Sepulcher of the Mountain God

Following the events at the Curwen's manor, Riffen has found himself living further on the outskirts of society. His farm has fallen into disrepair with only the wretch tending the turnips and maintaining the house. Villagers have become increasingly concerned as strange sounds and lights are noticed coming from the depths of the house. Riffen has also undergone some physical change with the hair on his head going completely white over the course of a few weeks since desecrating the alter in the grinder below. Riffen arrives at the village of Inira looking for answers...

Jasen and Josen have taken it upon themselves to be the wardens of the forest around the old Curwen place. They do their best to run off the few nosey folk and to keep the 'cattle' contained. No good answer has presented itself with respect to those surviving 'cattle' and the cousins have decided that as long as the 'cattle' stay on the Curwen farm, they can live out what's left of their lives.

Dewayne has built a small temple on the edge of Hillkant and ministers to the wretches and a few of the town folk. He's trying to establish a sense of good, hoping to push away the foul influence of the Curwens.

Not much is known about Wyna's days. She is often gone for a week at a time and when she does appear, it's in a new set of clothes and with a few spare coins. Some of which she offers to Dewayne's temple, she never misses a service if she's in town.

Mother Breadwife

Having returned from the adventure to her farm, she could not settle in. She felt the call of something greater and was pulled to the town of Inira. There she discovered a temple to Ira and was for the first time since the Curwen's, she felt at peace. She was given lodging in the temple and devoted herself to the study and and service of Ira.

For awhile, her existence was content. That is until one day she was running errands and got a glimpse of a small group that looked similar to the Curwens who escaped. Once again she was troubled with thoughts of the Curwens, this time at the idea of them running loose in the same town that she is now calling home. SHe asked around and heard some rumors of a new family who moved into town, but there wasn't much else to go on. No one seemed to know much about them ,or where to find them.

Not knowing what else to do, she wrote a series of notes to her fellow adventurers: "I cannot say for sure, but I have some reason to believe the Curwen might be in Inira. If you chose to come, you can find me at the temple." and had them delivered via a courier passing through Inira.



Cynwe

Having returned to town, Cynwe realized her existence so far has been rather, short sighted. Her practice of astrology was still going strong, but she now knew was much more than just reading some tea leaves or the moon phases. Having seen real magic, and having some of the spell books to help, she found she had a natural aptitude for spellcraft and spent her time practicing and learning.

Cynwe had just found mastered the basics of the art, and felt that she had gone as far as she can without going off in search of a teacher when a note from Mother Breadwife arrived. This gave her the motivation she needed and she headed off for Inira.



Walt

Walt was always gambler and now with some gold from his adventurers, he plunged back into the gambling dens with renewed vigor. Unfortunately, luck was not on his side and after racking up a significant debt, he had no other choice but to turn to less legal means of making a living, namely that of a thief. This suited Walt jsut fine however, and he quickly raised enough to pay off his debts, at the cost of others gold.

Finding thievery to be more lucrative (and more fun) than gambling had been, he traveled to Inira in search of new targets. He was just waking in a room he rented when the letter from Mother Breadwife found him, and seeing as he was a short distance from the temple ,decided to pay a visit.



Kari

Kari returned to her mushroom farm, and just kept farming mushroom. She found it rather easy to sink back into the routine. She missed Tiny, but life comes and life goes, something the dwarves had been comfortable with for generations. She did however, realize the importance of staying in practice with fighting skills, and devoted more of her time to training, a part of heritage she had previously ignored. She was just in the middle of a training session when a courier arrived with an interesting letter.

While Kari felt content in her current station, she also did not want to leave the Curwens go unpunished, or worse, to cause more trouble elsewhere, grabbed her gear, and set off to the temple.

Duri has returned to his trade in Hillkant, a stonemasons life seemed rather simple and safe since the events of yesteryear. Most of his trade was in tombstones and even that infrequent. Duri has kept the sword of his fallen comrade sharp and remained in contact with Slim. Upon receiving mother Breadwifes note, he dutifully packed his belongings closed his workshop and made his way to Inira.

