Skullcrack's Demise

General Summary

After heading out of Oar's Rest as fugitives, the players make their way to the Illskaud Bastion. Some doubts exist over whether or not to go, but they feel trapped between Jana Essyn and the mysterious Skullcrack, and in the end the decision is made. A herd of aurochs blocks their path as a storm brews - attempting to scare them off provokes a pair of bulls, injuring Dench and Pimwrick but ultimately being scared off by the party. Arriving at the small keep, the wind picks up, and they spot a goblin being thrown out of the top of the tower. Inspection reveals two half-orc fingers in their eyes, and Dench reveals Cusra's daughter is hear as well. The party, afraid of what they'll find, heads in. After getting trapped in with a bear, followed by an ambush by a group of goblins, the players come across a defiled statue with a smaller shrine built beneath it. After decifering some symbols, Craig speaks the password, and a small gem reveals itself from the rock. He takes it carefully, worried as Pimwrick could feel something was off about it's aura. They sneak past a swarm of rats, then get into some trouble with animated armor - Dench almost dies, receiving a vicious scar on his chest as a result. The mood is tense as the party comes across a chained and abused griffon, who Arviel barely manages to sneak past. She steals some items from the nearby chest and makes her way back without disturbing the creature, feeling guilty about leaving it in this state but too scared for her own life to try and save it. Moving on, Craig evades a bear trap, and they come across the great form of Skullcrack, Cusra's daughter and Atle chained to it's side. Arviel, terrified, sneaks back and informs the party and they discuss a plan. Barradock thinks long and hard, but he is eventually overcome by a feeling of inevitability - he walks up and attempts to talk to the undead ogre, bargaining with it as it seems to come to life and speak with an unnatural voice. A bit of conversation seems to lead nowhere, and Barradock gets knocked down by his massive spiked club, prompting the rest of the party to take action. A desperate fight follows, leading Pimwrick to get yet another moment of divine inspiration and Dench to go completely berserk. Eventually, Craig gets the final hit, sending the creature falling down the side of the tower. The children are saved, albeit barely. Resting for a night in the Bastion, the players make their way back the next day. Nizara, Cusra's daughter, wakes up and talks to them about what happened. They take the amulet out of the ogre zombies forehead after receiving a threatening message from what seems to be a figure communication through it. They see strange bands on the zombie's forearms and legs, and Barradock identifies them as coming from the great city of Issenkald. They make their way back to Oar's Rest warily, but when they are there they find out things are okay - Cusra defends them from the Vedette, and Jana appears to still be unconscious. Barradock and Craig are celebrated as heroes, and Dench shares an emotional farewell with Cusra, who gives he the axe that belonged to her husband Dalunar. She leaves him with a promise that they'll meet again, and that she'll raise Nizara to be a girl he could be proud of. After long deliberation, the party decides to head northwards, after Dench tells them his real name is Norin. They head for Issenkald, wanting to discover the origin of the strange ogre zombie and discover what Pimwrick's calling truly is.