Felos is already shedding his armour, boots, and weapons. Once done, he drags Shelton over to be his step stool (although he'll probably also need Jacinth, too). Once up, he heaves until he can heave no more.
Taking 20 for a result of 22.
He also looks to see if he can dismantle the trap door. Failing that, he retrieves his arrow and shimmies down the shaft.
Felos makes it up to the top without much difficulty, but the trap door itself proves a problem. Try though he might, there is just too much weight on it to push it open . The only way to dismantle it would be to smash it open, although that would risk causing whatever's on top to fall through. The trap door is made of stone, so even smashing it would be difficult . He would need to find a way to brace himself so that he could swing his heavy flail without falling.
"So now we need to find out where these tunnels lead. Does anybody have any idea how we would deal with a ghost? I mean an actual ghost? I... don't think I could hit it - if it is at all like the stories. You know. Not physical. Go through walls. That kind of stuff."
"Festa, Vanthus was gloating and trying to shake us up. Even if he did kill someone down here that doesn't mean that he turned into a ghost. So calm down and let's figure out a way out of here." Is there a door or tunnel around here somewhere?
BTW: in addition to Tippi's dancing lights, Jacinth will keep a light spell on his holy symbol.
Felos climbs back down, resigned. "Sorry," he says to the others.
Tippi's spell illuminates the shaft, revealing that it is about 30 feet deep. Revealing a room at the bottom. Having volunteered to go first, Festa takes hold of the rope, and begins his descent. Upon reaching the bottom, he sees that the room is square-shaped, 10 feet along each side. A single, brick-lined tunnel with a curved roof leads to the west and then around a corner.
There you have it. Onwards my fellows. Onwards.
How about Festa, Jacinth, Tippi, and Felos? That allows Festa to run up and thump it, Jacinth to support with longspear and divine magic, keeps Tippi as safe as we can keep our arcanist while keeping her in the fight, and the paladin Felos can let his arrows fly.
Forgot about Shefton. Just before Tippi works, I think. That allows her to keep a good focus on him in case he does try anything stupid while allowing the rest of us to keep our focus outward.
Festa nods, and begins to lead the way. Cautiously, applying stealth so progress is a bit slow (he ignores that Tippi's light is a bit of a hint for others in the tunnels). He is careful to pay heed to his perception as he goes along.
Shefton falls into place without any argument. After being used as a stepping stool for Felos, he seems to have resigned himself to his fate. His head hangs low as you move into the corridor.
The corridor turns right after a short distance, then left. After a slightly longer distance, it turns right again and ends at a wooden door, swollen with moisture. A quick examination of the door discovers that it is stuck, although it shouldn't be difficult to open . While checking the door, Festa is able to hear shuffling on the other side.
Softly Festa whispers, "I think I hear some shuffling beyond the door. That's a decidedly non-ghostly thing, right?"
Shefton gulps. "Rats maybe?" he whispers back in a frightened voice.
"Whenever the gods distill an overhead image of my immediate surroundings in my head - as they do now - there is a good chance that trouble looms. It is wise to heed the gods." Festa nods solemnly. "So yes... maybe rats. Maybe really really big rats. Or maybe nothing."
"Nothing doesn't shuffle," Tippi points out.
Jacinth decides to wait until they know what's on the other side before casting any spells. He only has a few and does not want to waste any.
"Nothing doesn't shuffle," Tippi points out.
The door swings open with a slight scraping noise as the swollen wood scratches against the frame. The dancing lights move through the door to reveal a wide, damp hallway running left and right. Festa immediately spots a humanoid figure standing in the hall to the left, turning slowly around in response to the door opening. The figure is like a walking corpse, wearing tattered, wet clothes. Its skin hangs loosely on a thin frame and in its open mouth are rows of sharp, pointed teeth.
Festa can hear movement to the right as well, indicating more of them around the corner.
Order: Jacinth, Felos, Creatures, Festa, Shefton, Xanthippe
Up First:
From his current position, Jacinth can only make out a bit of the creature.
Cast Bless.
Felos delays until he can get into the room.
Nope, delaying for now.
Jacinth casts bless, boosting everyone's morale. Felos waits for the moment.
