Episode 1: The Salvaged Job

The angle is just enough to knock the skeleton's skull right off, and the bones fall to the ground.

Using Coda's mask as a ward, it is easy enough to whittle the remaining zombies down to piles of rotted flesh.Map

The table has a crudely-drawn map, very faded in places from age and overuse. Kalis notices that the map vaguely resembles the current locale, but the Tenby Woods are labeled "Ashewoad" and dramatically smaller in size. The figurines on the map appear to represent soldiers, wagons, and beasts of burden, while the buildings appear to be fortresses of varying size.

The blue side appear to have dominated Ashewoad with a small tent and are bolstering their flanks with cavalry from a fortress at Frysor Stronghold, while the red side are attempting a pincer move with infantry from the Dreaming Forest and the Trackless Barren.

The décor feels reminiscent of a war room, and the map is either a tactical briefing on a long-forgotten conflict, or given the garments worn by the undead, a simple wargame. Nothing else stands out in this room.

Kalis does not notice anything out of the ordinary. The door is wood, with iron bands, and opens inward via iron handle. It also appears to be unlocked.

The hinges creak heavily as the door is pulled open, and the light spills in to reveal a chamber extending to the north. The stone walls are bare save for a band of interwoven lines at head-height that wrap around the room like twisting branches, primarily decorative in style. The tiled floor is patterned like a checkerboard with alternating light and dark squares.

The first thing Kalis sees as his darkvision adjusts is a giant skeleton standing against the far wall, but the skull is a massive bull's head with large horns. Thick bovine legs support its weight, while its humanoid hands hold a rusted greataxe. The skeleton animates as the door opens, moving from a stoic sentry-like stance to grasping its greataxe in a ready position.

"Hold," hisses a voice from the northern side of the room, at which the skeleton freezes in place. Kalis can see there is a single sarcophagus set within the north wall, standing upright from floor to ceiling. It is empty, and its lid has been cracked and broken, reformed into a crude chair that rests at the base.

Seated in this chair is a pale humanoid figure, dressed in a cloak the color of dull metal that wraps around the being like a mantle. The hood is down, revealing a nose-less face with skin stretched tight around its skull. Jet-black pupiless eyes stare at Kalis from beneath a mane of white hair that falls to the creature's shoulders. A bare longsword gleams in the torchlight as it rests across the lap.

The creature speaks again, its voice echoing in a hollow chasm, and like a foul breath a wave of foreboding and woe washes across the party. "Never have a paltry few delved so deep within my domain. Come, enter in peace. You deserve an audience, at least."

Daniel follows everyone into the chamber. The smell of death is palpable.

You all stand under the unblinking gaze of hollow eye sockets from the bull's skull above. Its greataxe is held ready in both hands, but the skeleton's posture is more of a guard than an aggressor.

The seated figure barely moves, only its jaw twitching slightly within the stretched skin. "Welcome," it rasps, its voice seemingly coming from an empty chasm somewhere deep within its body. "You have traveled far, and deserve rest.

"Oh, but my manners," it interrupts itself. "I am Maerathol, the Black Lord of Ashewoad. Tell me of yourselves, and whence you came."

"Your Highness," says the creature, its words oozing like melted butter. "I welcome you and your retainers. I would bow, but as you can see... these old bones aren't what they used to be." A rasping sound begins, heavy and wheezing, and you realize that it is laughing.

"You'll forgive my ignorance of your domain," the being continues as the laughter subsides. "I have been stuck down here for quite some time. I do yearn to see the stars of the night sky, and I'm sure your Shifting Sands are a wonderful place. Actually... When I think about it, perhaps you could help me with that. Hm?"

"How exotic," the creature marvels, though there is an edge to its voice. "Truly you paint a fascinating tale of your homeland that only whets the appetite, despite your attempts to diminish its imagined splendor. As for your assistance..."

A bony finger is lifted until it points at Coda and the mask he wears. "You are no doubt aware of the symbol you have upon your forehead? All I ask is a small favor regarding the large one overlooking the exit. Close its gaze so that I may once again walk the fields under the dark mantle of the evening."