Unsure of the Countess's intentions, Miruna nonetheless does as instructed and joins Valeska by the sarcophagus.
With a voice that resonates with both command and compassion, Valeska addresses Miruna.
Valiant warrior, whose courage has brought you to this moment, you have ventured through perilous realms and faced untold dangers in your quest to safeguard the innocent and confront the encroaching forces of darkness.
Today, your sisters and brother in battle are witness as destiny bestows upon you a weapon of legendary might, an instrument of hope and protection.
The Countess raises her hand, her eyes moving from Miruna to the revered weapon.
Behold, Raven's Head, a relic forged in the crucible of ancient battles, imbued with the essence of valor and righteousness. It has been passed down through generations, and now, its destiny intertwines with yours.
Valeska motions for Miruna to take up the artifact.
A palpable vibration runs through the ancient stones and living rock around you as Raven's Head is removed from its sepulchral cradle. Showers of dust fall from the rough, domed ceiling like celebratory confetti. However, the austerity of this historic moment is then broken by inhuman shrieks echoing from all around.
Much like removing a mainspring ruins a clockwork contraption, removing Raven's Head has broken the wards that protected the tomb. The ghouls can sense the waning of the positive energy that enshrouded the platform, and now they are calling out to their undead kin to awaken and descend.
In passing, with the overpowering magical aura of the artifact removed from the sarcophagus, those of you with magically attuned eyes can see that the prince-bishop's armor is, indeed, enchanted and not merely ornamental.
"They're coming! We should fall back to a more defensible position!"
Leta begins singing a hopeful song fitting the moment, switching on Inspire Courage +2 at the first sign of an enemy.
"COME ON THEN!" Bashuk screams at the shrieking ghouls. "YOU'LL BURN LIKE THE OTHERS!"
Pre-round - Activate Inspire Courage +2
Pre-round - Summon Nature's Ally, small earth elemental.
We cannot leave, if we are to take the relic, then we must prove ourselves worthy and defend this last hallowed resting place. It is the least we can do. Kain says, twirling his spear as he moves towards an entrance and readies a strike at any enemy coming within his reach.
"We can absolutely leave!" Bashuk retorts. "Seems like we'll have to fight our way out though."
Quickly tucking the mace into her pack, Miruna whispers a prayer for victory to Sarenrae as she steps up beside Kain, her scimitar held at the ready. "Get behind us, Leta," she says, eyeing the darkness across the bridge. "I will deal with any that make it past Kain's spear."
Nadiya grits her teeth and her feet lift off the ground, ready to fly into a more useful position as she activates her flight hex.
The first ghouls to emerge from the ceiling crevices are especially spindly specimens, carrying shabby bows.
The temperature rises noticeably as Bashuk calls her power to her, flames wreathing her entire body as he eyes light up with golden light. As the first of the ghouls crawl out of fractures in the ceiling the half-orc shouts a wordless cry of defiance--and a spear of white-hot fire follows closely behind.
Bashuk's powerful blast leaves the first ghoul archer to emerge with a terrible burn upon its rubbery torso. Although badly wounded, the undead manages to join its fellows in releasing a volley of arrows down upon you.
Arrows whiz harmlessly past Bashuk and Nadiya as they weave aside, while another arrow shatters against the shoulder of Kain's armor.
The first of the ghoul horde crests the top of the ancient stone platform, only for one to immediately become impaled upon Kain's readied spear. Another one lunges for Nadiya, but finds itself also cut down by an opportunistic strike by the cavalier general of Canterwall's forces.
Leta will move through Miruna's friendly square and chuck an arrow at the one straight ahead of the Countess. She continues Inspire Courage +2 as well.
Kain takes the raven's head from Miruna, droping his spear in the center of the group before moving to defend the others. As he moves he readies his shield.
Come at me then filth.
"Dawnflower, grant us victory against this darkness, "Miruna whispers, then she leaps forward to bring her scimitar down onto the head of the closest ghoul as it tries to pull itself up to the platform.
Leta's arrow lands in the chest of the next ghoul that scrambles atop the platform, pausing it long enough for Miruna to cleave its head from its neck.
Up above, the archer struck by Bashuk's blast is suddenly overcome as the empowered embers burning upon its sallow flesh flare up and consume its torso and limbs.
Valeska move to stand by Nadiya and her summoned protector moves toward the threat closest to her new position.
Initiative:
Bashuk (23)
Ghoul Creepers (21)
Kain (19)
Leta (10)
Valeska (9)
Miruna (8)
Ghoul Cleric (8)
Ghouls (5)
Baron Ludwig (4)
Nadiya (3)
The rest of this first wave of ghouls crests the platform. One of them lunges for Nadiya, but she keeps its snapping jaws away by planting a boot upon its chest and pushing it away.
