Savage Hyboria Forgotten Islands "The Tomb of Voltannox" Part 4

After several uneventful hours following an old path through the jungle the party came to the entrance of the Tomb of Voltannox.  Outside of the tomb were the desiccated corpses of several Argossean pirates.  Mon Tau lit a torch they had prepared and peered into the open tomb entrance.  "There is a small anti chamber here with several more bodies" he said.  "Let us press on then.  Whatever killed them is no longer here" Heimdall urged.  "Wait!" said the Hyrkanian "Look the floor of the room is littered with darts.  The room must be trapped".  

The tried unsuccessfully to move through the room using the discarded Argossean shields.  Several of the party members suffered minor wounds in the attempt so they were forced to retreat.  After tending their wounds Rozlynn spotted some stonework sticking out of the hill several feet above where the ceiling of the room would end.  "Look up there.  I see some stonework sticking out of the hill." the Aesir woman pointed at the stonework.  Racket climbed up the hill and cleared away some of the jungle foliage covering up the stonework.  With a hammer and spike they found among the corpses he managed to remove one of the stones.  Several bronze darts fell out of the hole he had created.  "I think I have found something" the Argossean said.  Racket pulled several more stones away and even more darts fell out.  "Yes there is some kind of magazine up here that must be feeding the darts into the room.  

 After spending over and hour removing thousands of bronze darts from the magazine that fed the room they party managed to enter the tomb without further problems.
 

 Beyond the anti-chamber there was a room with ten marble slabs on the floor.  As they entered the room a spectral form rose out of each slab.  "Ghost!" Heimdall exclaimed.  Aleena held her holy symbol above her head "In the name of Mitra I banish you!".  White light flashed the room and several of the ghost screeched and vanished but the rest attacked the party.  "Our weapons have no effect on them!" Rozlynn cried.  "We must destroy their corpses!  I believe that will stop them." Aleena explained.  The ghost lashed out at them each blow causing great fatigue as their spectral claws seemed to rend their very spirit.    
"Hyrkanian help me!" Heimdall called.  Mon Tau and Heimdall began pushing the marble slabs aside revealing the mummified remains of the ghost enclosed in sarcophagi beneath the stone.  Heimdall smashed the skull on one and a ghost shrieked and vanished.  Light again flashed from the holy symbol of the priestess and more ghost vanished.  Eventually they banished all the ghost but were so fatigued by their ordeal that they were forced to rest in the chamber for several hours.
  

 The next chamber they entered was large with a higher ceiling than the other chamber.  Lying in the middle of the chamber was a giant skeleton.  As they pressed forward the skeleton rose to it's feet and laughed a deep disembodied laugh.  As the party formed a defensive line the giant surged forward.

 The giant brought it's massive blade down on Heimdall.  The blow knocked the northman to the ground and left him wounded and stunned.  With a war cry Rozlynn attacked the massive skeleton with such fury that it too was knocked to the ground and damaged.  "Racket, Raka, try and get the next door open!" Aleena cried.  The Argossean and Vendhyan rushed to the opposite door which was covered in locks and began to try and pick them.  

 Again the giant stood and engaged the party.  Heimdall, Aleena, Rozlynn, and Aziz fought in hand to hand with the giant as Mon Tau fired arrow after arrow at the beast.

 Rozlynn suffered a deep wound from the massive blade the giant wielded and Aleena was also injured but eventually Heimdall smashed the creatures skull in with his two handed ax.

 The next chamber was small and unoccupied so they decided again to tend to their wounds and rest for quite some time.  Almost two days had passed since they reached the tomb.  They were starting to run low on provision so they decided to press on.  Rozlynn was still suffering from her wounds so she decided to switch to her bow.

 The next chamber was as large as the Giant's chamber but instead of a single foe they saw no fewer than twenty skeletal warriors ranked up on the other side of the room.  As they stepped into the room the creatures eyes began to glow.  "Sheildwall!" Heimdall cried.  The party formed a tight line.  Rozlynn and Mon Tau drew their bows.

