Adventurers
- Alfredward (Dwarf 4) and Tarvyn (Magic User 2)
- Koko (Cleric 5)
- Mandras (Dwarf 4)
- Rarder (Fighter 5) and Konrad Claver (Cleric 3)
With two bodies starting to smell, the party were keen to make their way to someone who might have the power to revive them. The noble Andrella had, for a fee, identified one of their magic swords as capable of preserving a body, so that was thrust into Rarder's stiff fingers, and then the group got themselves a cart and started trekking back towards 'civilisation' accompanied by their band of mercenaries.
A couple of days' travel brought them to the settlement of Ordoniz, a town huddling around the centrepiece fortified abbey, seat of the Grand Inquisitor Eleder. With a large number of maroon-hooded figures strung up by the neck around the town walls, Koko elected to spend some time looking for new henchmen rather than accompany the others into the Lawful abbey.
After sitting patiently through long queues, and slipping some tips to the right people, the adventurers found themselves in an audience with Eleder, his piercing eyes gleaming at the promise of a healthy donation. The adventurers explained their situation and needs, and the inquisitor, his eyes focused particularly on the brawn-over-brains cleric Konrad, agreed to raise their two fallen comrades for 9000 gold pieces. Having brought 8000-worth in gems, the party offered the magical sword in Rarder's hands in lieu of the last thousand, to which Eleder eagerly agreed. He also informed them that the Gods required a rebalancing of various afterlife scales, and so the pair would be required to slay their equals in undeath, their life force seeping away until they did so. The deal was struck.
As the necessary rites were carried out, Eleder informed Konrad of a heinous heresy suspected of taking root in Redwood, which he suspected could be traced back to a collection of mountainous barrows. Incidentally, he added, lots of nasty undead there. Cough.
Not wishing to dawdle, the adventurers recogrouped with Koko and his new retinue and returned to the Yeoldelands region, immediately making for the mountains. Their journey was untroubled until they ascended the particular mountain Eleder had pointed them towards, where they found a hive of barrows clustered around the peak. They cleared their way unconcernedly through a trio of walking cadavers, wriggling gribblies spilling from the carcasses, before approaching a barrow which showed signs of traffic outside.
Inside, they noted a tri-legged rig over a gaping hole with a rope leading down into the darkness. They readied themselves for the descent.