Session V (REDEUX): Wait, who's in this party and what happened to that other guy? Report

General Summary

It was concluded that Cicero is dead, therefore, the party decided to move on. With great emotion, of course.

Great consideration was given to where they have been and what they have done. They have escaped form Ash Hill and the fate of the city is unknown.

They came ashore in the small fishing village of Glenn Hollow. They found the village massacred with some odd symbols painted in blood (skull with horns).

Those that escaped with them (a soldier, a small child, and an older lady) opted to take shelter as the former-gladiators decided to investigate a potential cause of the undead uprising in Ash Hill... the curse of the Barrow-King. Evidently, some time in the recent path, a Priest of the Rising Dragons, his wife and their followers (about 50 in all, some Azurites were caught helping people of faith escape death in the Arena. The Magistrate of Ash Hill ordered their very public execution with hours of brutal torture beforehand. Many witnesses claim that upon their death, the couple uttered a curse upon Ash Hill.... and the rumors began.

The couple were interred to the northwest of Ash Hill, near a small fishing village. The intention was to set their monument as a warning to other would-be insurgents. Instead, the location fanned the flames of the rumors and the location became known for being haunted.

And to this site the party went. When they arrived they found a strange guard - orcs. Perplexed and desiring to know more, the orcs were assaulted (1 survived and retreated inside). Soon thereafter, a cloaked man and several ghouls arrived. The party hid as he entered the tomb as well.

Cautiously, the party entered the tomb and found the animated remains of the Priest and his wife - ghouls. With merciful fist they were set free from their rotted bonds. Afterward, the party explored a tapestry at the end of the hall and found that it led to a series of tunnels. The tunnels, suited more for man than rat, began with macabre guardians - undead monstrosities that had been reassembled with the addition of blades and various plates of iron. They were defeated, though much blood was shed.

With the recent discoveries, many in the party no longer believe that there is a curse affecting Ash Hill - at least not from the couple. So, who occupies this cavern system and what, if anything, do they have to do with what is happening in Ash Hill? Looking for these answers the party pressed on, dispatching more chirurgeons, a cloaker, and a mimc. Despite the setbacks the push forward more.

After finding and defeating a trio of chirurgeons, two paths exited a large cavern they had occupied. The cavern they were in was decorated with blood throughout, even seeped into the sand that covered the floor. Upon examination, one passage showed a sandy, bloody path while the other did not. The bloody path was followed.

Soon the adventurers found a new room with hanging iron cages (4). 1 held a deceased male human with grease marks all over his body - likely the work of a "surgeon" making plans. Two others lived, though they were unconscious and unable to be revived. A connected room revealed a squarish cavern with a lone table in the center. Upon the table a human had been strapped, likely in preparation for surgery. 4 magical braziers with green globes of light decorated the corners. A short conversation with the merchant (he had been abducted from Ash Hill) revealed that there is another set of cells and that a cloaked human would arrive shortly to begin to begin surgery on him. The merchant was re-gagged, much to his dismay, and the party set a trap.

With superior planning, surprise, and a lightning strike, the party annihilated the would-be surgeon and his chirurgeon flunkies.

What will be their next move?