The End of Orcus?

At various places in the crypt you come across large runes, glowing faintly, etched into the floor of the passages. Rather than risk your own hides, Watt and Bill grab a zombie corpse and toss it onto the rune. A burst of necrotic energy assails you, and sends the weaker willed among you into a blind panic, fortunately short lived. Pressing further into the tunnels you are balked by yet another rune. And zombies spill from the corridors ahead. Nearby you hear heavy footfalls, and deep laughter.

With the zombies defeated easily, Mardeyrian peers cautiously into the next chamber. A vision of death, ten feet tall, wielding a mace in the shape of a skull and a shield that bears close resemblance to an iron door, stands in the chamber beyond. From the horns on its head and its ghastly visage, can this be anything but the demon prince of the undead himself? Undaunted, or at least with foolish bravery, you join battle. Tyr plumbs the depths of his memory, remembering the dark tomes he has seen that describe this demon. There is something bothering him, but it is some time before he recalls what it is.

The creature comes on strong, it's shield and mace brutally bludgeoning all who stand in its way. With a rain of blows it knocks Watt into a pit and dazes most of the party, insulting you all the while in its gravelly voice. Things look grim, but you battle back with your strongest attacks. Fencing furiously, Mardeyrian drives the thing to the brink of the pit in the centre of the room, and Watt bashes the creature into it. Tyr remembers.

"Orcus is supposed to have wings! And a tail! And... more skin, I think!" he shouts triumphantly. The Javelin of Kord flashes out, and burns through the creature's skull. So falls Morgrimm the Foul. The body crumples, but a small sphere of light rises from it, and flees through the wall. The threat is over, but its animating spark may have escaped. You prepare to rest, but Bill hushes everyone. In the passages behind you, stealthy footsteps may be heard approaching.

The Crypts Below

After looting the goblins you decide to hole up in Splug's quarters and have a well-deserved rest. When you awaken refreshed, you investigate the tunnel that Sneep explains used to be the reservoir but is now too dangerous for goblins to enter. He decides to wait this one out.

The room at the end of the hall holds a deep pool of water surrounding a small island. Within moments, the still water ripples as though something is moving beneath it. A horrible ooze erupts from the water, and battle is joined. Despite its acidic attacks, your combined efforts finally destroy the creature. Investigating the island you find a magical shield and a scroll case containing several letters. It appears that a nearby tribe of hobgoblins, called the Bloodreavers, sent an emissary to Kalarel's outpost, looking to establish friendly relations and a slave trade. It seems that the emissaries were rebuffed by Kalarel, but not before they managed to contaminate the keep's water supply with this ooze creature.

Finally it is time to descend further. Sneep tells you not to go, but he's not the bravest of the bunch. You leave him to guard Splug's quarters, dreams of becoming the next Balgron dancing in his head.

Within moments of entering the crypt you are assailed by the undead. You are not really surprised. Though they come in waves, it is not long before two dozen zombies lie hacked and dismembered in the chamber. For now you ignore the southern passage and continue to explore the northern reaches of the crypt.

The Balgron's Fall

Your new goblin friend Sneep informs you that the chief of all the goblins is Splug the Balgron, and that his hall is nearby. You decide to investigate.

Employing Gulveig's magic to full effect, you manage to overcome Splug's guards without raising an alarm. Within moments you have cleaned out both barracks and battle the goblin leader. That worthy decides that discretion is the better part of valour and runs away. Sneep jeers. From a long way back.

You manage to get through the Balgron's secret door but not before he has gotten ahead of you , disappearing into an area where Sneep tells you there are goblins "digging for treasure." All is dark ahead.

Watt, first through the door, is felled by crossbow bolts which fly from the darkness. Only some timely healing keeps that from being Watt's last act. After a furious battle against goblin snipers, Splug appears again, after a cowardly attack from the shadows. He nearly escapes once more, but Gulveig turns the ground beneath his feet to ice and Bill and Amn run the goblin leader down.