Session 3

Filthy ghouls swarmed all around, acid dripping from their claws. Argus bore the brunt of their attacks. One by one the gladiators methodically destroyed the undead before surveying their surroundings. The sarcophagi were all for minor drow from House Vae, disturbed by the ghoulish trespassers. From the footprints, it seemed the ghouls had explored all the surrounding tombs, but there was one main trail leading deeper into the necropolis.   Nex Pervenio delved onward, following the most obvious ghoul trail but also investigating nearby areas, checking for further ghoul infestation. A couple more bands of ghouls were located and destroyed with ease. The rooms contained plenty more drow sarcophagi, for minor drow from a variety of houses.   Still the main ghoul trail led onwards, into a larger room dominated by a pit filled to the brim with a random assortment of bones and gristle. There was some speculation as to the nature of this room. It was clearly similar drow stonework to the rest of the complex, but it seemed unlikely that drow would be buried in a mass grave like this. A walkway led around the outsides of the room to an exit at the far side. All was quiet but there was suspicion that a horde of undead would emerge from the pit at any moment. Argus edged his way around the room and reached the far exit without incident. The others began to make their way over, stepping carefully over fallen rubble when suddenly the pit erupted. Out rose a mass of necrotic energy and bones, which lashed out at all in the vicinity.   Dash immediately ran back to the entry passageway where he could shoot unimpeded. Argus ran back from the exit and joined Shinobi and Mika in melee, having to watch their footing as they stood ankle deep in bone fragments. The creature lashed out and grabbed all who stood near, smiting them with bones and blasting with necrotic energy. But the gladiators were used to enduring such dangers and soon their combined efforts had destroyed their foe. Still the ghoul trail led on. After travelling further and deeper into the necropolis, passing by progressively older areas, from ahead came loud scrabbling noises. Dash and Shinobi went to scout and returned with reports of a huge room, with ghouls excavating burial pits from which fresh ghouls were emerging. After grouping up in the entrance, a hail of missiles took out several ghouls lurking nearby. Then Argus, Shinobi and Mika headed south together, aiming for one of the pits. They watched as more ghouls were dug out of the ground and hurtled into the fray.   Shinobi reached one of the digging ghouls and engaged it in melee, preventing further excavation. A cloud of mist appeared from behind a pillar and floated towards the entrance, where Dash, Riya and Valun huddled. Alarmingly it turned into a vampire, in fact a drow vampire showing the symbol of House Vae. It announced a grisly death for disturbing its vital work. Suddenly Dash felt compelled to do its bidding and let loose a hail of arrows into an unsuspecting Valun! Fortunately Dash then snapped back to his senses. But the three of them were hemmed in by the vampire, with ghouls forming a barrier to the rest of the party. Yet more ghouls were pulled from pits and headed over, freshly reborn and starving. Things looked bleak for our heroes.