Chapter 1 - Change

The figure appears to be a carving of a sitting dog in black crystal. It sits facing the entrance to the chamber.

Gawen leans in to inspect it, careful not to touch it. Then, taking a careful step back, he prods it gently with the tip of his staff.

The figurine glistens in the torchlight, but appears otherwise unremarkable, aside from its impressive workmanship. Every detail is perfect. From each pointed tooth down to the individual strands of fur. The pressure from Gawen's staff pushes the tiny dog slightly to the side, but nothing else appears to happen.

Still trying to avoid touching it if possible, Gawen picks it up through the cloth in his sleeve and places it in his belt pouch.

As Gawen lifts the statuette from its pedestal, the lid pops from the sarcophagus behind it with a crash, and all around the chamber skeletal warriors begin to rise from the alcoves in the walls. Everyone roll initiative.  

Kara is greatly surprised by the dead starting to move, calling out " I TOLD YOU WE SHOULDN'T BOTHER THE DEAD!" as she and Gawen were swarmed by shambling monsters! She quickly tries to make the best of a bad situation, calling forth her Helgi, which helped to fill her with a sense of calm and surety about how to handle this situation. She takes her blade and quickly swings it at the closest monster, connecting to it in a great way. Her blade seemed to find a good amount of purchase, searing and crackling with raw holy power assualting it, and with her swing she scorches the skin of the beast, before following it up with her shield, bashing and forcing the creature to move back from Gawen, giving him some time to breath. She was not sure what had set off the monsters, but now they were here they needed dealing with.

Gawen is caught off-guard by the creatures, and even more so when Kara's blade releases a torrent of holy power. Thankful for the gap she created, he retreats towards the door, ensuring the figurine is safely stashed in his belt pouch. Just in time, he remembers to avoid the suspicious floor tile - with that hazard avoided, he turns around and makes the same casting motion he did upstairs, muttering under his breath as he beseeches the spirits to help his friends' blows strike true in the dark tomb.

Magan quickly steps up to the closest skeleton, Thea in hand, and brings his blade from below in a devastating backhand slash that tears through the undead monster's rib cage. It staggers for a second, but before it can react he follows with a smash from his shield that sends it clattering to the floor in a heap of bones and ragged armour.

Ewen watches as the weapons of his companions seem to be doing little damage to these skeletons, a fearfulness reaches up towards his mind as the whispers of Toirneoir push through the terror. 'Fear not the living dead, child. The knife does not cut the bone, but the rock will release the marrow.' For a moment Ewen's mind spins as he tries to figure the riddle presented to him, but as the sword in his hand begins to quiver and shift he smirks. He focuses his will upon the sword... the handle elongates into a hefty shaft of iron while the mass of the blade pushes into a bladed mass upon the end of the haft. He lifts the maces, testing its weight in the hand as he moves forward to engage the melee with his holy companion.

Guthric throws himself into the fray with wild, savage joy. The first skeleton in his path meets a wall of wood and steel as the savage's shield throws it to the ground and a seax smashes at ribs. Fang and Claw are quick to join the fray as they grab hold of the horror's arm and leg in futile attempts to dislodge and shatter bones. Enraged at his futility, Guthric roars as his face takes on a mask of lupine fury.

The skeleton wrenches its jaw open in a silent scream as it battles against the grasp of the hounds' jaws, thrashing about violently, in an effort to throw its attackers off and push up from the ground. Guthric takes the opportunity to again slash at the undead warrior with his seax, but it casts his blade aside with its own, flailing at him wildly in return. Nevertheless, Fang and Claw are resolute in their grip on its legs, never letting up for a moment as they drag their prey back to the ground. The two skeletons are the far end of the chamber turn and nock arrows to their bows, but their aim is poor. One shaft sails straight over the battle maiden's head, while the other bounces off of her shield. Another pair rush in, attacking from both sides. One swings a wicked flail that arcs around Kara's shield, only to recoil uselessly from her suit of mail. The other finds its axe equally unable to penetrate the metal rings. The tall warrior who emerged from the sarcophagus is a horrifying creature with dead, white flesh and lank, wild hair. It hefts its long blade and charges towards Kara, its eyes wide with manic rage. The weapon glides past her shield and her armour barely absorbs the blow. Of all the foes here, this one is worthy. The monster snarls again, full of fury at being denied, and plants a hand upon Kara's breast. She feels a momentary cold, as though the life is being drawn from her, but something warm and bright within her wells up against it, forcing ice of death back from her heart.

