Felix watches the undead collapse. He's aware of the other skeletons in the room collapsing also. He briefly checks to see if the sleeping woman (presumably, Dimira) and Herskor are being attended to. Once he is satisfied that they are not being neglected, he refocuses his attention on the skeletal horror lying at his feet.
Sir Dramott had related tales of demonic or other corrupting holy symbols or artifacts that could power evils like the one they just defeated. He searches the skeleton -- none too gently -- to try and find any such thing that could drive this evil.
”Hey, I think she needs healing of some sort.” Kevan says to the others unsure of what to do.
Then he walks down the dais to Esgean’s side, [b]”Maybe we could take him to the restorative pool.[/ooc]
Between Felix's swing and Esgean's spell - which seems to strike at core of the skeleton - it collapses to the floor, an inanimate pile of bones once more. Jhessa is only dimly aware of this however because Herskor is hurt and that is consuming her full attention. Up close she can see how just how bad the wounds are - and they are bad indeed, the half-orc having taken a blow that she is sure would literally have hewn her in two. From her kneeling position she leans over him and lays her cheek near his mouth, but no breath warms her skin. There is no movement in his chest either and, increasingly panicked and starting to contemplate what she had hitherto refused to, she grabs his wrist, hoping to find a pulse. The tears that had already begun to fall run down her face as she continues to hold on, vainly hoping that Herskor's heart would miraculously start up again. "Oh, gods," she murmurs to herself.
"I can't find a pulse, Esgean!" she cries as the other girl crumples to the floor next to her. "Help me," she says, before looking up to the ceiling. "Help me, Shelyn, please." Gathering herself, she quickly runs through an orison to stop bleeding and prevent wounds worsening, more out of hope than desperation as she doubts it can do anything if he's- No. He can't be. No.
Numbly she waits to see if anything happens, though Kevan's cry snaps her out of it as there's another who needs her aid right now and this one at least she can help. "I'm coming," she says, trying to hide the weariness in her voice as she rises. As she approaches this time she sees the steady rise and fall of the woman's chest and breathes a sigh of relief.
She doesn't appear to be badly hurt but neither can Jhessa seem to bring her back to consciousness. "I don't think I can manage another prayer of healing right now," she says. Mindful of Esgean's grief, she asks "Felix, can you deliver curative magic with your touch? That might be what we need to bring her round. Please." Feeling impotent and heartsick she prays that the paladin can do what she seems to be currently incapable of.
Looking up from the skeletal horror, Felix refocuses his attention to the sleeping woman.
"Sir Dramott can, so maybe I can, too. I'll try."
Felix kneels down next to the woman and places one hand on her forehead and the other on her shoulder. "Iomedae, I beseech you for aid," he murmurs.
The next few moments happen in a flash. Esgean rushes to Herskor using the best of her abilities to aid her friend. Jhessa comes to also help revive Herskor. To the best of her human abilities, nothing. Pleas to Shelyn and Sarenrae spill from their lips, but the gods do not respond.
It is in that moment that they realize that they are not kneeling in flooded waters like the previous chambers, but the flame above is reflecting off of the life blood of Herskor.
Kevan speaks up as he looks to the woman, it is indeed Roldare’s sister Dimira. Jhessa looks over the woman, she is alive and uninjured beyond superficial scrapes and bruising.
Felix kneels next to Dimira and Iomedae’s power flows from his palm to her forehead. Her eyes shoot open as if she was just plunged into a bath of cold water. Initial reaction is she kicks back in panic and fear. But when she recognized Felix she dives forward and clings to the Paladin. Sobbing; “I thought I would never see anyone again… you’ve saved me!” clinging tight to Felix a realization dawns on her; “What about the others? Roldare?” tears continue to well up and trail down her cheeks.
Dealing with his own emotions over Herskor's death, Felix is happy to hug someone else, especially if it provides them comfort.
"Shh. It's okay. I don't think there's anything else in here that's a danger.
