The party takes a long rest, waiting for their friend to return to life. Multiple hours pass and indeed, a gust of wind brings ashes to the corner of the room, which reform to the shape of Araden. He seems no worse for wear, thanks to the Order of the Sheep.
"Araden, welcome back. What can we expect on the other side?"
Once Araden recounts his attempt, Ulrich thinks for a moment.
"What if we took myself, Kekkle, Tannan and Pahleg? Kekkle and Tannan will focus on hunting down the Preacher, I will absorb the assault of the skeletons while Pahleg uses the might of his faith against the undead or to keep us healthy. We attempt to stay together as much as possible to avoid being overwhelmed... perhaps we should acquire another mace and a shield for you, Pahleg, as your spear may not be as helpful in this circumstance."
"If a close-range bludgeon is needed, I can offer mine own." Araden pulls his morningstar from its hanger and offers it to Pahleg. "I also have the flask--unused, as well. There was little opportunity for it when I was in the fight." The knight hands back the flask as well. His voice and posture make it clear he's disappointed and perhaps somewhat ashamed to have lost the battle--and without even engaging the true threat.
"A large group of semi-weak undead? I could blast through their ranks very quickly." Pahleg says with a grin.
Ulrich hefts the mace, warming up his sword-arm.
With that said, the team of four enters the Librarium through the fog wall.
Just like Araden told them, there is a human-looking man sitting at a large table with two skeletons.
"More have found their way here. I take it you knew the man-at-arms, just a while ago? If you are anything like him, it means you understand nothing of your fate."
"It needn't be that way. Even a simpleton can learn, about the message of the Miraclemaker." He gestures towards the open book on the table.
"Or do you simply wish to roam more, like a roamer does? I have no reason to stop you if it's the sea you seek. Do you see that door?" He motions behind him, and indeed there is a double door at the end of the library. "Go on, and be done with it."
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Ulrich swipes the open book to the floor with his mace. Then he strikes one of the seated skeletons.
"We come with an even simpler message. Let us share it with you."
Words are not minced.
---
Kekkle, Ulrich, Tannan, Pahleg,
then skeletons, Preacher Nero
Round 1
Tannan, his nerves on edge, is able to react before the skeletons. He decides to wait for the others to go.
Ulrich beats at the nearest skeleton, leaving it to Kekkle and Tannan to press the Preacher.
Pahleg raises his arms and a burst of radiant light comes forth from him, but instead of filling his allies with vigor it reaps destruction amongst the unliving.
Kekkle moves past the skeleton while Ulrich has it occupied. With a quick hop:
He quickly walks across the tables surface, knocking over books and papers as he goes. He gets close to the preacher and slashes with his empowered scimitar.
Once the fighting begins, the floor starts tilting for a second, or so it feels to the library team. When the nauseous feeling passes, the Librarium seems to have expanded, at least doubled in area. Just like Araden said it was.
Ulrich 13
Tannan 12 -> 10
Pahleg 10+
Skeletons 10-
Preacher Nero 7
Round 1
Kekkle leaps on the table, dashing across it. He slashes the scholar from the high ground, delivering a spell with it. The scimitar cuts into him, and the scholar shivers in pain.
Ulrich walks to the nearest skeleton and knocks its left arm off. He swipes the open book to the floor, and delivers a stoic one-liner.
Pahleg raises his arms and a burst of radiant light comes forth from him, the sun's wrath bequeathing destruction to the undead.
The skeleton Ulrich just hit is destroyed, and the other is severely damaged.
Tannan, quite happy that his decision to wait has aided him, he moves forward next to the skeleton and tries to punch at it with his cestus.
Araden 12
Skeletons 10
Round 1
Tannan moves to assault the remaining skeleton with his fist, punching off a few rib bones and destroying it.
The scholar turns tail and starts running away . "You dismiss wisdom so easily. Perish, then!"
A new skeleton arises from floor, in front of the scholar.
Round 2
Ulrich takes off between the bookshelves in pursuit of the Preacher.
