Ch 5: Part 3: Grand Tour of Golarion: Session 85

[15:45] <@Kilarra> *****Second Darkness*****
[15:45] <@Kilarra> ~~~Chapter 5: A Memory of Darkness~~~
[15:45] <@Kilarra> -Session 85-
[15:49] <@Kilarra> Our adventurers managed a night of rest at the Galtgate cavern, in order to prepare themselves for the remainder of the challenges they would face on their journney to and into Tanglebriar
[15:50] <@Kilarra> However, Kilarra revealed an unsettling truth about their newest travelling companion, Quilindra, who is in fact, a succubus in disguise. At the same time, Kahree seems to have fallen for the woman's charms in the worst possible way, and has yet to be told of the peril she faces.
[15:51] <@Kilarra> Afterwards, they travelled through to the Icegate, and were briefly confronted by Snowcaster Sentries, but allowed to continue on their way.
[15:51] <@Kilarra> Quilindra activates the gate, looking a mix of nervous an excited. Nervousited perhaps.
[15:53] * Kilarra sticks close to Aluthyra and keeps a wary eye on Quilindra. She found it a bit odd that Kahree had become so enamoured with the 'Half-Elf' so quickly, but suspected she knew why.
[15:53] <@Kilarra> Quilindra takes a deep breath, then steps through the gate.
[15:54] <Aluthyra> Kahree ducks low to the ground, hoping to conceal herself to any immediate danger on the other side, so that she can do what she does best.
[15:54] * Aluthyra nods to Kilarra, smiling lightly, and steps through.
[15:55] * Kilarra slips through as well, sticking close to Aluthyra
[15:55] <@Kilarra> Kjell follows thorugh last
[15:55] * Aluthyra and Kahree both drew their weapons beforehand.
[15:57] <@Kilarra> As the party emerges on the far side of the gate, they find themselves in the ruin of a fortress. Scattered about are the bodies of numerous elves, all long dead. What they also find is that the roof of the fortification is non-existance, and the mid-afternoon sun is upon them (~4pm)
[15:57] * Kilarra blinks, then smiles, "We're in luck."
[15:58] <@Kilarra> Quilindra looks to Kilarra questioningly, then up at the sky. "Oh! You're right."
[15:59] * Aluthyra keeps her bow ready regardless. "Quite fortunate... though we should proceed before we run out of luck."
[15:59] <@Kilarra> Kjell raises an eyebrow, wondering how exactly emerging into a ruined fort filled with dead elves constituted 'lucky'
[16:00] * Kilarra nods, "Yeah." She catches Kjell's perplexed look and informs him (And Kahree, wherever she went), "Banshee's, like some other incorporeal forms of undead, are powerless during the day. We just need to move on before sunset, and that won't be difficult at all with the gate right here."
[16:01] <Aluthyra> Kahree keeps hidden, but close! Sneaky sneaky.
[16:01] <@Kilarra> Quilindra looks relieved, and more excited than ever, "Fantastic. One less obstacle to deal with." She steps up to the gate and pulls out an amulet hung around her neck set with a sapphire. She holds it up to the gate and... nothing happens
[16:03] * Kilarra groans, "So much for Lucky. What's wrong?"
[16:03] * Aluthyra raises an eyebrow, frowning.
[16:04] <@Kilarra> Quilindra frowns as well, furrowing her brow, "I don't know. This should be the key to Tanglegate..." She looks to Kjell, "You're knowledgeable about magic, yes? I'm afraid my knowledge of it's theory and crafting are limited."
[16:04] <@Kilarra> Kjell nods, "I could take a look, although I make no promises." He steps up to the gate and begins inspecting it.
[16:06] <@Kilarra> Quilindra looks around for Kahree, and calls to her. "Perhaps, while Kjell is inspecting the gate, we can inspect the elves. Perhaps what they have left behind will be of use to us."
[16:08] <Aluthyra> Kahree sneaks up behind Quilindra and pokes her back. "Sure," she chuckles.
[16:12] <@Kilarra> Quilindra chuckles a bit. She smiles warmly, although less because of Kahree and more because, unbeknowst to her companions, this was the site of one of her greatest early triumphs. She had been responsible for the mistrust and eventual betrayal and slaughter that occurred here. Even though she didn't like the idea of tangling with the Banshee, she did remember the chaos fondly.
[16:13] * Kahree nods, then begins her search, looking around the bodies for loot.
[16:15] <@Kilarra> Among the bodies of the dead Elves Kahree finds a Large Steel Shield, two undrunk potions, a suit of Elven Chainmail (Mythril, counts as light armour), a mithral chain shirt, a wand, a bastard sword, and 1,203 gold pieces in total
[16:17] <@Kilarra> While they search, Quilindra stops in front of the body of one Elven woman in particular. A withered skeleton with part of its armour pulled over her face, and a curved elven longsword is nested between her ribs, as though she had impaled herself with it.
[16:21] <@Kilarra> Quilindra draws Kahree's attention to the body she stopped in front of. "I think this was her."
[16:22] <Aluthyra> Kahree blinks, grimacing at the grisly corpse. "Who again...?"
