The Ruined Abbey, Part 2
5 Kythorn, The Year of Twelve Warnings (1494 DR)
Phandalin, The Sword Coast
Caradoc, Errich, and Crane, now joined by an archer hireling named Jonric and a ranger/sorcerer named William returned in the morning to the ruined abbey.
They entered the building after Caradoc took a few turns trying to forcibly open the stuck double doors and was finally aided by William. Inside, was a large room divided by a wall between another room. The wall had large holes in several areas making the whole area more like a single room.
A large statue sat near the wall opposite the doors, its features having been well worn and was now unrecognizable. They saw in the rear of the other room a partially blocked area containing a set of stairs leading down.
However, their attention was drawn to the main room where three of the zombies that looked like recently killed farmers suddenly rushed at them.
After slaying the zombies in the main room, three more zombies alerted by the sounds of battle ran up the stairs from somewhere below.
The group disposed of those zombies as well.
After, Errich mentioned that something or someone had clearly turned the farmers into walking dead. Perhaps the young boy's family may have been the ones they had to slay.
After Crane lit a torch, the group went down the stairs.
The stairs led down to what may have served as a lounge area where residents could relax and study or hold conversations. The room contained a closed door on the wall opposite the base of the stairs. A grand fireplace lay filled with dirt and debris that washed down the stairs over the years along the right wall with a stone table still standing in front of it. A faded painting of the goddess Chauntea hung above the fireplace. The painting of Chauntea showed her giving a blessing over a meal. There appeared to be some sort of grain in one of her hands and a pitcher of water, milk, or mead in the other.
The door on the opposite wall led to a 10-foot wide hall that ran some 75 feet to a cluster of doors at the far end. The hall also ran 10 feet to one end which ended at a large statue that looked like a guard of some sort. Two of the doors at the end look like they may be privies at the end of the hall and the two others lay recessed opposite of each other a short distance before the others.
The hall was empty of monsters. Some debris has washed into this room over the years, but not as much as the room they came from.
The statue seemed to depict some sort of knight or paladin. Some of the features had been broken off or ruined over the years. A partial name or title was etched into the base of the statue with the name, Sir Bronnen Springshield. Crane said Sir Bronnen Springshield was a famous paladin who dedicated his life to the service of both Lathander and Chauntea, a rarity among paladins who tended to serve only one deity. No one knew for sure whatever became of the paladin who traveled all across the Realms serving those in need while vanquishing evil wherever the paladin found it.
The group continued down the hall.
After Caradoc listened to what may be behind the southern door, he heard chanting. After warning the others, he spoke through the door warning those beyond to step out and meet him and his fellow adventurers.
"Enter this room so you may soon join my undead minions," a coarse voice responded.
Not wasting anymore time, the group entered the room.
The room was not as dark as the last few in the basement. There was a dim light coming from a partially open set of double doors on the left as they entered. They can also make out a single door centered on the far wall as well. The room may have once been a chapel of some sort. A large altar sat centered to the right of the room and an old iron chandelier hung under a ceiling with mirrored tiles embedded in a mosaic showing a cloud scene.
Standing in the room was what appears to be the rest of the farmers turned zombies. Three of the zombies were standing in the middle of the room gathered together while the fourth one stood behind the altar. This last one was wearing ancient ceremonial robes of a priest to Lathander. A thick gold necklace hung around his neck. He sneered as the group entered, a look suggesting more intelligence than the other zombies.
The battle was not as easily won. At one point, the zombie priest--which the group would later learn was a Deathlock--touched William which him much pain, as if his skin was deteriorating while he yet lived.
However, the adventurers did slay the three zombies and the deathlock. They searched the deathlock and found a pearl which seemed to glow with magic. They also took the gold necklace from the deathlock.
After Crane healed Willaim completely, the group entered the room where the dim light was coming from.
This room was large with the rear two corners containing recesses containing large statues of soldiers of some type. One wore a holy symbol of Lathander and the other wore a symbol of Chauntea. They appeared to have once had gemstones in their eye sockets, that had long been removed. The wall between them contained a large painting of a door with some sort of inscription written on it. Hanging from the ceiling was a large brass chandelier that gave off magical light illuminating the whole room. Throughout the room were mosaics of runes circling the room and forming a circle upon the floor in front of the wall with the painting of the door upon it. Crane said the runes may have been for protection and at one time prevented scrying, but have lost that magic and now lay dormant.
Caradoc looked at the runes upon the door. They could still be read despite having faded with time. The runes read:
“Honor and truth protect the land. The enemy of spring and summer must not enter.”
“Aurilsbane is the key.”
Crane said the words spring and summer referred to the gods Lathander and Chauntea. He added that Auril in Aurilsbane referred to the evil goddess of winter. The group soon realized that the only way to open the door was to bring the magic sword named Aurilsbane to the room. The sword needed to be placed upon a faint outline of a sword they found painted upon the door. The rest of the painted door was painted in gold and silver depicting much gild and scrollwork making the outline of the sword somewhat hard to see.
Not knowing where to find Aurilsbane, the group finished searching the rest of the room and any other rooms they passed in the abbey.
Leaving the abbey, the group was happy to have found a bag containing 100 SP and 50 GP. They also found 50 more SP, and 10 more GP in the other rooms.
After returning to Phandalin, the group had the bag and pearl identified by Adolphus The Wise for a minimal fee Errich paid for. The bag turned out to be a bag of holding, and the pearl was a pearl of power. Adolphus said that was why the deathlock was able to cast an extra spell beyond what it could.
It was decided that the coins found would go to help the young boy who survived. Friar Benin of Chauntea had found a family in Phandalin willing to raise the child.
The adventurers, happy to have made out of the abbey without becoming an undead, celebrated with drinks at The Sleeping Giant. There they decided to split the money they received after selling the gold necklace but hadn't decided on how to split the two magical items they found.Relations
Protagonists
[Caradoc Ehrenhalt
Errich Alderleaf
Crane Dermont (Cleric of Chauntea)
Jonric (Archer hireling)
William (Ranger/Sorcerer)
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