 Again Aleena held her holy symbol aloft and shouted "Begone!".  Several of the undead warriors burst into pieces and several more were knocked to the floor.  Mon Tau and Rozlynn targeted the skeletal archers and dropped two more of the undead creatures.

 Undaunted the skeletons rushed forward.  One of the creatures lashed out at Racket wounding him and knocking him down.

 Even as they destroyed the first wave of skeletons more recovered from Aleena's wrath and charged into the party.  Heimdall was knocked to the floor but uninjured.

 The battle was intense but did not last long.  the final skeleton went down in a flurry of blows.  Only Racket had been wounded and his wounds were not serious.

 There was a locked door beyond the skeletons and above it there was an incription indicating that any who entered would not survive.  The door was locked.  Racket picked the lock and opened the door but then noticed something strange.  "Look there seems to be some kind of mechanism here in the door jam.  I think there is a stone plate that will slide down and trap us in here when we enter the room.  "Ah I see it too" Raka said.  Heimdall reached out and pulled the wooden door from it's hinges.  He then wedged the door into the opening to keep the stone slab from falling.
The door at the opposite end was also locked so Raka and Racket entered the room to have a look at it.  As they passed through the room several iron bars shot out from the side walls and ceiling trapping them in that half of the room.  Moments later green gas began filling the room from vents above the door.  Racket and Raka worked quickly to open the locked door but they were overcome by the gas before they could do much.

 Heimdall started to rush to his companions aid.  "Wait!" Aleena shouted. "You will need to protect yourself from the gas".  Aleena took some bandages from her pouch and wet them down with water.  The two Aesir tied them over their mouth and noses before entering the room to free their companions.  They hacked the iron bars away and managed to pull their friends out of the room to safety.
Aleena knelt down to check them.  "They are still alive" explained the priestess "I will try to revive them but they will need rest".  Aleena pulled some herbs from her pouch and began working to heal her friends.
After several hours Racket was well enough to continue and the gas in the chamber had dissipated.  Raka however had no recovered and Aziz elected to stay behind to tend to her.
When they returned to the door they saw it was not only locked but inscribed.  Raka translated the inscription: Here Lies Voltannox the Priest King.  Aleena blessed their weapons and Racket picked the doors lock and they entered the chamber.

 Inside the chamber they saw a large stone throne.  Sitting on the throne was and armored corpse with a purple cloak and a large elaborate staff reading and ancient scroll.  The corpse stood up.  "Fools!  How dare you disturb Voltannox!"  Voltannox pointed his staff at the party and spoke an foul sounding incantation.  Immediately they were engulfed by a spider like web.

 Aleena pulled free of the web and with a cry of "Mitra!" she charged the unholy priest.  Light flashed from here holy symbol causing Voltannox to recoil in horror as the priestess knocked him against his throne with such force that the Priest King and his throne were knocked to the floor.

 With a scream Voltannox stood pointing his sword at the priestess of Mitra.  A green bolt shot from the blade striking Aleena in the chest.  She stumbled as magical energy crackled across her body.  Heimdall ripped himself from the web and charged forward.  He brought his blade down on the Priest Kings shoulder wounding him and knocking him back before the priest could strike Aleena.

 Mon Tau fired an arrow into the undead priest chest and as Racket and Rozlynn charged forward Aleena stabbed Voltannox through the heart.  With a screech the Priest King cried out "You have not defeated me!".  A spectral form rouse from the corps and flew up through a grate in the ceiling cackling with hideous laughter.
Underneath the throne was a hidden chamber filled with; coins, jewels, scrolls, armor, and weapons.  The armor and weapons were damaged with age and in this state unusable until they could be repaired.  The party gathered their treasure then returned to the large room guarded by the skeletal warriors.

There they found two more locked rooms leading off to the side.  One room was filled with rotten provisions but the other held three large bowls filled with gold coins.  "Ah more treasure!" Heimdall exclaimed as he strode forward and reached into one of the bowls.  Mon Tau reached out and grabbed the Aesir by the wrist.  "Not so fast my friend.  Things as not as they appear.  Look one of the coins is a false one covered only with a think layer of gold foil.  I have seen these things in my travels.  The powder concealed under the foil is a dry acid that will eat the flesh from your bone".
The party carefully sorted through the coins and were able to recover several hundred real ones.  They packed up their treasure in baskets from the provision room then left the tomb.  "Now we are rich castaway slaves and wanted pirates" Mon Tau said.  "I suppose that is better than being poor slaves" Racket laughed.

