Our campaign started last night...
"New Beginnings & Broken Accords"
Character: Norgrond (Dwarf Rat Catcher)
Player: Robert R.
Character: Odric Kummel (Human Pit Fighter)
Player: Matt D.
Character: YrRaSir Felhand (Elven Apprentice Magician)
Player: Erich K.
Our brave adventurers, who each happened to patronize the same coaching inn, "The Three Feathers," on the same night, awoke the next morning to a commotion as a rider, exhausted and tired, fell from his horse. After the adventurers came to his aid, the stranger told his tale of his village and its troubles. He explained he must continue to Middenheim and seek Empirical assistance from their military or councils. He begs anyone for help as he continues on and sends our group of three south to his village some four days travel away.
These three strangers in the Inn quickly become a united band of fellows aiding the lone rider. Along the road south towards the village of "
Reikwalds Meadow", they came across a sacked wagon surrounded by a group of goblins, one of which was riding a vicious looking dog and was shouting out commands in their wicked tongue. The Melee that ensued was quick and fierce as both sides sought to slay the others quickly and get back to what they were doing. Soon all the Goblins were slain or fled and our brave adventurers tended their wounds.
After moving on, the band came across the horse that was pulling the wagon and claimed it as their new mount. It took three more days of traveling and following the map, left to them by the lone rider, when "
Reikwalds Meadow" came into view. Entering the small village it was clear to see that this settlement was no more than a year old. Houses with fresh thatched roofs, newly built cobblestone walls, two farms with sowed fields, and in the center of the town was a large stone well almost completely built. No more then Forty to Fifty people lived here from the size of the village, but already they had built a small cemetery and it was clear that twelve of the graves were freshly filled in with earth. As the band of adventurers walked down the street people backed into their homes, closed their shutters, or nervously watched these strangers move past.
The only fully completed public structure was a Tavern/Inn called the "Keg & Pillow" or at least that was the name by the carving on the sign above the door. Inside our band found a gathering of villagers and a boisterous Halfling named Bomwick Tanglefoot, who was excited to receive his group of non local patrons. Our band quickly informed the overzealous Innkeeper that they were sent here by the lone rider and offered up their assistance anyway possible. Bomwick's mood changed to a sullen tone as he realized no one would ever be a patron of his bar once the village news spread.
Out of the crowd of villagers stepped a broad shouldered man with a handlebar mustache and barrel chest. He introduced himself as Baldrick Heinrick, the village headman. His story of what has befallen his village follows:
"We are not even a sanctioned village by the Empire yet, we are to young, we have nothing to offer the Empire in way of trade or coin yet. We have no watchman, no militia, no cleared roads of gate-man. We hope to soon have those things and become protected under the Empire. But i am afraid the Empire will just over look us after I tell you our tale... Thirteen days ago, It was late afternoon and my son and a few of the others were digging the well and placing stones, when my son who was at the bottom of the well digging broke through to a chamber of sorts. My son described the place, a dark tunnel of sorts, but he could not see very well. Around him on the floor was a number of these... (Balrdrick placed a wrapped cloth in front of the adventurers who opened it to find a green iridescent crystal shard.) We pulled him up and covered the well to investigate it on the following day when the sun would give us better view of what was down there.
That night a fog covered the village and not even the sounds of nature could be heard, It was a unnatural fog and then I heard him. I heard my son wail in terror and when I burst into his room there he lay death had become him with his face frozen in terrorizing fear. My wife the village healer tried to make sense of it but it was to late, that morning we buried my son. It was so unexplained we did not know where to look or who to ask for an explanation only that his time here was cut short. That day no one worked on one held any joy for it was the first of us to die in this place. That night the Miller's son dies the same way. The next Johan our dairy farmer lost his son. And the next and following nights one by one until last night when Gustav, our blacksmith who you met his son was taken in terror. Twelve in all and each night another joins them in death terrorized and frozen in fear. I am not sure what aid you will be able to give us but anything is welcome. I fear the Empire will just let us fade in to shadow and doom in this dark forest. We are but common folk with no knowledge of what kills our friends and family. Assist us and we will try to make it up to you some how. Take our money we have collected for taxes, or tools or services if that would convince you to stay in this cursed place and help us."Upon his completion of the tale the three strangers who have now forged a bond as companions, decide to investigate the structure beneath the well and aid the village how ever they can. It was almost 1pm when our brave adventurers headed down into the well lowering themselves onto the cold stone floor some 35 feet below the surface. Quickly the Elf and Dwarf scanned the area and spotted numerous other crystal shards on the ground along with a intricately designed golden support with a massive chunk crystal still sitting in its perch. As the Pit-fighter lit torches he to could observe what his companions saw. This place was a tomb. Not by design but more so that countless bodies lay scattered around the structure all long dead and decayed. Corpses of men, woman, and even children lay sitting against walls, in huddled piles or leaning against corners. No wounds of any kind mark their ancient bodies only time and air have killed these people.
The main chamber was smooth and carved and solid stone, a spiral staircase lead down to another level and off of this room was passages rough carved by pick and axe, shovel and sweat. Down each of these tunnels they opened up into small caverns where mining equipment was found scattered around the space. A table and lantern was found in the northern chamber along with a very high quality magnifying glass of elvish design. In the southern cavern our adventurers came across a cave in. Using the pick the Dwarf cut a path big enough for the Elf to squeeze through. Searching that small cavern alone he was ambushed by a Giant Cave Spider. Avoiding the initial strike the Apprentice Magician ran for the exit and dove through to avoid another venomous attack from the beast. The Pit-fighter Calandalis fearing nothing from his life in the arena dove through the opening and battled the beast being assisted by the Norgrund the dwarf who found his footing underground and attacked along side Calandalis. Norgrund wound and paralyzed by the Spiders venom was dragged backwards by the spider while Our other heroes battled on to save him and slay the giant cave spider. Victory was theirs as YrRaSir Felhand focused his mind and bore the full might of his spells on the beast exploding its body in a flash of purple/green light.
Two hours had passed when the party descended the stairs to the 2nd level of this tomb. More bodies yet fewer this time again the party searched this floor, following passages of rough carved rock to more small caverns finding nothing of interest expect two things. A corpse with a chisel and hammer and an inscription on the wall. It reads:
"A Curse on all who take what is not theirs. A Curse on those that break accords. We shall take what was given to us even though we will soon be no longer of this world. Curse the Wizard who tricked us, and sentenced my tribe to death!"The other was a room with a Dwarven made iron door reenforced and sealing a room off the southern chamber. YrRaSir Felhand found the key and gave it to Norgrund the Dwarf since this door was of his kinds craftsmanship. Norgrund turned the key and activated a long dormant trap on the door which not only knocked back the Dwarf but also destroyed the lock fusing it to the key and forever sealing the door. Intuition struck the players as they realized it was almost sunset. Better retreat from this place and see what the night will hold for them and the villagers....
What will happen next time.... Check back here soon and see!
