Play Day 4 - 2/6/2012

Date: Fireday, 26th of Gozran. The party start this session, at the now empty kobold lair, having killed all its former inhabitants. It is just after midday. Having satised themselves that the lair has been searched, the group set out on foot, heading north through the wilderness back towards Winterhaven. With the help of the map, the party easily nd their way towards their goal; ignoring the confused Isabella who is sure that Winterhaven lies the opposite direction. As the party get nearer their destination, now traveling along the road, they realize something is awry. None of the farms are being tendered to. No workers are out tilling the elds. All the farm houses they see are closed up and windows shuttered. There is a feeling of fear in the air. The party approach one of the farm houses and try to speak to the occupants. After much banging and shouting however, the only response they can get is a frightened face that appears at the window, telling them, Leave us be masters, the dead have arisen! With no other choice the party continue to Winterhaven. As they approach the walled village they see something is very different. The main gate, normally open, is closed. No people are milling about the outside, as would normally be the case. Along the top wall of the village are many armed guards. One of the guards sees the party and waves them over. The party move closer and speak to the guards on top of the wall, they look very nervous. It appears that a dozen of the villagers in the surrounding farms have been killed by scores of undead that have arisen. Witnesses are unsure and confused as to the numbers of undead but are sure they come from the graveyard, that lies 10 minutes west of Winterhaven. The guards are under orders from Lord Padraig, not to open the gate to anyone until the undead threat has been taken care of. Lord Padraig and Captain Kelfem are in a meeting to determine what course of action to take and the guards will not disturb them. Having no other action left to them, the brave party decide to investigate the undead threat at the graveyard. The guards on top the wall, gladly tell the party how to get to the graveyard. *******

Leaving again on foot, the party follow a thin trail that winds itself from Winterhaven, up a slope. After ten minutes the trail levels off and the party see before them a large graveyard surrounded by a high, sturdy wooden fence.

Through small gaps in the fence, it is obvious that there are large numbers of creatures, skeletal gures, moving in the graveyard. The Monk of Irori notices a faint glow coming from somewhere in the graveyard. The party approach the large metal gate of the graveyard and throw them both open with a large bang, to gain the attention of the creatures. It works and the decrepit looking skeletons, covered in tattered clothing and wielding poor looking weapons, approach the gate. With the gate now open the party can better see inside. Within the graveyard, tombstones are densely packed. Three mausoleums sit amid the markers. The soil around some of the graves seems disturbed. A sickly blue glow pulses from the ground near the largest of the three mausoleums, apparently from a large symbol. Favion looks at the blue symbol and tells the party, I think that may be something to raise the dead. The party shall learn later how correct that guess is. One of the skeletons moves towards Krondor, swinging a scimitar. The blade easily misses the dwarf. Hoodlin has an idea. He quickly and easily climbs up the wooden fence to the top, with only his top half visible to the graveyard compound. He readies his crossbow to begin raining bolts down from above.

Krondor swings his battleaxe at the skeleton but it misses! More skeletons move up towards the gates. Krondor blocks the sword of one with his shield. Favion, seeing Hoodlins tactic, follows suit. He quickly climbs up the wooden fence with grace and agility, notching an arrow to his bow as he does so. He lets y an arrow towards one of the skeletons. It hits it in the ribcage, collapsing the creature into dust and scattered bones as it falls to the ground. The Monk strikes another skeleton, also scattering it to dust and oblivion. Delina steps behind the Monk and touches him lightly on the back, empowering him with a protective aura. Krondor continues to block more blows with his shield, before he retaliates with his battleaxe, sending one of the skeletons before him into the true death. Hoodlin continues to shoot bolt from his raised position on the fence. He rips chunks out of the approaching creatures. Isabella runs into the compound, seeing the Monk dodging the rusty swords that are being swung towards him. She stops just next to the open gate, just out of view and readies her morning star for the approaching skeletons. As the leading skeleton moves forward, to strike out at the Monk, Isabella steps out of her hidden spot and swings her morning star into the chest of the skeleton; sending it falling backwards in a cloud of dust and clothing. Now a new threat emerges. From the southern mausoleum, one of the impressive double doors swings open and leaning out is seen a dark gure. Slender and graceful, the gure calls out in a female voice, Get them all now! With this shout, another group of skeletons start to move from further a eld. They begin to ready their bows and arrows. A sudden wind blows across the eld and the hooded cloak of the dark gure drops back, exposing the face. A female elf, with dark piercing eyes is revealed. She raises a long bow and with obvious skill launches an arrow at the Monk. The shot is long, with the arrow winding through numerous obstacles but it hits the Monk squarely in the chest. This new foe has remarkable skill with the bow. Krondor and Isabella fend off more blows from the attacking skeletons. Favion, pulls back on his bow string to let y another arrow but the string on his bow snaps and breaks. Cursing, Favion realizes that hell have to relay on his long sword now unless he can nd another bow. Another skeleton crumbles to dust as the Monk slams his st into its skull. The new group of skeletons lets loose a volley of arrows towards the party. Arrows barely miss Hoodlin and another does strike at Favion, opening a wound in his side. Hoodlin and Krondor both succeed in bringing down another two skeletons, Hoodlin with his light crossbow and Krondor with his battleaxe.