Kara gasp slightly as the chill touches her, as it felt close to her bones, before fading into a warmth that spreads from her core outwards, once again bringing forth her golden wings. She cries out in fury, crossed this hideous abomination was here, and that it was trying to defeat her. Did id not know she had a mission to finish? She had a little girl and priest to deliver, and then she wanted to find out more about her own powers. And here this thing was trying to stop her. Filling her sword with more energy from Freya, she swings again, connecting in an upward motion. There was a slight tug, but then her blade slide through the beast, from groin to head, as her blade sliced it into two parts, the holy energy spilling from her in waves. After this opponent fell to her blade, she then started to look for the next, ready to end this unholy fight.

Gawen winces as he feels the power exuded by Kara and her blade. He'd seen her fight in the cave above, but in this dark tomb her puissance was almost frightening. He pulls out another stone from his bag and slings it at one of the skeletons outlines by the faerie fire. It impacts with a satisfying crack , but the skeleton barely seems to notice.

Magan rushes to Ewen's side, bringing his sword around in a devastating blow that shatters most of the skeleton's ribs. He raises his shield in front of himself protectively, shoving it forwards to keep the monster at bay. Guthric's action.

With his now mace-like weapon in hand, Ewen swings wildly at one of the skeletons and the ungainly nature of the weapon nearly causes his strike to go wide, but his strike is true! The bladed mace impacts heavily with the animated skeleton and it explodes into a shower of ancient, bone fragments. "Haha, much better than a sword indeed!" He nods to Kara and moves around behind the archery skeleton to present Kara with a flank. "Come, Lady Kara, let us end this menace!"

Guthric's prey was resolute,  but decrepit, fleshless bones are weak things. Lunging down with primal fury, Guthric latches onto the skeleton's shoulder and wrenches the arm from its socket. His shield is next to fall and slips betwen ribs to shatter the foe's spine. In a heap, the bones fall and Guthric turns to the next skeleton near Kara. With a powerful bark, he sends his hounds to work. Fang interposes himself between Kara and the skeleton while Claw takes the rear. Betwen the powerful jaws, the skeleton's legs are ripped from under it and the undead creature clatters onto the stone floor.

As Ewen approaches the skeleton it drops its bow and lashes out with a handaxe with surprising speed, forcing him to suddenly raise mace in a jarring block. Ewen takes 6 slashing damage, reduced to 2 by DR -> 16/21 Vigour On the other side of the chamber, another skeleton looses an arrow at Fang, clipping his flank. Fang takes 4 piercing damage -> 1/5 Vigour The skeleton between the two hounds thrashes about wildly as it tries to scrabble to its feet, but fails miserably and both tear viciously at its bones with their jaws. Nevertheless, it is able to bring its axe to bear from below, wounding Fang's left leg. Fang takes 2 slashing damage -> 0/5 Vigour, 13/14 Wounds With a creak and a clank, the skeletons in the previous chamber also shudder to life, a fell glow appearing in their eye sockets. Two of them rush forwards with javelins, hurling them at Gawen. One flies past him harmlessly, while the second thumps into his chest, although not with enough force to pass his robes. The nearer two skeletons march inevitably towards the druid, hefting large two handed weapons. The druid raises his staff in defence and its all he can do to avoid injury as they batter him brutally. Gawen takes 3 piercing damage, reduced to 1 by DR, and 12 slashing damage, reduced to 8 by DR -> 15/24 Vigour, 15/16 Wounds Kara's action.

