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| Uthren's Final Request |
| Setting the dead to rest in Brochbarrow Hill. |
I started the day off in thankful prayer to Throrn for my new powers that he had granted me from all of the combat experience that I had attained. I was now able to challenge the same strength that I used for turning the undead to raise the level of the spells that I cast. Even with this new power in hand I was not able to fully heal Thurin from his mental state and we decided that Rorrin should stay behind to watch over our sick compatriot. Although after the battle with the ghostly creature in Brochbarrow Hill I’m unsure of Thurin’s desire to continue with us.
As we left for our journey to Brochbarrow Hill, Grizzlegast decided that he would take this opportunity to complain about the lack of a road that we traveled down. While I’m sure he was more concerned with the fact that he was about to re-visit the place that almost destroyed him, I knew his mind was more intrigued with trying to shut Gim up. We as a group decided that to avoid the mindless chit-chat from Gim that we’d send him up front to discuss the foliage of the trees with Grizzlegast. This seemed to make a perfect pairing and made our journey peaceful and quick.
We started our ascent up the hill just before mid-day and took our time up and eventually down the hole which we had such a difficult time with on our last visit. Then we came to the whole inside the room where the ghostly creature spawned and almost destroyed Thurin. Carefully, we made our way down the hole. Inside was a smaller room from which we just came. It seemed as though the evil I had sensed earlier was growing stronger so I warned everyone to be on their guard. Suddenly, while venturing through the crypt a small giant of bones began to form up behind us. It appeared to be a collection of undead rats. At first I was amused by them, until they charged towards the group. They didn’t bite very hard but there were enough of them to annoy whoever they were attacking. Lochlan also found them amusing but unlike me he took a different approach. I tried to lure the rats towards me because I am the stoutest and could take the brunt of the attack. While I drew their attention Lochlan began hurling small gnomish skulls at the rats. Inside I felt disheartened that the undead should be treated with such disrespect but then I realized that any race that would bury their dead in great heaps wouldn’t mind a skull or two getting misplaced. Eventually the rats were all destroyed thanks to Lochlan’s throwing arm and we continued to venture forward.
We reached another room with was square this time instead of the previous few which were rounded. This room had a stone tablet which looked as though it was a tombstone of some sort. Just as I finished writing down the words to the tombstone that I couldn’t read, a large creature sprung up from the ground. It was as though the creature was formed out of the earth. My first thought was that the creature was an earth elemental but soon realized that it was more than that… it was dead and needed to be put to rest. Eoin and Lochlan took the brunt of the attack while Gim sent his dog in to try and bite the creature. Each time it took a bite it only found itself covered in dirt. The creature seemed to resist most of our attacks so I decided to go a different route and use the ability that Throrn had granted me this morning. I powered up the most powerful healing spell I had and readied it for an attack. Unfortunately with my lack of combat skills it took me a time or two to finally his the beast but when I did I was able to reach inside and crush the beating heart which turned out to be the black stone we had been searching for.
As we exited the hill we ran into a fading Uthren’s ghost who thanked us for letting him finally rest and urged us to find his wife and give her the peace that she deserves as well. Eoin was still scared of Uthren and stayed back during the whole conversation. While climbing out of the last tunnel we were shocked to find the elemental that I apparently had healed more than I thought. My heal spell ended up bringing the creature back to life which was very unexpected. This elemental now had flowers blooming from it and appeared to be full of life. The creature then reached out his hands and gave us a few gems that turned out to be quite valuable. We then continued down to the cart, rode back to town, and pawned off our treasure with the local merchant. With nothing more to do in Westdel we decided to head towards Stonebridge to find Uthren’s wife and give her the peace she so desperately deserved. |
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| Associated Regions: Westdel, Brochbarrow Hill |
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| From the journal of Groehl |
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Contributor: Chuck Jubenville |
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