Youth Group! TOEE - Meet 11, 9/28/22

The group got as ready as they could. Another flame was placed near the opening of the column as we backed up, weapons up. And the ghouls flew through the opening, two at first who pivoted and charged us, and then two others who drew up and snarled at us. Arrow and crossbow bolt flew, but the ghouls were unfazed by the missile fire. It was Aredhel’s flameburst that followed that caused 2 of them to howl as they were badly burned, and the other two to jog ahead, smoke and embers following them.

We swung and hit, mostly passing blows at best. Albert called forth a summoning and got his kobold, Jimmy, to appear. We had a decent battle line drawn up as we swung and hacked and tore. But then Elmo was hit by a wicked slash on the arm, followed up by a deep bite. The ranger’s movements froze up as he was paralyzed, the ghoul turning to face Ophelia next.

Jimmy was the next to be struck hard, the kobold slowing down and then paralyzed in place. “Turn them!” the cry came out as Rowan shot again. One of the ghouls fell over dead but before the cleric could have Athena turn them, Ophelia was also paralyzed! “Damn it people!” The group was getting real nervous now. “Take them down one a time. Everyone concentrate attacks on one at a time!” Albert’s thrown dagger stuck in another ghoul and then Pestle’ magic missile finished it off.

Spells and weapons swung, arrows flew, two ghouls left, 1 pretty hurt. And then Pestle froze up from a wild hit…and less than a minute later, Aredhel found herself paralyzed as well! Rowan and Albert remained and the two friends shot and fired into the wounded ghoul…killing it! Leaving 1 left. It reviewed the wreckage around it, tilted its head in thought, and ran to the column where it threw itself within and then slid down hard to the space far below. “Let it go!” Rowan commanded. “Let’s get everyone out of here.”

Jimmy had been dispatched and a quick look showed that Elmo had taken the worst of the attacks, multiple wounds paralyzing the big man. With the door to the column blown clean off, we wanted to get out of here before the ghoul and/or the ghoul shaman returns. So we opted to lift up two of our friends (Aredhel and Pestle), carry them out of the torture chamber, and run them north to the storeroom outside of Lubash’s old area. The two friends still standing were the weakest of the party, but fear and adrenaline added speed and strength to them, giving them the impetus to house the party within.

They went back for Ophelia and Elmo, getting as far and knocking Elmo down but the ranger was way too big and heavy for either one to drag. So they tag teamed Ophelia to the room, Pestle was now able to move, and the gnome helped as well. One by one the party became animated and we all rolled and shoved and pushed Elmo further and further north. But we could hear the ghoul(s?) returning and we were not ready. A flask of oil across the entrance to the torture chamber and then set it ablaze as the ghoul and the ghoul shaman appeared.

Albert was bracing it across the flames, spell at the ready. The ghoul took a run…and jumped THROUGH the fire, tackling the wizard! And paralyzing him as well. Damn it! The Shaman cast a magic missile at the group while the party was now faced with a ghoul over here. Aredhel was close enough for spell use and Ophelia was going to turn them. But she was struck next, and paralyzed again!! And the shaman cast a light spell at the party, just missing blasting one of us blind. The group tore into the lone ghoul as Elmo was starting to move and the Shaman after shielding herself, went back to the column and retreated. Again.

Damn it.

We took our paralyzed friends (again!) to the storeroom and hid there for 10 minutes, watching the door as healing was dispensed. We decided to get out of being down here for now and go back to the main floor. The party went back to Lubash’s body with the cow’s head sewn atop it, dragged that up the stairs as well, and then took it out to the Dyv river and sunk it there.

We decided to tough it out here. We went to the Black Chamber, sealed ourselves in, ate dinner and figured out who was taking what watch. We got lucky during the night and it wasn’t until 7 AM on Restmonth the 10th when we woke up, broke our fast, and discussed what we were going to do today as well as what spells we were going to study.