"She's got shoulder length brown wavy hair, brown eyes,and was wearing a green dress. She has a scar on her little finger on her right hand." Delia describes as she follows the party out.
However, just at that moment, a translucent hag wanders down the stairs.
"What are you hanging around with that vampire?!"Nemira screeches at the party. "She's a blood-sucking monster that's out to suck your blood. Sure, she may look comely in the day but at night she's just a flying pile of guts!"
"Oh bother."Delia gives a nonchalant shrug. "Busted." Then she glares at Nemira, burning rage in her eyes. "If I ever find your physical body, I'd rip it to shreds and burn it to ash." Then bat wings break free from her white robes as her fingernails elongate into claws and her teeth become pointed fangs.
Garrosh recognizes the creature as a Manananggal, an undead fiend that enjoys the blood of pregnant women, being able to pass off as human during the day. They are vulnerable to good or silver weapons.
Delia turns onto Rose, a flurry of fang and claw.
She latches onto Rose and begins to drain her blood.
Winter moves up to heal Rose."What the hell is that thing?" Winter sounds aghast.
Violet winces. “Oh, dear. What is this monster?”
“Ouch! How pedestrian!” Rose says to the vampire, “Allow me to expedite your transformation into ‘a flying pile of guts.’”
Violet recognizes the creature as a Manananggal. It is vulnerable to light blades and is light sensitive.
Intimidate does not work on undead
Rose gores and claws the Manananggal but finds her horns and claws not very effective. It also does not seem fazed by Rose's frightful demeanour.
Ann looks a little smug, but restrains it as best as she can given the brutal tearing Rose receives. The siblings surround the vampire and start hacking away.
Violet reports the vulnerabilities (whispered to Rose, who relays the message to the party), and she zips onto Rose’s shoulder.
Startling Appearance (Ex)
At 5th level, a vigilante learns to use the element of surprise to his advantage, startling foes that are unaware of his presence. Whenever a vigilante with this ability attempts an attack against a foe that is completely unaware of the vigilante’s presence (usually due to Stealth or invisibility), the foe is treated as flat-footed for the rest of the vigilante’s turn (uncanny dodge or a similar ability prevents this effect unless the vigilante is at least 4 levels higher than the foe with uncanny dodge).
The foe also takes a –4 penalty on attacks made against the vigilante until the start of the vigilante’s next turn.
Since the little one is attacking as well, Piotr watches for an attack against either of them.
Piotr's sword cuts into the creatures side,but Ann's daggers seem entirely ineffective. The creature is startled by Violet's sudden appearance as well as the blast of holy energy.
"Oh s*#%! Did we really fall for that? F&$#." Kilarra curses. "I ain't got a stake, but this sword oughta do. Get smited!"
Kilarra's wild swings are easily dodged by the creature.
Garrosh narrows his eyes then studies the Manananggal and releases a single shot, which clanks off Kilarra's helmet.
"We both can't really harm each other much... certainly have tried.." Nemira muses out loud as she releases two purple bolts resembling octopus tentacles that strike the Manananggal."Where's your songbird anyway? I sort of like her."Nemira asks Kilarra.
Piotr recognizes the spell as magic missile.
The Manananggal turns onto Rose, but is a little startled from Violets sudden appearance, and misses entirely."You know it was such a pity we didn't get to town...there's so much potential for mayhem down there. Except for this hag who ruined it all." The Manananggal curses at Nemira.
Winter casts bless on the entire party.
“Songbird? Did the fox-girl’s fairy play music too?”
Violet busts with light again, but then flits back about ten feet.
Rose strikes again!
…then steps back behind Piotr!
"I didn't... FALL... for anything!" Ann points out as she tries her best to cut the vampire down. Piotr instead answers Nemira. "Hanako could play music, yes, but more important... she got away from all this. She's safe." he says with relief. His sword continues to stab and slice.
Kilarra doesn't answer questions while fighting. Taking the hint that maybe she's in the way, Kilarra hops onto the table with her cloven hooves. Then she drives the point of her sword into the monster's chest.
"Oh she's safe? That's good. I always thought she was a little too sweet for this kind of thing. Talking to her helped keep me sane you know...like you're floating in a rough sea and someone throws you a life buoy. I clung to it..."Nemira rambles a bit. "I mean, I'm more here and now then I used to be, if you get my drift?"
Piotr's sword strikes the Manananggal and the Mannangal bites at Kilarra as she hops on the table. Ann's daggers seem entirely ineffective.
With Ragathiels divine aid, Kilarra cuts deeply into the creatures torso.
Garrosh sends two arrows flying at the Mannangal, one goes wide but the other barely nicks her.
Seeing Kilarra use a weapon capable of ending her unlife, she turns onto Kilarra.
Nemira sends another two purple tentacles flying at the Mannangal.
"I abjure thee, fiend!"Winter declares as she calls upon Pharasma to end the creature's unlife.
The Mannangal gives an unholy shriek as she collapses on the ground, finally dead.
On top of one of these crates is an envelope containing a letter signed by someone named Miacknian Mun, which apparently accompanied a delivery of alchemical goods. In the letter, evidently answering a question posed by Lowls, Mun confirms that “It seems that the Mad Poet you mention your dream journey was right. The book you seek, the Necronomicon, is located in a special collection called the Mysterium in the Qadiran city of Katheer, though it is written in Necril. If you can find a way to retrieve it and bring it to me, I can certainly help you translate and research it. I look forward to seeing you again, my old friend.”
Garrosh also finds a hatch that looks like it can be opened beneath the fireplace rug, but finds it locked but not trapped.
