Closer

"Hey check this out, think we should help him out?” says Ky’mera looking out the window, gazing upon a few grimlocks picking on a dark skinned dwarf.

As Yuriy and Novak step to the window, Ky’s lion lifts her head sensing his agitation. “Novak, we need friends in the town. If we help him out he might be able to get some needed information from him,” says Yuriy.

From deep in his chest like the beginning of a landslide, Novak agrees “Yes indeed, lets help.”

Once on the street the party takes up the familiar battle stance that it has practiced so many times before. Novak in the lead with Ky atop Fall his lion in the middle and Yuriy in the flank, Novak bellows forth "LEAVE THE DWARF ALONE OR PERISH", pointing his sword in a menacing gesture to the thugs.

Not swaying and giving ground the thugs ultimately invite the wrath of the party. Making short order of the party and Ky attempting to capture the last remaining grimlock, Yuriy and Novak attempt to communicate with the dark dwarf with little success. Novak calling upon his mighty god to cast a spell in hopes of aiding Yuriy in communicating with the dwarf, results in a one way conversation. Ky returning sorely outmatched mentions that the last one got away, "I believe we are making ourselves a little to visible here in town, we should try and keep a low profile." With that, they all go back to the inn to get some much needed sleep.

While Yuriy has the ability to comprehend languages he pulls forth the note that the halfling in the Earth Node was carrying. Looking to Novak, “This is a great spell why didn’t you give me this earlier so that I could read this as soon as we got it,” Yuriy states never letting slip a chance to jab at one of his old friends. “The note reads this…

Fadheela,

I have been Delayed. My servents carry the kings bones and all the items of his champions that I could find. Merthuuvial I cannot locate. I shall spend a bit more time trying to find it, but I am sending these on so our rendezvous is not compromised. Please give the vanguard my regards. I shall be along shortly. Xeron.”

What the party can as closely tell as the morning in this sunless cavern they arouse and begin their trek to the docks in order to rent a craft to take them to the island and fetch the much needed black mushrooms with the red spots for Es Sarch.

Walking out to the end of the dock in tight formation, a female darkdwarf in leather armor steps out of a shack and asks their business. Yuriy, ever the silver tongue begins to ask for a boat to travel to the island and several moments later, Fall begins to growl, his nose sniffing in the air, “We have intruders in our midst,” yells Ky!

Immediately realizing that her ambush has just been unveiled, she tries a desperate attempt to fool us into thinking that she calls off the attackers. The party taking each other’s back in a triangle pattern waits for the storm. The veil of invisibility peels away from a pair of dark dwarves as they spring their ambush, even in formation awaiting the attack, the hero’s are unable to adequately defend themselves and receive gouging stabs despite their efforts. Like the volcano erupting, Novak explodes into action causing devastating blows against his attackers. Yuriy strategically executing his cunning attacks that only someone of his training can do, attacks in tandem with Ky and his companion making short order of the ambushers. Alas the ringleader jumps into the water invisibly swimming to the shore, evading the death that most certainly awaited her on the dock.

“Let’s take this skiff and get to that island as fast as possible, and ready your water breathing or walking spells so that if we get attacked we wont drown, some of us can’t turn into a fish and swim away,” grumbles Novak.

After a short ride to the island Ky is excited that he might be able to resolve this peacefully buy summoning his nature magic and communicating to the fungal inhabitants of the island. What Ky gets in return for trying to commune with nature are two devastating blows that almost crush him into a pulp. Novak gets smashed as a result Ky is able to visualize the fungal giants and cast a faire fire on one of the giant fungus people. Yuriy keeping his distance utilizing his bow Ky and Novak eventually overcome the guardians of the black and red mushrooms. As Novak and Ky gently pick the mushrooms, yuriy finds a badly decomposed body covered in fungus. Searching it reveals a small bit of treasure. The party, after inhaling the fog for too long begin to feel the ill effects and advise a hasty retreat back to the Dripstone Inn so that they can move to their next task in order to get that much closer to Ky’mera’s killer.

After speaking with Es Sarch the party believes that haste is the better course and time is of the essence. “We must travel to kill this matron of Dusklorn, Elessarwa. We have little time to find and retrieve your fathers head we must act now."

