”Ahhhh!” he exclaims, jumping back in abject horror. ”That ghost has one of those on! You’re not a ghost are you?” the goblin reaches out to touch Kiley’s arm, just to be sure.
Kiley jumps at Gix's scream. She's only curious about why he'd so horrified until he explains that the ghost had a symbol like hers.
"I'm pretty sure I'm not a ghost," she says as Gix pokes her. She lets him, figuring it was better to help build up some goodwill and let him verify for himself.
"I, agree with Sasha. She may know more about what's going on and of dangers that Gix doesn't know about," she says before giving the goblin an apologetic look. "Sorry, Gix. I'm not trying to be mean or anything, it's just that it sounds like they mainly wanted you here for fodder, in both senses of the word."
Rutliux watches the other more wise sorts discuss the plan then says "Ghosts? Wouldn't want to be one of those. They say you can't take things with you and haunting instead sounds...depressing really."
Gix doesn't seem terribly torn up about Kiley's words, instead focusing on the party's decision to investigate the ghost upstairs first. "I ain't going up there, you're crazy! Heard some of my men talking bout strange things going on, even to ones who never saw the ghost!"
"You be careful up there, and come back down safe." he says in a shocking tone of worry, before pointing you to the northern stairs. "That one is a good place to start. Turn left in the hallway, then she's in the bedroom through the left door. Hope she's friendlier to you than us!"
The stairs lead to an already open door leading into a wider hallway. Just like Gix said it turns to the left and right, with the left side ending in two doors and the right continuing on past the corner.
"I hope so too, Gix," Kiley says. "And we'll be careful. No more opening things without checking them first for me."
Once they are up the stairs, Kiley whispers to the others.
"I'd rather not put Sasha up front if we can help it, but do you think it'd be better to have her speak first with this ghost?"
"Either the ghost responds to us without violence or we have to flee - I don't believe we're prepared to fight it. I'm the closest to clergy we have, so I need to show the faith boldly and confidently - I've got to go first," answers Sasha seriously. She doesn't look happy about it, exactly but her expression is determined. "I will let you open doors, however, to be sure the more mundane threats are already removed," she says with a smile to Kiley, gently joking at the other's recent lesson.
Kiley sticks her tongue out at Sasha before giving the priestess a hug.
"Be careful. I'll be right behind you," Kiley says before she makes sure her holy symbol is out and prominently displayed. She moves up to check the door and make sure it's unlocked. Once she's done that, she looks back at Sasha and the others and asks, "Ready?"
When others say they are, Kiley opens the door.
Shaggar is unconvinced they face an actual ghost. Nevertheless, if this creature does attack goblins on sight, best to not provoke a kneejerk reaction from it. For that reason, he opens the door and stays out of sight behind it.
Ari isn’t thrilled about leaving the goblins behind to do who knows what, but again she figures they’re either much better actors than she’s willing to credit them with or they’re genuinely afraid of whatever is up here, ghost or otherwise. She follows Shaggar’s lead and tries to remain out of sight.
Kiley pushes the door open to reveal a bedroom in disarray. The bedclothes lay scattered about as if the person inside left in quite the hurry, and a collection of personal items lay spread across a pair of desks along the southern wall. A screen in the northeast corner looks to be hiding a small changing room.
Shaggar's doubts are immediately proven to be unfounded, unfortunately, as a translucent-blue woman's figure stands at the window. She is dressed in relatively simple clothing, a tattered shawl around hanging around her shoulders. The ghost (for it is exactly that: a ghost, as Sasha identifies) stands in front of a window against the wall. The window stands open, and you can see that it looks out over the forest edge behind the house.
She stands motionless for a moment before turning to you and speaking. Her spiritual form wears a beautifully crafted amulet that matches yours: Selune's holy symbol. "There's no need to hide, I won't hurt you. I see the symbols you carry, and can feel you have no ill intent."
Rutilux is near the rear but when they get up there he hears the voice and peeks closer.
Kiley peeks over Sasha's shoulder, having to stand on her toes to do so, she'd agreed to let the priestess take the lead, but her mind starts whirring with questions.
"Um, a-are you Lady Silvermoon or Lucina," she asks before she can stop herself.
"My name is...was Lucina, yes. I never saw the Lady of the Well, even though this is ostensibly her house." she answers, a hint of both regret and disappointment obvious in her voice.
The bottom falls out of Kiley's stomach as the ghost confirms that she's Lucina.
"Oh, oh no. What-- How--" she says before closing her mouth and looking to Sasha.
"Lucina, I'm Rutilux Freewind. I wish we met under nicer circumstances. We've questions, but I think the most important one is this... what can we do to bring comfort and rest to your spirit?" He bobs his head politely.