Notes:  Well again this report is based on a game we played at the end of last year so the details are not very accurate but this is basically how the session went down.  Just before this session I had awarded experience and my wife Michelle took the "Holy Warrior" edge for Aleena her priestess of Mitra.  This worked out very well for her especially in the room filled with the skeletal warriors as many of them rolled a one which destroyed them.  A number of the others were also shaken making that encounter far less dangerous.  It was a pretty long session and fairly difficult.  I know the gas chamber was even more difficult than the way I wrote it up but I didn't remember the details well enough to portray it exactly as it happened.  Hopefully I will have our last session for this campaign up in a day or two.  We just played that one of a couple weeks ago and it was a short session so it should be at least a bit more accurate.   

Savage Hyboria Forgotten Islands: Episode 4 "The Tomb of Voltannox" Part 3

After fighting their way through the jungle and into the ruins the band of ex slaves decided to take refuge in a small building that was still mostly intact.  Tired and wounded from their journey they fell asleep without even setting a watch.
Suddenly Rozlynn awoke to an eerie howl.  She immediately shouted an alarm to the others "Wake up!  The creatures are upon us!".  

 More of the undead creatures attacked them along with several twisted and mutated undead hounds.  The hounds attacked with even greater ferocity than before.  Again the party suffered several wounds before destroying this threat.  This time they decided to set a watch before going back to sleep.
 

 Rozlynn took over watch after Racket had his turn.  She noticed a strange winged statue on a nearby building that she had not seen earlier.  Eventually fatigue overtook the Aesir and she began to fall asleep.  Suddenly the roof shook beneath her feet with a loud thud.  Snapping out of her stupor she saw the statue before her raising a taloned claw to strike her.  She barely managed to deflect the strike with her sword as she struggled to her feet.  Racket had heard the commotion on the roof and rushed outside to aid his companion.  The Argosian drew an arrow from his quiver and fired but the missile was deflected by the monsters stone-like skin.  Rozlynn screamed as a taloned claw ripped into her thigh as she rained blow after blow onto the creature.  Though she struck with great strength she did only minor damage to the beast.  Again the creature struck and sent the warrior reeling.  She barely managed to keep from falling off the roof.  Seeing that his bow had done no damage Racket gripped his spear and hurled it at the creatures back with all his strength.  The spear struck the creature square in the middle of it's back and pierced it through it's torso.  The creature screamed and crumbled into many pieces.
Shortly after the battle with the stone creature the sun came up and Rozlynn woke the rest of the party.  They were all amazed that such a battle had not woke them during the night but they decided to be more cautious.    

 As they made their way through the city again they heard the echoing howls of the undead hounds.  They saw a large pack approaching from their front and a small one approaching from their rear.
 

 The creatures discordant barks and howls echoed from the buildings and stone pavement.  The Argosian and the Hyrkanian shot several arrows at the creatures felling a few but the pack charged into them snapping at them with their teeth and slashing at them with their claws.  With no where to run the party fought desperately against the hounds.  The two Aesir stood their ground slashing left and right with their great blades felling several hounds but suffering grievous wounds.

 Within moments they were completely surrounded by the rotting creatures.  Racket and Mon Tau fired arrow after arrow into the beast as the others fought.  Racka and Aziz held off the creatures charging from the rear and Alenna did her best to keep the beast that broke through from attacking their archers.
Eventually the beast were defeated but they were again forced rest in an ruined bakery.

 Near the middle of the ruined city Racket spotted a familiar looking building.  "There at that temple!  That is where Melampos found the clues to the location of the tomb".  The adventurers entered the temple as night began to fall.  It was sparsely decorated but there was a large plaque on the far wall behind the alter inscribed in ancient Stygian.  "I think I can translate this with a little time" Raka said.
 

