Notes from the game played on 12 Feb 2000

It is the night following the attack of the ghost and the group has retired for the evening in Mrs. Biddle’s boarding house. Outside, troops can be heard moving around and occasionally shouting at one another as something unknown is discovered in the dark. It is the kind of random, unexplained noise perfectly designed to keep a person awake, and eventually the entire group finds itself in the dining area pouring cups of hot tea and/or cider. Sylvain mentions that considering the Drow issue at Mrs. Biddle’s mines, she is not as ready to go there as before. She is not sure the group is ready to handle the Drow and she would like to remain in town for a nature ceremony that is to take place in a couple of weeks. Daralie sits slumped over her cup of tea, unhappy because the town guards are not letting anyone outside. It is night and she thinks the group should still be in the local tavern having a good time, not slumped over ‘tea’ in some Boarding House.

Bornt brings up the idea of getting back into the dig site but Sylvain says the town guards and priests have probably looted that site. “Besides”, she adds, “the guards weren’t letting anyone near the place.”

Daralie suggests they go outside the town and visit the ruined temple of Zeus. To which Bornt readily agrees. Anything has to be better than just sitting here waiting for the ghost to come and get them all.. Sylvain agrees and even suggests they try and visit D’Wederi Circle. Yolanda agrees as does Daralie, cheering somewhat.

Just then a guard calls to another outside the Boarding House announcing the time as the fourth hour before dawn (roughly 2AM). Daralie slumps back down over her tea. She pulls a flask  out of her belt pouch and shakes it for the 5th time since sitting down in the kitchen. A small sloshing of wine is heard and she sighs. She’ll need that small amount as soon as the sun rises to toast the day to Dionysus but she certainly wishes she could have it instead of this rancid tea.

Sylvain wonders if there is a prohibition against entering the ruined temple. From what she’s heard, the local chief priest, Nifril is a stickler for rules and protocol. “He probably starches his codpiece,” Bornt adds, which elicits a giggle from Daralie. “Sounds like a typical head priest,” the dwarf continues.

Suddenly, the town guards can be heard running and shouting to one another outside the Boarding House. Almost as one, the group rises and rushes to the only door in or out of Mrs. Biddle’s. They are stopped by guards almost as soon as they step outside, but they can see a large number of town-folk have also emerged into the chill morning air and are being similarly stopped by the guards.

Bornt, disgusted by the sight of the orcs, comments that orcs make good targets for practice. Sylvain is just curious as why the prisoners would be brought into town. Daralie asks, “help rebuild the town?” Bornt restates his position that orcs make good target practice, both moving then stationary.

At this point the mounted centurion yells at the guards by Mrs. Biddle’s and asks for a report. One of the guards answers back that the house is surrounded and the prisoners are all inside. This elicits shocked questions of, “prisoners?” from Bornt and Daralie.

The centurion dismounts and heads to where Mrs. Biddle is standing in her flannel nightshirt. He apologizes for the hour but Lord Kethor needs to see the three men involved in yesterday’s incident. She responds she has no idea who they are. Before things can turn ugly, Lexus steps forward and says, “okay, let’s go.”

The centurion appears impressed with Lexus’ courage but adds, “there were two more.” Lexus looks confused for a few minutes and stammers out, “uh uh… the ruins… the ghost… uh, yea… the ghost ate ‘m…” The centurion, trying not to laugh, manages a gravely, “ghost ate ‘m?” To which Lexus adds, “that’s what I heard.”

Just then one of the soldiers points at Bornt and says he was one of the ones running away yesterday. He was seen going out of town with Lexus too. Bornt protests he never said he didn’t. The centurion chuckles and says, “ghost ate ‘m…”

Daralie, jumping to Lexus’ defense, quickly adds, “so the ghost only got one of them. Lexus here was running for his life. How would he know otherwise?” Lexus smiles at Bornt and says, “ghost must not like Dwarf meat.” To which Bornt responds, “and the down side to that is?”

The centurion, openly laughing now, motions to Bornt and Lexus. “You two come on. The rest of you go back to bed unless you want some of what these two are gonna get.” Looking at the rest of the cohort of men, he tells them to find the other one and bring him to Lord Kethor’s.

Lexus steps forward and says, “Let’s go. I’m not getting any younger.” This stops the group for a moment, then they laugh uproariously at Lexus’ humor about being aged by the ghost the day before.