Odric having lost his brother Adric in the grinder has walked the fringes of the region. Sleeping under the stars in all weathers and stopping only briefly in towns to collect essential supplies. Rumours of a cloacked unkempt wild man filter through the towns, some say he is looking for vengeance against some evil, some suggest he's cursed and brings misfortune with him, others disregard him as a man who has lost his mind...

Odric arrives in Inira hungry, unwashed and on the trail of something.

Mother Breadwife looks at the group assembled before her at the temple. She was glad to see them again and it felt a bit like coming home, regardless of the fact that they were currently gathered at the Ira's temple.

"Its great to see you all again, and I'm sure we will have to time to catch up. But let me get to right to the point as it appears the remaining Curwens have traveled here and are active. I shouldn't need to remind you what kind of trouble they can cause if they are left to their own devices and I like it here. I would hate to see this place ruined by whatever foul work they are up to."

She pauses for a moment to gather her thoughts and continues, "As you know this temple is dedicate to Ira, the mountain god. This is a special place as it also close the tombs and crypts of the saints of Ira. One of those was recently defiled. Some people matching the description of the Curwens have been spotted in the area and seem to be the likely suspects. Beyond that we don't much. I suggest we head out to the tomb and look for any clues post haste."

She pauses again this time with a glimmer of amusement in her eyes, "Of course, only after we have had time to take our fill of the bounty of Ira. she says with a smile and unveils a table filled with fresh berries, breads and mead. "Please, help yourself and we can head out packs and bellies full of the blessing of Ira."

Looking at the spread, you start to realize why it is that Mother Breadwife seems so content here.

Odric begins to search the room methodically with a sort of grim patience. The remains not as disturbing having seen what he has this last year.

Jasen and Josen enter the room and take up positions just inside the door, bows ready.

Dewayne enters behind Odric and says a short prayer honoring the dead.

Wyna begins a slow circle around the room peering over the bodies. Ostensibly she's looking for signs the bodies have been disturbed recently. But that doesn't stop her from noting items that may want to travel with her later.

Initiative rolls

Mother Breadwide holds up her holy symbol of Ira, a stone shot through with veins of silver and gold encased in a ring of leather worn around her neck. in the name of Ira, begone you abominations!

Kari pulls her blade and yells a dwarven cry as she charges at the closest zombie, hacking at it with her short sword.

Walt who was observing the situation sidesteps the zombie approaching him and glides towards the wall in the tomb. He finds a shadowed crevice close to Aven Kruz, and attempts to use them cover as he prepares to attack.

Odric bravely strides forward to meet Aven-Kruz (Or what's left of him) leaping into the air he uses his battle axe to swing around the undeads neck; attempting to pull his cloak free before rolling over the other side of the stone slab he had risen from.

Jasen weathers the scream of that weird guy in the middle. It didn't seem that bad, but apparently half the crew decided differently. Bother...

Mother Breadwife sees Dewane fall and rushes to her side. She lays her hands on Dewanes wounds and cries out to Ira asking for healing, "Return to her the strength to defend this mountain!"

As Aven-Kruz falls, Walt sees Kari being out numbered by zombies and moves behind the first zombie and viciously stabs at it with his dagger.

Kari glances thankfully at Walt as she attempts to parry the second zombies attack. She manages to clear enough space for her to bring her short sword to bear and swipes at the zombie.

Odric having felled the largest of the undead turns and takes in the ensuing combat. Seeing Kari outnumbered and struggling, he charges the closest of the two zombies. Hacking viciously with his axe he tries to sweep the legs from under it.

I suspect that's a hit.... and the mighty deed is a 3 so successful in tripping sweeping the zombie?

