A banshee is intelligent undead, and should be played up to its level of intelligence.
... if she is facing a foe whom she knows to be powerful, there's probably no good reason to hold back a powerful alpha strike- she might not survive to try it later.
The Arcana checks from the others told them that the effect seemed stronger to the North, so they headed up that road, at night.
...
But yeah, scouting a haunted house and ruined graveyard, at night, in an area where the life seems to have been sucked out of the landscape, and where undead are *known* to be roaming free, is the kind of thing that would normally call for more precautions than they took. Which were essentially none.
The only classic horror movie mistake they didn't make was to have the college girls dress in lingerie and then "Everybody split up".
I would have had the banshee nuke a henchman, or failing that, the tiger would have smelled her and attacked forcing her to discharge her scream before she was in the party's range. Or possibly have the tiger roar a warning and let the players see the banshee and take an action.
I do like the way you handled the situation though. The characters were ECL in the upper teens so they have access to spells that could protect them from a banshee's wail... If they have prepared them.
Non-corporeal undead have a scent that the Tiger can pick up?
And, since the Banshee's attack is an area effect, selectively taking out henchmen isn't really possible.
As for the "If they had prepared them" part: When they came back, they had all the spell preparation they needed. I revealed a lesser undead ( a Wraith) to them several rounds before the Big Bad made her grand entrance. Nobody cast any protective spells. Two hadn't even taken the minor precaution of blocking their ears with wax. Short of having her show up, introduce herself and give a countdown to the scream...
I would have had the banshee nuke a henchman, or failing that, the tiger would have smelled her and attacked forcing her to discharge her scream before she was in the party's range. Or possibly have the tiger roar a warning and let the players see the banshee and take an action.
I do like the way you handled the situation though. The characters were ECL in the upper teens so they have access to spells that could protect them from a banshee's wail... If they have prepared them.
Non-corporeal undead have a scent that the Tiger can pick up?
And, since the Banshee's attack is an area effect, selectively taking out henchmen isn't really possible.
As for the "If they had prepared them" part: When they came back, they had all the spell preparation they needed. I revealed a lesser undead ( a Wraith) to them several rounds before the Big Bad made her grand entrance. Nobody cast any protective spells. Two hadn't even taken the minor precaution of blocking their ears with wax. Short of having her show up, introduce herself and give a countdown to the scream...