As the ghouls approach, you hear the screams of two men as they fall to the savagery of the undead. Then the pack of beasts storms the doorway!
Two of the creatures enter the doorway, side by side. Ebon swings and nearly decapitates one with his first blow. Being undead, it presses on until the swirling bluish force in Calanthe's hand touches it, turning instantly into a pile of ash!
The remaining ghoul bites at Mez, whilst a third ghoul steps over its fallen comrade and bites at Ebon!
The attacks are...ineffective.
Muluk swings at the ghoul, but his blade skitters off its tough hide!
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Norine steps to have all of the undead within view and casts a spell, Consecrating the area for Desna with what seems to be a flash of silver-purple butterflies!
As the ghouls continue to press their feverish attack, Mez jams his rapier through the neck of one, hitting it JUST hard enough to return its soul to Pharasma. Likewise, through Desna's luck or some other force, Ebon's blow is just able to stop another undead, well... DEAD in its tracks.
Targost's acid hits a ghoul in the leg, and Muluk grievously wound another to enter the door way. But both remain upright, and strike like furies with tooth and claw!
Mez's armor doesn't even get dinged as the ghoul feebly tries to strike him. A couple of blows come near to harming Muluk, but Desna's blessing turns them aside.
The ghoul near Ebon and Calanthe shrugs off much of the damage from Norine's holy surge, but Calanthe is able to step into the space between Ebon and Muluk and just manages to grab the ghoul's arm. It disintegrates under the healing power of the witch!
The ghoul by Mez, burned by acid and holy power, looks very bad. The one in back is hurting too, with Norine causing the harm!
With the blessings of Desna on their side, and the fervor of religious zeal fueling Ebon's sword, the Pathfinders utterly crush the remaining ghouls! Muluk slices open the nearer ghoul, its body collapsing. The Ebon steps up and slashes apart the final enemy!
The men all stand slack-jawed in amazement at the ruthless efficiency with which the Pathfinders dispatched the undead menace. hey watch in amazement as Calanthe burns the bodies with holy power, turning them to dust to ensure they will not rise again.
The men all throw down their arms and surrender, begging you to spare them. Then Becher Railford approaches the party again.
"Well done! I'm so grateful for what you've done here. I still need to get the deed, but this chest is locked, and I can't seem to find the key. Can one of you take a look at it?"
Mez's skill is quit astounding, really. He is able to open the lock nicely, and even disarms the poison needle trap that he found inside.
Once the box is opened, Mez sees a document lying inside. As he reaches for it, he hears a voice inside his head [i]"Take the deed! Claim what is yours"[/b].
He shakes his head, and the voice looses its attempt at controlling his thoughts.
He examines the chest more carefully, and detects a false bottom. Opening this, he is able to locate a second sheet of parchment. This second sheet proves to be the true deed, the first is obviously false, and ensorcelled to deter thieves from the genuine article.
Railford pipes up: "Well done sir! It appears that we now have all the proof I need to defend my claim to my family's holdings! Now, what was it you wanted me to help you with? some kind of lodging?"
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Pleased by his effective use of those dubious skills, he notices Norine’s glance and feigns offense, ”What? Someone has to know how to get into the wine cellar after we lock the keys inside!” Laughing at his own joke, he does get a bit more serious when he adds, ”Besides, that is a carry-over from my time before becoming a man of the wine soaked cloth. I did what I needed to do to survive, and clearly those tricks are still helping to keep me that way.” as he motions to the poisoned needle.
The soldiers grumble, but acquiesce to Muluk's instructions. Becher brightens as Norine's comment sparks a memory.
"That's right! You asked permission to organize a new Pathfinder Lodge here in my distillery. Well, you've more than helped me. I'd be happy to oblige, provided you don't need to much space. I do have a business to run, after all!"
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Calanthe carefully dusts off any of the ashen remains of the ghouls that got on her and stands over them all, "May Pharasma guide you to your real place of rest--and keep you from wandering lost any longer," she finishes, before finally returning to the matters at hand. She pays no heed to the amazed looks from the Taldan bandits; this was merely her sacred duty as a priestess of Pharasma, not something she considered particularly noteworthy.
In the meantime, it seemed that the rest of her group had finished up the deal for the Railford distillery. "I hope this means the end of all the undead attacks..." she sighs.
The team works out enough of the details to satisfy Becher Railford for now. After destroying the bodies of the undead, Calanthe insists om the team staying on for a couple of days to make a thorough search of the surrounding countryside. The turn up no more ghouls, and life returns to normal for the little thorp (yes, not a village or a hamlet, mind you!)
Mez's connection to the Drunken Hero wins him many friends among the populace of 46 souls. (Yes, listed in the scenario as exactly 46!). On the last night there each and every one of them buys him a drink. Somehow, he doesn't quite manage to down all 46.
In the morning, the team returns with their report for Osprey, the famous Seeker who gave them the assignment. Mez gratefully accepts liberal doses of Calanthe's hangover remedy on the return trip.
Osprey congratulates you on a fine effort, and hands you your tickets for a return to Absalom. Apparently you will be given a short leave, but are to report to Skyreach soon after returning.
The End.