Untended Graves (Part 3)

Log Info

• Title: Untended Graves (Part 3)

• Emitter: Subduction

• Characters: Ravenstongue, Skielstregar, Telamon, Vaera

• Place: Subduction's Trench - Green Gate

• Summary: The ghouls in the cave are dead, and it's time to press on. Karasu and Vaera stand guard at the front while Skielstregar and the two half-sil sorcerers go with him. They engage in further combat with ghouls, undead hounds, and a female ghast as Vaera comes running from the entrance to assist. The group are victorious and discover the ghast has what appears to be a wedding ring of some sort on her finger. The cave comes to an end, and so the adventurers must decide what they do with the information they have now.

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=  At a glance around Subduction's Trench  -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
Karasu               5'9"     125 Lb     Human             Male      Clearly a man of Xian decent with dark hair and eyes.                      
Ravenstongue         5'0"     99 Lb      Half-Elf          Female    Short half-elf girl with violet eyes and black hair.                       
Skielstregar         7'2"     330 Lb     Sith-Makar        Male      A silver/bronze scale with fangs and empty eyes.                           
Telamon              5'6"     140 Lb     Half-Elf          Male      A platinum-blond half-sil man with dancing dark eyes                       
Vaera                7'0"     262 Lb     Sith-Makar        Female    A tall, dark red Makari with a metallic leg.                              
-=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=-
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-  As the GM  -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
Subduction                                                           Eating Continental Shelfs                                                  
-=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=-

Having dispatched the last of the ghouls in this first chamber of the ghoul- the final of which made a break for a passage leading deeper still into the limestone. No sounds of anything coming to meet them have yet emerged, so perhaps that was the last of them, or perhaps the cave is deeper still and the sounds of their battle have not reached that far.

Either way, the soggy, slippery moss has eased away now they are deeper, and the loose gravely ground gives way to firmer limestone. While it is still slippery in spots, where water runs in tiny rivulets, the ffooting is much firmer from here on out.

It is, however, completely pitch black beyond- without a source of light, like the spell Telamon earlier cast, or magical eyesight, one will be hard pressed to see as far as the end of their nose within.

"Can you conjure up some light, love?" Ravenstongue asks quietly she looks at Telamon ahead of her. She steps in to walk with him, her hand finding his.

"Spooky," Pothy chimes in as his blue eyes peer around in the dark.

Telamon gestures, sending a quartet of shimmering lanterns forward to illuminate the darker passage, and softly says, "Watch your step. There's still water here." He looks at the others. "Wonder how far this cave system goes? And none of these ghouls seem to be our absent gravekeeper."

GAME: Telamon casts Dancing Lights. Caster Level: 5 DC: 16

Skielstregar, in his Forgotten form, heaves and huffs as he throws the last, fleeing, ghoul off the spearhead of his halberd.

He only let a little bit of the leash loose, so he quickly reels it back in, and the unsettling aspects recede as he clonks against the wall tiredly. "... they... they do not ssseem like... like such," he pants, tiredly leaning against the wall as black ichor leaks from his legs, the spells from before still present. "Vaera, Shaman Karasssu, can you make sssure none get behind usss?" he requests of the redscale and the other man with them before he takes his vanguard position. "Ssstay close you two."

Ravenstongue purses her lips as she looks over at Skielstregar, her hand still around Tel's as they walk closer to the sith. "Should we take a breather?" she asks. "Just for a moment for you to catch your breath--ahh, but Tel can only have the light on for so long, right?"

"He'll be fine," Pothy says, mimicking Ravenstongue's voice. He's awfully opinionated today.

Telamon nods. "It won't last long, but I can recast it. I also have an everburning torch. Sometimes, you're just too busy to cast a spell." He looks to Skiel. "Your call, but frankly, I'd rather you take a minute to compose yourself." He's already digging into his pack for the torch.

Drawing nearer to the passage leading deeper, the flickering lights play against the walls of the cave and reveal that it is sloped downwards, leading deeper still, and loops back on itself.

