Gygax & Greyhawk Session #4 - Skeletons in the Closet

DRAMATIS PERSONAE:

Ranzel of the Wood (Human Ranger 1)
Solcha (Elf Fighter 1 / Magic User 1)
Skeff Hawkridge (Half Elf Druid 1 / Thief 1) 
Goro (Half Orc Cleric 1 / Fighter 1)

Balthus (Human Fighter 1)  

Date/Time

Planting 3 - sunrise to Planting 3 - mid afternoon

At the barrow, Ranzel searches for tracks, finding nothing but more rabbit prints in the mud. A tunnel is found that lends into the barrow; lined with great slabs of stone. A smaller tunnel (1' square) squeezes between the stones and into the dirt of the barrow. The druids racoon is sent to investigate, and returns to say there is nothing but man-objects inside. Following the main tunnel, the party reaches a stone slab which Solcha determine is actually a door. When touched, it release a flash of flame, but is afterwards easy to swing open on its hinge. Inside is a large stone sarcophagus with the lid removed, two small ceramic jars and a scattering of other broken jars. The jars contain mostly charred bone and ash;  cremation remains. The sarcophagus is empty, but the bottom is false. When lifted out of the way, a vertical shaft through the damp earth is uncovered. And an unseen presence rise up to meet them, pelting the party with shards of broken ceramic. Goro flees in terror, the the rest of the party wisely follows their cleric rather than face the undead without him. 

After some time, Goro regains his courage and all return to the barrow. They face and defeat the invisible terror, then drop down the shaft to investigate. Only a single human skull, sitting atop a magnificent ruby, is found. Up in the main chamber, Solcha searches the end facing the rest of the barrow, and finds one slab is a secret door. It too flashes with flame when touched, but is then opened into a very narrow tunnel dug in the dirt. It leads to a small circular chamber with a large stone, atop which sits a large chunk of amber. Hanging from the ceiling are skeletons, hung by leather cords nailed to their breastbones. When they show no sign of animation, the party removes them all and smashes their skulls, then dropping the rest into the pit in the first barrow chamber. They carefully recover the amber, then crawl back out the tunnel. Only to be met by the skeletons that have climbed out of the pit. Goro calls on the favor of Heironeous, and the undead flee back into the pit. The party then traps them below by replacing the stone slab before leaving the barrow. 

Back in daylight, they opt to backtrack up and across the valley, to where the needleman had told them orcs inhabited an old mine. They find two mine entrances, but also the skeletal remains of a great mammoth. The cage is covered in webs, which the party burns, revealing a human skeleton trapped under the beast. Balthus crawls inside the rib cage to investigate, and two large spiders descend upon him from above. In a short fight, both are killed. The party loots the skeleton, and then respectfully burry the remains in the soft turf.  

Turning now to the mine, they enter the first decrepit tunnel. After about a half hour, they come to a bend in the tunnel, beyond which it has partly collapsed. In the open passage there is a strange, glistening stone. Which moves! Missile fire ensues, and whatever it was is soon no more. Moving past it's remains, the party delves deeper into the mine ... 

GAINS

Ivory Box [300gp]

3 Gold Earrings [3x5gp]

Silver Bangle [15gp]

Pendant [100gp]

Ruby [500gp]

Amber [500gp]

Belt Buckle [40gp]

Horse carving [200gp]

KILLS/VICTORIES

1 Poltergeist 

7 Skeletons

2 Large Spiders

1 Grey Ooze

LOSSES

none