As you approach the tunnel, it splits off to the south and you can see a glint of metal. There appears to be a long sword and armor reflecting the light from the torch.
Whispering, ”Tarphrex sees body on the floor. Shiny armor and sword. Wait here, hold torch.”
He offers the torch to one of his allies, intending to investigate in the dark.
"Be careful, Tarphrex." Zenaida accepts the torch, watching her kobold friend closely. It's logical for the one with darkvision to investigate, but he can't wear armor! It's nervewracking to watch Tarphrex go off alone.
Tarphrex moves slowly creeping almost down on all fours, ready to flee as soon as the armor so much as creaks. He first moves to the sword, swiftly dragging it out of reach of the armored body, then waiting for a reaction.
If there is no reaction, he will wave his friends forward and move closer (sans sword) and try to examine the body to ascertain if it is recently dead, long dead, or sleeping.
The metal of the sword scrapes across the stone, and Tarphrex's dragon senses kick in to notice the high quality of said sword.
And.....
As you all get closer, you... Feel something odd... The feeling of fearlessness and an overwhelming aura of good intent coming from an armored human man sitting upright hand on his right leg... The Human has neatly brushed brownish grey hair and though he seems older he has flawless features suggesting good health and noble birth. On his breastplate, sword and shield are etched a familiar religious symbol a songbird. The body pushes himself upright, and in a quiet but strong tone says, Hello, what brings you all to this place? Same as myself or...
A voice! And the speaker sounds friendly, or at least not hostile. Good enough for right now. Zenaida steps forward, torch in one hand and sword in the other. While her plate armor is emblazoned with Falayna's symbol in gold- a woman's hand wearing several rings and holding a longsword point up- she doubts that the man will recognize it. "Hello, stranger. I am Zenaida Radulescu, a priestess of Falayna. My comrades and I are hunting Aldern Foxglove, who is almost certainly the one responsible for the murders and outbreak of ghoul fever in Sandpoint."
Alain smiles and holds out his hand, My own is Alain Lawrence, it seems you can be trusted... Have you also encountered Ghouls by chance? The fools didnt do their homework, paladin's are immune to disease they believed me infected
At the voice, ”Eek!”
Tarphrex flees, dragging the sword around behind Zenaida where he peeks out warily.
I will need that back little friend, my blade may be a tad big for you, it requires special training to use effectively Alain smiles kindly
”Why trick Tarphrex and friends?”
The little kobold narrows his eyes at the metallic man.
Oh i'm not, Trickery is not something i would do. Trickery, violence, those things arent something i'm allowed to do. You see the Ghouls here ambushed me, i...tried to negotiate some terms of peace as befits my Lady the Eternal Rose , unfortunetly this happened and i wound up here. But if you're all here then mayhaps we can work together to end this problem, if you're trying to capture a criminal then i can help bring this Foxglove person to justice.
Tarphrex looks up at Zenaida and mutters, ”Tarphrex got sword. Should Tarphrex give sword back to man?” One scaly brow raises quesioningly.
While you're all considering, the sound of clawed feet can be heard from further in the tunnels, moving your direction.
What do you do?
"Your help would be greatly appreciated. I'd fill you in on the details, but we're in a bit of a hurry, we're chasing a ghost."
The sounds then reach Loth's ears.
"And I think we've found your ghouls."
Zenaida hands the torch off to Loth, then shakes the paladin's hand. "A pleasure, although I wish it were under better circumstances." She turns to Tarphrex and nods. "I think we can trust him. Shelyn is a kindly goddess, and if Alain here used her power to hurt people without just cause, she would take it away. Please give him back his sword, Tarphrex." Hopefully that will reassure her companion. He's still learning about non-kobold culture, including the concept of good deities and those who serve them. She's not sure if Tarphrex has ever encountered a paladin before, or even knows what a paladin is.
As the kobold drags the oversized (for him) sword back to its owner, Zenaida looks toward the ominous sound of claws on the floor. "Right. We need to get going."
Once he has his bastard sword in hand again he sheathes it and
turns about face Then fill me in on the way, The more i know the better chance i can try to solve this without too much bloodshed. I advise everyone to keep close, my aura gifts those around me a level of bravery
Zenaida shakes her head grimly. "The time for diplomacy is long past. The ghouls hunger for the flesh of thinking beings, spreading their disease as they attack, and Aldern Foxglove must pay the price for his crimes against the people of Sandpoint."
