Kain's first lance thrust deals a potent blow to the ghoul huntsmaster, but the undead foe evades the second thrust, and he also blocks Valere's beak with his sturdy bow.
The huntsmaster tosses aside his bow and decides to tear into the Valere with tooth and claw, ready to diversify his palate by sampling griffin meat. Valere just manages to brush aside the ghoul's jaws and one of his claws, but the other claw manages to pierce his plumage.
The huntsmaster's undead cat companion lunges for Kain's ankles, managing to scratch beneath the greaves of his plate armor.
Up on the roof, the other ghoul picks his bow back up with a hiss and snaps off a shot at Nikolai, but the scholar is better prepared this time and dodges the arrow whistling towards him.
Bashuk frowns as the ghoul ducks her fiery missile. "What? No, that's not right..." Shaping another javelin of fire, the half-orc grasps it and takes aim again. "Let's try this again."
Bashuk's blast leaves the ghoul archer's torso scorched and blackened, although the creature still stands.
Valda moves into position and delivers a slash that hews the undead cat's tail and much of its flank, and the creature hisses and yowls with its hoarse, desiccated voice at her.
Nikolai dodges out of the way of the crossbow bolt, his hand that was covered with a layer of bark deflecting it to the side. Leaving the ranged combat to the skill of Bashuk and her power, he draws his rapier again and moves into close combat, he runs up behind the gigantic Kain and produces another syringe that he jabs into the man's calf. It would be as if a second skin had slothed off of the man, shimmering in purples and blues, before disappearing before his eyes.
"This will protect you! Go all out!" Nikolai shouts out as he takes a moment to study the movement of the undead feline. With his blade in hand, he prepares to engage the hunter's pet.
Valeska moves back towards the roof-runner... drawing a second starknife and throwing it as Ariel slams into the undead.
Kain delivers two more strong thrusts with Thorn that nearly rip the ghoul huntsmaster's torso apart, leaving the creature truly dead upon the ground.
Valere's beak pries the undead cat from his master's enlarged leg, and the griffin leaves the creature similarly broken.
The ghoul upon the roof attempts to flee, but with the party now able to focus their fire upon a single target, the last of this undead hunting party does not get very far before also being destroyed.
The fog-shrouded village is quiet and still once again, but after this encounter with some of the foul creatures that caused Clover's Crossing to become a ghost town, the atmosphere is anything but peaceful. At least, for the time being, you are free to continue your exploration and investigation of the town hall.
"I'd like to check this building. Those ghouls were dangerous, but I doubt they could clear a village. Even accounting for some people who were eaten instead of turned, where is everyone?"
As Valda takes care of the others, Valeska bid farewell to the Air Elemental. It makes some whispering wind sounds and cyclones away, vanishing.
The countess seems to have mixed feelings about the departure.
The bites and scratches... How bad is it? Anyone looking pale? She jokes, but it's clear she's asking if there is a risk of infection and the passage from life to... undeath.
I'll need to retrieve my knife. She mentions the starknife she'd thrown up at the roof-runner.
The sheen of Valeska's starknife contrasts sharply with the dark wooden shingles, making it clear where the weapon has become stuck upon the roof, near the broken dormer window.
Now that the adrenaline of battle begins to fade, you can better take stock of the cellar that the ghouls used as a lair. This is not a good thing, for the smell within leaves even those of you not wounded by the undead feeling quite sick.
The stone-lined cellar was apparently used as a repository or museum of sorts, storing curios and artifacts from the village's history. In particular, Valeska recognizes a number of items celebrating the Varisian settlers who founded the village, way back when. Unfortunately, the artistic scarves, texts, clothes, and other cultural items have been heaped and defiled by the ghouls to form their nest.
I will continue mounted once we leave the building. Its best if I am not caught like that again.
Kain turns to Valeska. I am not certain, but I think that these undead do not infect others with bites. Though, I am sure our professor would know better. He turns to Nikolai.
"Well, that was certainly something." Nikolai said softly, sheathing his rapier away and turning towards the others. There were questions to answer and discoveries to be made within the darkness of the town hall before them.
Being a student in Ustalav meant that, inevitably, one would need to speak about the undead. It was ingrained in their history, in their very being, and it could not be ignored. The Whispering Tyrant had ruled this land for a long time and its mark could not be ignored. Nikolai, an explorer, archeologist, and scholar, had extensive knowledge on the undead and shared it with the others.
Entering into the basement, the investigator covers his mouth and coughs softly at the stink that permeated through here. The ghouls had ruined so much, so much that could've potentially been saved. Looking for the least damaged pieces, Nikolai studied the nest.
