DESCENT INTO THE DUNGEON OF GRAVES:

THE ETERNAL RAPPAN ATHUK

PROLOGUE:

THE LUCKY THIRTEEN DELVE

DEEP INTO THE MOUTH OF DOOM

The first impression of this dismal depressing tomb was the stench in the air as it drifted through the tunnels and chambers festering and stinking the place out with a rotten aroma of burnt flesh, mouldy meat and death. Luthbern gagged and threw his dinner up all over the black marble wall of the entrance leading down into the main chamber.

Lanterns, torches, protective auras and dancing magical lights followed the party as they moved carefully down the wide staircase into the greeting hall. The chamber seemed like it had been bathed in darkness for hundreds perhaps even thousands of years undisturbed and forgotten.

Halvorn waded forward unperturbed by potential threats. Full plate armour sent echoes throughout the room and were met with maddening howls of despair and anger from deep within the surrounding tombs at the temerity of these unseen invaders whom had raised them from their eternal slumber.

Gorngrimm looked deep into the foreboding blackness his bow ready and arrow notched ready to fire an explosive tipped steel missile at anyone or thing that offered them a reason to be hostile.

Levellyn spoke words of praise and prayer to his god. His devout fervour granted his allies celestial boons that bolstered their devotion to their humble cause and intent. Raising his divine symbol of worship he uttered strong and powerful words that brought forth howls and moans of protest at this affront to their master. How dare these invaders issue a religious challenge to their demonic grand master as he slumbered away his unlife in his Abyssal resting place inside his fortress city of bone and decay.

Like moths to a flame the Dungeon of Graves begrudgingly welcomed these devout intruders of false gods. Its denizens deep within the halls of these entrance level chambers issued a powerful retort amid cries of incredulous demands that the intruders leave or face the full force of Orcus's unholy grand bastion of demonic and deathly minions. Those intruders hardly ever heeded the generosity of their abyssal master and left with their lives intact. They would find no gold or glory here among the risen dead and the chaotic beings of evil incarnate.

Luthbern recovered his composure and cursed his weak constitution and the butterflies in his stomach. Gathering his prideful array of formidable magical incantations he leaped forward ready to incinerate would be and imagined enemies whomever they may be. His boastful exuberance was met with a cacophony of cruel and wicked jibes at his terrible ordeal and his feigned quick as light recovery.

All present knew Luthbern loathed field work and was never more happy than when perusing some ancient forgotten and recently recovered elders scroll of an Elven nature or a declaration of some millennia long grudge issued by a disgruntled dwarf king. His true passion was discovering ancient tomes and scrolls of magic to add to his considerable repertoire of magical spellcraft.

The rest followed their companions down the entry stairway and into the dark halls as cantrips were cast to light the numerous wall mounted torches that hadn't burnt since last time tomb raiders invaded The Graves. Soon dozens of torches bathed the halls in fiery burning light that cast out the darkness albeit temporarily.

Hunting hounds and war hounds followed their masters into the dungeon and already the usually steadfast and unbreakable beasts were beginning to show signs of panic at the unnatural nature of this many times damned pit of pure undiluted evil.

Thirteen hounds for hunting mercilessly the foes of their masters. Another thirteen hounds of incredible bloody ferocity almost mutant like in their stature as every muscle tensed and gave them the look of some wild predator of ancient long forgotten times.

They were twenty six beasts of battle and the hunt brought here to guard the base camp from enemies foolish enough to stand in their way. Combined, these beasts could give serious problems even to a storm giant. All were in some way magically enhanced to make them faster, stronger and more ferocious. More predator like and cunningly efficient in their ability to fight and kill should the order be given.

The elven hound master Duran Bastikar was his own boss and not a companion. He preferred the company of animals to those of his fellow dungeon delvers and only reveled in the company of his adopted human sister Tessala who followed closely and cautiously behind him. She notched an arrow and remained alert and expecting the worst in such an ungodly fortress.

The camp followers came last leading numerous beasts of burden who wished to escape this mire of bloody deaths. Twenty exactly. A cook and chef. A quarter master and provisioner. Ten mercenary camp guards and professional swords for hire. An armorer, blacksmith, weaponsmith and bowyer and fletcher. Lastly came the base camp master and personal assistant to Lord Emmilius Fontaine the expedition sponsor and contract giver on behalf of the inner circle of cultist bankers that provided the generous funding for this delve.