Traveling to the secret door that the letter lead us too, given to us by Es Sarch, we stumble into a babbling prophet inside the tannery. Yuriy uncharacteristically loosing his temper with the half madman pushes him out of the way. We find the secret door and asscend up the tunnel to kill the matron for Es Sarch. "How do we now what we are doing for Es Sarch is going to lead us to my fathers killer?" puzzles Ky. "I mean really, he holds all the cards. All we have to go o is his word that he will deliver Fadeela to us in exchange for doing his dirty work. I guess we really have no choice."

As Ky is half mumbleing to himself, Yuriy states that just up ahead is the door that the directions lead us too. "I am going to pick the lock and then you guys can charge in. How does that sound," with a smile from Yuriy.

"Just open that door and I will take care of the rest," looking to yuriy.

As yuriy pulls forth his tools to do the job, a few moments later there is a look and a nod from our rogue meaning that the door is unlocked. We get the signal and as yuriy kicks in the door with his foot we begin our charge in the room. At that moment an alarm of some sort notifies the inhabitants that they have been breached and casting can be heard from the inside the room. At that moment the corridor is filled with large sticky webs and Yuriy is caught in its sticky embrace.

"What in Kord's name," shouts Novak knowing that his charge has been stalled. "Fire! We need fire to burn the webs down! Druid conjure the wrath of nature to burn us a path to Yuriy!"

"I cant, I used it in the fight for the mushrooms. Get your torch and light it, we will march to Yuriy," cries Ky'mera.

As the party attempts to reach Yuriy spiders begin to be summoned into the webs. Unhindered by the webs they begin to attempt to make a meal out of the helpless rogue. After a few moments Ky remembers that he has a spell to nullify magic and begins to summon forth the words to make the spiders and the web disappear.

"Help im stuck and I cant get out...," howls Yuriy sorely outnumbered.

With the completion of the dispelling magic, the webs vanish and Yuriy is now able to take the last remaining spider one on one. With the hall way cleared Novak roars and charges in to battle the heathens with Ky and Fall right behind. After a rather quick fight

The Dripstone Inn

Upon entering the Dripstone Inn, the three adventurers head over to Es Sarch. “That was fast,” Es Sarch says in his low raspy voice.

“I think we are done for the night,” replies Yuriy. “May we get a room for the night?”

“Of course. And I’ll give you tonight for free, assuming you complete the tasks.” Es Sarch continues, “Bonedin will show you to your room.” A skeletal server approaches the group and waits for the party to face him. Bonedin then turns and heads up the stairs. The group follows. The landing yields to a small dark hallway with multiple doors off of it. Bonedin leads the group to the last door on the left, opens it, and enters the room. He walks over to a lantern and takes off the black hood to expose the continual flame inside. Cautiously, Yuriy enters the dimly lit room and is followed by Ky’mera and then Novak. Bonedin bows his head and leaves the room. There are four beds in the room and Novak moves to slide two of the beds together until he realizes that the beds are bolted to the floor. Grumbling, he sits on one of the beds. Ky’mera heads to the window and peers out to the dark city. The window faces north and Ky’mera can see a group of grimlocks picking on a lone Duergar only two blocks away.

Into the Depths

Yuriy, Ky’mera, and Novak pick up the bag left by Nerard to find some scrolls, a rope and other supplies. Ky’mera casts and walks down the cliff side while Yuriy and Novak descend cautiously. The group land on a mildly concave landing covered in a thick layer of dust that they later discover is roach dung. Also on the floor of the cave is a statue of a female goblin and the body of a Halfling with little bite marks, some snake and some roach Ky’mera informs the group, all over his body. The small Halfling is clenching a note, which the group takes but cannot read. Within a minute of reaching the floor, Ky’mera and Novak begin to understand the true nature of this cave—it is an earth node… a way to travel the underdark. Ky’mera informs the group that he will be “charged up” in about 8 hours and he can use the power of the node to travel to wherever the tracks of the assassin lead. About an hour into their wait, the smell of feces intensifies and is accompanied by a high-pitched buzzing. Suddenly the room is filled cockroaches of all sizes, pooring out of little caverns surrounding the room. Having removed their escape route, they have no choice but to fight. Yuriy moves next to a tunnel to provide a potential escape route, but he is overcome by the stench as he begins to wretch. Ky’mera casts a flaming sphere to burn his enemies while a swarm engulfs his head. Novak runs to support Yuriy and begins his crushing blows on one roach at a time. Yuriy continues to fire his bow in between gag reflexes. Ky’mera stays in place as he controls his flaming sphere and swings his blade at the swarm about his head. The heroes, although a little tattered, dispatch the siege with little trouble. After some quick healing, Novak and Yuriy decide to explore the home of the malodorous creatures. Yuriy, being smaller than Novak, wriggled quickly for almost a hundred feet before he came to what seems to be a den. “Come on, you big oaf,” Yuriy yells to Novak as Novak’s bulging muscles scrape the walls of the 2-foot diameter cave. Their journey is not for not—they find some gold and a small spider figurine buried within the scat.