[16:23] <@Kilarra> Quilindra nods, "Judging by her armour, she was the leader here, and likely the one who rose as the banshee."
[16:24] <@Kilarra> The skeleton bears a suit of Elven Chainmail, the cold iron longsword between her ribs, a ring on one hand and an amulet around her neck.
[16:28] <Aluthyra> Kahree frowns. "How's that happen? Someone rising as a banshee?"
[16:29] <Kilarra> Quilindra frowns, "It happens when an Elven woman is killed when betrayed by those close to her, or if she dies without having attoned for committing an act of betrayal."
[16:31] <Kilarra> Quilindra shudders, "A terrible fate for any elf to consider. I was never really certain if half-elves were succeptible to such a fate."
[16:32] <Aluthyra> Kahree nudges Quilindra, weak smile on her face as she attempts to comfort the half-elf.
[16:34] <Kilarra> Quilindra looks at the elf's posessions. "Still, we should at least see to it that her effects  are put to a better use than decorating an ancient corpse."
[16:35] <Aluthyra> Kahree nods, picking up the elf's chainmail, ring, amulet, and the longsword.
[16:35] <Aluthyra> Kahree places the items into her Haversack for Kjell to look at later.
[16:37] <Kilarra> Quilinda smiles at her, "Let's go and see what he's found, hm?"
[16:37] <Kilarra> Kjell has, incidently, finished inspecting the gate. He steps back up to Kilarra and Aluthyra, frowning
[16:38] * Aluthyra quirks her head. "Are we able to get through?"
[16:40] <Kilarra> Kjell shakes his head, "Unfortunately, no. The gate is... for lack of a more precise term, soured. Something, and I think it's a safe guess what, is preventing outbound travel form this gate. Arriving seems to have no problems, but leaving is not, at the moment, an option."
[16:41] <Aluthyra> Kahree huffs. "Great... So we need to find the banshee." She groans, moving closer to Kjell. "Before we go do that, can you look at all this stuff? See if anything is magical?"
[16:43] <Kilarra> Kjell nods, "I can."
[16:44] * Kilarra notes, "If we have to face the Banshee, at least we can be prepared, but we'll have to wait until sundown."
[16:44] <Kilarra> Kjell chuckles, "Good thing I brought provisions."
[16:44] <Aluthyra> Kahree pulls out each item piece by piece for Kjell to detect.
[16:46] <Kilarra> Kjell uses detect magic! Unsurprisingly, everything Kahree found except the gold pieces is magical
[16:49] <Kilarra> Kjell describes each piece as he goes. "The shield has a rudimentary protective enchantment (+1), The potions are of Cure Moderate Wounds and Eagle's Splendor, The chainmail has a moderate protective enchantment (+2). The Mithral shirt is nice, you might like it Kahree, it has an enchantment that improves concealment (+1 Improved Shadow)."
[16:51] <Kilarra> Kjell continues, "The wand contains Fireball, and I can make use of it, that sword is an impressive piece, made to kill demons (+2 Cold Iron Evil Outside Bane), the second suit of Chainmail is magically fortified and well protected (+3 Moderate Fortification Elven Chain), The ring as a protection spell (+3), and the amulet is made to bolster stamina (Health +4)."
[16:53] <Aluthyra> Kahree nods, passing the wand on to Kjell. She looks around. "Anyone interested in the other stuff?"
[16:54] <Kilarra> Kjell nods, taking the wand.
[17:06] * Kilarra points to the ring, "Mind if I take that one? It's better than the one I've got on, and not all of us are as nimble as you two," she glances at Aluthyra and Kahree wit ha smirk and switches out the rings
[17:06] <Aluthyra> Kahree shrugs. "Then can I have your old one? I don't have a ring like that, myself."
[17:09] * Kilarra nods and hands it over, "Sure. Looks like you got another nice new toy as well. What about you Kjell, want the Longsword?"
[17:10] <Kilarra> Kjell shakes his head, "Tyrant's Bane has grown sufficiently powerful to make short work of most supernatural protection."
[17:10] <Aluthyra> Kahree smiles, trading rings. After, she slips the ring as well as the amulet on.
[17:11] <Aluthyra> Kahree raises an eyebrow. "Think I have time to change into the new armor?"
[17:12] <Kilarra> Kjell nods, "Probably. Sunset will be at least a couple hours."
[17:13] <Aluthyra> Kahree nods, then slips away to change... She returns a short while later, donning her new mirthral chain shirt.
[17:13] <Aluthyra> Kahree fidgets slightly, as the heavier material is somewhat different feeling, as well as less revealing...
[17:14] <Kilarra> It is snug and formfitting though
[17:15] <Kilarra> A couple hours pass, and the sun dips to the Horizon.
[17:15] * Kilarra stands up, "Kahree, Kjell, come here. It'll be dark in a few minutes and I suspect the Banshee will be on us very quickly, considering all the tim we've given her to know we're here."
[17:16] * Kilarra casts Death Ward on herself, Kahree, and Kjell, hopefully alloting them enough protection to survive if the Banshee started screaming
[17:18] <Aluthyra> Kahree nods. "Alright... I'll sneak around, try to hit it without it noticing me." She crouches, slipping into the shadows with the help of her new armor.