Kara takes her sword and shield, moving to the other side of the skeleton with Ewen. She slashes with her sword, which while not effective for others, seems to be the trick with her, as she deftly slices the forearms, causing the creature to fall to the ground. Next she looks for another creature to slay, but it would take her a second to move towards a new target.

Gawen utters a curse as more undead come through the door. He should have remembered the skeletons in the main hall and blocked the door. Dropping the makeshift torch and grasping his quarterstaff firmly with both hands, he swipes at one of them as it comes through the door, but the shadows in the dark tomb shift confusingly and his swing is wide. "More of them coming through the door," he calls to his companions.

Magan's head spins as he takes in the chaos of the battle. He hears Gawen's call and every instinct calls to him to support his friend but he spies an opportunity on the battlefield and knows he has to take it or they will be caught between two evils. "Guthric, Kara, Ewen, help Gawen, I can keep this under control with the hounds." He feels an internal power rise up inside him once more, like a blessing from the gods as he looks at the Skeleton on the floor and knows exactly what he must do. Finally realising that his sword is not quite made for destroying structures made of bone he leads with his shield, sheathing Thea as he runs. The magical energy seems to guide him towards a weak spot, he finds he can predict its movement as he runs towards it, leaping into the air he crashes down on top of it, shield first, smashing it to dust as he uses his momentum to roll up in front of the archer at the back of the room, he can already feel his senses honing in on his new target as he aims a punch at it. He catches nothing but air this time but is ready to bring his shield up one more time.

Ewen nods to Kara as the skeletal archer is destroyed between their blows. He peers around Kara's broad shoulders to survey the battlefield. "Lady Kara, perhaps you could assist Gawen? I cannot leave Magan alone, he is still wounded from our fight earlier." With that, Ewen moves around behind the sarcophagus and moves into a flank with the last skeleton archer. "I will not leave you in here alone, Magan. You are still wounded." With that simple statement, Ewen's mace slices through the air and crashes into the skeleton sending bits of bone fragments flying in a all directions. "We should move quickly. Who knows what else we have disturbed!"

The skeleton facing Magan and Ewen drops its bows and swings its handaxe behind it with unerring precision, seeking the source of the blow. The blade bits into Ewen's armour, but doesn't pierce it. The skeleton that Guthric has knocked to the ground flails frantically as it tries to push itself up, but Fang and Claw pounce upon the undead monster, tearing it to pieces. Another swings its langseax at Gawen, but the blow is glancing and the druid's thick tunic stops it from drawing blood. Two more skeletons charge into the fray, wielding dagger and flail. The rain blows upon Guthric, but he simply laughs, engrossed in his rage, the strikes bouncing off of him. However, in the darkness beyond, ever more pairs of blue light awaken in the darkness, slowly moving towards the crypt. Kara's action.

Kara looks about, and seeing Gawen in trouble, fighting off more than one with Guthric, she charges and takes aim at the one at his back, swinging her sword forward. It connects with a mighty heave, clearly greatly damaging the strange creature.

Seeing the pale lights of more skeletons approaching from the main chamber, Gawen changes tactics. As the skeletons lash out at him, he parries with his quarterstaff, landing a powerful blow on one of them. It staggers back, and he takes advantage of the opening to take a few steps backwards into the chamber - careful to avoid the suspicious flagstone - hoping Kara and Guthric can hold the door for the time being. He pulls a few dried, thorny twigs from his belt pouch, and squeezes them hard in the palm of his until the thorns pierce his flesh. A few drops of blood stain the dusty floor dark crimson, and he hopes whatever ancestral power is latent in his veins will hold true in this dark and lifeless place. The lore he is attempting to use is one that not all Druids can master - only those with Y Dawn, The Talent, have the power to call upon the vitality of Annwn in times of need, and even those who can learn to do so, tend not to. The Druids teach balance, and the use of such powers no doubt has a price, but in strange times such as these where the remains of men long-dead can stand up and fight, it is clear the usual balance of nature has already been upset. Gawen looks at his hand. The thorns are still red with blood, but his hand heals before his eyes as the vitality of Annwn flows through him into the ground, a tidal wave of raw lifeforce. In the central chamber, long and wicked-looking vines sinuously and silently twist their way from the dark ground, each coated in thin razor-sharp spikes, almost invisible in the darkness. Any normal creature would be bloodily lacerated after taking a few steps among such plants - the skeletons approaching through the dark are less likely to be deterred, having lost their own flesh in ages long past, but it may slow them down at least, and perhaps weaken whatever fell sorcery binds their bones together.