The next 6 hours passed uneventful with the adventurers making fun of each other and peaking down the small tunnels. “My battery is just about charged” exclaims Ky’mera. Flexing in the power he is drawing from the earth, Ky’mera begins to cast. Although this casting is different than most—there are no words, no gestures, just simple mental focus. All of a sudden, the dusty floor of feces disappears, the punctured walls surrounding them are gone. The three are standing in a crater within a giant dark cavern dimly lit by a feint green glow.

“Where the hell are we?” asks Yuriy.

“I think you just said it, Yuriy… hell,” says Ky’mera. Despite enjoying the power that just ran through his body, Ky’mera renews his focus on his pursuit—to find his father’s killer. Feeling the change in Ky’mera’s demeanor, Yuriy and Novak ready their weapons and follow Ky’mera up to the crater’s edge.

“Good day, Node Travelers,” a heavily accented common breaks the cold silence. “My name is Bruthwol Coalhauler, a humble merchant, and at your service. What supplies might you need for your travels? I’m sure I have something for you. You be surfacers, correct?”

“Yes we are,” Yuriy replies. “What do you have? Oh yeah, have you seen a woman pass here recently?”

”Good to meet you,” Bruthwol says as he opens his carriage to expose his wares. “I did see a woman leave the node recently… less than a day ago… right before I cleaned up shop last time so maybe 16 hours or so. Can I interest you in a chainmail vest?”

“Which way did she go?” Ky’mera interrupts.

Bruthwol points down the road, “that way, toward Pedestal.”

Yuriy diplomatically takes back control of the conversation, “I don’t think we need any of your wares right now, but perhaps we will patronize later. Is there anything you can tell us of Pedestal?”

“Of course,” replies Bruthwol. “Take this road to the Ocean Bridge—be careful of the kuo-toas jumping out of the water. Enter the city through the south gate and go straight, to the Dripstone Inn. That Inn is the only safe place in all of Pedestal. None of the warring houses will dare shed blood there—Es Sarch makes sure of that. Other than that, watch your back. There are plenty of people there that will take advantage of you, especially being surfacers. And remember, if you need anything, come find me. My name is Bruthwol Coalhauler, and I’m either here or in the merchant’s bazaar.”

The heroes thank Bruthwol for his time and scoot off down toward the ocean bridge. The salty odor of the sea challenges the logic of their senses. How could a salt water sea this large exist in an underground cavern? The thought passes as they notice the blue glow of an island in the middle of the sea. That thought is then distracted by a break in the bridge. The three easily jump over the 4 foot gap, although very wary of creatures jumping out of the watery abyss. Fortunately, there were no surprises… this time.

The heroes continue to another break in the bridge that has the same foreboding as the past one. Ky’mera jumps over with ease, turning around to wait for the others. Yuriy jumps to the middle block as the attack begins. Four Kuo-toas jump from the water to attack the heroes. Yuriy hits one and Novak dispatches another. Then, a fifth member enters the fight. A tentacled fishman appears on the bridge about 50 feet away. He casts on Yuriy, but Yuriy is able to shake it off. Novak dispatches another Kuo-toa, and then another. The fishman casts again while Ky’mera charges him. This time, Yuriy can’t fight it. He succumbs to the will of the fishman. A wall appears between Ky’mera and his comrades. Yuriy arms his bow and shoots at Ky’mera; he misses. Yuriy takes another shot. Surprised, Ky’mera lets out a “uuuggghhh” as blood pours from the arrow in his stomach. Novak tackles Yuriy and the fishman swims away. All seems normal once again. “Let me up you big oaf,” Yuriy says with disdain. Novak rises, but only let the young Yuriy attempt to jump into the sea. Fortunately, Novak and Ky’mera are quick to pin Yuriy once again. Ky’mera’s lion sits on Yuriy and licks his face while Novak ties Yuriy up. Novak straps Yuriy to Ky’mera’s lion and the group continues down the ocean bridge.