Sylvain steps forward and claims the Right of Witness, granted by the Emperor to all loyal citizens of the empire. The rest of the group quickly follows her lead, though Daralie whispers, to no one in particular, “always trying to suck up and appear the ‘proper lady’ …”

With the centurion leading the way, the group moves to an open courtyard of Lord Kethor’s mansion. There they find Lord Kethor, shirtless, and holding two swords as four orcs with axes advance on him. Around him, the town guard are shouting encouragements to their liege and betting on who draws first blood. Both Bornt and Lexus quickly place bets on Lord Kethor while Daralie finds a comfortable place to sit as she cheers on the Lord of the town. As the orcs lumber forward, Kethor shifts lightly from one foot to the other. Occasionally he will swing one of his swords in a great arc as though testing and reminding himself of the balance. His eyes can be seen quickly sliding from one opponent to the other as he assesses their battle skills. Then with a rush, the orcs are upon him, or is it he that is on them? Both of Kethor’s swords have danced out in a sweeping arc, each finding the throat of orc. As the remaining two orcs quickly lurch away, two headless orc bodies collapse to the stones of the courtyard accompanied by the cheers of the assembled guard.

 Both Bornt and Lexus quickly collect their 2 gp winnings. Bornt yells, “I smell bacon” as the two remaining orcs now split up and approach on either side of the grinning Lord. Kethor eyes both orcs quickly. Stepping left, he forces a cautious orc to step back while his friend rushes in to take advantage of the “opening” in Kethor’s stance. Kethor spins and a sword slips up faster than the eyes can follow. The attacking orc screams in pain as his arm sails away from his body. The orc slumps to the ground holding the bloody stump as the guards roar with approval.

The remaining orc now begins to circle Lord Kethor as bets are now being taken for which part of the last orc will be removed first. Lexus quickly places, “10 gp on the head, 5 gp on the tail.” Bornt shakes his head and remarks, “he needs to use more orcs next time.”

After witnessing the fate of his friends, the remaining orc has grown wary of the Lord’s weapons. Each time Kethor closes on him, he will dance away while making a half-hearted attempt at striking the Lord of the town. Everyone begins to jeer and deride the orc as it refuses to close and fight Kethor. Each swing and blow is quickly parried by the orc, who has determined his best bet at survival is to bore the Lord into walking away from the match or making a deadly mistake.

But the orc does not know the hatred that burns in Kethor’s heart. Each of his previous blows had thrilled his heart as he once more partially avenged the death of his family at the hands of an orc raiding party. For a moment, Kethor stops. He stares intently at the slowly moving creature as sweat chills on his bare chest.

Then with a lunge and shout, Kethor rushes the orc, seemingly heedless of the danger he faces in such a maneuver. As one, the guard hisses in a breath as the orc stops and stands. It smiles as it realizes that Kethor has taken his bait and has thrown all caution to the wind simply to kill him. The orc’s ax rises and chops down in a great arc as Kethor comes within range.

That blow would have split the skull of a less skilled opponent, but Kethor catches the blow on his right sword, a great clang that echoes in the suddenly quiet courtyard. Then Kethor's other sword sweeps up and over his shoulder and finds the shoulder of the orc. It’s left arm bounces away as it falls to its right side.

It is over and for a moment, the only sounds in the courtyard are the whimpers of the wounded orcs and the heavy breathing of Lord Kethor. Then a great shout erupts from the assembled soldiers and town-folk. Lexus shakes his head, then pays his 15-gp bet. The orcs are then dragged away as Kethor hands his swords to a guard, who starts cleaning them. A servant rushes out of the crowd with a robe as Kethor moves toward where the group is standing.

He stops in front of Yolanda first. The two exchange musical words spoken in the High Elven tongue. She seems surprised for a moment then nods her head in agreement. Lord Kethor smiles, lifts the back of her hand to his forehead (bowing his head to do so) then yells for some of his guards to bring her things from Mrs. Biddle’s. More words are exchanged between the two then Kethor steps in front of Lexus.

A guard quickly says that Lexus is one of the men who awoke the ghost. Kethor looks surprised then asks if Lexus was the one that was racing one of his horses earlier in the week. Lexus answers yes then laments he got here too late for the games. Kethor says he may not make the next one then asks if Lexus understands what has to be done now. Lexus says he has an idea but would like Kethor to speak the sentence for those serving as Witness. Kethor nods his head yes then says, “You and your diminutive friend have to go back out there and find out why this ghost has returned. It’s that or I have the priests make you ethereal and you can fight it until you die.”

Lexus says he does not like either option then asks which Kethor would prefer. As no one has ever returned from the ethereal after being sent to fight such a spirit, Kethor says he would prefer they find out what has caused it to return in the first place. Lexus agrees and then turns to Bornt with, “Let’s do it…” Bornt agrees and the two start to move away.

Kethor turns to the crowd and asks if anyone cares to aid them. He offers to donate weapons to their cause. Pudge quickly volunteers as does Daralie after asking if the ghost had disturbed the town before. Kethor answers that the ghost was there when they first moved into the area. He then asks Daralie, “why do you think the town was not built on the Eadledane?”

