Expedition: Fingers/Ghostly Trial - Part II - 23 July 2021

[Zhym]

Initiative: [1d6] = 2

[DavetheLost]

Hengist swings again at the ghouls swarming Markd. Mace to hit (adjusted for second rank -1, STR +1) [1d20] = 9 damage [1d6+1] = 2+1 = 3

I expect to little avail again this round.

[Marullus]

Wow, I know that my life was overcome by events, but leaving you without an update on this thread for over three weeks was unconscionable... Sorry!

The three ghouls smashing and tearing at Markd don't seem to even notice the demise of their brethren - it is all Markd can do to try and deflect some of their efforts with his golden knife and longsword. Dazed as he is, it is really the Pendyrn family banded mail which is saving him, the ghouls unable to rend the hard steel with their claws and teeth. Clawing feverishly, they only achieve superficial cuts on his face and skin (-1, -1, -1, save vs para). The wounds begin closing even as they are made, some enchantment still upon the warrior (+1).

The three ghouls -- two wounded, the largest still fresh -- are unprepared for what assails them. Fingers comes around unsuspected and punctures one of the wounded ghouls straight through its chest. A member of the Clelland family stiffens and collapses, ash and bone dissintigrating where it falls to the side. Bandy then snicks in with his longsword as well, knocking the other wounded ghoul off as well. It hits the ground and begins to decompose as well. The last ghoul - clad in his leather knight's surcoat and bulging with the muscles of his life - leaps back from Markd and from the blades, re-orienting himself. He gives a feral hiss and faces the party, standing between them and the entrance to the Clelland Tomb. Hengist and Allmond both try to strike him but he is too quick for the clerics.

(If Markd passes his save, he's back in action this round. One guy standing.)


Date: 2:44pm, 24 July 2021
Light: Allmond holding Markd's lantern (until 4:30pm)
Effects:
Injuries: Fingers (moderate wounds), Markd (minor wounds)

initiative: them [1d6] = 4
Ghoul [1d20] = 12[1d3] = 3 [1d20] = 8[1d3] = 3 [1d20] = 18[1d3] = 1
Ghoul [1d20] = 18[1d3] = 1 [1d20] = 15[1d3] = 1 [1d20] = 5[1d3] = 1
Ghoul [1d20] = 10[1d3] = 3 [1d20] = 7[1d3] = 1 [1d20] = 17[1d3] = 1
Allmond - staff (Thac0 19) [1d20] = 11 [1d6] = 2
ghoul morale [2d6] = 9

[Zhym]

Fingers steps back and looks for an opening to fire an arrow at the remaining ghoul. But the melee between the ghoul, Hengist, and Allmond is too close, so Fingers can only watch for now and cheer his team on.

No worries, Marullus. I was starting to worry that the update was slow because we were all about to get killed!

[onlyme]

saving throw [1d20] = 16

Markd shakes off the funny feeling and swats.
: long sword+1(2undead) (Thac0 16) [1d20+2] = 13+2 = 15; damage [1d8+2] = 2+2 = 4

[Alethan]

Bandy swings at the last ghoul with determination...

Penderyn Longsword THAC016 [1d20+2] = 15+2 = 17 Dam [1d8+2] = 8+2 = 10

... sorry, with GREAT determination.

(Can you tell I write the first text of the post before I make my rolls?)

[Zhym]

Would someone else roll initiative, please?

[onlyme]

: Initiative [1d6] = 3

[Zhym]

Initiative: [1d6] = 4

[Marullus]

Shaking off the ghoul's paralysis, the party leaps at the last fateful Clelland knight. Bandy's two-handed blow, followed by Markd's backhand swipe, dice the creature, dropping several chunks to the floor where they begin to decay into millennia-old dust.

Markd's wounds continue to seal-up visibly on his face (+1) as you all catch your breath. The dark doorway of the Clelland crypt stands before you, the door now shattered and uncloseable. You know that the spectral being still waits for you within.

