Mummy Issues

The mummy rises dramatically amid fog and mist and points a threatening outstretched hand at Kleven. A necklace hangs from its neck with a symbol of a maul on its medallion. Ser Kleven appears frozen in place at the sight of this creature. Disembodied hands swarm the party. The mummy tells V it will allow them all to live if they leave Sir Kleven to him. He grasps Sir Kleven's helm and metal begins to crumple. The hands swarm around them, and some absorb into the mummy and revitalize it. V shoves the mummy off Sir Kleven, and the helm is ripped from his head in the movement. Rah strikes the mummy down with a glowing bladed strike as the mummy reaches into Sir Kleven's armor to grasp something within. Streams of wrapping burst through the room and the hands fall to ash.

Sir Kleven comes to, dazed. He tells them he is a soul bound to his armor construct. It is a curse upon his family. He fights his risen undead ancestors, including his father, every year, and this is the worst one there has ever been. Only the servitors of this temple know of it. His battles prevent the Undead Menace from surfacing, but something has changed this time. The artifact, the one the party seeks, is the family's curse. He found it while venturing into the dead unknown 300 years ago. He was a man then, and he ventured in to save Asha from the creeping Dead. He plunged into the heart of Temperance and stole the artifact. It stopped the advancement of the Dead, but the existing dead lands remain.

Sir Kleven and the party leave the catacombs and head to his manor to behold the artifact. The manor is grand and opulent. They follow him into the deep basement, and in a well-lit corridor suits of animated armor draw their blades, but yield at Sir Kleven's presence. Several skeletons in armor are playing a card game, Vector, and wave toward Sir Kleven. Through a vault, upon a pedastal, a massive medallion hangs on a metal hook. A pristine golden circle, rubies around the edge, a big black diamond is mounted in the middle; a void to all light with a very slight purple glimmer, similar to that seen in the eyes of the undead. Anyone who touches it will be cursed like him, says Sir Kleven. The black diamond is an artifact of an archdevil, Lord Titavalus, and the medallion is part of a set.  Perhaps the resurrection effect has grown stronger lately if another medallion has grown closer or more powerful?

As the party debates what to do, Sir Kleven says that he is tired, he doesn't know what will happen to him if the artifact is removed, but he wants no more part of it. Rah-Cerves offers to help Sir Kleven, and observes a mist of floating blue light inside the armor, pulsing as he speaks. It appears nothing can be done about his curse. He says that if the skeletons are also after the artifact, which it seems like they are given the presence of Lillian and her fearsome undead companions, the artifact won't stay safe forever. The gang decide to take the artifact and sneak out of town right away. They salute Sir Kleven for his role as a hero and protector, and wish him peace. He gifts V a beautiful magic sword. They bundle it up and store it with Rah-Cerves. Meanwhile, Aurelia wins some gold and rare cards in Vector, playing with the skeleton guards. Maul guides them to the a hidden passage to outside the walls. Mama retrieves the cart and the gang hightail it out, with Bivouac riding through the night. On the return journey home, Bivouac sees a swarm of centipedes marching across the path, and mushes the horse to charge through them. Some centipedes are crawling on the horses legs, and Bivouac pulls the cart to a stop to stomp them. One is missing, but nothing else happens and they push on, arriving at home base. Everyone rests. During the night, Bivuoac experiences nightmares, voices, and centipede dreams.

(Level up to 5, end of Season 1)

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