"Not sure why anybody would ever want to do a thing like that anyway..." Kellan muttered somewhat to himself as he moved with the others into the adjoining room. "Just...how far gone do you have to be where messing with this stuff sounds like a good idea?"

He looked around warily as the others talked, then startled as Liseth cried out and rushed in behind her, looking this way and that for something that he could stab, but of course, he found nothing.

"Damn it! Is he alright?" he asked as he looked around with a certain sense of helplessness.

"I'm pretty sure, Lysa thinks he's alright," replies the gnome at Kellan's side as she favors him with a curious and doubtful look.  "Oh.  Wait.  You didn't mean in that way.  Sorry."

"Another haunting, I imagine.  I got one from just looking at a bloodstain.  I can imagine he's somewhat alright.  In a healthy or not sense of the word.  The rest of us are.  But it would be nice if he woke up.  It would be terribly bothersome to have to carry him around."

Pisca knelt at the Boyfriend's side and lifted one limp hand.  With both hands grasping his wrist, she shook the floppy hand briefly about.  "I don't think this is helping," she said, more to herself than to anyone else.

"Well, there's the picture that I knew would be here somewhere," she added, indicating the painting of the woman who was Not-Liseth with a gesture of her head.  "Not yet added to the gallery above."  She looked down at the human wrist held within her hands.  On her face was writ the question of whether it would be better to continue holding it or to let it go.  Go apparently won out, as she laid the Hopefully-Not-Lifeless hand back at the young human's side and stood, her head turning to survey the wrecked room.

"I am thinking," said Pisca Neep Freemish as she strolled toward one of the gouges in the wall.  "I'm thinking these cuts look somewhat familiar.  With a wary eye she approached.  With an even warier nose, she leaned in to take a sniff of what she expected might be just as bad as a certain axe that she'd sniffed at only a few days before.

Pisca Neep Freemish rolled 6.  Heal Aid Another.

Pisca Neep Freemish rolled 2.  Perception to detect the scent of Ghoul.

Position: ???

Active Effects: Message on all 50m

Expended
L1 - 4/5
L2 - 2/3

AL: 8/9

Cato rushed into the room, standing back to allow Pisca and Kerr room to work.

---

---

Almost as soon as Liseth rushed to Kerr’s side, the fallen paladin stirred.

“What?”  His eyes cracked open, then went wide at the worried girl kneeling over him.  He glanced up at the picture.  “That was . . . strange.  I think,” he said, going up on one elbow, “I think she," he pointed to the portrait, "had something to do with it.  That painting was facing the wall.  When I turned it around, I just felt so . . . sad.  More sad than I’ve ever felt ever.  And then I ended up here.”  He gestured to the ground, grimacing.  “Some hero.”

Before he could say anything further, Liseth’s face contorted in pain as the blade of Kellan’s polearm slammed into her side.   Kerr’s mouth made a silent “o” of horrified protest as the young blonde slumped slightly over the weapon, then staggered away as Kellan withdrew it.

The guardsman looked angrier than anyone could ever recall seeing him.  His face was a rictus of rage, focused on Liseth as if she was the source of all evil.  He brought his guisarme around, readying it for another attack . . .

   A  B  C  D  E  F  G  H  I  J  K  L  M  N  O  P  Q  R  S  T  U  V  W  X  Y  Z
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
1 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
2 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
3 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
4 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
5 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
6 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
7 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
8 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
9 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
10|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
11|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
12|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+-xxx-+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
13|  |  |  |  |  |  |x | xx  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--x--+--+xx+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
14|  |  |  |  |  | x|  |  |  x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+x-+--+--+--+xx+--+--+--xxxxWWxxxx--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
15|  |  |  |  |  x R|L |  |  |  x  |  |  x  |  |  W  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+-x+--+--+--+--+--xxxxxxxxxx--+--+--x--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
16|  |  |  |  | W|P |  |  |  | x|  |  |  x  |  |  x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+x-+--+--+-xxxx+--+--+-xx--+--+--x--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
17|  |  |  |  |  | x|K |C |D |  x  |  |x |D |  |  x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--xxxxxxx--+--+xxxDDx--+-xxxxxxxx--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
18|  |  |  |  |  |  x  |  D  |  |  |  |  |x |  |  x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--xxxxWWxxxx--xxxxxxxxxxxxx--+--x--+--+--xxWxxx+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
19|  |  |  W  |dd|  x  x  |  |  |  x  |  x  |  |  |  |  Wx |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--x--+--+--xxxx--+--+--+--x--+--x--+--+--+--+--+-x+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
20|  |  |  xbb|b |  |  D  |  |  |  D  |  D  |  |  |  |  |  W  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--x--+--+--+--D--+--+--+--D--+--D--+--+--+--+--+-x+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
21|  |  |  xbb|b |  |  D  |  |  |  D  |  D  |  |  |  |  Wx |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--x--+--+--xx-xxxxxxxxxxxxx--+--x--+--+--xxWxxx+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
22|  |  |  W  |  |  x W| x|  |  |D |  |  |xx|  |  x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--xxxxWWxxxx--x--xxxxxxx--+-xx--D--xxxxxxx--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
23|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |x |  |  |  |x |xx|  |  |  W  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+-xxxxxxxxxxx--+--+--+--+--x--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
24|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  x  |  |  |  |  x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+x-+--+--+--+--x--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
25|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | x|  |  |  |  x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--xWWxxxxxxxWWx--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
26|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+

