At Cristiel's description, Vidar makes a strangled sound, spits on the ground and turns away.
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"Look at this! That's quite a sword if I'm not mistaken!" He looks at the other sword-swinging members of the party, "Does anyone mind if I try this out for a while?"
Kithian smirks and shrugs his large shoulders. "Aye, that is a right pretty pig sticker ya got there friend. Hells I don't care if you keep it, I have enough daggers anyway."
Sayniek looks the blade with a bit of a longing.
It is a beautiful weapon. However, it is a bit thin for my liking, and slightly large. I would love such a weapon if it were more suited to my style, and size. For now Cam, you are probably best taking the weapon.
"Cristiel, are you OK? It looks like that thing hurt you pretty bad."
Camillo will try to rig up his old sword to hang on his back (hopefully the new one has a scabbard with it...) and put the new sword on his belt.
Sayniek nods in agreement:
They came from somewhere, might as well find out where that somewhere is.
Cristiel takes several minutes before she feels strong enough to stand as the rivulets of blood from the deep cuts along her arms and legs start to dry. She shakes her head, "Alas, Camilllo, I feel as if I have been through the digestive track of a nalfeshnee. I will be of little use against the necromancer in my current state without the aid of the gods."
Sayniek reaches out and the cold warmth of Ragathiel's benevolence flows through Cristiel:
Lay on Hands (x2):
She then calls on more healing from her Empyreal lord:
CLW:
Catching up with the group... "Hey, did you guys realize that dead body back there was Redshiv? He's wanted in Sandpoint, dead or alive. I believe there is a reward out for his head."
The cleric massages the wound on his shoulder that should of fully healed from his magic as he examines the pearl ring. . As the Paladin heals the Elf's wounds, he approaches her and asks, "Does this look infected to you?" He shows her the remains of his wound.
Sayniek looks at the wound:
I cannot say medicine is my strong point, although I have studied it some.
Heal: <-- to diagnose any disease
Sayniek shakes her head:
Sorry. If that is infected, it is not anything that I am familiar with.
Vidar takes a very cursory look at Rullise's shoulder before affecting a grim mien.
"Yes, that does indeed look completely untenable. I am afraid I see no other option.
Just hold your arm out and I shall ask master Darlock to remove it as cleanly as possible."
The group winds through the cave only to realize that the two branches combine further into the complex. A stretch of viscous looking mold encourages the group to double back and use the other tunnel. Moving through this section it is easy to see where the other ghouls were set as spotters to guard entrance into the complex which is why they came so quickly to the groups entanglement with the bat.
After many feet the sound of odd rushing air and other cavelike drippings and murmurings give way to the echoes of grunting, slurpling, shifting and clacking of bones and teeth as the group approaches a large open area.
Half of this foul smelling cavern is heaped with ones and body parts, some fresher than others with many of the bones having been cracked open and the marrow expertly licked clean. 4 ghouls slobber over the pile apparently too immersed in their activities to even notice the likes of the steady clank of Sayniek's armored body moving through the complex.
Faint light from another passageway beyond and a single torch within the chamber do much to dissipate the arrival of the group's own light. Standing in a line the group seems to have caught the creatures unaware...
Camillo stops and motions for quiet from the others. He points back to the tunnel they just exited from. Once they are back out of sight, he whispers, "The tactic earlier in the tunnel worked well. Shall I draw them back into a chokepoint where the rest of you are waiting to cut them down?"
Sayniek nods to Cam:
Yup. Lets line up and tear them down.
With that, she draws her sword while once more beginning to cast enlarge person on Kithian.
Kithian nods and moves to the center of the line.
Mostly mended by Sayniek's healing touch, Cristiel rotates her shoulder in its socket to work out any kinks before nodding and taking her place, "Smells of a trap. Best to spring it under our terms as opposed to theirs." She readies Manartyelo to exact terrible revenge for the suffering she had to endure moments before.
AoO:
Damage:
Attack:
Damage:
Camillo will wait until the three front-liners are ready before stepping into the chamber where the undead continue their feast, careful in case they have detected the party and are waiting to attack .
If they do indeed continue their feasting, he will light a rock and chuck it toward their feet to get their attention. "Say, fellows, can you tell a guy how to get out of here? I seem to be... Desna's Tears, what's happened to the lot of you?" and, assuming at least one follows him, back away and run down the tunnel to the others.
