Will save
As you all cross past the gate and are deciding which way to go: straight, right, or left, Alzaar and Jalal feel a supernatural chill crawl up their spine and the hairs on their arms stand on end, as if you are in the presence of evil...
Before anyone can react, it suddenly gets dark, as if nighttime and the manor's grounds look clean and maintained and the manor seems newer. You all hear sounds getting closer and closer. It is not logical to you but you find yourself transported in time. The sounds of an angry mob can be heard outside the manor's walls. A woman’s voice cries out in Ancient Osiriani, “Hold the gates! Don’t let them inside the compound!” Powerful blows shake and rattle the gates. You presume this must have been the manor's downfall. You look around and see servants and guards rushing to hold the gates but the mob, which is actually composed of zombies and skeletons, is too strong and they burst in, and screams can be heard all over! You find yourself paralyzed with fear unable to help!
The scene before you dissolves and you find yourself in present time, but the fear you felt was so real. Alzaar and Jalal convince themselves it was not real what they saw and they are only shaken. However, you see Rhade and Kakra and by the looks on their faces, they still believe they're in the illusion. They both scream for their lives and run off as fast as they can.
Thankfully, they both run off in the same direction, to the left!
Alzaar is shaken up by the vision, and the grisly fate of the people who once lived in the manor, but when he sees his teammates sprint off, he acts semi quickly. He chases them, unfurling his whip and calling out.
Wait! It was only a vision! You don't know what kind of dangers you're running into!
When they don't stop, he uses his whip to try and trip them until he and Jalal can calm them down.
Jalal! Stop Kakra! I'll take care of Rhade!
Jalal is stunned by the vision, and fear grips him. But as the image dissipates, he is roused by Alzaar's words. He rushes after Kakra and Rhade, only nodding at Alzaar. The elf tries to tackle the priestess.
"Aaagh! We are all going to die here! Out of my way," the gnome screams, as he heads running off further into the dwelling.
Luckily for the party, the right and left gates are closed and the fleeing party members have to stop to open them, giving the pursuers time to trip and tackle them to the ground. After some more screams of terror, the fear subsides a round later.
Alzaar in his travels has heard of places where great tragedy or evil or murder has struck and now have certain areas filled with negative energy or "haunts", due to the restlessness of the spirits. He believes the gate may have one such haunt, that perhaps may be cleansed permanently if the gate were to be repaired or sprinkled with holy water.
Alzaar speaks grimly.
I have heard of places like this. Where great tragedy or evil or murder has struck, now have certain areas filled with negative energy or "haunts", due to the restlessness of the spirits. I believe the gate may have one such haunt, that perhaps may be cleansed permanently if the gate were to be repaired or sprinkled with holy water. I'm not sure of it will persist if we simply leave it alone, or if we must repair it in order to continue on.
He shrugs and loops his whip back onto his belt.
So, we know what happened to the manor now. Anyone squeamish about facing hordes of undead?
"After that vision, I have to admit I'm feeling pretty squeamish right now. Let me get my heart back to beating normally, and I'll be ready to proceed. I think," Rhade grumbles as he pulls himself up off the ground.
Jalal is dumped onto the ground by Kakra, but after the fear subsides, he stands back up and dusts himself off. "We can cleanse the gate later. Despite the horrid vision, we know it's just a vision now."
"Zombies and skeletons, it appeared. It appears they broke into the house and one would assumed killed everyone there. Let's continue exploring and see if we can locate the tomb. Be on the watch for any remaining undead though."
"A garden and a nice yard? They cared about their vegetation, didn't they? We will have to check that whole area before we leave.
Alzaar takes a quick look at the options and then makes a decision.
I think we should investigate the outside before we take on the manor, no sense in missing something, or leaving something behind to come after us later. The garden first?
He stealthily makes his way to the garden entrance, peeking inside before opening the gate.
"Yes, it is said there is a crypt on the grounds. We should search the outside for it." Jalal waits for Alzaar to open the gate to move through.
The party follows Alzaar past the western gate. The western side of the estate forms an L-shaped yard mostly given to sand, sun-dried earth, and the ancient husks of dead trees. Stone benches line the walls of the yard, and a large tiled pool sits in the southwest corner, dried and partially filled with sand. At the north end of the yard stands a squat stone building with columns at every corner.
As you pass by the sand filled pool, suddenly, a centipede, the size of an elephant raises its head, its double tail lashing angrily behind it!
Rhade moves 5' to the north and 10' to the west from there, giving him the ability to use his Burning Hands versus the centipede, without crisping his friends.
Rhade's cone scorches the creature as it emits a whining moan of pain! Its red eyes flicker even more fiercely!
"More vermin. A bigger one." Jalal remarks. He calls on the power of his elven ancestors to aid him. "Glifortius! Lend me your strength!" The ghostly form of a heavily armored elf briefly is seen merging with Jalal and his arms move confidently as he draws his sword and steps up to defend Rhade from the giant creature.
The centipede looks in Rhade's direction but seeing the elf block its way, it lashes out at him with its reach, first with a tail slap in an attempt to trip him, then with a bite, its pincers clicking in anticipation! However, Jalal's ancestor is well aware of this creature's tactics and he nimbly jumps over the tail and blocks the bite, noticing how incredibly sharp the pincers are and the venom dripping from the creature's maw!
Rhade, not wanting to burn his squad mates, tries to use one of his tiny blasts of acid, and singe just the vermin.
Ranged touch attack with Acid Splash firing into melee
Damage
Alzaar moves forward, staying just at te edge of the range of his whip. He lashes out at the giant vermin, aiming for its eyes.
Will we ever be done with bugs?!
Jalal smiles as he fends off the centipede's attack and he swings his sword at the giant bug.
The bloody and burnt and angry centipede then attacks Jalal again, viciously biting him in the chest, causing the elf to scream and then go limp, blood oozing out of his wound!
Jalal continues to bleed.
Rhade, feeling lucky, tries another acid blast at the monster. He tries his best to avoid the stinger as he does so.
Concentration check casting defensively vs. DC 15
Ranged Touch Attack in Melee
Damage
Not waiting to give the beast another chance to attack his comrades, Alzaar snakes his whip into the fray again, cracking it violently against the creature's face.
Round 2: Centipede!
The centipede lashes out at Alzaar, who is in its face, attacking him, first tripping him and taking a bite of his ribs while injecting him with poison!
Rhade moves forward 5' diagonally to the north and to the left, trying again to cast a spell. If he gets lucky, that should exclude any of his teammates in the area of effect.
Concentration to cast Burning Hands defensively vs. DC 17
Damage
Alzaar stands, and then takes a five foot step back, casting a cure light wounds spell on himself.
Ack! 'Ware the tail!
Round 3: Centipede!
Centipede attacks next viable target Kakra!
Rhade burns a point from his arcane Resevoir, enhancing his Burning Hands spell, assuming he was able to cast it without the scorpion messing with his concentration.
Concentration check versus DC 17
Burning Hands damage