Wendel leads the group to the intersection, trying not to think too hard about the things that crunch, hidden in the dust underfoot. As he reaches the corner, he glimpses a rotund shape in robes, holding a candle. He spies it for just a moment before it disappears down another corridor to the right.
Bringing up the rear, Bane and Garold hear the soft sound of footfalls coming through the darkness behind the group.
Then he rises and walks to Angelo, undoing the pin on his collar and handing it to the boy. He whispers...
...but none of you are able to hear what he says. Angelo leaves and Alain returns to his couch.
"Perhaps the time has come for you to explain why you were at her house last night," he says to Bliznap. "Or are we still maintaining the pretense that I can't tell one gnome from another, and that you were sent by Lady Boritsi?"
You may maintain any pretense you would like. I need explain nothing to you. Especially about my whereabouts last night for it is none of your concern and of no consequence. Incidentally, I was with my companions last night trying to enjoy fine food, drink, and dancing.
We came to deliver a message, this guise was the easiest way I saw to gain entry passed your dogs. I will confirm that we were not hired by Lady Boritsi to play for you. We originally intended to play a song for you in order to pass a message without revealing your indiscretions to non privy parties.
Accusing me of being an assassin caused me to loose my head and forced my tongue, and for that I apologize. I did not wish to air the dirty laundry of a respected member of society, but an eye for an eye was due justice by my reckoning. If you are ready to hear what we have to say then by all means we will tell you what we know.
Upon being given some sort of indication to continue, Bliznap will relay the message.
"The gnome calls you a dog, my friend," he says. "Are you offended?"
"Woof," the guard replies, grinning.
"You have my permission to seek whatever satisfaction you wish from him, if there is anything left of him when my lady has finished."
Baton turns to Bliznap and shrugs. "You have insulted my loyal guards, confessed yourself a liar while continuing to lie to me, and worst of all, you have completely failed to amuse me. I'm not entirely sure what you are apologizing for, but no matter. I accept your apology, and invite you to stay and be introduced to the woman whose name you use so fraudulently."
Turning to Isabeau and Stanrick, he sighs, "You keep strange company, but you have given no offense. There is food and good, Richemuloise wine on the porch. Please help yourselves if you are hungry."
Wendel points ahead and motions for them to keep up as he increases his pace a bit.
Keeping up the rear, Bane follows the group but whispers "We are being followed."
Garold tries to hide the fact that he knows he's being followed, but can't suppress a quick look back...
Lucia turns and looks behind them into the darkness trying to focus her eyes beyond the glow of the sunrod Wendel held. Not immediately seeing anything she turns her attention back forward not wanting to inadvertently discharge her held spell too soon.
What? How do you know? I do not see or hear anything.
”Thank you Lord Baton. It is quite generous of you. Regrettably, I don’t think we have the time for food. We have other promises to keep before the day is done. Isn’t that right, Isabeau?” Stanrick bows respectfully before Lord Baton.
"Friends I hear the monsters behind us, we must run to what is in front of us, lest we face both at once." Bane says breaking into a quicker stride, trying to prod Garold on abit.
The light held by Wendel exaggerated the look of sorrow as she locked her gaze onto the two behind them. Her eyes begin to be rimmed with tears. The ache in her chest swells as she sees the unnatural, unearthly hunger on their faces. The feeling slowly turns to outrage as she remembers the reason behind their fate. The reason they hunger as they do. Her hunched fearful posture is then replaced by a straight backed square shouldered stance and her voice takes on a more commanding tone.
We need to move then. Two behind us. A pair of deacons. But I think they have been long dead. We need to catch up with the one ahead of us quickly or face the two behind before proceeding. I hold a spell of protection in my grasp so we need to make a decision before I discharge it. It will only last for a few moments so if we plan on chasing down the candle before us, I will hold on to it a bit longer.
"By the light of Ezra, we must purge this place, or an innocent might die. But if the candlebearer is the source, he is the greater danger, kill or capture him or he could continue to raise more monstrosities until we are overrun. Wendel, if you would,...RUN!" Bane shouts that last attempting to get the party to move with greater haste towards the fat candle holder.
