The gallowdead’s armor proves thick, as Gabbi is only able to score one good hit. It lashes Elka with its chain as she closes, then it dodges both hers and Amnayel’s attack. It focuses its ire on the paladin, striking her twice and wrapping its chain around her, blasting her with negative energy.
Ulrich struggles through the webs to free himself, but Kamosh is still stuck.
Avoiding the webs is trivial for Allie and she lashes at the undead with a burst of bright magic as it closes.
Then, seeing Amnayel take a beating, she blesses the group hoping to ensure that blows make it through the creatures armor better.
All the negative energy swirling about seems to put Gabbi off her aim as only her first paired arrows strike true and carry little force.
Amnayel growls not from being struck with the negative energy that she can't avoid, but being locked up by the chain. She heals herself the best she can with her lay on hands before bursting a channel of healing out as well.
The gallowdead avoids being blinded by Allie's spell. Gabbi's manyshot hits but her other arrows don't pierce the gallowdead's armor, nor do Elka's claws. As Amnayel focuses on healing and Ulrich continues to struggle with the web, the undead keeps the paladin wrapped up in its negative energy-infused chain as it claws at her.
Struggling against the chains, it's all Amnayel can do to heal herself to stay alive. Once more she heals twice, but she barely negates the damage being done to her. She gasps out as she fights with the chain "Kill it quickly!"
"Hold on for just a bit longer!" Gabbi shouts out before casting another spell.
Ulrich carefully shuffles to the side so he can target the gallowdead without hurting Amnayel. He points at it, and shrieks out like a banshee. A blast of lightning shoots out from his finger towards the gallowdead.
Kamosh is free!!
Allie resorts to a more powerful spell and blasts the gallowdead with pure sunlight.
The gallowdead avoids the worst of the lightning bolt. Allie and Elka both score hits, and though badly injured, the undead continues to mutter and strangle Amnayel with its chain. Her armor keeps her safe from its claws this time.
Ulrich draws the rod of thunder and lightning, and uses it to cast another lightningbolt.
The divine energy suffusing her weapon seems to bring focus to the inquisitor and her arrows sink deep into the undead creature.
The gallowdead turns aside from the lightning bolt again, but Gabbi finally seems to have found her groove. Guided by Pharasma's divine power, she fires arrow after arrow into the skeletal undead, and at last, it crumbles and releases its grasp on Amnayel!
Still fighting with the chain and struggling to stay alive, Amnayel finally resist the negative energy of the chain just as Ulrich and Gabriella bring the creature down.
The paladin slumps to the ground, falling on her bottom with a loud clang as the plate strikes the ground hard. Breathing heavy, she unwraps the chain from her body and tries to catch her breath. She looks up at the others and says "Thank you. That was exhausting."
"That was frustrating. A single spell to control the Gallowdead would have changed everything, but it was too powerful. It would of resisted everything I had available with ease. There must be a way to enhance my spells. What could have worked back in Roslar's Coffer or even Vigil is not a challenge to these undead. I must consult my texts and reevaluate my tactics. I refuse to be so ineffective."
When examining the cloak, Ulrich says "This is a good cloak. A shame that resistance is so necessary."
You emerge from the circular theater into a hallway. A raised gallery overlooks this stretch of hallway. Splinters of wood and iron fittings litter the floor above and below. The destruction here occurred recently--within the last few days.
The hall curves to the northwest and southwest, while a shorter hallway to the east opens into another north-south corridor.
"One more battle and I'm completely tapped out," Gabbi declares, stretching her lean arms. "At that point I'm going to need some rest." She raises an eyebrow at the paladin. "By that I mean sleep."
"I will need a few minutes to prepare." Ulrich replies.
"How long have we been fighting? Do mortals need to sleep that many hours in a day?" Kamosh asks, now in Common.
The dhampir turns a suspicious eye on the psychopomp. "So you can speak Taldane," she says. "And to answer your question, if I don't get my beauty rest then I turn into a real witch and you don't want that."
"Oh, yes, I suppose I can." Kamosh answers, cocking his head from side to side. "Well this is much more efficient than getting Ulrich or Amnayel to translate."
To the comment of beauty rest, he says
"Perhaps Ulrich could use some beauty rest. It works for wizards as well as witches, correct?"
"No, I meant that ..." she begins before rolling her eyes and glancing at her sister. She grins slightly. "Perhaps it might at that."
"By that I mean sleep."
Amnayel turns to the inquisitor, frowning. "Are you not aware that the euphoric sensations associated with intense devotions can help provide a more restful sleep and recovery?"
When Kamosh speaks in Common, Amnayel throws her hands in the air, excited. "Fantastic!"
She eyes the wizards suspiciously at the mention of "beauty rest". She has thus far not extended an invitation to him to pray with her. This is not a streak she intends to break today. She glares at him "Yes, Ulrich. Perhaps you should retire for a long and restful sleep.
Would you like my assistance?"
Ulrich looks up from his spellbook, busy with preparation. "By assistance, I expect either an invitation to your prayers, or a bludgeoning upon my head. I shall decline to both. I am busy finishing preparations for that spell that can destroy a set of armour we have been carrying, alone with a few other spells."
Amnayel smiles at Ulrich's response, not actually vocalizing which of his responses was the one she was thinking of. "Suit yourself." she nods and turns to the twins. "Would either of you wish to pray with me this day?"
She reaches out to trace the back of her hand down Allie's cheek, inviting her to join her with nothing more than her deep blue eyes and the slightest of smiles.
