18 - Ghoulish rituals

The party wades through a room of undead. But the ghoul escapes almost taking Lindal off with him. And imp spy escapes the room through a doggie door and Lindal chases after it stumbling into a grand ritual room with a Priest of Orcus and lots of vampire spawn. There is a mysterious fire cultist whom manipulates the party's marks to move them to their faces (Everyone but Lindal) The party use Eddie, Sister Linora and Lindal as front line and take a complete beating as a result from supped up Berserkers, Swarms of vampires, A recalcitrant ghoul, a Imp that won't stay down, and a pair of priests one of a flame cult and another that is Kalorial's Underpriest and whom was in charge of the upper ritual and yet let enemies strike back from the beyond.

None of the enemies had significant treasure like these zealots had given everything they had to make sure the ritual was a success. The flame cultist blew Eddie a kiss goodby and left rather than fight the party and was pounced by a ghoul and butchered while the party watched. Eddie threw occasional magic missiles which brought the ghoul low but when the flame cultist dropped there was a towering pillar of flame and the party was blinded and after wards there was no sign of the ghoul nor of the mysterious flame cultist.