The adventuring party continued their exploration of the barrowmaze, beginning by excavating a barrow while discussing the construction of a rope ladder for safer descent into the main complex. Using their makeshift ladder, they discovered both old and fresh corpses near the entrance, stripped of gear and flesh except for bone fragments. Their search yielded only a modest pouch containing ten copper pieces.
Upon returning to their excavation site, the group welcomed Tohru, who assumed leadership by popular acclaim and was accompanied by her pet duck. Their exploration took a dangerous turn when Megumi was attacked by a zombie-like creature with prominent facial claws, later identified as a coffer corpse. The battle was chaotic - Tohru struck the creature with her rolling pin before fleeing, while Bancroft observed from a distance as others hurled rocks and Abe unsuccessfully attempted to use his whip.
Faolain and Gemma managed to knock the creature down with well-aimed sling stones, allowing Bancroft to pin it with his pitchfork. However, the undead horror tore free and rose again, apparently unharmed, forcing the entire party to retreat. The creature pursued them relentlessly for hours until Gravelgnasher delivered a perfect killing shot with his bow, though the party fled before it could rise again.
Back in town, Bancroft proudly displayed his share of the treasure - a single copper coin - declaring himself “a real adventurer now!” The next day brought a return to the barrowmaze, but not before encountering a group of primitive humans who traded freshly-killed game birds for the party’s iron spikes.
The group then explored a water-filled barrow containing vases and a pit they had discovered previously. Tragedy struck when Lluht and Megumi inhaled yellow spores from a moldy growth feeding on corpses in the pit. While Lluht survived the exposure, Megumi perished and her body fell into the pit. Across the dangerous chasm, at least one valuable vase remained tantalizingly visible.
The situation deteriorated further when skeletons attacked their guards outside the barrow. Ushlynk fell in the assault while Ovarf fled, though he noted that one skeleton wore valuable leather armor.
The undead then entered the barrow just as the party’s torch failed. Bancroft quickly lit a replacement while Selfa attempted to turn the skeleton through divine invocation of Dogma, but the magic initially failed. After Bancroft struck the skeleton with his pitchfork and retreated toward the entrance with torch held high for his companions, Selfa’s second attempt at divine intervention succeeded, driving the skeleton away.
