Lazlo points his rapier at the spirit and issues a chilling threat.
"Release him at once, villain!"
THe stranger leaps in and strikes.
Fundin moves forwards and keeps his eye on the target
The ghost laughs maniacally at the ineffective attacks from the Mysterious Stranger and Fundin, and from the ineffective threat from Lazlo.
"Do you even know what fear is?" he asks Lazlo. He waves his hands and casts a spell.
Galimus, although a glimmer of light in his eyes shows some understanding of what is happening, raises his hands and calls lightning onto Fundin and the Mysterious Stranger.
He then magically Guides the ghost.
The flapping of wings continues to crescendo, as whatever is making the noise enters the basement. A tiny wing appears at the door, and then a second, and then dozens. A swarm of tiny nosoi psychopomps fills the corridor outside, screeching in unison as they gather.
Zoi recognizes the swarm, it is a psychopomp algea. These creatures are usually sent to protect souls at risk of being claimed by other entities, particularly spellcasters who dabbled with otherworldly forces but never officially pledged their souls.
--Round 3
Fundin (63/80, Reflex vs -11 hp)
--Round 4
Lazlo (30/58, Will save first) / Mysterious Stranger (Reflex vs -11 hp)
Zoi (41/46)
Galimus (67/67, controlled) new Will save at beginning of turn
Ghost (undamaged, Guidance 0/1)
Psychopomp Algea (undamaged)
Galimus focuses his divided mind into fighting the force that is trying to dominate him. He draws desperate strength from the plight of his fellow explorers.
But he is still not able to free himself.
Zoi is unable to expel Galimus body as he can't seem to get close enough with his ring. The ring begins to vibrate as positive energy expels out from within it into the ghost.
HP 41/48
AC 20 (21 w/ shield)
Spells Used: Searing Light
Divine Font 5/5
Focus Points 2/2
Wand of Heal (1st): 1/1
Battle Medicine:
Hero Points 0/3
reroll
Lazlo cries out in fear, clutches his head and collapses, stone dead. Once he drops, the stranger fades away.
Fundin looks at Lazlos body falling to the ground, and he is both terrified and heartbroken. "you, you"
He swings his hammer at the ghost
Then he raises his shield
Lazlo screams with fear, and clutches at his chest, falling. Fundin swings his hammer, dealing the first bit of damage to Ioseff. Zoi casts a spell.
vs DC 21
The ghost completely ignores the spell.
The swarm of nosois crowd into the room. As soon as they enter, the mood in the room turns somber, as the weight of the grief crushing mortals and undead alike.
vs DC 27
vs DC 27
vs DC 27
vs DC 27
Fundin and Galimus begin sobbing uncontrollably.
The birds peck indiscriminately at the trio.
vs DC 30
As soon as the birds deal damage to Galimus, he feels Pharasma's power trying to counteract the possession.
vs DC 28
Galimus feels his mind clear.
vs DC 30
vs DC 30
Their magic seems to affect the ghost as well.
vs DC 30
The ghost seems hampered, but not super bothered by it.
--Round 3
Fundin (28/80, no reactions 0/1, slowed 1 0/1)
--Round 4
Zoi (41/46)
Psychopomp Algea (undamaged)
Galimus (37/67, no reactions 0/1, slowed 1 0/1, controlled)
Lazlo (0/58, prone, unarmed, dying 2)
Ghost (-46 hp, -10' speed)
Galimus gasps as he is finally freed from the thing controlling him. He doesn't even care about the pain that came with it.
He shouts his fury and indignation at the ghost. His mouth glows with his anger and then a beam of energy bursts from it, green fire interlaced with silvery light.
Damage +
Zoi concentrates as much as he can as he sends a wave of positive energy all throughout the room. "Hang in there Lazlo." He offers a small prayer.