Wendel turns and makes a quicker pace after the large man worth the candle.
Lucia picks up the pace trying to stay close to Wendel not wanting to hold the other two up with enemies behind.
Garold stumbles at Lucia's words, but rapidly catches up, shaking in utter horror. He abandons any attempt at stealth.
Isabeau nods in answer to Stanrick's question, still on edge over the tension in the room.
"Master Bliznap, I've given him the message. Stanrick is right, we have other business today. Unless..." She turns back to Lord Baton and asks in a hushed tone. "I don't suppose you have any ideas on who might have murdered Feodro Zari?"
The fat creature turns, chuckling at the next intersection, and you hear footsteps coming towards you from the darkness of the two 'empty' passages.
......................Fat guy
.........................||
.........................50'
.........................||
Footsteps=?= Wendel Lucia Garold Bane =40'= ghouls
.........................||
.........................?
.........................||
......................Footsteps
"Additional light now Lucia! We need more light! Keep pace with me, all of you, and blockade the hall behind us!" He motions past the next intersection. "We make our stand there!" Then points at Garold. "Your spear, set for charge and keep them at bay once we're in position!"
Blood roaring in his ears, Wendel turns to the fat demon and bellows as he charges forth.
...Power Attack / Charge
...Power Attack
"Oh. The merchant. Tragic, that, but I thought they'd arrested someone, hadn't they?" He looks around for confirmation, which his court provides, murmuring and nodding.
"Who is it that was arrested, if I may ask? Have they already been sentenced?" Isabeau tried to appear only mildly interested, but fear rose in her breast, suspecting she knew what the answer might be.
Garold gasps and whimpers, and turns his spear to the noises in the dark. He'll stay next to Bane, in front of Lucia, for the moment. He attacks the first one he can see, and makes aoos as he gets them. If any attacks are made on Bane or Lucia, he can aid another as an appropriate for +2 to AC.
Just in case...
(for aid another)
Bane whirls around at Wendels direction and stands shoulder to shoulder with Garold. Peering sharply into the darkness behind him he prepares his falchion to attack.
Lucia releases the pent up energies she held by touching Wendel's back and bestowing a blessing as everyone around her bustles into their respective defensive positions.
Ill'isi naktu lum!
She slides her hand to her chest beneath her wrapped cloak and as she pulls her hand out, the tip of her index and middle fingers glow. She then extends the two fingers and touches the haft of Garold's long spear that peeked out behind him as the whole shaft begins to shine brightly.
Casting Time 1 standard action
Components V, S, M/DF
Range touch
Target creature touched
Duration 1 min./level (D)
Saving Throw Will negates (harmless)
Spell Resistance no; see text
This spell wards a creature from attacks by evil creatures, from mental control, and from summoned creatures. It creates a magical barrier around the subject at a distance of 1 foot. The barrier moves with the subject and has three major effects.
- First, the subject gains a +2 deflection bonus to AC and a +2 resistance bonus on saves. Both these bonuses apply against attacks made or effects created by evil creatures.
- Second, the subject immediately receives another saving throw (if one was allowed to begin with) against any spells or effects that possess or exercise mental control over the creature (including enchantment [charm] effects and enchantment [compulsion] effects, such as charm person, command, and dominate person). This saving throw is made with a +2 morale bonus, using the same DC as the original effect. If successful, such effects are suppressed for the duration of this spell. The effects resume when the duration of this spell expires. While under the effects of this spell, the target is immune to any new attempts to possess or exercise mental control over the target. This spell does not expel a controlling life force (such as a ghost or spellcaster using magic jar), but it does prevent them from controlling the target. This second effect only functions against spells and effects created by evil creatures or objects, subject to GM discretion.