[17:18] * Aluthyra raises her bow. "Careful. Do not engage it until we do."
[17:18] <Kilarra> The shadows grow long as the sun finally dips all the way below the horizon, and a chill wind carries with it a terrible moaning.
[17:19] * Kilarra nods, "I've probably got the best tools for harming it, so Kahree, you should probably stay back and cover Quilindra."
[17:22] <Kilarra> Through the wall, the form of a ghostly elven woman appears, having been hiding within the solid stone until the sun set. She wears the same armour and sword of her corpse, though now spectral and insubstantial. Her face, which surely would have been beautiful in life, is controted with rage and anguish
[17:24] * Aluthyra aims her bow at the banshee, firing a flurry of deadly arrows.
[17:28] <Kilarra> Aluthyra's arrows would certainly be deadly to anything that was still alive, but the ghostly banshee seems more annoyed than anything, and snarls hideously at Aluthyra
[17:29] <Kilarra> Kjell came prepared to face incorporeal threats, and raises his spell arm, letting off a slew of empowered magic projectiles.
[17:31] <Kilarra> The force damage of the magic is more than sufficient to harm the incorporeal elf, who shrieks in frustration.
[17:31] * Kilarra is glad they seem to be doing well so far, but it was all going to go downhill if the Banshee started wailing. She opens her palm and released a blast of searing light, hoping to prevent that from happening
[17:32] <Kilarra> Kilarra misses as the nimble ghost glides away from the blast
[17:33] <Kilarra> The banshee looks infuriated and opens her mouth, a terrible, unearthly shriek issuing towards all those around her.
[17:37] <Kilarra> Kahree, Kilarra and Aluthyra all feel the horrible wail boring into their skulls. Their eyes and ears start to bleed and they all collapse immediately.
[17:37] <Kilarra> Kjell manages to hold on, as does Quilindra.
[17:40] <Kilarra> They both feel queasy though
[17:41] <Kilarra> Quilindra staggers, then looks around at the fallen companions. She settles on Kilarra, who is a healer herself, and kneels down next to her. She places a hand on her chest and lets out a few notes, rejuvenating energy coursing into the cleric.
[17:42] * Kilarra groans as she stirs, the taste of blood in her mouth and a ringing in her ears, as well as a bit of red tingeing her sight where her eyeballs were bleeding.
[17:47] <Kilarra> Kjell raises his spell arm again. He didn't trust his sword arm all tham much with how sick he was feeling after that terrible noise, and unleashes a regular set of magic missiles.
[17:49] <Kilarra> The Banshee is struck, and the interruption is enough to falter her deathly wail.
[17:50] * Kilarra gets to her hooves and swiftly moves to health Aluthyra, "Please don't be dead!"
[17:53] * Aluthyra gasps as she comes to, coughing blood onto the ground. She gives Kilarra an appreciative nod and stands, trying to hold herself up and ignore the ringing in her head.
[17:53] * Kilarra looks immensely relieved
[17:54] <Kilarra> The Banshee, looking all the more enraged for the interruption, reaches out to grasp Kjell with her ghostly hand, more resembling a claw than anything
[17:58] <Kilarra> Kjell feels a portion of his essence siphoned away by the Banshee, and begins to cower unnaturally
[18:03] <Kilarra> Quilindra knows she doesn't have much to help against the Banshee, so settles for healing Kahree. She places a hand on her chest and sings a few more notes in elven.
[18:05] <Aluthyra> Kahree sits up weakly, barely conscious, and wipes the blood out of her eyes. She gives Quilindra a quick hug, mumbling, "Thanks..."
[18:05] * Aluthyra groans, staving off her crippling headache, and raises her bow, firing another round of arrows.
[18:06] <Kilarra> Quilindra smiles, "Sorry I didn't get you first, but I figured your cleric's healing would be superior to what little I have to offer."
[18:07] <Kilarra> Aluthyra's flurry of arrows takes it's toll on the Banshee, and although she is not yet slain, she looks somewhat less substantial than before
[18:07] <Kilarra> Kjell cowers from the supernatural fear
[18:09] * Kilarra groans. "Alright then, let's end this." She holds out her holy symbol and a burst of brilliant positive energy issues forth over a 30ft radius. Rather than healing however, this energy was directed to harming the undead.
[18:11] <Kilarra> That last burst of positive energy is just enough, even though the Banshee struggled to resist it, to turn the spectre.
[18:11] * Kilarra pants and groans. "Let's -not- do that again."
[18:12] <Kilarra> The Banshee's wail fades and vanishes as she ceases to be
[18:12] * Aluthyra breathes a sigh of relief. "I would definitely agree."
[18:13] <Aluthyra> Kahree nods. "It's fine... just glad you came."
[18:13] <Kilarra> Quilindra smiles and helps Kahree to her feet
[18:13] <Kilarra> Kjell manages to shake off the unnatural fear after a few more seconds, standing and lookign a touch embarased.
[18:14] <Kilarra> -End Session-
[18:14] <Kilarra> Rewards: 1 EL 13, 6400 Experience Each