”Well met, Rutilux, given the circumstances. That is the most obvious question to ask, isn’t it?” she asks, her form making the motion of sighing without any air being expelled. ”I’m afraid that’s easily answered, but here to solve.”
”I believe my…corpse is below this house, in the caverns underneath. I also believe that recovering it and putting it to rest properly, in the graveyard, will allow me to rest. I must apologize in advance for the state of said corpse, I didn’t really have a choice in the matter when I, uh, died.” she says, her believe falling flat at the end.
Sasha looks at the ghost sadly before smiling and bowing her head, honoring the dead in their presence - a rare experience. "Priestess, we mourn your death. As Rutilux has said, we will lay your body and spirit to rest if we can...
However, we come to try and free this village from the grips of a frightful curse. What did you learn before your death? We know of a fearful monster, a barghest named 'Malrath' and are investigating rumors that the Lady Silvermoon has betrayed the goddess and is using tunnels to the Underdark to infiltrate the land. Further, we think she might be corrupting the Moonwell's waters. Before you died, did you learn of any of this?" she asks, boldly explaining the party's problems openly to the undead woman.
Lucina looks at Sasha with a curious expression as the oracle explains the situation, grimacing a little when she uses the word 'death'. An unpleasant memory, apparently.
"That would explain quite a bit about what I observed, but I wasn't even able to meet her, let alone dig into what she's upto in her cavern hideaway." she says, rubbing a hand alongside her temple as if in frustration.
"If she has fallen and betrayed the Glade, then I fear what plans she has for the well. I gathered from the way the keeper spoke about it was a large source of power before it ran dry, there is no telling what someone could do with something like that if turned to evil."
"I don't know anything about this specific 'Malrath', but I have heard of barghests before. Evil outsiders, and goblin shapeshifters. Horrible creatures."
"I think that settles that one then," Ari says, equally applicable to Lucina's observations on the well and the barghest creature. "Is there anything else you know about these barghests? Can we hurt it?" she asks the ghostly figure. "Like we need silver to hurt werewolves, I mean. How does it hurt us? Beyond anything obvious large teeth. And does it use magic?"
”Its hide is protected against non-enchanted weapons, you’ll have to find some way to bypass that. Either with magical weapons or spells.” ”The weapon it uses are natural, teeth and claws like you said. It has magical abilities of its own, including the ability to briefly flicker between our plane and the Ethereal Plane, which allows it to pass through solid material sometimes, and even use its magic to teleport short distances in an emergency. Beyond that, it can cause horrific despair in a group of creatures and even bend the minds of others to its cause.”
”Oh, and their most interesting quality? They have to eat specifically nonevil humanoids in order to ‘grow’ into a greater barghest, which is an even greater threat. Let’s hope that hasn’t happened yet.”
"Well, that just sounds terrifying," Rutilux shudders, "Morbid as it is, can you tell us more about your death? What you know of it?" He's looking for connections and fears he has not the wit for it.
"Well, that just sounds terrifying," Rutilux shudders, "Morbid as it is, can you tell us more about your death? What you know of it?" He's looking for connections and fears he has not the wit for it.
”If you’re asking if I know who killed me, the answer is yes. I do remember, unfortunately. Aldric was his name. I think he was a member of the council? You may have spoken to him.”
She makes that air-less sighing motion again, seemingly upset at the entire situation for obvious reasons. ”I do not know his reasons behind my murder, for he did not exactly monologue before killing me. But I suspect you’ll find him down below, along with my corpse.”
Shaggar leans against the wall, out of sight in the hallway, listening closely to the conversation. ”Some questions, madam. Is Aldric a werewolf? Is that how he attacked you? Are you confined to this bedroom? Have any of the enemy – not the goblins – come to you?”
Is Aldric a werewolf? Is that how he attacked you?
”No, at least not that I know of. He didn’t change at the very least, and although I am…was not a skilled fighter, I got the impression he was very strong. He could be a werewolf, I suppose.”
Are you confined to this bedroom?
”To the upper floor, yes. Luckily not just the bedroom, I think I might lose my mind more than I already am. How many days has it been, do you know?”
Have any of the enemy – not the goblins – come to you?”No, they haven’t. Wise, for I would tear their throats out and watch them die.” her surprising violent reply seems to surprise even her, but she does not take it back. [b]”I am not sure they even know I am up here. They have been down in that hole of theirs for too long, perhaps.”
”To the upper floor, yes. Luckily not just the bedroom, I think I might lose my mind more than I already am. How many days has it been, do you know?”
Shaggar scratches his muzzle. ”Time, or its perception, passes differently in here. It has been two to three weeks since this all began.”
”Wise, for I would tear their throats out and watch them die.”