Lexus offers, “Perhaps it was the box… Maybe if we just gave it back.” Kethor answers the ghost was there and active long before the box was dug up. It had been quiet for a number of months and the town had assumed it had gone. "When you awakened it We were not pleased… "

Sylvain wonders if the ghost has been destroyed by the priests but Kethor shakes his head no. “The ghost has been driven away for two nights. It will return the day after tomorrow unless you are successful.”

Daralie mumbles that it still could be connected to the box. It could have been guarding it. Lexus adds that if it wipes out the temple to get at the box then the priests will know for sure. Impatient at all the delays, Bornt grumbles, “I need to get my stuff. Can we go off to our deaths now?”

At that moment, a group of men comes out of Kethor’s house with a large wooden box. It contains four silver maces and several silver clubs. Lexus visibly brightens as he moves toward the box. “Now those are Maces,” he exclaims. He lifts out two of them then spins them in a large arc as he checks them for balance. Bornt reaches in and grabs a club, as does Sylvain.

Daralie asks if Kethor has any holy water to spare. Kethor motions to a group of priests and one of them comes over and hands Daralie a box. When she opens it she finds five vials of water inside.

Sylvain asks if the weapons are magicked in any way. Kethor shakes his head no then says, “I fear not. Most of our magic weapons are sent to troops guarding the outer reaches of the frontier.”

Yolanda and Kethor exchange some brief musical words. Yolanda seems reluctant to agree to what Kethor is saying but finally bows in acquiescence.

Bornt wonders about how they will get the rest of their gear but Kethor says it will be brought to them. Then the group asks if they can rest before setting out to handle the ghost. Kethor agrees to let them sleep in the courtyard of his mansion, protected by his guardsmen, of course.

The group begins to settle in as guards bring them blankets. There is a lot of nervous banter, including an interlude about a thief at a party full of paladins. The games the paladins would come up with at the expense of the thief are so humorous that several of the guards decide to do the same thing with orcs. As some head to bed for the night, one is heard expostulating on the merits of Spin-the-Orc-on-the-Impaling-Post. Then the group notices Yolanda heading into Kethor’s mansion, her hand resting lightly on his arm.

As the group settles down, they chat a little about what to do for the next day. Some want to talk with Gaeny Teshford while others want to have a chat with Bepril the tanner. Both have been around a number of years and may know more about the history of this place that would help them in their quest. It is decided that some of those that are able will go visit with Bepril in the morning.

As the group sleeps, guards are going door-to-door in the town looking for the third person that helped awaken the spirit. Vyusher, certain they are searching for him, manages to elude them inside the Inn for most of the night. Finally, however, he realizes his only option is to flee the Inn and perhaps the town. As the guards are pounding onto the second floor of the Inn, he slips out a window. Nestor, in an attempt to thwart thieves climbing into his place and bothering his guests, has smeared grease on the narrow window ledge. Vyusher slips and plummets down, landing hard. Before he can catch his breath and escape the guards have him. As the sun rises, he is lead into Kethor’s courtyard.

Inside the mansion, the servants are already up. They are preparing breakfast for the Lord and Yolanda. Yolanda asks Kethor if she can have a look at what was in the box the priests carried into the temple. Kethor answers that the box has not been brought over yet. The head priest, Nifril, has refused to recognize Kethor’s claim on the box. It seems Lord Kethor is the governor by decree of the Emperor. He is also a cleric and answers to the temple and Nifril is the head of the temple. Kethor wants the box but is unwilling to overrule the head of the temple to get it. He has sent to the Isle of Light for a ruling about who has rights over the box.

Yolanda tries to explain that all the group wants is a look inside the box in the hopes that some answers about their present problems might be found. Kethor answers he will not fight Nifril over the box. If there were something the town needed inside it, Nifril would volunteer to give it up. After all, he wants the ghost gone as much as anyone else.

As the two of them chat the group is served raisins, bacon, eggs, a nutty cereal with fresh milk, and hot mulled cider. Yolanda asks why so much is being sent to the borders. Kethor answers, “We are at almost constant war with the neighboring kingdoms. The north is no longer the peaceful place it was in the days of the Old Empire.” Then he adds, “Cedrin was a vile creature that stole much from the world. There are still many of us who are not happy with Gaea for just letting him go into the afterlife unpunished.”

As the group finishes their breakfast, guards come to take them to Old Toryesh. Lord Kethor comes out of his mansion to wish them good fortune. As he does so, Vyusher is dragged forward by his captors.

