Bandy's ceramic pot arched over the head of Grimbeorn and hit solid upon the barrow-wight's iron helm. It shattered releasing its contents all over the shadow, which immediately lit on fire with a woosh!

Grimbeorn staggered backward to distance himself from the wight, for it had become a stumbling pyre. Heat filled the chamber from the two burning, desiccated bodies and flames danced about. Esgalwen could barely see Ceawin, as the man lay atop the sarcophagus, but fire was in between. She watched as the remaining barrow-wight bolted to the north, past Rorin, and the burrowed passage that was there. Unfortunately, the dwarf was only just getting his strength back to move.

The Dúnadan woman wondered if it wise to give chase, but the plight of the company was the greater urgency. "We must get out of this tomb before we burn. Come Grimbeorn, aid me in getting Ceawin from his pyre. Bandy, you aid Arbogast as best you can. Once we have them away from the fire, we can get Rorin."

To her call, Esgalwen heard the rough voice of Rorin boom, "Fear not for me...my strength returns. Help the men." Clumsily, the dwarf set about collecting his personal effects.

Esgalwen nodded and with Grimbeorn, maneuvered through the swath of flames to where Ceawin lay. He was choking on the smoke, but both could see the searing heat had brought him back to his senses. He rolled off the sarcophagus towards Grimbeorn and fell into the giant man's arms. Esgalwen came around to help, but the Beorning shouted, "Get Arbogast with the Halfling!" The woman nodded and turned to help her other two companions.

Grimbeorn began to lead Ceawin out but the man stopped him. "Wait..." he coughed, and then bent down to grab the Helm of Peace that lay on the floor. "My treas..." Ceawin did not cry out in pain, but the Beorning could see it upon his face. The helm had been close to the fire and the heated metal burned the flesh of his hand. Still, the Master of Sunstead clutched it and would not let it go. "Okay...now," he whispered, and took Grimbeorn's offered shoulder.

The companions turned to the sound of another call, Idunn stood atop the mound, over the hole above. She had dropped her spear down so that its length could be climbed like a pole. It was a strong spear made of great wood. "Climb my spear," she yelled and held it firm at her end, so it would not topple.

Thus, with the strength of Grimbeorn the companions were aided up through the hole and out into the early morning darkness. The air blew clean and fresh out of the west. The Beorning came last and behind him was left the burning pyre of the barrow.

On the ground, still not himself, Ceawin sat with his legs to his chest, clutching the helm. "It is done," he said... over and over.

I have a client appointment to get to, but this might be edited a little later tonight.

Feel free to post at your leisure.

Arbogast lacks the strength to climb Idunn's spear, and his hands are, in any case, slick with his own blood.  Instead, he lets Esgalwen and Bandy lead him out the way they came in.  The Fire-watcher is grey-faced and listless, and he collapses as soon as the three are once again in the open air. 

"Come Abrogast, I will not leave you either. The way is open and now without fear."

The Halfling kept one clay pot tucked under his arm with the torch and with the other he led the woodman to the redeeming light.

"IDUNN! Here! You are needed for Abrogast has taken many wounds in the barrow."

"Check not just his wounds," mentioned Grimbeorn.  "We know all too well dark maladies come with encountering shadows such as these," he said, glancing in the direction of Esgalwen.  "I wil go in search of our mounts and any of the others who fled.  We are fortunate to be so close to Sunstead."

"Lucky too that the day is on the rise. I did not think we spent the whole night there, but sure enough the sun is in the east. This is not a wholsome place."

Rorin ripped off the rags that the wights had dressed him in and struggled to don his tunic and mail while the others tended to Caewin and Arbogast. He moved slowly with his stiff limbs resisting every time he bent down to lift another piece of gear, and he was still groggy from the unnatural sleep. Nevertheless Rorin composed himself, and exited the barrow under his own strength.

Outside the heat of the rising sun seemed to soak through the dwarfs entire body and burned away the last of the spell that had laid him low. He turned to face east and smiled as the sunlight washed over him. After taking a few moments he walked to where Idunn and Bandobras stood over the wounded Arbogast and knelt beside him. Taking his hand Rorin thanked the woodsman, "I am forever in your debt Arbogast, if not for your courage, I would now be counted among the dead. Heal well Fire-Watcher."

After giving his thanks, he turned to his small friend and clapped him on the back, "Bandy! That was a mighty toss worthy of song if I have ever seen one! Have you considered selling your bow and carrying instead pots of oil?"

