Gildan agrees with Ulrich about the wording of the questions, especially the first question. He seems anxious to get back to killing undead.

Bruno shrugs in response to Ulrich, "Right, okay, does anybody else have a suggestion?"

He looks around the party and replies to Myrrick, "Yes. Good point. But, this is why I was thinking of asking the question to begin with. You see, we are working on supposition here. Just because there is more movement does not mean that there is more power necessarily... Whatever the case, I still have an Augury I may use tonight, so should we not try? Perhaps you have another suggestion of what I might ask this night?"

Pausing he takes a sip of water, For tomorrow morning's question we might actually go into the valley and ask it at the door of the barrow. If we do not like the answer turn around and head back to the Jarl for help. I suggest this, because we do only have a short time in which the question's answer will be relevant.

"So, the second question could then be:

"If we reenter this barrow now will we find the power of the enemies within to be greater than it was yesterday?"

'Tis a quandary. What shall ye courageous adventurers do?

Myrrick shrugged, "We do know they are stronger at night, the light weakens them, is that not why the seek out under ground dwellings? If you must ask, ask if we reenter the barrow now if the forces are too great for us to overcome. We rely much on clerical magic at this point. If the holy types can't turn the skeletons we will likely be overran again."

"I do not wish to face these creatures when they are strongest, which is during the night and in darkness. If we are to return to the tomb...do we really have a choice?...we should go in fully rested and ready with spells and fire.
"So, to answer your question, my priestly brother, perhaps you inquire how best to defeat the undead."

"Alas, as you know we can't expect a detailed response, my friend. It is basically a yes or no question we may ask. Besides, we know that blunt weapons work best some undead, fire against most, and holy water against all..."

Bruno pauses and smiles holding up his hands, "I jest! I think I do understand what you are really saying and, I don't know how to ask that in single question that fits the parameters of this spell.

"Right. I think I have dithered enough over this and I thank you each for your suggestions. Perhpas the more we do this the better I shall become at formulating these queries and they will become more useful to us."

Grabbing his shield from where it rests behind him he pulls it around so that the runes set into it are facing him and takes a deep breath. With his right fist he begins to pound his breast plate rythmically, as if it were a hammer pounding metal in a forge. As he does so he chants in Dwarven and his eyes seem to lose focus until several minutes pass and he stops pounding and chanting and his eyes re-focus and his baritone voice speaks, "Soul Forger, I beg your patience and ask you to answer my question and bless me with Foresight for the troubles my comrades and I confront:

"Are the enemies we battled earlier this day and who felled your noble warrior Uthecar Hornskin, second of that noble name, regenerating their power right now, so that they will be as powerful tomorrow as they were today?"

OOC: I'll let you roll for me, Seer, because I'm uncertain if there are any additional modifiers beyond the +4% for my level. I only mention Uthecar, because he was a worshipper and I'm uncertain of Zan's status.

I thought that was well crafted. The answer as follows:

The Veil has not parted. The dead who are dead remain so. Seek not the fallen. Beware the the last guardian.

This message was deleted by the player at 20:47, Fri 09 Oct 2020.

In reply to The Seer (msg # 27):

After speaking his question, Bruno closes his eyes and opens them moments later.

"Moradin responds: The Veil has not parted. The dead who are dead remain so. Seek not the fallen. Beware the the last guardian."

He rubs his face with both hands and takes a drink of water, "So! I am uncertain how to understand the second statement. Is he telling us not to seek Uthecar's body?"

Don't overthink it fellas. It's actually more straight forward than you think.

Sleep on it.

In reply to The Seer (msg # 30):

"Hmmm, seek not the fallen and beware the last guardian. Something truly powerful and evil in there." he says to the others.

Bruno nods in response and shrugs, "Aye. It seems unlikely that it would be this Mogens at this point. More likely a powerful lieutenant... And if we can defeat it we may well discover more useful information in addition to destroying an outpost of evil.

"Let's rest up and when we're ready to move first thing tomorrow I will ask the Soul Forger if we are strong enough to destroy the 'truly powerful' evil in there and decide our next move."

