Massacre at the Howling Canyon

The race to find a powerful dwarven artifact

Elisira Wildheart a halfling paladin and member of the Order of the Griffin gathered three other adventurers on her mission. She was tasked with bringing the famed archeologist Fargrim Rakenkrak from the dwarven kingdom of Exur to the remote Howling Canyon. The Dwarves had discovered what looked to be an ancient tomb, and requested help in getting it open and retrieving a powerful relic inside.
Elisira had the following companions: Calen Ashmore an Elven Druid, Faziel Al Urkhan a Brass Elf Sorcerer and Naps in Grass a Sakasta Monk. Their guide was Lasnia Stoneaxe, a dwarven scout who knew the area fairly well.

Upon arriving at the canyon, the group heard a tremendous crack, like stone falling upon stone. Lasnia explained that there was a guard point halfway through the crescent shaped canyon. The group hurried forward and encountered a pack of hyenas feasting upon the slaughtered bodies of dwarven and human defenders. The group make quick work of them, but a patrol of hyena-like creatures arrived and attacked. As the battle progressed, one tried to flee the canyon but was stopped by Naps.

With one of the creatures still alive, Naps convinced it that he and the Brass Elf sorcerer were only pretending to help the dwarves. The trick worked and Calen and Elisira became “prisoners” to the other three. They continued to the excavation site where they came face to face with the pack leader of the hyena beasts. Two cloaked figures standing near the tomb door watched.

Naps continued his ruse, and was able to get very close to the pack leader and spring an attack. It got very dangerous very quickly as the cloaked figures, Brass Elves raiders, pulled out bows and started firing down at the party. Elisira was able to cut down the pack leader with a mighty swing of her great axe. Alas, Faziel was killed during the battle against the pack lord, felled by a Brass Elf arrow. Once the enemies were defeated, the group gathered information.

A few of the dwarf survivors were able to give a description of about five monsters and elves that entered the tomb using magic. Rakenkrak confirmed the groups suspicions that this was the tomb of the famed dwarven hero Thedren Silverlight. Rakenkrak examined the door and discovered that is required a series of pictograph knobs to be turn in order to open. With his knowledge, the group guessed the correct sequence of pictograms (axe, bowl and shield) to open the door.

The group plunged into the tomb. Naps rang a gong (and later discovered that the gong deactivated and activated trap doors in the stone corridors). They found the four tombs of Thedren’s lieutenants, but no sign of the brass elves or monsters. Naps discovered a secret door in the northern most tomb and it lead to the main tomb of Thedren himself.

Calen figured out how to remove the protective flames from the axe and shield in the room. He transformed into a bear (his preferred mode of combat) and grabbed the axe. This caused all the crystal statues in the room to spring to life and attack the party. During the battle Naps retrieved the shield, but also extinguished the last brazier. Elisira and Calen/bear were fighting blind.

Naps made a break for it with the shield, but ran into an Anubine assassin. Elisira and Calen were able to escape from the crystal statues, but were badly injured. They made it back to the tombs, and the statues seemed unable to follow. But it was out of the frying pan and into the fire - the Brass Elf leader and her minions were waiting for them.

They demanded the shield in exchange for the party’s lives. Naps used his amazing speed and parkour abilities to get around the enemies and take the axe and shield back out to Lasnia and Rakenkrak. Calen hurried after him, but Elisira was left facing the Brass Elf Leader, “I’ll give you the honor of being killed by me.”

The two women began their battle, with Elisira retreating as best she could. The Brass Elf’s minions hurried after Calen and Naps. But Naps threw a dart at the gong, and struck it again. This time there was a stone on stone rumble and sounds of surprise and crashing. Naps had reactivated the trap floor and the minions fell right into them.

Elisira continued her retreat, came the pit in the floor and leapt across. She had to drop her axe to catch hold of the side, but she pulled herself out of the pit and hurried away. Meanwhile Naps, Calen and Lasnia set up an ambush at the entrance to the tomb, ranged attacks at the ready.

Elisira hurried out to her companions, the Brass elf on her heals (using mist to travel across the gap in the floor). Once Elisiria was clear, the group held the Brass elf back long enough for the team to shut the tomb doors and seal her inside.

The group had obtained the magical shield of Thedren Silverlight. They hurried out of the canyon to make the trek back to Exur.