"Roldare is alive, but he's pretty shaken. We'll take you too him very soon. As for the others... well, we've seen a lot of bodies. I'm sorry."
After she has a moment to react to that news, he asks Dimira, "Can you tell us what happened? Surely this place wasn't this dangerous the last time Mayor Uptal sent people here."
Esgean knows that death is just a part of life, that it comes for all, but when it comes for a friend it is no less painful for that understanding.
With the others tending to Dimira, she steps out into the corridor and sits on the floor, back against the cold stone wall. Rejke comes and lays beside her and licks the druid's hand.
"Thanks," she says quietly.
Unable to stifle a light laugh, Jhessa looks at Felix with a mix of disbelief and awe. "Felix," she says with a touch of exasperation, "how did you not know that you have this amazing god-given gift? Sorry," she says, "but you have healing hands and that's... just amazing! All those bedtime stories about holy warriors and noble heroes turn out to have elements of truth to them after all!" Dabbing at her wet face with her sleeve, she quickly steps forward to give him a brief hug before retreating a little while Dimira sits bolt upright in shock.
Not wanting to overwhelm the girl with questions, Jhessa decides to leave the talking to Felix for the moment, while also trying to sort through her own overwhelming jumble of feelings and thoughts. She quickly glances at Esgean, who has retreated for, she assumes, some solitude - or at least as much as Rejke will allow her. She's glad the cat is offering her friend some small comfort and vows to do what she can for her too.
Dimira loosens her cling to Felix, but is still holding onto him; “He is alive?” a smile comes across her face and tears fill her eyes. This time tears of joy.
When asked what happened; “We arrived to prepare the tomb for your testing. The mayor told us what we needed to do and what had happened in the past… when we arrived the tomb was open. There were signs that someone, or something else, had been there.” She collects herself, Felix feels her grip starting to tighten; “We were camping when those things… the bones showed up. I ran… I could hear them being attacked… their cries for help will haunt my dreams… the cries of men dying…”
She hides her face on Felix’s shoulder.
“Then… he arrived…” looking to the pile of bones with armor and a sword; “He cut off my path and separated me from my brother. He drug me here, asking me where the hammer was…” she looks in Felix’s eyes; “I didn’t know… He said he would flay me and turn me into one of his minions…” loosening her grip once again she looks to Jhessa; “I lied to him. Making up stories about a hammer. It didn’t last long and he threw me to the ground and the next thing I remember is waking up to you…” she pulls in closer to Felix again and holds on tightly.
All the normal skeletons’ equipment were broken, not worth taking.
The main guy had on him a +1 Chainmail armor and a +1 Longsword.
Kevan moves to the floor and grabs Herskor's foot. "Come on, someone give me a hand. We haven't tried that magical pool yet. There's no telling what it can do but it could be time sensitive. He's too big, I can't get him there by myself." He looks at everyone, each in turn, a pleading look in his eyes.
Unable to stifle a light laugh, Jhessa looks at Felix with a mix of disbelief and awe. "Felix," she says with a touch of exasperation, "how did you not know that you have this amazing god-given gift? Sorry," she says, "but you have healing hands and that's... just amazing! All those bedtime stories about holy warriors and noble heroes turn out to have elements of truth to them after all!"
Looking over Dimira's shoulder at Jhessa, Felix smiles sheepishly.
"I'm still pretty new at this, and your healing hands have been doing such a great job!"
After a moment longer, Felix extricates himself from Dimira, indicating with a nod in Kevan's direction that he's needed elsewhere. Not having found any unholy symbols or anything similar on the undead warrior, he is fine leaving the room. He asks Jhessa to help Dimira.
Kneeling down, he picks up Herskor's body as respectfully as he can, and starts to carry his ally to the pool Kevan indicated.
Jhessa returns Felix's compliment with a grin. "Yes, you're right Kevan," she says, though in her heart she's pretty sure it's not going to work. "We can only try I guess." As she offers Dimira a shoulder for support, tensing her dancer's body, she is glad that the paladin is taking Herskor.
