Gerrard flails clumsily and ineffectually with his blades, trembling and deeply flustered.

Oceanus shouts in Elvish and swings his trident wildly in the ghost's face in an attempt to distract the dead dwarf and help Peri.

Kei and Peri may act next. Kei is about thirty feet away, and may not move closer. Peri has advantage from Oceanus.

Peri:

He feels the ghost's touch, colder than any winter wind as it freezes his throat. The shock nearly drops him to his knees and as he screams his frozen throat makes no noise. For one instant he is as frozen as the skin of his neck, but then the sea-elf's trident plunges into the ghost, distracting it, and he lashes out with his spear (19 for 10 damage)

(If the ghost is still "alive?" he will spend another Ki point on Patient Defense)

Peri once again connects his spear with the incorporeal dwarf, wounding it again with another serious puncture to its side. It howls in pain and torment. Nevertheless, it continues to wage its ghostly if rather unhinged assault, shrieking dwarven curses at the halfling. (Peri will spend another Ki point on Patient Defense.)

Kei may act next. He is about thirty feet away, and is unable to bring himself any closer. (Trill, however, is unaffected.)

Kei

Stunned at the sight of the spectral dwarf, Kei is glued in place. Unable to move he shouts out to Peri -- "Do not fear, it's in your mind. Keep your feet and you'll be fine. You've almost got him, try to hit one more time.". Considering the circumstances, it seems a fitting poem. He just hopes that the halfling thinks the same. He braces himself to dodge any incoming attacks.

((Bardic Inspiration granted to Peri.))

Trill, seeing Kei frozen mid stride knows it's time to harrass the creature that has his master so scared. The fearless bird dive bombs the ghost, flapping and hooting at the head of the dwarf before escaping back to the safety of the ceiling.

While composing his rhyme, Kei tries to calm himself and steady his nerves - Wisdom save: 8

 ...but doesn't quite manage it yet.

The ghostly dwarf again reaches out to lay hands on Peri. Attack: 7. Necrotic Damage: 12

But it fails to touch the dextrous halfling, wailing, "Feumaidh na orcs meallta, salach bàsachadh. Chan urrainn dhomh mo dhaoine a chall a-rithist!"

 Dwal, who has now arrived at the melee, may act, followed by Gerrard (frightened), Kei(frightened), and Peri (inspired).

Dwal

Dwal, shakes his head, saddened by what is before him. His friends in trouble. An ancient dwarven spirit bound to this place because of duty. With much sorrow he says:

"I am sorry brother, May othok Nadra da Kadrel (May you find the Forge)".

With that Dwal will cast Magic Missile at 2nd level.
1st Missile: 4
2nd Missile: 2
3rd Missile: 5
4th Missile: 5

Struck by all four missiles, the unearthly dwarf collapses and slowly fades from sight. 

Combat is over.

The ghost gasps its final words in Dwarvish:

 And then it fades away completely.

The large chamber has a dark pool in its center. Bits of smashed furniture and other debris are scattered about the floor. Hallways lead off to the east and the west.

Dwal

Dwal races to each character and tend to them as needed.

OCC: I lost track. Tell me who is hurt and how bad. 

While doing so Dwal will take to the companions. "We need a long rest lads. I need one to regain my magics and I can undo some of the things this ghost has done but need to rest for a while, meditate and pray," he says. "I suggest we stay in the shrine. One thing I want to do is cleanse it." 

Gerrard:

Once he finally overcomes his fright, he looks to Dwal, saying, "It never touched me, but I feel weaker somehow, Master Fiercehammer."  

"And tired, as well.  Am I diseased or cursed somehow by the apparition?" asks the until-recently-young  noble.

Gerrard feels a vague sense of fatigue, and some minor aches and pains. The aging is real, and not fading away. (OOC: No mandatory change in stats or abilities; although you may choose to +1 Wisdom -1 Strength, at your discretion.)

Peering around the corners, you see long hallways - dead-ending to the west, extending and disappearing into the gloom to the east.

Gerrard:

OOC:  Gerrard has no idea at this point that he has aged.  He will likely have a poor reaction once he is answered by Dwal...