Skielstregar takes the advice from the two, and he takes measured breaths, dead silver glancing back to watch redscales cover their entrance. "... ssstay safe," he says softly before shaking his head and looking forward.

A few moments pass, and he stands up straight, weapon ready. "Right, we go. Hopefully they haven't ssset anything up for usss after all that."

The ex-paladin advances.

GAME: Telamon rolls stealth: (16)+2: 18
GAME: Skielstregar rolls stealth: (10)+-1: 9
GAME: Ravenstongue rolls Stealth: (15)+2: 17
GAME: Subduction rolls 9: (7)+9: 16 (perception check)
GAME: Subduction rolls 9: (9)+9: 18 (perception check)
GAME: Subduction rolls 7: (2)+7: 9 (perception check)
GAME: Subduction rolls 7: (15)+7: 22 (perception check)
GAME: Subduction rolls 11-10: (6)+11+-10: 7 (perception check)

As the group descend ever deeper into the natural cavern, they find that the passage twists and turns- given by how narrow it is, and the way it seems to bow inwards towards the rivulet of water running along its middle, it seems it has been carved out of the stone by the rain over the passage of years. Finally, it seems to begin opening up, just ahead- though it's difficult to tell in the relative gloom.

And just as Skiel spies the cavern beginning to open up, a sound meets them. A raspy growl, followed by guttural, wet-sounding barking that echoes through the cave.

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-  ATTENTION  -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

Subduction has dropped a TIMESTOP!

-=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=-

As Skielstregar strides from the illumination provided by Telamon into the inky darkness within the cave, his draconic eyes adjust to the gloom. Rounding the corner, he sees a number of skulking figures- and the source of the baying. At the rear of the cavern, there is a pallid figure, skin drawn back from her mouth to fringe pointed teeth with raw gums and tattered lips. Naked, her matted hair clings to her skull in tattered ropes. Her hands are enlarged, long fingers ending in wickedly pointed claws.

Flanking her are a pair of emaciated and bald hounds, their pale skin stretched tight over ribs and spines. Their maws are full of wicked spines, and their eyes are sunken and amber in color as they bark and slather.

<OOC> Skielstregar says, "swift action to Arcane strike, power attack, negated by furious focus"
GAME: Skielstregar rolls weapon12: (1)+11: 12 (EPIC FAIL)

Skielstregar does his best to be quiet, but it's hard when you're a full on shiny disco ball of scales, the light from the dancing orbs reflecting off him, and every step is a clank and clonk of armor. Growls come out, and he rushes forward briskly, only to come to a skirting halt in the dark.

He chuffs, frowning. "Ah Scales, there's sssomething elssse here! And dogssss!" he hisses back down the tunnel as he lifts his halberd.

Only for it to get stuck from wall to wall as he's bringing it to swing. He shoulders it to break it free from the stone.

<OOC> Subduction says, "Ghoul 1 full attacks back."
GAME: Subduction rolls 5: (18)+5: 23 (miss)
GAME: Subduction rolls 5: (12)+5: 17 (miss)
GAME: Subduction rolls 5: (17)+5: 22 (miss)

The ghoul Skielstregar practically walks into as he rounds the corner lashes out towards him- claws rake across the field of force that shields the Sith-Makar's body and it lunges in with that maw full of blood-stained teeth, which gnaw and chomp against his armor, but fail to find purchase on the flesh beneath.

<OOC> Subduction says, "Hound 2 charges Skielstregar"
GAME: Subduction rolls 7: (20)+7: 27 
GAME: Subduction rolls 7: (8)+7: 15 (roll to confirm, fails)
<OOC> Subduction says, "Hit, no crit. Need two fort saves."
GAME: Skielstregar rolls fortitude: (1)+7: 8 (EPIC FAIL)
GAME: Skielstregar rolls fortitude: (15)+7: 22
GAME: Subduction rolls 1d6+6: (3)+6: 9
GAME: Subduction rolls 7: (6)+7: 13 (trip, miss)

The other of the hounds is more patient, though its maw hangs open and its tongue lulls out from within as it pads towards the evolving fight at the entrance to this particular chamber of the cave.