Turning to the girl, she says sympathetically "That sounds just horrible, you did really well to stand up to him. You must have been so brave. We should also get you to your brother as soon as we can." She looks around at the mess of the room. "Then we need to come back here and tidy up. I want to say some fresh prayers and let's try and leave things in peace after all of this disruption."
Dimira let’s go of Felix when she realizes that she had been clinging onto him for so long. “I’m so sorry, it’s just so good to see familiar faces. I didn’t think that would happen.” Turning to Jhessa and she mentions Roldare; “I will go wherever you go.”
The group of you take care and your time with transporting Herskor. The wound across his stomach is so severe that you must use makeshift bandages to close it.
With all traps disabled and threats taken care of, you easily make your way to the chamber where you might take your ease. You lay him on the stone bench and use some of the water from the drinking fountain to wash Herskor’s wounds, and you use your hands to cup some of the water to try and have him drink. You try a second, and a third time. The water spills from the sides of his mouth.
Nothing happens.
Kevan looks downcast. Then he pats Herskor's head. "I shall tell of your greatness to everyone. Rest well great warrior. Did he have relatives in town? If not, could we bury him here with Kassen? It seems fitting." Then his moment of solemnity is over. "I'm going to head back down and see what this destroyer had on him along with the others that rose against us." With that, Kevan heads back down to the tomb.
Felix says a hasty, silent prayer to Iomedae over Herskor's body.
"I better go with him, just in case." He pulls out his dagger. "Jhessa, can you cast your light spell on this so we can see?"
Once he has a light source, Felix hustles after the wizened halfling.
"Kevan! Wait up!"
"Sure," Jhessa replies, running through the quick spell and Felix's dagger is soon aglow with a magical radiance. "We're all coming though. I know we've put an end to the main evil that had been responsible for our problems but I still think it's prudent to be careful and wise to stick together. The old tales also warn us not to split up - bad things tend to happen to those who wander off by themself." She smiles at him, to show that while it was a joke, it masked a serious point.
She turns to Dimira to apologise. "I'm sorry, Dimira, we might have to wait before we return to Roldare." She nods her head in the direction Kevan just disappeared. "He's as excitable as a puppy. And often just as hard to say no to. Plus if we clean up things now then we'll have everything in order ready to leave when we go back up."
Finally she takes a deep breath and turns to Esgean, walking steadily over to her wrapping her arms around the taller girl's midriff. "I'm sure you'd rather have some time to yourself right now - honestly, I think we all do - but I'd feel a lot happier if you came back with us," she says in a low voice. "If you just want to sit with Rejke while we set things in order that's fine, I totally get it. I also know you're desperate to be out of here too and that you're well capable of looking after yourself." She looks up, scrutinising the druid's face. "You should do what's best for you though."
Dimira looks to Jhessa; “It’s okay, I am happy to just be with familiar faces. Also, you have proved yourselves capable that being with you is the safest place to be.”
Looking around the chamber that is Kassen’s final resting place you see the Everflame hanging above his open sarcophagus. Its lid is laying next to it. You see Kassen’s remains are intact wearing his ornate full plate and a highly crafted longsword that looks to have flames etched into the blade that is resting on his chest. You do notice that in one of the corners you see that there is a minor disturbance of whatever was at his feet.
Moving to the eastern edge of this chamber you see that this portion of the crypt is the resting place for a number of villagers, each one entombed inside a stone sarcophagus. Unlike Kassen, none of them appear to be disturbed.
Moving to the western edge you see this crypt contains the resting place for some of the raiders that attacked Kassen so many years ago. The central sarcophagus has been disturbed, its lid lying broken on the ground in front of it. The corpse of an orc and half-orc laying at the base of it.
Esgean does not go with the others to the fountain with Herskor's body. She knows he is dead and it will take stronger magic than that to bring him back, and he wouldn't want that anyway. Her friend was a creature of the natural world, and must now be returned to it. A shallow grave is what is needed, so that his remains may nourish the worms and insects and whatever might burrow to find his flesh.
