is the Attic Whisperer's body and it collapses in a heap of junk and broken toys.
Among the detritus appears to be an iron key.
Realising the odds of him hitting this small undead with his disrupting rays are very slight Elleross retreats back out of the room, he cannot risk this creature silencing him.
Then he would be utterly useless.
Hearing the pounds of fighting die away he makes his way back into the room and he can see the remains of the stick whisperer strewn around the iron key.
The cats skull once more rests upon its pillow, in its appointed place on a particular shelf, in a certain bookcase.
Except now it has gained a new adornment, within its mouth it now held a dull iron key which itsel was adorned with a small child's rattle attached with a faded length of coloured string .....
I am glad that thing is destroyed, they are a most troublesome spirit he says as he looks down at the remains.
are you all ok? Has it affected any of you? We are vulnerable here, Granny nan is behind this door, God knows what it is capable of he says as he looks around at the group.
Corum grins savagely. "no matter Elri. If she is behind that door she's going to die too. If she's a witch, she's gonna die twice as bad."
He moves to take a position next to the door and says. "take position. Open this and let her come to us."
Hesitating with the bomb in his hand unsure if he should risk hurting the others or just stopping the creature, thankfully the others put it down. "It bit me.." He says half heartedly. "I feel.. I'm fine let's keep moving."
Sapphire breathes a sigh of relief when the undead falls.
We're with you Corum, go!
she takes up position by the door, snatching a few seconds of rest leaning against the door before nodding her readiness, though she still looks weary from the creature's bite.
Nasrin opens her mouth and no words come out! She stomps her foot, then points to her mouth as she tries to speak. The look in her eyes is one of fear. Still, she nods towards the door and changes the grip on her scimitar, ready to go.
Moving to Nasrin Elleross stands before the wild girl.
Wait. This is what I feared, The spirit has robbed Nas of her speech, the effect is temporary Nas but it will last for at least an hour. he says looking at the others
if we can wait for the effect to end she will regain her power of speech but I am aware of our time constraints here. The abilities you are using will not last forever. he says looking toward Sapphire.
once we deal with Granny Nan I can try to remove the effect from You Nas. I don't think we have the time to wait for it to wear off on its own he says as the others prepare to enter the room and destroy Granny Nan.
The party pauses for a moment as Nasrin tries to speak out and Elleross tells them of her problem. "If we're stopping I feel drained from its bite Elleross, can you help me with that?"
Grinacing, Nasrin stamps her foot again. She motions to the door again, anxious to get this over with.
the lethargy you feel greyston is another one of its vile trucks.
That too will wear off in time. I can try to remove one of these effects By using one of my own spells. A specific dispelling incantation that if applied correctly can break the flow of energy powering the effect and bring it to an end.
But I can only cast this once without completely draining by myself.
He says
I'm sorry Greyston but nasrins need is greater, we deal with whatever is in here and then we can focus on this
He says as he moves back and allows the others space to breach the doors.
Corum snarls impatiently and nods at Nasrin. He knows she is caught up in the hunt and their prey is beyond the door. He turns the key in the latch and pushes the door open, stepping back to one side in case anyone fires from within.
Del watches the exchange and discussion with a crooked half-grin, Ruby pointing toward the ceiling as he leans the weapon back against his shoulder. As Corum moves to the door, he shrugs with a bemused shake of his head as he slaps Ruby back down into his hands.
The key turns easily in the lock and clicks loudly.
The walls of this cozy bedroom are painted powder blue. A bed occupies the east side of the room, its headboard pushed against the wall with a night stand on either side.
A desk and chair sit next to the south wall. A dressed with a large mirror above it is pushed against the west wall.
A curtain rod is affixed above the mirror with curtains pulled away to either side.
At the rear of the room is a hunched old crone, looking every part the storybook witch. Her nose is crooked and her grimaced teeth are black. A huge set of keys jangles at her waist and a rat scurries about along her shoulders.
