Barrowmaze: Repatriating the Red Lion of Aerik

[Cwreando]

Durgo

“Agreed Fydmar. Heads on a swivel. This route is faster but more beasties about it seems. Marching order could be. Fydmar Durgo, Gen, Wrathbone, Brother Symeon, Yngvar, Bhelnus and Bucky, Rickford, Duvall. If any of you have a different preference just say so.

Durgo cuts open the stomach to see if they ate some loot not digested yet.

[BaltoBruiser]

Bhelnus

I will certainly keep my eyes open for any more nasties whether they are in the air or on the ground.

Crossbow at the ready.

[kwll]

Genaromes agrees to be more careful of what happens in the sky from now on. He disregards the whereabouts of what is being done with the flying creatures corpses, with a slight motion of disgust.

[zagygthemad]

Yngvar

"Huh, I forgot that! They do eat anything, don't they?" Yngvar goes to the next dead bird and slices it's stomach open to check for treasure too!

[Spearmint]

Trek to the Barrow Mounds

After the brief flurry of danger, swiftly and brutally fended away; the group collect trophies, gather their wits and pick up speed to hurry along the trail towards the burial mounds.

There are no more hazards that delay you and so the guides bring you close to the area most used by adventuring groups that access the Barrow Mounds.

In a wide area of barren peat Moorland, you see that numerous bones protrude from the earth. Tall curved rib cages and legs, an occasional skull. No tusks, those have been excavated long ago. This area 'the Mammoth Field' is a large elephant's graveyard. Upon the exposed bones, adventurers often wrap trinkets, ribbons, memorials, charms. Either to garner a blessing much in the same way that the superstitious leave bouquets in the Blackened Forest. Sometimes the token is more memorial, a dagger hilt inscribed with "For Yeko, slain and eaten by zombies", a dog collar in honour of 'Ruffy: faithful hound, now a bone himself.' 'A helmet, dented, no ame but a Ygg insignia and 'went to meet his god'.

Among the desolation are numerous vultures. Fydmar's favourite, the creatures often cohort with Harpies. These watch you from perches, musing if dinner has just arrived or waiting to feast upon the death you leave behind. Efficient but raucous carrion critters, some squawk over morsels as one pulls on a rat's tail and the other grips the head.



actions please if you wish to add a token yourself, complete a search.

Genaromes had a thought to seek Familiar help at some point. That could be a long casting duration to complete.

[zagygthemad]

Yngvar

Yngvar, having found nothing in the bellies he opened, cleaned himself a bit and moved on with the others, back in his place in the line. The sight of the field of bones made him a bit uneasy, but he gritted his teeth and kept going with the others, keeping Brutus close to him.

[Cwreando]

Durgo

"I'll likely place an item to memorialize the beasties here."

Durgo completes a search.

He'll add a piece of pteradon skin to a bone fragment.

[BaltoBruiser]

Bhelnus

Bhelnus and Bucky are a bit awestruck by the field of Mammoth bones and decide to follow Durgo's lead of investigating and leaving a small token on a bone fragment.

[Straither]

Wrathbone

I will inspect the Mammoth graveyard and attached adventurers tokens, looking for anything that might be dated recently in case they point to dangers we need be aware of or even other adventurers being about.

I take a lock of braided hair, tying it on a bone and chisel "Wrathbone" on it. I will ignore the vultures, no point to enrage them or cause them to squawk and alert worse to our presence.

Once we are done, I will take my place, alert hopefully to any dangers.

[DrRenfield]

Brother Symeon

Symeon will offer quiet prayers over the memorials he passes, particularly any indicating a worshiper of St Ygg.

"Earth to earth, ashes to ashes, dust to dust; in sure and certain hope of the Resurrection to eternal life"

[Cwreando]

Durgo

Durgo says a prayer to St. Ygg as he places the pteradon skin on the bone. "St. Ygg bless our party as we memorialize these creatures remains."

OOC - The marching order is amended with Rickford and Duvall leading the group as our guides.

Durgo says, "Let's not take too long here my friends. No sense drawing attention to ourselves if there are other beasties not for off looking for a meal. Let's be moving out once your finished with your offerings."

[Spearmint]

Exploring the Barrow Mounds

Rickford & Duvall take the lead, entering the meadow of mounds by a well worn path from the Mammoth fields.

"We can keep low, to the Moor and meadow fringe then head northwards into the mounds "

They explain for those unaccustomed to the area that about four score burial mounds are within this area. Some are just hillocks covered in grass or brambles, often ringed with standing stones and crowned with an edifice like a menhir, obelisk or statue on top. Many have been excavated, the stone seals broken, the interiors plundered. In some cases this defilement and grave robbing has ked to the interned deceased awaking to wreak havoc and revenge upon those who thus desecrate their restless slumber. Other tombs are still sealed, a few completely buried beneath tons of earth.