The druid smiles when she thinks about Olmira frolicking about town singing and talking to herself, but now she understands that her mentor's conversational partners are the spirits of friends and companions that the knew in her life. Esgean has one such person now.
Wiping tears, she nods to Jhessa. "I'm ready. Let's get what we came here for and go home."
She steps back into the tomb and approaches the sarcophagus of the great Kassen, looking down on the remains for some time. Is it for reverence, or sadness, who can say. She tries to lift the lid back atop and seal it once more.
Then she waits for Kevan and the others to return to capture the Everflame in the lantern.
Since they are all together, Felix asks Dimira, "Do you know what is supposed to be here?" He indicates the disturbance at Kessan's remain's feet.
"Or who those people are?" He indicates the orc and half-orc corpses.
"I do not. Which of you has the lantern? Capture the everflame. I'm going to check on these orcs." Kevan does a search of the orcs (take 10, Per +7). Then before he does the same on the boss skeleton he checks the name on the broken open sarcophagus. He checks the boss skeleton for anything valuable and then scampers about the room checking the formerly animated skeletons. Once he's done, he rejoins the others and shares what he finds. If, as I suspect, there is no rust on the boss's sword, "Esgean, would you detect magic over here? I think this boss skeleton was likely loaded."
"I have it!" Felix proudly holds up the Eternal Lantern. Then he seems to remember something sad. "Um... Herskor let me carry it."
With that thought in mind, Felix looks up at the Everflame above the tomb, and then reverently lifts the Eternal Lantern to see if he can capture some of the magical fire inside.
"Yes, of course," Esgean replies to Kevan.
She returns to the main villain and suppresses her feelings.
The group begins looking through the belongings of skeletons (loot found here) and the orc & half-orc.
The orc had a falchion and a javelin on him, along with leather armorn. The half-orc has several magical items on him. Wand of Magic Missile (22 charges), Bracers of Armor +1, a Horn of Fog, 354 gp in newly minted coins. They match the coins found on the body next to Gray Lake. You also find a spellbook containing; Cause Fear, Enlarge Person, Expeditious Retreat, False Life, Levitate, Mage Armor, Magic Missile, Ray of Enfeeblement, and all Wizards cantrips.
Beyond the usefulness of the above items a few things stand out. Both have a strange symbol of a clenching hand. Along with a map leading to the crypt from the Tourondel River. On the map there is a crudely written note, that none of you can read.
Aldmus takes the map and looks it over; “It is in orcish, it reads Two pieces of the hammer are entombed with Kassen and Asar.” looking to Felix; “This must be the answer to what is missing from Kassen’s tomb.”
Esgean's Detect Magic also causes a glowing from Kevan's pocket. Within that pocket is the ring that was found on the corpse in the frog nest. Aldmus studies it to reveal a Ring of Swimming
When Felix lights the Eternal Lantern a blue light begins to grow from the Everflame. It’s brightness causes you to look away, but when it fades you turn back and a spirit stands before you.
“Honorable heroes of Kassen, I am forever indebted to you for cleansing my tomb.” looking to the remains of the skeletons, Kassen glairs; “Asar’s greed for power has failed him once again.”
Jhessa, like Esgean is drawn to the open tomb of Kassen, and respectfully offers a blessing to their ancestor. She is glad that the body looks undisturbed despite the attempts to defile the crypt. With a struggle she helps the druid to put the lid back on.
While Felix lights the flame - amidst everything else she'd almost forgotten that was why they had come here - Jhessa ensures that the tombs are returned to a restful state. Where it is obvious bones have been removed, she returns them and does her best to close lids and seal the remains inside. Offering thanks to Shelyn as she does so, she also says a prayer for the villagers by those sarcophagi that seem to be untouched.
With as much tidying as she can do, the remaining corpses stand out more starkly in the tomb. "I know it's not going to be pleasant but I think we should remove these," Jhessa gestures towards the fallen bodies. "We can bury them or burn them outside but this is a holy place of rest and we should leave it as it should be."
