Loth moves up to the goblin zombo in front of him and strikes!
As he slices through his opponent, he darts around him, getting into a favorable flanking position.
"Nice one, Tarphrex!" Zenaida picks up her shield- getting bit by one of the ghouls would be a Very Bad Thing- and hustles down the corridor to block their way.
@Loth: I'm going to presume you moved in a way that would not provoke an AoO.
And you slay the solid line goblin, killing it again.
@Zenaida: Very imposing.
@Loth: Got it. Lots of abilities out there. I'll learn it eventually.
Let's start with the one in the water, shall we?
So that one manages to climb it's way out of the pool, shaking water off itself like a dog, bits of flesh flying with the droplets of water.
The other one (Dash)...
... 5-foot steps up next to Loth, preferring the target not covered in metal and twice its size. It lashes out with teeth and claws...
.... and hits each time. More familiar with the slick and slanted footing, it strikes the halfling for...
... 12 total damage. And...
...So Loth gets hit several times, feels the disease make its way into his bloodstream, but is unable to act or even scream as his body locks up. 12 total damage, you've contracted ghoul fever (see spoiler below) and are paralyzed for 4 rounds.
The ghouls line up to try and attack Zenaida, but only one can reach her at a time due to her taking up position in the natural choke point of the cave. One (Dots) gets frustrated, growls in said frustration, and seeks another path...
... and successfully finds a path to tumbling down to the waters below. Dange near killing itself (again) in the process.
The one in front of Zenaida (Dash) lashes out at her...
... and in the exact opposite of what happened to Loth, this one misses horribly. Claws and jaws scrapping against the cave walls, the swings are so wild and miss so much.
_______________
A semi-successful round for your opponents. Let's see how you all fare.
Sherman moves back to the cavern entrance, and is shocked to see Loth being mauled by one of the goblins. Quickly he orders his flaming sphere to leap and strike the attacker.
Tarphrex looks at the ghoul in the water. Staring intently, he reaches toward it with a tiny taloned hand, 'grabs' the air, and makes a ripping motion as he says, "Mrtvi se morajo vrniti v svoj počitek!"
Someone goes thump in the water room, but Zenaida doesn't dare take her eyes off the enemy in order to look. She grits her teeth and lunges at the ghoul that attacked her.
Alain steps forward and attacks the goblin next to Loth now,
@Sherman:
The flaming sphere moves over and scorches the meat from the little goblin, but it stays standing.
@Tarphrex: Your magic attack sizzles into the water next to the ghoul, who looks at you and narrows its eyes.
@Iesha: Your blade slashes and cuts off some flesh.
@Alain: The goblin thing ducks below your swing and comes up to attack you with its own attacks....
Undetered by the ball of fire, the little green abomination strikes towards Alain....
....Alain holds off the paralysis, but still takes some hurt from the teeth and claws, taking 7 total damage.
Starting with the one in the water...
...It starts to scrape its way out of the pool, eyes locked on Tarphrex.
The one in front of Zenaida grins a drooling grin and lashes out at her...
... Zenaida sees with (what I imagine is) some disappointment as the fine ornamentation her former ally put onto her breastplate is damaged by the claws of this thing.
__________________
Turn is over for the bad guys. If they could feel pain, they'd be wavering.
Zenaida scowls, irritated that the ghoul scratched Dol's hard work. Her blade flashes out once more in retaliation.
Tarphrex narrows his eyes in return. He snaps his wrist at the ghoulish creature, saying "Moten raketni napad!" and sending two unerring Dragon Stones of greenish hue toward the creature, striking it.
Loth drools a little.
"Are you all right in there, Zenaida?" Sherman asks, seeing from the corner of his eye the warpriest fighting with the ghoul.
The floor ahead looks very slippery, so Sherman merely stays put, and guides his flaming sphere into another attack against the dashed goblin.
Alain fights through the strike and delivers right back
@Zenaida: A close(r than you might think) miss.
@Tarphrex: The magical attack knocks the body back, sending it toppling back into the water, where it stops moving.