 Heimdal and Mon Tau took up a position to guard the door.  "Look there!" Mon Tau Shouted.  A hoard of ghouls charged towards the temple from across the square.  "We are going to have company!" Heimdall Shouted.  Mon Tau began to fire arrows into the crowd of ghouls killing several even at great range but still they charged on.  Racket climbed up to the roof and Rozlynn guarded the back door.
  

 Before Racket could fire any arrows into the approaching ghouls one of the flying stone creatures swooped down and attacked him on the roof.  Another attacked Rozlynn at the back door.

 Heimdall and Mon Tau fought at the front door as Raka began to translate the inscription.  Alenna rushed to Rozlynn's aid and they managed to destroy the stone creature trying to get inside.

 After a fierce battle with the stone creatures and the ghouls it looked as if the battle was about to come to an end.  Only a few ghouls attacking the back remained.  As the party closed in on the remaining creatures one of them lashed out and slashed Rozlynn across her mid section.  The Aesir fell back into the temple covered in blood.  Her companions charged the remaining ghouls and destroyed them.

 "Look here Mistress!" Aziz exclaimed "There is a loos stone behind the alter.  Raka removed the stone and uncovered two scrolls.  On one of the scrolls was a map to the Tomb of Voltannox and on the other was a riddle of some kind.  "We can use these to help us find the tomb more easily" explained Raka "Go and check on the others Aziz".

Alenna used her skill and divine power to revive Rozlynn and after they had rested to party assembled and began their journey to find the Tomb of Voltannox.

Notes:  We played this session over nine months ago so this account is somewhat more invented than the others.  The players have finished this adventure but I still have the final chapter to post after this one.  Their final encounter at the Tomb of Voltannox.  They have also had another adventure since then.  We played it just a couple weeks ago.  Hopefully I will get caught up on this campaign soon.   

Savage Hyboria Hero Upgrades for the Forgotten Islands Campaign!

We are about to kick off another leg of our Savage Hyboria Forgotten Islands campaign.  Most of the party have reached the "Seasoned" level in the Savage Worlds rules system and they also just looted the tomb of an ancient undead sorcerer so I decided it was time for an upgrade of their miniatures to more accurately reflect their new gear.  

Savage Hyboria Forgotten Islands: Episode 4 "The Tomb of Voltannox" Part 2

 It was around mid day the day after they arrived on this strange island when the party decided to set off to explore the ruins shown on their map and find out what they could about the Tomb of Voltannox.  Dalla and Ahmed had elected to stay behind and guard the camp and the raft while the others trekked through the jungle.  Though they planned to be back by the next day they took extra provisions along in case they were delayed.

 As they were about to set out a lone Argossean warrior stumbled into the village.  Fearing he might be a scout for a larger force they party formed up and drew their weapons.  The Argossean  threw down his weapons and surrendered.  The man was so exhausted he nearly collapsed.  Alenna broke ranks and rushed to his side.  "Quickly!" she said "If we don't help this man he may die soon!".  They made a place for the man to rest inside their shelter and brought him food and fresh water.  Alenna tended to the man using her healing skills to aid him.  The rest of the party help Alenna fetch things to make the man more comfortable or to help her tend to him.  Heimdall even cleaned and repaired the mans clothing and equipment.  The Argossean slept for several hours until it was almost dark.  When he awoke he told the party that he was a member of Captain Melampos's expedition.  "I hoped to find Captain Melampos here with our ship or at least some friendly villagers who might be able to aid me.  We were lucky when we landed here that these natives were friendly and open to trade.  They did however warn us that we should not go into the ruins.  If only we had heeded their words we might have..." He trailed off.  "What are you called man?" asked Heimdall.  "They call me Racket.  Or at least that is what they call me here."  the man answered.  The man then related a tale very similar to the account written by Captain Melampos.  He also mentioned that he was the one who picked the locks that allowed them to enter the tomb.  "We seek this tomb as well and we could use someone who knows how to get in.  Will you help us?" asked Heimdall.  "I would not wish to go back to that place for all the crowns of the world" the man answered "But I doubt that is going to dissuade you from going and seeing as how you and your friends are likely my only way off this island I will help you.  However I must tell you.  I have been wandering around the jungle for weeks trying to find my way back here and I have completely forgotten where the tomb lies.  We will have to travel to those accursed ruins again and that will not be easy".  "Very well we will leave in the morning" said Heimdall.  