Lexus laughs and says, “Guess he didn’t like elf meat…” The centurion from the night before also laughs and yells at Lexus, “Ghost ate ‘m!” Lexus answers, “Hey, that’s what I heard…” Both men break up laughing as Kethor asks Vyusher a question in the musical words of the High Elves. Kethor seems troubled by Vyusher’s answer then says, “Then this is truly a sad day, for I must send one of my kinsmen to his death.” Kethor points at the group and adds, “Join your ‘friends’.”

Sylvain then asks about Yolanda. Kethor answers, “She is Our guest until you return…” Sylvain asks, “Does she not wish to come with us?” Kethor answers, “She is tired and will join you when you return. She is Our guest until then.” Kethor then turns and enters his mansion as the group is led to the edge of Old Toryesh. The guards stop there.

They break into two groups. Pudge, Vyusher, and Daralie circle north to approach the dig site from that direction. Bornt, Lexus, and Sylvain circle south and then approach the scene of battle from two nights before. All arrive at the dig site without finding anything. Bornt and Sylvain move down the stairs in the corner of the old building and find the room where the box had lain. It is stone, old, moldy, and slimy from moisture creeping in from the nearby Eadledane Creek.

Daralie comes down the stairs and tries to get a look at what the two are doing. She stumbles on some loose stones and falls against the west wall of the dirt trench. It collapses and she falls into a dark opening. Bornt dives in after her as Pudge gets out a rope. Bornt finds that she has merely broken through a section of wall and fallen into a room on the same level as the trench. She is bruised and a little embarrassed but otherwise unhurt. Lexus offers her some water as the group moves in to check out the room.

They find the western edge of the room has caved in and underneath the section, they spot a skeleton partially buried. It is wearing a very nice set of leather armor. When they try to dig it out stones move ominously. To dig out the armor they risk being buried by rubble from above. They do find the remains of a bow and quiver; in addition, fifteen flight arrows that look freshly made, albeit a bit dusty. Near the body, they find a shiny dagger in the remains of a rotted leather sheath.

Bornt shoves the dagger into his belt as Lexus tosses the arrows to Vyusher, who is proficient with the bow. Lexus grabs for them and is cut by two arrowheads. Bornt continues to search and announces he has found another set of doors like the one covering the opening to the first crypt. As the group moves to examine these doors, Daralie gets a puzzled look on her face. She moves to the southern wall of the room then calls for Vyusher to join her there. Bornt simply wants to open the doors but Sylvain cautions against it. Just then Vyusher call out, “Hold,” and starts digging with his hands at the earth and stone in the south wall of the room.

Pudge moves to the entrance to the room as the group focuses on what Vyusher is doing. Daralie tells them she has heard a sniffing sound from behind the wall. Neither Lexus nor Bornt can hear the sound but Lexus pulls out a flash and uses it to listen more closely to the wall. He hears a shuffling sound and something sniffing the air every few seconds. He points to the fallen stones and motions everyone to be silent.

As the group grows quiet, they hear tiny sniffing sounds and shuffling coming from beyond the south wall of fallen stones. Vyusher resumes digging where the sound is. Sylvain asks him to stop because they need to brace the ceiling before they dig through that wall. Lexus remembers there were old dead trees outside and rushes out to check on the possibility of using them to brace up the ceiling.  Sylvain goes with Lexus.

They examine one of the trees and find it very solid. The ground around it is soggy still from recent rains. The two push and pull the tree until it topples over. They then drag it down into the room. By now Vyusher can tell there is more than one creature on the other side of the wall and they have started scratching now.

Sylvain and Lexus drag the tree to the pile of stones covering the leather armor. Bracing the ceiling with the tree, they work the stones off the skeleton and soon have the armor. The scratching sounds get louder as they work. Sylvain tries on the armor but it is too large for her.

Daralie casts the Bless spell on the group as they turn their attentions to the digging sounds from the south wall. Vyusher has stepped back and has prepared his bow with an arrow. Bornt, using his custom-made shovel, starts digging carefully and manages to move a couple of the smaller stones. Bornt moves and Daralie starts digging. Lexus quickly steps in and takes her place.

He digs feverishly. Then, with a crash, he breaks through and onto the other side. Falling forward across the rocks, he is soon attacked by the giant rats that had been digging from the other side. Two bite at him but miss as the rest of the pack stream over him and out into the room.

Daralie tries to hit them as they rush by but misses. Three rush toward Vyusher and two bite him. Four swarm out and attack Daralie. Two bite her. Sylvain springs forward and smashes one of the rats attacking Vyusher in the head. With a hideous squeak it dies. Bornt jumps to Daralie’s side. Pudge dashes in with his longsword in hand. He swings at one of the rats attacking Vyusher but misses. Vyusher shoots and misses as Bornt smashes down and misses the ravenous rats. Lexus smashes a rat in the snoot and it staggers off with blood pouring out its nose.