Allmond approaches Fingers with his knob-topped old staff, whispering the prayers of Baudh over him. Fingers finds his sickly young frame fully restored, such that it is. (+5)

Date: 2:45pm, 24 July 2021
Light: Allmond holding Markd's lantern (until 4:30pm)
Effects:
Injuries: Markd (minor wounds)

initiative: them [1d6] = 1

[Zhym]

Fingers nods to Allmond in thanks.

"So. Think we can go take their stuff now without the cranky ghost bothering us? Markd, you wanna go first?"

[Alethan]

Bandy intensely stares at Markd as he waits for him to enter the room. Specifically, he stares at the man's wounds healing before his eyes!

"Oi. Is that dagger of yours healing your wounds as you take them," he asks incredulously. "Did it always do that??"

[DavetheLost]

"I turned the spirit once, I'll turn it again if it gets up to tricks," says Hengist.

Then looking at Markd's rapidly healing wounds, "I was going to offer healing, but you seem not to need it."

[onlyme]

Bandy intensely stares at Markd as he waits for him to enter the room. Specifically, he stares at the man's wounds healing before his eyes!

"Oi. Is that dagger of yours healing your wounds as you take them," he asks incredulously. "Did it always do that??"

Markd looks similarly incredulously at Bandy.
"Yeah, how'd you think I survived being a pin cushion all those times? Ol' Floran was having to save everyone else. The thing has a life of its own, of course. I ain't saying its cursed, but it sure does have a life of its own.

If all are ready, he'll lead them, along with the powerful cleric to make sure the cowering watchman stays at bay.

[Alethan]

Bandy nods, indicating he is ready.

[Marullus]

Markd leads the group cautiously into the crypt. The coffins are now all thrown open, the ghouls having risen from within, but it otherwise appears as it did before. The goods that were on top of the coffins are tossed to the floor. The ministerial spectre is against the back wall, cowering from Allmond and Hengist. He still blocks access to the racks of books and scrolls, but the other wealth seems accessible.

Markd is able to easily determine that this tomb is part of the Clelland Family vault; the coffins contain epitaphs of various family members which could be read more closely with more time. A glance at the walls reveals that they are a historical record, beginning with the ennobling of Kelyr, Steward to King Farthegn.

Bandy's eyes boggle at the wealth displayed, undisturbed, around the room. Shelves and display pillars around the room hold items of precious metals - mostly tarnished silver with a slightly smaller amount of green-patina copper and a small amount of golden items, each raised and displayed more prominently. All together is likely more than two draft-wagons could carry. Six coffins are arranged in the room, each aligned with a distinctive portion of the grave goods. Two of the coffins bear a knight's sigil: one has a shield and longsword laid atop it, the other has a two-handed sword. You also see a massive set of shelves on the east wall, filled with bound book volumes and cracked leather scroll cases.

Date: 2:55pm, 24 July 2021
Light: Allmond holding Markd's lantern (until 4:30pm)
Effects:
Injuries: Markd (minor wounds)

[Zhym]

"The books and scrolls must be the good stuff if he doesn't want us to have them," muses Fingers. "But we got more than we can carry already. Can any of you figure out which of this stuff is magical? It's gonna take us multiple trips to drag all this loot out of here." The thief-cum-shopkeeper can't help but think how well his share would stock his new magic shop.

[onlyme]

Markd keeps his eyes on the ghostly figure as he scans the merchandise in reach. He mentions to the clerics that maybe if they move in a circular direction, it can cause it to exit without being cornered.

[Alethan]

Bandy, more concerned with portable wealth than magic, begins picking up items of value from off the floor, starting with any gems or jewelry.

[DavetheLost]

Hengist will try Markd's suggestion of moving so as to allow the sprit to move from blocking the books and scrolls. Moving slowly so as not to allow the spirit free access to his companions.