"It . . . um . . . does feel a little funny because it invokes devil magic, but really there's no lasting harm."
Time may be a bit of a consideration, in addition to RP and theology. Gaius is down 38 after Hamailii's CLW (which missed before so she was holding the charge). So that is 4 charges of Infernal Healing (4 minutes) or about 7 charges of the CLW wand (42 seconds). You can certainly take the time if you want, but the sounds of battle plus the roar of the second lion would have alerted anybody nearby. Hamailii's Magic Circle Against Evil will last for an hour, no real concern there, and the Mage Armor spells all last for an hour as well. And maybe it isn't a big difference to take 4 minutes rather than 1.
If Gaius is fine to accept Infernal Healing we'll go with that (and mark off the 4 charges), if not then the CLW wand (and mark off 7 charges, taking the average).
One other note - the Cloak of the Hedge Wizard that Gaius has can cast Shield 1/day, which does work against incorporeal touch attacks (and stacks with Mage Armor and Magic Circle). Though it only lasts 1 minute once activated.
Tal'ariel has found a secret door at the end of the corridor.
Ready to move through?
"The sounds of war might alert more of these ghosts, we best be quick about our decision and move as soon as possible. We are dealing with a powerful necromancer here and I don't wish to stand idle while it spies on us or prepares other devious minions."
Gaius pays little attention to the discussion on healing, his hands rhythmically closing and unclosing on his sword hilts as he looks down the corridors ahead. Flame, sensing her master's distress keeps nudging him, but Gaius doesn't seem to notice although one hand snakes down, sheathes his sword and scratches her behind the ears.
Tal'ariel taps Gaius once with the Infernal Healing wand. "Just so you know what it feels like," she says, before putting the wand away. She busily searches the path ahead. "See this hidden pathway here? Finally, we get to be the ones walking through walls!"
She leads the way through the secret door once the party is ready.
Tal'ariel opens the door and leads the way through, with Bran beside her.
The room is filled with mist. Tal'ariel quickly realizes it is a Fog Cloud spell. She can see 5', but no further.
Does she proceed further into the room?
"Maybe so! This fog though... can anyone make it easier to see through? I don't mind leading the way here."
"We need to clear it!" Gaius says through gritted teeth. "I can't kill things I can't see!
Tal'ariel is surprised by the appearance of fog. "I don't really have an answer to this one. Hamailii?"
Tal'ariel does throw up a Shield with her wand before walking in.
Hamailii realizes this is a Fog Cloud spell.
It can last quite a while - half an hour, at least.
Gust of Wind is the go-to spell for getting rid of such effects, but nobody has that so you would need a scroll (and Hamailii to UMD it, since Evocation spells aren't considered to be on Tal'ariel's spell list). While Dispel could remove it (with a good enough roll), that would be Hamailii's bonded item spell for the day, and you are in a lich's lair with possibly worse things to encounter.
You don't hear the sounds of any other creatures in the room.
So I'm going to assume you move carefully and see what you can within the limited radius of sight.
This room is empty of furnishings, except for a low stone bench against the western wall. Carvings of undead lions on this wall loom over the bench, as if about to pounce on anyone foolish enough to sit there. A stone spiral staircase rises up near the northeast corner, and stone doors to the north and east provide additional exits.
"Maybe there's less fog if we go up?" suggests Tal, as she walks carefully through the fog. "At least the lions haven't appeared from thick air!"
This domed chamber has stone ribs rising to support a central keystone overhead. Stone stairs in the southern part of the room wind down to a lower level. Massive stone double doors block the passage to the north.
Nobody notices anything out of the ordinary.
Bran turns to the others, "Are we ready to open this next door? Who knows what lies inside but I'm ready for whatever it is." He leans his shoulder up in preparation to push it open.
Tal'ariel uses another charge from her Shield wand.
"Yes," she agrees, ready to face what was beyond.
The doors open into another room.
Although this chamber is empty of furnishings, it is far from unremarkable. The ceiling arches overhead, supported by stone ribs that run up the walls. Each of these ribs bears carvings of thorny plants and twisted branches. Between each rib, the stone walls are carved with the images of lions pouncing on and mauling human victims. Another set of massive stone double doors stand to the north.
Within this room are three hobgoblins, each unarmored and carrying a chain weapon with what looks like a cast-iron dragon's skull at one end and a loop of chain at the other. A few empty vials lie on the ground. They are clearly aware of you and have been preparing for combat.
Round 1
Tal'ariel
Monks
Bran
Gaius
Trellara
Hamailii
"Wait, the Ghostlord invited you Red Hand goons?"
Tal casts a spell and her arms grow impossibly long, her sword threatening to strike those who would approach her.
The monks are happy with their position. If they converge on you, they can't all get to attack.
They twirl their chains.
So since they are delaying, we will be doing individual initiative and not block initiative - one at a time.
Round 1
Tal'ariel
Monks - in delay
Bran
Gaius
Trellara
Hamailii
"Something I understand! Show me what those chains can do!" He almost looks excited for the approaching fight, not having to worry about undeath and spectral wails.
He moves quickly into the room expecting to take some lashes from the nasty weapons, doing his best to duck under as many as he can.
The monks converge on Bran.
First Red moves up and tries to use his dragonchain to grapple Bran, throwing the chain-loop end like a lasso.
