Nalun casts a light cantrip for Emmett and follows close behind the old guardsman.
With a shrug, Emmett opens the way. The older man ambles forth, then stops in the entryway, his wide shoulders almost blocking the passage, turns and says with a low voice: "I'll need light..."
Emmett makes some small traction... there is room enough for one more to help lift but its doubtful that even another would be means enough. Still there is room enough to cram in lump of stone to capture the gain of about an inch or so before it becomes too much for Emmett.
Swinging North, you head towards the The Oubliette. The portcullis leading into the room beyond is raised. Like the cell block that is labelled The Nevermore there is a guard room before the portcullis.
The door to this guard room hangs slightly ajar. Within stands a table surrounded by a few rickety chairs, along with a few moldy but serviceable cots.
A headless skeleton gripping an axe lies on the floor... it bursts into flames and struggles to rise.
Simeon idly watches Emmett's struggles with the portcullis, but turns away peering about the ruined basement.
As the skeleton bursts into flame , he instinctively raises his staff, then with a curse sends it flying at the flaming skeleton.
The staff hits, glancing off a bone.
Jaru draws a vial of holy water as he moves to safety behind the more hardened members of the party.
"Everything here is filled with evil intent!" shouts Emmett as he crashes his axe in the burning skeleton.
Nalun begins singing, inspiring his allies to greater glory!
Emmetts hit is a mighty one but it remains upright, burning away.
Party Initiating
Skeleton
Party up.
"This one is tougher than the ones at the village!" says Emmett as he takes a backswing at it before it gets up.
Jaru chucks the holy water to douse the undead fire.
Elidal misses as does Jaru's holy water being thrown into the melee but some splash lands. Emnmetts attack of opportunity catches it - though he can tell the axe isn't doing as well as it could be doing with a blunt weapon.
Simeon and Nalun?
Simeon's staff lands back in his hands with a satisfying smack, but he was disatisfied with his previous effort. With a grunt he sends the staff hutling through the air once more....
This attack is more satisfying. Not able to gain entrance to the room Nalun continues his performance.
The creature, headless swings wildly at Emmett
miss chance low is good - re roll
Emmett's life flashes before his eyes as the flaming axe wielded by a burning skeletal arm passes within an inch of his head!
Next round - players up...
Nalun continues his tune, allowing his allies more inspiration.
If Nalun can get next to someone, preferably Elidal or Emmett, he will assist them in defending
"Hell-!" Emmett shouts as his eyes grow wide at the sight of the incoming axe, but luck it seems is on his side this time. This he might ponder on later. For now, that blow focuses all his attention on survival, and he swings his axe back with all his weight.
Alarmed by his companion's close shave, Jaru calls upon his reserves to blast the fiery fiend.
Dc 13
The cleansing energy of Pharasma affects the undead only slightly. Emmetts blow hits but does not drop his foe.
Elidals attack hits and shatters the skeleton into burning bones, triggering an explosion of fire.
Elidal and Emmett to make a DC 13 ref save. - save for half. Failed saves inflict injury damage. (ie - needs healing to recover rather than a short rest).
Nalun places his hands on Elidal's burns
Hope you feel better...we have disquieted dead to see about.
Emmett reaction is triggered by Elidal. Sensing her alertness, his body just copies her movement instinctively.
"They explode! What madness is this?!"
"Dangerous in death, dangerous in destruction." Jaru notes sourly. "I am sorry that I did not warn you. what other horrors does this dungeon hold?"
You move deeper into the dungeon... Several iron doors line the walls of this large, empty room beyond the portcullis of the oubliette. In the middle of the room, a hinged ten-foot-square metal grating lies over a dark pit in the floor. A thick rope has been tied to the grating and dangles into the pit below.
As you enter the room a howl of irrational anger and bloodlust echos throughout and a guant spectral figure, that of a man with broken legs, elongated arms and a crazed expression on his face arises from the pit. In his hands he carries an axe.
Jaru
Simeon
Emmett
Nalun
Elidal
Spectre with the soul-chilling shriek
The ghostly figure swings his axe at Emmett.
Axe Damage negative energy and bleed damage as a cut opens up on Emmetts shoulder where the axe passed over him.
[dice = will save]1d20+4
Jaru is unable to identify the spirit before him.
I recognize this one from the famed Treatise on Spiritual Awakenings and Hauntings! I can be of use!
Beware its ___________ Nalun shouts and he begins inspiring his allies!
Its a Varian of a Wraith... It is incorporeal,needs magic weapons to damage it, or magic. Instead of draining life forces it appears to do some sort of wound in its victims. Sunlight would render it powerless.
Emmett closes his eyes and shuts his senses, and manages to resist the insane onslaught.
As the wraith rises right in front of him, Emmett fights back the urge to flee, bending his stiff knees, he collects the axe lying behind him and sends it in an upward arc, using his legs to power the blade further.
The attack misses.
Simeon, Jaru and Elidal?
The inquisitor calls upon Iomadae to grant her smiting power, enhancing her blade but her blow misses.
Jaru leans in and with a touch grants Emmett's magical headsman's axe the touch of the spirit world.
The spectre's shriek strikes Simeon to his core, his mind become a frenzy of overlapping observations and their associated implications. So overwhelmed was he , for a moment or two he could only stare, face vacant, as the creature advanced on the party.
Nalun's shouted description of the Wraith penetrated the fog of thoughts , and with a shake of his head and a quick wipe of the perspiration beading on his brow, Simeon was once again ready to assist.
Steeling himself, he closed his eyes for a moment then began to utter as series of incomprehsible syllables, each seeming to echo with the despair of an open grave.
However, for some reason he falters, as if he forgot a part of the ritual, until cursing he stops in frustration.
The wraith directs his attention to Elidal.
for negative damage and bleed if hits (I think it does).
Party up.
On the start of Elidals and Emmetts turn they take and bleed damage respectively.
Nalun continues inspiring his allies with his words and song.
He fumbles at his crossbow, which he hopes he remembers how to use. He loads a Ghost Touch bolt and fires it almost blindly
Nalun blinks at looks at the crossbow warily, Did I just do that?
"Fight, Emmmett!" Jaru shouts encouragingly and passes healing energy into the old warrior to staunch the bleeding.
Emmett staggers for a moment, dizzy from the loss of blood, but Jaru's touch brings a strange cool warmth through his bone. Shaking his head, he shifts the grip on his axe and hurls it now in a downward: "His strikes are the deadliest I've ever seen. We need to end this fight soon!"
Still woozy, he manages to miss the wraith completely and curses in a low rumble that spreads through the tunnels.
The attack misses.
Simeon up.