Tarphrex collects the torch after giving the man back his sword. He shakes his his head, saying ”No blood. They already dead once. We make dead again.”
He mutters a magical incantation, causing his body to glow briefly. Mage Armor
"For now, suffice it to say that the ghouls are likely the product of Foxglove to begin with, and his sins don't end there by a long shot."
Loth readies both shortswords and stands at the ready.
Afterwards then ... This is neither the time nor place for a trial when lives are on then. I would prefer letting proper authorities handle him if he's living, however if he's behind ghouls then that puts doubt that he is Alain draws his blade and buckler, wielding the bastard sword in one handle with ease, Let's proceed then, I'll hold the vanguard, Alain will begin moving forward
"Foxglove is ghoul, too, Tarphrex thinks. Nasty, nasty, stinky dead thing."
Tarphrex the Torchbearer will stay behind the van, but close enough to give them both light and warning if his darkvision detects something beyond the light.
______________
As you begin moving through the tunnels, you hear the scrapping again as three creatures you all (except maybe Sherman, who hasn't seen one this adventure) recognize as ghouls. They seem unsurprised to see you all and spring to the attack!
Luckily for you all, the narrow confines means only two of them can reach the party. Both attack Alain with their jaws....
...Both of which miss horribly, leaving drool smear acrossed the fighter's armor.
Everyone is up, pawns have been placed, , do try not to get paralyzed.
"Well met, Alain. This place has had many surprises in store, and you're one of the few who doesn't try to harm us." Sherman says, quite relieved of encountering someone of flesh and blood.
"I am Reverend Sherman Blake - one of the surprises here. And I have no idea how and why I got here..."
Ghouls! An undead menace the newcomer was speaking about. Sherman strides closer, and calls for the whatever deity that has gifted and cursed him - and suddenly a burning globe of fire appears in the old man's burnt hands. Sherman throws the ball towards the dotted ghouls, although the sphere appears to be moving rather by its own will.
I'll hold the line! Alain whips out his bastard sword at the ghoul with one hand impressively, shield in the other hand.
Loth moves up along with Alain. "Nice hit!"
Then, he attempts a nice hit of his own.
Tarphrex shifts to cast a ray toward Loth’s target.
Screeches of agnoy and anger ring forth from their throats as you mercilessly cut down your foes.
And the cave stretches out before you, turning to the right close by.
What are your next steps?
No sooner does Zenaida realize the ghouls are there, than the rest of the party springs into action. Alain and Loth slice and stab, Tarphrex and Sherman fling spells, and before she knows it the ghouls are down. The warpriest sighs, obviously disappointed. "Excellent job, everyone. Although... maybe leave a little for me next time, hmm?"
"I am sorry, Zenaida. I think we got a little bit excited there..." Sherman says, dry smile on his lips. He motions towards the globe of fire, and soon the flames start to dissipate.
"Onwards, then?"
A sly grin comes over Loth's face. "Just be quicker on the ball next time, eh?"
Remembering the situation, the frown returns. "We have to hurry. You're right, Sherman. Onwards!"
Remembering the situation, the frown returns. "We have to hurry. You're right, Sherman. Onwards!"
Onward, indeed.
As you all begin moving forward, you turn the corner headed north. Another tunnel breaks off to your left (west), and ahead of you...
... Across the wide space, the spectral form of Iesha Foxglove beats her fist against a metal door carved and inlayed with protective runes. Though she slams her fists against it, no sounds come from her. Cowering away from her, a quartet of goblins, rotting flesh hanging from their over-wide mouths and skin dropping from their frames, eye her with wariness. The form of another of these creatures lies unmoving at Iesha's feet. When they spot you, their fear turns to hate and their mouths scream with their jealousy of the living. They begin to move towards you, long teeth and sharp claws brandished.
INITIATIVE!
_____________
Lucky rolls, you ALL get to act before them.
In this room (36), movement comes one of two ways, due to the water making the sloop slippery.
1) Climb check DC 5. Must have both hands empty, move at quarter speed. Which rounds down.
2) Acrobatics check DC 12. Move at half speed. Failure by 5 or more means you slip and fall towards the water, taking damage.
. . You can also try a DC 17 check to move at full speed. Same penalty.
Lastly, Loth's keen hearing detects the sound of movement from the tunnel to his left....