 They followed a clearly marked trail out of the village into the jungle and in no time came across a river.  It was clear that there had been a bridge at this point at one time but it was long gone.  "I think there was a ford a bit further north" Racket said.  A large crocodile sunned itself on the opposite bank.  Rozlynn looked into the murky river water.  "It's so dark" she said "Almost like a mirror".  Heimdall saw movement in the water just in front of them.  Instinctively he pulled his fellow AEsir back from the shore just as a massive crocodile burst from the water and snapped at her.  At the same moment the crocodile on the opposite bank slid it's massive bulk into the water.  Rozlynn regained her composure and brought her massive blade down in a sweeping arc.  It connected but could not penetrate the creatures armored hide.  Still the creature was dazed for a moment but only a moment.  With another lung it clamped it's powerful jaws onto the AEsir woman's leg.  Blood gushed from the wound and Roxlynn almost fainted from the pain and blood loss but with supreme effort she stayed on her feet.  Mon Tau raised his bow and aimed at the swimming beast.  He knew it would be a tough shot since the creature was mostly submerged and swimming quickly.  His first shot struck the creatures left foreleg and although it slowed the animal it did not stop it.  His next shot however stopped the beast cold.  The arrow entered the creatures right eye socket and continued into it's brain pan.  The massive beast rolled on it's back as it floated down the river.  Heimdall brought his blade down on the one still clamped to Rozlynn's leg.  Again his blow could not penetrate the creatures hide but it was hard enough to stun the beast which released it's vice like grip on the woman's leg.  The beast opened it's mouth again to snap at Heimdall but Racket stepped beside the northman and dispatched it with a quick spear thrust.
Alenna tended to Rozlynn's wounds and after they rested for a while they continued north along the bank.      

 When they reached the ford they noticed the tracks of several creatures along the bank.  Again they saw crocodiles on the opposite shore but they were prepared for the ones lurking below the surface.  These beast were much more aggressive however and the three on the opposite bank immediately jumped into the water and began swimming towards them.  Proving his Hyrkanian skill Mon Tau killed one of the beast before it made it across.  Four of the creatures remained and they attacked the party.  Although the powerful creatures attacked relentlessly they were all dispatched in short order with no further injury.
The ford would allow them to cross most of the river but they would have to swim a little to reach the opposite bank.  As none of them were good at swimming Heimdall took out his rope With the rest of the party holding the other end he was able to make it to shore and tie the rope off on some heavy brush.  Aziz tied the other end about his waist and the party used the rope to get through the swift current.  Alenna was the last to attempt to cross before Aziz but as she was making her way her hands slipped and she immediately went under in the deepest part of the current.  "My lady!" Aziz screamed as he jumped into the water after her.  Aziz managed to grab Alenna and the rest of the party pulled them to safety.    

 Again they headed down they path which was now becoming more and more overgrown.  They had not gone far when when Roxlynn said "Something is comming!".  A dozen large rodents and two giant rats charged at them through the brush.  The giant rats had strangely glowing green eyes.  Surrounded the party pulled itself into a defensive circle as the animals charged them.

 For the most part the rats were easily dispatched by the party although it took some time to kill all the creatures.  Some of the party received minor injuries for being knocked over by the swarm of rats. One of the giants however put up a hard fight.  Again Rozlynn was wounded by the creature but finally four of the party were able to bring it down.

Several hours passed as the party cut it's way through the dense jungle.  The AEsir led the way cutting a path for the rest of the party to follow.  Twice they had to stop and rest when Aziz and Racket became fatigued.  It was late afternoon when they could eventually make out some of the taller towers which stuck up higher than the rest of the ruins.  "With any luck we will be there before dark" Heimdall explained.  