The gnoll chuffs, nonjudgmentally. Hence the reason I’m in the hall, not tempting a visceral response. Shaggar understood that undead were largely evil and a ghost could be wrathful. And even if Lucina was in control of herself, the temptation was always there. The gnoll intimately understood how a ‘relapse’ could happen.
”I am not sure they even know I am up here. They have been down in that hole of theirs for too long, perhaps.”
”I believe they know you are here and fear you. The goblins downstairs have been ordered up here periodically to ‘feed’ you. I apologize for saying it bluntly but there is no better way.” He considers for a moment. ”You helped Verik. It would seem you excel at research and solving problems. Would you like something to occupy your thoughts? It would help us and perhaps make the time until we can free you pass more tolerably.”
Sasha notes the ghost's reaction to the goblins with concern, especially as her companions continue to ask questions of the undead. "We should focus on helping her spirit to rest, friends," she says before bowing again and beginning to back into the hallway. "We will keep the goblins from bothering you again. Then, with Selûne's help, we will avenge you, recover your body, and properly bury you. In the meantime, if you have any insight, we would appreciate any help you can offer, Lucina. Thank you."
Kiley nods her head to Lucina and waits for Sasha to leave first before following her out the door.
Time, or its perception, passes differently in here. It has been two to three weeks since this all began.
She stares at Shaggar for a moment before speaking. "I suppose time will be different for me now, won't it? At least, until you put me to rest."
Would you like something to occupy your thoughts? It would help us and perhaps make the time until we can free you pass more tolerably.
She seems confused at this, wondering what you could mean. "Do you have a problem you need my help with? I am not sure I could read a book from...your world, after all." she says, forcing a quiet laugh that doesn't feel genuine even for a ghost.
Then, with Selûne's help, we will avenge you, recover your body, and properly bury you. In the meantime, if you have any insight, we would appreciate any help you can offer, Lucina. Thank you.
"Of course, I am very grateful for your help. I don't know exactly how to get down into the caverns, but when I was here before Aldric caught me snooping, I discovered it had something to do with the room with the piano downstairs. Perhaps it is some combination of keys needed to open the secret door, I am not sure."
"Keys, we'll make a note of that." The halfling assures, even as he inwardly agrees with some of his allies She could be slipping. Sooner we get her peace, the better for all. Poor dear.
"Do you have a problem you need my help with? I am not sure I could read a book from...your world, after all." she says, forcing a quiet laugh that doesn't feel genuine even for a ghost.
”No, we need your mind. We killed a worg, that ran with Malreth, and was asleep for centuries perhaps. Where we fought it, there was a pool – that gave off divination and necromantic magic. Within the pool was a large log totem. Those who touched it had a vision. On the log are carved many things. On the bottom – wolves running through a forest, an eight-point star-shaped object sitting on a pedestal, a head wearing a halo with liquid running from its eyes, the tips of a crescent moon peeking out from behind a large disk, an empty well surrounded by wispy shadows, a massive castle underground, and a large lake with a single rowboat on it. The largest image, at the totem’s top, show wolf-headed figures kneeling before the symbol of a large spiral with a single line chain cutting across it.”
”I believe the tears running from the idol’s eyes is a strange silver liquid we encountered outside this trap. It is being produced and shipped. It makes normal animals very strong, larger, and bloodthirsty. We have no idea what it will do to a sentient creature… but now I wonder if Aldric has been taking it. I suspect the lunar well, paired with this strange place, are being used somehow to produce this liquid.”
”I would ask that you put your mind to considering all this. I hope you will see things we have failed to see and make connections we have not… please.”
Sasha backs away from Lucina, growing more concerned at the lengthy scenario her friend Shagger is presenting. The oracle watches the ghost closely as Shagger talks, trying to be wary for signs that the undead's patience is wearing thin. She does not, however, show outward signs of fear.
With a steady hand on Pheliks she ensures everyone gets out of the room safely before bowing her head and waiting for Shagger to finish speaking before getting ready to close the door - regardless of how effective that might be...
I would ask that you put your mind to considering all this. I hope you will see things we have failed to see and make connections we have not… please.
"I will do exactly that. Return once you recover my body and end those miserable excuses for 'life'. I must ask that you do not bring...my remains into my presence. I do not want to see them." her voice slips a little more in the middle there but she pulls it back together.
She tilts her head inquisitively as she sees you leaving but doesn't pick up on your nervousness. "I will be here, awaiting your return. Don't bury me until you talk to me again, yes? I want a chance to share anything I might think up in the meantime."
Shaggar pushes away from the wall. "It will be as you wish, madam. Thank you for your help." With their business concluded, for the moment, Shaggar returns downstairs.
As they make their way back downstairs, Kiley shivers.