d = desk
b = bed

OOC:  Roll for initiative.  If you beat Kellan’s “7,” you may go first.

21:48, Today: The Raconteur, on behalf of Kellan Storval, rolled 6 using 1d20+2.  DC 16 Will Save.
21:54, Today: The Raconteur, on behalf of Kellan Storval, rolled 16 using 2d4+13.  Damage to Liseth.
21:54, Today: The Raconteur, on behalf of Kellan Storval, rolled 19 using 1d20+8.  Attack on Liseth.
22:12, Today: The Raconteur, on behalf of Kellan Storval, rolled 7 using 1d20+2.  Initiative.

---

---

Cato stared at Kellan, blinking before his mind could process what had just happened.  Magical compulsion, and aimed at Liseth.  Hopefully he can be warded against it...

Without further delay, Cato started to cast his spell, keeping a wary out on the enraged Kellan as he did so, then reached forward, trying to touch the guardsman and transfer the arcane protection onto him.

Cast Protection from Evil defensively.  Passed concentration check, 8 on a melee touch vs Kellan.
12:44, Today: Cato Crispin rolled 8 using 1d20+2.  Melee Touch.
12:43, Today: Cato Crispin rolled 26 using 1d20+9.  Concentration Check vs DC 17.
12:39, Today: Cato Crispin rolled 11 using 1d20+6.  Inititaive.

Surprise and shock escaped Liseth in a scream.  "Kellan!"  Liseth felt herself nearly black out from the sheer power of Kellan's poleaxe into the mithril mail she had been convinced to wear.

Her arm went up instinctively to protect herself from the follow-up swing from maddened guardsman.  Not that it was likely to help.

"Sarenrae!"  Liseth called out before she knew she was reacting, "Uncloud his heart!  Drive away evil's rage!"

Standard Action: Cast Defensively; Unbreakable Heart on Kellan: 26 vs DC 17

13:09, Today: Liseth Thoradin rolled 26 using 1d20+10.  Cast Defensively vs DC 17.
12:54, Today: Liseth Thoradin rolled 8 using 1d20+1.  Initiative.

http://www.d20pfsrd.com/magic/.../u/unbreakable-heart
This message was last edited by the player at 00:30, Fri 14 Oct 2016.

"Huh?  What?"

"LYSA!!!" screamed the gnome from the depths of her surprise.  This was swiftly followed by, "Kellan Storval, just what do you think you're doing?!?"  And even this was quite plainly less a serious question than a further extention of how surprised Pisca indeed was.  It was quite clear what he was doing.  And it wasn't too difficult to guess at the cause of the young human's uncharacteristic behavior either.

The real problem was: What to do about it?

"Stop that!"  And, without much thought, the gnome leapt up to grapple with the Champion of the Ogre Stomp Contest, clutching at Kellan's arm in a seemingly ludicrous attempt to weigh the human down.

Pisca Neep Freemish rolled 19.  Grapple Attempt.  No AoO, right?  Because Pisca is within the range of Kellan's polearm.  And -4 to Kellan's CMD because he's holding a weapon.

Grapple: http://www.d20pfsrd.com/gamema...g/combat#TOC-Grapple

Position: G14

Active Effects: Message on all 50m

Expended
L1 - 4?3/5
L2 - 2/3

AL: 8/9

---

Spoiler text: (Highlight or hover over the text to view)
Old Rolls.  Before I changed my mind.  ^_^

Move Action: Tumble out of reach to G14
Standard Action: Ready action to cast Grease on Kellan's Polearm if Liseth's spell does not affect him.  (Reflex vs DC15 to hold on to it.)