Whilst arrows y past the party, Isabella decides to make a run towards the enemy from the north and ank them. She runs forward, her dark hair whipping behind her, her left arm raised up to offer the limited protection from her buckler shield. Arrows barely miss her and she succeeds at running across to the northern mausoleum. Another arrow ies toward the Monk, from the bow of the mysterious female elf in black, which just misses. Favion, now wounded, decides that sitting on top of the fence whilst arrows are raining down is not such a good idea. He tries to jump down, but one of his belt clips gets caught on an arrow that is sticking out of the fence. He stumbles and falls at towards the ground. Just before hitting the ground he manages to duck into a ball and rolls safely onto the ground, into a nearby tombstone. The Monk also thinks standing out in the open is a very bad idea. As he sees Isabella running forward he makes the decision to join her. He runs behind her and gets safely to the mausoleum. Delina, utters words of arcane power and guides her hawk towards Hoodlin. The bird ies towards the Rogue Gnome and ies past - touching its wing on the way. Hoodlin feels his hand steady and his eyes become more focused. Delina shouts out to Hoodlin in their Gnomish tongue, Shoot the female elf! Hoodlin raises his light crossbow and begins to take aim. As he does so, a volley of arrows rain down from the sky at his location. Arrows thud into the wooden fence around him and one glances past, just gracing him on the arm; just as he releases his own crossbow bolt at the female elf. His bolt misses by a long margin as he pulls up in pain from the wound on his arm. Krondor, seeing no more skeletons around the gate, runs forwards towards the female elf. He ignores all dangers and the arrows ying past him. As he approaches nearer he recognizes the female elf. It is Ninaran, the mysterious gure he has been trying to nd since coming to Winterhaven. The one that eluded him at the Inn. The one that had sent forth the ambush against them on the eastern road. The one that holds the key to the death of his father. He will not lose her again. He runs as fast as his dwarvish legs will carry him and comes directly in front of Ninaran. Some of the skeletons drop their bows and begin to move towards Krondor and Ninaran. The skeletons draw their swords and begin to surround the dwarf. Isabella keeps running forward and makes her way towards the largest of the mausoleums, standing to the west of the graveyard. She ducks down behind a wall that sides a large stone

