In no world would that stuff be considered safe.
Barek finally is able to speak after the undead have been destroyed. "I...I'm sorry. I wasn't much help, but you saw them! That was horrific." The large man shudders.
He blanches at the sight of the disgusting items Foxglove has. "I'm all in favor of burning this place down, but look here." He points to the letter. "Whoever was involved with Foxglove says he harvested something from the caverns. We have to find out what else is down here. Let's explore this complex at least. Then we can burn down the house. And maybe we have to beheading to Magnimar to find out what else is involved."
"The spirits of this place could set Tunder alight with their wicked magics. I am not certain we would be able to torch this place before it's consecrated. In fact, I'd wager somebody tried as much already..." the elf says, shuddering suddenly. "Why do I get the feeling we're still being listened to?"
Selena was busy with her magical detections but still managed to catch a bit of seldom and barek's conversation. I think you are on to something. We must explore more to find out what is going on. Give me a moment though to get that chime from the mold. We may need it to get through some of the areas in the house.
With the end of her quarterstaff selena reaches forward and tries to knock the chime free. She holds her breath in an attempt to reduce any risk of the mold being air borne and breathing it in.
Selena is successful in sliding the magical chime out from the foul fungus. The chime itself is encrusted with some of the foul stuff, but looks like it would still be functional.
Perception
Enthralled with her discovery and acquisition Selena notices nothing else as she makes her way back to the others. Alright I am ready now. Thanks for waiting. If we run into any more locked doors that Miri can't open we can try using this. Now any idea what direction to search in these caverns before we have to go back up into the house?
"Hey, there are a couple of keys here." Barek uses a stick to push away the disgusting meat and lifts the key ring over to him. "Huh, I wonder what it goes to. Maybe we should look for a lockbox or something here."
After seeing to the remains of the two re-dead, Tunder takes a look around.
+2 v goblin, +4 v giant, +2 underground
"What about those keys? There are no other lions in the house above. They probably don't go to it."
Since there is nothing down here resembling the lion then it makes sense to have to find in in the house. Selena muses. However it could be anything. It could be another trophy that Aldern took from someone else or be the key to a house of one of his victims. Too many options and questions again without all the answers.
Glancing at the keys, Mirela shrugs "Well, we can take a look around, and try them on any locks we find." Visibly relieved to have the ordeal of Aldern Foxglove behind her (or rather, beneath her), the young Varisian laughs and dryly adds "Aw, I was rather looking forward to lighting a match to this place... but I suppose you're right Barek, it'll have to wait until we find whatever Aldern had growing here."
Looking over at the corpse of the Skinsaw man, Mirela appears disgusted and adds "Can we at least burn that to ashes? I can't risk having that nightmare come back to life on me; I'd really feel a lot better if we put to rest any chance of that."
"Of course, Miri. Let's end this Lordling. He won't rise no more." Barek borrows a torch from one of the others and puts Aldern Foxglove's corpse to the fire. The smell of charred, rotting meat fills the air soon.
"May Desna guide him down a brighter path in the next life." he adds, somberly, falling quiet for a moment as he watches the body burn.
"What Aldern had growing here..." the elf muses, turning to the patch of malevolent mold. "I think you may have been on to something Selena. I'm sorry I didn't have the presence of mind to act on it sooner. "A delivery" suggests something tangible, not just this "harvest of souls"." he says, shuddering involuntarily. "I can't call on Desna's eyes to detect this foulness, but if there's something suspicious about this fungus some channeled starlight should reveal it. Perhaps this is Aldern's mystery crop? By the light of the North Star! ed'Desna alka elena."
You are right Seldon. I did not think of it myself in that way. At first with the magical aura I thought the fungus was magical. Then when I realized the source I thought it was just some cavern mold growing. Why would it be here though and not anywhere else except for your conclusion. I just hope you have enough of her blessing remaining to affect the mold enough. Even though we have defeated Aldern if that fungus remains then others will come to harvest what Aldern started to grow. We must find a way to destroy it completely.
Turning the others selena implores them, If we can not finish this task today will you consider returning tomorrow once Seldon is refreshed to finished the plot that was uncovered just now?
Seldon's blast of positive energy does not seem to have any effect on the foul fungus that seems to grow in vaguely humanoid pattern. Once again, the howling of the wind in the blowhole evokes a sound eerily similar to laughter.
The corpse of Aldern Foxglove burns quickly, the foul smell pervading the air as it heats and melts. Soon the body is no longer viable, and all that remains are some charred bones and a greasy stain on the floor.
Tunder continues to wait, happy to have set something down here on fire.
Barek watches the corpse burn. Then he turns to the others. "Well, let's see what else is down here. At least we know this horror is dealt with." He begins to move out of the room.
Seldon will carefully extract some of the mold into an empty holy water vessel and fall in step with the rest of the party.
After everyone has had their fill of this cave, Tunder leads the group on to see what other 'wonders' these caverns hold.
Watching with clinical interest and personal worry selena keeps an eye on Seldon as he gets his piece of mold. Carful there Seldon. I don't know what it is and that worries me emmensely. I do agree though that taking a sample to test is a smart move if we can evaluate it later.
Other than that she is ready to follow Tunder out of the room to explore the rest of the caves.
