Epperson cautiously gives the thing a wide berth as he steps into a flanking position with the entangled Mahmoud.
"Definitely not a mummy!" he confirms as he swings.
Drawing upon her goddess' strength, Unatti blasts their foe with a particularly potent attack.
Watching Epperson move forwards and swing at the creature as it hugs Mahmoud, Tribim follows along, drawing another chakram. Hoping he can weave the weapon between the corner of the wall and his friend, he throws the chakram at the sticky thing.
Seeing the mummy adhere itself to Mahmoud, Aerith walked behind him and put a hand on the warrior. Whispering words of arcane power, her comrade faded into nothingness and reappeared behind the creature!
Mahmoud is teleported away and continues throwing daggers.
Your attacks were more effective this time, and the adherer is beginning to look rather battered. It continues to attack, however, focusing its attention on Epperson.
Not seeing anyone grappled, Aerith went back to focusing on her dagger work. Bit by but the creature was being cut down. It truly was a death by a thousand cuts.
Relieved to see Mahoud teleported away from the stick creature Tribim frowns when it attacks Epperson instead. Reaching back to his pouch, he realizes he's drawing his last chakram. Taking a deep breath, he throws the chakram at the sticky thing.
Epperson looks down at the sticky appendage grappling him.
”Armageddon is too good for some,” he grumbles before swinging once again.
While it is distracted with Epperson, Mahmoud takes the opportunity to aggressively bounce his daggers against the adherer again.
"Hey Tribim, this thing is more annoying than that time Jaroth got drunk and wouldn't stop trying to flirt with my mom's cow..." The witch quips, before blasting the not mummy again.
The not-mummy is looking quite damaged at this point but still has some fight left in it.
Epperson winces as the not-mummy constricts him.
Smiling lightly at Unatti's comment about the time Jaroth got drunk, Tribim was about to agree and say something cute when Epperson got squeezed by the not-mummy. Furrowing his brow, out of chakrams, he steps forwards spinning his spear, calling "Hey!" Feinting with the spear towards its face, he shifts the tip trying to drive it into the things neck.
Indecision paralyzed Aerith. On one hand, she could teleport her Dwarven friend to safety. On the other hand, the creature looked worse for wear and the longer this went on the worse shape they would be in. When she saw it open its mouth, she threw her hesitation aside and took the opening. Her dagger went straight in, plunging itself into its open maw and from there down its throat.
Seeing some of Epperson's insides on the outside, Unatti once more draws upon the power of her goddess to heal the dwarf.
Aerith's floating blade finishes off the adherer.
Epperson’s body attempts to reject Unatti’s healing.
Mahmoud desperately tries to finish off the adherer before it can pull anything else out of Epperson!
Once the battle is over, Unatti walks over to Epperson, and places a hand on the still bleeding dwarf. She then sniffs the air around him. "I think you need a bath when we're done here. I believe your stench is like an aphrodisiac to all these monsters." She says in an absolutely deadpan tone, but with a slight, subtle grin.
Mahmoud breathes hard, his daggers bouncing off the lifeless mummy-like creature, as he realizes too late that it is dead. He looks around with Tribim, confirming that there is nothing of value in the room, and then asks, "Should we head back to get patched up before we continue? I'm not sure I could weather another slam like that in my current condition."
The witch hands the warrior a potion. "Drink."
Relieved to see Aerith's magical dagger pierce the not-a-mummy, Tribim begins to gather his chakram. Picking some up off the floor, pulling some off of the sticky body. Furowing his brow as Unatti comments about Eppersons odor being and aphrodisiac. He'd learned at the temple what an Aphrodisiac is, but the not-a-mummy had seemed to be trying to kill Epperson, not... About halfway through the thought, Tribim realizes Unatti was teasing the poor dwarf.
Smiling to himself as Unatti heals the dwarf, Tribim begins to head towards the opposite side of the room towards the open door. As Mahmoud comments about getting patched up, Tribim's curiosity gets the better of him and he leans against the doorframe looking into the adjoining room. Calling back over his shoulder, "If we need to rest can we sleep in the mansion? I've never slept in a mansion before."
Mahmoud nods to Unatti’s instruction and drinks the concoction.
He looks around the area and shrugs. "I suppose we could indulge your wish, though I fear the Necropolis is more dangerous at night."
B28
The air in this chamber is cool. The walls and ceilings are tiled with stone, but the floor is hard-packed earth, giving the area an unfinished quality. A long stone table rests against the western wall, flanked by two large brass urns. A flight of steps ascends to the south, while two passages lead north and east out of the room.
Smiling at Mahmoud's answer Tribim figures, "There's a gate, we just need to keep it shut."
Moving down the stairs a little, he heads back up to the room where the others are. "The stairs end in a room with a table, a couple urns and two doors. Do we want to head down or take a break for the day and eat some supper?"
Mahmoud looks almost longingly ahead, but then sighs and shakes his head. "The temple to Pharasma teaches us not to be reckless or hasty," he says. "We should make sure we are all at our strongest before we proceed, or the Five Shadows may well be diminished. I think we should at least rest." As if on cue, his stomach growls. "I could eat," he admits. "Do you have any of your family's delicacies to share? That fish with black sauce was very memorable."
At Unatti's suggestion (and with Mahmoud still looking peaked), Epperson hands her his wand as she heals him fully.
"I would appreciate the opportunity to rest," the dwarf admits. "Our eventual demise is coming with inexorable pace, so resting now makes no difference to me."
As the team prepares to make camp, Epperson pulls a stone container from his pack. "Anyone want to try some of my trail rations? Fresh from Dongun Hold!" He shares some of his smoked and salted meat with the other Shadows.
Unatti thanks her companion for the wand, then sets out to heal Mahmoud.
