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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Mathew_Freeman" data-source="post: 4476581" data-attributes="member: 1846">The Adventure ConcludesThe party gathered around the circle in the statue room, joined now by Sabbat Fau. Elwanen went to guard the entrance against possible reinforcements.[1]Sabbat and Theron bent down to examine the circle more closely."It would appear that it is losing it's potency." Theron leaned close in, his hands hovering over some of the runes. "See there? It is beginning to fade.""I have no direct experience with such things," intoned Sabbat. "But it appears to me -""Well, then, if it's fading I'll just drop some sand in here, and use my dagger here..." The higher-pitched voice of Aran cut in as he went to work on the circle. Theron and Sabbat jumped back, with Theron putting a hand out in warning - but then he quickly realised that the Halfling was on to something. Muttering a counter-charm under his breath and concentrating fiercely, the Wizard, the Warlock and the Rogue broke the circle. Swiftly, the strange green light faded away.Aran stepped into the circle. "Soon have you out, lads!", he called. Using his lockpicks to unchain the two boys, he grinned at them. His small stature and nimble fingers made quick work of what had looked like quite a secure chain, and with a final twist-and-snap they were free.As the boys stepped out the circle, the company tensed for a moment – but the ceiling stayed put, and no rumble of falling rock came to their ears. However, the shadowy figure that they had met before formed silently out of the shadows on one side of the room.Cass looked over, gripping her axe. "So what now?" she asked herself.A great wind seemed to be affecting the spirit, and the dark shadows were ripped away leaving it's face much more human looking and it's robes grey, rather than black."Thank you," he said. "That accursed elf had me under a compulsion – I aided you as best I could but I wish I could have struck the deathblow on him myself. I am glad these two innocent children have been freed."Staring at his newly revealed face, both Des and Aran had the same thought – the figures pictured on the tombs upstairs, this face, and the face of the children bore an uncanny resemblance. A…familial resemblence.Aran asked "Do you boys know anything your grandfather? Or possibly grandmother?" Seeing their baffled looks, he explained that a resemblence was clear, and the spirit immediately guided everyone through to the room that Helvec had been conducting the ritual in. "Place your hands upon this pedestal," the spirit asked. "Please - it will not harm you." At his prompting, the two boys placed their hands on the risen platform, and as they did so it began to slide into the ground, leaving behind a lump of misshapen rock. Theron was busily scratching notes into his spellbook for future reference.After a second, the lump of rock began to flow and melt. Rangrim, staring at the flux of stone, suddenly cried out "It's a warhammer! There is a warhammer hidden in the rock!" The rock melted away entirely, and in it's place their lay, as if newly-forged, a clearly magical warhammer.The spirit spoke again, saying "Long has this hammer been waiting to be held again. It is named the Thunderhammer, and it has great power in the right hands. The scions of the Kaius Dynasty must take their place in defence of their ideals."However, the two boys looked a little unsure, and Richard spoke up, replying "But we're far too young!" He glanced around, spotting Rangrim comparing his own Dwarf-wrought hammer with the one lying in front of him. "You take it!" cried Richard. "You take it, and wield it, and when we're ready we'll send for it and you can return it to us!"Rangrim was, understandly, happy with this arrangement. Striding forward, he swung the hammer down against the floor, and an echoing BOOM! rang round the chamber. Rangrim grinned, and casually remarked "So now we find some orcs, yes? I want to test this out properly!"The spirit, it's job done, faded back into the stonework of the underground tomb, and the party gathered up the assorted treasure from their fallen foes, including the ritual book. Sabbat was all for keeping it for study, realising it contained rituals of power for those willing to make bargains, but upon further discussion it was decided that a ritual book that contained a single ritual that spoke of days of blood sacrifice was not something he wanted to have in his possession – the book's pages were burnt. The other item of note that was located in a small treasure chest was a note, saying "Helvec, once you have finished with your task you must meet me at the Keep. You know the passcode. In His name, K".Des spoke clearly into the silence. "This could refer to Kalarel, the Death Cultist leader we - Elwanen, Rangrim and I - were tasked to find. I wonder if this keep is the one near Winterhaven? It seems too much of a coincidence otherwise."[1] As one player comes back into the game, another can't make a particular session. It's pretty much what I expected with 7 players - at least one misses most games!Next update: The party return to Linden Field in triumph!</blockquote>

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