After Gabe and Khelled returned to the Tipsy Tankard, they were joined by three more adventurers - another priest named Ferrum Chase, a Deerple* rogue Artemis, and a mage simply named Friend.
* Deerple are half human and half deer beings. They live on an archipelago, which they simply call Home, that is part of the Shrouded Isles. The humans generally call the archipelago Cervidae.
Shortly thereafter, another figure walked in. He was dressed in simple garb, with a blue tabard over it. Nowhere did he display any indication of his position of authority, but he strode in with an air of command. The party did not realize it at the time, but this was Brother Rufus, Viceroy of the Shrouded Isles.
The viceroy called for volunteers to search the crypt of the long-dead dwarven lord Vykaard, which lay just out of town. For strange tales had surfaced. Travelers have reported strange noises emanating from the crypt. There have even been reported sightings of the dead walking out of the tomb! Clearly these reports warranted investigation.
Our heroes gladly accepted the adventure. They marched to the crypt. Outside, carved into a fire-scarred tree, they found the following inscription:
We descended into the blackest depths of that tomb & none of us returned the same...we became the one with the darkness that dwells there. This fire marks our last footprint before our descent."
The party members looked at each other warily. Then Ferrum took up a torch and boldly entered the crypt.
The entryway was a long hallway of stone blocks. In alcoves along the walls, skeletal remains, with weapons in their bony hands, were propped up. These were long-dead members of Vykaard's bodyguard, continuing their eternal vigil over their commander. As the party passed, the skeletons came to life and attacked. Immediately, Artemis loosed an arrow, but it passed harmlessly through the skeleton's ribs. Likewise, Friend's magic missile proved fruitless. The party realized that they had to hack and slash at the bones. Within minutes, however, the skeletons lay in piles at our heroes' feet.
Artemis then took the point, warily checking for traps as she went. The party soon came to a sizable room where several corpses in various states of decay were scattered. Gabe reached down to check one. Its eyes opened and it struck the priest. The remaining corpses also animated and attacked. There was a sharp skirmish but the party emerged victorious. In the room they found a burial urn. When Artemis opened it a cloud of poisonous gas erupted. Artemis tried to back away, but she inhaled some of the gas, leaving her worse for wear. Fortunately, the urn contained some potions (including healing potions).
Our heroes left the room and traveled further into the crypt. In an alcove, they spotted another urn. However Artemis noticed that the floor in the alcove appeared suspicious. She shot an arrow at the floor; when it hit a spurt of flame erupted, consuming the arrow. She then shot an arrow over the flame - nothing. The party knew they could leap across the trap. First Friend went, but he found the urn lid locked. Artemis came next but she had trouble opening the lock.
As her companions waited on the other side, the sound of scuffling footprints echoed from the hallway beyond.
What diabolical encounter approached our heroes? Find out in Part 2!
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