Turning to Kevan and Esgean, she asks [b]"What have you found? I think it's ok for us to take anything that doesn't belong here. We've returned anything that was previously interred with the dead.
With their work almost complete here and their mission accomplished, her thoughts turn to the return. This wasn't how things were supposed to go. Jhessa thinks back to her excited conversations with Isa about returning triumphant with the Everflame, her practice in her looking glass of walking proudly and carrying the beacon to the applause of the gathered villagers. She knows she would have looked good doing it, her blonde hair artfully tangled, a little colour in her cheeks, a model acolyte of Shelyn. And yet the reality is going to be so different: with the death of Herskor it's hard to feel this is anything resembling a victory, even if they did defeat the evil. Ultimately someone - a teenager - died and she knows there will be have to be an inquest, with fingers pointing and someone having to take the blame. It's a grim thought and it bothers her, though she's hesitant to burden the others with this additional responsibility.
When Felix lights the Eternal Lantern a blue light begins to grow from the Everflame. It’s brightness causes you to look away, but when it fades you turn back and a spirit stands before you.
“Honorable heroes of Kassen, I am forever indebted to you for cleansing my tomb.” looking to the remains of the skeletons, Kassen glairs; “Asar’s greed for power has failed him once again.”
Felix jumps back in alarm at the spirt of Kassen. The various tales of demons and undead Sir Dramott have drilled into him has the young paladin immediately reaching for his flail, but further drills about not harming those who pose no threat stay his hand. Warily, his eyes follow Kassen's towards the remains of the evil skeleton the group defeated.
"Asar? Who was he?"
Jhessa looks at both the map, passing the spellbook to Aldmus, though not without casting an eye over the symbol of the clawed hand. She doesn't obviously recognise it.
As the half-elf explains what the orcish writing says, she asks "Are these pieces of the hammer here in the tomb? Or is this," she waves the map, "a lead towards whoever is responsible for taking it?"
* * * * *
As the spirit of a bearded man appears in response to Felix lighting the flame, he introduces himself as Kassen. Despite the circumstances, Jhessa feels her heart swell a little to be described as an honourable hero. She offers a curtsey in response. "You are too kind, we merely did what was necessary in order to return harmony to this place." She steps forward and reaches up to put a placating hand on Felix's shoulder. "As my companion says, we would be very grateful if you were able to tell us of Asar. It would be good to understand who he was and what happened here."
Jhessa says a blessing over the final resting place of Kassen. When Esgean moves forward and begins positioning the seal back in place with Jhessa aiding.
Jhessa looks at the symbol and tries to figure out if it is a holy symbol or that of a cult. She has not seen this symbol before. From what the note said, there are two pieces entombed with Kassen and Asar.
Kassen turns to Felix; “Holy Paladin of Iomedae. Stand proud! Though you don’t wield one, you brought the Light of the Sword into the darkness of my resting place.” Turning to Asar’s remains; “Asar Vergas was once a companion of mine. We were once adventurers traveling across Golarion, we made fortunes and spent them as quick.”
Turning back to the group; “Our last battle as allies was against a rogue band of orcs raiding across Lastwall. They were part of a growing tribe. The Empty Hand were taking slaves and we put an end to their raiding. The leader of their band wielded a powerful hammer that was claimed from the depths of Kolldukar, the fallen Sky Citadel. We discovered it was once the hammer of a dwarven hero named Bhazad Khrar.”
“We were able to dismantle the hammer. In our ignorance we thought this would end its power. The hammer had been twisted since it had fallen into the hands of the Empty Hand tribe, claiming the lives of thousands of innocence. Even in death I feel its pull on me, but it is faint.”
“Asar came to my village with mercenaries claiming ownership of my portion. In his hatred, he vowed to destroy everyone I knew until he had it back. It’s pull had darkened his soul. We both fell in battle.”
“Before I died, I told the elders to erect a tomb not only to hide two of the pieces but to also train future heroes to protect our lands. You must go, you must find the two pieces before they are combined with the third, you must stop the Empty Hand.”
