Both acolytes were looking forward to warm drinks and beds at the Twisted Root, and made the turn down the road to the Southwest which would take them to the Inn. Darien had been limping slightly, his recently re-grown leg still paining him a little bit. Melanie was deep in discussion with him about the healing of his leg when the ghast attacked them from the shadows of the Tanner's shop. (Darien surprise roll = 4, Melanie surprise roll = 3 Darien % roll = 49, Melanie % roll = 68).

Darien HP = 28/41 Init. roll = 3

Mielikki must have been listening to Melanie, because the cleric managed to suck in a lungful of fresh, clean air. ((Saved vs. poison with a Nat 20)) The brown-haired woman feared for her friend and struggled to recognize the names it spat towards her. "W-who?" she started to ask, and then it clicked. She threw up a hand in a placating motion. "Wait! I...I don't know where Tessa or the minotaur have gone! But Hi'el has left town, headed..." She scrunched her face as if in confusion, trying to remember, but really trying to buy a few seconds' precious time. "I think he was headed North. He's gone on a quest of some sort, but he's been gone a whole day already. Please! Let him go!" She pleaded with the ghast for Darien's safety. Melanie didn't have extensive experience with undead, but she understood that this one was no simple, mindless zombie.

---

Darien's mind raced, and even though he was paralyzed, he could still try to formulate his next move. He felt the prick of the ghast's ragged claws and felt his anger brewing inside at his current, helpless state. The large man had no idea if the foul, unholy beast would let him go, even if he learned the information he wanted, but he also recognized that Celebril did not appear to be under any outside control. He took note of the tarnished plate armor beneath the filth and found himself wondering if this warrior had been cursed with his state of undeath...the armor appeared to be exquisitely crafted, and usually only nobles, knights or paladins wore such extravagant trappings. Cel's armor was comparable to another knight's who had recently fought beside them (Kur'ai). When he heard the names Cel uttered, his puzzlement grew. What on earth could this vile creature want with those three....?

 

Location:  Vicinity Elmshade market square; Time:  Post midnight (D+2 after the Temple's Destruction);                                                                     C                                                               DM C = Celebril, D = Darien, M = Melanie    - - - Infuriated beyond reason by the delays to his vengeance and NOW this woman's complicit deception, the Undead Knight could still smell Hi'el's and Tessa's scent on the Priestess from just the night prior when she helped the Silenni tended her on her sick bed.  Something about the debutante's fever smell triggers recognition in the Carrion Eater as well as unleashes his Ghast nature.  At Melanie*, Cel acidly spits, "You lie!!!!!  I smell them!!!  You help the 'Lycan' and my murder!!!  He dies!!!"  And with no further warning, all the Priestess can do is watch as it rips the black-clawed hands across Darien's throat**, throwing him aside to lay 'bleeding to death'***.  The former Half-elf stands fully consumed with rage and bloodlust, intending to kill Melanie next. - - - CELEBRIL *      Success vs poison to resist Ghast stench; **    Initiative: d10=1, Damage: 13hp from claws ripping across throat; *** Change to Werebear form automatically occurs, roll 2nd save vs Ghast paralysis - FAILS, recover 16hps from change;

"NO!" the anguished cry flew from Melanie's throat as she watched the horrible ghast slice open Darien's, helpless to stop it. Her rage quickly followed the pain of grief and she almost attempted to turn the undead, but a calmness flowed into her and she instead she withdrew a precious vial of holy water from her robes. She uncorked it and brandished her holy symbol in front of her as a talisman against the ghast. It glowed with the power of her faith in Mielikki, and Melanie intended to use the holy water to either cast Protection From Evil around her, or dump it into the ghast's face when he attacked. The undead's next actions would determine hers. "Filthy, evil beast!" she roared at him as her tears for Darien only clarified and focused her anger. "You're an abomination to the Goddess and you must fall!" 

---

Meanwhile, Darien welcomed the change that washed over him, reveling in the wild strength and power of his Goddess-bestowed, were-bear form. The jagged wound on his neck began to instantly seal as his body sprouted long, coarse, silvery fur interspersed with black, almost symbolic markings on his back. ((In fact, the growth of the black fur patches do form recognizable symbols of Mielikki)). It wasn't instantaneous and still caused him pain which caused him to scream, though the sound coming from his mangled but healing throat was more of a growl and wasn't as loud as it would have been otherwise. His hands stretched into wide, padded paws which grew the elongated talons of a grizzly, and his face contorted as his snout grew longer. Darien was a big man anyway, but his girth doubled and his legs thickened considerably, also sprouting lethal black claws at the tips of his former toes. Of course, his robes were split asunder and the ragged studded leather armor beneath now became completely useless as this second change into a bear shredded the remains into strips which fell away from his huge form. His second roar was stronger and louder, more full of life. Even Melanie's hair stood on the back of her neck at the sight of the larger-than-life, pissed off ursine forming behind the ghast. 

