In reply to Kullonar (msg # 170):

Roflmao!

A wise man once said: He who trips on manure has a shitty day.

Kullonar, just awesome stuff. Laughed aloud on the first fumble, even harder on the second. Fortunately for you and the rest of the gang, the critter does not have even the midway for its normal HP for that type of monster. Whoever scratched it (Gildan and Bruno maybe, also Gregors?).

Anyway, the dulcet tone of silence is music to your ears. Time to loot - I'll work on that tonight or tomorrow.

Congrats - this was a battle of attrition and you guys remain standing. Well done.

As the adrenaline wanes and weariness sets in, you note the macabre atmosphere of the place. For one thing, it appears that the former residents of this tomb were profaned in great detail - these were primary henchmen of Ingolf...their remains were used as the new decor in this crypt. It is a grisly discovery.

As for the rest:
Upon the female juju's head sits a finely wrought tiara worth 1200xp. Also adorning her fingers are twin gold rings with topaz gems worth 150 gold each (300 total for you math majors).

Also within are two +2 arrows, A scroll with three clerical spells: dispel magic, Create food and water and cure serious wounds. And on the floor sits a wolf pelt that is in extraordinary condition.

In reply to The Seer (msg # 173):

"Nice pelt for someone. I'd be interested if I didn't have this fine polar bear pelt already!"

Taking in the room and the horrible way in which the place has been profaned Bruno sighs, "Well, fellows, it was a hard fight, but well done. Tenacity and perseverance wins the day..."

Turning to Kullonar, "You are the very model of perseverance this time, my friend. Why don't you take this scroll? I know you'll used it wisely for us.

"I think we might take a moment to give the gods thanks before we endeavor to learn more about what lays deeper within this place."
This message was last edited by the player at 16:49, Sun 29 Nov 2020.

Myrrick cleaned his blades, "Yes, well done everyone. It seems things are not going to get easier for a while. How wounded are we all?"

In reply to Myrrick (msg # 176):

"I have a deep wound, you can heal it or I can. I have the ability."

Fast forward:

As you near the exit to Ingolf's tomb, you note the skeletons are standing around, not moving. Unsure of why, you take the time to smash undead warriors to pieces, following the old adage: Never leave an enemy behind you.

The trek back to Yngvar's keep takes just shy of a week. There's one nasty squall, the rest of the journey is rather pleasant...outside of the fact that you had to carry Zan and Uthecar. Gregors was quite helpful, fashioning a sled of sorts for both the dead.

When the keep is in sight, you hear calls from the watchmen upon the ramparts, and a rich,  sonorous blast from one of the sounding horns resonates over the land. Soon many are atop the keep, looking down upon the party, waiting in wonder to see what is afoot. Among them, Selene and Dugger, with Antonin behind.

Yngvar joins them shortly thereafter and shouts, "Open the Gate!"

Atop the wall, Selene watches pensively, her mind on her husband, her heart upon Zan's return. For his part, Dugger senses something amiss there, but holds his tongue.

Once the gates are opened, a swarm of folk come down from the heights, all shouting to be heard. Again, Yngvar shouts every one down.

"The time for questions will come, but let's let them breathe for the nonce."

Turning to the survivors - for he does see the grim cast of the party and the burial shrounds of two fallen - he said, "To the hot springs, my friends. Questions can wait. A feast is being prepared in your honor."

Wrapping their friends and tying them to Gregor's sled was a grim reminder of the cost of their efforts in the valley; however, once they were through the squall Bruno found his spirits buoyed a bit. It was if the rain washed away the awful things they experienced in the past several days.

Nevertheless, while feeling somewhat better upon their arrival back at Yngvar's hold and very much looking forward to his hot springs his visage is grim even though they report somewhat good news in that while the barrows of the valley had been perverted by a great evil their mission cleansed them and at least now they have some understanding of what has happened there. His assumption is that their host, if not the Curate and others, might offer more information to plan their next moves.

