Once again, the party finds themselves in the chapel at the summons of Brother Godwinn. Locking the 2 large oak doors into the temple, he beckons the party to sit with him.
For a price of a few ales, Gwan will happily spin this tale of what happened next: “It was… it… it is… The world… The world is not as your eyes see it. Imagine what you see being painted on a canvas. I see a small hole get larger on this canvas. First one finger pokes through the hole, then a second. The fingers tear at the hole, making it larger. The sound of the world tearing… it sounded like ripping a shirt trying to get to your lover as quickly as possible. Before my very eyes, a pair of long, very shapely legs stepped through. Let me tell you, those legs were not the only thing that was easy on my tired eyes. You have to believe me, she said she was over a thousand years old, I wouldn’t believe that one bit…Her black hair was long, nearly to her waist. A large owl, black as a moonless night, large eyes taking in everything sits upon her shoulder.”
She introduced herself as Arwel Arlon, and her feathered companion, Whiskers.
“Whiskers was not always this form.” – she offhandedly explains.
After listening to Godwinn’s dream, and pondering a moment, she walks to the front door, unlocking it from many paces away with a swift movement of her left hand, proceeding right through the still opening doors without even breaking stride.
Going outside, they see Whiskers launch off Arwel’s shoulder, each powerful flap of his wings, taking him further north.
Arwel pulls a crystal stone out of a pouch, and holds it out. A view of the forest from above comes into focus. You realize that you are looking through the eyes of her owl. With near full moon’s light, identifying landmarks is easy. Locating the ring of stones, and then the mausoleum, the view expands north. A pillar of light from the ground, dominates the horizon, slowly piercing through the clouds. Just as in the dream, the bright light from the moon is smothered.
Asking for a map, she pencils in the light’s origin.
“I have guild matters to attend to. I cannot afford you any more time. I am interested in your investigation – you have my aid.
Trust Godwin. I fought alongside him half century ago. You should have seen him then…. a powerful mage, rendering those before no more.
I did not think they would return so soon. 50 years of peace. The undead are not unlike a fire, very dangerous when left unattended. I’ll return when my matters are concluded. Fairwell – good luck. “, Arwel’s bluntly states as the room darkens and she steps back through her magical portal.
Deciding that investigating the source of the light should be their top priority, the party gears up to head out at first light. Half a day hard riding they locate a hill that looks it could be the source. Scrambling up the hill, Sebastian and Elvis find 3 large stones with symbols chiseled deeply in the stone. Nobody in the party had seen anything like them, including the elves.
Investigating a stone structure to the south west Anastasia pokes around. After giving the all clear, the group finds an open door to an old structure built into the side of the hill – appearing to be mausoleum.
Still investigating, Anastasia finds freshly dug up coffins along the hallways, dirt still clinging to the decaying wooden boxes. Breaking them open to search for treasure, they come across a room with many types of musical instruments sitting on dusty shelves.
A tomb featuring a large piece of red glass is noticed along the back wall.
“We already robbed a few coffins today, what’s a few more?!”, Gwan grumbles, still nursing a hangover. Confident that there were no traps, Anastasia with help, pushes the lid off the sarcophagus. A musical number escapes the lid, and the all the instruments come to life, playing as if in the hands of an orchestra. Feeling a strong compulsion to dance and sing along, unable to stop.
Attracted by singing, several undead come to investigate and are quickly dispatched. Wanting to know where these undead came from, they find in the room one over, a human cultist wearing a black robe with purple trim. He wears a talisman around his neck inset with a black stone that glitters with light as it moves.
Combat erupts. Wearing the recently deceased cultist’s robe & talisman Elvis goes exploring hoping to fit in. Anastasia, wanting to provide Elvis backup, slips into the darkness and out of sight.
Coming back and giving the party the all clear, they advance into a room with a device that has no apparent purpose. A 8 pointed star is laid into the stonework. From around that star, columns rise from the ground to the roof, looking like a cage. Under 5 of the columns, corpses are positioned with their backs to the pillars. Each column has faucet with tubes and carvings. Along the inside of the pillars are carved runes. Heads are contorted upward, open mouths positioned under a faucet. There are several wheel barrows along the wall, fresh dirt still left in the tray.
Hearing voices coming their way, the party shelters in room. Elvis and Anastasia volunteer to keep an eye out.
Returning to the room of corpses, a grisly scene unfolds. A human cultist, wearing a black robe with purple trim, complete with medallion is chanting in arcane tongue, precise crisp hand movements leaving trails of light. His assistant loads another two corpses against the pillars, opening their mouths and positioning their heads.
