'The Bear of the North'
April 29th 1066.
Barrow Mounds: south of Helix. Duchy of Aerik.
Late morning.
Weather: damp fetid mist. Visibility reduced to 60ft.
Light sources: torch, sunlight through the mist
By divine luck and choosing wisely, the 10'ft pole Squires arrive at their destination. They are greeted outside of the 'Bear framed' tomb by a pile of skeleton, underneath which, at least in Martell's case, lie the bodies of their former masters. The knights dying in battle to protect Lord Krothos. or so they were told. At least that appears to be true on face value.
The pile of skeletons is probably two or three high and directly in front of the tomb entrance, the rank of boney guardians apparently assembling as a shield wall to fall upon the intruders.
Proceeding with extreme caution, the group search the area while Gilles sneaks off to the tomb entrance, signalling Orgoth to follow him at a distance. His movement full of guile and stealth to soundlessly step tiptoed to peer into the dark recesses of the Barrow. A bare passageway extends maybe 15'ft, the before opening out into a dark chamber beyond. Orgoth squints to see if his infravision can detect anything but all is cold, the stone walls melding into the same dark grey of
emptiness. The tall bear carved lintels stare impassively in petrified pose. The sculptured design suffering from the recent hacking of blades and hammers, their paws hacked off. It seems they gripped the millstone that was rolled away, one paw still clutching the now defunct portal blockstone.
Sven can read the ancient script above the lintel. It declares, Barrow Grave of Silas. Chieftain of the Mercians. 'The Bear of the North' . It is written in an ancient script but also in Elvish calligraphy and Dwarven runes.
Leomane prods the bone pile with his pole. It does not provoke any reanimation protocol and after a few tense minutes, the squires begin to delicately search for the remains of their masters.
Eddy "We should at least inter them in the tomb."
Franc "Taking their shields will prove we came and can honour them properly."
Martell "He died here. I should mark the spot."
With a bit of searching, two bodies are recovered and two squires equip themselves with new shields, exchanging their plain unbranded shields for the kites depicting the heraldry of the deceased knights. One kneels to gesture some 'last rites' blessing over the two corpses. Though one knight has his chainmail shredded by many blows, the second looks still wearable. With a bit of adjusting it could fit a half-orc or even Sven if you wish to avail yourself. "It would be foolish to not enrich ourselves while still honouring their memory by burying them." It is a pragmatic view of taking the spoils of war or recycling equipment. The skeletons though are dressed in rotted garb, battered helms and their weaponry rusted.
A pouch containing 5gp & 260sp is also recovered to add to the community pot.
next actions please.
