Five go to Redclaw Point: Part 3 - The Dead Rise

Meanwhile Vaunea has been off with the other adventuring party - Thalgron, Trav, Najor and Flayme. Several hours walk east of town they encounter and defeat a small orc scouting party. One of the orcs survives and, despite Vaunea and Najor's objections, Flayme tortures him for information. The orc reveals, before it dies, that the main body of orcs are about to make an attack on Rileum's llama farm to the south-east of town. The party quickly head south and find the orcs, including several ogres, camped in the forest near to the farm. It appears they are waiting for nightfall before attacking. Since there are too many for the group to take alone, Vaunea heads back to town to gather her friends whilst the other four keep watch on the orcs. She arrives in town and is directed to the harbour by Ribohny Fliss, reaching the edge of the dock just in time to see Delilah charging towards the foulspawn.

The fight goes badly for the party. The zombies radiate a field of sorcerous cold, whilst the foulspawn was able to use its dimension warping magic to keep the party from moving about too much. Both Delilah and Reg fall to the claws of the zombies. Reg's body ices over from the effects of being surrounded by the zombies, and soon his loyal dog Fifi dies too. Delilah is revived at the last moment by Waywatcher, being on the verge of death. The zombies are eventually defeated despite these losses. Seeing himself surrounded, the creature that was once Athdar dives into the sea and swims away. At that moment the ice around Reg cracks open and Reg gets up, apparently unharmed.

Whilst the party explain to Vaunea what has happened recently and she tells them of the plight of the other adventuring party, Waywatcher goes to examine the standing stone. It has the symbols matching those on the temple. The face of it is a giant spiral, with a hole at the centre. By looking directly through the hole the lighthouse can be seen, perfectly in line with the standing stone. The group carry Fifi's body back to the chapel whilst discussing what to do next. The encounter Iggins at the temple, still working at his dig. They try to encourage him to help them with the fight against the orcs but he refuses, saying he is no warrior and is unable to intervene.

Eventually the party head to the woods where the other adventuring party are waiting for them. The orcs have apparently split into two forces and one group has moved further to the east. The nine of them head down into the woods to attack the half of the orc force that remains.

Author: Graham Charlton