The first of the creatures steps towards the door and bites at Festa.
-- hit (flat-footed)
Its teeth sink into Festa's shoulder and tear out a chunk of flesh, leaving him with a nasty wound. Behind the first one, two other come into view.
Next Up: Shefton, Xanthippe, Jacinth, Felos (subject to delayed action), Creatures.
Festa reels from the grievous wound he's taken, his face almost immediately turns a bit ashen. He grits his teeth and slams the creature's jaw - and somehow he connects fairly well. "A little help, here, please," he stammers.
Festa's fist connects solidly with the creature, cracking dried skin and even dislocating the jaw. Unfortunately, the jaw seems to snap right back into place, leaving it still able to bite with its vicious teeth, and less damaged than Festa might have expected.
Shefton pulls out a dagger and stammers, "Help? You...you need help? Wha-what's happening? Never mind, I'm outta here." He turns to head back down the corridor.
Next Up: Jacinth, Felos (subject to delayed action), Creatures, Festa, Shefton.
Tippi draws her rapier. "Out of here to where exactly?" she asks pointedly. "The only way out is forward, remember?"
How well can I see the creatures? Is it a goblin or orc or undead or what?
Undead you say? Really? You know, I have some skill at fighting undead?
Jacinth casts Protection from Evil on Festa.
Shefton acquiesces to Xanthippe's rapier and turns to face the front again.
Jacinth casts protection from evil on Festa.
Next Up: Creatures, Festa, Shefton, Xanthippe, Jacinth.
He can't see anything but he can hear Festa getting hurt. He calls out for Festa to switch with him, and keeps delaying until after Festa.
-- miss
-- miss
The creature in front of Festa tries to bite again in the same spot, but this time, the sharp teeth are repelled by the spell Jacinth cast on him. The second one tries to bite him from around the corner, but is unable to find enough space. The third tries to lean in from behind #1, but the distance is much too great.
Next Up: Felos, Shefton, Xanthippe, Jacinth, Creatures.
Festa regains his composure long enough to smash the back of his fist into the face of undead evil. Then ricochets himself backwards, bouncing of the walls to save effort on redirection. "Somebody tag in, or perhaps let them come into the corridor, then it is only one at a time. I need a moment or two to get into fighting shape."
Felos moves up into Festa's spot, and slashes with a claw, raking a claw viciously over zombie 1's torso.
Attack:
Damage:
"Everybody back up a little," he calls back to the others.
Festa's fist connects solidly with the creature's face, but unfortunately, the face just seems to spring back into shape. He then bounces away, avoiding retaliation from the undead.
Felos moves up quickly to take Festa's place, slashing a claw across the creature's torso. This has a much more noticeable effect, tearing away some of the dried flesh.
Shefton waits nervously. "Is it dead?" he asks.
Next Up: Jacinth, Creatures, Festa, Felos, Shefton (subject to delayed action).
"You heard the cat," Tippi tells Shefton. "Move back and give him some room." She indicates the space between her and Festa.
"The undead cannot stand in Sarenrae's light."
Channel Energy v DC 14
"You heard the cat," Tippi tells Shefton. "Move back and give him some room." She indicates the space between her and Festa.
Shefton nods meekly and moves where he's told .
Despite Jacinth's proclamation, it seems these undead can stand Sarenrae's light--at least for the moment. However, it does have some small effect on all three, and it also heals of a very small amount.
-- miss
-- miss
The first of the decayed creatures bites at Felos, but he's able to dodge aside. The second tries as well, but the door frame gets in the way. The third realizes that it can get in a little closer and also tries to bite around the corner.
-- miss due to cover
Its teeth just scrape against the door frame.
Next Up: Felos, Xanthippe (subject to delayed action), Shefton, Jacinth, Creatures.
Felos attempts a double slice.
Claw 1:
Claw 2:
Damage:
His first swipe catches the door frame, but the second leaves scratches across the undead's face.
Assuming everybody followed instructions, he then takes a five foot step back.
Up to the DM whether he can retcon a 5-ft step, I suppose.
Festa digs through his inventory and retrieves a potion and quickly swills it down.