Our story began on the morning of Uktar (November) 14, 1492 DR. Our heroes, after having agreed to protect Alluin Eladan as she explored the caverns under Valjevo castle for a Pool of Radiance, were transported to a mysterious tomb after having found the pool and somehow triggered it's chaotic magic.
They appeared next to a pool of magical energy in an unfamiliar room and were immediately attacked by five zombies, who were digging at the walls of the cavern. The heroes soundly defeated the undead taking only light damage. One of the undead proved particularly troublesome for the party -- especially Captain Jack, who couldn't seem to hurt it with his rapiers.
After the battle Logen dedicated the pool to his god, Herne. While he was giving a rousing battlecry in his honor, Grandalf greedily looted the gold signet rings from the undead while Farmak took their nearly worthless chain mail, which was heavily degraded and reeked of death.
Unsure where to go the party headed Southwest and found an ominous Red light shining at the end of a passage. Unbeknownst to our heroes, a sinister Red Devil Fungus plant resided in this part of the cavern. It had been unearthed by four zombies who had accidentally dug into it's chamber and were quickly consumed by the fungus and whose bones lay scatted through the cavern.
Logen, feeling brave, moved towards the light. However, the light was dim and Logen missed the drag marks on the ground and exposed himself to the Fungus, which grabbed him with one of his tentacles and tried to pull him into it's gaping maw.
The party charged in to assist Logen and a battle ensued against the tentacled monstrosity. Most of the party became restrained by the tentacles of the creature, who also seemed to be resistant to their attacks and healed quickly from its wounds.
Aboretta, having ventured too close into the chamber got seized by one of the tentacles and pulled towards the creature. Grandalf, who had fantasized about this very moment, used his magic to pull the halfling into his arms and giggled excitedly.
Aboretta dodged Grandalf and ran back to assist her companions. However, the creature wrapped a tentacle around Aboretta's neck and pulled the small halfing into it's maw and bit into her flesh nearly extinguishing her life, but it spat her out quickly to engage the rest of the party.
The heroes were feeling that they might have underestimated the creature, who next focused on Logen, who took a ferocious bite from the creature that nearly knocked him unconscious, but he managed to stay on his feat. With Aboretta bleeding out from her grievous wound, Klaszi had a terrible decision to make. Should she try to heal Arboretta, who was in danger of dying, or should she attack the creature instead? She gambled and attacked the creature, but fortunately, Arboreta didn't die at that moment.
The determined party continued to fight and wore the creature down until Grandalf killed finally killed it with a well-placed Magic Missile spell. For their trouble the party found some coins and a magical dagger with the hilt of a Lion head.
Feeling exhausted by the fight they party rested in the Red Fungus cavern and then continued to explore the cavern.
They next came upon a barrier of crudely placed rocks and debris that blocked further exploration to the South. It appeared to be easily displaced with time and effort, but the party decided to hold off further action until they explored the caverns more.
Farmak became separated from the party and ventured down a side cavern and encountered an undead woman clad in decaying chain mail. Feeling confident he engaged the foul creature. However, the monster was possessed of tremendous strength and knocked Farmak unconscious with a single blow and reached hungrily for his head, intent on cracking open his brain-case and slurping up his slightly atrophied brain, but Farmak's heroic companions destroyed the creature before she could kill him.
After a short respite, the party headed North through the caverns and found a tomb and, surprisingly, a sentient zombie named Feng Zhen and his formidable pet Corpse Worm called Thon. He told the party how his family were prosperous merchants in Sarton village, which lies above the tomb. He relayed that everyone who dies will rise as a Soulless and that they are usually incinerated immediately after death (perhaps in a few cases even earlier). However, due to the Zhen family power and influence they built the tomb to house their family since it's considered a show of power and prestige to avoid being incinerated like a common peasant in death. He also mentioned that Soulless came into being when the precursors tried to stop the Night Horrors, who come out at night to destroy humanoids, but something went terribly wrong.
It's very rare for undead to retain their intelligence when they rise according to Feng, and he's bored and wants to leave the tomb after residing in it for 80-years. He asked the party for help crossing the rickety rope bridge to the South, which was put in place to help stop the zombies from escaping the tomb. He says he has a key that will open the door on the far side and will help the party escape with him.
During the discussion screams and a battering sound began on the Eastern door of the room. In his 80-years of residing in the Tomb Feng claimed he never heard it until now. Perhaps something has detected the party? He said the party should heed the warning on the sign that says not to enter, but he reluctantly agreed to help after Klaszi persuaded him. However, the door was locked and the party couldn't find a way to enter.
During this exchange Grandalf explored the room for treasure, and came before a small altar and a Frescoe to the North of the room, dedicated to Ghedra the Protector, a goddess nobody in the party has ever heard of before. Grandalf was able to detect her presence and communicated with her. She blessed him and told him that if he (or anyone in the party) destroyed all of the monsters in the tomb (including the foul undead) and made it safe to the inhabitants of Sarton that she would show them favor and accept them as worshippers
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