GAME: Telamon casts Glitterdust. Caster Level: 5 DC: 18
GAME: Subduction rolls 8: (16)+8: 24 (gast will save)
GAME: Subduction rolls 6: (1)+6: 7 (EPIC FAIL) (hound will save)
GAME: Subduction rolls 6: (1)+6: 7 (EPIC FAIL) (hound will save)
GAME: Subduction rolls 6: (16)+6: 22 (ghoul will save)

Telamon lets out an exasperated sound as Skiel charges ahead. "He's just hell bent on impressing Vaera, isn't he?" Jogging up just behind Skiel, he wrinkles his nose at the stink he can pick up even from here. Seeing the hateful, feral shadows suddenly coming into focus as his dancing lights glow over head, he whirls his hand on high, gathering a fistful of silvery sparkles that he flings into their midst -- the ball detonating with a soundless pop to coat the ghoulish foes in shimmering light.

GAME: Ravenstongue casts Glitterdust. Caster Level: 5 DC: 16
GAME: Subduction rolls 8: (16)+8: 24 (gast will save)
GAME: Subduction rolls 6: (7)+6: 13 (ghoul will save)

"I can do that too," Ravenstongue says, suddenly in a rather competitive mood. She conjures up her own concoction of shimmery fairy dust and tosses it onto the enemies ahead of their good tank. She flashes Telamon a little grin in the process.

GAME: Skielstregar rolls fortitude: (16)+7: 23 (success)
<OOC> Skielstregar says, "Arc. Strike, PA, Furious Focus."
GAME: Skielstregar rolls weapon12: (10)+11: 21 (hits)

Skielstregar squints as there's a veritable lightshow blinding those before him, glad it was a bit away. Though, some spots still dance in his vision as he keeps his stance wide and weapon swinging in large arcs from side to side so none would consider going past. He had one job, and that was to put his silver hide between his friends, and the ones that want them dead.

Even if it means ripping into his pretty new scales. He punts the dog off him and pulls the polearm back, bits of black ichor winding up on the blade as he slams it into the dazzled death hound. "Good, good," he encourages the other two's flashbang efforts.

GAME: Subduction rolls 6: (9)+6: 15 (prone check, success)

The glittered ghoul screeches and shields its eyes ineffectively as the glitter coats its pallid form, making it sparkle in the light- quite at odds with its blood-and-dirt stained, squalid appearance. It staggers backwards, skulking deeper into the cave, scrabbling about with one hand over its eyes and the other reaching ahead to blindly find the way, keeping low and out of the way of weapon swings.

<OOC> Subduction says, "Hound 2 will bite again"
GAME: Subduction rolls 5-4: (7)+5+-4: 8 (miss)

The blinded hound growls and gnashes its teeth in Skielstregar's general direction, but it finds no purchase only gulping down air where the beast hoped it might find flesh and blood.

<OOC> Vaera says, "and I'll take a shot at the one threatening Skiel!"
<OOC> Vaera says, "pbs, deadly aim"
GAME: Vaera rolls 1d20+10-1: (11)+10+-1: 20 (hits)
GAME: Vaera rolls 1d12+4+1: (9)+4+1: 14

Hearing commotion back in the cave was not a good sign, and Vaera did not trust the cave to be mostly cleared out with a large grave unaccounted for outside. The red makari was already turning back, and began to ouright run theoughthe caves to find the fighting that had started. She takes a shot at the creature harrying skielstregar as they come to a stop behind him, sending it crumpling to the ground.

