Hrothgar, refitted and ready

Back to Harm

Hrothgar and Enelye leave the library, knowing that more awaits them, even though no doors were found in the room.

They travel back through the scriptorium, over the hallway trap and to the cellar. They climb out of the cellar to find the day to be mid afternoon. Standing on the ruined tower they can see the stream they crossed to climb the hill to the tower, the thick grassland, rolling until it gets to the River Ox. And beyond that the rolling forested hills. And beyond that, the last bastion in the West, the Village of Harm.

If they hurried, they would be to Harm by dusk. Just in time for supper.

Even with as battered as they were, and as sorry they were at the loss of Rhian, it felt good to be out of the ruins of Udd. And breathing fresh air helped.

Hrothgar walked down the stairs and began his journey to Harm. "Come on Enelye, we can make it by supper time, then a soft bed, and tomorrow, we sell this stuff and find some more people who would like to help us clear out this tower."

~

The trip back to  Harm was uneventful, as both had hoped. The crossing of the River Ox in May was no easy feat, but they had both survived and now were back about to cross under the makeshift wooden gate that marked the entry to Harm. The gate and the wooden pallisade were the latest precautions the village leaders and merchants had taken to protect their interests and themselves from the ever increasing banditry and maurauding humanoids and beasties that now roamed the countryside. It was never like this when the Kings Frontier Forts and Garrison Towers were out west. Now only one fort remained, and none of the Kings army remained in the west. Untold numbers of towns, and villages lay in ruin, or were just unihabited as the people streamed back to the Kingdom, right on the heals of the retreating armies. It hadbeen 2 generations since the Exodus.

So Harm decided to go it alone. Because its leaders and merchants and business men and religious leaders hoped one day it could be the City in the West. So Harm has encouraged explorers and adventurers and warriors to come protect it, and better yet, to take back the West. 

"Come Enelye", Hrothgar said."back to town. We'll see what we can get for this treasure and return healed, better armed and in greater numbers. You can have Rhian's share."

Afterward

Hrothagr sighed, raised his sword and managed to hack off what was left of Rhian's head in two swipes. He met Enelye's horrified glare. "I don't need him rising up and biting me in the ass," he said.


"Let's see if there's any treasure in here. These creatures were here guarding something. After that, we're leaving, and I want enough money to hire some more muscle to come back this place, and clean it out proper."

Hrothgar searched the book shelves and found nothing. The books were rotten beyound use. But inside of one labeled " The Etymology of the 'Malus occidentalis mobilius' and other Bipedal Vegetation" was found a large glass vial with a luminescent green liquid.

Enelye found a chest concealed under one of the tables with a rotten red cloth over it. The chest was not locked. In fact the locking mechanism was torn away. Enelye carefully opened th lid and found it was not trapped. Inside was a small black chest. the inside of the chest was lined with white silk and was still intact and showed no signs of rot. Setting in the silk were two black pearls, the size of a childs fist. Also at the bottom of the chest was a silver skeleton key.

Enelye coveted such a find and considered placing them in her pockets, when she noticed that Hrothagr had walked up behind her. "What did you find?", he said. "Black pearls," said Enelye, embarrassed that she had thought to take them for herself. "They probably came from a merchant who got them form the Shi hul Morrah, the Sea Elves. They dive for them and coax them from the Giant Oysters. They are very rare. It is a great prize.Oh and a there's a key at the bottom of the chest."

Enelye stood up and closed the box. She wrapped the box tightly with twine from her backpack and put the box in her backpack. She walked over to the round table in the center of the room. Several books lay open on the table. One had the cresent moon and dagger symbol from the bronze daggers, scrawled on the inside cover. It had no writing on the spine. On the first page was scrawled, "To the troublesome Etherialist who can now call this tower his own. I hope you keep your head in the clouds, son, but always remember, the flesh is weak, but the mind can live on forever. signed Your Father, Lord Northewode"

The pages are now very faint and the book is well worn, almost rubbed clean. It is also water damaged, not from sitting in water, but from the pages being dripped on. Nothing more can be read in the torch light. Also on the table are crumpled up scrolls with broken wax seals.

Also strewn about the room is a collection of coins, 59 copper pieces and 93 silver pieces in total.

Against the western wall stands another upright wardrobe. Hrothgar opens the wardrobe to find rotten clothes hanging in the wardrobe.

Hrothgar what do you wish to do?   

The Library

Hrothgar stormed forward at the shadowy figure. He swung in a great arc(miss), but the Ghoul was quicker, and met Hrothgar half way, gruesome, filthy claws flailing out front, gnashing his teeth.(hit claw,claw, 3 pts dmg.)

As Enelye knocked an arrow, the zombie to her right lurched forward hungrily and swiped at her, landing a blow on her arm(hit, 2 dwg).

