The Graveyard of Pine Grove

As I set out on my travels from the rigorous combat training and educational system of temple life, my feet eventually lead me farther North than I have ever traveled. The weather is worsening as it draws closer to winter solstice. The snow is packing in a little deeper, which leaves myself and my traveling companion Hellah, little choice but to stop and spend the night in the town of Pine Grove. Hellah and I met on the road and concluded it is safer to travel together than alone as we make our way through the valley. She, like myself, is also a Half-Elf. Half-human, half-Elf, a person torn by two worlds that set out to find herself and travel throughout the world. Hellah is also a ranger and is much older than I, for she was around during the end of the great war that lasted 116 years. I am young and new to the outside world and know little of war though I have been well trained for combat.
 
The hamlet of Pine Grove seems like a quiet, friendly place, at least from what we could make of it from the outside. Hellah and I didn't speak the local language up here so we keep quiet as we walk into town. It was dusk as light left us behind the mountains you can begin to see the two moons appear in the sky above. Weary from journeying, I make my way to the tavern, as all weary travelers do in search of comfort and hopefully someone else to make conversation with. Hellah goes off in a different direction, hopefully, I'll see her later for a drink. Upon my arrival, I notice in disgust the name of this establishment is the Dead Raven! Rattled, I immediately go into the tavern and sit at the bar asking for the owner and to explain the naming of this place. Such a distaste and disgrace toward Morr, the deity of Death, Dreams, and Fate. For I am a faithful of Morr, an invoker, trained by his temple servants in the arcane arts and forbidden lore. Surely this place is cursed for his symbol is a raven. The innkeeper says upon purchasing this tavern, a raven flew into a window and died. His wife took it for a bad omen, but they had already paid for the place and had no option than to stay so they called it the Dead Raven... I had a drink after hearing that nonsense.
 
Shortly afterward I notice there is some commotion about in the room. An angry noblewoman, not quite sure what her problem is, didn't seem to happy to be here, as well as a few people talking hesitantly in the back. Her handler followed her in with bags in tow to take up to her room. I ask the innkeeper if there is any sort of local trouble going on. He points to the rear of the tavern and says "That is William Digger, our town gravedigger." Says there have been recent disturbances at the village gravesite with tombs being defiled and bodies being looted. *Gasp* I quickly walk over to the gravedigger hoping he can understand me and inquire about the trouble beholding the graveyard. William is already engaged in conversation with two other travelers in their common tongue. William turns out is also able to speak my native language and tells me of his issues regarding the gravesite. I also speak to the Tiefling in his native Infernal tongue which he reciprocates and we continue the conversation. While speaking in Infernal, the noblewoman appears extremely disgusted upon hearing this language. His Dragonborn friend however I am unable to speak with. After much discussion, I join the two other travelers out into the cold night air to watch over the graves this evening in hopes of catching this culprit.
 
While making our way to the site, I learn the Tiefling's name is Carilius Damachles, who comes from the elemental plane of fire. This sounds amazing until he tells me he was a mining slave there until he was able to escape here to the material plane, which we call prime. His friend the Dragonborn he tells me is Tycone. We venture north and over the bridge of the river that stretches across the northern part of town and over a hill to the graveyard. We spread out hesitantly watching onward from various locations. Night lingers on and mostly we find a nuisance of rats that seem to be digging up the graves. We dispatch them quickly and effortlessly. However, one grave was broken into and appeared looted or we made it in time scaring off someone trying to loot the body. I help clean up some of the graves and fill several holes all while being yelled at by some of the town watch who arrive shortly after we did. Carilius calms them down a little. After all the commotion I say my prayers and go back to the inn for the night.
 
The next morning we are to meet with the town guard after breakfast, however, I head off to finish cleaning and praying over the graveyard with William. While I am overlooking the graveyard I notice the hole behind the mausoleum I filled back up, has been dug up again. Also, the grave I cleansed had the body dug up again and looted. You can still see the fresh tracks in the snow where someone came from last night, as well as tracks of someone being dragged. First, I look at the hole that is dug up again only to notice this was quite the little tunnel. As I do this, the rest of the travelers from last night make their way up to the gravesite. I decide to squeeze into the tunnel to see where this graveyard culprit was coming from. Lo and behold I turn up inside the next mausoleum with a whole bunch more rats! I cry out in Infernal for help, which I know the Tiefling can understand my plea, and the others will just be alarmed and question the demonic screaming. I pull my shield over my head from my back in an attempt to defend myself whilst attempting to get out of the hole. I survive by the grace of Morr whose powers help shield me from a particularly large rat with the aid of the travelers from last night.
 
In the aftermath of the fight, I notice there is a stone paver on the floor that didn't have any dirt or soot on it. Upon lifting the stone, another tunnel is discovered. After much discussion, Carilius convinces the guards to allow us to dig a tunnel outside of the graveyard to get down to a larger portion of the tunnel section. A task spearheaded by Carilius and Tycone, mostly Tycone. I head back to the inn to clean up and rest from the fight along with getting another drink. Dusk comes and I make my way back to the graveyard, passing a few townsfolk that were assisting with the tunnel. A priestess casts some light for Carilius and Tycone who finish digging shortly thereafter. Carilius and Tycone decide to camp outside and guard the tunnel, the priestess and I head back separately to the tavern for food and rest. Tomorrow we climb down the tunnel, I sure hope Hellah will join us. I still need to find out where those tracks lead...
 
8th of Kalt 116 16:00 - 9th of Kalt 116 18:00