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After berating those clear cutting a path for the sky ship to be dragged to town Sharna asked that we go visit Logswell Manor because they were having a major problem with zombies that seemed to be coming from a near by town by the name of Scorane, abandoned a generation earlier when its population was wiped out by plague.
After a several day ride to Logswell the we had a pleasant meal and evening chatting with the Lord and Lady of Logswell, upon the morning the zombie hunt was on. Late into that afternoon we came to what we were told was the end of populated lands leaving our mounts in care of local farmer. It did not take long on food to come across pairs of zombies that seemed to be sentries walking through the forest and up the overgrown road. Little skill or stealth was required to follow one of these pairs straight into the ruins of Socrane.
Watching the town from cover it became apparent that a huge hole was being dug into the ground by a small army of zombies, moving closer to get a better view we were attacked by ghouls that had taken up residence in a dilapidated house. While the ghouls were easily taken care of the entire army of zombies now knew of our presence and began to move towards our position. Knowing that zombies could not move as fast living men Rild ran into and around the walking dead forcing them to bunch up. Once they were corralled into a dense target a searing flash of light destroyed all but a few stragglers who were dealt with the old fashion way, Steel !
A quick look around to make sure that no one was likely to come up behind us we entered the zombie hole immediately realizing it was a tunnel that was following the walls of an old stone building of unusual size compared to the hovels in the town above. Following the wall we eventually came to a door from which came both a slight noise and a distinct feeling of evil. Cracking the door slightly a group of creatures, human and others were seen standing around a circle chanting in what was surely a work of unhealthy magic, we quickly closed the door before we could be detected. With a slight modification to attach a magic bead to an arrow, the door was again opened and magic fire was shot into their midst and the door slammed. After the tell tale sound of Wummphhhh! we charged in to engage the survivors, only to find that the circle of humans had fallen but the room still had a number of large ogres, a mightily pissed of necromancer and an equally displeased demon that materialized just a minute or two after we entered the room.
Ulthor, Mogar and Rild engaged the Ogres, while Harcourt kept the Necromancer occupied, the others supported from the across the room. Timing was very close as the ogres were dispatched just after the demon waded into the battle. In the end the demon and necromancer could not deal with the number and ferocity of the attacks against them yet they were certainly striking back with ample effect. Had there been a second demond we surely would have suffered fatalities.
After searching the underground complex we came across writings showing that the Necromancer was a devote of Incabulous who had made it his goal to find and restore this ancient temple to a place of power. With is ability to reanimate the dead and summon demons this surely would have become a major trouble spot had we not interviened. We also learned that his superior and head of the order was Panshazed the Vile of Izlen,
Amoung the notable items taken from the Necromancer was an amulet that allowed him to control this hoard of zombies, many potions and a staff of considerable quality.
Before leaving the summoning circles, shirne and regalia of Incabulous were destroyed or defiled. |