The walls here were shaped with the bodies of ghoulish and zombie like denizens of the ancient past they had been turned to black marble stone and seemingly posed no threat unless a dungeon wide call to arms was called during an invasion of a powerful army or very large and powerful adventuring party.

The greeting hall was hundreds of feet wide and long as well as several score feet high. It was the ancient greeting hall that was used by the rulers of this particular level to meet and greet guests and allies visiting the dungeon city.

Skeletal servitors wandered the grand hall serving meals and beverages to all present guests at the tables surrounding the main staircase. None of them were armed and looked like they would crumble to bonemeal dust if attacked.

Soon enough they would see what Rappan Athuk was all about. The question was would they live long enough to tell the tale and keep their sanity intact or were they already the next mindless walking dead to haunt this dismal crypt for all eternity.

Adventuring Parties Known to often be

found corpse robbing in Rappan Athuk

THE DEEP DARK DELVERS

OF BARDS GATE

Derrienne Halbarak 9th level Wizard High Elf

Uriellen Oakleaf 8th level Paladin Human

Vagros Pernelli 7th level Wizard Human

Lammbos Mannsino 6th level Cleric Human

Grulgo the Grimmbeard 6th level Fighter Half Orc

Nalukar Vasparianos 6th level Fighter Dwarf

Muligan Munrune 5th level Rogue Half Elf

Shavren Jastcarn 5th level Rogue Human

Mindrin Lasulth 4th level Rogue Halfling

Quincius Kolm 4th level Ranger Human

THE YOUNG BLOODS

OF BARDS GATE

Ragmanar Jalquin 6rd level Fighter Dwarf

Norbryn Jalquin 5th level Fighter Dwarf

Franthul Jalquin 5th level Fighter Dwarf

Humberth Jalquin 5th level Cleric Dwarf

Pescoe Jalquin 4th level Cleric Dwarf

Nebbly Dunholm 4th level Rogue Halfling

Webbly Dunholm 4th level Rogue Halfling

Lumanor Dunholm 4th level Sorcerer Halfling

Ilmora Jalquin 3rd level Fighter Dwarf

Mandren Jalquin 3rd level Fighter Dwarf

Kasbern Jalquin 3rd level Fighter Dwarf

Bullbert Jalquin 3rd level Fighter Dwarf

Jinn Jalquin 3rd level Fighter Dwarf

Vormuth Jalquin 3rd level Fighter Dwarf

Horgan Jalquin 3rd level Fighter Dwarf

KLANDORIN'S KLANSMEN

OF BARDS GATE

Lord Mosthyn Klandorin 12th level Fighter Elf Male

Velvyn 7th level Rogue Human Male

Dibblun 6th level Rogue Half Goblin/Halfling Female

Pargo 5th level Rogue Half Orc Female

Fremmi 11th level Fighter Half Dwarf/Orc Female

Musvar 3rd level Fighter Orc Male

Limrith 4th level Ranger Half Elf Female

Basalth 4th level Cleric Gnome Male

Morgoth 9th level Minotaur Paladin Male

THE LUCKY THIRTEEN

OF BARDS GATE

Luthbern Lorbeck – Wizard 7th level Elf male

Halvorn Nirnunor – Fighter 9th level Dwarf male

Gorngrimm Kasoth – Ranger 8th level Half Elf male

Levellyn Foregras – Cleric 9th level Human male

Merkulyn Possnor – Rogue 8th level Halfling male

Berrandyr Dranhol – Paladin 8th level Human male

Kizberthe Garlandor – Sorcerer 9th level Human female

Neminue Illeferne – Cleric 9th level Human female

Bastarn Telivarus – Fighter 8th level Human female

Lothys Valdenthas – Paladin 9th level Human female

Klurgorn Klindor – Rogue 7th level Dwarf male

Mazrak Jardulis – Warlock 8th level Elf male

Deltharynne Dalmarallis – Fighter 9th level Half Elf female

THE HOUND MASTER AND COMPANION

Duran Bastikar - 10th level Druid Elven male

Tessala Bastikar - 9th level Ranger Human female