On Octopus 13th (10/13), Tienarth led a group of adventurers into the Tosasth valley while the more experienced crew were in Doukreg. His team for this expedition included his protoge, Hocuspo and two clerics, Bart and Mirana. Merder the halfling druid showed up with a riding dog. Finally, a dwarf figher named Usebe left his tent in the homestead field to tag along. They walked to the ruined tower and then began exploring northward in the morning (10/14), led by Usebe.
Midday, they came upon a familiar sight: an oak tree and an opening in a rocky wall. Rather than a health oak with silver leaves, they found a leafless tree, long dead. The stones previously found sealing elf tombs in this case were scattered, the entrance presenting a dark temptation. Immediately inside they found the remains of a hydra statue, similar to one they’d found in another elf tomb. A chunk of marble bore the named Erlynn.
Beyond the ruined statue, they met a rust monster nesting in the remains of a looted grave. Mirana blasted it with a bolt of lighting from her maul, Thundermaster. Bart blinded it, and Usebe rushed to attack. The monster promptly ate the dwarf’s chainmail. Tienarth zapped it with his wand to finish it off.
In an adjacent chamber, they found four statues of minotaurs standing over three looted graves. Several orc bodies, mostly just bones lay still in eternal sleep. Usebe dumped the bones out of a suit of hide armor and pulled it over his head. The party used caution until Merder fired an arrow at one of the statues. A lightning bolt fired back at him, scorching his hair.
Presently, Tienarth, who had transformed himself into an owlbear, bent down to remove a stone from one of the graves. Instantly, one of the minotaurs came alive. As is his technique, the old elf also used mirror images, and the the minotaur dispelled one with a blow. Hocuspo zapped it with Tienarth’s wand, and soon after the bull-headed monster died and transformed back into statue.
The remaining three minotaurs were dealt with methodically. The mage was was a formidable as an owlbear wrapped in an illusion, but the some attempts were made to help. The last minotaur to fall died by an arrow fired by Merder. A small sack holding 800 silver pieces was found in one of the graves, perhaps missed by orcs who raided the tomb long ago.
Moving deeper, Tienarth came up on another chamber with a single grave out of which appeared two wraiths. They rushed at him. The transformed owlbear clogged up the room entrance, but Hocuspo could see well enough to drop one of the undead with the wand of kill. Tienarth reverted to his elf form and then let loose a lightning bolt that destroyed the second wraith before bouncing around the room harmlessly.
When the grave was disturbed, a spirit appeared to recite the following rhyme.
Grave robber, beware,
The Ghost of Hantah Erlynn
My treasure you’ll not share.
For I am cursed to roam,
Until you’re back in your home.
In the grave they found a coffer of silver, a crystal ball, a hammer, a potion, a scroll and a shield. They took up the items, being careful not to handle them in a way they would be using them, being wary of curses. They retreated to the ruined tower where Tienarth healed Merder.
The next day (10/15), they returned to the tomb. One last chamber held the statue of an owlbear. Once again, Tienarth prepared by becoming an owlbear himself with mirror images. Merder performed a tuck and roll to stand behind the owlbear guarding as Tienarth disturbed the grave. This activated the statue, which attacked. Bart blinded it with a light spell. Merder stabbed it from behind, then Tienarth slashed it back into death.
From the grave came another spirit.
Owlbear, owlbear, beware,
The Ghost of Moirah Erlynn
This treasure you’ll not share.
The spirits of the dead will ward,
Until the end of time, this hoard.
Inside the grave they found a silver belt and buckle woth 1900 gp plus a silver chalice worth 1300 gp. These they gathered up and made directly for the homestead, reaching it before nightfall. Once home, Tienarth spent several days analyzing the items.
End Notes
- Days
- 10/13 Travel to the tower
- 10/14-10/15 – Find Erlynn family tomb (Hex 1108)
- 10/16-10/18 – Back home, analyzing magic items
- Treasure
- 800 sp in a sack
- 3300sp in coffer
- Crystal Ball
- Hammer +2
- Potion of Growth
- Scroll of Protection from Elementals
- Shield +2
- Silver belt and buckle (1900 gp)
- Silver chalice (1300 gp)
- Combat
- Rust Monster 405 xp
- 4 Minotaurs 500 xp each
- 2 Wraiths 320 xp each
- Owlbear 360 xp
- Characters (6.5 shares)
- Bart 528 xp
- Hocuspo 528 xp
- Mirana 480 xp
- Merder and Dog (agility, wilderness, lucky) 494 xp
- Tienarth (inquisitive, acquire magic) 490 xp
- Usebe (underground, fight, leads) 494 xp