Reversing the momentum of his missed punch, Magan brings his shield straight up from stooped low, catching the ship he sees in the skeleton's hip where Ewen hit it moments before he capitalises on the weakness to force his shield all the way through the bone and continue though the spinal column and rib cage. As his shield flies in its upward arc it tears free of the bones it has ripped in half and the skeleton is left without a structure to hold itself together with, it slumps to the floor in pieces, its jaw chattering a moment longer as the foul curse refuses to leave the corpse immediately. Magan is already moving though, concerned with protecting his friend. He runs forwards to stand in front of Gawen, shield raised protectively he glances over his shoulder. "Sorry that took me so long, are you alright?" He glances nervously at the blood on the floor and seeping from the druids hand, but as his companion finishes his mutterings he sees with amazement that the wounds are already healed. "Never mind then, I see you have yourself covered." He shakes his head and fixes his gaze on those in front of him instead.

Ewen makes a bolt for the front of the chamber, backing Kara up and hemming the skeletons in. Skeletons flood the central chamber from all sides, surging towards the gathered defenders. Gawen's spikes tear at their bones as they march, but none yet fall. Most swing ineffectively with their weapons. However, one finds purchase with its blade on Ewen's shoulder, though it fails to penetrate the armour. Nevertheless, two well aimed arrows send Magan stumbling back. Kara's action.

Kara slices into the skeleton before her, blocking her pathway to more holy destruction. She still had her wings, but seemed unaware of them as they helped her to move forward into the magical vines, stepping over the shattered weak bones of their gathered enemies. She seemed ready to stand guard, even as her shielded push did nothing to much to the opponent near her

A little winded from the arrows striking his armour, Magan knows the fight needs to be settled quickly. He catches Guthric's eye and nods towards the two skeletons in front of them, a moment of understanding passes between them, or at least Magan thought it did, and he launches himself forwards, reaching out to take Guthric's arm and swing himself at the skeleton with the full momentum of his large companions huge strength. Guthric though had not had the same thought and does not hold his arm out as Magan had expected and instead Magan grasps only air, causing him to slip a little on a loose bone on the floor and his shield connects with nothing. He rises fist first and just misses the skeleton but he feels the natural energy once again rising inside him, ready to end the skeleton in front of him as his focus narrows.

All this slashing seems to be of little effort to the experienced warriors. However, Guthric's shield did more good than any blade. In a frenzy, he throws sense aside and picks up a atray femur. Throwing himself deep into the melee, he crushes a skeleton's skull and checks another with his shield.

Seeing his companions seemingly struggling to bring down the skeletons with their edges weapons Ewen moves around behind Kara. He brings his strangely glowing mace overhead and slams it downward with a massive grunt of effort as he exerts himself more than normal in an attempt to finish off this skeleton! The mace head breaks the plane between Magan and Kara as the undead monstrosity explodes in a shower of boneshards. Ewen turns and grins as Magan as he steps up into the empty space. “I will hold this position, my friend. Can you find us another way out?” He turns back towards the advancing mass of undead, putting his shield up defensively. ‘Yes. Break the marrow.’

As Ewen pushes his way through to the front line he is abruptly caught by the grasping hands of the skeletal hoard and dragged into the central chamber. He crumples to the ground as the undead monster that is dragging him collapses into a collection of bones and all around more rush towards him, swinging wildly with their weapons. Kara's action.

