(G82 12/03/10 OR - AP(GM), ON, SS, CtH)5(written by Olaf)

[Note from Rollo: The story here is taken up by another bard called Marten.
So to continue...]

Fredoric had a glass of Elderflower wine with the man who introduced himself as Barndal. After
a few moments Barndal agreed to help with the hunt on said beastie. Meanwhile Dana was looking
through the town archives and found out that the beast was a runehound most likely.

Day 22
In the morning Fredoric spend some time going through the loot, quickly selling items and
purchasing some silver weapons. On the market square there was a gnome standing who played
some tunes for some kids as entertainment. It would have been a good effort ... if it would
not have been for the fact that his horn was making a hell of a racket and some merchants
close buy got very upset - telling him to shut it. Fredoric recognized battle potential and
asked the gnome if he wants to earn some coin supporting the crew in the battle against the
runehound. Full of expectations to see a runehound creature the gnome called 'Marten' agreed
to accompany Fredoric. However the cleric sensed that the bard did not realize the potential
danger he was getting into.

They all gathered and set off from Kingsholm. The statue is only about 1 kilometer outside
the town gate. About 400ft before Fredoric was expecting to see the statue he started to cast
some spells on Barndal. With enhanced strength and weapon and some extra protection the
barbarian set off. Dana was following a few seconds later...

Here my dear reader I shall take over. Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Boddynock
Shamil 'Marten' Scheppen. I am called Boddynock after my grandfather who died in a very
practical joke contest with a copper dragon. Some say it was an accident but as I was born
exactly 11 years later my mother named me after him. Boddynock that was his name, but I stray
from the story, so excuse me but you will need to wait to another time to learn why I am also
named after my auntie Shamil.

Anyway we can only describe what I and Fredoric saw when we finally arrived at the battle
site which was a considerable time later. The beast lay dead and splattered next to the podest
of the great statue. Dana said that she was just able to shoot a single silver bolt but the
beast was already near death after Barndal had landed several heavy hits. The tall barbarian
looked at all of us slighly bewildered not knowing exactly what the problem of the first
fight may have been.

The area was searched and the two bodies of the fallen comrades from the day before were
located in the undergrowth, badly disfigured by the now dead beast. While Wulfgar searched
the stone podest of the great statue, myself and Barndal looked for a nice spot to dig two
graves. Dana and Fredoric collected all the belongings of their dead comrades. Quickly we
had two shallow graves with a beautiful view upon the statue and the valley beyond with
Kingsholm. Bokk the barbarian was buried with his trophies of killed animals while the dead
bard named King Banjax was buried with his favourite clothings and an umbrella (?). Was he
really a king I wonder ... Let us wish that his soul will find the eternal rest - and even
more let us hope that I do not end up like him for travelling with these strangers.

After a short ceremony we decided to head back into the hole. Dana knotted 4 nice ropes
together and we let most of the gear into the hole first. Then one after the other climbed
down the rope ladder with an extra safety line hold by Barndal at the top. He was the last
the climb down and once he was down Fred led us to the second door on the ledge next to the
broken rope bridge. We managed to push the door open and were 'greeted' by a strange looking
zombie creature. Quickly Wulfgar and Barni went into the octagonal room followed by Fredoric
who shouted "By Gond's hammer - go back to the shadows" at the undead. Much to Fredoric's own
surprise the creature indeed turned and ran, making it much easier for Barni and Dana the
slice the undead to pieces. The room had oddly arranged partition walls in the centre and
along the outer walls four statues were standing. I believe these were a princess, a warrior,
a wizard and a commoner. Whilst Dana and Barndal were chasing the fleeing undead my courageous
battle song must have stirred some sleeping villains. They were waking up ready to fight, but
by Glittergold's fortune Wulfgar was right in the middle of them. The first one got up but
fell - never to know what had really hit her. The second villain got up and managed to land
some nasty blows on Wulfgar very elegantly picking his weak spots. Soon Fredoric rushed in
and joined the fray, just in time to see Wulfgar lob the creatures head off with a final blow.
Whatever these creatures were, they were not human, orc or goblin. Quickly all 'devotional
objects' were gathered and the remaining two massive stone doors were checked. One was open
and while Fredoric and Barndal slowly went into this pathway, a raging Wulfgar was battering
down the closed stone door with a big hammer. "You don't need a key when you have got a dwarven
smith" he was mumbling to Dana.

