Inas scanned with the lantern, checking all the doors, windows and any holes in the walls that might allow something to enter. Then, with a chilling thought, he pointed his lantern towards the old well.

Reluctantly Saliq drew his dagger and shuffled in Inas' wake. Without his magic the illusionist would be very little use in a fight but it was better than waiting for whatever it was to come to them.

Heeding Norion's words, Eagle takes his leave of his friends, and transforming into an eagle owl soars gracefully into the sunsetting sky. Before he leaves he asks one more favour of Melora's, casting another healing spell on whichever of Norion and Rath looks most injured.

When he reaches the village he transforms back into human form, and tells the tale of the famous victory, impressing upon the mayor the need for the villagers to come and relieve his friends and recover loved ones at first light.

Feeling exhausted he then surrenders into an uneasy sleep.

OOC:1:02, Today: Eagle rolled 11 using 2d8+1 with rolls of 8,2. cure serious wounds. DM can you assign to fighter with least hit points?

Norion will grab up his magic axe, and look around using his night vision to see if he can locate anything making the noise.

Prior to departing, Eagle cures some of Norion injuries, though the dwarf is still quite injured when the druid takes flight.

***

The party gathers near the gaping hole leading into the keep's west wing and scans the interior for any sign of activity. Inas turns his attention to the well and sees that the lid is still seated atop the stone ring, though the strange cries do appear to be coming from beneath that lid. Perhaps that explains the muffled sound?

OOC: Norion is now at 19 hp
This message was last edited by the GM at 03:20, Wed 31 Dec 2014.

Inas cautiously stepped forward. Whispering to his companions he stated the obvious. "Someone, or something, is down there." Was this another demon from the depth of hell, or a poor helpless villager destined to be dinner? Only one way to find out.

"Here." He palmed the lantern off to Saliq and gripped his sword two handed. He approached the large stone atop the well. He gestured to the others to indicate that he intended to push the stone cap off and they should be prepared for whatever came out, good or ill.

Once they were ready he began his attempt, using his boot first then hands if the boot failed.

Rath gives Inas a weary glance, wondering if he's lost his mind, but he stands ready, a few paces back, with his trident in hand. Well, ready is a strong word ... .
This message was last edited by the player at 14:03, Wed 31 Dec 2014.

Norion, judging the size of stone wellcap, moves over to help Inas.  Though his one arm is still not much use, this kind of work was mostly done with the leg strength.

Inas is unable to move the stone lid by his own hand (or foot for that matter); however with Norion's assistance, the pair are able to muscle the heavy limestone cap off the circular well. The stone scrapes noisily as it is shifted off the well and dumped onto adjacent floor.

The growls, hisses and moans rise in volume as soon as the lid is moved and a few moments later, noxious fumes assault Inas and Norion's senses as a foul stench rises from the cistern.

OOC: Let's roll initiative. Inas and Norion...please also roll saving throws vs poison.

Hardly able to believe his bad luck Saliq grasped his dagger and tried to control his fear.

"Move it back, move it back!" He yelled at Inas and Norion.

---

OOC: 02:24, Today: Saliq Musfara rolled 6 using 1d6+2 with rolls of 4. Initiative.

Rath steps back clumsily. His sleep-fogged brain and battered body react slowly to these new developments.

21:46, Today: Aldo Rathmus rolled 1 using 1d6 with rolls of 1. init.

Saliq's warning came too late, the heavy stone was already on the floor and it would take too much time and effort to raise it again. As the foul stench rose, Inas stepped back and covered his mouth and nose with the sleeve of his tunic. He held his weapon ready with his other hand, awaiting some hideous creature.

08:20, Today: Inas Eoinsson rolled 17 using 1d20 with rolls of 17. Save vs Poison, not sure about modifiers.
08:19, Today: Inas Eoinsson rolled 6 using 1d6 with rolls of 6. Initiative.

Norion and Inas' senses are assaulted by a terrible stench when the limestone cap is removed, but both manage to overcome the resultant nausea and are therefore not caught off-guard when sinewy, cadaverous humanoid with mottled, discolored skin  leaps out of the cistern opening. The humanoid quickly crawls out of the hole and crouches on all fours like a wild, snarling animal, its tarnished suit of ring mail hanging loosely from its gaunt form. The monster, a ghast, cocks its head sideway as it regards its first prospective meal: Inas.

OOC: Inas and Norion are right next to the ghast. Rath and Saliq are probably about 10-15 feet distant from the cistern/Inas/Norion/ghast. Ben is quite a bit away, in the tower on watch.