Two others swarm upon Miruna and set upon her with their jagged teeth.
Fortitude #1 28
Fortitude #2 9
Fortitude #1 28
Fortitude #2 9
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Nadiya takes a five-foot floaty step next to Bashuk, and attempts to cast defensively as she assembles the completion incantation for burning hands to strike the two ghouls near Leta.
The ghouls' reactions are too sluggish, and they are both quickly consumed by the sheet of fire that streaks from Nadiya's hands. Not only is Leta no longer threatened by their proximity, but the bridge back to the catacomb tunnels is now clear if you wish to continue your fighting escape.
Additional howls echo along the ancient rock below as more ghouls rouse from their torpor.
"I'll handle the archers--but we need to get off this platform!" Bashuk punctuates her shout with another spear of flame searing off towards a second archer-ghoul near the ceiling.
Leta moves back across the bridge, continuing inspire courage +2.
We are the ones that removed the seal and protection here, we must defend this place and cleanse it. Kain retorts to Bashuk. However, he does glances towards Valeska.
One ghoul archer is nearly overcome by Bashuk's latest blast. He is still able to loose an arrow at Bashuk, but his aim is severely impaired by the flames.
The second ghoul archer manages to land a shot, but Bashuk suffers only a grazing wound.
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Kain steps up to aid Miruna, striking out with the Raven's Head as if to punctuate his earlier statement to Bashuk. The artifact displaying its power, encasing the head of the mace in a bright light, flashing in the darkened crypt.
The earth elemental takes a step and starts to pummel the offending ghoul.
Valeska likewise steps to flank the ghoul, then strikes with her newly acquired starknife.
"I think she just wants a more strategic position to fight."
This invasion must be stopped.
If not now, when? If not us... who?
Conserve your strength!
Leta, there! Finish it!
Valeska points at the damaged undead with the point of her starknife.
Leta frowns. She's not exactly impressing the Countess.
The ancient tomb briefly glows like the break of dawn as Raven's Head, in Kain's hands, strikes the undead foes. Its slumbering power quickly wakes and annihilates the ghouls, turning them to ash with each punishing blow.
The earth elemental stuns the remaining ghoul on the ground with its mighty fists, providing Valeska with a prime opportunity to plunge her starknife into its chest. As soon as she removes the blade, it slumps to the ground, returned to true death.
Leta's shot strikes the stone near the burned ghoul archer, almost causing it to lose its footing as it recoils from the projectile.
Praying fervently, Miruna summons a ghostly scimitar into her free hand and, with a shout, sends it hurling through the air at the ghoul set alight by Bashuk's blast. Unfortunately for her, the attempt has more enthusiasm than precision. Frowning, she moves to the bridge to guard Leta's back.
The undead cleric in service to Baron Ludwig emerges and comes into Leta's view. He invokes some unholy magic and directs it upon Leta...but she feels no effect.
You can feel another surge of magic as Baron Ludwig casts a spell of his own upon his minions. Thus empowered, two more ghouls leap out from around a corner to snap their jaws at her, now moving much more quickly. However, the bard turns aside their attacks with her capable defense.
Miruna, Leta... Fall back!
As the group seems to be moving out, Bashuk fires off a more rushed blast with the intention of finishing off the archer before moving to join Leta and Miruna. "Damn it, cut through them!" she shouts as the ghouls leap to hem in Leta.
On her action, Leta will use a Withdraw action to avoid Ghoul AOO while moving back across the bridge through friendlies. She'll continue Inspire Courage +2 as a free action and leave the nasties for someone with more punch for now.
Bashuk's blast finishes off the archer she wounded before. This time, her flames leave very little of the ghoul behind to tumble into the abyss below.
Seeing the power of Raven's Head in Kain's hands, the remaining ghoul archer prioritizes him as a target. However, his ratty arrow merely glances off the shin guards of Kain's armor.
Nadiya pulls a flask of alchemist's fire out of her haversack and flies five feet upward at a diagonal toward Bashuk. Safely over the heads of her compatriots, she hurls the flask at the two ghouls in the bottleneck.
Kain rushes up to the other two, blocking their access to the crossing and the platform, and providing assistance to Miruna.
Pointing to the perched archer, Bashuk, can you take that thing out?
Valeska moves between the ghoul bowman and Nadiya, in the hopes of providing some cover for her.
Meanwhile the diminutive earth elemental lumbers across the bridge to stand beside Kain against the approaching enemy. They will not reach the Summoner.