HP 48/48
AC 20 (21 w/ shield)
Spells Used: Searing Light
Divine Font 4/5
Focus Points 2/2
Wand of Heal (1st): 1/1
Battle Medicine:
Hero Points 0/3
Galimus fires off a spell wildly, still a little discombobulated from being possessed.
The ghost flees the algea, crying out in pain, and sends a rock back at it.
vs AC 30
The rock crushes several of the tiny nosoi that comprise it.
Zoi takes the first opportunity to channel positive energy.
vs DC 21
The ghost takes some damage, but everyone is healed, and Lazlo snaps awake.
--Round 4
Fundin (35/80, slowed 1 0/1)
--Round 5
Zoi (46/46)
Galimus (45/67)
Lazlo (7/58, prone, unarmed, wounded 1)
Psychopomp Algea (-14 hp)
Ghost (-49 hp)
Fundin steps after the ghost and swings his hammer. Then he turns towards Lazlo and touches his arm "Stand up Master Gorog!"
Almost all of his allies are hurt and the ghost isn't hurt enough, as far as Galimus is concerned.
He focuses his energy this time then releases it in a single burst of positive energy.
vs DC 21
Fundin moves in and swings, but misses the ghost. Galimus sends out a burst of healing, which heals the party, the algea, and moderately damages the ghost.
--Round 4
Fundin (50/80)
--Round 5
Zoi (46/46)
Galimus (60/67)
Lazlo (40/58, prone, unarmed, wounded 1, +2 AC 0/1)
Psychopomp Algea (-0 hp)
Ghost (-56 hp, 25 < AC <= 30)
Lazlo's eyes open and he glances around, accessing the situation. He grabs his rapier, stands and moves into the fray once more.
Lazlo re-enters the fray, but leaves space for the algea, which follows the ghost, and swarms repeatedly.
vs DC 30
vs DC 30
The ghost appears to be temporarily immobilized.
vs DC 30
vs DC 30
The ghost waves its arms and chants some words, and an astral vortex appears and tries to suck away the algea.
vs DC 28
Not only do the nosoi remain, but the ghost is stunned by this turn of events.
--Round 5
Fundin (50/80)
--Round 6
Zoi (46/46)
Galimus (60/67)
Lazlo (40/58, wounded 1)
Psychopomp Algea (-0 hp)
Ghost (-86 hp, 25 < AC <= 30, immobilized until Algea's turn, stunned 1)
Zoi continues to channel out positive energy through the ring. "Keep it up Galimus. Let's send it back."
HP 48/48
AC 20 (21 w/ shield)
Spells Used: Searing Light
Divine Font 3/5
Focus Points 2/2
Wand of Heal (1st): 1/1
Battle Medicine:
Hero Points 0/3
Lazlo concentrates and is almost surprised when the stranger materializes next to him.
"Interesting."
Unable to attack immediately, the Mysterious Cloaked Figure circles the algae to confront the ghost.
"Aye, Zoi. We'll burn him with the light of life," Galimus says, sending out another pulse of healing energy.
Fundin walks around the ghost to use a distraction from his ally to his advantage. Then he brings his hammer down!
vs DC 21 (Zoi)
vs DC 21 (Galimus)
The ghost resists most of the waves of positive energy sent in its direction, although the party is still healed.
Fundin swings his hammer, but even with the benefit of Mysterious Stranger's distraction, cannot do damage.
vs DC 30
vs DC 30
The ghost seems to overcome any sort of restraint on its soul, permanently.
vs DC 30
vs DC 30
The ghost, near re-death, reaches out to touch Fundin.
"Without my aid, you'll never find a place to bury them all. Help me, and I'll help you."
--Round 5
Fundin (71/80) Will save first
--Round 6
Zoi (46/46)
Galimus (67/67)
Lazlo (58/58, wounded 1) / Mysterious Stranger
Psychopomp Algea (-0 hp)
Ghost (1/128 hp, 26 < AC <= 30)
Zoi begins to pour his own lifeforce into the bursts of positive energy.
