014: Cult, Defeated

Unsurprisingly, danger lurked in the cavernous ossuary. As Luther and Artur–followed bravely by their companions–crept forward several of the piles of bones began to move. Three headless skeletons slowly stood up and blindly groped toward the heroes.

Although joined by three more newly risen headless skeletons the undead proved no match for the characters and they were quickly destroyed.

A quick search of the ossuary found nothing but bones, and so the party pushed on deeper into the cave complex. They found nothing more until they clambered up the stairs into the room with the four headless corpses.

Another natural passageway headed away from this chamber. This was the last place the party had to search. Grimly they set forth. The passageway led into another cave choked with bones. These bones, however, were much, much older, and there were many more of them. Dust and grime caked the floor–it seemed nothing and no-one had been here for some time.

The bones mounded the floor such was their profusion. Gingerly, the heroes advanced. As they did so, Horsa noticed something stirring under the mounds. The wizard shouted a warning. It was lucky he did so for moments later two clouds of whirling bones burst forth from the piles. The clouds whirled toward the heroes–thirsting for their warm blood! Artur struck one of the clouds a terrific blow with his divine radiance while Horsa repeatedly blasted them with magical fire. Unfortunately, the party's mundane weapons had a much reduced effect on the whirling bone clouds. Although one of the clouds was swiftly destroyed, the other almost killed Luther before it was destroyed. Only Colzo's quick thinking saved the heroic ranger from death.

However, this foul creature was the last foe the heroes had to face in the fane. With its destruction, the cult and its minions were finally laid low.

Or were they? As the party reported to the watch one last time, they mused on the fact that at least one cultists–Akviliina–had escaped. They comforted themselves with the knowledge that no doubt the foul temptress was in hiding or had already fled the city.

With their heroics complete, the adventurers decided to rest. They had much to do before the 14th. On that day, the tides would be right and they could finally set sail for Gloamhold!