staircase that leads to a double door on the large building. Ninaran raises her hand towards Krondor. The Dwarf recognizes that she is starting to cast magic and he swings his battleaxe at her to stop her spell but he still hasnt recovered yet from the run and his swing misses. Ninaran nishes her spell and energy is visible from her hand. Krondor feels a presence surround him but is aware that most of the effect appears to be washing off him. Krondor is somewhat shaken but otherwise not worse for wear. Ninaran appears angry with the limited outcome of her spell. The Monk runs south towards Krondor. Favion also runs forward and takes up a covered position next to the southern mausoleum. Krondor, feeling shaken, raises his battleaxe and strikes the elf. Ninaran cries out in pain as the blade hits her but she remains standing. Isabella seeing the large group of skeletons surrounding Krondor and the Monk, moves forward getting in behind the skeletons who are unaware of her presence. She grabs hold of the medallion around her neck, which bears the symbol of her god, and shouts, In the name of Cayden Cailean I command you BEGONE! The symbol begins to shine a brilliant gold and envelopes the skeletons. Most of the group immediately ee away from the Cleric of Cayden Cailean. As they do so, the Monk and Krondor swing at the eeing skeletons, hitting two of them and damaging them. Only two skeletons remain in the combat, the others having run towards the wooden fence, trying to claw their way out. Ninaran again raises her hand towards Krondor and begins to chant arcane words. The Dwarf tries to swing back at her, but as he is still trying to hit one of the eeing skeletons, cant quite reach her and misses. Uninterrupted, she nishes casting her spell and reaches out a hand to touch the Dwarf, which she does so. The Dwarf feels magic ow past him but it seems to have no effect on him at all. Ninaran yells out a curse in elvish. Favion, seeing some of the discarded bows on the ground runs over to one to pick it up, as his is damaged. The Monk steps towards Ninaran and attempts to strike at her but she dodges his blows. Krondor uses his shield to block two blows from the last two remaining skeletons next to him that did not ee the cleric. Hoodlin sneaks behind one of the two skeletons and attempts to backstab it with his dagger but misses. Krondor again strikes Ninaran with his battleaxe. More blood ows down her leather armour but she will not yield. She looks badly wounded but the rage in her eyes is not diminished. Isabella, seeing the last two remaining Skeletons, raises her hands in prayer and devine energy ows out from her, surrounding her and enveloping the skeletal warriors. The two skeletons start to break apart and drop to the ground in a useless heap. Ninaran, seeing that her magic is having no effect on this stubborn Dwarf, slashes at the Dwarf with her longsword. The Dwarf easily blocks the sword with his shield.

Favion uses his newly acquired bow to shoot an arrow at Ninaran but the bow does not appear very good and the arrow misses by a wide mark, hitting the door of the mausoleum. The Monk also tries to hit Ninaran but can not hit her. Isabella raises her crossbow at Ninaran and yells, Surrender Ninaran, you can not win. Ninaran looks at the Cleric with rage in her eyes and just laughs. Isabella aims her crossbow, So be it, and lets y a bolt that hits the elf on the left side of the torso, ripping out a large chunk of esh. The elf spins around from the blow of the bolt hitting her and drops to the ground, covered in blood. She weakly looks up and laughs, You think you have defeated me! and before anyone can react she pierces her leg with a black object that appears to disappear in a black cloud of dust. Isabella recognizes the use of dark necromancer magic, She has used some dark magic to take her life. She will die quickly and no magic or healer can stop that now. Quickly Krondor grabs her and demands she tell him of his dead father and what the strange medallion he bears, the one with the dark sun, means. She slips in and out of consciousness, but does reveal that she knows nothing about his father but conrms that the medallion is related to The Cult Of Shadows that operated out of the town of Colford. With that she gurgles her last breath and dies. For now the battle is over. ******* Inside the mausoleum is an open stone cofn with its lid removed. Engraved on the lid is shining sword and a gure of a man dressed in simple robes that show his arms wrapped in some type of cloth. Isabella recognizes the symbol as that of the goddess Iomedae, she of righteous valor, justice and honor. Iomedae is a god of goodness and has a close alliance with the god Cayden Cailean; this is a good omen. Written on the lid in common are the words, Blessed be to those that ght the darkness Next to the cofn, are two strips of pure white cotton that have special tiny hook attachments at the ends. There is a vail of oil and a int and steel here. It appears that Ninaran was about to burn the thick cotton strips. The Monk examines the strips and sees that there is stitched the same shining sword, in subtle white cotton, along the length of the strips. The Monk realizes that these are martial strips, designed to be worn on any limb. They are a specialized Monk weapon. Isabella