Fydmar & Durgo have some experience of the mounds, quite veteran status at this point. Each mound has a story; the tomb of a simple but noble merchant, a warrior chief, a Nergal Knight, a cultic priest, a sanctuary to the God of Nature. So many different examples, all unique.

As a starting point, the 'assault on the Harpy lair' came out of the 'collapsed mound' where Fydmar discovered the Construct. The two mercenaries head for that as the first notable feature to gain their bearings.

Barrow Mound random and even more random [1d6]=3 [1d6]=2 [1d10]=3

Without getting lost and not encountering any dangers en route (though distant cries and groans are carried in the mist towards you). What misfortune is striking one may prove a blessed distraction to another.

Arriving then at the first mound. Fydmar & Durgo, you will remember it can be accessed down a rope from the ceiling in the domed chamber or you can reopen the side tunnel you dug out from the man door. Or even mark the place but not go in.

I stop here since if you discuss the place you might remember it was an ancient dwarven tomb and you have a number of dwarves in the group.

actions please

[scottjen]

Fydmar
If anyone catches wind of a harpy, call out. We should be ready with wax for the ears if so. Helps, but is no magic wand. Blasted things.
Durgo, where did you want to start?
Don't remember there being any specific dwarven things to bring up with them, but will mention it none the less. That seems like a long time ago

[Spearmint]

Don't remember there being any specific dwarven things to bring up with them, but will mention it none the less. That seems like a long time ago!

indeed it was, a year plus, though only a month in the game calender.

Here is a link to the first encounter at the mound and Silky's bandit group. I recommend players to read through it to get the feel of the mound and the target Harpy shaft.
.
https://www.unseenservant.us/forum/view ... 29#p617029

[Cwreando]

Durgo

Chastising himself for not remembering to get some wax ask, "I will need to borrow some wax my friends. If any is available. Melt down some candles into ear size nuggets if anyone has some? I think from here it's 400 yards to the harpy lair entrance. Trying to find the Red lion's remains will be difficult to say the least. Fydmar is there anything you want to check out here first? I don't want to get waylaid down there like last time though. He looks at everyone. If we have wax in we can hear each other. He goes over some commands with his hands. Stop, Look, two go scout, Check for traps, something ahead. If it's dark, we need torches lit or lanterns so we can see signals. We do our best and if there's beasties down there let's try to fight them one at a time or force them into a choke point to improve our odds. Help each other as you can. Scouts don't get too far ahead 30ft max. Less preferably. Let's get the wax in pretty soon. That nest was pretty large, and we didn't clear all of it out last time. Last time was really dicey. This is going to get tense. Keep your heads and we'll be successful. Durgo give the group the quick version of the expedition. "

Durgo gets some wax and puts it in his ears but not all the way to see what Fydmar wants to do with the barrowmaze first or if he's ready to go to the harpy lair.

[zagygthemad]

Yngvar

"I have a wax candle, wasn't expecting to need it for this, but at least it is put to good use. Anyone else need some?" Yngvar digs out his wax candle from his pouch and his tinderbox flint & steel. He'll provide to anyone who needs it including himself.

[BaltoBruiser]

Bhelnus

Aye, Ygnvar I be needing something to block the call of those flying hags. Much appreciate it!

[Straither]

Wrathbone

This collapsed mound has some dwarven memorials, the metal construct-golem was retrieved but the room with the Forge seemed to have some unsolved mystery. My inclination would be to check in on it at some point.

As for going forward, he will follow suit to deafen himself with candle wax when the Harpies are apparent.

Rope, the shaft is deeper than 50'ft. Also did the nests in the shaft contain much. I guess my hope is there are none of the creatures still lurking about if you killed the Queen Harpy.

I am ready to follow.

[Cwreando]

Durgo

Durgo says, "It's up to you Fydmar. Personally, I'd like to mark this and move on the the harpy lair with are heal minimally impacted at this point. There might be some more dwarven loot down there though that could help out too. If we don't have to fight much to get it. Your call though."

[scottjen]

Fydmar
Yngvar, I was going to use this old wax I had from before, but fresh would make more sense. Good thinking!
(once everyone has their "earplugs" ready but not yet in)
I believe we should take a careful look into the shaft. Mayhap I missed something in the rooms below that my cousins would catch. As I remember, we were a little distracted last time. We could tie 2 ropes together & descend if there is nothing to be seen from above. May want to keep someone up top though. Durgo, remember that most of the party was caught below last time.