The approach to Pedestal provides the reason for its name. The walled city yields to a giant column arising from its center. It is shaped as though a giant stalactite from the ceiling meets a giant stalagmite from the city floor. They come together in the middle to form a column, or a pedestal, as the city is called. The heroes approach the South gate as directed by Bruthwol. “Let me go already,” Yuriy cries.

“Are you sure you’re okay, this time?” Ky’mera asks.

“Yes, now just untie me,” Yuriy replies. Novak and Ky’mera acquiesce and Yuriy begins running toward the sea. Once again, Yuriy is tackled by his partners and tied up. They then turn their attention to the South gate to be greeted by a Kuo-toa speaking broken common.

“Wut you wan?” the Kuo-toa says as his whole body bops up and down in a nervous fashion. Before the heroes reply, they are under attack. Two Kuo-toas pop up from behind the rubble to throw javelins. Two others join their comrade on the front line to contend with the mighty half-orc. The battle is over as fast as it started with Novak standing over multiple dead bodies as one Kuo-toa escaped with his life by running away.

The heroes search the area, but don’t find much. “Let me out so I can find some stuff. You guys suck at finding secret doors and searching stuff and this is my thing. Let me go, let me go, let me go,” complains Yuriy. Knowing this is probably another trick, Ky’mera and Novak decline as they make way to the Dripstone Inn.

The city has the neverending pale lighting of dusk. A dim green glow exudes the darkness as the heroes walk the street. The city is a warzone after a nuclear blast. Most buildings appear empty, and the buildings that appear occupied are not inviting with spying eyes peering through broken windows. A half broker street sign hangs in front of the heroes where they see light emanating from the Inn in front of them. The Dripstone Inn would be an undesirable location in any normal city, but in this Underdark, it is a welcomed reprieve. The heroes enter the main door to see a motley bunch of customers and workers. Duergar, Drow, Derro, grimlocks, Kuo-toas and wererats are all staring at the heroes. The barkeep is an obvious undead with polished bones exposed from his clothing. The servers roam the room, never speaking, with their skeletons exposed from beneath their clothing. A cloaked figure sits across from the entrance. He wears a robe with eyes painted over its entirety. No face can be seen, but this creature lives. The heroes move to a table and order some beers. An expectant server waits for the order completion and says nothing. He, or it, walks away to return with drinks a few minutes later. The ambience is unfriendly at best. The heroes can feel everyone looking at them. Finally, they get up to go talk to the barkeep and ask for Es Sarch. The barkeep points the cloaked figure sitting in a throne. The heroes approach…

“Welcome to my establishment. I am Es Sarch. I deal in information. Perhaps we can make an exchange.” Es Sarch sits patiently as the heroes view his gaunt and pointy hands.

“We are looking for a woman named Fhadeela,” Ky’mera inquires. “Do you know where we can find her? And what can you tell us of this place we are in?”

“Fhadeela… I don’t know her whereabouts, presently. I can find her. As for this place… you are in Pedestal, a most unsafe place indeed. Much of this city is torn by the warring houses: Inheritors, Assassin’s Guild, and House Dusklorn. They all rose in the struggle for power after the Plagueburst decimated the entire city. You are in the only safe place within this city. So, you want to find Fhadeela? Perhaps we can work out an arrangement. I will identify where Fhadeela is and you run a couple of errands for me. Does this interest you?”

“What do you need done?” replies Ky’mera.