casts Detect Magic and sees that the martial strips are enchanted. The Monk quickly wraps them around his legs as shin wraps. Exiting the building the party see the three skeletons, still trying to ee through the wooden fence. The Monk, Krondor and Isabella move forwards towards the skeletons. The Monk, approaches quickly and kicks at one of the skeletons with his new found martial wraps. As the blessed cloth touches the skeleton there is a ash and the Monk can feel devine power owing from the cloth. The skeleton is blown apart from the force of the energy and only a ne powder cloud remains where it stood. The other two skeletons now turn and face their attacker, swinging their ugly swords at the Monk. The Monk unprepared for the attack gets hit twice and is wounded badly. Delina, seeing the Monk in trouble rushes forward and touches him, enveloping the Monk in protective energy. Whilst the witch is doing this, Isabella moves forward and swings at one of the skeletons but misses. The Monk leaps into the air towards the two skeletons and kicks out at both with a leg at each. As he connects with his ying kick both skeletons are hit and explode back, instantly destroyed. When the Monk lands back to the ground there are no more skeletons to see. The battle is again over. ******* Delina goes up to the Monk and asks to examine the new martial wraps he has gained. After she does so she explains that they are blessed and holy weapons. They are enchanted and will give an enhanced ability to strike enemies and further when used against undead or those outsiders of an evil persuasion will do more devine damage. The remains of the skeletons and Ninaran are searched. The weapons used by the skeletons are of very poor quality and a large pile of extra weapons are located near one of the buildings. On Ninaran they nd 39 gold pieces and a note, written in Common:
I received y!r repo" on # adventurers. Next time y! see $em, put an end to $eir meddling. Mix # blood of ten people wi$ # elixir my messen&r b'ngs. (en trace # following pa*ern on # gr!nd of a graveyard and p!r # liquid into # lines. (at +!ld su,ly y! wi$ a force to $wa" $em. Im very close to completing my work and cannot be interrupted. As y! already know, if y! do come to # second level of # keep, $e pass phrase / From # gr!nd, some magic was f!nd.

The note is signed, Kalarel. The same name that was mentioned by Agrid the Gnome Bard you captured and by the purple apparition that you dealt with. Isabella gathers the party together and through prayer grants her healing powers to the entire party, which desperately need it. Having dealt with the immediate threat the party decide to search the other two buildings, starting with the smaller one to the north. Inside they nd another open stone cofn but nothing of value or note. With only the last nal building to examine the party make their way up the large stone steps to the doors. Krondor and Isabella lead the way and open the doors into the mausoleum. As they do, the Monk who is right behind them, hears a strange noise coming from inside. Bravely, Krondor steps inside the building and sees a large open area lled with stone cofns, most with the lids open or ajar. As he is looking around he sees two creatures emerging from the shadows. They are about 5 feet tall, lanky and resemble a wolf with deep reddishbrown fur and white claws. It is their eyes though that the Dwarf notices, for they are red with small ames coming out of them, and each time the creature opens it mouth, the glow of re can be seen within. It looks like a hound that has come from the depths of hell itself. One of the creatures lays to the southern end of the room and other lays to the northern side, Krondor is directly in the middle! Before Krondor can decide what to do, the southern hell hound moves slowly towards him and opens its jaws wide, bellowing a wide spread of re at him. The Dwarf is unable to move out the way in time and the re hits him fully, burning him. Isabella steps towards this creature and retaliates with her morning star but it ducks out the way. Favion moves quickly into the building and aims his arrow at the northern hell hound. His arrow ies true and hits the creature. As the arrow pierces its skin ames ick out from around the wound. The creature gives out a hellish roar. The Monk of Irori comes into the room and heads over to the northern hell hound and easily jumps up onto a nearby stone cofn. Flicking out his foot in a quick forward snap kick, he strikes the beast on the head. As he does so the blessed martial wraps around his leg ashes and he feels the devine energy attack at the hell hound, causing it to stumble.

