Though Foxglove Manor’s reputation for being haunted was nothing new, there seemed to be a recent increase in the number of ghost sightings. Some even claimed to have seen Iesha Foxglove as well as someone they called the Skinsaw Man.
Seoni decided to see if any spells at the academy might help in fighting this new undead threat. Her companions the toad and Shalelu Andosana went with her.
Foxglove Manor seemed like the logical place to start, but there had been more reported sightings of the Skinsaw Man near the farmhouse than around the manor.
Seoni was pleasantly surprised by her discovery of a poison spell, but she was less than thrilled when Shalelu left, declaring a guide would come in her place. Seoni wasn’t sure how helpful the guide would be, but at least she simply stood quietly while Seoni gathered spells.
A chill went up Seoni’s spine, an unexplainable breeze rustled the papers on the table next to her, and she thought she heard eerie moaning.
“What is that?”
Her new guide looked a bit pale. “A haunt.”
“You mean a ghost?”
“No, a haunt. It’s attached itself to you.”
Seoni didn’t like the sound of that. “How do I get rid of it?”
The guide shrugged. “I’m sorry. I don’t know.”
Seoni decided it was time to leave the academy and see if they could find answers at Foxglove Manor.
The farmhouse turned out to be a bit of a treasure trove. Seelah had managed to pick up a token of remembrance, a longsword, and chain mail. She’d left the spyglass and cape where she’d found them, but did wonder how so many items ended up there.
The farmhouse was also rife with monsters. She’d defeated a bugbear, a zombie giant, and a spectre, so she wasn’t surprised when she ran into the Skinsaw Man.
Seelah had gone up against a plethora a foes on her own, but the Skinsaw Man proved to be much more of a challenge. She managed to have the upper hand at the beginning, but had to retreat after a severe blow, allowing the enemy to escape. Her new chain mail had been damaged, so she discarded it. She also cast her cure spell to recover from the fight which turned out to be the best thing she could have done because the Skinsaw Man hadn’t gone far.
This time she got lucky and managed to wound him before he fled again, clearly leaving the farmhouse and heading towards the warrens. Seelah set out after him, her greatsword and longsword at the ready.
Foxglove Manor did not disappoint. As soon as they walked in, they encountered a ghost. Seoni used her toad’s energy to blast the spirit with arcane energy, then carefully tucked her exhausted toad into her pack. She then prepared her force missile in order to be ready for any further attacks.
Of course then all she found were potions, locked chests, and useless spells. They did stumble upon a plague zombie, but it couldn’t stand up to the assault of Seoni’s spell.
Seoni nearly jumped out of her skin when Shalelu showed back up. The haunt following her around definitely had her a bit jumpy.
“I just came to warn you that you’re going to encounter another haunt.”
“Another one? How do you know?”
But Shalelu was already gone, and her prediction turned out to be correct. Seoni rubbed her arms in the sudden chill and wished she had a cloak. Her guide seemed unfazed by this turn of events and simply suggested they investigate the warrens for any possible answers.
Seoni nodded her agreement and gestured for the guide to lead on.
Seelah had just defeated a goblin warrior when Seoni arrived in the warrens.
“You look a bit pale, are you all right?”
Seoni shuddered. “I’m being haunted.”
“What?”
“I have two haunts following me around. It’s very unpleasant.”
Seelah was going to ask for more details, but she was distracted by a sudden chill and eerie noises.
“Did you hear that?” she asked Seoni.
“Oh no, it seems you have one now, as well.”
Seelah did not want to be haunted and was about to ask if there was anything they could do, when the guide with Seoni spoke.
“Iesha Foxglove.”
They turned and saw an undead woman. Before they could ask the guide for further information, Iesha rushed Seelah. There wasn’t much any of them could do. The fight and Iesha Foxglove where gone so quickly, Seoni had trouble following what had happened. She knelt down beside Seelah.
“Are you all right?”
Seelah shook her head. Her swords and everything else she’d been carrying was damaged. She stowed it all away, a bit upset with the situation. Luckily her magic half-plate and spiked chain were in excellent condition, especially since they then found the Skinsaw Man.
“Do you want me to handle this?” Seoni asked.
Again, Seelah shook her head. “We’ll keep to our usual plan. I’ll go for the frontal assault, and you blast him when you get an opening.”
Seelah held nothing back in her attack and even threw her spiked chain around the Skinsaw Man, giving Seoni the perfect opportunity to strike with her super charged lightning bolt.
Once their enemy fell, the haunts disappeared.
Seoni shivered one last time as the perpetual chill was lifted. “I certainly hope to never encounter a haunt again.”
Seelah groaned as she picked up her spiked chain. “Let’s go get a bath and a good meal before meeting with the sheriff.”
Seoni agreed. They needed a bit of a break before diving into whatever new disaster the sheriff was likely to present them with.
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