<OOC> Subduction says, "Hound 1 moves in and attempts to attack Skiel, but is still blind."
GAME: Subduction rolls 5-4: (7)+5+-4: 8 (miss)
<OOC> Subduction says, "Ghast 5' steps towards Skiel. Fort saves for Raven, Vaera and Skiel."
GAME: Skielstregar rolls fortitude: (15)+7: 22
GAME: Ravenstongue rolls Fortitude: (14)+3: 17
GAME: Vaera rolls fortitude: (5)+8: 13 (fails, sickened for 6 minutes)
GAME: Subduction rolls 1d6+4: (2)+4: 6 (sicken minutes)
<OOC> Subduction says, "Full attacks Skiel."
GAME: Subduction rolls 7: (10)+7: 17 (miss)
GAME: Subduction rolls 7: (9)+7: 16 (miss
GAME: Subduction rolls 7: (20)+7: 27 (crit!)
GAME: Subduction rolls 7: (18)+7: 25 (roll to confirm, success)
GAME: Subduction rolls 2d6+6: (5)+6: 11
GAME: Skielstregar rolls fortitude: (14)+7: 21

As one of the hounds falls, the other moves in and the female creature that seemed to be in charge of them steps over the nearest corpse. A wave of reek washes over Vaera and Raven- Skiel is getting used to it, but it is fresh hell for their noses, it's enough to make one regret their breakfast.

The blinded canine yaps and growls and snaps wildly but fails to even draw near to its target- the ghast has more luck. Moving in close to Skeilstregar, her maw opens wide, and her wickedly clawed hand dashes out towards the Sith-Makar. Clawed fingers plunge into his gut to the knuckles while the ghast emits a raspy, shuddering hiss.

GAME: Telamon casts Hydraulic Push. Caster Level: 5 DC: 17 (tar: ghast)
GAME: Telamon rolls 1d20+11: (18)+11: 29
<OOC> Telamon says, "Alright, so 5 for the initial +5 more... she goes back to 15,16"

When the horrid leader gets closer, Telamon makes a disgusted sound. "Gods, you stink like... augh! Take a bath! Anumun lirum!" He forms a complex pattern with his fingers, and a gout of cool, clean water, blasts from his fingertips, slamming the creature back into a pillar and dousing it thoroughly.

<OOC> Subduction says, "Ghoul 2 takes a 5' step north and readies an action."
GAME: Ravenstongue casts Magic Missile. Caster Level: 5 DC: 15 (tar: hound)
GAME: Ravenstongue rolls 3d4+3: (6)+3: 9

"Good thinking, love," Ravenstongue politely compliments her other half as she witnesses the ghast getting a violent shower. She forms darts of arcane magic in her hand and throws them out at the remaining undead hound, scoring a solid hit on the sorry creature.

GAME: Skielstregar RAGES!, gaining +2 to melee attack/damage/Will saves and 10 temporary HP
GAME: Skielstregar rolls weapon12: (16)+13: 29 (tar: hound, hits)
GAME: Skielstregar rolls damage12+6+2: aliased to 1d10+9+6+2: (10)+9+6+2: 27

That ghast knocks the wind out of Skielstregar, the long, enlarged and sharp fingers slipping under his breastsplate. The sickening aura makes his stomach churn as if the fingers didn't already do enough of that. Relief as the ghast is blasted back, and magic flies around him to smash into the hound.

"Keep your filth off thiss one!" he snaps, slipping back into that ichor dripping rage as the halberd crushes the hound against the wall to finish up what Ravenstongue started.

He advances, grimacing as the bite tears past the ward he prepared. But it mattered little, breathing room was opening up for the others to file in if need be. And his ire was directed at that disgusting thing that was shoved against the pillar.

<OOC> Subduction says, "Ghoul 2 uses his readied action to try and bite Skiel. Skiel is also back in range of stink, so roll fort."
GAME: Skielstregar rolls fortitude: (12)+7: 19 (success)
GAME: Subduction rolls 5: (19)+5: 24 (hits)
GAME: Subduction rolls 1d6+1: (3)+1: 4
<OOC> Subduction says, "One fort save."
GAME: Skielstregar rolls fortitude: (9)+7: 16 (success)

The cautious ghoul, which managed to avoid being glitterbombed remains ckulking near the outcrop which granted it cover from the wave of light. It lunges out, latching onto Skielstregar with its foetid maw and tearing a fresh gash in the Sith's shoulder.