Pisca Neep Freemish rolled 32.  Tumbling to Avoid AoO.

---

Kellan shouted something amid the chaos, it was hard to understand, something harsh and guttural as his muscles strained and his features flushed. Whatever it was, it was full of fury and rage as he jerked the pole arm free of the tiny acolyte with ease and whipped it around with well drilled swiftness in preparation for another strike.

Kellan, smiling, good natured Kellan had suddenly become someone, perhaps something else. He juked Cato with a step and a spin towards Liseth, then shrugged off Liseths spell with an involuntary series of twitches and shudders before striding through Pisca's attempts to stay him like she was not even there. He brought the point of the pole axe level with Liseths heart, drew it back and stepped forward to impale her when suddenly...he stopped, the tip inches from her dress.

His whole body seemed to shudder and convulse, his teeth barred, his face beet red as his eyes welled up with tears. He took a stifled breath, then another then groaned with exertion as the point of the weapon trembled....then dipped and eventually fell to the floor of the manor with a bounce and a clatter.

Kellan fell to his knees, fists balled up in his gloves as he pressed his face into the floor and wept, his body shaking softly with each sob before he was eventually able to speak.

"I'm sorry...so sorry...I don't...I don't know why i did that..."

Seconds lasted for hours and Liseth stood frozen as she watched her friend prepare to strike a killing blow.  The girl didn't know exactly when she had closed her eyes, but they opened again after the clatter of his weapon hitting the floor was followed by Kellan's sobbing.

Her own legs became weak and Liseth fell into a swoon.  She sobbed herself; the powerful emotions of the last few moments overwhelmed her.  One small hand felt at her side where she had felt the bite of Kellan's poleaxe; it was moist with blood.

"I want to go home..."  The acolyte let out in a whisper.  She was stuck even trying to process what had happened.  All that Liseth knew for sure was that this place was overwhelmingly evil.

Pisca picked herself up off the ground, and she brushed herself off with a calm singular among her four human friends.  It was, in fact, in great contrast to her excited state only moments ago.  After having brushed the imaginary offending particles from her person, she took a deep breath, and took quiet but firm steps to the almost Right-Sized human girl lying on the floor.

"There there."  She put her arms around Liseth's shoulders and leaned in to lend a little gnomish warmth.  After another sighing breath, Pisca leaned a cheek against the girl's shoulder before murmuring, "I'm sorry, Lysa.  You know we can't do that.  You know that.  People are counting on us.  We're counting on us."

She lifted her head from Liseth's shoulder and placed a kiss - the soft flutter of butterfly wings - against the human girl's cheek.  Then, after gesturing for the Boyfriend to take her place, Pisca stood.

"We're the last best hope for Sandpoint.  You know that, right?  We've all been tested by these haunted things.  But we've overcome them.  Stomper, you overcame yours.  Didn't you.  We'll do it, and you know why?" she asked.  "Not because it's easy.  But because it's hard."

Position: F16

Active Effects: Message on all 50m

Expended
L1 - 4/5
L2 - 2/3

AL: 8/9

Cato step, arcane energy still held in his hand.  A faint buzzing sound pervaded his head, and then he released it, letting it dissipate in harmless burst of energy.

"That was...that was scary.  It almost seems like too small a word for what just happened.  We need to finish this, because we're the only ones who can.  Sandpoint is counting on us.  If we don't, these grisly murders will continue.  Somewhere in this house, we're going to find what's caused this whole thing."

---

---

“NO!”  Time slowed for Kerr as Kellan brought his polearm around for another attack.  The paladin—still disoriented from the portrait’s powerful enchantment—scrambled to his feet, reaching for an arrow as the big guardsman shrugged off Pisca’s quixotic attack.

Now upright, Kerr brought the arrow's fletching to his cheek.  “KELLAN, STOP!”  He half-yelled, half-pleaded as his friend’s guisarme moved to spear the woman he was sworn to protect.  The woman he loved.  He was about to release the arrow when Kellan locked up, the tip of his guisarme almost touching her chest.

For a second, they were frozen in a tableau.  Kellan, breathing hard, staring at Liseth.  Liseth, one arm clutching her wounded side, the other raised to defend herself.  Pisca, sprawled on the floor.  Cato, his hand splayed, watching in helpless horror.  And Kerr, bow fully drawn, with an arrow pointed directly at Kellan’s face.