A rat now bites Lexus as another bites Vyusher. Daralie smashes a rat in the head and it too rushes away with a bleeding nose. Daralie screams, “I smite thee!!! In the name of Dionysus!” Then she screams again as another rat takes a nip out of her leg. Three rats have rushed Sylvain and one now bites her as another bites Bornt. Sylvain smashes at the rat that bit her crushing its head. “Foul beast,” she exclaims. Pudge swings his sword but the rats are too quick and he misses. Vyusher drops the bow and pulls his daggers while trying to back away from the rats. Bornt smashes a rat with his mace while Lexus swings once more with his fist and misses. Bornt swings again but only grazes the rat. It flies at him in a rage.

The single remaining rat attacking Lexus tries to bite but Lexus rolls away and it misses. Daralie swings and grazes one of the rats. It flies at her in a rage and bites her. One bites Sylvain as two more join the fight, rushing to attack Pudge. One bites him. The three attacking Vyusher miss as he backs away. Sylvain swings her staff and creates another crushed and lifeless rat. Pudge swings with his sword but the rat dances away at just the last moment. Vyusher manages to slice one of the rats attacking him and squealing it runs off trailing blood. As the enraged rat flies at Bornt, he swings and slams it away. Staggering, it rushes away from the fight. Lexus tries to stand but the rocks move out from under his hands and he goes down again.

Lexus is bitten again as Daralie crushes another rat. Sylvain and Pudge are each bitten by one rat but the two attacking Vyusher miss. Sylvain swings and misses. Pudge, angered by the bite slices one of the rodents in half with his longsword. Vyusher slices at and cuts the throat of one of the rats attacking him. Bornt smashes at one of the rats attacking Sylvain and hits. It squeals and runs away. Lexus manages to stagger up and pulls one of his maces. He swings and mashes the rat into bits of flying meat. Blood and rat-guts fly everywhere.

There are only two rats left but one manages to bite Daralie. The other misses in its attack on Vyusher. Sylvain steps forward and smashes at the one attacking Daralie. She crushes one of its forelegs and it runs away squealing. Pudge rushes toward Vyusher and slices the last remaining rat in half. Rat squeals echoing out of the dark opening along with heavy breathing is heard as the group slowly realizes they have all survived, though many of them have numerous bite wounds.

Daralie and Sylvain head for the Pool of Thunder as the rest of the groups rests amid the rocks and rat parts. Each binds the wounds of another as they laugh and boast about surviving such a hideous threat to their lives. Occasionally they jump as a small rock falls from a nearby wall or a distant rat-squeak is heard.

When Daralie and Sylvain return, each passes out wineskins of water from the pool. Each drinks and some of their wounds heal as they drink. The wounds that do not heal are bathed in the water from the pool that fizzes as it is exposed to the bites. There are sharp intakes of breath as the water brings stabs of stinging pain to each wound.

Bornt, suddenly realizing he had seen something on the first set of doors, moves back to examine them more closely. As he does so, Pudge carefully examines the first coffin. Pudge is about to open it when Bornt calls for him to stop.

Bornt has found some very faint writing on the remains of the crypt door. As he checks, he sees similar writing on the caskets. The only light source is from daylight entering the opening Daralie fell through. It is much too dark for him to see clearly.

Daralie lights a lantern and hands it to Bornt. He holds it close to the writing on one of the caskets and Daralie and Vyusher carefully examine it. Sylvain looks around for Lexus then realizes he is not in the room. She assumes he has headed down the hall they found when they broke open the southern wall of the room and let the rats out. She lights a torch and is peering down its dark length when Lexus returns from having checked for anyone spying on them outside. She tells him she was worried about him as she shakes out her torch. He answers he hates closed in places and needed to get some air. She cautions him not to sneak off like that. It makes everyone nervous. Lexus agrees to try.

She is about to say something more when she notices another door like the ones in the north wall set into the east wall of the hall. She calls to the rest of the group that she has found more crypt doors. The group decides to focus first on the north wall. Lexus suggests they take the coffins to the temple and let the priests open them.

Daralie, Vyusher, and Bornt have been unable to decipher the writing on the coffin. Sylvain suggests they drag it into the sunlight and open it there. Bornt says they might as well drag them all out then. Everyone agrees and soon they have the rusty metal boxes laid out in the grass behind the remain of an old wall. The guards at the edge of town try to see what the group is up too but are not willing to enter the town for a close look.

The only thing shinny on the coffins are the bright locks that are holding the lids closed. Sylvain suggest they knock out the hinges of the box and everyone readies a weapon as she bends to use a spike and rock on the first one. As she strikes the hinge it crumbles. She quickly does the middle and then the last hinge.