The party finds a magical bookplate attached to a book labeled,"The path of dreams"
"It's written in the tongue of necromancers." Kilarra says, as the letter is read out. "So did Lowls go to this city? I don't even know where Qadiran is."
Rose turns to the hag. “It seems this gentle woman is a hero to you. To be spoken of in this way… this inspires me. Thank you for sharing.” Rose bows politely.
Violet flies over to Kilarra. “Oh, you’re quite cut up. Please, allow me.”
She wills Kilarra’s wounds to heal a little.
"It's just a flesh wound." Kilarra replies
"Anyway what are you lot intending to do down here? I've been..you know trying to pay more attention to things. My room door is locked so I can't exactly be here in flesh. And I'd really want to reunite with Clymes. I suppose it'll hurt, but at least you'll do it quickly no?" Nemira turns to Piotr as Kilarra is ignoring her.
Rose is also paying attention to things.
“We are here to put a stop to the cultists. I believe there is a Madame Risi who is in charge to a degree.
“And what of you? I have not had the pleasure to meet this Songbird Hanako, nor your beloved Clymes. However, if unlocking your door leads you to the rendezvous you so desire, it will be my pleasure to reciprocate. If you would please, Madame…”
Rose pauses. It is rude to ask another’s name without giving your own. “Forgive my manners. Rose Fatale. A pseudonym yes. Rose LaViolette is my true name, but I have given my surname to ma petite amie, Violet. I trust you have already been acquainted with Garrosh and the others.”
Violet is interested in this songbird. Hanako’s the name, and she sang and had a fairy friend… if the elderly ghost and the big man are so invested in her safety…
She tries to recall if there was any talk of this Hanako, now that Violet knows the name, or one fitting her description.
Kilarra isn't particularly interested in introducing herself to a ghost, except for Ann.
"Okay. Objectives." Kilarra starts. "So, will opening this door to your room help you find peace? Where is it?"
"And Piotr, see if you can unlock that trapdoor under the rug that Garrosh found. I bet it leads down to where we got those healing potions."
"You'd have to go another storey up and kill me. Then I can see Clymes again on the other side."Nemira tells the party bluntly.
"I don't know what Risi you're talking about but someone packed up and left the mansion last night."Nemira adds.
Violet knows that Hanako is one of the band of heroes who rescued Holissa's brother from Fort Hailcourse and dealt with the grotto witch.
"Right. That's a weird thing to say. Well I'm good with sending you off to the afterlife. How bout you guys?"
After Kilarra asks that question, she heals herself up by imbuing her wounds with an oath of vengeance.
Rose says, “Then let us delay you no further, Madame. Please lead the way.”
Piotr starts to move toward the trapdoor, but stops, looks back and forth between all the talkers and then nods to the upstairs part.
"There may be useful loot under this hatch" - Garrosh points out to the group just as they leave.
With Rose’s guidance, Violet checks the hatch for traps.
Rose casts the same spell on herself, and tries the lock.
Rose manages to pick the lock open and finds that it opens up to a ladder leading down to the basement.
The shelves in this cellar are neatly stacked with glass and clay bottles, tiny kegs, decanters, mugs, and crystal goblets.
Kilarra looks down the hatch and says "Oh, that's different. Okay. Wanna go down there first, or head up and free the ghost?"
Piotr frowns as they bounce back from one direction to the other. After a pause and a question the big guy rubs his neck for a moment and says. "Let's help Nemira. She's been waiting a long time." With that, and if there aren't any more suggestions, he'll start heading upstairs. "We should watch out for this one's friend. Nemira, do you know anything about her?"
Rose agrees. “I share this sentiment. If there were healing potions in our grasp, I would will one into my hand.” She mage-hands a goblet to herself. “But with no urgent matters below, Nemari need not be delayed.”
"Close your eyes." Kilarra says to Rose
"Don't know what you're talking about who's who's friend. Not as if we're on speaking terms. Considering she just called me a hag, though truth to be told, she isn't wrong." Nemira mutters.
The goblet moves towards Rose, but it is empty.
The party goes up the stairs coming to a bare stairwell leading to a door. They hear squeaks coming from beyond the door. Garrosh determines the door is neither locked nor trapped.
Piotr holds his shield ready, and unless anyone yells out wait, he'll open the door.
Rose is behind Piotr, ready to strike, should danger lurk within.
This corridor connects all the rooms of the upper floor. The only two windows have been shuttered and nailed shut, leaving the space dark. A marble washbasin here is fed by the rainwater cistern in the attic, and pours greenish but potable water. The main drainage pipe of the manor runs under the washbasin between the first and second floors.A swarm of rats occupies the corridor.
No one knows anything about the creatures.
Rose considers the cramped hallway, and wonders if it’s best to move along the ceiling.
Regardless of what she does, as long as her Long Arm spell applies, the swarm will provoke her if they get within 10 feet.
If I can still use hands to attack,
• Standard: cast Spider Climb
• Move: move above Piotr
(This is my preferred turn, if Spider Climb does not diminish my ability to attack with current Morphic Weapons.)
Garrosh studies the swarm for a moment, then fires an arrow shot at it.
Garrosh's arrow pierces through some of the rats.
The remaining rats swarm over Piotr and Garrosh.
Piotr feels nauseated by the rats nibbling anything they can reach.
"Uh what's going on down there?Winter yells from the first floor, unable to see Garrosh and Piotr's predicament.
Rats rats everywhere, and all Piotr can do is try and wade out of the sea of rat bodies. "There is a horde of rats trying to eat them both!" Ann yells as her daggers cut and stab.
"Damned things - where is a wizard when we need one?" - Garrosh growls and moves past the rats, firing another arrow.