With the sound of hammer on stone ringing in their ears, Fredoric and Barndal went through
the open door and found a ladder leading about 10ft down. Fredoric took his everburning torch
to give Barndal some light climbing down. The floor below opened into a chilled room with a
10ft wide stream running through in the middle. On their side they could see a few crumbled
stone statues and amidst the rubble two dead bodies. Fredoric quickly checked the nearest
corpse. The unfortunate male tomb robber had died some days ago on hypothermia. Barndal quickly
stripped the two bodies of their belongings and while Fredoric was still wondering what was
going on, Barni stepped onto the stone bridge leading to the other side. Things happened
quickly at this moment. From beyond the water stream Barni heard the crushing of stone when the
door finally gave way to Wulfgar's hammer. In the same moment a water creature or elemental
appeared in the stream right next to Barni and demanded to know 'what business does bring you
through my domain?'. From the other side Fredoric heard Wulfgar shouting "We are here to
loot ..." - "...to look for whoever defiles the mausoleum of Kingsholm and bring them to
justice", Fredoric was interrupting the dwarf shooting a stern look at the hairy fighter. The
water creature seemed taken by surprise and was eyeing up the band of introders. "Very well
then ... I shall allow you to pass my domain. Keep your promise!" and with that the creature
was becoming one again with the water.

We all looked at each other with relief. Wulfgar was just shrugging his shoulders and set to
work with the hammer on the exit door. About two minutes later the stone lay in rubble and we
entered the 'hall of the honored'.
We entered an odd shaped room, which opened up diagonally from the smashed door. On the right
hand side were 4 statues standing in front of ornate tombs. Two statues were half elves by the
looks of it and looked very much like twins - except that one was a wizard and the other a
fighter with short sword and dagger. Opposite the 4 statues was another stone door, into which
which Wulfgar went. Further on in the hall of the honored was another stone door which was
blocked by two stone statues crossing halberds in front of the door. While Fredoric and Barni
were still looking in amazement onto the intricate stonework, Dana heard fighting coming from
the hallway into which Wulfgar went. "He is attracting trouble like shite does attract flies",
she was uttering to Marten and went in with a torch in her hand. Up a short flight of stairs
and around a corner was Wulfgar standing, axe in hand and bashing on what can only be described
as a very hairy hobgoblin / rat breed. Dana joined in what realized that her fists were of no
good. Wulfgar shouted "Silver ... take your silver handaxe" and the rat started to look rather
in panic. Indeed silver seemed to work and although Wulfgar had to retreat wounded, we managed
to make the rat / hobgoblin drop his weapon and parley for his life. We stripped him of most
valuables and also asked what lay ahead. Seeing Barndal with an even greater axe he was all too
fast to spill the beans. "There is Xeron the human sorcerer and Krootad the hobgoblin priest", the
rat was telling us. "Also there were some varags, another human male, a half elf woman, a halfling
mage and some more hobgoblins and goblins ... can I go now, please" he was stuttering. "I was
hired in the Underdark ... and I know nothing ... please?" Fredoric gave him some cold coins
in return and told him to leave this place, never to return and without robbing anything on his
way back out. With a stern look Fredoric watched the rat who cowered and ran off to save his skin.

We had a good look around this room. In the corner where we fought the wererat there was another
statue of a wizard reading in an open book. When Fredoric examined the book an magic writing
became visisble that read "... 2 as 1 can win the day; the 1 with 2 shows the way; brave the
way to break the seal; twist the knive it will reveal." After a short moment Fredoric told Wulfgar
to look at the statue of the half elf warrior with short sword and dagger, especially examining
the dagger closely. Wulfgar rushed off and indeed found that the dagger could be turned. By doing
so a sarcophagus opened next to the reading wizard statue. The sarcophagus contained some
interesting goodies which should help us to rid the mausoleum of the evil that dwells further on.
Fredoric suggested that we set camp in this room for the night. Wulfgar was quickly healed with
another scroll leaving Fredoric with not many lesser vigor scrolls. Some of the items found this
day were handed out to whoever could make most use of them and with a more resolute heart to end
this evil we went to bed.

Day 23:
I woke up earlier feeling full of energy. My mind sharpened - which does not happen often. I
could see the others sleeping except Barni who was keeping watch. "Good Morning" he mouthed
and turned back to watch the door blocked by the two halberds. Wulfgar was snoring in one
corner, Dana was sleeping or meditating in an awkward position sitting on the stairs to the
wizard statue. And Fredoric was looking happy holding a piece of paper with some questions
scribbled on. I took one of the pearls which I found earlier yesterday and focussed on a new
spell to determine the properties of the cloak that Fredoric gave me. It worked! I cannot wait
to see what will happen today ... so exciting ... I am sure I can compose a fantastic story
about these days.