No, I’m not Invisible, and if I was, then they probably would not follow me out.
But thanks for the offer. Save the spell for when we really need it.
No, but I figured if you were, we could use you to scout and Mulligan as bait. But go ahead; I’m happy to conserve.
Peering in the closest hole with a light source it appears the hole is 8’ deep in the wall.
Elfstan[sup]1[/sup] is invisible and Mulligan* is visible
[sup]1[/sup] RogueRacer
- CatInASuit
Strike that- reverse it.
Bitur checks out the altar closer to see if there’s something we missed about it while Mulligan tries to lure out the undead.
Depending on the results of these actions, Bitur has some squibs he’d be willing to light and toss into some of the holes to see if they can flush out the enemy. (Assuming that it’s feasible to toss the squibs effectively into them.)
“I’m fine with the luring plan, but if that doesn’t work, maybe we could just throw some rocks in at them. I suspect the creatures are cowering in the holes not out of tactics but because they have been turned. Once attacked, they should break out of that and return to their normally bloodthirsty selves.”
Elfstan ponders for a second and then says, “How about we shine a lantern down the holes. Any bundles of rags which may be a creature gets set on fire. We can certainly toss a torch or something else flammable that far.”
Deor will cast about among the rags of the creatures on the floor for flammable bits that might be bundled and burned.
Gilraen motions she likes the idea of Elfstan’s idea. She also Deor’s idea of the crossbow bolts.
She is also trying to motion to Hraedsig. She puts a hand to her forehead and holds the other out and slowly spins until she points at the central alter and then at the holes. All the time see is maintaining her song but she is looking a bit fatigued and takes a few quick sips while singing and signing.
Deor, as a member of a large family with lots of free time on winter evenings with nothing to do and the weather too cold to be outside much, is a past master at charades.
“Does the alter have something to do with controlling or animating the dead? If we destroy the alter or the spell, could we break the enchantment that animates these beings?”
She shrugs to Deor’s questions but walks over to Deor and points to his new ring and then motions around like she was seeking a water source.
Sir Thoroncir did not play Charades much in his youth in the seaport of Linhir, but says slowly, “I think she is suggesting that our paladin Detect Evil…”
Deor’s new ring mostly helps with vision, detection, and identification spells, so he’s not sure what to make of this.
“We know that fire is anathema to these dessicated monsters- are you telling us that water also might destroy them?”
So with Hraedsig detect their hiding places. Deor and others shoves some rags into the hole and light it on fire and shove the burning pile in by Hraedsig using his bastard sword. Thoroncir and other stand ready to assault the burning monsters. One by one they come out fast to get chopped down. At one point the last two come out but Gilraen turns them again and they are dealt with separately and easily.
This leaves rescuing the missiles and dealing with the still evil altar and whatever other checking the party wishes to do on the room.
Well, Hraedsig and I were going to check the alter before we were attacked. What do you say Hraedsig, once more to the alter?
“Absolutely. And thank you, Gilraen. I should have thought of Detecting sooner!”
Checking out the altar, it still radiates evil. It is very old, thousands of years old and almost certainly human make and not goblin. There are old carvings under the stains. But not even Gil-Gandel or Gilraen can interpret them.
Gilraen and Hraedsig both get the odd sense this evil is neither associated with Morgoth or Sauron. It is something different and perhaps fully human.
The stone appears to be carved granite, once white but now stained browned from age and blood.
Thoroncir frowns. “Even the Black Numenoreans’ evil had its roots in the Fallen Vala and his Dark Lieutenant, did it not? If there is some other source or focus of evil among Men of which we had not known before, this is troubling news indeed. Let us destroy these fell artifacts at once, if we may do so with the tools at hand.”
Can I try to read the carvings on the altar as well?
The carvings mean nothing to Mulligan either.