Thus, he knows that the disease is, indeed, transmitted via the bite of ghouls, ghasts, and lacedons. Although there are other, more esoteric methods (such as necromancy, engaging in cannibalism, or consuming the flesh of a ghoul), these infected bites are the most common source of newly risen ghouls.
However, being bitten by a ghoul is not a guaranteed death (or undeath) sentence. Individuals with resilient bodies can fight off the disease like any other before it progresses to a terminal state.
In addition to providing his insight about ghoul fever, Nikolai is also able to piece together the surprisingly long history of Clover's Crossing from the images and text woven into the scraps of artistic Varisian scarves that have been heaped into the ghouls' nest. This is supplemented by other texts and relics mixed in from the town hall's ravaged museum.
The village's origin stretches back to the Age of Enthronement, during the golden age of the Kingdom of Ustalav, following the nation's creation when the disparate Varisian settlements were united by Soividia Ustav. The original village was actually founded by members of previously divided Varisian clans.
Unfortunately, the next significant event in the village's history was when it was used as a rallying point for Ustalav's armies staging their desperate (and ultimately doomed) fight against the Whispering Tyrant. During the war against the lich, and even during the nation's enslavement under the Whispering Tyrant, catacombs were dug out beneath the church and its yard to inter the residents who died during this dark age.
The most fascinating detail is that - according to some of these old Varisian records - Prince Adamondais Virholt, son of Ardurras Virholt, the Last King of Ustalav, is one of the doomed defenders of Ustalav who was interred within the catacombs beneath Clover's Crossing.
"That it would. Finding these relics would certainly give the Countess unparalleled influence even in royal matters, potentially, let alone the more practical benefits of finding Prince Adamondais." Nikolai said, frowning a little bit as he looked over their wounds. "Later, I would suggest that you allow me to look over your wounds in detail. Ghoul Fever is no joking matter and can be quite dangerous."
"Hopefully this prince has stayed in his crypt, it might look bad if we have to re-kill him," Bashuk says skeptically. "Should we press on to the town hall?"
Valeska climbs the stairs from the cellar, up into the hall proper. She ascends further, to the upper story to access the roof and retrieve her starknife. In the broken window, hanging from a splintered beam, she sees the magic amulet that Valda spotted from the ground. Up close, you see that it consists of a thin, coiled length of silver that contains either the tooth or horn fragment from some manner of beast like a spiral-shaped cage.
On the attic-like second story, you also see a message carved into the wood of the sharply angled wall.
You aren't sure when this was carved or whether they made it.
Valeska comes back down, handing the amulet to Valda.
There is a message carved into the wall upstairs... Valeska recites the message from memory.
Not sure what to make of it.
Nikolai will listen to what was written as Valeska recites it, his brow furrowed slightly as he considers what they had described.
"Well, there is the potential for a miracle but...there seems to be no residual evidence and we have no witnesses. It is also that, potentially..." Nikolai's words died for a moment as he thought it over, closing his eyes as he considered the possibilities.
"Well...uh...t-there is the possibility that...with this being the...uh...supposed resting place of a prince that magical items from the Golden Age of Ustalav could be here, back when it was a kingdom and before the cruel reign of the Whispering Tyrant." As he spoke, his words grew faster and faster. A true relic.
"I would suggest we investigate the catacombs. See if the rumors are true. Perhaps their miracle has a magical origin?"
Picking through the town hall, you do find evidence that it served as refuge for at least a dozen people. Abandoned dolls, discarded, soiled clothes, and other bits of detritus make it clear that not only were children among the survivors, but some of them may have not have even been a year old yet. The condition of these clues suggests that this likely unfolded several months ago, so you can only hope that they have found some semblance of a new life in Tamrivena by now.
Your historical knowledge also informs you that Ardurras Virholt, besides being a prince of Ustalav, was a Pharasmin bishop and that he carried the sacred mace Raven's Head into battle against the legions of the Whispering Tyrant. The bishop-prince and the artifact were long believed to have been lost to the undead horde, but if his remains were actually recovered and interred during the chaos of the unholy war, then a legendary weapon may lie somewhere beneath your feet.
Certainly, the past few escapades have not been to my strengths. What is one more. Kain smirks to Nikolai when he asks about searching the catacombs.
And yes, I'll take point while we are outside. Also, thank you for correcting my information. Undead are not my specialty. That is more so beasts and orcs. At least insofar as the latter's military tactics are concerned.
What do we know of Tamrivena?
What you say about the Bishop may be true, but... My concern is first for the living.
At best, the ruling council of Tamrivena sees Countess Valeska and the rest of the party as rivals; at worst, they see you as enemies. The fertile farmlands of Canterwall, considered the breadbasket of Ustalav, were seized from their control and handed to you, resulting in a loss of territory, resources, and influence. Beyond this, the Palatine council is also dismayed to see those lands returned to hereditary noble rule after having spent the past five decades under citizens' rule.
