Lanarial will pass Dargorath's bow to someone else, maybe Nhilune. He preferred using his mother's darkwood shortbow...it just felt right in his grip. He also keeps the dancing lights around the party, providing light for everyone to see.
Looking about you see that much of this is scarred from a fire that guess happeneda long time ago. Heading west you see the entrance to a room and to the south the hallway continues you onward.
Dargorath searches the current room. He then motions the party up to have them stay in this room, while he checks the room at the west.
The foyer is empty but you do notice some small footprints heading south down the hall. Before you can decide what to do a bright orange and yellow light flares from the south causing you to shield your eyes momentarily. As your eyes adjust you see a humanoid looking creature completely aflame start moving towards you.
"We've got company. I need backup, and my bow back."He then shifts back.
Alledueces Double moves up the stairs peeking around the corner to see what the new threat is and reports what he knows on it to the party.
Lanarial will move quickly up the stairs and fire off an arrow (if he can get into position...), wondering how effective his ranged weapon will be against a burning creature...
Both Dargorath and Alledueces catch sight of this creature and recognize it to be undead. But it is Alledueces who sees the exact nature of this undead creature for what it is. He calls out to you all in dire warning that the creature is a fire wraith. Not only is it incoporeal but it can radiate a heat aura that can harm who are too close.
"We are ill-equipped to battle this foe!" Amigail calls out to the others. "We should retreat."
I do not want to....but i think we must. Elliana agrees, Her hand on her scythe though trembling I do not think i can slay this monster
Lanarial shows his agreement with his quick steps back down the staircase...
We cannot beat this foe, not as we are...i hate to say this but we should retreat and come back when we are at full power Elliana wait's for everyone else to retreat, going last to ensure everyone's safety
Retreating back down the staircase you make it before the wraith can attack although Elliana does note when she heads down she could feel the heat from the flames surrounding the creature.
The creature does not chase you although you do see it at stop at the top of the staircase before quickly disappearing back down the hallway.
Nhilune and the children look on surprised that you are down already and when they see their friend is not with you you watch as their faces turn glum.
"There's a burning wraith up there, and I ain't dealing with it without the proper preparations."He tells the kids bluntly.
He turns to the party. "Call it a night, or you want to check Grave Street Mortuary out?"
Alledueces walks outside and begins examining windows on the building to see if their is a way to bypass the flame wraith.
The outside of the building has blown out windows due to the damage of the fire. You'd have to have a better idea of the layout upstairs to figure out if there is a way to get around the wraith. But from your knowledge of the upstairs there was at least two rooms so you'd likely have to face the wraith.
...
There's a kid in there who needs our help... there must be a way. You know this reminds me of the foreman's house... I was in there one time... he needed some rot wood replaced and didn't want a bunch of furniture removed figured I could get in to some tight places cause of my size. Allot of these old buildings have similar floor plans... I wonder...
Alledueces steps back and begins looking at the building really seeing it as a whole for the first time... He does a once around the perimeter looking at every detail he can see. The halfling draws his dagger and begins scraping a floor plan for the building out on the wall of the building marking walls, entrances, exits, and windows out.
Maybe we could go in through the roof... or cut through the floor... I wonder if that wall with the cobwebs was load bearing?
Looking at the building you take it in and see that you could go in through the roof. The house is – or what is left of it – two stories but you see that there are holes burnt out from the fire that happened long ago. Regardless of your educated guess you are still however not certain where the child could be but going in through attic is a possibility.
One last thing you note is that the fire while it did not completely destroy the building it is safe to say that there points where the structure integrity will be compromised.
You would need ladder or something it is very far up Elliana pulls a 50 ft bundle of rope from her pack This should help.
"I don't think it's a good idea. What if there's worse then the wraith up there, and we need to make a run for the stairs? Or what if the wraith attacks us as we are climbing in?" Dargorath shakes his head."Or trying a rooftop entry may bring the entire structure on us."
He turns to face Elliana with a wry grin. "Ropes are well and fine, but you still haven't told me how you're going to get the rope up there." He gestures to the roof.
Dargorath also takes the opportunity to get his gear back from the party.
Not all just one, if someone goes in quiet that might be enough. a stealth mission. Though i do not know how we could get up there anyway, a ladder maybe?
"We already know the house is dangerous. What if that person scouting gets into trouble he can't handle? We'll be down here, unable to assist."Dargorath stubbornly insists.
We can distract the wraith, he can't leave the house right? we play with that
"I'm not being wriath bait." Dargorath states flatly. "And you still haven't answered my question: what if there's something worse then a wraith out there and the scout has to face it alone, with no avenue of retreat?"
There's a child in there, we cannot simply leave him...You would leave a child to suffer such a fate? I will bait the wraith then, and if there is something worse than we deal with that when it appears. We cannot fight the wraith to that i agree, however we can bait him by staying on the edges of it's area.
Alfentinius walks up-to Dargorath and puts his hand out.
Mr. Dargorath you have been very helpful and I appreciate that. If you are too scared to continue on I understand. As for me there is a child who needs help in that house and if putting myself at risk is what I need to do then I will. It's the right thing to do. Thank-you for your help sir.
