The Center Cannot Hold [Group A]

[playswithfire]

Stonefist

Ugh; another one without a body to hit. Trying to make himself as useful as possible, Vimak moves to the other side of the ghost and attempts to distract it so the others have a better chance.

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Move action to tumble half speed to the other side of the ghost (1d20+11)[31], swift to switch to stance of clarity, standard to aid another on whatever attack roll goes next (1d20+11)[30] target AC 10.

[MeklorIlavator]

Adelard

Aldebard falls back into a defensive stance, though his weapon isn't raised as high as it was, and the movements seem stiff, as if he must fight heavy exhaustion.Again? Whatever it is this time, I hope it doesn't focus on me.

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Knowledge Religion Check:(1d20+8)[18]
Stance: Iron Guards Glare(-4 to enemy attacks unless it attacks me)
Maneuvers Granted:
Revitalizing Strike
Tactical Strike
Lion's Roar
AC:20(Touch11, FF19), Fort:8, Ref:5, Will:5, HP:52
Ready Action: Attack if it comes within 10 feet of Aldelard, using Tactical Strike.
Attack:(1d20+8)[27]
Damage:(1d10+2)[6]+(2d6)[5]
Miss Chance:(1d100)[66]50 and up, I hit
This is getting a bit repetitive.

[purepolarpanzer]

Moran fires an invisible arrow at the wisp of shadow, hoping to bring it down as quick as possible.

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Sure shot- (1d20+29)[34] and (1d8+5)[7] and from SS (4d6)[15]

[Skjaldbakka]

I am going to be handwaving this encounter. You guys make short work of the ghost. Please go to the OOC thread, as I have posted a question I would like an answer to before continuing.

[Kyeudo]

Grim

"Ghosts and spirits. Bah. I prefer fighting things with some substance. Did the man you got this map from say anything about what kind of wizard used to live here?"

[Skjaldbakka]

Searching the body in this room, you find a gold ring with a spiderweb design etched in silver.

Continuing on to the next room, you find another restless spirit, which you quickly destroy. You find nothing in the room of value.

OOC: I think that is the last room in the left hallway, I'll have to check my notes at home to be sure, since the map is still not working.

[Skjaldbakka]

Turning the corner, you come across a door in the southern wall of the hallway. You prepare to open the door, expecting to find another ghostly spectre:

Narrator:
This large room contains a straw mattress, a large, ornate wooden dresser with a clay pitcher and basin on top of it, and a large, polished silver mirror hanging on the wall. A beautiful elven maiden in a flowing green toga is reflected in the mirror hanging from the wall.

The room is empty. You don't see any source for the reflection.

[purepolarpanzer]

Some magic. It must be. Do any of you know anything about it?
Moran, like many problems in his life, decides to handle this one with a bow. He draws back another invisble arrow, aiming it at the mirror, reayd to fire should it prove dangerous.

[Kyeudo]

Grim

The duergar saunters over to the mirror, looking it up and down, then raps on the mirror with his gauntleted fist, not hard enough to break the glass, but firmly.

[Skjaldbakka]

There is no reaction when you tap the silver mirror with your gauntlet.

[Agthorr]

Hortek

Hortek says to the mirror, "Mirror, mirror, on the wall, who's the fairest of them all?". Then, looking at the others, he says, "Sorry. I read that in a story once and always wanted to try it."

He also searches the mattress, the dresser, and the pitcher, the basin, the mirror, and everything else to look for any items, traps, or perhaps some small print that might describe their function.

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Search: (1d20+18)[36]

[Kyeudo]

((Grim's reflection doesn't even show in the mirror?))

[MeklorIlavator]

Adelard
Adelard moves into the room, and tries to pass his hand through the approximate area that the ghost is occupying.
Sorcery? I don't know...there were bodies elsewhere, so where is the one here?

[Skjaldbakka]

Correct, although I forgot to mention it. Your own reflections do not appear in the mirror.

[Skjaldbakka]

Not having any ideas about the woman in the mirror, you move on, resolving to come back later, once you have a better idea of what to do with it. You turn the corner into the central hallway, and quickly come to where there is a fresh puddle of blood on the floor. There is a trail of blood that leads from the only door in the east wall of this hallway to the puddle here. There are also two doors on the west wall.

[MeklorIlavator]

Adelard
Bending down stiffly to one knee, Adelard examines the puddle. Looking up at the other, he asks"More blood, and it looks new. Think we should take care of what ever this is now?"