@Loth
Your drool chokes you and Loth dies instantly.
@Sherman:
Dash burns up, its body finally losing enough muscel and meat that it is unable to continue.
@Alain: Would you like to hold that as a prepared action (same roll)? Or would you rather change your actions?
Alright, we'll hold Alain as a prepared action and move along to what's left of the enemies.
The last remaining goblin ghast tries to charge forward...
... Which it does successfully, only to be cut down by Alain's sword as it draws close enough.
With the ravening hunger they feel driving them past any care for their own well being, the ghouls in front of Zenaida continue their assault...
With an amazingly well timed bite, it sinks its teeth into Zenaida for 7 total damage. Luckily, Zenaida easily shakes off the after affects of this creature's mangy mouth gunk.
With a final slam, the door flies open with a resounding crash that echoes through the entire chamber and down the tunnels around you.
She screams , and points a finger into the room.
____________________
It is everybodies turn once again. You've handled most of the foes rather well.
@Sherman: The cave tunnel is tall enough I would say you can "jump" the flaming sphere over Zenaida and onto the bad guys over there. If you'd like.
With things slowing down Alain kneels down and casts cure light wounds on Loth before moving toward the ghouls
"Oh... Sounds like Aldern is going to have it!" Sherman mutters, watching Iesha bash through the door.
"How is it going with those two, Zenaida? Do you need help?"
The priest moves the flaming sphere closer to the remaining opponents, but for a globe of flames it moves rather slow. There isn't much he can do about the ghouls lurking behind Zenaida, but perhaps he can at least the warpriest on her fight. He steps closer, and blesses her with guidance on her blows.
Zenaida lets out a brief but vehement Varisian curse as the ghoul slips past her guard. She doesn't feel herself stiffening up, thank Falayna, and she can deal with any infection later. Just as she's about to take another swing, the warpriest feels a foreign but helpful spell take effect.
"Thanks, Sherman!" She lunges at the ghoul, blade shining in the firelight. "I heard someone fall, was it one of us?" Help would be great, but if one of the party is wounded, that takes priority.
She lunges at the ghoul, blade shining in the firelight. "I heard someone fall, was it one of us?" Help would be great, but if one of the party is wounded, that takes priority.
Tarphrex almost capers in his glee, "No, was dead thing! Dragon stones, crashing down, dead thing dead again!"
He cautiously moves toward the gap where the ghoul had escaped the bottleneck.
Tarphrex moves half-speed toward where Alesha was striking the door, intent on placing another trap.
@Tarphrex: This is what I'll say. Since you're not falling as in going over the edge of the cliff, but instead are just tumbling down the steep decline (like rolling down a hill uncontrolled), and you rolled so well with the fly check, I'll reduce the damage down. But you'll still be in the water.
@Zenaida: Your blade chops down the ghoul in front of you. But the next one steps up, undettered.
It barely looks at the corpse of its fellow before lashing out at the warpriest...
... and even though one claw scrapes along your armor just below your face, all the attacks miss. Sad
The ghostly apparation floats down the hallway, still screaming in rage and pain, turning around the corner and out of sight.
"I think Loth is out of fight for now. But I think he'll make it.." Sherman notes, quickly casting a glance at the paralyzed halfling back at the room.
Only one ghoul left..."Keep your head down, Zenaida! I'm going to grill that ghoul!" he shouts a warning, and flicks his wrist to hurl the fiery globe over the warpriest's head. But, just as he is about to do that, the sphere fizzles and quickly dissipates.
"Oh, nevermind... It's up to you blade, after all." he continues, and casts Guidance on the warpriest.
Tarphrex screams as he goes over the edge, but somehow instinctively rights himself in mid-air only to run directly into the wall and fall into the water.
After a moment, he can be heard, ”Ow. Tarphrex is all right. Mighty dragon not fear water, no. Ow.”
You're about 30 ft below the level where you'd entered the room. It's a very steep slope.
It's a little disappointing that Sherman's fireball fizzled out, but Zenaida is confident that she can take the last ghoul on her own. Hopefully Aldern will be occupied with Iesha's vengeful ghost until they get there. She raises her shield to block an attempted bite and brings her sword down toward the creature's neck.
