Into the Quiet Halls

The party return to Stonehell: Swampy the Swamp Elf, Wheezy the Dwarf, Horatio the Street Mage and Yrsa Jormungandr the Druidess. In the box canyon they encounter nothing worse than wild goats and learn about a big cat stalking the hills. They descend into Stonehell.

Their first visit is to the Rock Head Oracle, which warns them about Crypt Shades and Bone Things. The party explores an old barracks and finds a corpse locker full of rats. Arriving at the portals to the Quiet Halls, they lose their nerve and retreat. They wipe out cannibal berserkers and finally track down 'Da Dragon' (a giant gecko lizard). Unfortunately, the rewards for these dangers are scant, since the area around the entrance has been cleared out by previous adventurers.

Joined by Dian the Cleric, the party enter the Quiet Halls at last. The columned chamber is lit by demonic light, which turns out to be an infestation of fire beetles. These creatures have chitinous shells that make them hard to damage and they take a toll on the party: Yrsa is concussed.

The party decide to explore a corridor lined with crypts. Naturally the undead are active inside and some unquiet crypts explode upon, the undead spilling out. The party fights a fierce battle with zombies and a crypt shade, both find holy water valuable.

Further down, Dian is able to turn skeletons and Swampy holds the door to another crypt closed, delaying the bone thing from breaking out. Yrsa's Sentinel Staff keeps it at bay while the party bombards it with holy water.

Rich in treasure but with many injured and Trauma levels rising, the party decide to retreat rather than press on. They are ambushed by skeletons while leaving and Wheezy's weapon-arm is broken.

Despite this setback, the party escapes from Stonehell without further incident, with Yrsa in bear-form dragging a sled full of treasure. They decamp to the Inn and take a carriage into Merkabar to rest in luxury. Wheezy, Horatio and Dian train to reach 2nd level and Horatio has an interesting experience while carousing: he gains a deserved good reputation and earns a powerful favour.