That doesn't work.
Black tries the same thing.
He likewise fails.
Blue decides to just kick Bran in the face.
Bran's AC is 30 with Total Defense? All the attacks miss.
Round 1
Tal'ariel
Bran
Monks
Trellara
Gaius
Hamailii
Trellara cheers on the party but does not use her bardic performance at this time, seeing how things seem to be well under control.
"Trying to pin me down? Ha!"
Gaius gets a frankly disturbing smile on his face as the monks try, and miss Bran. He and Flame both hurry in and Gaius takes an additional step to catch one of the monks between himself and Bran.
Taking advantage of the distraction from Bran, Tal'ariel heads in, swinging her blade toward the monks with her unnaturally long arms.
;
;
Tal'ariel:
1) Do you want to try Acrobatics at full speed to avoid an AOO from Red? Don't think you'd have the movement to do the regular Acrobatics.
2) You threaten a crit on 18-20, don't you? Want to confirm that roll? Well, I guess we can wait until after Bran's turn and then use your turn (with those rolls) if still valid. And confirm at that time.
Gaius lands a solid hit on one, but Hamailii's scorching ray goes wide.
Round 2
Bran
Tal'ariel (delaying until after Bran, rolled already)
Monks
Trellara
Gaius
Hamailii
"Go for the arm holding the chain! Get right under there!"
Bran shouts some strategies he's noticed, hoping it will help give them the edge.
;
Bran shares his tactical knowledge.
Red punches at Tal'ariel as she moves by, but the elf is too nimble. She moves around and deals a solid blow to Blue, felling him!
Then the Cleave attack on Red hits.
And drops him. With one impossible swing, Tal'ariel drops both monks, managing to hit their vital organs despite their best attempts to dodge.
And now Tal'ariel gets a Cleaving Finish because she dropped both Blue and Red?
Round 2
Bran
Tal'ariel (Cleaving Finish)
Monk (Black -0)
Trellara
Gaius
Hamailii
Tal'ariel slashes furiously through the enemies, striking at the third monk after felling the first two!
;
The last monk is agile enough to dodge, although he knows his fate draws near. He throws caution to the wind and puts everything into offense.
"In pain I learn strength! Through sacrifice I gain glory!"
He attacks Tal'ariel with a flurry of blows. She is stunned by a kick to the head, and her Elven Curve Blade clatters to the ground.
Round 2
Bran
Tal'ariel -16
Monk (Black -0)
Trellara
Gaius
Hamailii
Gaius and Flame close as one, raining blows on the monk.
Gaius strikes the monk several times, but none of the blows are quite as deadly as he hoped as the hobgoblin still stands.
Round 3
Bran
Tal'ariel -16, stunned
Monk (Black -35)
Trellara
Gaius
Hamailii
Bran moves up and seeing that the foe's back is against the wall tries to put him in a hold for his allies.
Bran grabs a hold of the monk.
Tal'ariel shakes off the stun (it lasts until the monk's next turn, which is now.
"Unhand me!"
Round 3
Bran -8
Tal'ariel -16, stunned
Monk (Black -35)
Trellara
Gaius
Hamailii
Gaius thrusts his sword neatly through the monks defences and into his heart.
The last hobgoblin falls to the ground.
They each have one unused potion, quickly identified as Cure Moderate Wounds. And they each wear Bracers of Armor +1 and carry masterwork light crossbows and masterwork dragonchains.
Constrict: If the wielder successfully initiates a grapple while wielding the dragonchain; he can loop the weapon around the opponent. He constricts his opponent for 1d8 damage (plus 1-1/2 times his Strength modifier). On subsequent rounds he can use the dragonchain to deal constriction damage with a successful Combat Maneuver check (all bonuses and penalties to grappling apply). In addition, the chain provides a +2 circumstance bonus to the Combat Maneuver check made to deal this constriction damage.
Dragonchain: Exotic two-handed melee weapon; cost 50 gp; damage 1d4 (S); 1d6 (M); critical 19-20/x2; weight 10 lbs; type bludgeoning.
Another set of double doors lies to the north.
"Ugh, that last monk got me good," says Tal, as she rubs her head. "Seems to me the Ghostlord wouldn't invite the Red Hand in like this under any normal circumstances." She helps herself to a bit more devilish healing and then picks up her sword.
She then checks out the door.
Gaius glowers at the bodies and waits, obviously impatient for the rest of the group to patch themselves up.
"Come on!" He mutters, "The longer we wait the more time they have to prepare!"
Finding no traps on the door, Tal'ariel opens it and you move on to the next room.
Within the open maw of the massive stone lion’s head is a large balcony built into the lion’s lower jaw. Large stone teeth, each three to five feet high, ring the balcony’s edge. The lion’s upper jaw arches ominously above, the roof of its mouth fully fifteen feet overhead. A rope ladder lies rolled up to one side. It is about fifty feet down the the ground below.
Outside, you see storm clouds gathering. Thunder rumbles, and rain begins to fall.
Tal'ariel recognizes with a shock that this is no natural storm - it is the effect of powerful magic. Such magic is normally only possible as a lengthy ritual involving multiple spellcasters, or from an artifact.
Off in the distance, you see something scrambling over the barren hills towards the lion. It is maybe a mile away or so, but Huge, and moving pretty fast. It looks like a many-legged lizard.