Sarela casts detect magic and scans the origami grasshopper.
Unless Sarela stops her, Mithralline boldly strolls in, picking up the grasshopper and reading this latest note.
"We still have the other ones, right?" she asks. She's starting to wonder if maybe these aren't just warnings, but another of this place's puzzles.
Sarela was only being cautious in checking the grasshopper for trouble, but she is alarmed when she detects magic. She orders Mithralline to stop just as her hand hovers over the paper. As Mith pulls her hand back, Sarela discerns there is an abjuration aura radiating from the paper. Having studied the others, she knows none of them possessed that aura.
Mithralline waits for the others to determine what the magic is.
Sarela continues focusing on the grasshopper, attempting to decipher the aura.
"Ohh what did you find Sarela?" Aira tries to whisper, not interrupting Sarela's concentration.
She grips her staff tightly in her hand, awaiting what is uncovered.
Sarela's convinced that there is a spell called explosive runes set on the note, triggered when the note is opened.
Sam looks frightened. "Explosive ruins! Everything will be in ruins? Yikes! Let's avoid that!"
"Runes, Sam, not ruins. If opened, the note will explode in the face of whoever opens it. It may also affect anyone standing near that person. This mysterious note writer is serious about us not interfering. Too bad for them. Leave the note where it lies - I doubt it contains anything important."
"Wow, nice catch Sarela. Perhaps someday you can help train me to find dangers such as these. Once we get out of this place that is."
Aira continues up behind her allies as they push in with their investigation.
"Don't read. I'll do my best." Thras says with an amused snort. He checks the doors to see if he can open them, and if possible opens them both to peer at what's beyond.
Thras opens the western door first and finds a room that contains two bunk beds made of thick, dark wood, one against the north wall and one against the south. The mattresses on each bed are neatly folded up, without pillows or bedclothes. A dresser and a small wooden chest stand against the west wall. The room’s only exit is a sliding double door in the east wall.
Sliding open the northern door reveals a massive canopy bed to the east dominates this large room with a wide, ornate headboard carved with images of snails chasing cats. Hanging from the canopy are hundreds of medallions of various sizes and shapes. A roll-top desk stands against the south wall. The desk is overflowing with papers, some of which are scattered on the floor or folded into origami shapes. Glass doors lead to semicircular balconies to the west and north.
It would appear that something in this room had been waiting for you. Having overheard your conversion, a short, dark haired ghostly creature seems to writhe in the throes of some uncontrollable emotion as it floats through the wall from the east and moves to attack Thras. Having previously encountered Garrid back in the town square, you immediately recognize that this a creature of the same making, an unfettered phantom.
With wild eyes it screams at you and raises its arms as it readies to attack as it screams "You should not have come to this place!"
"I can't wait to meet this writer," Mithralline says with a dark grin. "I have some literary criticism that I'd like to share with her."
Still her attention is quickly diverted by Thras' discovery of a new friend. Dropping her lance, she pulls her fairy-gifted longsword as she moves forward, settling into her swift iron stance, and slashes the blade through the phantom!
Sarela moved to where she could see the phantom, then hexed it with ill fortune to help protect her allies!
Aira rushes in behind Mith. "I have your back!" she shouts, as she keeps her staff gripped tightly in her hands.
Mithralline's longsword pierces the creature's toughened skin and nearly tears off its left arm.
The phantom is unable to withstand Sarela's cackling and it causes the phantom to miss with both of its retaliatory punches when it normally should have hit with both.
Thras lashes out violently, but his wild blows have more bark than bite.
Sam moves forward and claps at Mithralline "Be careful!"
HP 26/31; Swift Refuge: 0/1
AC 18, touch 12, flat-footed 16, CMD 18 (+1 dodge bonus against Large creatures; +2 vs. Huge or bigger creatures)
Fort +5, Ref +3, Will +1
Challenge: 0/1; Tactician (5 rounds): 0/1; Champion challenge: 0/1
Effects:
Mithralline slashes again with the sword, trying to end this phantom's threat.
Sam cheers on Mithralline and moves in closer, tapping Thras on the back of the calf.
Seeing the fighters attacks miss, Aira steps up trying to even the odds with some fire. She holds her staff out as a wave of flame engulfs the area.
dc 16 ref for half
Sarela reaches out and touched Aralah, saying, ”May Sarenrae’s blessing guide your aim.” She then cackles, a creepy tinge to her laughter.
Mithralline and Thras's attacks both miss and the phantom avoids most of the damage from Aira's flames. Aralah steps in and fires a shot, but misses as well.
The phantom decides to make the brave little mage pay for her flame spell and moves up to her, striking her twice with two rapid-fire body blows that nearly put her down on the ground.
Raahhh!
HP 26/31; Swift Refuge: 0/1
AC 18, touch 12, flat-footed 16, CMD 18 (+1 dodge bonus against Large creatures; +2 vs. Huge or bigger creatures)
Fort +5, Ref +3, Will +1
Challenge: 0/1; Tactician (5 rounds): 0/1; Champion challenge: 0/1
Effects:
"Stand and fight, you stupid phantom," Mithralline taunts, "or are you scared of a real challenge?"
She moves around, opposite Thras, and brings her blade to bear.
Immediately s Airah's wounds open, they begin closing and the lion's share of them appear on Sam.
Sam moves into the room to be better able to help. Seeing Airah nearly fall, she calls out in horror "NO!" Memories rip through her mind. "Miss Rose wouldn't wake up... Laurel sacrificing himself... Airah almost dying earlier... Not again... No no no not again..." She lifts her hand to her necklace to heal Airah and pulses out energy in a panic but something strange happens. The wave of energy passes over Airah without an effect but instead slams into the phantom.
