XIV - The Vault
A soft summer rain has begun to fall the morning that the adventurers return to the barrows. Undaunted, most of the merchants in the village square throw waxed tarpaulins over their booths and prepare to conduct the day’s business. Norbert, the potion vendor, notably refrains, seeking shelter at The Brazen Strumpet, repeatedly muttering something about lightning strikes.
Despite the rainfall, Othar and Cella, along with the blacksmith, Karg Barrelgut, and one of his apprentices, gather in the churchyard beside the Shrine. The smith and his worker dutifully dig five graves, one after the other, and in turn short memorial services are conducted for Labin Cinderbrand, Battist, Keelgo, the cultist of Orcus, and the hireling from Uleck, the name of whom Safherd had given as Farley. Notably, a number of members of the Mercenary Guild, including Osen, are present for the burials of Labin and Battist.
Bollo, Taycee, and Urgritte cook a hearty breakfast for the adventurers and their hirelings, the scent of cooking a welcome beginning to the day. The two barmaids prepare additional bundles of food for the explorers to take with them on their journey. Taycee, pointedly, pulls Malivoire into a tight hug before he departs.
”Be extra mindful of the puddles today,” Tamson advises as the company set out from the south side of Helix, ”Better to make the trek slowly than someone to end up with a broken leg.”
The company nonetheless make steady progress, arriving at the entrance to the Barrowmaze well before midday.
Approaching the site of the camp, Windroot closes his eyes, inhaling deeply. Glancing to his fellow retainers, the gnoll says, ”Hobgoblins. They have been in the area within the last few hours. Remain watchful.”
At Windroot’s words, Safherd unlimbers her bow and quickly scrambles up to the roof of the catacombs’ entrance chamber, scanning the surrounding area. Similarly armed, Trisrel circulates about the edge of the camp, likewise watching for danger. Ol Gib, Jiedrol, and Nohvi set to work on building camp.
As the siege ladder is put in place and the adventurers begin to descend, one by one, each becomes aware of a sound, low but clearly perceptible, and unceasing. It is a cacophony of whispering. A hissing, chaotic chorus of overlapping voices; male, female, and some, undoubtedly monstrous. Their buzzing words, voiced in a multitude of tongues, are all agitated, their tones ranging from fearful to enraged. The source of them is impossible to pinpoint. At times, some sound as close as the shadows within the adjoining corridor, at others, they seem to echo from some distant place within the tombs. But regardless of where they might originate from, they grow steadily louder.
Ocai Hanezen is the last to descend, following Windroot down into the chamber below. When his feet reach the stone floor, with a sharp and terrible suddenness, the whispers cease, plunging the tombs into complete silence.
Nothing stirs within the stone corridors as the adventurers travel to the chamber that is home to the imposing statue of the gargoyle. The only noises any of the explorers can perceive are those of the flickering flame of Lampert’s raised lantern, along with their own footfalls and breath.
At the now familiar sight of the rune etched archway, the party becomes aware of a lone change: the passageway ahead is dark. The wavering amber glow of the brazier that burned at the statue’s feet is gone, replaced by deep shadow.
Nothing lurks within the dark, however, and the adventurers arrive at the wide room encountering only profound quiet. The statue remains unchanged, its left arm still missing at the elbow, its gaze fixed on the empty space. The brazier at its feet is black and long cold.