Despite these tensions, if the survivors of Clover's Crossing made it across the river and northward into Tamrivena's territory, they likely would have been provided sanctuary.
...
The day has worn on as you've investigated Clover's Crossing and battled the ghouls. Thus, as you pick your way back to the village green and the chasm, you find the fog shrouding the landscape being thinned by the light of the sun as it climbs higher in the sky. You can now see the waters of the Vistear River hemming in the northern edge of the empty village, serving as part of the border between the counties of Canterwall and Tamrivena.
The hideous sinkhole again lays open at your feet, the bones of the old church still littering its bottom.
Thankfully, you don't see any ghouls crawling out of the catacomb tunnels exposed along the sides of the chasm like a macabre honeycomb. Although no more undead come out to meet you, there is no telling what lurks beyond the reach of daylight.
With the rope properly secured, you toss the loose end down the chasm. The rough, uneven walls of the sinkhole provide plentiful hand and footholds, making the climb down an easy affair.
You find that the exposed catacomb tunnels are layered into three levels, so the next decision is where to start.
I suppose there's not much we can do for the refugees at the moment.
At the "dig" Valeska considers.
Top down, I reckon. So as not be too cut off from behind or... above?
"Top down," Bashuk agrees.
I'll go... Valeska takes hold of the rope. Sasha is better at climbing...
At the next ledge down, Valeska looks around, ready to summon assistance.
With a shrug, Bashuk steps off the ledge and out into thin air, passing the countess on her plummet down. As the ground rushes up to meet her a blast of flame from her hands and and feet arrests her momentum enough for a safe landing.
And Valda makes three... What do you suppose is taking the men so long? She chuckles.
"I'm coming! Yes. Patience is a virtue. Yes." Nikolai muttered, taking his time on the rope. He moved inch by inch, looking down to try and make sure he did not fall to his death. Such an end of a studious mind would be a terrible waste. Arriving on the first layer, he would lower his owl-themed goggles down and watch as the dim light brightened all around him.
With Valda's rope secured to the stunted tree, the party accesses the uppermost level of the broken-open catacombs. Silverwing stays above ground to keep watch and protect Doctor Evets.
Your feet fall upon ancient flagstones first laid down innumerable generations ago. The passage is surprisingly wide, although this is counterbalanced by a low ceiling. If Kain or Valda were much taller, they would have to hunch their shoulders to avoid scraping their heads upon the tiles above.
About a dozen or so yards ahead, the passage is blocked by a collapse. A surviving passage stretches off to the right.
Shall we? Valeska starts to move into the catacombs, then realizes it's getting dark rather quickly for her.
A long hallway, a comfortable ten feet wide, stretches eastward. A curving side passage, lined with burial niches, buttresses the main hallway upon the south. Although cobwebs cloud the nooks and corners of the passages, you notice that the thick layers of dust have been frequently, and recently, disturbed by movement.
Kain retrieves a sunrod from his kit and offers it to the party members at his back before securing his grip on Thorn anew. He leads the party onwards but stops at the point where the curving side passage opens.
"I can smell the tang of blood," he whispers.
Thank you, Kain.
Valeska accepts the sunrod, having a free hand... and follows the others after checking on Nikolai and Evets.
Nikolai walks with his rapier in hand, settled in a defensive pose as he steps further ahead. Looking over the shoulders of the others, he clears his throat.
"I am for exploring the various passageways. We must eliminate the ghoul infestation before it can replenish itself. These nests can be quite tricky..."
"Leave no stone unturned and all that. I don't want anything mean and hungry catching us from behind." Bashuk has doused her flames, trusting to her darkvision instead as the group creeps down the tunnel.
You train your divine senses upon your surroundings. Something awful happened here. Perhaps survivors from the church collapse climbed out of the rubble and sought shelter here, only to be set upon by the ghouls. You strongly suspect this passage is possessed of a haunting, but your resolute will protects you from its effects.
It seems that the old shrine was shattered by a hunk of stone that fell from the ceiling above, as evidenced by the piece of debris that is quite different in color and carving from those of the broken shrine.
You might be able to rig up some kind of makeshift structural support to prevent further collapse. Otherwise, the party will have to step carefully lest the reverberations of your steps cause heavy chunks of stone to fall upon your heads.
"Very interesting. The shrine was destroyed by the collapsing stone. See the difference in hue? The stability here is compromised; it could collapse underneath our feet at any point." Nikolai cautiously steps closer, cataloguing all the places they had traveled through today and trying to put together a solution to reinforce what integrity that still remained.
"I think I have an idea. Good marshal, I may need your strength to help me here."