For a brief second, the only sound were Kellan’s deep, rasping breaths, Liseth’s labored ones, and the faint echo of Kerr’s plaintive cry.

Then Kellan was on his knees, sobbing and begging forgiveness.  Kerr dropped his bow and caught Liseth as she too collapsed, overcome by the emotion of the moment and the severity of her wound.  He held her tightly as Pisca came over, offering her hard brand of comfort.

“We’re going home,” Kerr nodded grimly in response to Cato.  “We’re going home, but not before we find it.  We can’t let this happen to anyone else.”  His hand glowed as he called for divine aid.  “[Language unknown: Ousoreles, deril entch thss tiho ticomereaect menratlar],” he intoned, placing his hand over the wound as he looked sorrowfully down into Liseth’s moist eyes.

“I’m sorry, Lise,” he choked, a catch in his voice as he tried to contain his emotions.  “I’m supposed to be your guardian.”  His gaze sharpened.  “I promise I will never let anything like this happen again.  I promise,” he repeated.  “I promise.”

OOC:  Kerr lays hands on Liseth, healing 10 points of damage.

00:01, Today: Kerr Mollin rolled 10 using 2d6+1.  Lay on Hands.

---

---

Liseth continued to sob, more lightly now after her initial outburst.  "I...know Pisca.  I just..." she sniffed, "I just don't want to be here.  Why did any of this even happen?  This evil old house...poor Mr Foxglove...and Katrine...and so many other people."

Her hand gestured at the destruction within this room, as though inflicted by the madness that had afflicted Kellan.  "Who could put a curse like this on their own house?  On their own family?  What evil power could coerce someone into bringing all this down on those closest to them?"

"It isn't your fault Kerr."  Breathing was easier after Kerr tended her wound.  Liseth leaned against him for more than mere physical support, "It's this place.  This cruel, malicious place.  It's working against us.  Whatever it did to you, it did it to get you out of the way.  There was nothing anyone could have done."

Liseth stood, "Sarenrae, grant me renewed strength."  A rush of positive energy reinvigorated her.  The small acolyte held on to the feeling, the comfortable glow, as long as possible before releasing it with a sigh to let it mend her weary frame.

"I'm alright."  She breathed deeply, "I just...needed a moment."  The acolyte stepped toward Kellan and placed her hand over his, "I's okay, Kellan.  You didn't do anything on purpose; it's this place.  It wants to inflict it's anger and madness on us, but it's just like Pisca said.  You showed it that you're stronger than it is.  I forgive you."

Cast Cure Moderate Wounds on self (cure for 17)

16:09, Today: Liseth Thoradin rolled 17 using 2d8+7.  CMW on self.

" I don't..." Kellan began, his face still pressed into the manor floor. "I...why? Why would they do this?" he asked rhetorically as he rolled over and sat up, his hands holding his knees.

"I can't even be angry at them, because if I do...get angry...they can use that and..." he trailed off, his eyes puffy and his face red, his gloved hands gesturing at nothing in particular.

He cleared his throat, his voice becoming more controlled "If they can control our emotions...and they can...make us see these things, control us even." he continued the gesturing. "And they can live forever and climb walls...and they use all of this, all that power to cause all this suffering, to skulk around at night murdering defenseless girls..." he shook his head. "I'll never understand it...I don't think I ever will."

He looked over to the pole-axe, the innocent piece of metal, his issued weapon lying there on the floor as if he was hesitant, loathe even to pick it back up. But he did, he reached over and grabbed it as if he was off to do some distasteful chore that he wanted over with as quickly as possible. "Let's get this over with..." he sighed and stood, then wiped at his face with his sleeve.

The gnome watched as her human friends pulled themselves up out of the pit of dark and sticky-gooey into which Evil had casually shoved them.  She seemed somewhat bemused by the rhetorical questions.  "It's ... It's what evil does," she suggested from the periphery of things.  And then, more to herself, "Especially when it's bored."

"Shall ... um ... shall we move on?  I think we've explored the entirety of this floor.  Very revealing.  Lets see what we can find on the ground floor," she added.  "And we'll need to find a way into the Caves and Catacombs that I know must be down there."