@Zenaida: Good news. You are correct. The ghoul takes one last, solid hit from your blade. But this time, it falls, unmoving to the floor.
@Everyone: We are staying in combat. Round by round still. Zenaida still has a move action for the rest of her turn. The sounds of wailing can still be heard through the doorway that Iesha went through. \
@Tarphrex: You are next to the wall, so you just need to make a climb check to get out of the water. It's an easy check, DC 10. Ten feet up, and then you can walk, with the standard Acrobatics checks.
"Clear over here!" Zenaida wipes her sword off with a rag and sheathes it, preparing to venture into the Room of Ridiculously Slick Floors.
Tarphrex starts to climb.
"All right, the ghouls are dealt with. Then for the greatest challenge in here..." Sherman mutters, looking at the slippery descent on the next floor.
He removes and stows his shield, and starts climbing down on all fours.
... you have no idea what happens besides the screams of rage....
___________
Everyone else again. As much as I want to make sure that everyone makes it without damage, doing it over PBP is going to be SUPER tedious. So let's skip ahead and do it this way....
.... huh. That's strange.
Alright.
@Alain: You make it into the halls first. You're able to round the corner and see the following...
... The ghostly figure of Iesha ravages at the undead figure dressed in once fine clothes before her. The creature seems hesitant to fight back, and largely unable to effectively defend itself.
____________
@Alain: You can act now.
@Loth and Sherman: You'll be there in 1 round and can act normally next turn of combat.
@Tarphrex and Zenaida: Same as above but 2 rounds. Probably coming in together since you're the very best of friends.
Correct. The fungoid shape is more like an impressionist painting on the wall (but with fungus) that vaguely represents a humanoid outline in the same way that Dali represented his view on the world through his paintings. If you squint, you can see it. But as a whole, not a chance.
Alright, I am going to say Alain holds action. And we will move on.
The fight continues between Iesha and the creature.
@Loth and Sherman are now in the room and can act.
All characters in the room can see that this apparation seems to need no help with defeating the undead in front of it.
Loth grunts and whispers. "Sorry about that. They got lucky, won't happen again. ... I think we probably should let Iesha be for a bit, but maybe we can check the room some?"
Loth will try to move around the fight to get a better look at the painting.
Alain will step to the frnt putting himself between the party and what very well could be an evil ghost, I don know what that thing is...but i dont trust it.. you all see the apparation correct?
@Loth: It is fantastic that you're the one to move forward.
As you do so, the creature cowering in front of Iesha slightly turns its head towards you and growls/shouts out, "YOU! You cannot be here now! Not now, when I've done so much!" It tries to move towards you, but Iesha lashes out at it, slamming it to its knees and the creature is forced to divert its attention back to defending itself.
Loth: As you look at the painting, it is a crudely done piece of art made with blood and other unidentifiable liquids. It appears to have been done over another portrait, which is obscured with this new picture of a male halfling with dark hair and eyes.
@Alain: Welcome back, I was getting worried. The K(Religion) check reveals nothing. But you can observe that the ghostly figure pays no mind to you and yours.
With a final scream of , the translucent arms of the ghost slam down, passing through the upraised weapon of the abomination in front of her, slamming seemingly into the very core of its being. The creature slumps to the ground, its eyes wide with pain and surprise, as a final whimper escapes its lips.
Iesha Foxglove turns to the group, the anger quickly draining from her face and form, replaced now with only resignation. She places the tips of her fingers to her lips, then blows a kiss towards Zenaida, as she seems to have recognized her kin (though distant) for the first time. She speaks no more, but a small smile is the last thing you see as she slowly fades away like water in a hot pan.
The room falls silent. And for the first time since the attic, you are able to stop long enough to take a deep breath and get your bearings.
Out of combat. Good job all. Where would you like to start?
Zenaida smiles back at her cousin, blowing a kiss back at her. "Rest well, Iesha. You've earned it." Poor girl. Hopefully Pharasma's judgment will be merciful. The goddess of death hates the undead, but ghosts typically don't intend to end up that way.