- Third, the spell prevents bodily contact by evil summoned creatures. This causes the natural weapon attacks of such creatures to fail and the creatures to recoil if such attacks require touching the warded creature. Summoned creatures that are not evil are immune to this effect. The protection against contact by summoned creatures ends if the warded creature makes an attack against or tries to force the barrier against the blocked creature. Spell Resistance can allow a creature to overcome this protection and touch the warded creature.
Casting Time 1 standard action
Components V, M/DF (a firefly)
Range touch
Target object touched
Duration 10 min./level
Saving Throw none
Spell Resistance no
This spell causes a touched object to glow like a torch, shedding normal light in a 20-foot radius from the point touched, and increasing the light level for an additional 20 feet by one step, up to normal light (darkness becomes dim light, and dim light becomes normal light). In an area of normal or bright light, this spell has no effect. The effect is immobile, but it can be cast on a movable object.
You can only have one light spell active at any one time. If you cast this spell while another casting is still in effect, the previous casting is dispelled. If you make this spell permanent (through permanency or a similar effect), it does not count against this limit. Light can be used to counter or dispel any darkness spell of equal or lower spell level.
It all happens very quickly.
Lucia touches Wendel, feeling the charged spell pour into him, and begins another incantation. Wendel leaps forward, sprinting down the corridor towards the fat ghoul as Lucia. Garold and Bane turn to the ghouls behind them.
The first impales itself on the hunchback's spear as it charges out of the darkness. The second reaches Bane, ducking under a vicious swing of the huge blade and snapping at him, his teeth not penetrating Bane's armor.
Wendel reaches the fat ghoul, slashing down and opening a wide gash in the creature's belly. It attacks, it's teeth ripping at his arm and a claw raking along his side.
From the west corridor, another ghoul charges out of the darkness and bites down on Lucia's shoulder.
From the south, a blood-curdling shriek.
......................Fat guy
......................Wendel
.........................||
.........................45'
.........................||
...................... Ghoul Lucia Garold Bane ghoul
.........................||
.........................?
.........................||
......................scream
Lucia
Wendel
Bane
"I've no idea who they arrested. Presumably whoever killed the man, wouldn't you think?"
Lucia reaches for her injured shoulder where the creature bit at her with a wince of pain. She then gasps as she feels her muscles seize up and her arm freezes half way to her shoulder. She then realizes that wasn't the only thing that seized up. Her whole body had gone rigid. Her eyes widening in fear and disbelief looking up to the hungry maw of the undead monstrosity.
With a shout of anger Bane cries out "Face Justice!" and swings at the ghoul nearest him.
Garold drops his spear, useless as it's stuck in the thing, and hefts his walking stick-greatclub...spinning when Lucia gasps, to see the other one gnawing on her...in half rage and half terror, he swings at it...
NO!!
"One would hope. Begging your pardon, My Lord, I'm afraid we have other errands to pursue. Unless you had a reply to send?"
Isabeau prepares to leave, remembering she must be sure to get back all of her weapons from the guards.
...Fort Disease
...Fort Paralysis
...Fort Paralysis
Wendel's flesh burns at the touch of the foul creature before him, he shouts in pain and revulsion, but he already feels heat spreading from the wounds. But then his heart sinks as he attempts to bring his blade back for another attack...and he can't move!!
Wendel thanks Lucia's quick reaction and steps back for another attack on the creature, his sunrod bathing the area in a disheartening glow as he's face to face with the rotund fiend.
The fat creature, seeing Wendel immobilized for the moment, gives a cruel laugh and picks up the sunrod. He then hurries away, deeper into the darkness of the catacombs.
Garold impales the creature attacking Lucia, dropping it with a single thrust of his spear as Bane struggles with the last one.
Attacking Bane:
Two fort saves, Bane. DC 13.
"If I may impose on you for a few moments longer, Angelo should be returning soon. If he confirms that what you have told me is true, then you are free to go," he says, his tone calm. "If you are what you claim, you will understand the need for caution. If you are lying to me, well, I will have you killed and dropped in the river. I do hope it doesn't come to that, though. I am rather short on allies here."
You are paralyzed for...
rounds
rounds