Escape from Ash Hill!

The Veins, pride of Ash Hill, pride of Appollonia! Long has it stood through both fire and flood. It was there that a day of celebration was to be had pitting pugilists upon each other in celebratory bloodsport. Having taken the field, a quartet melee had just excited the crowd when a new distraction would demand their attention... a Karzite outbreak!

The brave gladiators saw, in the stands, a horrifying sight... ghouls, skeletons and other undead were running rampant and eviscerating every peasant in their way. Before they could asses the situation, skeletal warriors clawed their way through the earth and assaulted the warriors. Deftly splintering their bones, the quartet looked for egress. Spying the gates that led to the gladiator holding pens, the crew sped for the exit.

Meeting flesh to rotting flesh, the gladiators fought their way to the docks and, with 4 other citizens, fled Ash Hill. As they looked behind, they saw a magical display in and about Varkesh Keep... was this a last stand or a brutal rebuff of the undead blight? The refugees would not stay to find out.

Rowing along the coast, the troop made for Glenn Hollow in hopes of finding security. During their travel, the matronly woman who escaped with them shared that this blight must have been the recompense for the harsh slaying of a pair of underground Azurite priests at the hands of Ash Hill nobles. Supposedly, many believe Ash Hill cursed by the Barrow King - the vengeful spirit of the husband-priest who was slain.

When the refugees arrived at Glenn Hollow they found the whole of the fishing village slaughtered and dismembered with nothing left save some unknown symbol, that of a skull with Minotaur's horns.

Seeking an end to the carnage, the gladiators found their will and headed to the Burial Grounds of the fallen priests and their flock. Easily located, the crew dispatched several Orc guards (orc guards? A surprising turn of events. What do they have to do with Karzites?) and then hid themselves as ghouls approached form the forest. A cloaked figure escorted by 5 Ghouls entered the mausoleum at the center of the burial grounds.

After some discussion, the team made their way into the mausoleum as well. Within it's confines, they found, and dispatched, two creatures which must have once been the priest and his wife. Clearly this is not what is plaguing @ash. Shall they press on to uncover the secret of the Barrow King?