She steps back and picks up her staff as Vyusher steps forward to open the lid. He turns the coffin so it will open away from the group and then pulls the lid up. As it comes open a hiss is heard followed by a bubbling sound. Daralie carefully peeks around the lid and sees the rapidly decomposing body of a man in what was once a robe. He is holding a wooden staff shaped like a large snake. It shines as though it were freshly made. Not even the filth from the rotting corpse is clinging to its surface. Daralie quickly opens a vial of holy water and sprinkles in on the remains. Then she carefully reaches in and pulls out the staff.

The group moves to the next coffin and the hinges crumble on it as on the first. Inside they find another rotting corpse but this one has five ivory tubes inlaid with gold and sealed with a purple wax. Once again Daralie sprinkles holy water on the corpse. Sylvain carefully lifts the scroll tubes and places them in a small sack. Vyusher carefully examines the coffin for a false bottom, etc. but finds nothing. 

As the second coffin is being rifled, Lexus begins to carefully look around the area. He feels something is not right but cannot put his finger on it. He looks for tracks he did not notice before and watches the guards who are still trying to see what the group is up too without coming into the town. As he is turning to rejoin the group, a glint from something shinny causes him to look back into the trench he and Bornt dug two days before.

In the process of dragging all of the coffins out of the room, the group has scuffed up the piles of trash and rocks that had lain just inside the opening Daralie fell through. A stone once covered by this pile of trash has turned just inside this opening. Something is shining just under this stone.

Lexus quickly climbs back into the trench and finds a mace has been tucked under a loose stone in the floor. As he pulls out the mace, he can hear Pudge smashing the hinges open on the third coffin. As Pudge lifts the lid, the group hears, “Be careful there! I’m fragile!” Everyone in the group jumps but no one more than Lexus because it is the mace that has spoken to him. He almost drops the mace then notices a small pink and green sphere and a rod underneath where the mace had lain.

Vyusher peers around the open lid just as the mace says, “Whew, I thought I was gonna be locked in there forever!” Lexus answers, “The hell you say?” Vyusher yells, “Do it… do it now!!!” Daralie quickly splashes holy water on the rapidly decomposing corpse inside the coffin. Pudge is also peeking into the coffin and sees a rotting bag with different size vials in it.

Lexus calls to Bornt, “I’m losing my bloody mind!” Bornt glances around and spots Lexus down in the trench holding up something shinny. He calls back, “What ya mean, Lex?” He climbs down into the trench with Lexus just as the group hears, “Get me up into the light! I hate it in the dark.” Daralie calls out, “Who are you?”

Vyusher grabs for the bag in the coffin. As the bag lifts from the coffin, it crumbles and the vials tumble back down. Two collide violently enough to break and the contents mix. Pudge dives away as a great hissing sound is heard and a huge billowing cloud pours out of the coffin. It is a noxious yellow and quickly envelops Daralie, Vyusher, and Sylvain. As Lexus is showing Bornt the mace, rod, and sphere he has found, the three begin to gag and cough then fall to the ground choking. As the slight afternoon breeze carries the cloud out to sea, the lifeless bodies of Daralie, Vyusher, and Sylvain stare into a cloudless sky.

Bornt and Lexus, hearing the choking and smelling the noxious gas have stayed hidden in the trench. They almost jump out of their skin when the mace asks, “Who farted? And just when I got free, sheesh!” The two carefully poke their heads up out of the trench to find Pudge carefully checking their fallen comrades for signs of life.

Lexus looks at the mace and asks, “Are you really talking or am I doing my nut?” Bornt has bent to examine the rod and sphere more closely. Lexus peers intently at the mace and asks, “What’s a nice mace like you doing in a place like this?” The mace answers, “My former owner shoved me under that stupid rock.” Bornt looks at the mace and says, “What a mean person. Exactly who are you?” Lexus asks why and the mace snaps back, “How should I know? Do I look like a bleeping mind reader to you?” Lexus answers, “No, you have a point.” The mace answers Bornt, “Who’s talking to you short, fat, and clueless?” Lexus tries to ignore the mace’s outburst and asks, “What about the other stuff in there with you?” Bornt argues back, “You, dazed and confused and stupid. Better clueless than armless.”

As they argue, Pudge carefully checks to ensure the three downed members are truly dead then begins to remove the various items he thinks are magical off of them.

The mace, responding to Bornt’s taunt, says, “Well, that explains it then. Boss, you should get the shrimp some medical attention. His ears no work too good.” Bornt yells back, “My ears work just fine you flaming freak. As for boss, that would be me now.” Lexus smiles at the absurdity of a dwarf arguing with a mace and says, “It’s from all that iron work they do. He’s okay.” Bornt looks at Lexus and asks, “What is going on? Who is this?” The mace offers, “By the way boss, there’s 34 gold pieces and 15 platinum pieces around here somewhere and is that copper I smell in your belt-pouch?” Lexus, surprised, answers, “Yea, very good!” Then he starts looking around for the coins as Bornt turns once more to the rod and sphere.

