The Unseen Servant forums

An expedition led by the experienced adventurer Njord Svarld departed Vaul on March 14, 1 VC. They were set to explore the ruins just a few miles east of the town which had proven so dangerous on their last foray within.

The participants in this expedition were:

Njord - male human (gtan_baq)
Murdoch - male human (spartakos)
Elbreth - male elf - ( LtTibbles)
Herrin - male halfling (merias)
Jem - male human (ogre mage)
Braxtaw - male elf (dram)
Ulf - male dwarf (zhym)
Killog - male dwarf (bloodymage)

I will update the Tavern thread with necessary information--this expedition is now open!

As the group makes its way to the ruins, Ulf shares his ideas for dealing with two of the puzzles they've already seen.

For the writing by the door, whoever has the bone ring puts it on. Perhaps the ring might help decode the writing.
For the pool of noxious poison in the room to the right, scoop it out with the cup in his mess kit, emptying the urn. When the urn is empty, open the sarcophagus.

He also shares the map he made the first time through.

Njord looks over Ulf's map, "Yeah that looks about right. I don't have the 10' pole this time though. I figure I will just use my spear to poke around for traps unless one of our new friends knows how to spot them." Njord looks at the others.

Jem asks Ulf What will we use to contain that flammable liquid? Should we have brought some pails or something or will you just dump it on the floor?

"There's a drain in the front hallway..." answers Ulf.

"Should be easy enough to test. If that doesn't work, we could dump the poison outside."

Ulf clearly is not an environmentalist.

Zhym wrote:"Should be easy enough to test. If that doesn't work, we could dump the poison outside."

Ulf clearly is not an environmentalist.

Well, he's a dwarf, and environmentalism is a misdemeanor in most dwarven lands.

March 14, 1 VC - 11:40am

The party treks across the quiet moor, catching sight of no one and nothing stirring under the pall of clouds and rain. Finally, they make their way to the hillside in which the entrance to the ruins can be found. The massive stone door that once barred entrance remains tilted to one side, and the entryway is wet with deflected rain. The area is quiet, calm.

"Can you make anything of the writing with the ring?" Ulf asks Jem (or Elbreth—whoever took the ring).

If no one can decipher the runes, Murdoch will copy them down with his own pen and ink.

As Elbreth looks at the writing, it slowly swirls in front of his eyes until it resolves into something coherent. The text reads:

"Fallen lies the greatest of all the kings of men
Laid low and transformed by evil powers.
Here he rests, for now--
Do not disturb his sleep eternal. Let his sleep be endless, endless."

Elbreth reads the words out loud to the group before staring at his ring, "Hmm...I guess that's what the ring does, I wonder if it'll work with other languages well no matter at least we know what the writing says now, don't know if that would've stopped us the first time though."

Njord steps into the hall and lights a torch. "Are we ready, gents? May fortune smile on us." Njord says with a grin.

Jem stops outside the door.

So, we aren't going to heed that warning are we?

"Transformed by evil powers," repeats Ulf. "That's ominous. I wonder what he was transformed into?"

Njord says, "Good thing I brought wooden stakes and garlic this time. Well, I hope I'm wrong about this."

As the group stands near the entrance discussing, someone takes notice of some chalk arrows marked along the sides of the doorway, marking the spot where Njord's prodding triggered the chiming bells on the group's last visit.

Someone has been here while the party was recuperating and reorganizing.

Murdoch strokes his beard. "Ominous, indeed. It says that he was 'laid low' before being transformed, so I would guess some sort of undead abomination."

Murdoch is ready to proceed.

Elbreth hefted his great axe into his hands. "Aye let us move on, perhaps whoever left these markings managed to clear some rabble but missed the treasure, how should we organize ourselves?"