Sam's hand stays on her necklace as she looks shocked at what she's done, attacking another creature directly. She begins mumbling "Sorry! I mean no... I had to... But..."
Sarela says to Aralah, ”Don’t worry - Sarenrae will guide your strikes.” She then cackles triumphantly.
Aira flinches at the phantom quickly approaches her, swiping and tearing at her insides. In the blink of an eye she felt like she was about to lose consciousness when a small boost of warmth took over. She felt Sam calling out inside "Its not over yet dear friend! We need you!"
Doubling over in pain, but still standing, Aira retreats from the reach of the fiend, and takes cover behind Aralah.
Aralah fires two shots, but neither she, Thras nor Mithralline are able to hit the phantom. Aira makes her escape while Sarela guides her team and Sam tries to injure the creature with divine energy. To Sam's surprise however, her magic doesn't seem to injure the creature.
The phantom slides five feet to the side and punches Mithralline twice in the chest with two powerful blows.
HP 13/31; Swift Refuge: 0/1
AC 18, touch 12, flat-footed 16, CMD 18 (+1 dodge bonus against Large creatures; +2 vs. Huge or bigger creatures)
Fort +5, Ref +3, Will +1
Challenge: 0/1; Tactician (5 rounds): 0/1; Champion challenge: 0/1
Effects:
Mithralline grunts as the creature breaks some ribs , spitting blood at it as she continues her assault, slashing with her sword into the creature's center.
Thras moves around to preserve the flank, going for a much quicker strike. While his powerful blows were something to be wary of, the quick switch in tactics shows a mind for tactics. He gives a bloody grin; he was actually enjoying something that was putting up a fight.
Not much help vs this beast, Aira stays in the back and attempts to hit it from range, while encouraging her allies "You got this guys! I know you can do it!"
She lobs a magical ball of acid, from her safe distance, though still rattled from her previous blow, the attack flies way off course.
"You can do it Aralah. I have faith in you!" Sarela then laughs triupmhantly.
Aralah would have missed with both of her shots, but thanks to Sam's guidance and Sarela's luck she turns her two fails shots into two solid ones.
The phantom attacks Mithrallien twice, but it misses both due to Sarela's magic.
Thras's fists lash out quickly.
HP 13/31; Swift Refuge: 0/1
AC 18, touch 12, flat-footed 16, CMD 18 (+1 dodge bonus against Large creatures; +2 vs. Huge or bigger creatures)
Fort +5, Ref +3, Will +1
Challenge: 0/1; Tactician (5 rounds): 0/1; Champion challenge: 0/1
Effects:
Mithralline would thank her good fortune if she weren't certain it was her own skill that protected her. Instead, she continues her assault on the phantom.
"Just give up already!" she urges it.
Sam's wounds keep opening further as Airah's close.
Then Sam moves up and tries to help Mithralline hit the dang ghost.
Sarela once again gives Aralah Sarenrae's guidance, before laughing maniacally at the phantom.
Aira feels her wounds close even more. She gives a nod to Sam, before attempting to lob another orb of acid at the creature from a safe distance.
Aralah misses her first shot, but nails her second one, damaging the phantom even though it resists most of her attack. Aira's splash hits as does Thras's, finally inflicting some non-resisted damage on the creature.
The phantom's first punch misses, but it connects with Mithralline on the second powerful blow.
HP 9/31; Swift Refuge: 0/1
AC 18, touch 12, flat-footed 16, CMD 18 (+1 dodge bonus against Large creatures; +2 vs. Huge or bigger creatures)
Fort +5, Ref +3, Will +1
Challenge: 0/1; Tactician (5 rounds): 0/1; Champion challenge: 0/1
Effects:
Mithralline grunts at the hit, now hurting badly from the accumulated blows, not that she'd complain . She continues her assault on the phantom, ramming her sword through its chest.
The creature's resilience was getting on Thras's nerves. Although the savage grin remains on his face, it twists and deforms into something more sickening as the veins in his forehead bulge. Most disturbingly his eyes become shot with jagged lines of gold, like lightning running through his irises. He jumps backwards, only to grab the heavy-bladed bardiche on back. With a guttural snarl he chops it viciously downwards!
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Due to life link, I take 10 damage to start my turn while Mithralline and Airah each heal 6.
Sam moves over and sends out another pulse of healing. "C'mon! You can do this!"
Sareal continues her cheerleading for Aralah, interspersed with laughter at the phantom.
Aira's wounds close even more. Feeling more energetic, she moves for a better angle and fires another bolt of acid at the creature.
Aralah fires two more quick arrows at the phantom. The first misses and the second one hits, but it's not enough damage to injure it.
Thras comes through with a TREMENDOUSLY powerful hit, backed up by a solid blow from Mithralline that finally dispatches the phantom before it can strike again.
The 94 holy symbols around the bed are worth 1 gp each, as they are wooden holy symbols for common deities. Sixteen others are worth 25 gp each, either because they are made of silver or because they are rare, representing a forgotten or unknown deity from
far-flung locations across the planes.
The desk contains a mahogany snuffbox worth 90 gp as well as 78 pp and 14 gp. The papers in the desk include a scroll of fire shield, a scroll of halt undead, and a page of spell knowledge with summon monster II. The desk also contains a single brown, leather glove stitched with a distinctive whorl patter that you identify as a challenger’s glove.
Hidden in a desk drawer, you find eighteen oddly shaped iron keys: three engraved with a standing rectangle and the numbers 1 through 3, six engraved with a semicircle and the numbers 1 through 6, and nine engraved with a right triangle and the numbers 1 through 9. Each key radiates faint transmutation magic.
"Well, here are the keys. I guess we just grab them all and see which one fits. Or probably have a puzzle when we get to the ballroom. Let's see what the glove can do," Mithralline says, hefting it and holding it out for Aira or Sam to inspect.