The blinded ghoul which had previously withdrawn takes a few cautious steps back towards the sounds of fighting- drawn by the scent of blood, despite its blindness.

<OOC> Vaera says, "I'll do a full attack against the extra stinky ghoul, but no deadly aim due to sickened"
GAME: Vaera rolls 1d20+10+1-2: (20)+10+1+-2: 29
GAME: Vaera rolls 1d20+10+1-2: (12)+10+1+-2: 21
GAME: Vaera rolls 4d12+4: (28)+4: 32
GAME: Vaera rolls 1d20+5+1-2: (14)+5+1+-2: 18
GAME: Vaera rolls 1d12-1: (8)+-1: 7

Vaera was still reeling and retching from the stench of the ghoul that had gotten so close, even as it is shoved into a wall away from them. It takes a moment to find them through the water, but another shot rings out in the cave, the first causing a loud snapping of bone from various locations, followed by a quick second shot, which sends the ghast crumpling to the ground as well.

GAME: Telamon casts Scorching Ray. Caster Level: 5 DC: 18 (tar: ghoul)
GAME: Telamon rolls ranged: (12)+4: 16
GAME: Telamon rolls 4d6: (10): 10

Telamon watches Vaera shoot the ghast squarely through the chest and drop it like a sack of (very stinky) laundry. "Well shot! What did you need me along for again?" he calls with a smile. "Ganzer agida!" he shouts, forming a lance of fire with his fingers and flinging into the cringing, blinded ghoul, driving a deep burn into its rotting flesh.

GAME: Ravenstongue casts Magic Missile. Caster Level: 5 DC: 15
GAME: Ravenstongue rolls 3d4+3: (8)+3: 11

"You're pretty, that's why we brought you along!" Ravenstongue retorts to Telamon, following up his scorching attack with her arcane darts again to add insult to injury. The magic strikes a solid blow into this one, too, but the ghoul gets a moment longer to live. ...Or unlive. A matter of perspective, really.

GAME: Skielstregar rolls weapon12: (2)+13: 15
GAME: Skielstregar rolls damage12+6+2: aliased to 1d10+9+6+2: (6)+9+6+2: 23

Skielstregar flinches as gunshots ring out, and the one he was going to advance upon crumples down to a heap. He looks over his shoulder, crimson gaze catching the smoking barrel of a gun. "... good shot..." he growls, turning back to- oh crap oh shit a ghoul right there! He tips the weapon up quickly, and drags the spear tip along the ghoul in a unclean cut. "Get a room!" he snaps at the two.

That was angry. Or.. no. There's a just a tinge of teasing underneath.

<OOC> Subduction says, "Ghoul 2 full attacks right back."
GAME: Subduction rolls 5: (3)+5: 8 (fails)
GAME: Subduction rolls 5: (13)+5: 18 (fails)
GAME: Subduction rolls 5: (2)+5: 7 (fails)
GAME: Subduction rolls 6: (12)+6: 18 (hides)
GAME: Subduction rolls 6: (16)+6: 22 (recovers from Glitterdust)

The ghoul Skielstregar struck is split open from groin to sternum by Skielstregars attack, spilling its reeking, rotten guts out. But despite the vicious blow, it remains standing, and lashes out at Skielstregar ineffectually, scraping and clawing at his armor, failing to find purchase, and breaking its pointed claw-like nails in the desperate attack.

The other Ghoul finally rubs the glowing dust from its eyes and skulks back away from the group, making its way towards the rear of the cave where it attempts to take refuge in the shadows.