"Spread out, we need to pin him down!"
He runs through the corridor of bookshelves.
Tannan, follows suit. He moevs forward, trying to find a way through all the bookshelves in hopes to get behind the annoying preacher.
Ulrich 13
Pahleg 10+
Tannan 10
Skeletons 10-
Preacher Nero 7
Round 2
Kekkle chases after the preacher, as does Ulrich.
Pahleg follows a little bit behind.
Tannan takes a different route between two bookshelves. He sees the scholar a little ahead of him, even though the others were supposed to corner him on the other side of the bookshelf.
Meanwhile, the third skeleton sets its gaze on Ulrich, and attempts to claw him.
The skeleton's undead claws pierce through Ulrich's breastplate, cutting to his side.
The scholar who got a taste of Kekkle's scimitar continues running away, retreating to a corner.
The scholar who Tannan just spotted gives a quick look at Tannan, and runs in the opposite direction.
Another skeleton emerges from the floor.
Round 3
Tannan again awaits the heavy hitters to go before him so he may try to pick one off as its weakened.
"Gah! Nuisance!"
Ulrich strikes the skeleton that scratched him.
Kekkle continues to chase down the Preacher that they had seen when they entered the Librarium. He swings his scimitar but only manages to take a chunk out of the nearby bookshelf.
Tannan, moves up and tries to punch the skeleton he can see.
[
Ulrich 13
Pahleg 10+
Tannan 10
Skeletons 10-
Preacher Nero 7
Round 3
Ulrich strikes the skeleton that wounded him, knocking off a few rib bones.
Kekkle continues to chase down the preacher he attacked previously, but his scimitar hits the bookshelf.
Pahleg follows after Tannan.
Tannan moves up and punches at the skeleton that just appeared. The skeleton resists the attack.
The skeleton next to Ulrich attacks him again.
It gets another scratch through the armor.
The other skeleton, meanwhile, attacks Tannan.
The attacks underestimate Tannan's evasion.
The scholar who ran away from Kekkle does some bizarre hand movements, and points at Kekkle with his bony arm. Nothing apparent happens, and no magical manifestations appear.
Meanwhile, the other scholar Tannan just saw goes out of sight, escaping to the rows of bookshelves.
Round 4
Ulrich pounds on the skeleton clawing at him.
"Foul bones! Stay on them! We need to maintain control!"
Having cornered the preacher Kekkle finally has the upper hand.
Tannan, tries to moves past the skeleton harassing him, hoping his training in tumbling pays off.
Tannan, than waits, hoping Pahleg will follow suit. Tannan punches at the skeleton if Pahleg joins in, or if it is clear that Pahleg has other intentions, will punch anyways.
With Tannan moving in, Pahleg moves forward to flank.
He strikes the skeleton with the borrowed morningstar.
Kekkle 13-
Pahleg 10+ -> 10
Tannan 10 -> 10+
Skeletons 10-
Preacher Nero 7
Round 4
Ulrich pounds the skeleton next to him to bits, destroying it.
Kekkle does a flurry of sword and magic attacks to the scholar, causing visible pain to the strange man.
Kekkle realizes that the cornered preacher is not real. He is, in fact, an illusion. And a powerful one at that, as it has been reacting very convincingly to Kekkle's attacks.
Pahleg waits for a better opportunity to engage the skeleton.
Tannan rolls around the skeleton, and prepares to punch the skeleton once Pahleg joins in.
Pahleg moves forward to flank. The healer seems to have little experience with the morningstar, and misses. However, his location gives Tannan an edge.
Tannan, with Pahleg in the flank, knocks the skull of the skeleton. It is still standing, but only barely.
The headless skeleton attacks Pahleg.
The skeleton unleashes a surprising assault of undead fury, taking down the unprepared cleric.
...
Round 5
Tannan seeing Pahleg fall punches at the skeleton once more.
Ulrich's ear twitches as he hears an armor clad cleric hit the floor. He races over and smashes at the skeleton with his mace.