Kara steps out to retrieve their wayward companion, having seen him dragged out into the skeleton hoard. She swings her sword at one, which did not seem to affect anything as it past through the ribs area of the beast, but she was able to beat one backwards with her shield as she took up the doorway, hoping to drag Ewen back in before those larger more complete creatures she saw from the corners come in to range.

Gawen launches a pebble from his sling at the skeleton between Ewan and Kara. It connects, but not hard enough to bring the creature down. The welshman curses softly, and looks with mounting concern at the dark sea of undead before them. Struck by a thought, he returns to the pedestal (again, careful to avoid the plate on the floor). Meanwhile... from the corner of his eye, Guthric thinks he sees something glimmering gold on Fang. When he turns to look it is gone, but the dog is no longer bleeding.

As Kara steps forwards to be surrounded by skeletons, Magan has a sudden feeling of concern. "Hold the line Kara! Don't break it or they will take you. Shield wall! Let's get Ewen back behind us!" He punches out from an unlikely angle behind Kara, the natural energy guiding his fist through to the top of the spine of the undead abomination, knocking its skull clean off despite the difficulty of reaching around his winged companion. As he feels his natural focus shift to the one on her otherside, he spins, shield outstretched an crushes its skull with his momentum. He steps forward into the gap shield first. 

Guthric gives a whistle, calling his hounds to stand behind him. Against the horde, he pushes further and manages to catch a skeleton'sneck between his lupine jaws. However before be can bring his prey down, nearby threats force him to withdraw.

Ewen cries out in frustration as he struggles to get back to his feet. He digs his forearms into the myriad of massive thorns that pierce his flesh! He lets out a wordless roar as he pushes vainly against the mass of skeletons forcing him back to the ground. “Toirneior! Help me!”  There is a sound like the creaking groan of ancient wood that echoes in the crypt as the air around Ewen is filled with the raucous screams of the spectral ravens as they swoop around and through the ribs of the skeletons to no avail as five of the undead remains of the warriors swarm over Ewen. One clutching a dagger clambers onto his chest and pins his shield arm down as it leans in close. “No! Get off!” The mace swings up to harass the skeleton atop Ewen and just as it seems he may get free, a rusted axe blade sparks off the stone ground as it severs Ewen’s sword arm! The half-elf’s screams of agony mix with those of the ravens as the magical weapon clatters to the ground, a sword once more. The ravens begin to falter and sputter as of taken with madness as a dagger point passes through a seam in Ewen’s armor. He begins to buck and thrash wildly as the rusted metal plunges into his abdomen. “No! Magan! Kara!” His words trail off as several sword points are jammed into his chest cavity and the shock of so many brutal injuries are too much for his body. Ewen’s head falls to the ground as the skeletons go into a frenzy of stabbing while the ravens scream fruitlessly above. An uncanny darkness fills the already pitch crypt as the skeletons stop and Ewen’s faint voice whispers. “...The Dark Star... found me... Father...” Any further words were abruptly ended by terrible crunch as the heavy iron head of a flail destroys Ewen’s skull. The spectral ravens swirl around the mass of skeletons like a vortex before silently streaming down the ancient hallways... fading into the distance.

The skeletons stampede forwards through the thorns, battering uselessly at the shield wall the others have formed. One arrow catches Kara in the shoulder, but bounces harmlessly off of her shoulder. Kara's action.

Kara screams out in holy anger and rage. How dare this creatures drag down one of their number! And Ewen! While unspoken, she felt some connection to the poor man, though she could never place why. Now as his body vanishes, and the ravens cry above him, it is like a connection is made to her. Clearly he was someone sent from Freya and Odin to assist the party, and while his time was up, it would only make them stronger! Surely that was the case, giving her the edge she needed to demolish the skeleton before her. But just as she goes to bash one with her shield, she overreacts, causing the bash to go a bit funny. She brings it back up, but it was clear by her brightly fluttering wings she was no happy, as they have drawn back to her sides in  somewhat aggressive stance. Only her expert training prevents her from advancing into the middle.