“First, I would like some mushrooms from the Isle of Rikaryon. You can get a boat from the dock. Bring me at least 10 mushrooms; they are black with red spots. Pick them carefully. I need the whole mushroom. You can find them at the Island’s center. Also, I find it only fair to warn you that the blue mist surrounding the island is poisonous. People from this region die. Surfacers are fine, but you may get a little choked up. But don’t spend too much time on the island. The second task is a little more involved. I need you to assassinate someone—the Dusklorn Matron. She is an evil witch who tortures hapless victims of this fallen city. Will you do these things for me?” Ky’mera nods his head in acknowledgement. Es Sarch slides a rolled paper from the sleeve of his robe and hands it to Ky’mera. They never touch each other, nor is Ky’mera ever able to see Es Sarch’s face. The three leave the Inn to head to Rikaryon.

Ky’mera decides to transform into a bird and fly over to the island. He lands in the clearing to pick mushrooms and is unexpectedly attacked. Ky’mera retreats.

Ky’mera flies back over the wall to reunite with Novak and Yuriy. The two were huddled in an alley near the west wall. Ky’mera transforms back into a Halfling, and Novak and Yuriy are immediately suspicious as to the success of the mission. Ky’mera’s eye is swollen shut with the mother of all bruises consuming the entire left side of his face. “I fink I’m gonna needf yur helpf,” Ky’mera says through swollen lips. The three return to the Dripstone Inn for a nightcap to recuperate and make a plan of attack…

Gentlemen, read it carefully. There may be some hints in there. I’ll see you Tuesday night at 7pm.

Novak

Novak has a little farm in the town of Klimston. The farm was his mothers and through out his twenty four years, he has kept it going. His Mom still lives on the property in a small, renovated structure that used to be a barn. Novak, his wife, and her baby live in the main house. Novak’s father was an Orc. He and his tribe have long gone. They were chased away by a militia comprised of men from the three towns of Klimston, Kingsholm, and (where ever Mully is from). The militia had successfully dispatched them, but not before one of them had impregnated Novak’s mother. Even though there were a few half-orcs living in the county, many in the town wanted her to get rid of the child or to leave the area. If it wasn’t for her overprotective ways and that her family had been related to Klim, the founder of the township, she would have been run out of town. It also helped that Novak’s calm, patient, and helpful demeanor grew on people. Nowadays the people of Klimston accept and have embraced Novak.
The hardship that Novak saw his mother go through was one of the main reasons he asked Constance to marry him. For it was three years ago that another band of orcs put Constance into the same situation as his mother. Novak had always liked her, but he knew that he, as a half-orc, had no chance with her, that is until she became pregnant. With few options, Constance accepted his proposal. Much of the town still believes it is a marriage of convenience. Either way they both seem happy and Novak has raised her son as if he was his.
His little farm has managed to provide subsistence for his family, but that is about it. From the time he was little, the townspeople and the surrounding farms took notice of how strong and powerful Novak was becoming. About the age of twelve, Novak began helping other farms with much of their manual labor. Since there were so few good oxen at the time, much of the heavy work that wasn’t absolutely necessary was left undone. This gave Novak the opportunity to provide a little more for his mother. This not only helped his mother, but it also helped his physique. His shy and persistent ways became well known and even farms from other towns would send for him. He never argued about money with any farm owner and would always just accept or decline the work. Even if the job turned out to be much more difficult than he originally thought, he would always take the amount given to him with a smile on his face. This helpful nature and his desire to provide his mother and later his family with as much as he could, which ultimately led him into becoming an adventurer.
A few years after Novak started helping at other farms, someone asked him about the yearly fair. He had heard of the fair, but his mother had always shied away from it, in an effort to shelter him. From the little he had heard about it, Novak wanted to go. It was when he mentioned it to Mr. Kamdon, the owner of the largest farm in the county that he was given his chance. Mr. Kamdon told Novak that he would take him. It turned out to be a wonderful experience. Many of the people that Novak had done work for were there. He loved the food and all the shows. There was one thing, though, that changed him. There was a strongman contest. Mr. Kamdon told Novak that he had to compete. He did, reluctantly at first, but once he saw another half-orc strongman who was traveling with the fair, he threw himself into it. Not only did he beat all the people from the county, but he beat the strongmen that were with the fair. This ultimately did two things for Novak. It introduced him to his love for physical competition and it helped his church find him.
Immediately after he won the competition, the manager of the fair approached Novak. He offered him a job. Of course Novak declined because of his mother, but the word was out. It wasn’t more than a few days later that Novak heard a knock on his door. It was a huge man, a cleric of Kord