Readied Attack:
Damage:
Confirm Crit:
Damage:
Cam offers a whimsical statement which is enough for ghoulish instinct to kick in. Though not unintelligent the ravening need for flesh and bone makes ghouls poor strategic thinkers and the run after the bard.
Their momentum carries them too far, too fast and the groups blows on the ready and in the subsequent moments proves too much as once more blades sing, clang and hum and more ghouls are brought down.
Cam moves forward silently to scout.
From here the cave network open into a final location, a large cathedral like cavern with a large over arching roof some 30' above. A pool of sloshing foamy seawater churns in a pool some 20 feet across while small break in the stone whip and whistle with wind coming from above.
The area around the pool is sloped and riddled with mold and slime from the moisture making for dangerous maneuvering. A tall stone door stands opposite of where the group would enter, clearly the only other exit. Outside this door 4 goblins, dressed similarly to many that the group met at Thistletop stand idly by, neither moving nor talking but it is plain from ashen skin and fierce yellow eyes that these goblins have turned into something all together more than they were. They look similar to the leader of the group that assaulted the group at the sanitarium. (Ghasts)
Cam is able to go back to the group and relay this information without alarming the goblins.
"Ghasts? And Goblin Ghasts too? My my, but lady Desna does indeed posses a sense of humour.
Well ladies, do not be surprised if they ignore you at first, odds are altogether low that they are Goblins killed by the rest of us at some point, and their thirst for vengeance has only been strengthened by deaths icy grip"
Sayniek nods:
Someone truly has a twisted sense of humor. But, vengeance must be done. Even vile goblins do not deserve this horrid insult to life.
These are more powerful, so we need to take additional care. I can make Kithian large but one more time this day. Not that his sword needs much assistance.
Vidar smirks a little as he muses over the conundrum of what exactly the goblins deserve.
"Oh, I would beg to differ, we WILL end them, but not because THEY do not deserve unlife, but because I do not want anyone else to suffer it at their hands."
The wizard's smile is most assuredly one of vindictive amusement at the moment.
"So, what exactly is the extra challenge? I mean, they are still goblins - what do we need to do differently?"
Cristiel has finished cleaning Manartyelo of more ghoul ichor by the time Cam comes back with word of the goblinoid ghasts. The elven woman nods in agreement with the sentiments on the undeads' fates, "Suffer not the defiled ones to live for they bring nothing but misery to the living. Let us be about this quickly and quietly. A necromancer's throat cries for the caress of Manartyelo and he is probably behind that door the goblins guard."
Kithian looks at the elf for a moment and shakes his head. "Not sure what all you just said but I think we should kill the gobos and head on through that door to kill the dirty cork soaker doing all of this.
"Just keep the paralyzing effect of their touch in the forefront of your mind, and if possible whittle them down afore they get into striking distance...if possible."
Sayniek nods at Vidar's advice.
I can stand at the fore and defend against them while Kithian chops them up from behind. Not sure if it will work, but it is worth a try.
"Paralysis. I forgot about that. So - missiles to soften them up?"
"As they so charmingly put it in Riddleport..."make 'em into porcupines" master Duin."
Saying looks over at Vidar:
Yes, that is correct. Holy ghasts greatly preferred to regular ones.
Camillo gets out his little-used shortbow in response. With a grimace, "Yeah, I'm familiar with the phrase. You might say it had something to do with my hasty return from that charming vacation spot. I'm thinking we let our arrows announce our arrival, then, and not bait them like I did with the ghouls."
"When everyone's ready..."
Sayniek unslings her little used longbow from her shoulder.
Not my preferred weapon, but better than their claws.
Kithian un slings his long bow and places an arrow to the string.
Attack:
Damage
"Finally, an opportunity to try this spell for size..."
Cristiel takes a knee in front of the others and lays Manartyelo across the other as she prepares for the wave of vengeance to be unleashed over head. Meanwhile, she casts a spell to shore up her defenses before the battle.
Holding up the wooden icon to his God, Rullis gets up behind the fighters and waits until the post-dead goblins move within range, attempting to get as many as possible. Before they have a chance to strike the front line, he releases a wave of positive energy to harm undead.
Camillo infuses the bow with a modicum of his magic.