Lexus has rejoined Pudge and sadly looks at the remains of the three party members. He turns to Pudge, “Dead or not, we need to get our friends out of this place.” Pudge wonders if the Pool of Thunder will restore life. The mace offers that the coins are 15 feet below then now and to the south. Bornt reminds them they cannot leave the town until they have completed their mission. Lexus decides the two of them should seek out the coins while Pudge takes their dead comrades back to town. He and Bornt climb back into the trench as Pudge moves to the last coffin.

Pudge smashes the hinges of the coffin and slowly pulls back the lid. Inside he finds a shining trident and a rotting corpse encased in shinny black chain mail armor from head to foot. Bornt and Lexus have once more entered the trench and are following the directions of the mace. They find more crypt doors in the hall and the mace claims the coins are behind them. They decide not to open these without Pudge present so they return to the surface.

On the way, Lexus once again asks the mace about the rod. The mace does not know what it is only that his previous owner used to hit things with it. They emerge from the trench to find Pudge carefully straightening the bodies of their fallen comrades into a more dignified position. Pudge asks if they had found the coins and Lexus answers they have found more crypt doors. Pudge shows them the trident and armor he has found. They wonder if Lexus can wear the armor but he declines claiming it only slows him down. The mace asks who cut the cheese and Lexus shows him the coffin where Vyusher had broken the vials. Pudge is confused as to who is speaking until Lexus explains about the nature of the mace. Lexus passes the mace near each coffin in the hope it will find some coins. It doesn’t.

They turn all of the coffins on their sides but find nothing but rotting bones. It is late afternoon now and the group starts thinking about the coming night. It was at dusk that Lexus and Bornt were attacked. They decide to make one more trip into the hall in the hope of retrieving the coins the mace talked about. They shove the trident and black armor into a bag for transport to town when they leave. Bornt lights a lantern and they move back underground and into the hall of rats.

As they start down the hall, Lexus gives the mace a name which it immediately objects too. It tells them its name is Nesripane, meaning Whispering Death in High Elven. They break open the first of the crypts in the hall and drag out the coffin as Nesripane sulks. It is refusing the tell them anything. Pudge is spooked by the mace but then it tells them the coffin is rusted iron with a mithril lock. It has eleven gold pieces and five platinum pieces inside.

Pudge asks if the lock is magicked to which the mace replies, “What do I look like here, a frebering magic slinger? I bash things clanking boy!” Lexus laughs and says, “Now that is what I call and answer… What kind of oil do you like Nesripane.” Bornt interrupts with, “Do you mind? We’re trying to work here.” To which Nesripane answers, “Shut up short one and hold the light. ‘Bout the only thing your flat head is good for.” Bornt snaps back, “At least I have a head and the shoulders to hold it up ball bearing brain.” Nesripane answers, “Let’s butt heads and see who’s caves in first. I take that back. Even magic wouldn’t help me there.”

Pudge has carefully checked the coffin for traps and now Bornt smashes the hinges. He pulls open the lid, hears the same hiss and bubble as he heard from the other coffins, and finds a rotting pouch with eleven gold pieces, five platinum pieces, and four gems. Pudge scoops out the treasure carefully and places it in a bag.

They move to the next one. Bornt rips open the crypt door and drags the coffin into the hall. Nesripane tells them it is rusted metallic iron with a mithril lock, eight gold pieces, and six platinum pieces. Pudge checks it for traps and Bornt smashes open the hinges. They find a rotting corpse, eight gold pieces, six platinum pieces, and two gems that Pudge places in the same bag as the other treasure. They decide to hit one more before Pudge heads back to town for the night.

Bornt rips the doors of the crypt off and they drag the box into the hall. As they are dragging it. Bornt steps on a stone in the floor just south of the crypt opening. Two rusty spears streak out of the wall and stick him . He looks down and simply says, “ow” in a soft voice before collapsing to the floor.

Pudge and Lexus quickly rush to his side. Lexus asks if there is any of the water from the Pool of Thunder left. Pudge says yes, up top, but it would do no good since Bornt has used some of it today. Lexus says they have to get him to town then but Pudge reminds him that the guards won’t let them leave Old Toryesh. Lexus says, “To hell with the guards” and Pudge agrees to try but they have to remove the spears first. Lexus says just break them off, “… we will kill him if we pull them out.” Luckily the shafts of the spears are old and break easily.

Pudge and Lexus carefully carry their friend back to the surface and race toward town. The guards close in as they approach and then move to help get Bornt to the temple. There Bornt and Lexus are healed and taken to the Priest’s quarters for observation and rest. After ensuring Bornt is okay, Pudge says his goodnight and heads to Mrs. Biddle’s to rest.

