Curiosity Killed the Kenku

Miscellaneous

The group travels to a temple created by ancient humans. Inside they find treasure, danger, and death.

The trip from Basin to the temple was mostly uneventful. A brief encounter with a group of Harpies left the group, or at least Athis, with an exotic snack for the road.

When they did finally arrive in the mountains, Kithu was able to make nice with a Giant who pointed them in the right direction. They found the temple buried beneath the mountain, in a crevasse only just big enough to squeeze them and their mounts into. The entrance, long covered in rubble, was forgone for a more simple way into the temple: a large hole in the ground.

Once the descent had been made they found themselves in the bowels of the old shrine, breathing in strange orange gas which had no immediate effect on them but over time they discovered it was actually fairly posionous. After some exploration, they learned that the temple likely stretched deep under the mountain, and might require them to return at a later date. The entrance had sealed behind them when they entered and so they sought to look for a separate exit. Instead they found a hidden and sealed crypt. When they unlocked the door a second gas was released which knocked out both Athis and Orpheus. Unable to wake their comrades, Kithu and Wilphose decided it would be best to simple smash their way out of the temple.

While Kithu got to work on their egress, Wilphose decided to poke around the room that had released the gas. He discovered an axe imbedded in the wall, which refused to be removed. After some attempts at taking it, Wilphose turned his attention to the coffin in the center of the room. With a little help from Kithu (who went right back to smashing their way out in the corridor) Wilphose was able to get the lid off of the sarcoffogus. Inside, an ancient skeleton was laid to rest, adorned with all manner of jewels and other expensive items. Wilphose began to take the items but when the mask and pendant were removed, the corpse leapt to its feet, growing muscles and skin in seconds.

Wilphose fought for his life as the creature attempted to hold him in place to drink his blood. Just as Kithu heard the fighting and came running to his aid Wilphose collapsed to the ground, succumbing to his wounds. Kithu defeated the creature, and removed Wilphose's lifeless body from the chamber. He finished breaking his way out and dragged his fallen companions to the surface, waiting for the arrival of Agdroroth, who had earlier been called to help them. When she did arrive, three days later, she was able to rouse Athis and Orpheus from their magical slumber. She determined it was a poison and managed to remove it from their system, though she was unable to help Wilphose.

The party decided to head back to Stonehill Keep and pay their priest friend there to raise Wilphose from the dead. Much to their surprise however, Wilphose returned from death a few days into their trip. Or at least, so it seemed.

Their friend restored, the group continues on to Stonehill Keep.