D.E.A.D - Stone Face Caves

The Myste-Hass Calender

14/10/22

Bill, Garrett, Mishaan, Kishaan, Jerek and Steve gather at the Halls, to meet with Eliza Falstaff and head on to the Stone Face Caves.

Steve is starting a cart business and has acquired seven carts, but the group heads to a local stables in order to procure a horse. The salesman speaks positively of Hafaar, a spirited animal which he found on fire in the Southern Docks during the strife with Morthel. A priest healed the animal and restored his temperament. Instead, the group choose Hughie, a cheap horse with an uneasy temperament, the look of death in his eyes and nasty habit of kicking people close by.

On the way through the Market Place, Steve trade a nice red cloak for a basket of turnips.

Eventually, the group makes it through the hills to the entrance of the Stone Face Caves. Garrett spots someone inside, and moves in. The individual, Ciffar, is there reclaim his stolen goods, drugs taken from the Hyles Warehouse crates ont he adventurer's last visit. But, Garrett charms him and encourages the man to go out of the caves and convince his hidden accomplices that there is no threat. Whilst he's away arguing with his team, the adventurers slip past the lightening-charged trap, [[Garrett] deactivating it for the group, reactivating and taking a little damage as he jumps through the electrical field.

Moving through the complex, they discover that one of the braziers is still out and the others remain lit. There is no sign of blazing skeletons, but closer inspection of the alter shows all markings have been scrubbed clear or removed.

Pressing onward, Steve opens one of the urns and breathes in some of the dust inside. The group come across several rooms with markings of stag horns painted onto the floor in paints and blood.

Steve harvests a large amount of mushrooms.

In the throne room, Jerek discerns undead influences from the large vat of spirits and the stone chair. On the chair are markings, some in celestial, but most in an older language which the group can't discern. Jerek picks out the words life, dead, immortal and forever amongst the few he can read. He touches the throne and senses its magical power, flitting between celestial and necromantic power, but nothing else occurs.

In front of the chair is a big pile of debris, thrown towards the throne by the magical froce from the pillars. The group find money. Steve picks up a book. Garrett found a ring of keys, a number of previous stones and a small jade figure. Bill found a ring with precious stones set into it, a number of large pieces of metal to form a set of full plate, a crumpled piece of papers which is a deed to a ship called The Dying Rose, the owners name missing, and a unidentified potion with an elusive eyeball floating within the liquid.

Continuing, they move down the stairs into a room covered in a yellow-tinted, transparent slime. The handle to the next corridor has been broken, sat loose in its fittings from a previous visit of other adventurers.

Heading down the rough-stone corridor, Garrett enters a large chamber with an alter at the far side. It is freezing in here. In the center is a huge, open rift of darkness. Beyond is The Void. Reapers flood from the lands beyond, hungrier than ever before for souls for Garr. The torrent is mostly beaten away by the adventurers, and Jerek, who is reluctant to leave. However, Mishaan is cut down, the Reapers tearing her soul from her body. Steve rushes into The Void fighting off the shadows to drag Mishaan's body back.

Garrett struggles to open a nearby door, seeing a small room filled with vines and a great pit. He closes the door.

Slowly, the group retreats, carrying their dead comrade, with Jerek holding at the rear. The Reapers do not pursue.

Leaving the cave, the adventurers find their cart and horse gone. They then must begin the long slog back to town to speak with Eliza Falstaff late at night.