Namza performs the ritual while the rest of the heroes watch. With each chant, a subtle roar of demonic energy flares louder and louder. Over the course of an hour, the lights in the cavern flicker and the wardstones flash on and off.
With one final clap, Namza concludes the ritual. The whole cavern is quiet ... for about five seconds.
Suddenly, the magical wards shatter with a dark red energy, filling the cavern with an asphyxiating smoke. The heroes grab the relics and burial remains they can, and run out of the barrows. Demonic faces appear and disappear in the smoke, but do not chase the heroes out of the cavern.
With the ritual failed and the cavern inaccessible, the Pathfinders begin the 8-day trek back to Farhaven.
Hopper wakes up the next morning refreshed, and finds his ghast wounds free of the disease he had the previous day. Parnes gets progressively stronger as the journey continues, reaching full constitution after three days.
Nelket and Dolok Darkfur happily accept the remains and relics the Pathfinders were able to recover from the barrows, along with any information on those buried there. The listen to the harrowing tale of the purification ritual, and they nod solemnly in agreement that they will build a new momument for the remains.
They appreciate the assistance and promise to continue calling on the Pathfinder Society to explore such sites in the future, also offering their aid should the Pathfinder Society request it.
They bid the Pathfinders a fond farewell, welcoming them to visit the village at any time.