I guess the sam goes for the rest of you. None of us planned for this. If you don't want to help I understand. Right now though I know where to buy a grappling hook at... I'm the lightest and least likely to cave the roof in. I'll go up and take a look.
"How wise of you. If the boy in question is unconscious, or injured or unwilling to leave the house for whatever reason, do you have the strength to drag him out? And get down the rope at the same time?"Dargorath quipps sarcastically. "Its in the middle of the night, boy, Erastil knows if any shops will be open."
Finding a shop to purchase a grappling hook will be relatively easy. You know heading over to the Dog's Teeth would be a likely spot that would not cause anyone to ask questions as well as giving you the best price.
Amigail's obviously troubled by the prospects of a missing child, an unbeatable foe, and intra-party dissention. She doesn't speak up immediately, however, as she feels everyone's making legitimate points to their arguments. Suddenly, a thought strikes her and she voices it aloud: "Holy water should harm a wraith, correct? But what about normal water? Isn't there a basic spell that casters can use to create water? Should we try that out first before heading back for a grappling hook and other supplies?"
Lanarial Just watches the group decide what to do next. His eyes are beginning to glaze and he leans against the building, trying to save his quickly waning strength...
"Are you all right?" Dargorath asks, concerned and checks Lanarial over to see if there's anything wrong with him."I think we're all tired and should call it a night. We can come back better supplied to deal with the wraith tomorrow."
The elf nods wearily, concurring with Dargorath. "We've been running on full sails with the lightest of winds, and we should rest before we end up in irons. To the inn - and we can check in on Vasaro."
Being Lucky enough to know the local are Alledueces walks away from the party and heads to the Dog's Teeth Where he purchases 100 ft. of rope (knotted to be easier to climb) and a grappling hook. He returns to the house and tosses most of his gear and equipment behind a bush on the ground. He then looks up and starts tossing the hook towards the roof till it finds a purchase he likes.... a process that may take 10 minutes seeing as he is having to rethrow the hook over and over again. After this he climbs up the roof at a very safe and comfortable pace using the knots on the rope to give him a place to rest if ho grows tired.
When he gets to the roof he does his best to be stealthy and sneaks sound looking through holes in the roof.
Once Alledueces is on the roof, Ami wishes him luck and rushes back inside and up the stairs to watch the fiery wraith and make sure it doesn't attack the plucky, brave, and perhaps even foolhardy halfling.
I would only put you in jeopardy if i were to follow up there, however i will stay, if you need anything call and i will see what i can do. Elliana follows Amigail to watch the wraith
The elven sailor hangs his head for a moment, then follows Alledueces up the rope. His years at sea on a ship make this particular climb routine for him...this was easier than climbing the mast and it's not even moving!
"I'm not sure if you want to go up...place doesn't look very stable, it might bring the roof down."Dargorath eyes the structure dubiously as he remains outside the building.
Dargorath watches as both Lanarial and Alledueces shimmy up up the rope and while the gruff priest is correct that structure of this building is unstable the weight of the halfling and elf prove light enough for them to make it to the roof of the second story with no real mishaps.
The children under the care of Nhilune also watch amazed at the heroics of the halfling and the elf. Alledueces and Lanarial find that a large portion of the roof in the entire northwest corner has been burnt through leaving it open to the sky.
From your vantage points neither of you see anything more than shadows being cast from whatever interior walls still exist on this level. Dropping to the floor below is roughly about 10 feet below.
Amigail grits her teeth and steps forward a bit to prepare to engage the fire wraith, telling Ellina to give her room to slowly retreat.
Alledueces uses his extensive knowledge of building techniquest to figure out what areas of the roof would be safest to travel. He stealthily moves forward till he can see into the house.
Alledueces picks up a loose roof tile and casts light on it. Then he holds it up to cast light into the shadows.
Lanarial's elven eyes allow him to see things in darker conditions than humans and halflings, so he looks around to see if he catches anything Alledueces misses. If that fails, he will follow the halfling's lead.
As Alledueces casts his light upon a single shingle the light shows a rather empty floor but Lanarial you are able notice that in the northwestern corner of the attic what looks like the skeletal remains of someone.
ROUND 1
Amigail steps forward unsure of where exactly Alledueces and Lanarial but hopeful that distracting the wraith will give them the leeway to explore.
The wraith moves forward and you can already feel the heat coming off of it. It claws at Amigail but she steps back just in time to avoid the attack. The heat from the creature is intense however and Amigail feels her skin burning.
vs Amigail
Let's see how far this thing follows us, we need to move back maybe out of the room, stay at the edge of it's range Elliana begins slowly moving backwards
"Good idea," Ami calls over her shoulder. "Give Dargorath a call to be ready with the healing wand!"
The warrior woman retreats 5 feet and continues to maintain a total defense .
Alledueces unaware that the ladies are engaging the Wraith at all takes his time with exploring.
"Are you comimg out, to get it or do you want me to go in. Though I still think being bait is a bad idea."Dargorath yells at Amigail and Elliana.
i have a plan don't worry, if you were to come in here it would clutter thing's. We are going to find out it's range and then skirt that.