The Family Game

Session 3-5

Session 2: The Lost Barrows

Session notes   At the request of the Green One, and elven Druid who had recently come to the forests of Bastia, our party went to investigate an ancient druidic circle.   Oda who had grown up in the area knew that the place was the source for many stories to scare kids into behaving. On the trek to the circle the party stopped at Green Lake to fill up their waterskins and wash up a bit. While at the lake, Guardian stuck up a conversation with a young elm tree, inquiring if the lake was safe. In response to this question the sapling shrunk down with a shiver, though through all of the party’s searching nothing nefarious was found where they were.   Finally after reaching the circle they found a large stone with strange arcane tunes carved into it. After a bit of discussion the group figured out that the stone was some ancient planar gate. Olavah the Brave stepped forth and touched the stone to see what it was about. Upon doing this a horrible creature appeared. The party battled this ghostly creature, at first their attacks seemed to not be as effective as they thought, but with the combined spells of Oda’s Chill Touch and Guardian’s Faerie Fire the managed to break through the phantom’s defenses. With the sharp shooting of Rai Ann and one final axe swing from Olavah, the phantom faded away.   Upon the phantoms death, the earth around the party began to shake, falling away from the hillside, the moving earth revealed a large stone door. Upon the door was inscribed the same rune as on the rock. As Guardian touched the door, the Druidic magic he possesses reacted with the magic of the door which then opened up for them.   Heading down the dark path it became evident that this place had been abandoned for a very long time. At the end of the passage they found a stone door with the markings of Pelor upon it. The door was locked but appeared to open with a strange Sun shaped key. Olavah became slightly obsessed with the door and began to put his fist into the sun slot.   Oda and Rai Ann went left and found themselves in the library of the Druids. The area filled with ancient crumbling scrolls but the two managed to find a long forgotten journal of a young Druid who at the time, was new to the circle. The journal told of a legendary warrior who had recently come to the circle for healing. It also told of a strange energy passing through the portal and of the Druids being worried about the seals holding. Fearing this was about the locked door, Oda and Rai Ann rushed over to stop Olavah from opening it! With a failed grapple from Oda, Rai Ann managed to get Olavah held back from the door.   Guardian went right and discovered three Feau Foliets dancing around a strange pedestal. Atop the pedestal sat three bowls with seeds placed in them. The alchemical symbols for water, earth, & fire were engraved on the bowls. Guarding placing dirt in the earth bowl caused the seed to sprout. Quickly rousing the others from their grapple confusion Guardian and the others solved the rest of the puzzle. All the seeds sprouted and revealed the amber sun key.   Going down to unlock the door revealed a spiral stair leading down. Going down the stair the party found a petrified halfling upon an altar, whose condition they learned from Olavah who has seen this several times where he is from.   Heading down the hall from there they came into a room with a well in the middle as well as six skeletons! As the battle began Olavah the Brave ran into the room catching the ire of the skeletons. The rest of the party sat outside the room blasting the undead away! With the help of the fire spirit of Guardian the party managed to defeat the skeletons!   Afterwards they searched the room, finding nothing much of note aside from the well. Disguised with some fading illusion magic, the well was actually a path down to the lower barrows.   Down in the lower barrow the party found a wight in a strange magic prison. Olavah recognized the wight’s armor as being that of the legendary hero Dalsharn the Unworthy.   The wight seeing the party asked them, “Heal Me”. Oda using her mage hand put a potion into the wight’s hand which he simply just held. Olavah reached in and took the potion taking some cold damage from the magic prison.   After a quick search Rai Ann found an old book of notes from the Druids who had lived there. The book tells of the injuries sustained by Dalsharn and how he came to them for healing. The Druids were however too late as he turned into a wight. They suspended him in the magical prison until they could find a way to save him. Determining there was nothing they could do for him at this time, group departed the barrows.   After reaching the surface Guardian managed to find an old Druidic cache in which there were some magic items that would serve the party well!   Next on the party’s table, return to the Green One at his home? Or?