As Aldern's body smoulders, Mirela grabs his crude drawings of her and tosses them on the fire "Take these with you to hell Aldern." While the art burns to nothing, Mirela inspects the last image and shakes her head dismissively, mumbling "Amateur." Tossing it on the fire, she turns her back on Aldern for the last time.
Having had enough of Foxglove's chamber, Mirela shakes her head and makes for the exit "I'm ready to go when you are."
Seldon will carefully extract some of the mold into an empty holy water vessel and fall in step with the rest of the party.
After destroying Aldern's inhuman remains, and looting all the items of value, the group makes ready to leave. They climb back up the wet and steep ramps that lead toward the surface. At the top, an opening that was left behind before as the goblin ghasts' attacked, is now explored.
The western half of this foul-smelling cavern is heaped with bones, each scarred by the scraping of teeth. Most of the bones have been cracked open for the marrow within.
With nothing to find selena follows Tunder back the way they came.
Moving along. Tunder leads the group in the caverns, making sure to see what they didn't see on the way in.
Seldon will scrape a section of the mould off with his star knife, burying his face in his cloak so as not to breathe in any fumes.
Barek follows Tunder through the caves. "Let's make sure there isn't anything here which could crawl out of this hellhole."
Moving back to the unexplored parts of the cavern, Tunder leads the group to a passage where mold seems to grow particularly thick in this portion of the tunnel. Several pickaxes have been tossed against the southern wall of this passage, one of them looks especially well-made.
Tunder tries to determine the properties of the mold. Is it the same evil fungus from before?
Selena follows Tunder's lead and tries to figure the mold out as well trying to remember in particular any negative reactions from touching it.
Know dungeon
Know nature
While she is doing her mental gymnastics trying to remember everything that was taught to her she detects magic in the area and on the equipment, especially the nice looking pick.
Spellcraft
Observing the mold, Mirela crosses her arms and posits "You think this is perhaps the mold that was harvested? It seems more virulent then the stuff in Aldern's room; that would explain the pickaxes right?"
Tunder recognizes the mold growing here as Yellow Mold. He knows that disturbing the stuff releases spores that can poison those who inhale them. This is not the same kind of mold as in Aldern's room.
The finely made pick axe radiates as magical, but cannot be identified by Selena.
Seldon will scrape a section of the mould off with his star knife, burying his face in his cloak so as not to breathe in any fumes.
Can we burn it?
Tunder knows that burning the mold may destroy it, but not before it releases its deadly spores.
Then, unless someone just has to have it right now, Tunder will leave it for when they are leaving the caverns. He guides the group to the unexplored area.
Selena understands Tunder's reasoning and nods in agreement. Good Call Tunder, it can wait till we come back. Let me know if you are going to try and get it then I will cast a spell on you to give you some extra extra resistance to the spores.
She then follows him through the rest of the cavern complex.
Leaving the magical hammer in the mold spores, the group moves on towards the cavern entrance, taking the passage not yet explored. While the rest of this cavern complex looks quite old, the passageway here is newly-hewn from the surrounding rock.
The long cave stinks of rotten meat. The source of the horrific smell is soon apparent -- a swath of carcasses is strewn about the floor of this place.
Seldon's eyes shoot from the carcasses to the ceiling as he draws his bowstring taut.
Barek opens his mouth to say something, but a shadowy shape cross his eyes. "Something's flying up there!"
perception
Selena looks to see where Barek is pointing but from her position she can't see anything in darkness. Are you sure. All I see is empty space. Perhaps it is another phantom of the house affecting you. Barek do not go towards it. Stay away and keep safe!
+2 v goblin, +4 v giant, +2 underground
Tunder puts Rumilda away and Quickdraws Iona.
Slow to react, Mirela looks around confused as she covers her nose and mouth with her arm "Wait, what's going on?"
Feeding Cave - Surprise Round
23 Seldon (may act)
19 Skaevling
14 Tunder (may act)
11 Selena
6 Mirela
3 Barek (may act)
Seldon sees the great undead bat, with its mottled, decaying flesh and eyes that smolder with an evil green intensity. He gets one shot off, hitting the bat as it flies forward to attack.
The great undead bat charges forward attacking Tunder as it comes. The bite scores against the dwarf, the teeth sinking deep for 20 hp dmg.
Barek sees the dark flapping shape and he roars a challenge at the thing reflexively. The bat screeches back at the silly warrior.
Before the winged beast charges Seldon looses two arrows.
Feeding Cave - Surprise Round - concluded
Without much room to maneuver, Barek can only call out a challenge trying to scare away the great undead bat. Unfortunately, the cry doesn't overpower the beast's hunger and it stays on the offensive.
End of Surprise Round
Feeding Cave - Round 1
23 Seldon
19 Skaevling (6hp dmg)
14 Tunder
11 Selena
6 Mirela
3 Barek
Seldon takes another pair of shots at the fluttering bat, and succeeds in winging it yet again with one shot, while the other flies off harmlessly.
The skaevling bat hovers over Tunder and flat footed Mirela lunging at the girl this time with its razor sharp teeth, trying to paralyze an easier target. The bat then flies away from combat, circling to the rear of the chamber, where it perches on a rock about 20' in the air.
Barek vows to get himself a sling at the next possible opportunity, but he moves up readying a punch if the bat gets close. "Shoot it and bring it down!" he yells at the others.