Session 13 - The Tunnels Beneath Frostwindring
General Summary
The human Bertrand meets with Heinrich around the same time the other party members were leaving to join the revelries planned at the Riese encampment. The two of them enjoy a moment of small talk and wine before Bertrand informs Heinrich of his reasons for being in Silberbad. He tells Heinrich a summarized version of events leading up to his and his companions' arrival, informing him of the events in Riesenhain, the Riese encamped in the woods just outside of Silberbad, as well as of their efforts to transcribe a mysterious book.
Bertrand also tries to convince Heinrich to take power in his his father's stead and act against the The Sensenmann by offering the Riese permanent residence within Silberbad. Bertrand claims many things that he is uncertain about and cannot guarantee but persists that he can empower Heinrich to take action. Heinrich questions Bertrand’s motives and is not convinced that offering the Riese residence would accomplish anything except invite more of the Sensenmann’s punishments. As a final effort to convince Heinrich, Bertrand brings up Elsa, Heinrich’s fiancé and this years’ “offering” to the Sensenmann, but rather than talk about her, Heinrich invites Elsa to the table.
The three of them talk about Bertrand’s plot for a short time when Heinrich is abruptly called away to other matters, leaving Elsa and Bertrand to stir with what they were just discussing. Bertrand tries to get insight into Elsa’s thoughts and feelings on the matter, but it seems she has resigned herself to her fate. Buzzed and annoyed, Bertrand frustratingly tries to convince Elsa that she should want to live and running may be her best option. The alcohol seemed to have a more adverse effect on Bertrand as the next thing he remembers is waking up in a cell. He is greeted by a guard and told that something happened last night, and he needs to follow him.
* * *
Klein, Chlothar, Belak, and Bertrand Totengraber are back at their residence in Frostwindring in the midst of deciding what to do next after their conversation with the Burgomeister. They are interrupted by guards arriving with the human Bertrand in tow and the party is reunited after a night that could have gone in a very different direction.
The party spares no time and decides to explore the tunnels that was found the night prior. Within the tunnel, the Riese Bertrand scouts a path ahead of the party as not all of them can see in the dark. Torches in hand, they slowly make their way through the corridors of this tunnel, coming across smaller paths that look to be used by all types of small critters and vermin. Not wanting to risk the claustrophobic squeeze of these smaller paths, the party presses onward.
The party comes to a three-way split in the tunnel with the northern path leading to a dead end. In this northern section the Riese Bertrand found and activated a button that opened the northern passage to a room that that the Human Bertrand recognized as desecrated ground.
In the chamber that lies beyond, four lifeless cadavers lay atop four stone slabs laid out across this hidden room and before anyone is able to assess the situation Belak’s curiosity gets the better of him as he reaches out and touches one of the cadavers. The ‘Slab Man’ wakes with a dusty growl and begins attacking the closest thing in sight. Having to act fast, the party is unable to make any effective strikes on the Slab Man and to make things worse, another one begins to stand up from its stone slab. One of the creatures bears down on the human Bertrand with its grosses messer and lands what would have been a killing slash but, Bertrand miraculously holds on despite a grievous- looking wound, until it follows up with another attack and takes Bertrand down.
The remaining party members defeat one of the Slab Men and right when things were turning into their favor, the remaining creature lands another killing strike on Belak where he had already been previously injured and cuts his arm clean off, knocking Belak unconscious. Not knowing if the remaining two Slab Men will wake, the party contemplates retreating from an encounter that has turned deadly..
Survival instincts kick in for Belak, and he is able to stabilize himself and rejoin the fight in what capacity he can. After receiving a healing potion from the Riese Bertrand, the human Bertrand is also able to pick himself back up and join the others in taking down the other Slab Man.
Luckily for them the remaining two Slab Men were left undisturbed and did not wake from their undead slumber. Understanding this could have been the end of them if they did the party is relieved and feels blessed that they made it out of combat with their lives. After this close call the party decides it’s best to see to their injuries before moving forward and leaves the newly uncovered tunnel system the way they came.
* * *
Making their way to the Abbey for healing services the party is accosted by a mob of townspeople demanding answers and payment for the events that transpired the previous night. With the help of his “bad arm” Belak is single-handedly able to intimidate the crowd and get them to back off. Among the townspeople, Elsa decides to accompany the party to the Abbey where they are able to heal some of their injuries.
After arriving at St. Gertrude's Abbey, the Riese Bertrand speaks with Sister Michaela about some of the items that were taken off the Slab Men in the tunnels. She mentions the necklaces are symbols of the Sensenmann and signify that you belong to him. Of course, Bertrand had already put one of the necklaces on and was now unable to remove it. The party was in the right place at the right time for this problem to occur and Sister Michaela was able to help remove the accursed necklace from Bertrand, seemingly without repercussions.
The party also receives information from Sister Michaela about the Dwarfs and how they might have the means to restore or rebuild Belak’s arm. The best place to start looking for them would be the nearby silver mines.
Leaving the necklaces at Saint Gertrude's, the party, along with Elsa, heads back into Silberbad. They arrive in the evening, and Elsa goes her separate way, leaving the party to get some well-deserved rest.Rewards Granted
- Two cursed necklaces (left at abbey)
- Two grosses messers
- 300 marks (given by the Burgomeister for services rendered)
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