Looking over each of you; “You are saddened. A loss in battle can be the encouragement to drive you further. Further than you ever knew you could go. I do not know of whom you have lost, but I know how it feels. Carry all of their memories with you and they will continue to be in battle, in victory, and in celebration until the end of your days.”
Kassen goes silent and looks to Jhessa and Felix; “That is who Asar was, a lost companion.”
"Hey, Mr Kassen, sir?" Kevan says stepping forward with his hand raised. "You're one of those friendly ghosts, right? Kind of like that Jasper fellow? I was wondering, could I wave my hand through you?" he asks with a smile.
When Kassen speaks of the tomb it finally makes sense. All the puzzles, traps, and trials, the great excavation and the maze of tunnels - it was all to keep the part of the hammer safe. But surely Kassen did not count on this foe.
Esgean steps forward. "The enemy here was undead, every one of them including that vile thing that killed our companion, Herskor. You speak of the Empty Hand, but not of their nature. Are we to expect an army of such undead warriors and worse? What power created these monsters? Is that our fate if we fail?"
You know Kolldukar is the dwarven home that fell to the orcs over 1000 years ago. That fallen city turned into Urgir in the Hold of Belkzen
Kassen narrows his eyes at the halfling; “I once had a companion like you. She was a masterful bard. Always making light of hard situations. It made those times easier.” Kassen goes to continue then turns back to Kevan; “No you may not pass your hand through me.”
Turning to Esgean; “This undead is not of the Empty Hand. That” pointing to the undead that killed Herskor; “is Asar. He was not like that before. The evil that stirred in him turned him into that when his resting place was disturbed.”
Moving to the orcs in the western chamber; “These are from the Empty Hand tribe. They are only a portion of what would have come.”
“If there is anything else, speak now. If not I have a gift for you.”
Kassen reaches into his sarcophagi pulling out a Bag of Holding , a +1 Heavy Wooden Shield of Bashing. “Each of you must take one of this.” it is a faintly glowing blue scale that he pulled free from his armor. If you take it, the glow fades and there is a blue scale in your hand; “In your hour of need, this will aid you once.”
"Oh," Kevan says and hangs his head when rejected. Then he shifts gears rather quickly when Kassen mentions gifts. "Thank you," he says when handed the scale with a huge grin on his face.
Felix takes the shield and bag (admiring the shield as he does so), and places them respectfully on the ground before he reaches back up to accept his offered scale.
"I do have something else to ask about: Asar's remains. Should we put them back in his sarcophagus, or should we destroy his bones? If you think it's appropriate, I can take his sword and armor with us. Perhaps using them to find the other parts of the hammer can bring some sort of redemption."
"Uh sir, if we are to stop these guys from putting together the hammer, where do we find this third piece? Who has it? Or where is it?" Kevan asks puzzling out the situation and wanting to help. After all, it would make for a great story.
Whoever takes the wooden shield notices that on the shield is the coat of arms of Ekat Kassen, which looks similar to the village’s (Kassen’s Hold) banner. A rider on a horse holding out a flaming sword on a sea of blue scales.
Kassen turns to Felix; “Asar will not rise again. His can be laid to rest once and for all.” nodding; “His weapons and armor will aid you in retrieving Bhazad Khrar’s hammer.”
“There was a third,” Kassen turns to Kevan; “Here name was Iramine. She was a powerful arcane user, it came naturally to her. We thought the power of the hammer came from a ruby that was part of the handle of the hammer. She could still be alive, elves do live longer than us humans.”
Jhessa nods as the ghost tells the tale, the pieces starting to fall into place to explain what had happened to the tomb... and also what happens next? She bows her head and whispers "May Shelyn grant you a peaceful rest," as Kassen presents her with her scale. With an array of new equipment and a task given to them by the great Kassen himself, she is happy enough to have new purpose and the chance for redemption, as well as to blot out the worst parts of the past few days.