Kei

"I agree Mr Dwarf. A lengthy rest would benefit me as well. Perhaps there is a smaller room off one of these hallways. I fear sleeping in the open, what with all this undeath". With that he calls Trill to him and then points down the western hallway. As the bird flies off Kei's eyes blank over. He is now looking through his familiars eyes. He scans the hallway as the silent flier glides through the air.

Perception 18

Peri:

He is still a bit shaken by his brush with the ghost.  "A rest, yes. We could - Gah! Yondalla's children, what's happened to you?!" he gasps as he sees (old) Gerrard. "You're old! You look 70 now! Do you still have that fancy mirror you were plannin' on givin' your Intended? Your suit may have just got a lot harder, unless Whatserface has some serious daddy issues.  Maybe grand-daddy issues..."

Dwal

Dwal will help Gerrard if he needs it.

"Back to the shrine area, I say" Dwal suggests and starts moving in that direction. "We got to keep an eye out for our hosts as well. If'n they be aware of this poor specter that attacked us, there might be more surprises in store. We might have to go full war party in here or," Dwal pauses a moment. "We return to the quarry where I work and I can raise a dwarven army to help come claim this back for proper dwarves," he says. "I am sure the lads could be motivated to march here and help clear out this place in the name o' dwarven pride. Might take this as a proper dwarven settlement too." he says. 

Kei, through Trill's eyes, sees little of note in the hallway to the west. Very old debris is scattered along this ancient stone Dwarven hallway. Three of the four stone doors (all but SW) are ajar; inside the dark rooms (without venturing within) Trill/Kei sees dark, debris-filled rooms. An ancient yellowed skull is visible close to the doorway in one (NW).

Gerrard:

"Ha.  Very funny, Master Fenwader.  Sure, I'll just pull out the gold-framed mirror and see how much I've aged in the last twenty minutes, shall I?" replies Gerrard with a chuckle...which fades to a light chortle as he looks at the mottled skin on the back of his hand.  Suddenly fumbling though his pack for the mirror, Gerrard lets out a piercing denial as soon as he sees his reflection.  "NOOOOOOOOOOOOOoooooooooooooooo!  This can't be!"

Turning abruptly to Dwal, he pleads, "Priest, please, return me to my proper age with your divine healing!  She....she....she won't let me court her like this!" Gerrard plaintively asked, indicating his aged self. 

Dwal

Dwal pats Gerrard's arm to console him a bit. "I'm not sure I can do anything to help lad. I'm a dwarven priest beholden to dwarven gods and whatever lesson they are wanting me to learn right now I can't rightly say. There may come a time that I will be able to do something about yer condition but I fear it's not right now." Dwal says sadly. "But I promise to do what I  can ta help ya."

Once the party gets to the Shrine area, Dwal will go about helping as much as he can, giving healing to those in need, and then will settle in for a long rest, he will study his book, pray and meditate to prepare for what is to come and the tasks at hand.

Gerrard:

At Dwal’s kind but devastating words, Gerrard nods and moves to a semi-private location in the shrine to be alone with his grief.  He can be heard quietly sniffling and muttering—either crying or praying (or both).

OOC:  Esmerelda is his Bond, so this is affecting him quite deeply.

Kei

That's Gerrard! His internal monologue continues as he walks with the others towards the shrine, I could've sworn it was his father but I guess that ghost had affected him greatly. Poor sap. Trill returns to his shoulder and begins to preen itself. 

As Dwal runs around tending to the group, Kei starts up a tale of past Dwarven heroes and their exploits in clearing a dragons den. The story is actually quite inspiring, especially compared to his lackluster rhymes. A sense of calm washes over the group as the dwarves claim victory. (Anyone taking hit dice roll a d6. )

Peri:

He watches as Gerrard, visibly devastated, crawls off to grieve.  He walks over to Dwal and says quietly, "We can't leave him like this. We need to get him back to town, see if the priests at the temple can do anything for him. Plus, I'm not too keen on the idea of sleepin' down here -- it's not exactly an inviting burrow.  That ghost nearly took over my body while I was lookin' it in the face; I hate to think what woulda happened if I'd been asleep. And since we're in a bit of a time crunch, what with needin' to be at the council meeting tomorrow, I think we oughta head back now, see if the Procanites can fix Gerrard, and come back in a couple of days.  Preferably with an army of your kin."

((Short Rest healing: 9 + 9 + 5))