08.7 The Valley of Kings

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Kalans Revenge Mercenary Company
Company members:-
Taran – Half Elf Fighter/Priest of Mannanan Mac Lir, cousin to Carinne and Galvish
Carinne Rhianne Talynnart – Half Elf Ranger/Mage, Cousin to Taran and Galvish
Galvish – Half Elf Fighter/Thief, Cousin to Taran and Carinne
Krachtig – A Shocked Gnome
Barrigan Stonebeak – Dwarf Fighter/Priest, Company Engineer.
Lanneus Tuard – Paladin of Manannan Mac Lir
Saeryn Ghent – Fighter – (Kalans Sister)
Derek Summers – Fighter (Tarans former squire)

Return to the Undead Temple

Having defeated the undead mage and restored life to the charred corpse of Krachtig we loot the temple and return once more to the fishing village to check on their progress of eating the dragon turtle and other extra large seafood we had bought them.
From here we discuss our next move, it would seem that the two temples near to each other is not a coincidence and we may have discovered an ancient burial valley.  When one of the villagers overhears this they beg us to leave the tombs be, lest we release any undead into the wilderness.  Better we tackle them in their lair than inept miners or treasure hunters release them by accident.
We remember Derek who has not seen any action since the unfortunate day he tried to fight off the invaders to Tarans house and died quickly.  We get in touch and he is eager to accompany us, let’s just hope he can stay on his feet a bit longer this time.
Stocking up on preserved seafood we ride out to the valley and seek more adventure.
The first day into the journey a large group of minotaurs are spied in the distance.  They are making their way in the general direction of the fishing village.  The party lies in wait for them, as soon as they are close enough Taran checks to make sure they are evil before launching an attack into their ranks. The fight is short and brutal and four from the original band of twenty odd surrender, each is heavily wounded.  We warn them about going against the village and send them off without their weapons.
The next day on our journey sees us encountering the biggest Purple Worm anyone has ever seen.  The ground opens up by Tarans feet and he just manages to avoid being swallowed whole, this happens several times and soon the unlucky Galvish is in the monsters belly.  Each time we lash out at the creature Galvish receives a little bruising.  After numerous sword blows we kill the beast and carefully cut a very icky cousin out.  The stomach acid has given him a strange sheen.  Some curing and he is almost back to normal.
Getting close to the valleys entrance and a horde of zombies rush at us, after hacking at them many times we come to realize that these are not the common form of undead being but something much more powerful, this is confirmed as several of their number launch bone darts into our ranks, pinning Krachtig through the foot.  Upon our victory the gnome is seen trying to gather several of these foul weapons up.  Taran actively discourages this practice by smashing all the ones in his reach with a mace.
Finally, we find a spot in one of the many turns in the valley where some worked stone is noted, we clear the area and find a stone portal.  Both magic and traps are noted on the door.  Galvish makes an excellent job of deactivating the mechanical trap which would have caused half the cliff face to come tumbling down upon us.  The spellcasters manage to dispel whatever magicks there were on the door for better or for worse. We then retreat to rest up before entering the tomb proper.
The first large room contains many bodies garbed in funeral wrappings, entering this room activates the Ghasts which were masquerading as mummies.  Most of the party are choking on the stench these abominations emit before the combat is over.
In a side room a sarcophagus sits in the center of the chamber, as soon as Lanneus and Taran enter the room the paladins helmet glows blue, indicating the presence of undead.  A spectral figure emerges through the side of the sarcophagus and soon emits an unearthly wail.  A dreaded Banshee causes poor Derek to drop to the floor stone dead, Taran has a moment before his Diety must have smiled on him as he comes through the experience intact. The cursed elf is then smited till she can wail no more.
The corresponding chamber on the other side of the ghasts area contains another spectral undead.  Lanneus is struck by this creature and feels a cold chill inside, Taran is saved from a similar fate by the scarab he wears.  As before this creature is laid to rest and Derek is bought back to the land of the living but in need of some clean underwear.
The party gingerly advances to another chamber which contains four spectral undead in priestly garb.  They attack mercilessly and Lanneus is reeling under their chilling attacks, Taran takes a moment to try recognize the symbols they wear, which he recalls as worshippers of Hel, a goddess of the underworld, a brief attempt is made a placating these denizens, this doesn’t help Lanneus who is under a heavy assault but does enable us to bring more of the party into the combat.  Taran removes his scarab in order to preserve its magic properties and reenters the combat at his Paladins side with some minor protective spell to safeguard his being.  This is soon blown away and he too experiences the chilling touch of these creatures.  The last of these beings succumb to the combined attacks from the others and Lanneus and Taran are much weakened, to the point of needing some major restorative curing before being able to continue.