The Hunt Begins

Nerard is not quite so surprised this time by the approaching adventurers.
“You return faster than I expected, but I can see that you have regained some composure, Ky’mera,” Nerard speaks softly.
Novak notices the feint remanance of Nerard’s orcish blood in his bottom teeth as he speaks. Nerard continues, “Gentlemen, please sit down.”
The adventurers ,to protect from the noonday sun, sit down under the awning.
“Everything happened last night. It was so chaotic. But we have a witness. Wait… I’m getting ahead of myself. Let me start from the beginning. What I’m about to tell you is only known by the town’s elders, of which, Ky’mera, your father was one. The sensitivity of what I am about to tell you is not so sensitive anymore, because we have failed. The mound over there,” Nerard points to a small hill about 200 yards away, “is actually the burial site of a king from thousands of years ago; hence the name of Kingsholm. Prophecy says that this king will rise to help defend in the most desperate hour. However, things have been relatively calm for so long that we are far from a desperate hour. The burial mound used to be guarded by at least two guards at all times. Like I said, things have been so calm, plus no one knows about the burial mound, that we decided to have one person guard the mound. The town’s elders took turns at this. Honestly, it seemed like a waist of time. I mean, this village doesn’t seem like a target, and there’s nothing around us except for other peaceful villages. But it seems like we were hit from the only direction we did not expect… from below,” Nerard points down to the ground.
“Let me show you where we found your father’s body… and get the young errand boy to fill in some details.” Nerard rings a bell and a servant comes forth. “Please go fetch young Niko and tell him to meet us at his secret entrance on the mound.” Nerard gives the servant a wink and stands up signaling to the adventurers to do the same. “Let’s make our way to the tunnel so I can tell you the rest of the story.”
The adventurers follow Nerard for the five minute hike to see a young boy sitting on a stone on the side of the hill. When the group is about 50 feet away, the young boy stands up and pushes at the stone with all his might. Novak smiles as he admires the meager effort of the weakling putting all his might into sliding the stone. The stone is slid just enough to reveal a tunnel when the group reaches the boy. “Here, me help,” remarks Novak as the boy steps aside.
“Wow, you’re strong mister,” Niko comments while Novak moves the stone with one arm.
Meanwhile, Mully is admiring the cleverness of the covering. “If I hadn’t known this was here, I probably would have missed this. This is really well hidden. How did you find this, young sir?”
“My friends and I play here all the time, and one time, when Tomi pushed Merk, Merk fell into the stone and it moved. So we all got together and pushed the stone,” replied Niko. Mully nods a “thank you.”
“As you can see, it leads to a tunnel,” speaks Nerard. “One of the Dwarfs in town said it was quickly built by hand and magic—definitely not up to dwarven standards. And as for our unruly Niko here, he’s been quite a help. He was playing in the tunnel last night when all this transpired. Niko was lucky to not be seen, isn’t that right Niko?” Niko bows his head and gives a timid nod. “Gentlemen, please follow me,” Nerard says as he pulls a torch out of his side satchel. It lights immediately with a feint green illumination.
The group descends with the tunnel for what seems like a quarter-mile. Nerard stops and says, “look up. This is where Niko saw the lady come down. Niko, please…”
“I couldn’t understand what she said, but she had an argument with … your father. Your father said ‘you will leave with those over my dead body!’ and she said something I couldn’t understand and stabbed him. He fought back, but I couldn’t see everything. He fell. Then she raised her blade and swung down hard. She then picked up something and walked away. I was really scared, but I stayed quiet. When I couldn’t see her anymore, I ran away… all the way back home… without stopping.”
“Thank you Niko,” says Nerard. “If there’s nothing else, then you are free to go.” Niko nods and walks back toward the entrance. Nerard waits for a couple minutes and says “Niko?… good, I think he’s gone. Now for the rest of the events that have pieced together. The big blade swing that Niko saw, we are pretty sure that was decapitating the body. Then she absconded with the head. Above us is the passage to the bottom of the King’s tomb. What your father tried to prevent her leaving with… the king’s bones, and some other treasure. Obviously, she is aware of the prophecy too. Why else would she steal bones? A local ranger from town followed her tracks down this way. Follow me.”
The group descends down the tunnel for another quarter-mile before stopping at a cliff edge. “The tracks end here. We’re pretty sure she descended down this way. It’s over a hundred feet down. No one has been down there yet. We’re waiting for Hamu and others to return to lead this expedition, but they are not due back for a week. The town elders have decided to not let anyone pursue until Hamu returns. Ky’mera, if we are to raise your father, we can’t wait that long. Obviously, as a town elder, I cannot allow you to descend down this cliff. Also know that the tomb is being watched, by us, but few know about the stone cap where we entered this tunnel. Gentlemen, I need to leave, but I don’t think I can carry this satchel back; it is too heavy and will impede my progress.” Nerard sets the satchel down, with the torch on top of it, and he walks away up the tunnel into the darkness.

