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[howandwhy99]

As the green sheetghost rose into the air the team could see two more begin to unravel and stick out the sides of the chest. Father Ben sensed a great evil. He ran forward and slammed the lid back down. The other two sheets were trapped inside, but the first was mostly out. Only its tail was stuck under the lid. Opening its maw wider it emitted a bloodcurdling scream. The unholy sound could be heard resonating throughout the inn. Behind the beds Dalin and Dram froze, paralyzed with fear. In the bedroom next door Kayla and Diedre recoiled in terror. They stuck their fingers in their ears and ran into the hall to find out what was happening, leaving Rose alone in the room. The rest of the team hesitated unsure of what to do.

Ben ran around the chest to the right. He swung at the green sheetghost with his flail, but it dodged aside easily. Darius dropped his spear and pulled out his sword. Circling around Ben, he moved behind the chest. Using it as cover he swung, but missed as well. The sheet shrieked again and the noise reverberated. Father Ben was now frozen in place. Taking care to stay out of its reach Pax jabbed at the ghost with his spear from the other side of the room. His blow landed dead center, but the sheet swirled like the wind around the spearhead. The weapon found no purchase. “Help us!” shouted Darius back towards the door. The paralysis holding Ben and Dram slowly thawed.

Bravely, Darius jumped up on top of the chest’s curved lid. Toe to toe with the trapped creature he swung with all his might. Pax moved around towards the window. Using his spear’s reach he flanked the creature with his mentor. Even with their superior position neither could land a hit. Safe in the hall, Diedre looked to Kayla for what to do. The sheetghost stretched its arms wide and swept over the chest engulfing Darius inside itself. It wrapped around the dwarf’s small form as he pushed at it from the inside. Ben could see him struggling to breathe. “Get out of the way!” warned Kayla. Pax and Ben ran to the front of the room. The wizardess stepped to the forefront and performed an arcane ritual.

Darius could feel the spell’s effects from within the sheet. His eyes closed and he fell to the ground towards the window asleep. The ghostsheet wound even more tightly around him cocooning the still form within. The fear slowly released Dalin from its grasp. Dram ran forward to Darius’s side. Grabbing the edge of the ghost still trapped in the chest he pulled with all his might. The sheet resisted. Dram had actually pulled Darius’s body several inches off the floor. Gwenna and Enser ran upstairs from the common room. Seeing Diedre in the hall they both stuck their fingers in their ears. Father Ben clutched at his torso. Raising his other arm high he called out, “Release Darius you foul beast!” The power of the divine filled his body and shone forth onto the creature, but had little effect.

Dalin ran forward to Dram’s side and tried to help him pull off the ghost, but his hands kept slipping off its slick form. Pax dropped his spear and ran in as well. The colossal man grabbed Dram’s fists within his own and tore at the ghost’s flap with all his might. “Ahhhh!!” cried Dram in pain. The ghostsheet did not rip. Dram tugged his hands away and moved back. Dalin did likewise. Pax saw his effort had only served to dislodge the sheet fully from the chest. It now formed a near seamless cocoon around Darius’s sleeping body. Only Dram’s crushed hand held a small flap. The young warrior had fire in his eyes. Even in pain Dram refused to let go.

A crowd of patrons began to form in the hallway outside the room. Miklesh and Hanz had arrived as well. “What can I do?” said Dalin looking at Dram. “I can’t stab him!” Ben moved over to the chest and called upon the power of his Gods again.
“I said release my friend!” He could feel the power penetrating the ghostsheet. Something was happening, but it was not enough.
“Aim for the armor!” shouted Kayla. Pax moved first. Grabbing Darius’s dropped sword he stuck the point into the dwarf’s chestplate. It dug in deep. As the sheet rippled in defiance, Pax tore a long slit down Darius’s front and leg.
“Success!” shouted Dalin back to the others. Unfortunately, he had spoken to soon. The sheet stretched expanding over the slit and sealed Darius within again.

Father Ben calmly collected himself. He did not call out. He did not gesture towards the creature. Instead, he asked the Gods for all the strength he could contain. It was only a small chance… but it succeeded. Holy power poured forth and washed over Darius and the ghost. Its pale green form quivered and released the dwarf. Then it flew over to a far corner of the room and cowered trying to escape the Gods’ sight. Quick to act again, Pax grabbed the cloakhole from behind the furniture pile and charged the ghost. He swept the cloak high over his head and trapped the creature inside.

Everyone stood silently for a second looking around in awe. Then Ben and Pax ran forward to check on Darius. He was breathing, but barely. Ben could see his skin had turned blue, but his normal ruddy tan was slowly coming back. “Why did the chest come out when he asked for Lavinia’s other son?” asked Dalin. “That thing wasn’t alive, was it?” Ben shook his head no.
“Hold on!” said Kayla raising her voice. “What happened here? Where did you get this chest?”
“Yeah!” said Hanz from out in the hallway. The rest of the team turned around and saw the crowd outside. Taking control over the situation Kayla had the crowd dispersed and the door shut. Gwenna and her men refused to leave.