In reply to Bruno Rhunthane (msg # 179):

"Sadly, I have no idea how long it will take to cleanse the barrows. Any aid you may offer in the cleansing would be appreciated."

Hot springs were an ancient elven regenerative practice and Gildan is happy to take a short break from his otherwise obsessive quest to rid the world of undead. Lounging in the lovely water, he doesn't even make a noise when the next plans are mentioned.
Finally, he opens his eyes as if suddenly awakened and says, "Yes, the barrows. We keep working on them, right? Nothing else to do."

In reply to Gildan Stalker (msg # 181):

"Until they're cleansed, or we are dead!" Ulrich says blowing water in the air the way a whale does! He remembers seeing the whales when he was young.

Don't forget the frisky narwhal you encountered on the sea voyage!

In reply to The Seer (msg # 183):

I didn't forget!

A great fete takes place that evening. Boar and elk are on the table - the boar has an apple stuffed in its mouth. Spring onions and scallions are a small sample of the food shared. There's a lot of carousing and tall tales being told. Gregors in particular tells tales of the mighty heroes. But the wise among you stay silent, for the most part.

Yngvar also is quiet, allowing for some frivolity among his people in the face of much fear. As the night pushes on, the Jarl looks up and invites any among the party that wished audience to his antechambers. With the party comes Selene and Antonin, along with a halfling with watchful eyes.

For her part, Selene's eyes are sunken, her face gaunt. She had not taken Zan's death well. Antonin stands above her, solicitous of her well being. She says little, but listens as the men folk talk.

"Milady, my condolences for the loss of your friend. We shall honor his memory in the years to come."

Turning, he adds to Bruno, "And the memory of your comrade Uthecar - both their names will be graven upon the Fallen's Stone, the obelisk you might have noted just inside the gate. Now, please, tell me what you learned in the vale."

In reply to The Seer (msg # 185):

Ulrich follows into the antechamber for the talks, he would look for female companionship later, hopefully the girl from last time will be amenable and happy to see him this time as well.

He told what he knew about leading the party forward after Uthcar fell, he had much respect for the Dwarf, a great warrior! Bruno was let to tell the story as the spiritual leader of the group and defacto captain as well. Ulrich just went in front.

OOC: Ugh. I was really hoping we wouldn't have to rp the re-telling of our adventures as I've lost the notes I was taking about things and going back to search threads is such a challenge. So, with that caveat, please give what I write here as a draft. That is, if Bruno fails to mention something important or gives credit to the wrong PC/NPC don't take it as intentional and feel free to add whatever you'd like to what he says!

Seer, is the Curate with Selene and Antonin?

Bruno enjoys the feast, but mainly because it has been so long since they have had something other than trail rations and the comforts of the Jarl's hall. It had been difficult to give Lady Selene the news of Zan's death and it was made no better by memory of how affected his friend had been with the announcement of her nuptials. When he is asked to report he takes a sip of mead and a deep breath, "I hope you will forgive me if I speak to the point here this eve, my host and lords. My comrades and I are happy to fill in details and I will give a fuller written report, should it be desired.

"We found the valley to be as darked by fell forces as warned. Our investigation took us from barrow to barrow and in each we destroyed a variety of undead and other awful creatures, but we found no signs of what exactly wrought the evil. That is, until we finally came upon a mound that was seemingly untouched and within me a fair, holy maiden, Nimae, who served The Lady of the Wood and through her power has been able to keep untouched from the scourge.

"From her we learned that the being wreaking havoc in the vale was Mogens, who has returned for vengeance after being defeated by Jarl Hjalmar's army 70 years ago. While she did not know more than it was He who has returned, we might learn more of him or his stratagems in other barrows, so after a blessed rest in her mound we departed and in the next one we visited were faced by vileness greater than any we had faced up to that point.

"It was here that both of our brothers in arms fell and when we retreated to our base camp badly bloodied and with the help of brave and canny Gregors we refreshed ourselves and prepared for another foray into the dread place to finish off what we had started the following day. We did so and destroying the evil we found there we return to you knowing that with the loss of two stalwart comrades and the increasing power of the foes we found as we continued to search barrows we would need more help."