She turns to the rest of the group. "Well. That's that, I suppose. At least she got her revenge in the end. Alain, that was the ghost of Aldern's wife Iesha. He murdered her, and once Tarphrex gave her the scarf he used to strangle her, she was able to leave the attic and seek him out."
The warpriest follows Loth into the room and joins him in front of the grisly painting. Dark eyes widen as she makes the connection. "Now that's disturbing. I wonder why he was so obsessed with you?"
Maybe there's a diary or something around here. Zenaida starts searching the room for anything of interest.
Tarphrex walks into the room and stares at the creature struck down by Zenaida's cousin. "Tarphrex afraid he not dead. Should Tarphrex burn it?"
Upon looking at the painting, Loth retches a bit. He falls to his knees and takes a few deep breaths. It takes him a little while to recover, but when Zenaida addresses him, he snaps out of it. He gets up and composes himself.
"Your guess is as good as mine."
He glances at the painting. He does not like the painting.
"Burn him? ... Honestly, that might not be such a bad idea. Make sure he can't come back."
His eyes meet the painting. Again.
"I kinda want to burn this too. Really badly. But it might be a clue."
Tarphrex is careful to stay back out of reach of the body of Aldern, studying it.
@Zenaida: Looking over the table reveals a vertiable treasure trove of interest.
First, a small silver key ring worth 10 gp sits on the table amid rotten meat, with two keys on the ring. The larger of these two is a tarnished iron key set with a round opal worth 100 gp. The smaller key is made of
bronze and has an unusually long tang ending in a set of three notched blades. The head of this key resembles a roaring lion.
Second, a series of charcoal drawings depicting Loth killed in an increasingly creative variety of methods. From simple stabbings all the way to being hung over a pit of undead just within reach for them to slowly tear his flesh from his legs.
Third, a detailed account of a group of halflings all named Dalveran. When and where they go to work, when they return home, if and when and who they offer prayers to. Hobbies, habits, and descriptions of each one are detailed in exact detail. No clues tell you who has been gathering this information, however.
Lastly, a letter. The letter has been added to the map, check that out. Your characters (minus Alain) would be able to recognize the symbol near the signiture as the same one carved into the bodies of the corpses found in and around Sandpoint.
@Tarphrex: The only way to know if there is something worthwhile would be to search the body. There is nothing super obvious beyond a pair of rings that look well made. The clothes themselves seem to be of high quailty, but are extremely filthy.
Ah, the joys of looting an undead lair. Zenaida's armor is going to need a thorough cleaning after this to get the stench of rotting meat out. "Ooh, a couple keys. These might be useful. Drawings... Loth, I suggest you not look at them. Information about the Dalveran extended family, that's even more disturbing. Aha!"
She waves a piece of parchment triumphantly. "A letter! Looks like Aldern wasn't acting alone, nor was he the mastermind behind all this. He was a patsy for someone called Xanesha." After she's finished reading it, the warpriest passes the letter to Loth. "I wonder what kind of 'delivery' this Xanesha was referring to? Whatever it is, it can't be good."
”Tarphrex does not trust dead-not-dead Aldern. Cut off its head, Tarphrex thinks.” He nods, talking to himself. He does not bear an implement capable of such an act, however.
"Are you all right in there, Loth?" Sherman asks the retching halfling. There seems to be strange connection with his companions and the Foxglove family. Maybe they are willing to talk about it later. At least, there could be some answers to all mysteries in here.
"I agree with you, Tarphrex. You never know about these undead creatures - if they're truly, finally dead. Cutting the head could be a good option. Zenaida, could you...?"
"Yes... Yes. Thank you, I'm fine. Physically, anyway. This is just a lot."
Loth reads the letter with intense concern... and a bit of frustration. "I swear, there's always a ringleader behind the scenes. It happened with Tsuto, with that weird monster lady in the catacombs, now it's happening again."
He dreads to see what he'll find in them, but he has to see them. "Could you hand me those notes on my family?"