From Bartholomew's Journals: An Ode

 [written by Phil, player of Bartholomew Pettibone, concerning a recent expedition and earning Bart 100 xp per level]

From the Journals of Bartholomew Pettibone, of the House Pettibone

A Purveyor of Enchanting Sorcery

23 July 2022

Ode to Avin

Dead lay poor Avin,

Cold within a tube.

At first there was one,

But then there were two.

Confusion blanketed all,

But a decision was made.

One life to cull,

One life to trade.

Friends dragged the body

To and fro,

Within a wagon,

Filled with hay,

And canvas covered.

Above and Underground,

Through halls and doors,

With symbols they were discovered

In daylight and in dark.

Tombs were cracked and opened

In search of baubles, gems, and jewels.

Fellow companion, stalwart Mei,

Retrieved a remarkable blade,

Lain untouched and unmarred

Through the machinations of time.

Sylvaine, a maiden fair and from afar,

Animated bones and bade them follow.

And so they did.

And so our search continued,

Hunting for the circled symbol,

Marked and magicked,

Laid darkly on a floor.

Crypts of ancients barred our way.

Bentres the builder lay undisturbed,
Bones brittled and crumbling,
In long repose with friends:
Nailah of wisdom deep,
Mnemba who ascends,
And Pehasi, the one who feeds.
Who were these old ones
Buried in forgotten crypts?
None know, none know.

The room was found,
And power gleamed all 'round.
The chamber was secured
And preparations made.
Arcane magic wrapped about,
And so the tribulations start!
The words tripped out
From bold Sylvaine,
Lips pale and eyes afire,
Concentration furrowing brow.

And then the dead arrived!
Shadows oozing through the walls,
And a demon breaking down the door!
The soul of Barlow was ripped
And sundered from their body!
Gone and dead, forevermore!
Strands of webbing appeared
And kept the demon at bay.
Pako's trusty crossbow twanged!
Najm and Heijo pitched oil and flame!
Durham's hammer flew about the room,
And Bartholomew bemoaned their doom!
But all stood sturdy with vigor,
Braced by Sesel's aid
and Gan's strong arm!

Finally the nasty ghoulies
Were abolished and burned.
The tide of shades and demon turned.
And there within the tube
Another malevolent force was purged!
And a child was formed,
Having the likeness of Avin.
Tiny, incomplete, yet in visage pure.

The ritual was done.
The trials were done.
Our melancholy party
Repaired to the Lonely Cat,
For sup and ale and chat.
And from those darkened halls
We did escape ...
Alive?