The Monastery of the Far Mountains.

Question. Is it snowing? No
Question. is it windy. No? complication.

The sky loomed ominously, shrouded in heavy, brooding clouds. The snow had ceased its relentless decent and the once howling wind now whispered in eerily silence. A feeble light seeping almost unnoticed out of the celestial windows crowning the bell tower is the only sign that there is life within the monastery, darkness smothers the rest of the buildings.

Crea, alarmed that the gates are slightly open, rushes towards the monastery, the others not far behind her. As they approach the entrance to the monastery the air turns unnatural icy cold causing the companions to shiver, their limbs to stiffen, breathing becomes difficult and they begin to cough as the gelid air sucks the breath from their souls.

Each character must make a save against breath weapon or lose 1d4 hp
Culdus needs 15 or more on d20 & rolls 9, taking 2hp. He is down to 3hp
Karina needs 16 or more and rolls 3, taking 1 hp. She is down to 8hp
Hew needs 17 or more and rolls 11, taking 1 hp. He is down to 1hp
Rhian needs 16 or more and rolls 7, taking 4 hp. She is down to 4 hp
Strawberri needs 17 or more and rolls 10, taking 1 hp. She is down to 7hp

Question. Are there signs of any druids or clerics alive in the monastery? Double Yes, Benefit.
Question. Does Crea recognise the figure? Double Yes.

A figure, withered, bent almost double, staggers towards them, “Whindred”, Crea shouts out and, gaining strength at the sight of the old cleric, runs to him, embracing him with a great hug, “Whindred, you are alive, and the others?”

“I am, as you can see child, the others too, though just, we had word of your arrival, a fox creature, a friend to one of you companions I believe, gave us warning. I took it upon myself to open the gates for you”. He waves the others forward, “come, quickly, close the gate too. A fire still burns in the bell tower, it does little in this icy cold but will be enough to warm your weary souls”.

Rhian and Hew force the gates shut, Culdus and Karina take the casket containing the bones of St Agnus from the moose. Whindred, Crea and Strawberri lead the way to the top of the bell tower where the Abbess Gabriella Alonia along with 9 other druids and clerics are waiting to greet them.

The Abbess slowly raises to he feet and wearily steps towards Crea and the five companions. she greets Crea with a hug, “Crea, you are a welcome sight, you too my young friends, and you have St Agnus, may Sylvana bless you all”.

Two druids relive Culdus of the casket, while two others offer the party a meager bowl of watery broth, “not much of a welcome home meal I am afraid, but food is in short supply”, on of the druids tells them.

The Abbess, Crea and the rest of the druids, gather around the casket, led by the abbess they perform a strange ritual chant. The casket lid opens of its own volition and a warm orange light spills out into the bell tower, engulfing the entire room, warming the air and all those within it.

“St Agnus warms us but in doing so I fear she alerts the necromancer to her presence, now he will unleash his monstrosities upon our sanctuary. We have but a little time before they are at our gates”, the abbess turns to the five companions, “you have done more than should ever have been asked of you, you brought St Agnus safely back to us, yet I must ask more of you, I am sorry”.

The Abbess leads the characters from the bell tower. from her the characters learn that the lich lord’s essence is stored in a vial, which is the source of his immortality and power. To destroy him, and send his undead legions back beyond the vale, they must first obtain this vial, which is hidden in his heavily guarded lair and bring it safely back to the monastery.

“The vial of the lich lord must not be broken, to do so will destroy him but his undead will remain wandering the land. We must perform a ritual of purification on the bones of St Agnus, the essence of the lich lord is the final ingredient we need to perform it”, the Abbess explains.

“and how do we locate this vial?”, Culdus asks.

Rhian looks grave, “even though we are five, we are not strong enough to defeat such a powerful necromancer, you surely send us to our deaths”.

“That is not so child, you need rest but you are stronger than you realise”, the abbess turns to Culdus, “and I will tell you where you must venture…”

Their quest begins.

Site of the Lich Lords dungeon – Temple
Distance from the monastery – six miles
No of rooms – less than 10

After a nights rest, each of the companions regain one lost hit point. Culdus adminsters healing salve to Hew and himself, each regaining a further 2hp. He also performs the spell healing touch on Rhian who recovers a further 4 hp.
One of the Monastery clerics also administers healing aid to Hew who recovers a further 2 hp,

Culdus is now at 6hp (max 7hp)
Karina is back to 9hp, (max 9hp)
Hew has recovered to 6hp (max 10hp)
Rhian is now at 9hp (max 10hp)
Strawberry is back to 8hp (max 8hp)

The weather had changed and for the better. It was still bitterly cold high in the far mountains but the snow had ceased and dark clouds now gave way to clear skies.

The Abbess had told the five companions that the Lich Lord, as powerful as he is, has his limitation. He could not command an army against the monastery and control the weather both. He will be distracted, his attention on the monastery and St Agnus, that would give the companions there chance.

Abbess Alonia and her druids are weak, but with St Agnus to help them and Sylvina to guide them, they can hold out for a few days, but the companions must make haste.

Early in the morning the five companions set out for the lair of the Lich Lord, the sunlight, and a song from the bard Karina, lifts their confidence.

to be continued.