Session 76, part 4

5th of Land’s Blessing

Glod works through the night, translating two pages:

6th of Land’s Blessing

“So now a hollow has clothing? They keep sounding weirder and weirder,” Kerwyn says.

“Well, from the sounds of it, they were once humans, or at least humanoids,” Gante says.

“Yeah, but probably not something you’d want to meet in a dark alley.”

The last leg of the journey brings the adventurers back to Karkin. They haven’t been here in almost two months, but, surprisingly, things still look the same.

“Alright,” Mathus says, “So what do we need to do?”

“We need to ask a guy a few questions,” Epona says.

“Oh, right, right: ‘dead people to talk to’ and all that.”

The walk to the cemetary is short. They find themselves standing in front of a blocky, windowless granite structure. The word “Hanan” is written on an iron door in old-fashioned script.

“We’re not going to have to, you know, get to the body, are we?” Kerwyn asks.

“Aw, come on!” Glod says. “Now’s not the time to be squeamish. You’ve seen (and produced) enough dead bodies to be used to them by now.”

“I have no problem dealing with dead bodies. It’s having to get them out of the ground I don’t really care for.”

This lightless room is dusty and full of cobwebs. Straight ahead, moldering skeletons line the alcove, some busted into pieces. The hidden door remains open, though dusty from the two months it spent open. The team proceeds through the door, exercising caution near the skeletons.

This square room houses five levers in one wall, lines up next to time-worn letters. The large iron door ahead remains open, and a lidless sarcophagus lies beyond.

“Well, someone sure doesn’t know how to lock up,” Kerwyn says.

“Yeah, someone…”

“So, the spell, how long will that take to cast?” Marlak asks.

“I’ll need ten minutes, and it will only last for six after it is cast. You’ll have three questions; do you have some ready?”

Marlak nods. “Yes, let’s begin.”

Epona casts her spell. After a long wait, the team prepares for the questioning.

“What are the Soul Stones?” Marlak asks.

An airy, leathery voice hisses from the corpse. “They are phylacteries. Prisons for souls. Souls within souls.”

“Who created the Soul Stones?” Marlak asks.

“We, the champions of Shady Grove,” the voice hisses.

“What power do the Soul Stones hold?”

“No power greater than their function: to contain.” With that, the late Sir Hanan falls silent.

“Well that’s all we’ll get out of him for a week,” Epona says.

“At least the bit about Shady Grove might be useful,” Kerwyn says. “I guess that’s where we hand it off to you, Marlak.”

“I’ll see what I can uncover.”