Ghast
AC: 4
HP: -9/? [Private to GM: (9/18, 17/17, 17/17, 17/17)]


PC       AC    HP    AP  0  1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9  10   Notes
Ben      7    8/29   1   19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10  9   Init +2
Eagle    6   31/41   4   16 15 14 13 12 11 10  9  8  7  6
Inas     3   54/62   1   16 15 14 13 12 11 10  9  8  7  6
Norion   3   19/58   1   16 15 14 13 12 11 10  9  8  7  6
Rath     3   10/48   1   16 15 14 13 12 11 10  9  8  7  6
Saliq    7   12/19   3   20 20 19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11   Init +2



Round 1
Stage 1: Inas, Saliq
Stage 2: Ghast
Stage 3: Rath, Norion

Inas and Saliq are UP!
This message was last edited by the GM at 10:10, Thu 01 Jan 2015.

Inas initially recoiled in horror as the alien beast appeared. Then the foul stench of the undead struck his senses. With a bellow he stepped forward and swung hard, his sword gripped in two hands. His first swipe narrowly missed, but he quickly turned the blade and slashed back in the other direction, catching the creature across the flank with a heavy blow.

He had it's attention. Knowing that his companions were still suffering from the earlier battle he tried to keep it focused on him. He shouted out loud. "Begone, curséd one! Taste the magic of my blade and go back to the depths of hell where the Raven queen awaits you!"

09:41, Today: Inas Eoinsson rolled 9 using 2d4+5 with rolls of 1,3. Damage.
09:40, Today: Inas Eoinsson rolled 21 using 1d20+3 with rolls of 18. Attack 2 v ghast, tgt 12.
09:40, Today: Inas Eoinsson rolled 10 using 1d20+3 with rolls of 7. Attack 1 v ghast, tgt 12.

Shane, not sure if I get my ranger damage bonus. Does this creature classify as Evil Humanoid? If so I did an additional +6 damage.

Pale with fear Saliq hurled a dagger at the terrible creature - and missed by yards.

---

OOC: 11:38, Today: Saliq Musfara rolled 8 using 1d20+3 with rolls of 5. Attack with thrown dagger.

Despite Inas' efforts to strike down the ghast, the monster bounces back from its injury and springs at the ranger. The ghast rushes Inas and grabs hold of the ranger's collar, gouging him in the neck. A moment later, the foul monster sinks his teeth into Inas wrist as he tries to throw the ghast off him.

As the contest between Inas and the ghast picks up intensity, with the stone lid now removed, three more ghasts claw their way into the Grand Hall. For the moment, they are hunched over and snarling at the adventurers, but their hesitation is likely only momentary.

OOC: Inas was clawed and bit for 13 points of damage.

Inas is engaged with one ghast. The other three are standing near the cistern, near Norion. Rath and Saliq are about 10-15 feet distant from the cistern. Ben is still quite a bit away, in the tower on watch, though surely the thief now hears the ensuing battle in the west wing.

Ghasts, 4
AC: 4
HP: -13/?, ?/x, ?/x, ?/x [Private to GM: (5/18, 17/17, 17/17, 17/17)]


PC       AC    HP    AP  0  1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9  10   Notes
Ben      7    8/29   1   19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10  9   Init +2
Eagle    6   31/41   4   16 15 14 13 12 11 10  9  8  7  6
Inas     3   41/62   1   16 15 14 13 12 11 10  9  8  7  6
Norion   3   19/58   1   16 15 14 13 12 11 10  9  8  7  6
Rath     3   10/48   1   16 15 14 13 12 11 10  9  8  7  6
Saliq    7   12/19   3   20 20 19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11   Init +2



Round 1
Stage 1: Inas, Saliq
Stage 2: Ghast
Stage 3: Rath, Norion

Rath and Norion are UP!
This message was last edited by the GM at 18:50, Fri 02 Jan 2015.

Norion, seeing Inas under attack, strikes back at the ghast, catching it once with his hand axe.  Maybe if they can bring one down quickly, they will have three monsters against three fighters, albeit, stiff, wounded, bruised, and tired fighters.

09:51, Today: Norion Ironaxe rolled 4 using 1d6+3 with rolls of 1. dmg.
09:51, Today: Norion Ironaxe rolled 6 using 1d20+2 with rolls of 4. attack 2.
09:51, Today: Norion Ironaxe rolled 17 using 1d20+2 with rolls of 15. attack ghast 1.

Rath staggers, backing up and circling to get an angle on the ghast attacking Inas, while drawing a javelin.  "Get back!" he shouts fiercely, and it's not clear if he's talking to Saliq or to the ghasts. He hurls the short spear forcefully in a perfect shot straight through his target.







Critical hit, 7 damage, on the ghast in melee with Inas and Norion.


19:40, Today: Aldo Rathmus rolled 19 using 1d20-1 with rolls of 20. attack with javelin -1 fire into melee.

