The Ring of Kamorhaz.
Persons mentioned in the text:- BOCCE, a level 1 Barbarian
- ROBERT, a level 1 Fighter
- KYLE, a level 4 Halfing; a hero of the Battle of Fennburgh, horribly disfigured by frostbite
- ORION, a level 1 Elf
- ERIC, a level 1 Cleric of St. Bartholomew the Just
- ARMAND, a level 4 Cleric; a hero of the Battle of Fennburgh
- BILL, a level 1 Fighter
11 Bloodstone 1120 Anno Daedalus
THE PLACE:
A shrine to the ancestor spirit ROLLO THE STRONG, near TRISKELE, capital city of the frozen hinterlands known as the THUNDERMOOR
Our Heroes set out again for the shrine, determined to finish their map and loot whatever treasure that could be found from the northeast wing. When they crested the dell in which the shrine sat, they saw two small camps situated near the fire. As Our Heroes approached, they heard the short blast of warning horns and a representative from each camp rode up to meet them.
One representative introduced himself as a member of the Black Owl clan; the other, a member of the Red Elk clan. The Black Owls had heard about the shrine and wanted to take it over for their ancestor spirit, Haetha, but the Red Elks had also been alerted to the shrine’s presence, and wanted to protect and restore it, as they also feted the ancestor spirit of Rollo the Strong. However, the strong presence of undead in the shrine made both camps nervous about clearing it out themselves. Both of the men wanted to know what Our Heroes aimed to do with the shrine.
Our Heroes explained that they were simply explorers, come to map out the shrine, and keep whatever they found. The Red Elks bristled at this; they believed whatever treasure was in the shrine was left as an offer to Rollo the Strong, and wanted it undisturbed. The Black Owls decided a map would be useful, and offered two of their finest destriers for an accurate map. The Red Elks counter-offered with two mounts of their own, as well as some fine hides got from a hunt. Our Heroes excused themselves to mull the offers over.
Our Heroes decided to play the clans against one another, separating them and privately promising each a map. The plan was, after fully mapping the shrine, to rendezvous with a representative on the opposite side of the shrines, out of sight of one another, and abscond with their reward before either clan realized what was happening. They explained the need for a rendezvous point to each representative in private: they were worried the other clan would come after them if they knew they had decided to sell the map to their rival clan. The representatives agreed, but there was still the matter of treasure: the Black Owls wanted a hefty cut of whatever Our Heroes found in the shrine, and the Red Elks wanted Our Heroes to leave it undisturbed, period. Our Heroes agreed to have their bags searched before entering and after exiting the shrine, privately planning to hide whatever treasure they found and come back later to collect it.
The clan representatives stood aside and allowed Our Heroes to pass. Upon entering the shrine, Our Heroes went to the center room, where they found some Critterlings re-building the plinth of the shrine. Our Heroes followed the Critterlings back to their dormitory to speak with the Critterling leader, asking them about the northeast section of the shrine. The Critterling leader said that the acolytes of Rollo lived in the wing to the northeast, and that although the door was locked, it was probable that an acolyte would pass through. To show their gratitude for clearing out the Fleshrippers the week before, the Critterlings also showed Our Heroes the engraving in the Critterling leader’s private room, which Our Heroes had not yet seen. It was a simple engraving, of Rollo the Strong using a greatbow to slay a giant, but it was brilliantly rendered. Our Heroes thanked the Critterlings and moved along to the northeast wing.
Outside of the entrance to the acolytes’ wing, five Zombies were shuffling around. Armand pushed his way to the front of the group and called forth a wave of divine energy that obliterated the undead. As the remains lay smouldering, the door creaked open and a timid acolyte peeked out to see what happened. Kyle assuaged his fears and told him that they were a group of cartographers come to map the shrine. Although Kyle’s monstrous appearance frightened the acolyte, Kyle’s tales of how he accrued his battle-scars impressed him. The acolyte introduced himself as Zagreus, and invited Our Heroes into the sitting-room to talk more. The sitting-room was adjacent to the dormitories, as well as a stockpile of food and a prayer room. Our Heroes took turns telling Zagreus about their adventures as he listened raptly.
With Zagreus sufficiently impressed, Kyle asked if he wouldn’t mind telling them about the layout of the acolytes’ wing, so they could complete their map. Zagreus agreed, and told them about the dormitories, stockpiles, and prayer room, but Kyle privately noticed that there was a small, 10’x10’ room unaccounted for southeast of the stockpiles. Bob offered some rations to Zagreus, to store for the other acolytes, and Zagreus was grateful, and offered to accompany him to the stockpiles. While in the store-room, Bob noticed that there was a large larder in the southeast that Zagreus seemed to want to steer Bob away from.
When Bob and Zagreus returned to the acolytes’ sitting-room where the others were, Kyle asked Zagreus to show him his dormitory. Zagreus agreed, on the condition they were very quiet, so they didn’t wake the other acolytes. When Zagreus let them in, Kyle distracted him while Bob slipped away. Bob headed back to the store-room and pushed the larder aside, revealing a small hidey-hole filled with treasure: some silver, holy water, and a mummified hand with a bizarre ring on it. Bob pushed the silver into his bag and destroyed the hand, and then slipped the ring onto his own finger, where it stuck fast. He put his glove back on, covering the ring, intending to walk out with it on.
As Bob pushed the larder back into place, it made a noise, which startled Zagreus. Kyle leapt onto Zagreus’ back and wrapped him in a headlock, choking him until he passed out. Bocce volunteered to watch over Zagreus’ unconscious body while the others poked around, in case Zagreus came to. Immediately after the others left, Bocce cut Zagreus’ throat. Our Heroes found nothing else of interest in the acolytes’ wing, and decided to leave. They split the silver they had found among one another’s bags to disguise it from the clansmen as they left, figuring they wouldn’t notice an additional 20 silver each, as they had hefted their coin rather than counted it.
Their plan worked, and Our Heroes rode away with new mounts, some fine hides, and a wondrous ring that pulsated on Bob’s hand, throbbing with a great and terrible energy...
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