We thought that it would be a fair match for us. There were three cadaver men and a ghost. Each were engaged and the fight was going our way. That was before Ahmok got possessed and turned against us.
The T’Skrang turned on Ivor, who couldn’t believe what was happening. If there was ever any comradely rivalry between them as to who would best who in combat, it was resolved then. Very soon Ivor was on the ground, unconscious. To buy us time I conjured up a fog ghost, engaging it with the cadaver men. Another cadaver man attacked Ahmok, not realizing he was on their side now. That kept Ahmok further distracted. Not that the rest of us could come up with something to turn the situation in our favour.
Meanwhile the ghost decided to exit the stage, or was banished from the damage it took - we will never know. The cadaver men were down and the fog ghost had no one left to attack, and Ahmok turned on me next. With my inability to use Spirit Grip in holy places, such as this shrine to the Twelve was, I was rendered useless in close combat. It took Ahmok two strikes – first I was wounded, then killed.
When I came to it seemed that Ahmok was himself once more. Ivor was badly wounded but conscious again. We decided to head back to the village to regain our strength. On the way Ajisha filled me in on what had happened. In order to delay fighting as much as possible Jarl had withdrawn in the corridor and cast Icy Surface between himself and Ahmok, with the intention of keeping him at bay with ranged spells and the slippery ground. At some point Ahmok willed the possessing spirit out of him and threw down his weapon, as an indication of no hostility. As regards my short trip beyond life and back, it is thanks to the Last Chance Salve that I’m penning these words. I have a spell which enables me to experience death, but this went one step too far. The downside of course is that I have learnt nothing out of it, as I have no recollection of the time between the evil the glint in Ahmok’s eyes as he plunged his blade into me, to when I was eventually resuscitated.
Back at the village we told the inhabitants what we found and why we came back. They were not too happy that we still hadn’t found the missing child, but the fact that we returned at all seemed to escape their notice. We spent one night resting and decided not to linger further, setting off the following morning. Before leaving I prepared my undead struggle spell, now knowing what awaits us.
We retraced our steps into the underground temple. We discovered that it was symmetrical in shape, as another corridor further on from where we left was also submerged in water, though not up til the roof, making the going easier. Ahmok scouted ahead, as it was his element. He saw a dead body ahead, but now that experience was on his side, he attacked the cadaver man and retreated to warn us. Before it surfaced I blasted it with Astral Spear, and when it finally showed itself I held it and chipped away at its will with undead struggle, while the others hacked at it. We made short work of the undead man.
Making our way cautiously we came onto a dormitory like room, with cots lining the walls and a desk at one end. We filed away this information and decided to press on. It was then that we came upon a room with the flickering light of a candle. Inside we saw a girl tied up, being guarded by an undead orc. Immediately Jarl froze the ground all around the orc, while I held him with undead struggle. It is a powerful spell, launching my will against that of my undead opponent. Passions help me if I ever fail this combat of wills, but for now I take the risk willingly, as it gave us the edge we needed. Those who could not shoot from the distance had to stay by the side and watch as we took the orc down.
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