Taking the lefthand branch leads to a foul-smelling cavern whose western half is heaped with bones, each scarred by the scraping of teeth. The long bones have been cracked open for the marrow within.
There's a narrow fissure in the northeast end of the cavern. It's not possible to see through it to the other side, but the smell of salt and rot permeate into the room through it.
Andrezi reloads his crossbow and follows along with the others. "So be it. The abominations that reside here need to be dealt with."
Garrick nods, then pauses, "So long as we're not leaving an enemy at our backs that could block our escape."
Nia precedes the group through the smelly cave to go check the fissure in the northeast corner.
It's still not possible to see to the other side, and it still smells like salt and rot, plus something else.
Nia shakes her head. "Sorry, this looks like a dead end. Maybe there's a branching passage before you get to the ocean the other way." She gestures back the way they had come.
Garrick shrugs, "Could be. This whole place doesn't seem to make any sense.... Of course, just 'cause we don't fit in the fissure doesn't mean something else wouldn't."
Nia nods. "True. I'd like to at least see if there's a way around before we try to push through. I'd feel real dumb if I squeezed through there and just wound up in a passageway on the other side that we could have just walked to." She looks around at the ground. "Plus it doesn't look like Iesha came this way."
Backtracking and taking the other branch, the party quickly comes to a veriginous gulf, a cathedral-like cavern whose roof arches up to thirty feet overhead. Fifty feet below, a pool of water surges and foams. A steep stone ledge winds down to the pool, its slope glistening with moisture and mold. A stone door stands in the northwestern wall, about halfway down the slope. Iesha is clawing at the door.
In addition, there are four goblins in the cavern. Their atypical color and claws are strong indications that they've become undead.
Round 1 (ongoing):
Initiative order
Goblins-acted
Party
The goblins rush up and surround Nia, their unnaturally clawed feet enabling them to navigate the slippery surface with ease.
"Ghast goblins!" Andrezi exclaims as the fetid creatures approach. "Stronger versions of ghouls." he adds firing off his crossbow at the one draped in pink tatters and reloading his weapon.
(firing into melee)
Round 1 (ongoing):
Andrezi's crossbow bolt misses the agile undead.
Garrick finds himself gagging at the stench of the foul creatures - and the discomfort remains even as he releases the power in his blood, his skin hardening and the power of life itself flowing through him. He moves forward, and plants his foot to swing his axe in a powerful arc.
for
Nia, fighting back the taste of bile in the back of her throat, attacks while trying to fend off the monsters swarming her.
Round 1 (ongoing):
Nia completely misses her target, while Garrick's target is only saved by the cover provided by the cavern wall.
Vidar, forgoing caution, launches his last magic missile for the day at the ghoul Nia attacked.
Vidar does significant damage to the goblin ghast.
Round 2 (ongoing):
Goblins-acted
Party
The three ghasts in front claw and bite at Nia, but none manage to hit her. The fourth stalks back and forth behind the line, ready to join the fray when it can.
Given the ineffectiveness of his crossbow, Andrezi casts a blessing on the party.
This is getting dangerous. I cannot afford to be conservative...
Vidar decides to break out one of his more powerful spells.
Round 2 (ongoing):
Initiative order
Goblin ghasts-acted
Andrezi-acted
Nia
Vidar-acted
Garrick
Andrezi and Vidar boost the party in their own ways.
Though she wants to throw up, Nia focuses through the waves of sickness and waits until the perfect moment to attack the little monster in front of her.
Round 2 (ongoing):
Nia drops the ghast, whereupon the fourth one steps over its body and bites at the investigator. She easily dodges.
Garrick swings the axe, happy for the speed from Vidar's spell.
for
for
Garrick once again finds the wall interfering with his attacks.
Round 3 (ongoing):
Initiative order
Ghasts-acted
Party
Once again, none of the ghasts manage to hit Nia.
Ungh...now what do I do? I cannot haste them again...
Vidar stays back, feeling just a little frustrated at the situation.
Garrick tries, once again, to make a hole for himself to help Nia, attacking the ghoul blocking the way.
for
for
With few other options, Andrezi fires off another crossbow bolt toward one of the ghouls, and reloads.
(firing into melee, bless, haste)
Nia ducks and dodges, blade flashing as she continues to fight the horde.
Having boosted the party significantly, Vidar delays. Andrezi takes a shot at one of the ghasts, but misses. Nia wounds one of the remaining enemies, and Garrick finishes it with his first blow.
As the ghast falls, Nia sidesteps. Garrick takes a quick step forward and wounds another ghast.
Round 3 (ongoing):
The ghasts continue to attack Nia, and although one comes close the investigator successfully avoids every strike.
No longer fighting around a corner, Garrick smiles and lets loose with his axe.
for
Round 3 (ongoing):
Garrick finishes off the wounded ghast.
Nia smiles as Garrick drops the ghast and teams up with the dwarf on his target.
Andrezi fires off another likely futile crossbow shot.
Vidar continues to observe.
Nia wounds the last ghast, while Vidar waits and Andrezi still can't hit the nimble creature as it keeps Nia and Garrick between it and the cleric.
Round 4 (ongoing):
Initiative order
Ghast-acted
Party
Wounded and desperate, the ghast keeps its focus on Nia. This time, Nia can't quite dodge in time, and it tags her .
Nia's muscles lock up and she screams as her body stops responding.
Garrick swings his axe, trying to hew down the unnatural thing before him, the perversion of the very energies of life that are flowing through the dwarf and giving him strength.
for
for
Garrick's blade chops into the last ghast, destroying enough of its body that the necromantic power animating it can't sustain its unnatural existence.
It is at this point that Iesha succeeds in tearing open the door. She croons coquettishly, "Aldern, my sweet. Were you trying to hide?" A shriek of grief echoes from the other side of the door, followed by babbled cries for forgiveness.
Vidar struggles with the curiosity to rush forward and see what is happening behind the former door and his self preservation.
In the end, he takes a deep breath and gets his morbid curiosity under control.
Besides, it is much more important to mind his place in the marching order and make sure everyone is alright before forging ahead.
Andrezi up beside the paralyzed investigator, protecting her flank while the party waits for the paralysis to wear off.
Round 5:
Iesha enters the room and passes out of sight. The babbled pleas for forgiveness suddenly stop, cut off by Iesha's shriek of rage, and the other voice screams hoarsely. The thumps and shouts from inside the room suggest that a fight is happening.