Smiling at the fact that Mahmoud had remembered his grandmothers cooking, Tribim smiles and nods his head. "Certainly." Using his spear he gestures back the way they came. "Well if Mahmoud and Epperson are ready to take a break who am I to say no?"
Spinning his spear like a baton as he moves back the way they came, Tribim, pickier than he liked to admit, turns to Epperson, and asks, "What sort of salted meat?"
As the head back into the house, he asks, "The rooms with the dead heads, stink can we all sleep in the master bedroom?" He looks towards the entrance, thinking his Grandparents might be worried. "Or should we head back to town?"
Mahmoud blinks at the offer to sample dwarven trail rations, then gamely extends a hand. He chews thoughtfully, slowly. "I don't think I ever had this before. It's hard but hearty-- just like the dwarves I've met."
When the group considers where to set up camp, Mahmoud shrugs. "I have gotten used to sleeping wherever, but since I don't wear armor it is just finding a spot big enough to lie down. I'll take a watch, of course. Epperson, your suit takes some work to don and remove. Where would you be most comfortable?" He squints at the furniture that remains. "I don't think these antiques would support any of our weight. Well, maybe Aerith, but I wouldn't want to risk it."
"While I don't need a rest at the moment, if the others want to stop for the night, I won't object." Unatti says, adding her two copper to the ongoing discussion.
"Tribim's grandmother is hands down one of the best cooks around. Her Kamounia is absolutely delectable!"
Tickled that Mahmoud wouldn't mind sleeping at the mansion, Tribim heads for the double doors then up the steps. Smilng that Unatti remembered his grandmothers cooking, he drops his pack on the bed in the master bed room. Opening the pack he removes the fish and flat bread his grandmother prepaired. Turning, he offers some to his friends. "She doesn't buy lamb very often, but she prefers it over beef. I'll let her know you liked it."
Wondering if Mahmoud was right, Tribim gingerly sits down on the edge of the bed, offering. "I'll be happy to take a watch as well, I don't mind having my sleep interrupted so I'll take the middle one."
Aerith kept to herself as the others talked, lost in thought. The excitement of their encounter had worn off and it had left her feeling subdued, as it was clear how easily they might have died. While her dagger had eventually ended it, she was very much aware of how much luck had played a role. If they were going to survive, she knew that she was going to have to get better, and to do so quickly. Up until that moment, the idea of advancement was academic. She had all of the time in the world to do it, and the only real consequence of failure was being a disappointment. Now, failure meant death. She could see why her family had sent her out to do this, for how else was she going to advance?
"Some rest would be welcome. I'll take any shift, it doesn't really matter to me." She agreed. Not because she was injured, or because she needed time to replenish her arcane energy. But rather, because it would be nice to have the time to really sit down and think.
As you head back upstairs, Tribim gets an idea. To save time, go explore the eastern courtyard while the others rest.
Standing up from the bed, Tribim stretches, giving a yawn. Looking towards his ancient spear where he'd laid it up against the wall, he scratches his head. "You know, I just had the funniest thought. Maybe I should go explore the eastern courtyard while you all rest."
He turns and looks back at the bed. "Hmmmm, maybe not." Sitting back down on the bed, he takes another leaf wrapped filet from his pack and happily munches on it.
Furrowing his brow, Tribim asks, "did anyone else feel a compulsion to go to the eastern Courtyard?"
Mahmoud sits up, worried. "Magic, you think? Hmm, perhaps we should reconsider our plans. If there is something here that can enchant us away from the other Shadows, resting is not safe. Where were you when you felt the effect?"
Shaking his head, Tribim thinks about it for a moment, "Maybe when we were heading up the stairs?" He gestures towards the east, "Should we check the eastern courtyard, or just head back to town?"
"Hrmm? Don't think so. Back to sleep." Unatti sleepily mumbles, then rolls over, and does indeed go back to sleep.
Mahmoud seems troubled. "I think remaining here is unsafe. We have uncovered a threat; seems to me we should deal with it before we continue to rest, in any case."
Sighing, Tribim stands and collects his ancient spear. "Come on Unatti, it's just been a cat nap anyway, let's go deal with the threat, then we can get some real sleep."
Looking at Epperson and Aerith, "Dwarves and Elves too, the 'Shadows' are a multi-race party not just biracial."
Winking at Mahmoud, Tribim set's his ioun torch spinning about his head as he twirls his spear heading for the stairs.
Mahmoud swiftly takes a position directly beside Tribim and keeps in step with him as he returns downstairs to confront whatever is still haunting the haunted house.
Epperson gets up to dutifully follow, keeping whatever grumbles that he might have to himself.
As you head back downstairs and move towards the eastern courtyard, you pass through the inner courtyard as that's the most direct route. As you enter, a beautiful woman rises out of the sand and gives you a courtly bow. "Newcomers! It's been so long since living souls have come here. My name is Heshsharu, and I'm the spirit of the house. Will you keep me company for a time? I've been so lonely."
Epperson reacts superstitiously, raising his shield and flail.
”Might not be a curse, but it definitely doesn’t feel friendly,” he grunts.
Trying not to freak out at the appearance of a ghost arising out of the sand, Tribim stopped spinning his spear. Hearing Epperson's comment, not sure what to do, he rests the butt of the spear on the floor and returns the bow. "Hi Heshsharu, I'm Tribim." He pauses for effect, gesturing towards his friends. 'And we are the 'Five of Shadows"
Pleased with his introduction, he gives a smile. "I'm sad to hear your lonely. Maybe one or two of us can keep you company for a little bit after we solve our mystery. Someone here tried to make me go to the eastern courtyard. Do you know if anyone else is here or what's in the eastern courtyard?"