Enelye kept her focus and let loose a fearsome shot at the ghoul that streamed right under Hrothagr's arm and into the crouching creatures throat. It let out a terrifying shriek. (hit 8dmg).

Rhian pulled himself into the room and swung lazily at the other unengaged zombie, but missed. The zombie tried to grab rhian with his hungry hands, but missed.

The Ghoul slashed at Hrothgar as he recoiled from the bow shot(1 dmg).

Rhian gathered himself and swung as hard as he could at the zombie. He was so tired. His aim was true and he hacked into the side of the undead menace.(6dmg).

Enelye backed up, but was agian assaulted by the hugry zombie on her right.(1 dmg)

The fearsome wound Rhian had just put into the zombie he was attacking left it utterly unphased. It reached forward again and grasped Rhian's arms as he struggled to wrench his axe free from the rotting tissue sucking at it. And Rhian should have just let go. Zombie was huge and fat, and very intent on making rhian his next meal. It sunk its rotten teeth into Rhian's face and neck and tore huge chunks from his skull. His armor was drenched in bloody gore as the minster continued to feed. Rhian fell to the floor, with the zombie still attached to his face, feeding. (6 dmg, Rhian killed(-3))

Hrothgar heard Rhian's screams to the left, but dared not turn around. He advanced on the ghoul as it retreated and smashed its skull with a well placed down stroke.(2 dmg, killed ghoul)

Enelye dropped her bow and drew her sword to fight off the zombie that was on her, missing in the exchange, as did the zombie.

Hrothgar turned to see Rhian laying on the floor twitching as the zombie fed. He rushed forward to engage it but in the dim light stumbbled over the debris on the floor.

Enelye, carefully gathered herself and lunged at the zombie, skewering it through the eye cavity and scrambling its brains. It fell to the floor lifeless, again.(9 dmg, killed zombie)

The last creature continued to feed on Rhian's corpse. As Hrothgar and Enelye circled the creature it noticed the other meals and stopped and lunged at Hrothgar, Hrothgar snapped the creatures head to the side with a viscious smash from the flat of his sword. (5 dmg)

Finally, Enelye drove her sword into the creatures head, severing it from its shoulders.

Enelye and Hrothgar looked at each other for a moment, panting and bloody. Then they rushed to find Rhian's lifeless, bloody mess of a body. Rhian clearly was dead, his face half eaten, his neck and arms with huge gouges of flesh missing.

Enelye muttered an elvish prayer under her breath and backed away.

Hrothgar, what do you do?    

"Eleyne!" Hrothgar shouted."Put an arrow in that ghoul. Rhian, keep these rotters off me. I'm taking down that foul beastie".
Hrothgar lowered his shield and charged the ghoul.

F%ck these doors

Hrothgar tried to quietly break the lock. Who knew what could be on the other sideof the doors. It didn't budge. Hrothgar had had enough. He asked Enelye for her mace.

"Screw it. Whoever is on the other sid eof these doors heard us anyway." Hrothgar swung at the lock with all his might.

Pieces of the lock flew ion all directions, showering Rhian with metal shards. "Hey, look out!"

Hrothgar handed the mace back to Enelye and kicked the doors open and stood in the doorway to the room. He threw his torch in on the stone floor so it would illuminate the room.

Before him stood what was once probably a very nice library, larger than the writing room he was in. Shelves still lined the walls some even still contained books. in the center of the room a round table had several books and scrolls on it. On the western wall was a cupboard and a large wardrobe. Both closed. Litter and smashed chairs and wood cluttered the floor over a rotten rug. The room smelled of death. Recent death. As Hrothagr and Enelye scan the room, two figures stand up and start shambling toward them, rotten hands out, mouths open, yellowed eyes fixed on new food. 

Both Hrothgar and Rhian notice another, more shadowy figure crouched at the back of the room.  It is hairless, sickly blue green in color, with a menacing mouth full of pointed teeth. It is staring at you more like an animal than a mindless construct.

Hrothgar what do you do?

The Double Doors

Hrothgar checked the door and inspected the locks. They looked untrapped, but they were locked.

Hrothgar what do you wish to do?

"Everyone take a dagger," Hrothgar said."They may come in handy later as a key or a talisman to protect us from whatever evil lies beyond."
He walked carefully over to the door and examined it, paying close attention to lock especially.

Still searching

"Yes, it seems to be", Enelye said.

"I'll check the bodies", said Rhian. "Or what's left of them. I found some writing stuff on the shelves, doesn't look like much to me."

Enelye walked over to the shelves. She clearly saw that the writing insturments had value. she grabbed them up and stiwed them in her backpack. "Maybe these can be sold for some profit."

"Well, look what I found." Rhian held up a bronze dagger, sheathed and on a belt on the first skeleton he searched.

"There is another here", said Enelye.

As each was searched. Each carried a ceremonial bronze dagger on a red leather belt. Enameled on the scabbard was an cresent moon, facing down, with a dagger-like wedge cutting through the center.