Gabbi glances at her sister again before declining the offer with a shake of her head. Instead, she takes a seat next to the doctor, leans her head against his shoulder and closes her eyes.
Rather than risk an encounter with wandering undead, you retreat to the safe chamber you found on the upper level. There, you are able to rest safely, awakening the next morning ready to continue exploring.
In spite of her declaration to Amnayel to the contrary, Gabbi sends her sister off with the paladin and joins Ulrich in his blankets. As pleasant an evening Allie has with the worshiper of Arshea, the sounds of her sister's pleasure are unmistakable however short lived.
~~~~~
The next morning, she recommends the northeast passage.
Ulrich is a bit surprised for Gabriella to sit with him and rest her head. Nevertheless, he happily accommodates, even stroking her hand while he flips through his spellbook and mutters incantations for memorization.
Before bed, Ulrich takes the oldest of the armour sets the group has collected, and blasts it with a disintegration.
Ulrich considers learning bear's endurance.
Ulrich studies Gabriella's eyes and face as she asks this question. There are gears turning in his head. Finally he replies
"I think that could be enjoyable. I am a little apprehensive regarding Alessandra's attachment to you. So far she has looked the other way. I do wonder how she may react if faced with our pleasure directly. I do not want to appear as a threat."
He runs a hand through her hair, resting it at the back of her head.
"I notice you're tense. Be at peace and breathe. I am not here to judge you. You may tell me of any desire you have. We may have been quite wholesome together, but neither of us are truly bland in sexual desire."
--------------------------
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Spells Prepared
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0th (at will) Detect Magic, Read Magic, Mending, Prestidigitation
1st blood money, repair undead, enlarge person, expedious excavation, shield, shocking grasp (2slot)
2nd blood transcription, false life, command undead,
3rd dispel magic, halt undead, magic weapon (greater), disable construct, vampiric touch
4th dimension door (2slot), positive pulse (greater) x2,
5th telekinesis x2, hungry earth, chill touch (heightened) x2
6th dispel magic (greater), ether step, heroism (greater), true seeing (250gp)
7th control undead, disintegrate (heightened)
She shifts under the blankets, pulling the man on top of her and wrapping her lean legs around his waist. "But if you're looking for something a little more ... daring, there are many things to try." Gabbi grins and her fangs are much more noticeable now. She pulls him down and brushes the sharp points across his shoulder. "Many things," she whispers.
Gabbi leads the way down the passage to the northeast. Desks, tables, and worn plush chairs fill most of the floor in this large chamber. Doors to the north and south open into numerous smaller chambers.
Three lanky fiends lurk in this chamber. Merging the most horrifying features of carrion-fed insect and withered cadaver, these bony devils move in unsettling lurches. A withered elf is in the middle of a ritual, chanting words in Infernal as she scrawls sigils in a circle on the floor. She seems perturbed by your arrival. "Attack these intruders!" she peevishly commands the devils!
"A lich!" she shouts out before pronouncing judgement upon it and firing.
"I will attempt to take control of it. I will announce my success or failure in just a second..." Ulrich says
"The bone devils will turn invisible and attack at the same time. Get ready!"
Kamosh flies above the bone devils and the lich, and shrieks out.
Allie curses at Ulrich's description and reaches out to tap Amnayel on the shoulder. "Go get them girly!"
"Take control of what exactly?" Amnayel calls out, confused before Allie gives her the "good" touch and she goes to work bashing with her shield.
Gabbi shoots the lich with several arrows, leaving the elf badly damaged. Ulrich casts a powerful spell and manages to gain control of the lich! He orders her to command the devils to stand down, and though a look of irritation crosses her face, the lich does so. The fiends snarl but refrain from attacking, their tails lashing menacingly as they glare at you.
Gabbi's hands are steady on her bow and her eyes never leave her target. "Order her to send the devils back to Hell," she says quietly.
Amnayel watches Ulrich control the undead elf, turning to face him with concern evident in her voice. "Ulrich, what are you doing." she snaps with disdain.
"Wait." Allie says quietly, putting a hand on the paladin's arm. "There can be good done here."
"Would you please reveal the location of your phalactery?" She asks politely once the devils are dispatched.
Assuming Ulrich gives the orders, the lich speaks a phrase in Infernal, and the devils disappear in puffs of brimstone. She then gesture to one of the small crypts lining this room. Each of the small crypts here is roughly identical, allowing for personal tastes. Stone furniture has been rendered marginally more comfortable with threadbare pillows and blankets. Only a few have any sort of sleeping accommodations—normally a sarcophagus.
The lich leads you to a wall and uncovers a hidden panel. Her phylactery is inside.
Amnayel is clearly irritated by Ulrich's ability to control the undead. She exhales loudly when Allie puts her hand on her arm. "I will wait, but I am quite displeased by this." she says to Allie, not taking her eyes off the necromancer.
"Amnayel," Gabbi instructs, still not taking her eyes off the undead, nor relaxing her hold on her weapon. "Destroy the phylactery."
"Gladly." Amnayel says, glad to eliminate an undead creature like they should have to begin with.
She quickly moves forward and retrieves the item before using all of her strength to slam her shield down on top of it, repeatedly, until there is nothing but tiny fragments left.
"Excellent. Lich, I have questions to ask you. You will tell me the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. Do you understand?"
For an instant, Gabbi turns narrowed eyes at the necromancer. Her gaze then snaps back to the enthralled lich. "We don't have time for this, Ulrich. She's much too deadly to play sixteen questions with."