The 23rd of Albicene
Awaking refreshed from a good night's sleep, the Company again enter the tower and attempt to break the seal around the trapdoor. Jeremi produces an arcane scroll which magically opens the door. A gush of wind and the smell of stale air rushes out of the crack as they lift the door. Mikela scouts ahead and discovers six stone sarcophagi and a dais in the center of the room, upon which rests the remains of a humanoid. Only the skeleton and some tattered robes covered by blood-stained runes is left. The skeleton's right arm holds a staff, and a phylactery is around its neck. At the base of the dais is a broken flask with some liquid remains. Ever the dutiful scout, Mikela picks up the flask and immediately feels extremely weak and out of energy. Before the rest of the company can come to her rescue, she falls to the ground, dead. The Company rush into the room to help Mikela, but to no avail. She is beyond the healing skills of Jeremi.
While searching the room, both B'gokktem and Grumash start to feel very weak and have trouble holding their weapons. After intense study, Jeremi notes that while there are seven of them in the room, there are eight shadows on the floor.
Chaos ensues as the Company attempt to find the source of the mysterious shadow. Suddenly a shadowy humanoid shape appears in front of Rafe and asks, "Ereban?". Rafe, thinking quickly, answers "Yes", and enters into a brief, erratic conversation. Rafe seems to have convinced the shadow that he its friend, Ereban. Just when it looks as if the Company can avoid combat with the shadow, B'gokktem rushes in and swings at the figure with his greatsword. Now clearly beyond reasoning, the shadow hides again and begins attacking the company with evil necromantic spells and by draining the strength of the party members. Rafe takes a stab with his rapier and believes that he has damaged the shadow, yet it remains unphased. Several others in the party attempt to wound the creature, but to no effect.
Things get worse when the shadow calls down a curtain of darkness, enveloping the room and completely blinding everyone. As the Company fumble around in the darkness, Rafe finds the staff and pries it from Mikela's dead hands. Jeremi finds Rafe in the darkness and takes the staff. Making a wild guess, he says a command word and the staff creates a powerful light in the room, dispelling the unnatural darkness.
B'gokktem uses this opportunity to pull out the sword given to him by Shandril and begins to follow the shadow throughout the room, swinging at it with the sword whenever he has a chance. Uso and Jeremi, determined not to stand by while their comrades are slowly sapped of their strength by the undead mage, cast arcane magicks to stop the creature. This combination of swordplay and arcane magick eventually defeat the shadow, who disappears.
The Company search through the bottom of the tower and discover the Chalice that Jeremi had been tasked with delivering to the Jimalate of Barrid. After sharing their astonishment at this discovery, the Company return to ground level to retrieve their prisoners and head back to Colina Justa for some much needed rest and recuperation.
The 24th of Albicene - the 1st of Ebupell
The company rested and recovered in Colina Justa. Several members of the company attended to their own personal business.
As the first third of Spring passes away and the temperatures begin to rise slightly, the Company pay their final respects to Mikela, whom they bury in the small graveyard of the town. Before they leave, they make a final visit to Shandril to thank her for her kindness. She bids them farewell, reminding them that the "Heroes of the Crucible" will be forever welcome in Colina Justa. As a thank-you, she lets B'gokktem keep her sword.
With the Chalice in tow, the Company begins the long trek back to Barrid to return it to Jimalate Cristobal Arino.
The 3rd - 4th of Ebupell
The Company travels.
The 5th of Ebupell
During the night, a loud rumbling sound is heard, similar to a far-off earthquake. The Company then see a large spray of light-sparks off in the distance, one of which lands at their feet and then disappears. They mark the general direction of the disturbance and decide to investigate on the next day.