Rath's  takes down the ghast ripping at Inas' neck with a well-aimed javelin throw, but three monsters still remain. The adventurers are battle-weary and want nothing more than to rest, but the undead have other thoughts in mind.

Eagle, however, is resting peacefully back in Windham, completely unaware of his companions' struggles.

OOC:

The other three are standing near the cistern, near Norion. Rath and Saliq are about 10-15 feet distant from the cistern. Ben is in the tower on watch, not within eyesight of the battle, though he is now aware of it.

Ghasts, 4
AC: 4
HP: DEAD, ?/x, ?/x, ?/x [Private to GM: (0/18, 17/17, 17/17, 17/17)]


PC       AC    HP    AP  0  1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9  10   Notes
Ben      7    8/29   1   19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10  9   Init +2
Eagle    6   31/41   4   16 15 14 13 12 11 10  9  8  7  6
Inas     3   41/62   1   16 15 14 13 12 11 10  9  8  7  6
Norion   3   19/58   1   16 15 14 13 12 11 10  9  8  7  6
Rath     3   10/48   1   16 15 14 13 12 11 10  9  8  7  6
Saliq    7   12/19   3   20 20 19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11   Init +2



Round 2
Stage 1: Inas, Saliq
Stage 2: Ghast
Stage 3: Rath, Norion

Inas and Saliq are UP!
This message was last edited by the GM at 04:36, Sat 03 Jan 2015.

Inas was about to swing again when Rath's javelin skewered his opponent. He quickly turned to the next one and lunged forward, spearing the creature through the belly like a hog on a spit. He pulled his blade free and prepared to attack gain, ignoring the pain in his neck.

07:25, Yesterday: Inas Eoinsson rolled 10 using 2d4+5 with rolls of 2,3. Damage.
07:25, Yesterday: Inas Eoinsson rolled 19 using 1d20+3 with rolls of 16. Attack v ghast 1, tgt 12.

Saliq hesitated, then leapt to the attack, slashing his dagger at the hideous undead creature attacking Inas - though sadly his blade cleaved only the air.

---

OOC: 11:32, Today: Saliq Musfara rolled 6 using 1d20 with rolls of 6. Attack.

In reply to Saliq Musfara (msg # 354):

Eagle turns uneasily in his sleep, and then settles back into his rest.

Two ghasts leap at Inas and Norion, while the third turns and races toward Rath. The ghasts fight with wild abandon, a chaotic blur of claws and fangs. Inas suffers the worse of it. The injured ghast rakes the ranger across the face and draws blood. Norion too is wounded, though not as badly. Rath manages to defend himself against the ghast, though now he is engaged in melee with it.

Finally, the awful stench assaults Rath and Saliq, who up until now had not caught a whiff of it.

OOC: Inas is clawed and bit for 16 points of damage. Norion is clawed for 4 points of damage.

Rath and Saliq, roll saves vs poison please.

Inas and Norion, rolls saves vs paralysis.

Two ghasts are clustered around the cistern, fighting Inas and Norion. Rath and Saliq are about 10-15 feet distant from the cistern and one ghast has now joined them. Ben is in the tower on watch, not within eyesight of the battle, though he is now aware of it.

Ghasts, 4
AC: 4
HP: DEAD, -10/x (Inas), ?/x (Norion), ?/x (Rath) [Private to GM: (0/18, 7/17, 17/17, 17/17)]


PC       AC    HP    AP  0  1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9  10   Notes
Ben      7    8/29   1   19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10  9   Init +2
Eagle    6   31/41   4   16 15 14 13 12 11 10  9  8  7  6
Inas     3   25/62   1   16 15 14 13 12 11 10  9  8  7  6
Norion   3   15/58   1   16 15 14 13 12 11 10  9  8  7  6   Paralyzed
Rath     3   10/48   1   16 15 14 13 12 11 10  9  8  7  6   -2 to attacks (stench)
Saliq    7   12/19   3   20 20 19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11   Init +2, -2 to attacks (stench)



Round 2
Stage 1: Inas, Saliq
Stage 2: Ghast
Stage 3: Rath, Norion

Rath and Norion are UP!
This message was last edited by the GM at 00:20, Sun 04 Jan 2015.

Saliq fell to his knees and began retching as the terrible scent invaded his nostrils. Where the hell was Ben when they needed him?!

---

OOC: 19:50, Today: Saliq Musfara rolled 12 using 1d20 with rolls of 12. Save vs Poison vs. 13.

Rath pales and drops his next javelin, scrambling to escape the ghast's clutches and to get a useful weapon in hand. He coughs up bile onto the ghast as the stench overwhelms him, and he can barely hold onto his trident. "Saliq! RUN, damn it!"

OOC: Failed save and missed attack.
This message was last edited by the player at 21:04, Sat 03 Jan 2015.