"I hope she's the only ghost here," she says. "Wasn't Aldric the one we talked to when we first got here?"
"He is the councilman we met at the tavern... the one who suggested Sasha should visit him at his house to learn more."
"So do we try to clear this place out first or do we go pay him a visit," she asks.
"If she is correct, he is already down below. But her sense of things is questionable."
"We should also make sure that he was in control of his actions, rather than acting under some kind of compulsion, magical or otherwise," Ari says. "I don't know that it's likely but we shouldn't discount it. Or indeed that it was some kind of honest mistake. Far-fetched? Probably. But if you're jumpy because things are going wrong in the village and you're suspicious of everyone, especially outsiders in a tight community, then maybe you act rashly." She tousles her hair. "Most likely he's up to his neck in it though."
It will be as you wish, madam. Thank you for your help.
"My pleasure. Hope you got something useful out of what I know." she says, before returning to stare out the window at the forest behind the house.
Once back downstairs, you see Gix and his goblins standing in the hall nervously. "Did she kill and eat any of you? I didn't hear any fighting..." Gix asks, his voice shaking in fear at the thought of the ghost upstairs.
Ari makes a show of looking carefully at the group and counting everyone off on her fingers. "It would appear not," she says drily in response to Gix's question.
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Shaggar adds, "She was very pleasant, to us. She isn't fond of you. She didn't say 'send Gix to me'... but she had a look. If you remain helpful, I think she will be appeased with the souls of these wolf-people, not you." Not for the first time, the gnoll realises he needed to learn how to lie. Sticking to what was strictly true was, at times, cumbersome.
"Not a fan of goblins, that ghost." Rutilux agrees with Shaggar, and wonders if he can teach the Gnoll how to polish up his delivery a bit
"We're all fine," Kiley says. "I think we can explain things later. We do have a clue on where the way down may be, though."
Gix and his pals do not look very happy about the news and take a few steps away from the stairs, just in case.
"Clue? Where is it?" Gix says, looking around the house for the chance to climb down into whatever it is first. "We gotta get down there now!" he says, brandishing his skull-topped staff in a display of eagerness and showing his wish to do violence upon the wolves.
"Did you find out something while we were upstairs," Kiley asks.
The goblin is confused by the question, his head tilting sideways. ”Huh? No, just gotta kill em quick!”
"Oh, I see. I agree, we need to take care of them as fast as we can, but we should probably make sure they don't have someone waiting to come at our backs if we head down, first. Think your vengeance can wait long enough for us to make sure up here is clear," she asks Gix.
Sasha sighs in relief when the ghost allows them to leave without attacking. "That went well - thank the Moonmaiden. Let's get to work, and quickly - she's been suffering too long as it is," the oracle says, content to ignore the goblins and get busy clearing out the ground floor of other threats.
With a whisper she directs Pheliks to the front to help Kiley and Shagger and readies her crossbow again. "If we encounter attackers I will invoke a blessing on everyone before I begin trying to shoot them. You have the lead!" she says to the melee warriors.
Kiley nods and looks to Gix.
"What are you and your band good at, Gix? I'd like for you to be where you'd have the biggest impact on the fight," she asks.
Think your vengeance can wait long enough for us to make sure up here is clear?
Gix looks around a bit, confused, before nodding.
"We're the only ones left up here, they all went down a day or two ago and haven't come back up." he says, thinking. [b]"But best be sure regardless.
Ari is able to jiggle open the lock to the eastern room easily enough, revealing a large room that does include the piano the ghost mentioned, its ebony wood gleaming softly in the moonlight from the windows. The piano is obviously an ancient piece, but it is in pristine condition, as if it has been lovingly maintained over centuries. The ivory keys are slightly worn, evidence of many years of use. A grouping of furniture sits before an elaborate fireplace on the far wall, the mantle covered in many various decorations: a small ivory statue of Selune, several small candles left haphazardly strewn about, a shiny unblemished mirror, and a few other trinkets.
Beside the southern door, a stunning mural dominates the entire wall. It depicts the moon in various phases, each one intricately painted with an ethereal luminescence that seems to shimmer as the light in the room shifts. The full moon is positioned at the center of the arc, its radiance more pronounced than the others, and around it, the other phases—waxing crescent, first quarter, waxing gibbous, waning gibbous, last quarter, and waning crescent—are arranged in a circular pattern.
What are you and your band good at, Gix? I'd like for you to be where you'd have the biggest impact on the fight.
"Me boys are good at stabbing things, but I have a few magic tricks in my pocket, straight from me magic book." he says smartly, patting a pouch at his hip.
"We'll blow those dang wolves sky high!" he says, giggling maniacally, a bit too excited about the way things are going.