HP 48/48
AC 20 (21 w/ shield)
Spells Used: Searing Light
Divine Font 2/5
Focus Points 2/2
Wand of Heal (1st): 1/1
Battle Medicine:
Hero Points 0/3
The Stranger steps up and lashes out at the ghost.
With everyone largely healed, Galimus changes tactics.
Though it is late in the encounter with the ghost, he uses his connection to his ancestors to try to determine its weakness.
◆
He then tries to reduce it's effectiveness, though he's going to have to concentrate and get closer.
◆◆Bane
The ghost jams his right finger into Fundin's brain, sinking in to the wrist.
"FASTER!" he yells again, this time at the workers who are digging at the cavern floor, unearthing dwarven corpses. Each wears a butterfly amulet, made up of dozens of individual sapphires and diamonds, a holy symbol of Desna for the buried servants of the Order of the Starless Night.
The dwarven corpses are unmercifully raided, their jewels ripped from their bodies, which are then thrown into a giant makeshift pit, once all their valuables had been stripped.
The workers who gleefully gathered the wealth for Ioseff were rewarded, by being allowed to slaughter their fellow workers who had only reluctantly unearthed the bodies. Of course, they were surprised when their loyalty to Ioseff was then betrayed, their bodies being thrown into the pit on top of the dwarves and the bodies of the fellow workers they had just helped murder. Piled into the pit, their broken bones - and broken spirits - were crushed together into an unholy mass.
The vision ends abruptly as the ghost gasps.
"NO!"
Zoi lifts his arms and a wave of positive energy flows out from his body. His body nearly turns translucent as a rush of power fills the room, drowning out the squealing of the nosoi swarm.
The light from Zoi's spell creates lights and shadows in the room, a bright point of light for every nosoi that flutters about, and a dark shadow where the ghost of Ioseff once stood. Zoi's space is filled with a brilliant light, as is Fundin's, Lazlo's, and the Mysterious Stranger. But Galimus's space is dark.
Ioseff's darkness begins to fade, and his ectoplasmic green glow does as well. A thousand lights swarm about Zoi like fireflies in the night sky.
"Yianyin can help you to complete the task. She is lost, but can be found."
As Zoi's light dies down, the ghost is no more. The nosoi depart as suddenly as they arrived, the beats of their tiny wings getting softer and softer as they stream out of the room and back out of the house.
Any trace of the ghost has vanished.
Ioseff’s skeletal remains cradle the starless scope.
A search of Ioseff’s remains reveals a +1 chain shirt, a wand of spiritual weapon, a wand of soothe (2nd), a +1 striking dagger, and a ventriloquist’s ring on his remaining hand.
The scrawled scrolls on his desk include a scroll of internal insurrection, along with Ioseff’s notes that he hoped to use his deciphering of the alien spell to save himself. The notes trail off before he could finish his thoughts ...
The collection of books kept on the shelves here are well suited toward Researching the topics of the Ashen Man, the Dominion of the Black, the Order of the Starless Night, the starless scope, Tchekuth, and the Void Mirror. Among these books are some of Ioseff’s most private confessions.
Amid these books, the group also finds volumes that they can use to perform the inveigle ritual. Ioseff's notes indicate that he had the intention of using the ritual to controll the undead brain collector, and force it to merge his family's consciousnesses with his own. He was mere weeks away from being able to fulfill his lifelong plan.
Zoi slumps to the ground, his wings a bit disheveled. "What was that and where did it come from?" He looks about wildly.
Fundin falls to his knees, his hammer falling to the ground, as he breathes heavily. He looks at the faces of the others, and for now says nothing.
"It done gone where it came from, that's all I know, and all that matters," Galimus says, his posture and demeanor stooped and skulking.
He looks around at the group then quickly moves to the body. The gory nature of the remains don't seem to affect him and he begins rifling through them and pocketing everything of value.