She looks once more at the remains of Kassen's companion and starts to gather up Asar's bones in order to return them to the coffin. She considers asking if Herskor could be interred here - he was a hero, after all - but decides that Esgean is right in that he would prefer something simple and outside.
"Looks like we're going to be busy," she says, mostly to herself. "So," she says more loudly, "we have an orc tribe to stop, an elven sorceress to track down and a magical hammer to recover." She ticks the items off on her delicate fingers as she lists them. "Have I missed anything?" she asks. "Do you know where Iramine lived, even if it was a long time ago?" she asks Kassen, figuring it was worth asking as any kind of lead would help.
“Priestess of Shelyn… it has been many years. When we divided the hammer it was because we knew that if the Empty Hand gained its power again they would amass a horde and overrun Lastwall, eventually claiming Vigil as their own. When we left each other’s company, it wasn’t until Asar and his mercenaries attacked that I saw one of them again.” Looking to the two fallen orcs; “If they have made their way to my tomb, they are already traveling in and through Lastwall.”
Trying, only somewhat successfully, to keep the disappointment off her face, Jhessa acknowledges Kassen's words. She bows her head in response. "Thank you, noble hero. We will do our best to live up to your example." Taking the mission seriously she kneels before the ghost and pledges, perhaps a little self-importantly, "By the power of the Eternal Rose, I swear I will do everything in my power to recover Bhazad Khrar's hammer and defeat the Empty Hand." Rising, she smooths down her dress and runs a hand through her hair.
With no new clues and a reinforced sense of urgency, she can't help but feel that they are in over their heads once again. Indeed, if she's honest with herself the whole adventure up to this point has been a lot. She's glad that it doesn't all fall on her shoulders and she has enjoyed the camaraderie with the group. Young as they all are, they have a quest and a duty.
To the group she says, "I think that's everything I have for the moment. If we're all ready then let's get Roldare and head home."
"So we are looking for an elven mage named Iramine. What do you think, Aldmus, ever hear of her?" Kevan asks.
As the group departs, Kevan will do what he can to help with carrying Herskor to the outside. As they walk, "Aldmus, I know you would probably use the wand but i was wondering, since you can do that stuff on your own if I could play with that wand. I think with a little practice I could get it to work. Wouldn't that surprise somebody. A tough fighter type like me throwing magic around."
Aldmus lets the name Iramine roll around his mind; “There were writings in the history books about an Iramine that visited Kassen every ten years after the deaths of Ekat and Asar. It was an elven woman, as he described, that wanted to know where he was laid to rest. The tome said that the elders were to never let he know where his remains were.” Looking around at the tomb “I wonder if she was wanting to rebuild the hammer.”
As you make your way back through the tomb, Felix has the Eternal Lantern out before him and the Everflame lights your path. Dimira is anxious as she follows the group. Seeing the remains of everything that you have faced; “You… fought through all of this? You truly are the Heroes of Kassen.” looking to the wear of your equipment and your weary faces; “Thank you for not giving up on me. You had no idea that I was still alive.”
Aldmus turns to Kevan with his question. “This wand?” He gives the halfling a teasing smile; “This was a gift to me for my portion of what we were charged to do.”
- Regular Backpack: 7 days of trail rations, a winter blanket, a full waterskin, 50-ft hemp rope
- Masterworked Backpack: Potion of Cat’s Grace
- Small Tent
(His armor and weapons will be laid to rest with him)
.
Felix hands the lantern to Kevan. "Here, Sir Kevan," Felix says with a smile. "The mayor gave this to you, so people will be expecting you to bring it back now that it's lit."
After Kevan takes the lantern, Felix turns and lifts Herskor's corpse. As they collect Roldare and exit the dungeon, Felix will look for a likely place to bury Herskor in the woods on the way back. If they don't have a way to dig a grave just yet, he'll wrap the corpse in Herskor's blanket with the intent to come back with a shovel. (He's already promised to return and bury the other remains they've encountered in this tomb, after all.)