The creature looks back at the Monk and snaps its jaws at him, biting him on the leg badly. The Monk is looking bad as blood ows freely down his leg onto the cofn. Krondor sees that the Monk is in trouble and turns immediately to the northern beast, moving quickly forward to engage it. Swinging his battleaxe the Dwarf steps in front of the beast and brings the blade down upon its head, cutting a deep wound there. Flames ick out from the head wound. The southern hell hound snaps it Isabella but she uses her morning star to deect the powerful jaws away from her and as she does so continues to swing the morning star back at the creature. Her swing comes close to hitting the creature but it moves out the way at the last second. Hoodlin and Favion both try to hit the beasts with crossbow and bow respectively but miss their targets. The Monk now desperately ghting for his life does a double kick at the creature. As his leg hits the hell hounds head it passes straight through, with a ash from his blessed martial wraps. The creature disintegrates into a loose collection of ame and ash and the remains fall down into a pile of smoldering ash on the stone oor. Krondor now moves back to the south to help Isabella against the last beast. The Dwarf swings his mighty battleaxe and slashes a large cut against its side, ames shooting out along the wound. Isabella again uses her morning star to hold the creature back as it snaps at her. She leans to the side and then tries to strike back with her weapon but fails to hit the creature. Hoodlin and Favion continue to shoot bolt and arrow at the creature but can not hit it. Delina seeing that Isabella is facing the brunt of the attacks steps behind her to touch her, sending arcane energy of guidance into her. Isabella feels more condent and has more focus. The Monk examines his wounds checking how badly he is injured and whether he can risk entering the remaining ght. Krondor, attempts to hit the hell hound again but fumbles and lets go of his grip on his battleaxe. The weapon goes ying directly over the hell hound and towards Isabella who stands on the opposite side. The weapon hits her on the side and graces her, drawing blood from a small wound, and causes her to lose her balance and go down to one knee. The hell hound faces against the kneeling Isabella and tries to snap at her her again. She quickly raises her left arm just in time and stops the powerful jaws with her buckler shield. Isabella, still kneeling, sees Krondors battleaxe next to her. She grabs it quickly and throws it back towards the unarmed Dwarf. The battleaxe ies spinning through the air, over the hell hound that snaps at it as it passes and ies straight to the dwarf. Krondor raises his hands and grabs the weapon out of the air in a deft display.

Hoodlin moves in towards the hell hound and from the rear strikes out with his dagger but can not hit it. Delina sees Isabella dire predicament and touches her, granting her arcane protective energy. Favion rushes in quickly to the creature and swings his long sword, slashing a ery wound along its side. The creature is now surrounded on all sides by the party. Krondor, now having his battleaxe back thanks to Isabella, swings out at the hell hound but the creature dodges the blow, by jumping to the side and then quickly bites back at the Dwarf, who uses his shield to block the beast. Isabella stands up and quickly strikes at the beast, whilst its attention is on the Dwarf. Her morning star crashes down upon its hind quarters and ames jump up from the strike. Hoodlin again attempts to strike the beast but fumbles his hold on his dagger and it goes ying out of his hand and straight to the just risen Isabella. The dagger hits her in the chest and cuts a thin wound into the Cleric. Isabella cries out an oath, By Caydens grace WATCH YOUR STRIKES! Favion again swings his long sword at the creature, who now attempts to keep all its sides defended, and manages to hit one of its legs. The creatures lets out a loud growl, ames coming out of its mouth. Krondor swings and hits the beasts, causing it a severe wound on its side. Large ames come out the wound and the creature appears to be limping now. The Dwarf shouts, Quickly now - nish it off! The hell hound again turns and snaps at Isabella, who has bourn the brunt of its attacks for this entire battle. Luckily the jaws fall short of its target and Isabella is safe. She quickly swings her morning star back at the beast but just misses it. Hoodlin, now with no weapon, and Delina move back to a safer position. The Monk, seeing the beast is nearly done for, rallies to the Dwarves battle cry. He moves into position and begins to attack the creature but can not hit it. Krondor, has had enough of this beast. He raises his battleaxe and brings it down on the head of the beast. The blade splits open the head and as it does so the beast vanishes in a cloud of ame and ash. Nothing is left but glowing ash on the oor. The party are victorious in battle again. ******* The party, rest for a moment, spent from the battle. Isabella uses her healing powers to again bring devine relief to the party, healing some of their wounds.

