In reply to Morek (msg # 364):

Sarelor nods to Morek and says, "I'll come with, we should probably avoid doing anything alone till we're out of here."

Digger and Kyra take a breather while Morek and Sarelor cautiously move east to explore the next room.

This room is festooned with moldy skeletons that hang from rusty shackles against the walls.  A wide alcove in the south wall contains a painted wooden statue carved in the likeness of a gaunt, pale-faced man wearing a voluminous black cloak, his pale left hand resting on the head of a wolf that stands next to him.  In his right hand, he holds a smoky-gray crystal orb.  The room has exits in the west and south walls.  The crying of the baby is a bit muted here, but ever-present.

"I don't like the look of this at all." Morek scanned slowly around the entire room once more. "Not one bit."

Do I know anything, or can I roll anything, regarding who the statue is of? Dead people chained to a wall and forced to stare at it tells me this thing serves no good purpose, so I have no intention of touching it or getting any closer to it than necessary.

"I could perform a ritual to sense magic in the room, just in case, but otherwise I suggest we leave this one alone."

Nodding, Sarelor agrees with Morek, "you're right about that. We may have to look closer before we get out of here, if only because there are so many legends concerning magic crystal balls. You know, I'm still not completely convinced that we have any chance at all. Maybe the predator we've fallen to just thinks hope tastes better than despair."

Digger shrugs, "You know that statue is wood. If it bothers you, torch it."

Kyra, hearing the two move on, followed to keep an eye in them. At the steps, she spies the statue and the crystal. The woman looked at it with some hope....perhaps it could be used as a magical conduit.

"Morek....please try the spell. If my suspicions are right, that orb may help me like the holy symbol helps you."

With Digger needing time to rest anyway, Morek set to performing a ritual for the detection of magic.

Sarelor wraps some rags around the head of a crossbow bolt, and prepares to attempt a flaming bolt of his own in the event the wooden statue started acting like anything but a wooden statue.

Morek, you don't know who the statue is, but it probably goes without saying he appears someone of great power and authority.  You've seen similar setups for worship of gods and idols.  Upon casting detect magic, you do not sense any magical presence in the room.

Kyra, the crystal ball does indeed appear to be an arcane focus (which I don't believe are actually magical themselves, otherwise it might trigger from Morek's spell).

Kyra smiles as she looks at it. "Morek...can you cover me pleaase."

The half elf walked slowly towards the orb, reaching out almost gingerly with a smile. She grasps the orb, and her eyes turn the familiar black solid color as when she casts spells.

She turns, smiling. "...this will help me, help us a lot!" she said softly.

Morek nodded. He had a bit of a bad feeling about it, but no magic had shown itself, so maybe it was fine. Maybe.

Hopefully.

Sarelor lights his crossbow bolt, and waits for Kyra to leave the area before shooting the wooden statue.

As Kyra grabs the orb from the statue's outstretched hand, four shadowy figures suddenly materialize!

OOC: Initiative!

OOC:
14:16, Today: Digger rolled 11 using 1d20+1.  initiative.

OOC:
16:13, Today: Sarelor rolled 10 using 1d20+3.  initiative.

16:27, Today: Morek rolled 9 using 1d20+1.  Initiative.

<OOC: Kyra rolled 16 using 1d20+2 - iniative>

Combat Order
Kyra
Digger
Sarelor
Morek
Monsters

"Digger!? We've gone and pissed off an army of...shadey...shadowy...things."

"I've no spells left to me. I have one final thing I can do, but..."

He had a decision to make, so he shut his mouth and opened himself to the Morninglord's power and channeled radiant energy toward the creatures.

Does Morek know what they are and any details for how to kill them?
22:04, Today: Morek rolled 16 using 1d20+2.  Religion.

Action: Cast Sacred Flame
Result: Dex 13 vs 4 Radiant

22:03, Today: Morek rolled 4 using 1d8.  Sacred Flame, Dex DC 13.

Kyra, grasping the orb, sees the shadowy manifestation, and a voice screams out in her head. The half elf backs away. “Shadow’s! Their undead linked to darkness....my mistress knows of them. Ware...they are strong against non magical attacks.”

As she backs away, she holds the globe, and instructions come to her mind. Now you have the means...use the power

She spoke in a elvish tone as purple lightning sprang from the globe, her eyes again dark.

<OOC: casts witchbolt

Movement -

Kyra rolled 15 using 1d20+5.  Attack - witchbolt.
Kyra rolled 9 using 1d12+5.  Damage - witchbolt.>

Digger shakes his head, "It was a nice life, I just wish it could have been longer. I waited when THEY rested. Yeesh." Then he shouts, "You are a cleric. TURN them."

He starts heading in to join them.
This message was last edited by the player at 15:30, Sat 24 Apr 2021.

Despite Kyra's warning, Sarelor happens to have a firey crossbow bolt in his hand. Using it seems quicker than putting it out, so he shoots the one on his side of the statue, then drops the crossbow to draw his swords.

OOC:
16:13, Yesterday: Sarelor rolled 17 using 1d20+5.  shoot flaming bolt at critter next to Kyra.
16:14, Yesterday: Sarelor rolled 8 using 1d6+3.  damage from crossbow.

Kyra steps back and unleashes a bolt of lightning on one of the figures beside her, causing it to fade slightly.

Digger rushes in to appraise the situation.

Sarelor's bolt strike true and appears to rip through one of the shadows, passing through and dissipating it further.

Morek brings down a pillar of flame on top of one of the shadows Kyra had injured.  It disappears behind in the bright flames and when the fire die down, the creature is gone.


The remaining shadows float across the room and begin to attack the party!  One them moves forward and extends a shadowy tendril at Morek, but it's turned back by his armor.  The next reaches out to brush against Kyra, making direct contact with her.  Her skin begins to turn grey and black where the touch is made and incredible pain shoots through her body.  She looks and feels incredibly weakened. 

The third figure moves towards Sarelor and reaches out, but he manages to dodge the attack.



Combat Order
Kyra
Digger
Sarelor
Morek
Monsters

With the Shadows swarming over them all, Morek dropped his spear and grabbed the symbol around his neck and pulled it off over his head. The top hat that he was unused to wearing toppled off of his head, down his arms, and onto the floor. He held the amulet above his head and looked up as though he could see the sky through the solid ceiling and walls above him. A light shone from the amulet  akin to the sun and he stared at it with eyes wide open as he channeled the divine energy directly from the Morninglord himself.

Turn Undead, Wis 13 vs flee from me for 1 minute

OOC: Digger will probably take the round to get there, so..no action other than move