Dimira is anxious as she follows the group. Seeing the remains of everything that you have faced; “You… fought through all of this? You truly are the Heroes of Kassen.” looking to the wear of your equipment and your weary faces; “Thank you for not giving up on me. You had no idea that I was still alive.”
"We couldn't assume that you weren't. We had to have hope that you still were, and if it turns out we were wrong, we had to end the evil that caused all this before it killed anyone else."
"Exactly," Jhessa agrees. "Hope kept us all going even during the hard parts."
As they retrace their steps through the tomb, Jhessa stops Dimira with a hand on her shoulder as they approach Roldare's hideout. "Just to let you know, your brother didn't seem in a great way. Totally understandable given what he's been through down here, as well as being worried sick about you. I'm sure he'll be delighted to see you and I really hope that he'll be back to normal in time." She looks into the girl's eyes, taking her hand between the two of her own. "I wanted to warn you, in case he doesn't seem himself."
Dimira smiles at Felix’s words; “Thank you for that hope you held, I don’t know how much longer I could have held onto hope.”
Retracing your steps, you have a clear path to retrace your steps to Roldare to reunite the siblings. As you do, tears begin to fill their eyes; “Is that you Dimira?” all she can do is nod as they rush to each other and hug each other tight.
After sharing many words of praise to the gods that they are alive, they turn to the group; “We are ready to get home when you are.” As Roldare realizes that Felix is carrying the body of a fallen companion tears fill his eyes; “So much pain and loss.”
Finish making your way through the tomb, you come across signs of the battles that took place. You might question if they will ever do this rite of passage again. You have learned a lot and have grown in skill and ability, but the cost was very high.
Once outside you Esgean shows everyone where she laid the fallen townsfolk to rest and you law Herskor to rest beside them. Prayers and blessings are said before moving on.
Looking at the treacherous hillside that found some of you sliding down, you believe that there must be another way around. You can attempt to climb it, or take the long way around to find an easier path.
"The day we rested," says Esgean, "Rejke and I traveled west from the canyon to find food. It's longer but safer, and I know where we can find berries and root vegetables and make a camp."
Remembering his swollen ankle, and considering that he plans to come back and dispose of the skeletal corpses inside, Felix is very interested in finding a way around this path.
”I’m all for that,” Jhessa agrees. ”Please lead on, Esgean.”
Esgean can lead the group around the steep gorge. The route still requires you to climb a hillside, but nothing compared to the journey to the tomb.
The weather is nice, but you come across an area that is musty and damp. You aren’t sure what is causing it as there are no bodies of water nearby, but Rejke needs a little extra encouragement to continue on.
Continuing, the day is rather uneventful. This isn’t the trail that took you from Kassen to the tomb but you know you are traveling in the right direction. The current path you are on dips into a natural fold in the ground. A small burial cairn lies a dozen feet to the west of the trail amid a clearing filled with wildflowers. You think that this could be a good enough spot to rest for the evening. Roldare and Dimira are very excited to get home, but you can tell they are dragging behind from everything that they have been through.
"Does anyone know who was buried there?" Felix asks before walking over to inspect the cairn.
The walk back is uphill but considerably easier than the descent and Jhessa is happy to have some time with her thoughts, reflecting on what happened and the possibilities of what is yet to happen.
Felix's question stirs her from her contemplation. "I don't think so," she answers instinctively, though in truth it was a reflexive response rather than a considered one. Focusing on the matter at hand she follows the paladin and tries to summon any knowledge she has of different burial customs.
As they begin the journey, Kevan stares around him with interest. "My sister and I always enjoyed walking through woods like this. A much more pleasant time than crawling through caves or tombs in this instance. She would dance around and sing with the birds. On a good day she could even get one or two to land on her arm or shoulder. But, you never know when a slavering beast is just behind the next tree. That was my job, keep an eye out."
At the cairn, Kevan scratches his head to try and recall who might be buried there. "Do you suppose he was buried with any treasure?"
+4 to overhear conversations or spot traps