GAME: Vaera rolls 1d20+10 +1 -2: (2)+10+1+-2: 11 (tar: ghoul, misfire)

"You are here, since we are fighting undead, and anything can happen." The red makari coughs, moving forward into the room as the foes dwindled and she could not find a decent shot. Still reeling from the stench, she fumbles the first round put into the side of the thunderbelcher, which the mechanism attempts to shove forward, causing it to get bent in half, jamming the entrance open, but unusable, and sticking everything in place.

"In case things go wrong, like this." She grumbles.

GAME: Telamon casts Glitterdust. Caster Level: 5 DC: 18 (tar: ghoul 1)
GAME: Subduction rolls 6: (5)+6: 11 (fails)

Telamon glides forward. "We have a room, Skiel. It's very nice. You and Vaera should come visit. We can grill ribs and talk shop." He sees the ghoul flailing at Skiel, and just shakes his head. "Mulan ukum," pointing. There's another silvery splash, and suddenly the ghoul is covered in sparkles and blinded. "What do you like for seasoning, anyways?"

<OOC> Ravenstongue says, "Hmmm. I'm gonna just move to 11,16 and total defense to conserve spell slots. The others have it handled for now."

"SNACKS," Pothy declares at the mention of ribs.

"Oh, you've got him worked up, love," Ravenstongue says with an eyeroll while she presses herself to a cavern wall, not intending on letting any surprise attacks while she's waiting for a friendlier opening for attack.

GAME: Skielstregar rolls weapon12: (12)+13: 25
GAME: Skielstregar rolls damage12+6+2: aliased to 1d10+9+6+2: (7)+9+6+2: 24

Skielstregar growls, glancing at Vaera's mishap and then back to Telamon. "Intruiging offer, but thiss one isss A BIT BUSY RIGHT NOW!" the bleeding silverscale snaps out. The new round of glitter flashbangs make him shield his eyes, and he goes for another viscous swing for it. This one doesn't land clean, it on the back end of the halberd, which makes a sickening crunching sound as the undead is splattered and quartered against the wall.

He huffs a cloud of black miasma, him whipping around towards deeper in the cave. Skiel bounds off on all threes, the spell from before still making him blinding fast before he skirts to a clambering halt, weapon at the ready. "... found you..." he grins.

<OOC> Subduction says, "Ghoul 1 will attempt to full attack Skielstregar."
GAME: Subduction rolls 5: (18)+5: 23 (hits)
GAME: Subduction rolls 5: (13)+5: 18 (miss)
GAME: Subduction rolls 5: (15)+5: 20 (miss)
GAME: Subduction rolls 1d6+1: (3)+1: 4
GAME: Skielstregar rolls fortitude: (10)+7: 17 (succeeds)

The last remaining Ghoul cowers in the corner as Skielstregar strides towards him, pressing his back against the wall- but when it becomes evident that there is no escape, he lashes out in a desperate attempt to bring down the injured Sith-Makar.

It manages to cling on with its claws, and its teeth find the side of Skielstregar's face where it tears off a strip of scale and skin- promptly swallowed.

<OOC> Vaera says, "move to 17,15, pull out the dragonspitter, and a shot at the ghoul"
GAME: Vaera rolls 1d20+10+1-2: (9)+10+1+-2: 18
GAME: Vaera rolls 1d8+1: (5)+1: 6

"There is a time and place for jokes, Telamon." The red makari half growls back to them, before she is moving to see what Skielstregar found, pulling out the smaller firearm from her coat as the thunderbelcher is held in one hand. Taking aim again, she sends another shot into the remaining ghoul, piercing through the creature's chest and causing the last one to fall to the ground as well.

And like that, it's all over. The shambling, hungry dead, now just dead. Telamon furrows his brow as he skirts the shattered corpse of the ghast. "Ugh... damn, this thing stinks as bad as it did when it was walking around. What is it?" He renews the dancing lights cantrip, using it to illuminate the cavern a bit more extensively. "Looks like that's the last of them, though..."

