After defeating the bandits and retrieving information from Remy about the blackness that Entered into Nathel from a failed ritual, our wizard friend Jarren decides to explore adventure elsewhere as the rest of the party returns to Duponde.
We return to find four guards at the gate and make our way to the inn. It is fairly quiet inside except for a couple of patrons. One of which is an old wizard selling potions over in the corner. The bartender takes no notice to us and Captain Grimbold is asleep in a chair by the door.
We wake the captain and speak to him about the information we retrieved from Remy and he gives some background information about Evard's Tomb and the surrounding graveyard. He goes on to say that he and a small party of guards have recently returned from there where they encountered unspeakable evils and that he lost three good soldiers there. With no doubt this place being the root of all the dark happenings in Duponde he asks that we go there and root out the evil that has befallen the town and surrounding area. We agree and are shortly on our way.
With the map that we had received from Remy was also an old book bound in black leather. Looking for further information on what may be going on at the tomb, Ueda makes a history check on the book. He can determine that there is a terrible evil involved with it written in an ancient language, The Django takes the book and falls into a horrific trance as if staring directly into the face of all evil itself. He makes a saving throw and is released from the trance. He then drops the book and stabs it with his short sword.
The cleric then takes the book and tries to determine the source of the evil but is also absorbed into the trance. He also makes his save. A blackness of evil absorbs itself into Django. Fiery gothic writing covers his body and he begins to hear whispers of evil voices in his head. He approaches the bartender of the inn and the bartender returns with a look of terror. Django begins to become concerned over what is happening to him. The rest of his companions see no real difference in him, but others seem to.
Django then makes his way over to the wizard in the corner. He asks the wizard if he can enlighten him about his condition. He goes on to tell the rogue that he is cursed. The same curse that took over Evard many years ago. He then begins to spin the tale of Evard and the evil that became of him. The adventurers listen intently and know that they must stop at nothing to rid this curse from their friend and the surrounding area. This is a must do.
It is late and the party needs rest and preparation before tackling the tomb and the source of evil befallen Durande. Ueda announces that he is going to pray and seek guidance from his deity to help try and remove the curse from his comrade. In his sleep, the voice of his deity answers his prayers, but cannot provide the guidance he seeks. He must find another way and it may only be to dispell the curse of Evard entirely. He finishes his unrestful sleep.
In the morning the party heads outside of the inn and finds the curse of The Shadowfell seems to have gone and we begin our journey to the graveyard and tomb. When we reach the gates to the graveyard at the base of the tower we see on the path in front of us the three slain guards. To our left is a dark grouping of trees and from that darkness we can see what appears to be sets of glowing eyes. As we enter the gates we watch in horror as the guards rise to an animated state of death. It's time for the party to take actions.
Falcon uses his rope and grappling hook to try and get an elevated position at the base of one of the four large statues that line the pathway but misses his athletics check. Cleric Valenae uses Smite Undead on one of the ghouls and delivers a powerful punch that blows it back 25 feet and leaves it half dead and bloodied. Fargrim attacks with his great axe and misses his target. From the trees come our hidden adversaries.
Shadow creatures are an evil sort that are hard to get rid of. They meld themselves with ones own shadow and attack. Unless a saving throw is made there is no separating them from being symbiotic to your own shadow. They move when you move.
Djenga moves for an open shot, Kings Castle and misses. Then two of the ghouls make a move on our new friend Fargrim. One of them hits for seven damage and he is in a grappling clutch. This means his movement is hindered but he can still attack at a disadvantage. The other ghoul misses his attack on the fighter entirely. Ueda uses Turn Undead and pummels both ghouls sending them flying through the air and freeing Fargrim from their clutches. An excellent move from our cleric friend.
From behind the towering statues, on the right hand side of the corridor come two more ghouls. These are the flesh eating variety. We must keep our distance from these guys otherwise be literally eaten alive! The first one makes an attack on Django and thankfully misses. The second moves in on Valenae and also misses. Our friends have escaped this round.
Greg makes an attack on one of the shadow creatures CRITICAL HIT! DEATH! Excellent work by the warlord. He then makes a move action to flank one of the flesh eaters. Falcon takes a shot at one of the undead soldiers and misses. He then uses his Elven Accuracy to take another shot and misses again. Not a good round for the hunter. Django pulls a Trick Strike on the flanked ghoul and makes a nice hit which leaves it half dead and knocks it 5 feet.
The ghouls that had been previously blasted by the cleric Ueada move in to attack the slayer. He in turn shifts into position for an axe attack and deals eight damage. Ueda comes in again with a strong punch Divine Glow that hits all three undead soldiers killing one and leaving the other two barely moving. One of the flesh eaters makes an attack on Greg and misses. The other makes an attack on Valenae and grapples him.
Falcon takes a shot at the flesh eater to try and release his friend using Disruptive Shot. He hits and immobilizes the ghoul but unfortunately does not release his friend from its clutches. Valenae uses an Eladrin racial feat Fey Step to teleport himself out of the ghouls clutches and away from the shadow creature that was once attached to him. This was a brilliant move by our cleric friend!
Fargrim attacks with his battle axe and misses his assailing ghoul. He does however make his saving throw to escape his symbiot shadow. Django then fumbles his attack, but wait! The tattoos of evil on him begin to glow and something is happening. One of the ghouls falls instantly to the ground like a sack of potatoes, then another. However, the third seems to be somehow rejuvinated? What kind of madness evil is happening here?!
Falcon looses an arrow at the ghoul and misses. He spends an action point for another shot at his target and misses again. Falcon has been less than stellar with his bow on these undead fiends. Fargrim makes another attack with his axe and misses then moves into flank. Djengo uses his shuriken for a CRITICAL HIT! DEATH! Then Ueda uses his Lance of Faith on the last standing ghouls and takes it out. The party is victorious once again. All we have left to do is enter the tomb and vanquish the evil inside.
