stonegod's Expedition to Castle Ravenloft: Ch. I [IC]

Knowing that there's not nearly the room for him to engage the ghast in combat... nor wanting to use his Flamic energy to turn the beast without others being also in the area... he decides to assist Lady Ashlyn by offering Guidance, in the hopes that she will not be overcome by the stench of the creature. "By the power of the Flame, may you be Guided in your endeavours!"

(Move forward to D6 / Cast Guidance on Lady Ashlyn: +1 to her choice of a future to hit roll, skill check or saving throw)

AC: 21 (23 w/ P.Evil); HP: 47/47; Sickened

Although nauseated and at the point of vomiting, Ladreth steps his way next to the warrior woman and unleashes a barrage of precision cuts with his worn blade, ones that would look slightly better if not for his sickening.

5' Step to B5, full attack with MW Greatsword: +12/+7 after -2 penalty, 2d6+9

Ghoul Grave: Round 1 (Complete)

Her mouth set in concentration, Ashlyn brings her sword down in the artificial light. Her holy power almost cleaves the fiend in twain, as most of its desiccated rib-cage---and its contents---are spilled onto the floor. [Two hits; 27hp total, creature nearly dead]

Ladreth stumbles behind the Lady paladin, but his sickness spoil both swings. [AC 14, 8 miss] Jarrith's call to the Flame infuses Ashlyn with divine guidance, while behind him lightning flares as Janis ensures no foul creatures follow them. And right after, the holy fire of Marot explodes into the creatures brain---leaving little behind as its headless bodies crumples. [Hit; 17hp; destroyed]

As the ghast crumples, silence returns to the empty tunnels. But for how long?

Ghoul Grave: Round 1 (End Combat)

Status
A: 42/49, protection from evil 29 rounds, guidance
L: sickened 99, protection from evil 29 rounds
J: cat's grace 29 rounds, shield of faith 9 rounds
J: Unharmed
M: Unharmed
T: Unharmed

Map Key: A: Ashlyn, G: Hungry Corpse, J: Jarrith, J: Janis, L: Ladreth, M: Marot, T: Tessa.
Conditions: Dark Red Border: Dying, Lime Border: Sickened.

Janis nudges Tessa ahead of her, clearly ready to get this day's "hanging out in stuffy tunnels that smell like dead things" chores done quickly.

Marot

Marot quickly inspects the ghast's body, looking for any signs of identification or items that might identify who this was in life, while holding his hand over his mouth.

He then moves up into the earthen chamber that the vile creature burst forth from.

"How do you figure this thing got behind this wall of earth in the first place? I haven't studied ghast psychology extensively, but I would wonder why they would want to entomb themselves...." He says to no one in particular.

Noting that no one is moving further into the tunnel, contenting themselves with investigating the body and the wall, Ladreth doubles over, his eyes tightly closed while he tries to control his breathing. His skin appears more mottled than normal, beaded with tiny strands of sweat.

Ashlyn turns to Marot, and speaks quietly "Keep an eye out", before she turns back to Ladreth and examines him. With a shake of her head she speaks softly, almost gently, "Best to just get it out of your system".
She looks up at Tessa, a question in her eyes as she turns to give Ladreth his privacy.

Leaving Ladreth to be sick, Ashlyn move over to the body and takes a small dagger-like object from a leather pouch on her belt. Kneeling by the body she speaks a few words for the dead and then with a swift, sure movement she thrusts the dagger-like object into the dead body and steps back as it ignites.

Finally she places her hand upon the wound on her neck and a moment later it is gone.

[Heal check on Ladreth to determine his sickened state (I guess she can't 'fix' it with the Heal skill?)]
[Use alchemical flare stake on the body (+1d6 fire dmg/round until removed)]
[Lay on hands for 7hp]

"How's everyone doing? We good? Ladreth... don't worry about the sickness... I was infected and throwing up for a solid couple hours when we first arrived and almost turned into one of these things. You got off lucky."

Jarrith ushers folks forward further into the tunnel, wanting to get this over with just as much as Janis does.

Ladreth stands up straight, extending to his full height as he exhales heavily. A moment of discomfort etches his face as he closes his mouth tightly, only to release in a noxious belch that seemed to emanate from the depths of his gut. Covering his mouth apologetically, he wends his way through the group, still sick, but ready to assume the front through these darkened tunnels.

Marot finds nothing identifying on the corpse---it apparently has been long dead. As Ashyln begins to burn the corpse, Ladreth stumbles around the corner to get a look at the rest of the tunnel.

The tunnel opens up into a fetid earthen chamber whose stench is abominable. Corpses of humans, mostly eaten, are strewn about and partially trodden into the floor. One body is relatively intact, and several coffins---drag marks fresh in the earth for the farthest one---lie in a jumble nearby.


Status
A: 42/49, protection from evil 27 rounds, guidance
L: sickened 97, protection from evil 27 rounds
J: cat's grace 27 rounds, shield of faith 7 rounds
J: Unharmed
M: Unharmed
T: Unharmed

Map Key: A: Ashlyn, G: Hungry Corpse, J: Jarrith, J: Janis, L: Ladreth, M: Marot, T: Tessa.
Conditions: Dark Red Border: Dying, Lime Border: Sickened.