 Suddenly Rozlynn saw movement from the corner of her eye.  She looked to see a large black cat stalking them just a few yards away.  Then she saw another approaching them.  "Panthers!" she cried.  At that moment two hidden creatures pounced from the bushes.  Raka was knocked off her feet by a charging cat but her quick reflexes saved her as she was able to put her shield up just in time.  Another cat had pounced at Racket but he managed to step deftly aside to avoid it's charge.  From behind them they heard an unnaturally loud growl.  Charging out of the brush was a panther as large as a lion with oddly glowing green eyes that reminded them of the giant rats they had encountered earlier.

 Mon Tau killed one of the beast with an well placed arrow.  Rozlynn dispatched another with a devastating blow from her great scimitar that cut the animal in half.  Heimdall killed one of the cats with a mighty buffed from the pommel of his blade and then stepped to intercept the giant.  One of the cats knocked Aziz to the ground but Alenna ran the creature through saving the man who had saved her from drowning earlier that day.  The massive cat was all that remained.  Even surrounded by the whole party the beast was difficult to slay.  It dodged blow after blow and countered with vicious attacks of it's own.  Eventually the beast was brought down after a hard fight.  Fortunately no one in the party was seriously hurt during the attack.  

 The party pressed on and reached the edge of the ruins just before dark.  The ground was paved with large flagstones littered with dead fall.  Many of the dark stone buildings were crumbling and most were being overtaken slowly by jungle growth.  The party had only just entered the ruins when they saw a large group of ghouls charging them.
"Shieldwall!" Heimdall cried.  As the party drew itself into a fighting formation Rozlynn and Racket killed shot two of the creatures down.  Mon Tau killed another two with his accurate fire.  Heimdall hurled one of his belt axes into the crowd and felled another but still they came.  

 A moment later the rest of the foul creatures slammed against the party's shields.  Mon Tau continued to rain death on the undead beast who fought with an insane fury.  One of the creatures lashed out with it's clawed hand and slashed Racket in his upper arm.  Though the blow was not lethal the Argossean fell to the pavement paralyzed.  Rozlynn was stunned by a nasty backhand from one of the beast.  

 Despite their ferocious attacks the party began to beat the twisted fiends back.  Several more were killed by blade and arrow but this did nothing to abate their unnatural blood lust.

Rozlynn regained her sense and rejoined the fighting but one of the creatures slashed at Raka slicing the Vendhyan woman across her mid section with an apparently mortal wound.  Raka's eyes rolled back in her head and she fell to the ground bleeding profusely.  Alenna rushed to her comrades side even as the battle continued around them.  The rest of the ghouls will killed quickly as Alenna worked to save Raka's life.  With her skill she was able to save the woman but it was clear that Raka was still badly injured.
Heimdall found a small building that still had an intact roof.  "We should take shelter here and wait till day to continue" he said.  
With a solid roof over their heads the party settled in for the night.  Alenna continued to attend to Raka until she could do no more to help her.  At the moment they felt secure in the small stone building but they could hear strange cries as night fell.  They had survived the jungle but would they survive the ruins?

To be continued......

Notes:  Well no matter how hard you try or how well you plan you just can't do much when the party had a run of good luck.  The players scored many critical hits and frequently did massive amounts of damage even sometimes killing my wild cards with a single blow.  Still they did not come through completely unscathed.  Raka and Rozlynn both suffered some serious wounds throughout the journey and the entire party got to see how nasty the ghouls could be.  All in all I think they are in a good position but they still have quite a few dangers to face before they even reach the tomb.     