As the ghost is vanquished, Lazlo leans against a nearby wall and slowly sinks to a sitting position. His brush with death seems to have had a profound effect on him. His eyes are haunted and his once jet black hair is now streaked with white.
The Cloaked Figure turns and points towards Lazlo.
"Hoc non est quietis tempus. Tempus est tibi hoc perficere."
They gesture towards Ioseff's remains and slowly fade away.
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The group takes some time to Treat Wounds and moves on. Down the corridor, they face two crawling hands. After the combat with Ioseff, the defeat of the hands is swift, and the corridor is clear after a short battle.
To the east (), the tunnel is collapsed. Although the tunnels once led deeper into the underground area, there is evidence that someone took some time trying to dig out the rubble, only to lose their nerve when the debris shifted ominously. Instead of risking the collapse of the whole manor, the digger abandoned the the excavation.
To the west of the juncture, the corridor bends, and a set of double doors indicates a continuation to the north, but an open space to the west of the junction () is worth exploring.
Part of this room’s eastern area overlooks a larger space to the west, set off from the rest of the room with an elegant, iron railing. Two short flights of stairs descend 5 feet to the room beyond, which appears to be a combination of a library, a workshop, and a surgery room. Books line the stone shelves along the western walls, and a small iron coffer sits in the middle on a semicircular platform. Alcoves to the north and south feature shelves filled with strange objects.
A pair of workbenches to the north stand on either side of a stool; the tops of these workbenches appear covered with several empty glass jars and partially constructed metal cannisters. To the south, alchemical tools and glassblowing equipment cover a long, stone table. In the middle of the room, a metal and wooden operation table features surgical tools along with several restraint bits that rest nearby. Rivulets of phosphorescent green fluid dribble up the stone walls to pool in glowing puddles on the ceiling above.
In the room, a strange fungal creature that the group previously identified as a mi-go polishes equipment, organizes devices, and keeps the tools ready for use.
Upon sighting the visitors, the mi-go welcomes them with its buzzing voice.
"Galimus! Welcome home. Are you ready to cast aside the limitations of flesh and to begin your new life? And I see you brought friends. Well, the more the merrier! I'm not sure I have enough brain cylinders, but I think I can free up some space."
The mi-go begins rummaging through the drawers, pulling out brain cylinders.
One is labeled, "Laurel Desna." It contains a particularly small specimen.
"This one might not be worth keeping. I think we can toss it."
Fundin looks at the creature with a mixture of surprise and horror. "A frined of yours Galimus?"
He holds his hammer safely in his hand
"Never seen 'im before in me life, bloke," Limus answers Fundin. "Though I think I had his cousin in me soup a few days ago."
He raises his voice to talk to the mi-go. "Oy, that geezer ain't 'round right now, so you's sniffin' up the wrong skirts. You's speakin' to Limus and Limus is rather fond of his flesh so's you kin keep them fancy jam pots to yourself."
---
The mi-go seems very calm as he explains to Galimus, "No, no, of course, you'll definitely keep your body. We just want the brain back."
"Oy, me brains is me brains. Now, they often got gettin' me into trouble, but iffen I din't have 'em atall, I reckon I'd be in even more trouble, innit?"
Galimus doesn't remember much, but the green goo looks - and smells - very familiar. His dreams about floating in goo are set in this room.
"No, no, Galimus, your brain is not your brain. It is our brain. Thank you for keeping it safe all these years, but I insist you return it, right now."
The mi-go gestures towards the table, where Galimus is expected to lie down and have his brain removed.
"Galimus can, you just convince it to go away?" Zoi whispers to the man. Zoi steps forward. "Galimus is still using the brain for a bit longer. Is that okay? We are still looking around. How about it returns upon his natural death?"
"If Galimus says that he will not give you his brain, which is a stance that I wholeheartedly support, then I suggest you drop it."
"Say, 'friend' do you have other brains here." says Fundin spitting out words to the creature as his anger raises.