The next morning, just before sunrise, Bornt and Lexus are awakened by the Priests. They fill containers of water at the Pool of Thunder. The guards then escort them to the gate. On the way Bornt sees a female dwarf in multicolored leather armor with multicolored steaks in her blond hair walking toward them.

As they pass, she stops one of the guards and says, “Oh like DUDES! Where you taking the homeboys?” The guard answers, “Move on miss unless you want to go down in the ground with them.” She immediately perks up and begins dancing around the guard. “Oh kewl,” she exclaims. “Underground! Like ina cave?” The guard looks flustered as he says, “Move it toots.”

“Oh but I want to go,” she says. “Caves are just the KEWLEST! Look! I have like the perfect weapon to get all the bats!” She pulls out a pair of nunchakus and twirls them over her head. “Wanna see the knot I got on the back of my head when I was learning to use them? Huh? Isn’t this so KEWL!” She introduces herself as Curlie Sue.

The guards move off with her dancing closely around them. They chat about caves and holes in the ground and she learns they are attempting to fight a ghost. She agrees to join them and as the guards stop once more at the edge of Old Toryesh, she dances into town with them. Pudge joins them as they are trudging toward the trench. As they are climbing back down into the trench, Nesripane says, “Oh here we go again! Loud short idiots and clanking brainless louts. We’re doomed! DOOMED I TELL YA. DOOMED!”

They make their way back into the hall, Curlie Sue chattering the whole way about caves and ropes and bolas. Finally Pudge can’t take it anymore and snaps for her to be quiet, calling her "mouth." He adds they are going into underground passageways not a cave. Nesripane takes offense at his tone at yells, “Mouth! Look who’s got his shorts in a bunch. Chill clanking one. She’s doing okay for a brain-dead Cerebus Rider.” Curly rolls with laughter.

Lexus asks Nesripane if there is any coin around. Nesripane responds that the clanking one (a name it has been calling Pudge) has loads. Then it says, “So Spiker-babe, what ya gonna do with all that rope? Bet boss here would like ya to use some on him, huh boss?” Lexus blushes and says, “You don’t get out much do you Nesripane?” Nesripane answers, “I ain’t been out in 200 years and I gotta say, I don’t think yours has been out more often than mine.” Lexus sighs, “It’s going to be a long day.”

By now they have reached the unopened coffin still sitting in the hall. Pudge, disgusted with Curlie Sue’s constant chatter leaves and returns to the surface. Curlie Sue begins nagging to be allowed to open a coffin. When she spots one of the mithril locks she really goes crazy and begs both men to get her one. “It would be so totally perfect for my outfit!” When she doesn’t get an immediate response she calls to Nesripane, “Nessie, help me get this lock!” Nesripane responds, “Try sticking your…” Before it can finish, Lexus interrupts with, “Nesripane! Any treasure nearby?” Curlie Sue starts pulling and pushing on the lock.

Bornt smashes the hinges on the back of the coffin as Nesripane answers, “Okay already! Nine gp, 2 pp in that rusty can with another mithril lock.” As Sue opens the coffin, Bornt moves to the other side of the hall and rips open another crypt. Sue finds the coins Nesripane mentioned plus 2 gems. One is a tiger’s eye 3 inches across.

Bornt drags the coffin out of the crypt he has opened and shatters the hinges. Inside are 10 gp, 5 pp, and 3 gems. Sue quickly grabs up the gems. As she grabs out the things in the coffin, Bornt rips the doors off another crypt and drags the coffin into the hall. Inside they find 12 gp, 5 pp, and 4 gems. The last coffin has 12 gp, 5 pp, and 3 gems.

With the opening of each coffin, Sue gets more agitated. She wants one of the locks for her outfit and keeps begging someone to get her one of them. Finally she makes a grab for Nesripane but Lexus is too fast for her. She begs him to loan her a mace but he refuses. Finally in exasperation she grabs up a rock and bashes at one of the locks. It does not break but the hasp holding it to the coffin does. The lock drops to the ground. Sue dances with joy and scoops up the lock. Then she realizes there are 5 more in this hallway. She quickly begins bashing each of the boxes.

As she works, her hands get more and more sweaty and the rock becomes harder to hold on to. Finally, as she is lifting it up over her head, it slips free and arcs into the air. It hits Lexus and staggers him backward. Sue is extremely embarrassed and offers to help. Lexus tells her to just stay away from him but she will not hear of it. Lexus eventually asks Sue to show him the knot on the back of her head. When she does, he says, “Here is it’s twin!” He then bonks her on the head with his mace raising a small bump. Sue moves away and picks up her rock and finally retrieves all of the locks in the hall.