Ghoul Attack

After finding the Book of Inverted Darkness in the Shadowed Room the party explored their options.  Some members wanted to leave but didn't know how to get out of the room, Mara was for finding a way out of the windows even though the party was high above ground.  Melisana and Pretis said that the party was low on healing surges and dailies after three battles and thought the party should take an extended rest.  Others were just trying to determine how to get out of the room.  Finally the group decided to take an extended rest given that they held the keys (shaped stones) to getting into the room.  That way they shouldn't be bothered.  Watches were set and the party spent an extended rest.


After having risen the group was still searching for a way out of the Shadowed Room.  The key stones seemed to have changed shape and now represented the entire runic symbol.  Finding a book with a shiny cover, a shield and water dumped into a basin they group reflected their stones and the room began to spin.  Finding themselves again in the mirror room the party started to determine which action to take next, find Valuriss and follow Bratorn's route out the drainage ditch, determine what the plague might be and how to stop it, find a king and save him, maybe even find Vecna and stop him from speaking the second or third word.  

As they thought about this a large ghoul entered the room and 7 other lesser ghouls stepped out of the shadows.  Qoolarn spoke stating that he was looking for the route into the Shadowed Room and thankfully the party had found the way in.  He wanted the key stones and would thank the party by dispatching them.  The battle was on and it was fierce.  Qoolarn's aura reduced the parties defenses and the double claw attacks from the ghouls soon had Melisana knock unconscious, Pretis and Gofin bloodied and Lythandar swiftly moving out of range.  Several party members were grabbed.  Qoolarn's Foul Odor and the Frightful Dirge of the slowed and stunned some party members.   Mara attacked Qoolarn and two ghouls, pushing them further away from the party, negating the aura for some members.  Demin used his crossbow to attack and Alhellara revived Melisana just in time to see Gofin hit the floor, but Pretis intervened with Fearless Rescue to revive Gofin.  Just as the battle seemed to be going against the party again, Melisana used Brilliant Beacon to cause ongoing Radiant damage and followed this up with Sun Strike to further hamper the ghoul brigade.  Soon Qoolarn dropped followed by 5 of the lesser ghouls.  These were quickly dispatched and the party tended their wounds.  Melisana found that Qoolorn was wearing Bloodsoaked Bracers, which Mara claimed.  

After a quick five minute rest the party headed out of the mirror room, up to the Temple of Vecna and down the winding stairs back into the streets of Citadel Cavitius.  Heading for Valuriss' hovel they found her waiting for them to return.

Scorecard: The party received 543 XP for the battle with the Ghouls and now have 15962.  An additional 538 XP will bring them to 9th level.  Mara claimed the Bloodsoaked Bracers.