Elora finishes checking her backpack and slings it over her shoulder, saying
"Yes, if everyone is ready we can leave now! The shrine is a few hours travel east of the city. We can camp, have lunch, and discuss our plans before night falls. In regards to those two ruffians ... well ... I've had some ... ahh ... business arrangements with their group in the past. In my desperation I sought out their group again, which was a mistake ... as now I think they won't be too happy with being replaced by you sturdy adventurers. Ahh well, if they're angry or disappointed with me, I should be able to smooth things over ... heh heh ... maybe."
She gives a nervous laugh.

(Unless anyone wants to do anything else ...)

... The adventurers and Elora begin traveling east from the City of Greyhawk, first along a well-made road, then onto a less-well-made road,
and finally off-the-beaten-track, into a lightly forested area. Low hills rise here and there.

As the group travels Elora again relates the tale of the two elven lovers.
Images of the tale spring into the adventurer's minds, thus !

After about three hours travel Elora points to a small hill nearby.
The base of the hill is surrounded by oak and maple trees.
"We're almost there", says Elora as she continues to lead the way.

Once at the hill the adventurers can see an ancient ruined stone archway (mostly fallen down) at the base of the hill.
From it a winding stone pathway leads to the summit.
At the summit is an ancient cracked stone slab set into the earth, surrounded by four wooden poles adorned with strange flames.
"Continual flame. Magic!", whispers Elora as she wiggles her fingers.

--------------

MAP !

The grid is of 5' squares.

The hill is small, but high enough to be a good vantage point to see over the trees.
Unfortunately the ritual is to happen at night, so visibility will be limited.

The light-grey areas are the stone steps and stone slab, all set into the earth, and easy to step onto and walk on.

The darker-grey areas are ancient blocks of stone, pieces of the ruined archway and pillars.
Most of these blocks are between 1' and 2' wide/high.
They could be climbed onto or hidden behind, if need be.

The poles with continual flame at the summit are 10' high.

In response to Elora's remark about magic, Bhelmyr said a short incantation while holding his crystal, and picked up a small stone and made it glow, before tossing it down the path they came from. "I'm familiar with the stuff," he said with a big grin.

‘Well, should we sit on the path or defend right at the stone?”

Very good question my giant friend.

Bandish looks over towards Elora, "Preferences miss?"

Looking at Bhelmyr, Elora says
"Oh good! I'm pleased that you all feel confidant that you'll be able to help! I also know some magic, granted to me by Corellon Larethian (elven deity)."

She hears Matrim and Bandish discussing plans, and says
"The necromancer's name is Nija. She will have some help with her, most likely in the form of vile undead creatures. Once the two elven ghosts appear, I can only guess at how Nija plans to get close enough to them to attempt to absorb their ethereal energy. If we weren't here she'd probably just walk straight up the hill and start her wicked incantations or whatever it is necromancers do. I honestly do not know how she plans to absorb their ethereal energy. I never trained as a necromancer. I was a good girl."

Looking around and pondering, she continues "They'll most likely come from ... the west ... or perhaps the north ... hmmm ... maybe from behind the trees to the east ... oh gosh diddly doo! I'm no good at planning things like this!"

“What if someone hid at the bottom of the hill, then gave a signal when this Nija person comes strolling up so we can ready ourselves on the other side of the rock? Jump out once we hear the beginning of the incantations?”

Is the rock on top of the hill large enough for the rest of us to hide behind?

The hill is covered in grass. The only rocks are the stone slab and stone steps (all set into the earth), and the larger pieces of broken stone archways and pillars (ruins). The larger pieces of broken stone ruins are between 1' and 2' wide/high.

The hill itself could provide a hiding place if the adventurers wanted to stay on one side of it and wait until an enemy reached the summit. The adventurers realize that at that point the adventurers would be spotted by the enemy, though.

Here's a side view of the hill, not quite to scale, but to show the winding stone steps, stone slab at the summit of the hill, the other larger stone blocks scattered around, and the poles with continual light. (The trees are too tall in that picture. You could see over/through the first few rows of trees from the summit of the hill, if need be.)

“Or we disguise ourselves as campers for the night, then tell Nija to turn away. If she refuses, well...” Matrim shrugs, which brings attention to his Great-sword and Great-axe strapped to his back.

“For the deception to work I can always be a few feet away in the darkness so you lot look less like you’re ready to fight.“

Elora listens to Matrim's plans, and adds "The appearance of the ghosts will occur sometime around midnight, but legend-has-it that they're not always exactly on time. I suppose ghosts don't have clocks, ha! ha ! (nervous laugh) If Nija hasn't appeared before the ghostly ritual begins, she's sure to appear during it, while the ghosts are still present."

"Why not just spread out at the top of the hill, and let her come to us?" Bhelmyr suggests.
This message had punctuation tweaked by the player at 00:33, Sat 30 May 2020.

“That could work. I just don't like the idea of her seeing us first. But if we must, then we must to better protect the apparitions.“

I think that is the best approach. No need to subtlety here. We present a formidable force and lets make our opposition known. I say we wait near the top of the hill and stop anything that approaches.

“Very well. Once we engage, do we let her come to us or do we rush her? Im not one for ranged combat, but magic has range. If you cover me with some healing or reducing the numbers, Im sure I can remove her rather quickly. Considering our last fight was pretty stretched, I would like a bit more of a solid outline before all the fun happens. Especially if another undead owlbear shows up.”

