The party was given little time to continue the escalation of the bickering, for soon after it started, a shuffling sound could be heard from behind many of the gravestones. From their hiding places stepped several ghouls and ghasts, all armed with swords, daggers and bows, and wearing vicious scowls. Atop the tallest of the stones stood the aforementioned mohrg. His armor, covering the majority of his body, glinted in the moonlight quite ominously. The undead monster's sword was drawn, and he made a graceful leap to the ground. Shouldering his blade, he stepped toward the group, his own party following him.<br/><br/>Though he turned his head, Erastus's eyes were absent, and so despite the expression he gave itself being blank, there was something about his presence that just oozed complete and utter hatred. "You have brought the first half of the ransom?" he hissed through his jagged teeth, making sure as to keep the tongue-like appendage far back enough in his mouth so as to prevent muffling. Fiona nodded, and dropped a bag of holding in front of him, no larger than a backpack. While the mohrg was indeed strong, it was obvious that the bag was far heavier than it looked, for he had to apply notable effort to heft it. "Your terms?" he hissed again in Fiona's direction.<br/><br/>Fiona faced Erastus confidently. "We bring the rest of the gold to the front gates of the tower, and a servant will take it inside. From there, you will then release the hostages unharmed." Though his aura still seeped abhorrence, Erastus gave a nod. "I would like to see you get there at all," he said, and as he turned around and walked away, the ghouls moved forward and made feral growls. As he finally disappeared into the shadows, Erastus said to them all, "May you all burn in Hell!" and at that, the monsters made their move. Two of them went for Dredge, another two made to engage Fiona in melee, and the rest, one for each party member, took aim and fired their arrows. One of them struck Fiona in the shoulder, and in response, the warrior-woman pulled it from her flesh and tossed it aside. She then gripped her holy greatsword in both hands, and made a strike on the nearest ghoul. Her blow sunk in deeply, though it was not immediately slain, it was obvious that it had been severely wounded.<br/><br/>((Sorry Deth, but I gotta kick this thread in the pants. When Erastus shows up again, you can take control.))<div class="messageTextEndMarker"> </div>