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I'm basing this on the fact that its a puddle of blood, and therefore still liquid.

[playswithfire]

Stonefist

If we're going to be staying here, better to get it all dealt with. I say we do it now.

[Chineselegolas]

Ali'Anspar

Confused by the mirror, Ali had no idea how to respond to it, so followed the others out. Upon reaching the blood he said "If there is blood something might still be alive despite all these ghosts and shadows and shades." Checking his wraps were secure he looked down the corridor at the door at the end of the blood trail, he looked up for a moment hoping nothing was on the ceiling before walking cautiously towards the door.

[purepolarpanzer]

Moran simply walks behind the others, his weapon drawn.
I'm just here to put arrows into anything that pops out. Good thing I'm good at it.

[Agthorr]

Hortek

Hortek, the ever-cautious, says "Following this trail of breadcrumbs in this creepy place makes me uneasy. I suggest we search the other rooms first, then follow the trail."

[Kyeudo]

Grim

"Whatever we're going to do, let's get around to doing it, instead of standing here like a bunch of rocks."

[Skjaldbakka]

In point of fact, this is the same puddle of blood some of you saw when entering the mansion.

[MeklorIlavator]

Adelard
Trying to distance ourselves from what ever this is does have its merits, especially if we would then have a chance to recover. Shall we go west then? As he says this, Adelard moves to the western doors.

[Kyeudo]

Grim

"Better than standing here all day." The duergar follows behind, ready for whatever other undead horror should arise next.

[MeklorIlavator]

Spoiler

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Assuming that there are no objections in group, Adelard opens a door on the western side.

[Skjaldbakka]

Narrator:
As Adelard opens the door, you see a well kept room, similar to the previous one, although the mirror hold no imprisoned maiden. Instead there is a frozen corpse lying on the ground. The ghostly image of the man appears as you are inspecting the room, and its vengeful gaze lashes out across the room, and a terrible cold fear runs through you. The ghost begins an incantation . . .

Hortek is the only one who beat the ghost's initiative.

After Hortek acts, the ghost finishes its spell, and the room and hallway fill with noxious vapors, nauseating Stonefist, Grim, and Adelard for (1d4+1)[2] rnds.

Note, this creature has a gaze attack. Determine if you are taking any measures against it, then roll the % and Fort save.

If you are affected, you take (2d10)[7] HP dmg, and (1d4)[2] Cha dmg.

Initiative:
Hortek 25 (post your action for round 1 and round 2 if you can, so that my next post starts with the ghost's action)
Ghost 23 (action included above)
Stonefist 16
Adelard 15
Moran 11
Grim 9
Adelard 5

[Agthorr]

Hortek

Hortek, who is injured and not particularly adept at fighting ghosts, flees into the hallway. As the strange cloud emanates from the room, he flees back up the hallway from the direction they came, remaining just outside of the cloud's range.

[MeklorIlavator]

Adelard
By opening the door, Adelard ends up staring the ghost straight in the face, not the best position to be in. He can feel the ghosts penetrating gaze, but in a moment, it seems to pass without a trace.That was lucky, but I better not lock eyes with that thing again. In fact....Just it time for Adelard to meet the vapors from the ghost's spell. Coughing violently, he stumbles away from the doorway.

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Fort save:(1d20+8)[27]
Actions:
Move action, 20 feet back the way we came.
Stances:
Iron Guards Glare
Maneuvers:
Crusader's Strike
Defensive Rebuke

[playswithfire]

Stonefist
Barely having enough time to think ugh, not another ghost. What's with this place? Vimak is overcome by the vapors it unleashes and sees no choice but to retreat.

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Tumbling 20 ft back the way we came. Fort Save (1d20+8)[24]

[Kyeudo]

Grim

"What's with all the running away?" Grim saunters into the room, unafraid. "Ah, now I see. That's one ugly druxx. Nothing a good hammer can't fix." Grim's eyes flash silver as he brings his greathammer down with all the force of a mountain avalanche, splintering floorboards if it passes through the ghost.

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Fort Save:(1d20+10)[13]

Swift action to activate Stance of Clarity, Expending psionic focus on Psionic Weapon, using Mountain Hammer.
Attack:(1d20+12)[22]
Damage:(1d12+9)[19]+(4d6)[12]+(2d6)[4]
Incorporeality:(1d100)[89]