 

Darien could only watch helplessly from the ground as his beloved sister in the faith was attacked by the horrible ghast. He had no idea how long he would be unable to help her, not knowing how long the undead's paralyzing cold would last. He felt his wounds continuing to heal at an accelerated rate, thanks to his present form, but his rage and grief at being unable to help Melanie made the whole situation more of a torment than anything else. Not knowing what else to do, Darien shut his eyes and silently prayed with all his might to his Goddess to help them both. Great Mother, please aid us at this desperate time of need! I am unable to help one of your faithful servants destroy a unholy creature who would kill us both! Please, Great Mielikki, hear my fervent prayer and aid us!

---

Deeply dismayed at the seemingly ineffective spell, Melanie choked again as the ghast's putrid stench invaded her nostrils. ((Motherf*****! 4th save vs. stench = 2 $#I+ !!!!)) She held her holy symbol up, waving it towards Celebril, hoping to somehow further ward off the evil ghast's dangerous attacks. The young woman bravely attempted to gain control of herself enough to turn him. "Holy Mielikki...*cough*...help me drive this...*choke*...unholy evil...*gag*...back, and save your...*gasp*...faithful follower from death...*cough*...if it be your Divine Will..."

It seemed that Mielikki was watching the drama, after all. Darien felt a renewed strength and peace flow into him that had nothing to do with his were-form. Or rather, his wereform only enhanced the feeling of divinity...for Darien recognized it as such - his Goddess had heard his plea. The symbol on his back grew warm and the black fur shone with a faint blue radiance. His limbs regained feeling and he was suddenly able to move again! ((God Call successful! YAY!Woo-HOO!RAWR!)) The removal of the paralysis enabled him to gain his feet, and he towered an imposing, full nine feet behind the hideous ghast. He immediately attempted to hug the undead, being wary of the ghast's foul stench. Darien held his breath and tried to squeeze Celebril, locking him into a held position so that Melanie, a cleric of higher favor and rank within the order, could turn him. ((Attack roll to hit: Irony is not co-operating at the moment, so I'm using my black d20 - roll of 14. If you want me to wait and re-do the roll when Irony's working again, let me know.))

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Bolstered by the sight of the massive werebear rising behind the undead knight, Melanie did indeed try to turn the ghast. Brandishing her Holy Symbol before her, she drew strength and comfort in her faith to Mielikki, attempting to send the unholy minion back to whatever grave from which he had crawled. "BE GONE!" her voice was loud, but trembled with righteous indignation and fury. The radiant sunburst she held in her hand gathered a golden glow which was becoming brighter by the second. "Stinking, un-natural spawn of evil, you are a disease upon this land, HER land! This land is protected by Holy Mielikki, Mother of the Forests and those within it! Get ye GONE, wretched beast! Back to the filth of hell and grave where you belong! Dare not come slinking from your cess-pool again, vile slave, or you will surely be destroyed! The blessed power of Almighty Mielikki COMMANDS you to be GONE!" 

Heaving a tremendous sigh of relief as the ghast fled, Melanie instantly fell to her knees to loudly give thanks. She shut her eyes and reverently held onto her holy symbol like the talisman it was. "Thank you, Holy Mother, for granting us your power to turn back the evil which faced us. Your might and divinity be praised forever. Thank you for watching over us, Mielikki. We are ever in your debt."  She opened her eyes and favored Darien with an apprehensive look, unsure what to say to him. She had heard, of course, about the transformations of those who had been at the Temple Battle, but for the first time in her young life she had no words to express what she was feeling - a combination of awe, nervousness and awkwardness. The priestess stepped forward and hesitantly placed a hand on one of the werebear's massive arms. "You're truly blessed, Brother Darien. Mielikki has shown us both great favor this night, but...I don't think Jarlosh will allow a...a...big bear like you in the Root." Melanie gave him a warm half-smile and waited to see if the bear would speak.

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