Matrim turns to his magical companions.

“Are undead usually linked to the necromancer? If she falls they fall type of thing?”

For his last question he will turn to Elora.

“Will my yelling while in combat disrupt the apparitions? I am sure my friends can comment of how my disposition can change in the thick of things.”

"I say we let her come to us. If we're protecting the thing that she wants then she'll be forced to either leave or face us, but my guess for a necromancer who probably thinks themselves powerful is that she'll face us,even if only by throwing undead at us." Myra spoke suddenly after having been quiet until now.

The adventurers discuss plans, with Elora listening attentively.
Elora chimes in, "I too would like to be near the top of the hill. I will stand on the south side, just off the stone slab."

Looking to Matrim, she continues, "This is my first time witnessing the ritual of the ghosts, so I cannot say with certainty how they will react to your yelling. Legend has it that they do retain some intelligence and awareness, though, so I believe that they will be able to tell friend from foe ... and may even aid us."

As it is still near the middle of the day, Elora produces some dried meat and fruit from her backpack and shares it with the adventurers.
She doesn't quite have enough for everyone ...

(If any adventurer wants to do anything near the Shrine during the day, you may. Night will eventually come ... )

Later in the day, as the sun begins lowering in the west, Elora will ask the adventurers,
"Do you think it's a good idea to light a campfire anywhere ... or remain in the darkness?"
She looks at Bandish and Myra (and Matrim ?) (who don't have darkvision).

-------------

As the ritual will start soon,
please indicate roughly where on the hill you'd like to be.
Elora has said she will "stand on the south side, just off the stone slab."
This message was last edited by the GM at 08:17, Wed 03 June 2020.

"If you don't mind I'll be at your side tonight." Myra will stand along side Elora as the night comes.
This message was last edited by the player at 14:01, Thu 04 June 2020.

"A most interesting occurrence this ritual."

Bandish says as he moves up to the shrine setting himself on the path on the north side near where it enters the shrine. He spends some time gathering wood and makes a pile at the base of the hill on the northern side. With a prayer he summons his ladies power and the wood erupts into flame.

---

Create Bonfire on the wood.
This message was last edited by the player at 13:07, Thu 04 June 2020.

“Thank you for the fire. I think I will start on the eastern side between the two paths.”
This message was last edited by the player at 20:35, Thu 04 June 2020.

Silly me forgot to remind you all that the four poles with continual flame atop them are ablaze ... casting light from each like a regular torch ... which is bright light for 20' (4 squares on the map) and dim light for another 20'.

This is effectively casting some light over most of the hill, but not the flat ground between the hill and the trees.

Bandish may want to place his campfire further away, down a side of the hill, perhaps?
This message was last edited by the GM at 02:54, Thu 04 June 2020.

Indeed.
Post above is edited.

Post above is edited.

Edited.

Myra stands with Elora at the top of the hill.

Bandish creates a small bonfire at the base of the hill, on the northern side.
The fire casts bright light for 20', and dim light for 20'. This lights up the old stone blocks (ruins) just north of Bandish, with the dim light extending to the tree line just beyond the stone blocks. (check map link, below)

Matrim stands on the eastern side of the hill, between the two paths.

(I've placed Bhelmyr on the south side of the hill, and Kvanlanir on the north-west side of the hill. If you'd like to change your positions before we go any further, that's ok ... just say!)

-----

Night has fallen. A crescent moon hangs in the sky amidst a myriad of stars. The light from the continual flames atop the poles (and Bandish's bonfire) bathes the hilltop. A gentle breeze rises ... as ethereal lights begin to twinkle on the hill summit.

"Look! It has begun!" Elora calls out, pointing to the stone slab at the hill summit. Slowly the light takes shape. A pair of elves takes form, a male wood elf, his hair bound with feathers, dressed in leather armor fashioned like a coat of leaves and a female high elf, her long braided hair brushing the hem of her arcana robes. The ghosts embrace and begin a haunting, magical dance, re-enacting their last moments together.

ARTIST'S IMPRESSION !

Suddenly a low horn peels from the surrounding woods !

Elora glances towards the nearby adventurers, saying "They are coming! Stand fast!"

A wall of smoke rolls out from the eastern edge of the wood, flowing towards and then up part of the eastern side of the hill, obscuring vision of the forest on the eastern side.

Matrim, on the eastern side of the hill, can see four shapes in the smoke ... slowly moving towards the hill.
The smoke billows and continues to roll towards the hill, keeping the shapes heavily obscured as they move closer ...

-----

Adventurers, please roll initiative ... and declare any actions you wish to take. You may choose to just roll initiative, and wait to declare your action ... to see what happens before it comes to your turn, if you wish.

DM rolled 13 using 1d20.  ??? initiative
DM rolled 17 using 1d20-2.  ??? initiative

-----

Initiative

17 ???
13 ???

-----
MAP 1 and MAP 2 !
This message was last edited by the GM at 03:42, Sat 06 June 2020.

Myra stand with her short bow at the ready doing her best to keep her eyes peeled.
Holds till she sees what happens before her turn.
21:14, Today: Myra Highbrow rolled 15 using 1d20+4.  Initiative.
This message was last edited by the player at 04:18, Sat 06 June 2020.

Initiative: Matrim Rogthor rolled 16 using 1d20+2

Matrim will draw his Greatsword and settle himself into a defensive position.

(Dodge action)

He calls out “There are four!“