Position: F16

Active Effects: Message on all 50m

Expended
L1 - 4/5
L2 - 2/3

AL: 8/9

Cato was about to interject to Pisca's declaration about the caves and caverns, but stopped.  "You know, you're probably right.  For a person who delves as deeply into the necromantic arts but sees fit to secretly flaunt it, I bet he has a creepy underground laboratory where he worked on those things.  It's as though he was...I don't know, relishing the act of being almost found more than the actual doing of it.  Like he enjoyed the distraction."

Cato shook his head.  "Not that I completely understand anything about somebody who would choose to cause this much pain in the world, but..."

The wizard looked off, remembering other people whose path he had crossed over the years.  "But, I think there are people who live just for their own pleasure."

---

---

Tired but undaunted, the party left the room with the portrait, heading back down the wide hallway towards the stairs down to the main floor.  Their experiences to this point haunting them even more than the manor's malevolent spirits.  The walls seemed to close in on them, the stuffiness of the air and the sickly tinge of mold-covered wood making it feel as if they were trapped in the world's largest coffin.

They trudged down the stairs to the entry hall.  Again, it seemed as if there was an extra set of footsteps accompanying them on the staircase.  When they reached the bottom of the stairs, the found the stuffed manticore still watching the front door with unending patience.  They filed around the beast, heading towards the unexplored part of the manor.

They caught a whiff of burning hair and flesh.

Suddenly, the manticore lurched to life, its face shifting to resemble a woman the party now recognized as Cyralie Foxglove.  The creature's fur erupted into flame; it turned, like a cat, to stare at Liseth with a deep hatred.  Before anyone could react, it's fiery tail darted forward
and struck Liseth.

As the blonde acolyte burst into flames, the manticore settled back onto its display stand, as if nothing had ever happened.

OOC:

13:16, Today: The Raconteur, for the NPC Manticore, rolled 15 using 4d6.  Fire Damage to Liseth.
13:16, Today: The Raconteur, for the NPC Manticore, rolled 18 using 1d20+4.  Touch Stinger Attack v. Liseth.

3:31, Today: The Raconteur, on behalf of Liseth Thoradin, rolled 8 using 1d20+2.  DC 15 Reflex Save to Avoid Catching on Fire.

   A  B  C  D  E  F  G  H  I  J  K  L  M  N  O  P  Q  R  S  T  U  V  W  X  Y  Z
  +--+--+--+--+-xxW-+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
1 |  |  |  |  |x | W|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
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W = Window   D = Door  p = piano  t = washtub fp = fireplace
M/m = Manticore  s = Stain

This message was deleted by the player at 18:00, Mon 31 Oct 2016.

"FIRE!  Fire, human on fire!" shouted the gnome.  She looked wildly about for a case of steaks.  Cassius Greenbottle was famous in song and story for put a fire out on his human friend with a cascade of meat.  Unfortunately, such a pile of butchered flesh, whether it was cow or deer or pig or even chicken, was rarely available when one really needed it.

"Fire!" Pisca cried, unable to do much to help other than shout out that which was obvious to all.

Position: H10

Active Effects: Message on all 50m

Expended
L1 - 4/5
L2 - 2/3

AL: 8/9
This message was last edited by the player at 17:25, Tue 01 Nov 2016.

"Aaaaaah!" Fire!  Monster!  Fire!!  Liseth shrieked in fear, pain, and surprise as the flames from the unexpected attack already worked to blister her skin.

In a panic she wanted to run but didn't know where was safe.  Or even whether that monster would chase her down.

"Water!"  The single word came out in a scream.  The one word that was a desperate, panicky attempt to call on the divine.

Cast Create Water to douse self (10 Gallons)
Concentration 16 vs DC (10 + 1/2 DoT)

00:52, Today: Liseth Thoradin rolled 16 using 1d20+10.  Concentration: Casting Create Water with DoT.

The DC adds 1/2 the DoT damage that I would take each round from being on fire; not the amount of fire damage I just took.  I think.

Cato yelped in response to the sudden attack, mind too distracted to formulate a coherent plan.  He pulled out his waterskin, and succeeded in splashing a few ounces on the acolyte just as her own spell took hold.

Can I aid Liseth in putting out this fire?

---

---

Kerr barely had time to react as the manticore came to life and attacked.

"Liseth!"  The young paladin yelled, reaching for an arrow, but the manticore had already returned to motionlessness--apparently just another manifestation of whatever evil haunted the Manor's halls.