Savage Hyboria Forgotten Islands: Episode 4 "The Tomb of Voltannox" Part 1

 A week had passed since the pirates joined the former slaves on what they were now calling "Lighthouse Island".  With Raka the Vendhyan's talent for learning languages the entire party was able to learn enough of the Argosian tongue to communicate basic ideas.  This aided them greatly in making plans for their mutual survival.  The language of Argos was chosen because according to the pirate member of the party it was the most common language spoken among the pirates and that even some of the natives had learned it in order to trade with the pirates.
Once they had gotten comfortable with communicating with each other they decided to investigate the island marked on the treasure map they had found in the abandoned camp earlier.  It was decided that they would all leave Lighthouse Island after burying their cache of weapons and supplies under the flagstones of the ruined lighthouse.  Even though they journey to the island was expected to last only a few hours they packed a weeks worth or provisions.  Heimdall convinced their prisoner Aziz to join them.  Aziz was more than happy to trade loyalties and explained that he was only working for Balooka because he was indentured to the slaver.  Ahemed and Dalla scoured the beach looking for anything that might help them on their journey.  They found several oars and a small sail that had washed ashore from shipwrecks.
When they had finished their preparations they set out at night to better avoid encounters with slavers and pirates.  It was also agreed that they would sail around the eastern edge of the island chain to their destination which would make a slightly longer journey but would help them avoid the island that Balooka was camped on.  Dalla was the most experienced sailor among them so it was she who manned the rudder.  The wind was blowing in a favorable direction and they made good time.    

 They had just reached the next island to the north and east when several fish men of the same type they had encountered earlier attacked them.  Being powerful swimmers the creatures were able to jump from the water directly onto the deck of their raft.  Only the massive mutant in their party had to crawl aboard.
Rozlynn immediately cleaved one of the smaller fish men in half with a mighty blow then moved to help Heimdall with the larger beast.  The massive creature lashed out at her with his club and dealt her a serious wound.  She returned the favor with a slice from her weapon.  

 The raft pitched and swayed as the battle was joined.  Heimdall raised his scimitar and with a mighty blow split the mutant's skull open spilling it's brains out on the deck.  It's lifeless body sank back beneath the waves.  The rest of the warriors fought desperate against the vile creatures killing several but as they killed one it seemed another would hurl itself from the water onto the deck.

 Eventually however the creatures were all killed an no more sprang at them from the ocean.  Mon Tau, Dalla, and Rozlynn had all been wounded in the fighting.  Alenna skillfully bound their wounds such that they were able to continue on their journey.
The rest of the journey passed uneventfully although they encountered some rough waters it was nothing they could not handle.  

At last they arrived at the island where they could see several small huts at one point along the southern shore.  They could see no lights or fires at this small village nor see any signs of life so they landed their raft on the beach and crept into the village to investigate.
It was dark and it was difficult to tell but it seemed as if the village was abandoned.  They decided to light torches so they could get a better idea of what had happened.  Inside the huts the crude belongings of the villagers had been scattered and broken.  They also found dried blood splatters in all of the huts.  In the hut at the center of the village they found some Argosian weapons and shields and another scroll case.
Inside the case was they rest of their map along with an account written two month previous by a Argosian pirate captain named Melampos.
The account described his expedition to the island and their search for the "Tomb of Voltannox".  He described how the natives at the village had warned him not to venture to the ruins because of all the evil spirits that resided there.  He described the dangerous trek through the jungle that cost him some men and of the ruins where he found and account of the Acharonian Priest King Voltannox.  He described how he lost several more men that night when they were attacked by "beast" who dwelt in the ruins.  When he had finally found the tomb he described that he had only a dozen men left.  Inside the tomb however he lost more men to ingenious traps and horrible monsters which caused him and his men to flee for their lives.  There were no more entries to describe how the account ended up back at the village.
The party decided to wait until morning to investigate further.  What they found in the morning did nothing to settle their fears.  They discovered the tracks of strange dogs in and around all the huts.  The track were at least as large as a wolf but strange.  It seemed as if these creatures had attacked the villagers and drug them from their huts into the jungle for some strange purpose.  Heimdall also noted that it appeared that each of the creatures was injured in some way due to the unnatural disposition of their tracks.
Despite the obvious dangers the party decided to press on to the ruins to see what they could discover about the tomb and it's treasures.

To be continued.....

Notes:  Well this was a short session but I had planned that this particular adventure would probably take three session to resolve.  The next session will probably involve the trek through the jungle and exploring the ruins while the final session will involve exploring the tomb itself providing the party survives.