Zenaida, you'll have plenty to do in this combat.
"Heads up, there's something to our left as well!"
Wasting no time and with no care for the difficult terrain, he rushes into position full-speed.
Sherman hobbles after the quicker halfling, but stops after seeing Loth balancing on the slippery stone. He carefully steps in and tests his weight against the surface - and once comfortable begins to move further in.
"Oh, it's her again." the reverend says, pointing towards the spectral woman. "She looks busy, I hope she doesn't care about us."
But there are other creatures, too. Perhaps they will bow down to fire like the previous ghouls... Getting the hang of the flaming sphere spell, he casts the globe to burn the closest goblin.
Tarphrex moves into the left passage, "Friends not go this way!"
He touches the stone of the floor, causing a brief green flash.
@Sherman: I don't know what happened to your original flaming sphere token, but I've given you a little red sun and put it on the nearest goblin. A goblin who....
...fails to avoid the ball of fire as it burns away most of its flesh. Though it limps due to the lack of muscel and sinew, it moves forward undettered, the bones of its feet clacking against the stone.
"Ugh, really?" Zenaida looks at the terrain ahead of them and sighs. There are times when heavy armor is a burden. Maybe there's a potion or scroll she can buy to avoid this situation in the future. No help for it right now, though. The warpriest drops her shield; she'll need a free hand to catch herself if she slips. Chanting a quick spell of guidance, Zenaida gingerly steps onto the slippery slope.
I feel the same Alain sighs and casts guidance and tries to slip his way across, with a stroke of luck despite his heavy armor and generally older age
@Zenaida: Your shield clangs against the ground, but even with Falayna's presence, you are unable to find good footing to move forward.
@Alain: That is enough to move. Where are you going. Feel free to move your token on the maps (page 7).
All the goblins will be going for the DC 17 to move at full speed. They have lost none of their recklessness with their flesh rotting off their bones...
.... So. Dot&Dash (the one hit by the flaming sphere) slides across the slick, slanted surface. The body falls the distance to hit the water below with an echoing flop, the body fails to continue moving.
Dot also falls into the water below them, but later surfaces and starts reaching for the rocks to climb back up.
Dash begins to try moving forward, but slips and pinwheels its arms to regain its balance. Then tries again and makes it up to Alain before stopping.
Solid slides forward on the slick rock, gliding like an ice-skater, sliding to a stop, teeth extended, to scrape off the metal of Alain's armor.
All and all, not a great turn for the gobos.
Coming around the corner where Loth heard the sound, a group of ghouls appears. They grin their wide-mouthed grins when they see little Tarphrex standing there, unarmored and (supposedly) easing pickings.
One strides forward, eager to bite, and steps right on the rune trap...
...and gets blasted with acid, screaming in rage.
_________
Across the room, Ieasha pounds on the door, unconcerned with what goes on around her. The door seems to be weakening.
"Tarphrex, Sherman, get back! I'll handle the ghouls in the hallway!" Hopefully Zenaida will be able to get to them without falling on her armored ass.
Tarphrex giggles at the ghoul's suffering damage from the acid trap, then inhales deeply before breathing a line of acid through the ghouls.
He attempts to retreat from the ghouls toward the new armored friend because Zenaida said to.
Alain swings his blade down onto the goblin in front of him, normally with sentient creatures he'd offer surrender terms but he doubt things that already attempted to harm him would accept.
"All right, all right... I'll make room for you, Zenaida." Sherman says. But before he moves back to the hallway, he commands the sphere of fire to follow and strike on the goblins that managed to climb up the slope.
@Zenaida (&Sherman): Acrobatics not need until you try to move from a square in that room. Tarphrex is just on the edge and will need to make an Acrobatics check should he attempt to move further.
Zenaida: Your path is clear, you're clear to take your delayed action.
@Tarphrex: Nice and lined up for you...
... And then you nimbly escape after downing the foremost ghoul. You do not escape, however, the horrible stench that invades your nostril holes of melting undead flesh. It is acrid and atrocious.
@Alain: Your sword cleaves into the body, slicing off a noticable chunk of flesh, but the creature continues on unfazed.
@Sherman: Good action economy...
... but sadly the sphere of fire goes where Alain just dissected some meat from the body and it is more quickly able to move out of the way.
____________
One ghoul down, several enemies hurt. Still have Loth to go and Zenaida's prepared action to round out the turn before these things all go again.