Seeing Liseth on fire, the young paladin immediately shrugged off his quiver and tore off his cloak, throwing it around her.  Just then, ten gallons of water appeared from the heavens and dropped on the two of them, extinguishing the fire almost immediately but leaving the two acolytes soaked.

Cato stood next to them, waterskin empty.  Kerr hugged his drenched girlfriend, then ran his fingers through his hair, trying to get the wet strands out of his eyes.  He eyed the manticore with suspicion, but none of the other haunted areas had bothered then twice, so he figured this one probably wouldn't either.

"You okay, Lise?"  He asked the blonde teenager.  He frowned.  "This house doesn't seem to like you very much."

OOC:

09:29, Today: Secret Roll: The Raconteur rolled 19 using 1d20+10.  Liseth:  DC 15 Reflex Save to Douse Flames.
09:29, Today: Secret Roll: The Raconteur rolled 15 using 1d20.  Kerr:  :  Aid Another (Liseth) to douse flames.
09:28, Today: Secret Roll: The Raconteur rolled 16 using 1d20.  Cato:  Aid Another (Liseth) to douse flames.

---

---

A sympathetic grimace creased Pisca's face as the last wisp of steamed human drifted off into the stale air of the mansion.  "Poor Lysa," said the gnome, and reached up to give the human girl a sympathetic rub, but pulled back at the last moment as that might not be the best thing to do to someone who's just been burnt.

For the briefest moment the look upon Pisca's face wavered, as though she too might have been considering a trip back home as well.  Perhaps a night with the capricious gnomes and then a return in the optimistic light of morning.  But, then the look on her face hardened along with her resolve.

"We've been that way," said the gnome, pointing across the great Manticore graced entryway.  "And we left off here."  With her other arm she pointed down the wide eastern corridor above which the monkey head once hung.

A ratty throw rug partially obscured a foul stain of dark colored mold on the floor.  The stain was a swirling pattern of dark blue, sickly green, and black mold growing in a spiral.

Through the corridor was what looked to be a dining room, with a mahogany table surrounded by chairs.  Twin fireplaces loomed to the west, while to the east, stained glass windows obscured what could have been a breathtaking view of the Lost Coast.

Each window depicted a monster rising out of smoke pouring from a seven-sided box.  From north to south, they showed a gnarled tree with an enraged face, an immense, hook-beaked bird with sky-blue and gold plumage, a winged centaurlike creature with a lion's lower body and a snarling woman's upper torso, and a deep blue squidlike creature with evil red eyes.

"I think we need to cross the moldy spiral," Pisca said.  "Anyone bring a bucket and mop?  Or ... could you splash more water, Lys?  Maybe?  To wash it away?"

Position: H10

Active Effects: Message on all 50m

Expended
L1 - 4/5
L2 - 2/3

AL: 8/9

"Holy!..." Kellan cried out as he worked to unclasp his guardsman tabbard, his token effort to smother the fire coming too late to do much good. He shook his head in frustration as they all comforted the smoldering acolyte. "The longer we stay here...it seems like the more likely it is that we come across something we can't come back from...let's find whatever it is, the heart of this place, and cut it out while we still have the strength to do it."

Being soaked was much better than being on fire, anyone would agree.  Even so, Liseth imagined she must look something like a drowned rat by now.  "Why does this place hate me so much?"  She asked of her equally soaked though less burned boyfriend.

It felt to the blonde acolyte that whatever evil consumed this place was after her specifically.  Did it have anything to do with that poor girl they had encountered upstairs?  Whose portrait was left in that room, the only object not destroyed by whatever catastrophe had happened there?

Or was it to do with Aldern Foxglove?  The way he had acted towards her after they had first met.  Was this place cursed to destroy anything that a Foxglove had...feelings for?  Even their own family.

Liseth proceeded to stay nearly on top of Kerr as they continued past the less lively manticore.  If this place was after her, it might find her a more difficult target that way.  She hoped; imagining all sorts of phantasms and terrors that this place still had left to show them.

"I can try Pisca."  Liseth looked at the spiral growth of mold, "This is th emold that I thought looked like a staircase earlier.  Going down, with bones littered on the steps..."  All the more reason to try and wash it away, the girl thought.

"Sarenrae, send a wave to wash away the filth of this evil place."  Liseth called to the divine, again to ask for a deluge of water.  This time a bit more calmly.  A torrent of water splashed against the moldy spiral.

OOC: Cast Create Water
This message was last edited by the player at 01:43, Sat 05 Nov 2016.