The Haunted Mines

Following up on their leads, the party discovers that the undead originate from the town's mine, where they believe the cultists have gone. Arriving, they discover a scene of battle with dried bloodstains, charred debris, and no sign of the participants. Deeper in the mine, they found and rescued living cultists, battled zombies, skeletons, and reanimated Ayk worshippers, and fought a half-orc wight with a poisoned blowgun. Eventually they found the surviving miners past a cave-in being fed upon by a will-o-wisp and rescued them before blowing up the will-o-wisp with a natural gas pocket. As thanks, the miners told them of a stash of raw gold and trinkets. Satisfied that the plots in this town were foiled and the undead banished, the Five return to Yenelas City, hoping for news from their contacts there.

After spending a night in recovery, the group travels back to Yenelas City. As they travel, they examine their new findings. The flask of serpent venom they had claimed from the wight turned out to have a secret bottom compartment, which contained two scraps of paper. The first note is written in a neat hand on expensive but otherwise plain paper in jet black ink. Your plot to free Ayk failed because it was ill-planned and you trusted it to incompetents. Return to the council immediately for discipline, and you may get to keep your ribbon and rank. If we're feeling generous. -R A second note is written in larger print and the paper is smudged. The ink is a deep gray, and may have been mixed from coal or charcoal. Heard about your great plan falling through because five nobodies from the sticks broke past your line and killed Lanny while he had his pants down with the ritual. Bet the council's asking for your head. If you want to see a successful attempt, come by and visit. Bring me a nice enough gift and I might even let you latch on to my rising star. -Two-orb Eventually, you reach the city and settle back into your routines, keeping ears open for other news of these cultists.

Finding a buyer for the gold turns out to be easy enough. Raw gold is not quite worth its weight in coin, but it comes very close, and after a brief negotiation, you walk away with a 50g share each after selling the raw gold.