Pushing through the forested ridges and troughs of the foothills below Mt Droskar is a tedious and hot task for the PCs. They climb one ridge after another, moving ever closer to the base of the mountain where the monastery is located. The forest thins slightly the farther they go and the rocks and boulders get larger. Crossing over another ridge, the party halts as those in the front become keenly aware of the smell of death and decay. Through the bushes several yards away can be seen a crouched figure on a small oddly-colored mound. Crouched, it sways lightly back and forth on its feet while it digs at something. It is a pale, grayish thing with thin stringy hair filled with braids and beads and thin, scrawny arms and legs marked with red and black inks. Its facial features are hidden from view at the moment as it concentrates on something at its feet. It wears tattered clothing and a small plank of wood is hanging from its neck by rope. Also adorning its neck is a black pendant on a steel chain and a ring can be seen on its thin long right fore finger. Large flies buzz in the air around it.

---

It apparently is unaware of the party's presence at the moment...

Karok readied sword and shield. Tactically, it made a lot of sense to attack and take this rather repulsive creature down...

But just because it was repulsive did not mean it was, necessarily, evil. In fact, he could be quite the contrary.

Oh, the party would do well to stay wary, but this just might be a possible ally.

He turned to glance at Jhaelin and see if there was objection...

Jhaelin takes in the scene and his face becomes one of worry. Standing still and breathing quietly, he perceives to actually feel the negative energy and evil emanating from the creature. The tell-tale signs of his suspicions are borne out by blackened, long nails, long coarse hair, and pale, sickly skin. Whatever it is... it's undead. There is no warmth to that thing.

Sensing Karok's desire to call out to it, Jhaelin nods quickly.

"No. We must go around it, or destroy it. It is not natural and an abomination to all that is good and holy."

"Be careful though... it's touch may paralyze you, making you an easy kill for it. One can never be certain with ghouls and ghasts what their potential for damage may be. One thing is certain. It will not stop at trying to steal your life from you."

One of Karok's brows rose quizzically with the explanation, then he sheathed his sword to draw out and load his sling.

Again, he threw a quesitoning look at the cleric. Would this be a preferable option, all of them taking the ghoul or ghast out with missile fire from a distance?

Roxie made her way up with the others and looked on the scene ahead, nose curled in distaste. "I say get rid of it now then have it sneak up on us if we try to go around," she offered as she unclipped the crossbow and gathered a few bolts. Like Karok, she looked to Jhaelin for his decision

Brett glances at the group, and shrugged, his hand gripping the staff. "I shall go with the majority of either. It doesn't matter at this point to me. Unless it attacks, then that's a different story."

Durwe slowly nocks an arrow and pulls on the taunt string, readying a shot. That thing, whatever it is, will not know what hit it, he muses.


Nocked and pulled arrow...

Noting Durwe's move, Karok put a bullet in his sling and began, slowly, to whirl it in preparation.
He looked to Jhaelin, waiting for the nod, or a shake of the head.

Jhaelin nods his agreement, then offers a payer, asking for the blessings of Heironeous upon the companions.


Casting Bless... unless interrupted, anyone making an action at INIT 4 or above will have the benefits of being blessed. Alternately, you can choose in your post to state you will be waiting for Jhaelin to finish his spell before acting.

Bless, +1 save to fear effects, +1 to attack rolls

Be it the sound of a taut bow string drawing back, the muffled sound of conversation, or the whirring of a sling; one may never know what exactly draws the creature's attention. It snaps its head up and rotates it slowly. The sight of its facial features are ghastly. It is.. or was... kobold. Now its fangs are overly elongated, its skin is drawn back in decomposition which creates a permanent scowl, like a dog baring its teeth before a bite. The eyes are sunken and yellowed and its nose mostly gone, leaving an unsightly hole where the nose should have been. Mucous sprays from that opening as it mimics it's previous life by breathing.

A large black rat scampers from the satchel at the ghoul's side and claws its way up to the creature's shoulder where it squeaks noisily with a sound like someone trying to coax a dog to them with sucking noises from pinched lips.

---

Begin round 0713.06. Party has surprise advantage and gets a free round of action. Pulled arrows shoot before initiative with second arrow (if not moving) going on the initiative roll.

Range to target is SHORT (+1 to hit) with no cover penalties.

Magic in play...
Shield on Brett, AC6, 9 points remain
This message was last edited by the GM at 00:11, Fri 20 Jan 2023.

Karok waited through Jhaelin's prayer, then slung when he received the nod...
and his bullet flew in the right direction. Generally. The same quarter of the compass, anyway.

He supposed he COULD try to pass it off as a warning shot, but was glad he wasn't the only one opening fire.

Roxie paused, noting Jhaelin murmuring a prayer and though wishing she'd fired off before it had a chance to notice them was hoping whatever he did would make a difference. The creature was bad enough but the rat just gave her the willies. Hoping the other two would take care of the larger undead, she aimed for that rat.