Revenge

Ky'mera, Mully, and Novak return to Kingsholm after a couple weeks cleansing a nearby dungeon.
"Remember, I jump forth, and crush him skull... that poor, dead wizard; I still have him blood on my blade" remarks Novak as he licks his sword. "He cast that weak force spell, but I smash right through it." "Kord, rest his soul; I take him life for you." “Did you see me Ky, did you?” Novak asks excitedly.
"That was a good fight... but now I look forward to resting and communing with nature. That was too long underground" explains Ky’mera.
“You funny Halflings; you love trees” remarks Novak.
Mully comes back from the bushes after taking a leak. “I just killed a beetle with my urine. He tried to fly away but I drenched him and he drowned in the little pool I created for him. It doesn’t matter the weapon; my aim is so good I can even kill with my dick” Mully brags to his friends.
Ky’mera and Novak chuckle at the story and they continue on their way.
The adventurers make their way back to Ky'mera's village of Kingsholm when a young human boy, taller than Ky’mera, approaches. “Ky’mera, Ky’mera, Nerard needs to see you. Quick, it’s about your father.” Ky’mera looks at Mully and Novak; they were just about to part ways so Mully and Novak could go back to their respective villages. Instead, they give a nod and the three friends hustle to see Nerard. On the way, between breaths, Ky’mera explains that Nerard is his father’s best friend, and even though Nerard is human (with some feint orcish blood), they have been tight friends for years and even adventured together in past.
The adventurers arrive together to see Nerard on his porch hunched over in a chair, looking down, with a pensive look on his face. So deep in thought, he almost doesn’t notice the adventurers approach. Startled by the proximity of others, he piers up and looks straight at Ky’mera. “Come here, my son” says Nerard. Ky’mera takes a couple steps forward. “I am glad you have friends close to bear the news I am about to give you. I don’t know how to tell you this, Ky’mera.”
“What is it,” Ky’mera anxiously asks.
“It’s your father,” explains Nerard. “He’s been killed. And even worse, the assassin has taken his head so we can’t even raise the body. He died valiantly… I’m sorry Ky’mera.”
“NNNOOOOOOOO!”, screams Ky’mera as he begins to sob. “Let me see him! Let me see him now!”
Nerard tries to comfort and calm him but to no avail. “I don’t think this is wise Ky’mera.”
“Let me see him now! Who did this? Why?”
“There are some things I need to tell you, Ky’mera. But I don’t think now is the time. Please take some time to pray and clear your head, and I will tell you all you need to know,” explains Nerard.
Ky’mera nods his head in acknowledgement, and Mully and Novak follow Ky’mera back to his burrow where Ky’mera goes into his study, kneels, and does not move for almost an hour. Ky’mera finally gets up, walks to his friends in the waiting room, and gets a slight smirk at the awkward sight of the large half-orc sitting in a small 1 foot chair. “Thank you for waiting. I am thankful that you guys are still here,” Ky’mera breaks the 45 minute silence of the burrow. “I need to talk to Nerard. Will you guys come with me?”
“Of course,” says Mully. Novak also nods, still not sure if he should speak or not.
The three leave the burrow and make their way back to see Nerard…