Hrothgar, what do you want to do?

Hrothgar stuffed the remaining scroll in his bag. "Rhian, is there anything of value amoungst these rotters?"
"Enelye, is that door locked?"

Searching

"Enelye," Hrothgar panted"check those doors with your elven hearing. Rhian, check the shelves and I'll check the wardrobe."

Enelye crouched and put hear ear to the doors. All she heard was silence.

Rhian checked the shelves and found a couple of ink sticks, a crystal ink well, spare writing quills, and some sheets of paper.

I'll check for traps. (None found)

Hrothgar opened the wardrobe. It was loaded with tied scrolls. All were rotten save one at the very bottom. It looked untouched by age and weather.

Hrothgar, what do you do?

Storming the Scriptorium

Hrothgar screamed as he entered the room. The room was dark but burst to light with Hrothgars torch. Destroyed tables and chairs littered the room. He saw four skeletons begin to rise from the floor, swords in hand, with black shadows for eyes.

Hrothgar stood in awe of the reanimating skeletons(surprise, missed). Evil magics were indeed at work in this place. Enelye leapt into the room and swund her long sword hitting a skeleton triying to stand (surprise, 5dmg). Rhian gathered himself and charged into the room running into another skeleton not yet fully standing(surprise, 5 dmg).

The skeletons came on and were now fully erect, ready to guard the room, or cursed to spend their imortality as prisoners of it. Hrothgar gathered himself and smashed into the third skeleton with his sword.(4 dmg). Enelye gracefully swung again, smashing the undead in front of her to pieces(5dmg, kill). The other skeletons attacked, but failed to strike, but Rhian skeleton fell to the floor after a horrifying smashing blow to the head.(7 dwg, kill).

Hrothgar battered his skeleton to the ground and smashed through its sword arm then skull as pieces of bone went flying(2dmg, kill). Enelye sidestepped a blow from the final skeleton, and smashed his ribcage with her blow, but he kept swingin,(dmg5). Rhian swung wildly at the final skeleton and connected a glancing blow that crushed his left arm.(dmg 4).

Hrothgar moved forward and with the pommel of his sword smashed the creatures skull like and egg shell. It fell to pieces and lay motionless on the ground.(5 dmg, kill).

Everyone panted heavily at the quick encounter. and afetr a quick check, realized noone had been hurt. A victory after early close calls.

Hrothgar, you notice that the room contained what appear to be writing desks, some smashed, some intact, chairs, a couple of shelves and a wardrobe against the western wall that is still in tact. An ornate double door, similar to the one you just came from is on the wall opposite of where you entered the room. Debris and paper litter the floor is places. Black and gold ink cover the walls in places where it looks like ink wells havebeen thrown against it and exploded. Shards of crystal cover the floor as well.

Hrothgar, what do you wish to do?

Screeeeee......

"Baldur's balls" Hrothgar cursed under his breath. The door made a loud creak. He looked at Elenye and said "oh, well".
He drew his sword and kicked the door hard to open the rest of the way, He gave Lugurian warcry and charged in...

Hrothgar tries the door

Hrothgar grabs the door handle and gently tries it.

The handle moves and the door does not seem to be locked. The handle is well made, but makes a slight grinding sound becuase of its condition.

Enelye asserts some authority

"How about if I try. I have no desire to walk into a trap." Enelye gently brushes Hrothgar to the side." My ears," she touches the tip of one of her long pointed ears, " sometimes hear things a human wouldn't."

Enelye listens intently at the door. (2)

There's something moving on the other side of this door. Shuffling, not mechanical. Maybe more than one.

Hrothgar, what do you do?

Trying the door

Hrothgar moved his torch about the door, looking for traps. His next move was hand Rhian his torch and try the door.

Nothing...

You hear nothing...

Hrothgar, what do you do?

Hrothgar listens

Hrothgar put a finger to his lips to let the others know to be quiet. It was mostly for Rhian who was still sputtering up water and hacking. He put an ear to the door....

Onward

Once he had gotten Rhian out of the trap. Hrothgar sat and thought, " I bet I can bridge th trap with some of the floor debris from the collapsed tower."

Hrothgar went back to the door to the tower. He cautiously opened it and searched for any signs of movement or rat activity. Seeing none, he grabbed some timbers to drag down the passageway to bridge the trap.

He placed the timber across the trap, making a 4' wide walkway of roughcut timber across the trap.

He then crossed the trap, as did Enelye and Rhian.

You see before you a carved wooden door, bound in iron. The door casement is made of stone and is carved into many symbols and many different languages. You make out a general theme from the writings and carvings and specifically "Through this portal-as in all thingsin the known and unknown world-knowledge is power. Carvings of books and scrolls cover the door along with scripts and symbols.

The door looks old and is covered in mold at the bottom from all of the water in the hallway, but seems stout and strong.

Hrothgar, what will you do?