All of this you can barely see beyond the massive lummox that dominates the doorway. This huge beast, with coal black eyes and ruddy dark fur paws impatiently at the ground and snorts as Corum appears in it's eyeline.
Ewiga said you wanted to play... so let's play!
The witch hawks and spits into her hand before rapidly clapping them together. When she separates them again lines of black spittle cling wetly to both palms and with a deft motion she flicks them outward the party and suddenly a burst of radiant glitter explodes around you.
Success
Fail
Fail
Fail
Fail
Success
Elleros, Del, Jagar and Sapphire are struck instantly blind!
The beast snorts and gores Corum with one of it's oversized horns.
Hit
Elleross throws his hand up in reflex to ward off the sparkling blanket that spreads over them and a feeling of dread settles on him as his eyes are filled with glaring sparkling light and he realises he is utterly blind.
Before he is robbed of his sight he could see the glittering dust covering his friends and he prayed they were not affected, especially with her bodyguard ready to tear them apart.
Reeling back against the wall he rubbed at his eyes frantically.
Shielding his eyes against the glare he began to search his vast storehouse of knowledge for anything that may be of use against this spell or against the beast that they faced. As he moved throughout the palace in his search he began to draw in his will, seeking to overcome the blindness that affected his body and once he regained his sight....the hag they called Granny Nan will die ...
Frowning as his vision suddenly fades in a flash of popping lights, Del scratches his forehead for a moment and shrugs. "Well, if we can't see you, maybe you can't see us either, Gran-gran." With that, Del fishes a tiny pellet from the pouch at his side and tosses it at his feet.
HP: 24/30
AC: 18 (14 T / 14 FF)
CMD: 18
F/R/W: +6/+9/+5
Grit remaining: 2/2
Hero Points remaining: 2
Regular bolts remaining: 46/80
Cold Iron bolts: 40/40
Tanglebolts: 5/5
Ongoing Effects
Vigilant Loading
Gunslinger Initiative
Flame Arrow: 13/50
Nasrin raps her blade loudly against her shield hoping to draw the beast off of Corum. As the great horned head turns to her, she lashes out.
for
Even as the witch's spell burned in her eyes and robbed her of sight, Sapphire strove to memorise each detail of the room in front of her.
He trained you for this, blindfolded you and hit you with a staff until you could hear the blow coming... you can do this!
She soars in to the air over the aurochs and lands the other side next to the witch. Staring with unseeing eyes she shouts
I don't need eyes to smell the evil on you!
before swinging her sword with all her might at where she rememered the witch to be.
Greyston moves into the room as the fighting kicks off again, spotting the bull and the old crone in the back he aims for her. Unleashing his bomb he wants to disrupt her casting.
But watches it sail away from her smashing on the floor.
The Aurochs gores Corum badly but he grits his teeth and ignores the pain. Seei g the witch, he unleashes his fury and smashes his axe down on the beast's head.
Pa rage
Dam
The aurochs crumples under the combined attacks of Corum and Sapphire.
Success
Fail
Fail
Fail
Success
Success
Fail
Once again the witch casts a spell, reaching into her spell component pouch and pulling out a hairy, thick-legged spider. Without hesitation she crams it into her mouth and crunches down loudly and suddenly a huge patch of thick, sticky webs appears all over the party, holding some of them in place.
The Aurochs falls before him and he spots the witch making to cast a spell just in time. He coils his muscles in readiness and leaps forward as a mass of sticky webs suddenly appears in the room. Now within reach of the witch he roars and swings his axe in a flat arc toward her head.
Pa rage
Dam
The aurochs having fallen, Sapphire brings to mind the locations of everything in the room, focusing her will on one location, then uttering a single word.
Blaze!
Despite her magic taking her out of the sticky webs, the glitter still clogging her eyes was too much and she was unable to strike the witch. Almost as an afterthought, her sword's light dies and the flames on it go out, even as her feet return to the floor. Her magic had deserted her in her moment of greatest need.
1st — burning hands, burning hands, shield, shocking grasp,