When the party is ready they search the large building and under some loose stone they nd a gold ring. Favion attempts to detect magic and sees that the ring is indeed magical. He examines it for a minute and using his knowledge of the arcane arts determines that it is a Ring Of Jumping, and is of much monetary value. Having taken care of the threat the party return to the main gate of Winterhaven, which is still closed. On top of the stone walls that protect Winterhaven still stands numerous guards. This time Captain Kelfem is also present and waves the party over when he sees them. When the men hear that the threat has been defeated by the party cheering erupts, with calls of The Heroes Of Winterhaven sounding out. The gate is opened and the party enter. Crowded inside are large numbers of locals. Upon seeing the party they start to point and cheer. Many grateful people come up to the group and start clapping them on their backs and offering to buy them drinks. Captain Kelfem comes down and speaks to the party. It is decided that a meeting will be held with the party, Lord Padraig, Captain Kelfem and Valthrun the Wizard in half an hour to discuss the matters at hand. They excuse themselves to the tavern where they are treated by the locals to free drinks and Salvana Wrafton gives them free food. Favion, the Bard, attempts to sing about the heroic deeds of the party. The crowd is appreciative of the performance and throw some coins his way. After half an hour the party attend at Lord Padraigs manner and much is discussed. The Wizard Valthrun tells the party the truth about the history of Winterhaven: There is a thinning of the planes that lies at this place. When the Cult Of Orcus created a door between this plane and plane of demons, over a thousand years ago, it was indeed stopped by a combined force of warriors, clerics and wizards. Once the battle was over the door could not be destroyed however, only closed. Thus anyone with the correct knowledge could open the door again. A keep was built, known as The ShadowFall Keep, over the door. It was garrisoned for nearly two hundred years, with a large contingent of troops to stop anyone else from opening the door. However, times move on and priorities change. What once was a real and serious threat becomes less important as time goes on. Kings come and go. The soldiers of the ShadowFall Keep were moved out, sent to more important matters. Before they left however, Wizards created great magic that would inuence the minds of all those that came near the keep and discreetly keep them away. This worked for many centuries and the people of Winterhaven and long forgotten about the keep and do not nd it odd in the least that they never wander in that area or have any inclination to do so. The magic however has faded over time and it is weaker, so much so that it can be easily defeated with a counter magic.

My investigation has now led me to believe that the Cult Of Orcus has risen again and has entered the keep, overcoming the protective magic. This cult must be stopped, and quickly, for if the door is opened again all of Taggriell could fall to plague of demon spawn, lead the Lord Orcus itself. Lord Padraig, is afraid for his safety and that of Winterhaven. He believes it is safer to keep all his troops in Winterhaven and wait for help to arrive from Fort Dinbury to the south but that will take a month for troops to arrive. Valthrun advises the party that he can not enter the area, as part of the magic protection of the keep is an alarm that will alert the keep to the presence of any Wizard that enters the area. He advises the party that they should not set off the alarm as they do not have any Wizard in the party. He tells the party to see him in the morning, at his tower, where he will arrange for supplies to the party in their quest against the keep. He gives the party a magic map, explaining that with this the effects of the magic that protect the Keep and inuence the minds of those that enter it to turn away will be dispelled. Favion also learns from Valthrun that he is aware of an alchemist by the name of Garin, that operated out of the city of Colford. This is the one that Favion seeks in relation to his lost brother. The party hand over the collection of Kobold ears to Lord Padraig to collect their bounty, receiving a grand total of 925 gold pieces for their efforts. Now late in the evening, the party return to the Wrafton Inn. Isabella nds Douven Staul there and returns his notebook to him. With it he attempts to decipher her scroll but can not do so. He does tell Isabella that the writing is from the now gone Kingdom of Ingras, which now lies within the Asalea Empire. He does however tell you of a scholar called Tanur Yugon, who has studied the Asalea Empire and its history, who should be able to read the writing. This scholar is located in the Royal Library of the Palace of Edamor, the capital. The party go off to bed, having earned a nights rest. The night is uneventful and morning comes. It is now Starday the 27th of Gozran.

And that is where the play session ended.