Party stumbled upon an abandoned camp.
The PCs pass by a weathered stone marker by some ancient steps all but reclaimed by the jungle. The smell of rot is thick here and barely quenched by the drizzling rain. Ahead of your is a faint apparition of a pale dwarf and behind it you see a clearing in which stands several tents, a wagon, a table, and a toppled statue lay nearby a large stone tomb. The tomb's appears to be pried open and later barricaded crudely and the barricade torched. several rotting figures stumble around the camp the figures are clearly dead but half overgrown by vegetation.
Seraph flew forward and detected a threat in the vegetation nearby while the rest of the party deals with zombies. The plant turned out to be a mantrap which Eddie froze in pace and the party bombarded with missile weapons until it shattered.
When the group investigate the area, they discover the remains of a campfire and heavily molded gear around the campsite, as well as several discarded bottles of Elvin wine.
An abandoned wagon north of the campsite has a variety of glass containers with dried remnants of specimen mostly desiccated from time spent under the jungle sun.
Specimen containers:
1 rancid half liquid squash of some sort in a puddle of putrecscent liquid.
2 shattered
3 dried tuber of some sort (Ryath root)
4 shrivelled apple of some sort
5 leaves and seedpods of some sort
6 desiccated tuber of some sort
7 berries now shriveled to nigh unrecognizability.
8 crushed plant fibers
9 container of dried leaves (10 oz Menga leaves)
10 fist sized walnuts (already spent)
11 root has sprouted and is grown out and is flourishing due to a nearby puddle or rotting plant matter and wet soil.
12 shattered container
13 filled with mold
14 shattered eggshell and dust
15 Large puff mushroom turned on its side but oddly well preserved despite its astonishing fragility
16 thick iridescent leaves now shriveled down to nothing.
17 container burst from inside shattering several nearby containers as well. No trace of plant
17A container is filled completely with brittle looking barbed vines.
17B shattered glass container labeled "Danger handle with care"
19 pressing sheets. Mostly of flowers and small insects. Well preserved though the labels are all faded to almost nothingness
20 bug collection beset with mildew. This large insect collection has spoiled after the lid was cracked by a flying shard of glass.
Search Nature (12) - recovered from the specimen 3 tubers (sprouting, dried, desiccated), a Large mushroom spore almost a foot across, 10 oz of dried tea, various dried leaves or berries virtually unrecognizable at this point.
Empty shrine
In the ruins of the abandoned camp are traces of long abandoned buildings or stone tomb. A toppled statue lay nearby, and the tomb's entrance appears to be pried open revealing a rubble strewn stairway descending below the jungles surface. The spectral figure gestures you forward into the darkness. The PCs can enter the tomb by squeezing through the opening over charred remains and burnt wood. The interior of the tomb is partially barricaded but further in bones have been dragged from alcoves, the two central sarcophagi lay open. One lid is shattered on the floor, and the skeletons within all been violently disturbed. blood stains and broken weapons cover the floor. The dwarven spectre drifts through the ceiling and points at a bundle of papers next to a stack of crates. Searching reveals : 2x Hooded Lantern and 10x Oil, Flask and 3 crates of rations (15 meals per crate).
Rough diary summary
• written by Selden Ephermian Humpherdink Wurtherchilde II Journel
• who got location directions from - Eku?
• was looking for - rare fauna
• where they went - Nagalore, Tomb of lost Omu emperor (deceased ~500 years ago)
• Description of encounter in Nagalore with crazy lady who felt she was rightful queen of Omu and mentions some of her triggers. (lovers ashes, her prized orchid, questioning her status)
• what specimen they gathered (apparently wrote an entire book based on the fauna mostly present in Nagalore gardens)
• investigating tomb of Omu emperor (Queen hated him for banishing her to the pleasure palace of Nagalore) Gives pretty detailed directions to the tomb from Nagalore.
• Recent entry says A specimen container broke was lost but it was only Ryleroot but some of the expedition ran off apparently scared off by the tomb. I really thought Verrick the dwarf was made of sterner stuff than that.
• ... wait several of the samples were mislabeled...
• We have barricaded ourselves in the tomb but the zombies have us trapped here. They dragged off the cook screaming. Strange behavior from zombies. I only regret that I will not live to see my lexicon published.
Party exploring tomb were interrupted by the sound of many forms moving outside brings your attention back to the present moment. outside the gruesome mausoleum many zombies are pouring out of the forest to the west. These zombies are overgrown with roots and many have mushroom like growths sprouting from their bodies. One particular zombie dressed in elvish finery with a explorers hat and a journal of some sort on a sling against their body is visible in the midst of the horde. The spectre flies up and points excitedly at a dwarven form otherwise lost in the shuffle.
Treasure: Elvin zombie with fine explorers hat and a book The Most Exquisite Lexicon of Exotic Flora of the Chultian Peninsula as discovered by the Most Reknown Selden Ephermian Humpherdink Wurtherchilde II
Treasure: 70 cp 30 sp 10 ep.
Treasure: dwarf: tiny cauldron covered with dwarven runes the size of a small teapot. (shrink, expand, heat) seen to scale from huge to tiny.
Inspiration
Celadon for grabbing the hat
Defeated
zombies 12x50 600
mantrap 200
spectre 200
yellow creeper. 450
The party earned 1450 xp with 2 allies [Azaka, Seraph] (207 each => 2125 cumulative)
Treasure
3 ryalroot
10 oz menga leaves
2x Hooded Lantern
10x Oil Flask
45 rations
70 cp
30 sp
crown of electrum (5 gp)
Most Exquisite Lexicon of Exotic Flora of the Chultian Peninsula
Dwarven cauldron - activation words in dwarvish (shrink, expand, heat - NOTE: not limited in number of times a day. tiny 1 lb, small 10 lbs, medium 100 lbs, large 1000 lbs, huge 10000 lbs)
Companions (not present):
Captain and Crew of the Brazen pegasus
Captain Ortimay
First Mate Grigg
Bonnie "Sky Turtle" Skytle
Seraph - a Psuedodragon traveling companion and his horde of 3 gp and 3 sp
Undril Silvertusk - A Lightbringer and member of the Order of the Gauntlet bringing relief supplies to Camp Righteousness.
Derrick - former pirate now sworn to Kasisi as temple guardian
Lenny - imp with a troubled history with the party
Hew Hackenstone - tough as the legend would have you believe.