Ravenstongue pats Telamon on the shoulder and gives him a little smile. "Tough crowd," she says, before she looks over to Skielstregar and Vaera. "Does this cave go any deeper? Or is this it?"

"Ribs," Pothy says, mimicking Telamon's voice. Then in Ravenstongue's voice: "Snacks." The bird is not letting go of Telamon's promise of ribs.

Skielstregar flinches as the creature goes down, and he whips his head back, forth, and around before shuddering and leaning against a wall. Forgotten effects abating and receding as he slowly drips blood. "... apologies for thisss one'sss rudenesss," he mentions, tiredly looking about the cave. He passes by Vaera, patting her on the shoulder. "Thisss one thinks it is... that iss all. Where isss... the Gravekeeper?" he asks, walking to each of the bodies and poking the spear tip at them to flip them over and inspect.

GAME: Vaera rolls craft/gunsmithing: (7)+10: 17

Vaera sighs as the last ghoul goes down, and she stows the smaller firearm after loading it again, so she can pull out some of the tools that are in her belt to wrench free the warped round from the firearm, and reset the mechanism. "you should bandage your wounds Skielstregar." She states while getting everything back into working condition. "And, the gravekeeper? This one is unsure. It is possible they were eaten by those creatures, or made into another. They were taking corpses here for a purpose. And we should bring them out of the cave to burn."

Now that the clamor of battle is over, The group are able to get a better look at the Ghast- and the moving light catch something- on one of her fingers, she has a band of gold. Tarnished and crusted with dirt and dried blood, but gold all the same.

The cave itself seems to end here- the water that flows down from above seeps away through cracks in the wall, cracks which are surrounded with pits from the flow of the water. The cave will continue to expand, but for now, nothing larger than a mouse could move deeper.

Telamon covers his mouth and nose with a kerchief, as he looks at the ghast. Cautiously, he pulls his dagger, and hunkers down... gently prodding at the ghast's clawed hand. The glint of gold. "Hm," he says meditatively. "We never did inspect that dug-up spot outside, you know. I wonder... I wonder if the gravekeeper's there." Once satisfied that the ghast isn't going to jump up again, he leans in to inspect the ring cautiously, looking for any markings.

The feytouched woman's hands move as she murmurs an incantation, her violet eyes glowing momentarily. They quickly return to normal, and Ravenstongue declares, "Ring's not magical. Could be a wedding ring, engagement ring... Or just a ring."

Skielstregar looms over Telamon, spying the ring. "... mayhapsss. Thisss one... isss unsure if thiss creature makesss other undead. This one would not want to dig up the grave to check, perhapsss we make speak with Mother to get her blesssing to check the grave?"

"Perhaps someone in town recognizes the ring. We could see if it could be returned." Vaera chuffs, followed by a hacking cough from the stench. "And, this one needs some fresh air. They can bring some of the bodies out with them."

The mention of the turned over dirt makes her pause, and blink. "If it was made by the creatures, then we should check it. There is no knowing what was left under there, and it could be dangerous to leave as it is."

Telamon dons a pair of gloves before handling the corpse, gently removing the ring to study it. Peering at the inside, he says, "Yours forever, G," evidently reading off an inscription. He nods to Vaera, but instead of keeping the ring, he gently puts it back on the ghast's finger where it was. "We can describe it well enough," he says firmly. "But I think we'll let her keep it for now."

OOC

Map: https://www.mipui.net/app/index.html?mid=muhhlxex5k8

 ===================== Current Initiative Order - Round 2 =====================
---Init--Name------------AOO-Notes--------------------------------------------
    21   Skielstregar     1  
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    20   Ghoul 1          1  
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    17   Ghoul Hound 2    1  
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    17   Vaera            1   
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    10   Ghoul Hound 1    1  
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    10   Ghast            1  
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    7    Telamon          1  
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    6    Ghoul 2          1  
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    5    Ravenstongue     1  
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