Duri gather his nerves rallies at the entrance to the chamber. Takes a deep breath and charges back in to the fray. "Aaarrrrghhhh! shield raised he thrusts his longsword through the nearest zombie...

Jasen turns his aim to the creature in front of Kari.

Riffen snarls at the wretch. "Go there and fetch me that feathered cloak!"

And with that Riffen begins staring at his hands and babbling something that slowly begins to reach a fever pitch where he sound animalistic and somehow primordial.

Josen, seeing Walt fall, fires at Zombie 2.

Dewayne will move to Walt, attacking the Zombie if it's up, or healing Walt if it's an option.

Wyna will move to help Kari, stabbing at Zombie 3.

Dewayne kneels by Walt and lays on his hands, "I beseech thee O'lord Ulesh, heal this man so he may continue the fight against these foul creatures."

Odric looking around at his fallen comrade and the battle, sees Kari is wounded and charges the zombie (3). Hacking viciously with the battleaxe.

Duri continues to fight desperately with sword and board to vanquish the undead.

"This is a bloody slaughter," thinks Jasen. He fires his bow at zombie 3.

Riffen scampers into combat charging the zombie engaged with Cynwe. (2) Howling with animalistic delight he swings the staff down hard on the undead.

Mother Breadwife, not about to abandon one of the folks who she summoned to investigate the sightings, kneels down once again next to the Kari and cries out for the aid of Ira in healing the fallen dwarf.

Cynwe, still coming to terms with her new magical powers decides to take a more direct route and swings at the closest zombie with her dagger.

Josen spots one of the two zombies is not engaged and fires at Zombie 3.

Wyna and Dewane will converge on Zombie 4 to help Duri out.

Odric sensing that the battle is won circles on the last zombie swinging the axe ruthlessly at its rear.

The sound of cracking ribs fills the room as Odric drives the axe through the chest of the final zombie. "Rotten bastards!" He looks around at his company, what a disaster...

Mother Breadwife stands after ensuring Kari was healed and looks upon Walt. The gambler was not a close friend, but she still felt a connection with him from their past experiences together. "I'm sorry we couldn't do more, but we won't let this sacrifice be wasted" Mother Breadwife says and looks more carefully around the tomb now that their foes are dispatched.

Dewane moves to Josen's side and Lays on Hands.

Riffen snatches the cloak from the wretch, a smugly swings it around his shoulders tying it in place. He looks at the others with glee.
"What next?"

Odric looks at Riffen with contempt. "If everyone else is ok I will take this breastplate. I have no use for these other things."

Saddened by the passing of his companion, Duri looks away from the looting that's going on and sheds a few tears out of sight of the others.

Wyna will pick up Walt's dagger and pass her's to Jasen. "You may need to poke something that's to close to shoot sometime."

Mother Breadwife steps forward, mumbling a prayer to Ida as the writing glows. She squints as she tries to make it out, running her fingers along the script.

"So?! Out with it! What does it say?"

Duri takes a long look at the writing. "Hmmmm"

"Ah I see, well it's not pretty..... It's some sorta blood ritual and we'd need quite a bit of it spilt in this bowl. Then you chant something and slosh the blood over the door to open it...... I don't like it...."

Riffen snatches up the wretch by the arm. "Come here wretch, I have a solution for the blood" He snarls....

"Hang on now Riffen! Let's see if we can handle this differently" Odric blocks Riffen momentarily and looks to the others for support....

Josen steps up beside Odric, "Stink as they might, I'm not sure killing the wretches is the way to go here. We probably don't want to deal with whatever that ritual summons."

"O rubbish, come here wretch!" Riffen pulls the wretch up by the arm and stretches out a gnarled hand for a knife.

"Hand me a knife! This wretched creature has had worse and does as he asked regardless!!!"

"Oh bother, Here. " Josen offers his dagger.

"Well..... I guess we continue." Duri gives a puzzled look at Riffen as if it's the first time he has seen him. Before making his way down the corridor towards the doors.