Myrrick nodded, if they were to rush to their deaths, they would do it fed and rested. So be it, these were all honorable warriors, and he'd be honord to die beside them if that's what the gods willed.


"As you were then, I will take a middle watch, I have no spells to recover." he gives each member of the group and smile and nod.

Despite Gregors' warning, nothing untoward occurred during the night. The next day dawned to a thin mist of rain, cold & clammy. The ground still held firm but the hope that it would remain so was in doubt if the clouds overhead were any indication.

As most of the party looked outside the sanctuary with frowns of disgust, the Scion of Moradin made ready another divination to see what portent the Soulforger might bring.

Before they break to either take watch or, finally, get some much needed rest, Bruno speaks with a bit of weariness seeping into his voice, "Sleep well, brothers, and perhaps give some consideration to the question I shall ask tomorrow after we have visited Nimae again and are at the door of the barrow:

"Amongst our assembled party, do we now have the power to defeat the enemies within this barrow?"

"Perhaps in our dreams we may find inspiration to help us weather the storm of evil we must face whether it be tomorrow or not."

As the rain grew heavier, Bruno asked his question. A moment later he was gifted an answer.

"You do have that ability, yet also you may fall. Look to the rain for answers."

Bruno repeats to the party Moradin's response and adds, "So, there it is. We have the power amongst us to finish this if we are careful and do not take anything for granted...

"He is not going to promise us success, because we each of the capacity to err.

"I say we should go in and confront whatever else remains within."

In reply to Bruno Rhunthane (msg # 37):

"Use our Turn Undead abilities to get rid of the skeletons and fight the worst toe to toe I guess."

The party marches out from their sanctuary into the cold and rain. The sky above grows darker, the rain comes down a bit harder limiting visibility. It takes an hour or thereabouts to return to the vale.

ooc: did you mention going back to Nimea's lair?

OOC: Yes, Seer! The plan was to go first to Nimea's and ask her for holy water as we return to the barrow to ask for the Foresight. We will share around what she gives us.

Bruno holds up a hand, "Yes, those of us who may Turn Undead should try to turn each type. Remember though, that the holy water we now have should be used. It'll work better than arrows and blades on skeletons."

Myrrick nodded, "As good a plan as any, but are you abilities to turn the undead for sure? Or do they depend upon your gods listening? How much holy water do we have?"

"Brother Bruno and I will beseech divine power and rebuke the undead in the name of our patrons. If that doesn't work, we will shower them with holy rain, so they may return to the dust from whence they came. Lead on to Nimae."

Kullonar steps out into the rain and lifts his face to it, allowing it to wash his hair and short beard, and clear the sleep from his eyes.

Nimae is sitting atop the mound taking in the rain. She wears naught but a shift that hides little. As she notes your approach, she smiles warmly at each of you.

'Tis nice to see you again, though it grieves me to see your numbers diminished. Young Gregors, how brave you've become.'

The young man kind of kicks the dirt in an 'Aw, shucks' kind of way.

She looks at the rest of you, asks, "How may I succor you this fine morn."

"We thank you for your welcome, my Lady. After failing yesterday we realize that the one weapon we do not have enough of in confronting these undead creatures is holy water.

"It is possible that we might get some blessed water from you for this purpose?"

Nimae taps her index finger to her lips in a thoughtful pose for a moment before nodding.

"Yes, I do believe so. I'll be right back."

She descends into the mound as the party keeps watch. She's gone no more than five minutes or so, then comes out with a crystal decanter and a small box filled with empty crystal vials.

There seems a divine light emanating from her that you did not notice before. Her tongue sticks out as she pours water from the decanter into each vial. It takes about ten minutes: "I do not wish to spill," she remarked as she concentrates on her task. Finally, she passes the box to you: there are 16 vials to go along with any the party might still have on hand.

"Have a care with the vials. They are sturdy enough if care is taken, but are meant to shatter easily. Now, the Lady's blessings be upon you," she said. "Go and smite thy enemies with righteous wrath."
This message was last edited by the GM at 08:40, Tue 13 Oct 2020.