When satisfied, the chanting intensifies, growing in volume. A burst of light shoots from the floor, piercing through the roof of the structure, staying for less than a minute. During this time, thick red liquid flows down the channels cut into the pillars from the ceiling, out the faucet into the awaiting mouths of the dead. Groaning, the dead begin to rise, each gathering strength and standing. The assistant leads the undead out the door, closing it behind him. The cultist, face drenched in sweat, leaves the room to the south.
Reporting back, the party decides to explore further. They find a large room with a massive tomb, richly adorned. Taking everyone to push the lid off, they are rewarded with a skeleton wearing a silk robe. A massive 2-handed maul rests beside the bones. The hammer is beautifully crafted, with black leather wraps, and gold runes hammered in.
Exploring deeper, the party holes up until Elvis can scout ahead. Walking with great confidence, avoiding undead, he opens a door to find a room corpse on the floor with a silver shallow bowl on their chest. It is filled with liquid. A red circle is drawn around the corpse, candles placed every few feet providing light. Upon gazing at the silver liquid, Elvis is transfixed. A voice echoes into his mind, probing Elvis for answers about his reasons for being here.
Focusing his mind, Elvis breaks free from the gaze, feeling mentally violated. Along the wall are large, clear glass vessels. The glass is stained red.
Returning back the party, everyone moves out and spots a group of undead. Coming up with a creative plan involving a protection from undead 10′ and flasks of oil and holy water quickly dispatches the undead.
Elvis, ever confident in his disguise proceeds to scout. He runs into a cultist that looks like he is the leader. Striking up a conversation with the leader, Elvis pretends it is his first day on the cultist job.
Meanwhile the party tries to open up more coffins and tombs. Some yield treasure, others dust. While Anastastia was investigating a tomb with the same red transparent stone, Gwan impatiently pushes her to the side, lifts the lid, and triggers a loud alarm – so loud it deafened everyone for several minutes.
“Named Malahazzar. Not much for chatting.” Elvis boldly states. Knowing that their protection scroll was still active, they decide to hunt out the undead. Advancing ahead, Anastasia locates a group of 6 skeletons. Between turning the undead and the protection scroll, the undead are put down, but not before the lead cultist joins the fray.
“That’s him! That’s Malahazzar! Be careful, he wears leather under those robes!” – Elvis shouts over the sounds of melee.
Malahazzar pulls a scroll out and invokes it – dead rise up animated. Pulling out another, reading with a calmness, his image is fractured into 5 mirror images. The fight is punctuated by Elvis landing a massive haymaker – knocking Malahazzar dead.
Looting all the corpses, they pile them up in the musical instrument room, using the instruments as kindling. After the fire takes off, Sebastian adds the elixir – the flame turning a deep green as it burns cremation hot. Like before, deep black clouds of smoke begin to choke the party out. Dropping to their knees they head to the exist, as timbers begin to catch and the sound of the flame consuming behind them.
Badly exhausted by their combat heavy adventure, their clothes wet with blood, they head back to town, greatly needing rest and healing.
While heading back, Apoqulis examines one of the scrolls found. Figuring it to be a treasure map, upon arrival at town, Apoqulis grabs some tools. A few hours later, covered in dirt and mud, he hauls up a sack full of loot.
“Turns out this is a treasure map. The symbols are combined. – the treasure was only a few miles from here – I grew up near here. I knew exactly where to look. I played there as a kid.”
Wore out, the party sends word to Godwinn that they have returned, and rent rooms for the night.
Players:
- Elvis – Bishop
- Anastasia/Sebastian – Sarah
- Morgane/Gwan – Mimi
Treasure
- 322 xp human / 293 XP Non-Human
- Purple silk robe, human sized (unidentified – magical)
- Copper ring (unidentified – magical)
- Maul +2 “Heavenly Vengeance” – Black Metal with black leather wraps. Symbols are stamped & embossed in gold up and down the shaft.
- Shield +1
- Leather Armor +1
- Ring of Protection +2
- Short Sword +1
- Wand of Magic Missile (9 charges remain)
- [mage] Scroll of Stoneskin
- [mage] Scroll of Invisibility
- [mage] Scroll of Slow
- [mage] Scroll of Knock
- [mage] Scroll of Fireball x2
- [cleric] Scroll of Stone to Flesh
- Spell book [web, invisibility, ventriloquism]
- Protection from Evil
- Protection from Undead
- [cleric] Cure Disease
- [cleric] Resist Cold
- Potion [unidentified]
- Potion [unidentified]
- Gems (if sold): 2,840 g
- Jewelry (if sold): 1,932 g
- 1,820 g, 600 p