It did seem odd to the companions, but the sun was rising in the east and causing the colors of fall to brilliantly flash. The time spent in the barrow did not seem that long, but yet here it was, morning of a new day. Esgalwen thought back over the events and wondered at it all - the sun had set the night prior and then a fog had come. And now it was morning?

Leaving her thoughts for another time, she quickly ran to catch up with the Beorning in pursuit of their animals - or even the men that they had sent from the barrow the night before.

Behind them, Idunn applied a poultice to Arbogast's wounds as she chanted in a strange tongue. Bandy stood nearby, but found that the only aid he could provide was to hand the healer her supplies as she needed them. The dwarf stood at guard, now, redressed in his armor and working to free himself of the shame he felt for being captured. His friends had needed him and he had walked right into the monsters' trap. A few feet from Rorin, the Master of Sunstead was also coming out of his trance-like state.

Ceawin stood and looked around him like the world was new, "What has happened?" The man looked to his right hand, where he held the Helm of Peace. It was marred by fire, but still quite beautiful. He also was taking a keen note of the pain that wracked his hand from the burn that he had taken when he grabbed the helm. He looked to Rorin, "The shades did not take the helm? Then they did not accept my pact?"

Rorin looked confused himself, as he had not been there for any of Ceawin's foolish quest.

The Master of Sunstead continued, "It feels... cleaner here now, especially with this wonderful sunrise."

Suddenly a voice shouted out, "MY LORD! You are safe!"

Ceawin turned to see his guardsmen returning with Grimbeorn and Esgalwen - behind them all followed the horses that had bolted in the night. "Aye, I am well, but one of these men is gravely injured. He will need your aid in getting him back to Sunstead. Quickly, gather wood to build a travois, so he can be more comfortable in the transit. He is a hero of our realm and I will not have anything happen to him."

"Yes, m'lord," came the response from the two men. Still, one approached, "Master Ceawin...I see you still hold the Helm of Peace. So the bargain did not work?"

Ceawin looked at the helm and then the man, only to give a shrug, "I do not know, but I believe the spell here has been broken. It feels as if the dead have released their hold on this place. Does it not? So, we were either successful and the dead will haunt us no more, or these fine warriors have driven them from these holes. In either case, I will consider that a success."

The warrior nodded and turned to fetch wood. Behind him, his master continued to himself, "Yes, a success! And this beautiful treasure will be a token of my house."

It was not long before the litter was constructed and Arbogast laid atop it. Idunn made him as comfortable as she could and then the entourage was away. They entered Sunstead a little over an hour later and the people rushed out to offer aid and nourishment to the returning heroes.

As they traveled Bandy whispered to his dwarven companion.

"Rorin, the barrows were connected by tunnels, while several were corrupt and ruined there was one that was unspoiled by corruption.... It had a great store of treasure. Once Abrogast is seen to we should hurry back before the folk of Sunstead muster the courage to see for themslves. Such wealth would do much for the Black Tarn and the Woodmen and with it perhaps some of the stone wrights of the mountain would spend some time with us. Coins and goblets I saw and a great sword as well."

Grimbeorn was unsure about this attitude that's come over the leader of Sunstead and even moreso regarding what he believed to be a fell trinket, the crown.  He keeps his eye on both during the road back.

Idunn was led to a house of healing with Arbogast in tow.

The man was mumbling to himself and Idunn had become worried about his wound. In the short time since they had left the barrow, Arbogast had broken out into a fever and a foul smell emanated from the gash in his torso. The healer had administered her drugs and sang her song of staunching but maybe the Beorning had been right, perhaps there were some dark maladies pervading her patient.

The healers of Sunstead did their best to assume the care of Arbogast, but Idunn would have none of it - she was friend to Lindwine and this was the man to whom she had given her heart, and so Idunn was certain she would see him home. After the brief argument regarding whether her skills would suffice, Idunn had him moved to a comfortable pallet and aided in getting his armor off. The master healer of the house joined her and the two women began once more to administer to the man's needs.

The remaining companions found themselves excluded from entering the healing house and so made their way to the rooms that Ceawin had provided. The conversation went back and forth regarding the health of their friend, the treasures that remained within the barrows, and whether Ceawin now bore a token of the Shadow.

---

I have more to post regarding some mechanics, but I have to go to my son's parent-teacher open house first...so there will be more here in a bit.

  I sneak off with Rorin, we take the gold and buy an inn/forge and mail order brides from Dowinion.

  

  you could call the place "Brandy's Flail", colloquially known as "The Old Ball and Chain"

I fear we may be losing track of the gravity of the moment.