Expedition 49a - Mandras' Account

Mandras came to in the lovely daylight of the surface. His colleagues told him how lucky he had been and how he had struck the dragon its deathblow, albeit from behind. Sadly, many companions had returned to the mud, including Alf. Fortunately, we had both Rarder’s body (mysteriously preserved by a magic sword in his hands) and Alf’s. After inquiries in Redwood, we were apprised of a walled city, Ordones, containing a fortress abbey, run by lawful priests. Apparently, we could get bodies brought back to life. Full of hope, we packed the gems, took horses and a cart and set off for the abbey. We crossed the river and turned south to the city, arriving there without event. The walls were studded with bodies of executed folk, who knows their crimes… As we entered Koko felt heavily ill at ease, the smell of law was as much a stench to him as it was fresh air to me – yet I admit that I too was uncomfortable, not liking fanatics of any persuasion. Koko peeled off, trolling the pubs for hirelings.

We queued at the Abbey. It was a long queue, very long and evening was approaching. Mandras made discrete inquiries from a fellow Dwarf and the party decided to camp in situ and not lose our sport in line. In the morning, we eventually reached a majordomo, who looked down his nose at us and wouldn’t bother the Brother Superior with our request (which was well beyond his own abilities). Konrad swayed him with lucre and a mention of the huge amount we were willing to pay. We were ushered into the presence of the Grand Inquisitor Enedor, a beady eyed, gaunt pursuer of faith driven by lucre… We arranged the return of our friends through the payment of all the gems we carried plus a magical weapon. He then added that we also had to pay the price of the Gods… It turned out our two risen friends were geased to slay undead of their ability level or permanently lose one ability per week. And not just anywhere, but to the north in a mountainous area that was generating heretical influences that were tainting the land.

We took our fleetest horses and, after recovering Koko and his new henchmen from the dens of iniquity, headed North. On the 4th day we reached a plateau in the midst of which arose a peak. Sprinkled around the plateau were grey slabs that promised to open into the underworld. As we explored one slab, we were set upon by three undead. Koko was unable to turn them. Mandras killed one with a single blow and the others fell to colleagues. When the abominations collapsed a rush of grubs issued forth from the bodies and burrowed back into the grey soil. We then came upon a plinth covered in necromantic runes. It was dedicated to some God, Grutfan or similar and read: Life in Death. We went north again to a slab and forced our way in. The approach was full of bones and an ominous pit dropped down to the depths below. A solid looking tripod held a pulley and a circular wooden platform. The path ahead was clear.