Rushing to the pedestal, Gawen fumbles at his belt pouch as he hurriedly tries to retrieve the small ornament - ridiculously small given the horrors that taking it had unleashed. Behind him, over the unearthly sound of dozens of skeletons surging to push through the doorway, he hears Ewan shouting in desparation then a mighty bellow from Kara. Intent on his task, he overcomes the desire to turn around. At last, he pulls the small carving from his belt. Knowing it was likely a futile gesture, he places it back in the position it had sat when he first found it. The sudden ensuing silence hits him with almost physical force. He finally turns to see what has ensued and is stunned to see the skeletons - now passive, almost silent - cease their mindless rush into the room. Gawen squints through the flickering half-light cast by the still-burning torch he had dropped, but he can only make out three figures standing by the door. "Where's Ewan?"

Magan wipes his face on his arm, unwilling to lower his shield as yet, waving it threateningly to ward off the nearby skeletons,ready to strike should one make a more aggressive action.  "Though we may feel grief we should fight it off, for this us a moment of rejoicing. You saw the ravens as well as I? A clear sign Odin has chosen him for Valhalla! We should all be so lucky. And glad now to know our quest is noble and our deeds being so closely followed by the gods! For where they find the work of one of our number so pleasing, surely too is that of the rest. "

Guthric stands among the sea of statuesque undead, uncertain whether they will attack again, "Gawen....keep doing what you're doing. I want to leave."

"No, Ewen gave his life for Isolde to have that statuette for Isolde. Leaving without it would make his death meaningless and anger the gods. We must regroup, find what is in the other rooms, and bring it all to the surface." Magan's response is firm and authoritative. 

Kara looks uncertain, but she agrees with Magan " Letting a comrade die is one thing. To not honor their memory is to shame our foremothers."

As Gawen places the figurine back upon the pedestal, the skeletons cease their violent thrashing. A calm descends upon the crypt, and the fallen warriors begin to slowly and mindlessly walk back towards their coffins. However, the thorns of the druid's spell still catch at them as they go, whipping the undead back into a frenzy. Without an obvious enemy to attack, they lash out at whatever is closest. One skeleton swings its seax fruitlessly at the Magan, while the rest set upon each other in a brutal melee. Kara's action.

As quickly as they turned off, now the skeletons and other undead seemly attack each other, blinded by an unholy fury. This was clearly an affront to Freya, mother to all, and so Kara bodly steps forward, swinging her sword into the skeleton in front of her, then using her shield to push the other one back, as she tries to put these warriors souls to rest. Clearly something was disturbing their rest now, and only proper was to ensure they reached a final rest.

Magan too swings forward, shield first slamming the skeleton in front of him into the ground. He focuses in on the natural pull towards a weakness in the nearest remaining skeleton. 

Leaving the statuette on the podium for the time being, Gawen moves forward and launches another stone with his sling, but in the darkness of the central chamber it's difficult to make out foes and the shot goes wide.

Wanting more than ever to please the gods he was now sure were watching, Magan does not let up his attack in the face of their retreat. Aware of the spikes around him he pulls out an axe and flings it at another skeleton, hitting it hard enough to crack the base of the spine and send it sprawling to the floor, teeth chattering angrily but with the dark energy fading fast from the once again lifeless form. He looks around, picking his next target, now getting a better sense of control over the natural energy guiding his blows to critical points he is able to guide it to the skeleton in front of him. 

Guthric steps up behind Kara, ignoring the wicked thorns that scrape against his legs as he swings the femur in his hand at the nearest skeleton. The force smashes the undead creature to pieces and the bones collapse into a pile. Meanwhile, the rest of the undead continue to swing their weapons at each other in a frenzied melee. The battle seems eternal, even as the fallen warriors hack pieces from one another. Kara's action.

Kara steps forward, her blazing wings spreading out behind her like a classical Valkyrie. It was easy to see how she could be easily a Paladin of Freya, for she was clearly blessed as she cut down skeleton after skeleton, made even easier as they fell to a strange confusion. After savagely slicing her sword through one, she then quickly shoves one prone with her shield, swinging it in an upward manner