The Whispering Cairn, Part 2

Edit: These are posts I made back in 2005-2006 and have now transferred them here.

• Tyrrich - Elven Rogue 1 (male), works as an errand boy for Mine Manager Moonmeadow.
• Garrett - Gnome Druid 1 (male), from the Bronzewood Lodge with animal companion Eaus, a giant Badger.
• Cullen - Elven Monk 1 (male), from the Twilight Monastery as an escort for kalamanthis shipments.
• Roma - Half Orc Rogue 1 (male), an indentured Miner working his way to freedom.
• Janna - Human Cleric 1 (female), a priestess of Wee Jas from the boneyard.

The party heads back to Diamond Lake to properly equip, leaving Cullen behind to watch the Cairn entrance.

In town Tyrrich and Roma take care of some business and then visit with Allustan to ask him about the strange symbols found inside the Cairn. He is very interested in the glyphs and tells you that they are reminiscent of arcane symbols representing elemental air. He explains that he would need more time to study them.

While at Allustan's house the group is introduced to a Cleric of Wee-Jas named Janna, who, incidentally, is looking for escorts into the Cairns. She offers her clerical support in return.

Ready to continue onward, the group heads back to the Whispering Cairn. Inside, Janna takes a closer look at the glyphs and identifies them as ancient names. Who or what she does not know, but the name on the broken mirror is placed with more importance than the one on the sarcophagus… which they notice is pointed back at the lit orange lantern when they arrive back.

Inside, what they come to find out is considered, the "false tomb" the group prepares a fire ambush for the inevitable swarm of acid beetles… which, according to plan, are caught in the trap and incinerated. Following the beetles is a grotesque aberration known to a few as a Mad Slasher. It lunges at the heroes with fierce dagger-like appendages but falls to the group's tactics.

The explorers decide to descend the already opened passage underneath the green lantern. This easy climb down opens up into a chamber with more statues and passages. One passage leads to a room filled with a crusty orange substance filled with more beetles. After the beetles are cleared the group finds the remains of past explorers who belonged to a society know as the Seekers, a group of unscrupulous archeologists and psudohistorians. Tyrrich recognizes the symbol as the same worn by the wizard from the other group of adventurers in town.

The other passage leads to a strange sleeping chamber guarded by a statue. Resisting the urge to "take a nap" on the slabs of stone, the group fight waves of fatigue… and another beetle… to grab the remains of another Seeker victim and exit the room. The statue still remains ever vigilant.

The last passage leads straight ahead to an area of the tomb which is submerged in water. Not wanting to swim the party decides that they want to set up camp again and head back to the Cairn entrance.

End of chapter 2.