Taking a breath and another sip from his tankard, "And so I fear we return with too little information. I might have made it all even shorter had I simply said, 'Mogens has returned, but we do not know exactly where he is and he seems to have polluted the entire valley, except for the Barrow of the Lady of the Lake with his poison."

Myrrick enjoyed the hot springs, as well as the feast, and a drink or two. When time came for conversation he remained mostly quiet, letting Bruno tell their tale. He was a fine orator it seemed. Adding only to Selene, "It is likely of little aid, but he died well, and doing what he could to keep those less skilled among us safe. It is likely were it not for him, fewer of us would've returned."

Bruno Rhunthane:

Turning to Kullonar, "You are the very model of perseverance this time, my friend. Why don't you take this scroll? I know you'll used it wisely for us.
"I think we might take a moment to give the gods thanks before we endeavor to learn more about what lays deeper within this place."

Kullonar has not really said anything, made any sound other than the grunt or growl of battle. He accepts the scroll with a nod, and a "My thanks, my brother in the faith."

Mostly quiet on the way back to the Jarl's place, Kullonar walks along glad for the rain for he feels it washes some of the filth of the tombs away.

In the baths, Kullonar washes and then soaks until his flesh is as wrinkled as a prune. He then dons clean clothing and offers coin for someone to clean his armor.

At the feast, Kullonar eats quietly and drinks deeply, hoping to wipe the horrible memories and the stench of the tombs out of his body. It doesn't work...but it doesn't hurt either.
Later, in the Jarl's antechamber, he sits quietly and listens to Bruno give a reckoning of their trip. He watches his faith brother as he talks and wishes he could speak so clearly. His words are blunt...just like a cudgel...as are his silent prayers to St. Cuthbert. And yet, he is still blessed and protected and sits here blissfully tipsy, if a bit sad, grateful that he is not another name carved into a stone.

For her part, Selene is mostly silent. When Myrrick offers condolences, she replied, "Indeed! Zan always had about him a great doom that lent him mystery and brooding presence. I weep for him as a friend. For his part, he wished more that I could not give. My tears are for the hurt that must that must have caused him as much as for his death.

"With that said, two fell, yet two more have taken the fallens' places: Dugger, the halfling who sits quietly among you, and myself, who, if I may say, owns some puissance in magic. This party will not fail due to lack of personnel.
This message had punctuation tweaked by the player at 01:14, Sat 05 Dec 2020.

Myrrick smiled, "It would be an honor to have you adventure along side us, then, if you are in fact joining us Selene. Zan was an interesting individual, I can't deny that. He will be missed."

"He is missed," she said simply.

In reply to Selene (msg # 192):

Ulrich looked on the girl with pity, he barely knew Zan before he was killed. The halfling could be interesting.

Yngvar listens to Bruno's synapsis with a troubled mien. When the cleric is done, and after Selene waxes philosophic, he offers his take on the party's results.

"Ingolf was one of our mightiest warriors of old," he said. "He was a spearman and a swordsman of renown. He died many years ago and has slept quietly with his wife and his two favored retainers in the vale. It seems he sleeps quietly no more.

"The wraith you spoke of was Folke, another legend of  the Land of Song. It occurs to me now that this 'Mogens' has taken from each tomb the bodies and spirits of our greatest legends.

"Tales tell that fire is an effective means to attack these bogeymen, and holy water we will provide in as much abundance as our holy men can make them.

Despite his age, the Jarl's eyes keen and he studies each of you as if some momentous decision has been made.

"I was unsure of your intentions when you came here. I am not unsure any more. You have my blessing to use whatever methods you need to cast this scourge from our land. When your task is finished, we will light the bonfires of all our heroes so that they may find their rest in the halls of our fathers. Thus should I be welcome when my time comes.

Myrrick nodded, "Jarl, I will use this gift and my abilities to rid your lands of the evil plaguing them, or join my fallen friends in the attempt." he gives a polite half bow. The northmen had accepted them, that meant something indeed.