Thomas pulls his mace free and swings for the ghoul Attack: 13 Damage: 6

 Scimitar Attack: 20 Damage: 8 and  Scimitar Attack: 18 Damage: 8

 "Holy crap!" 

Rapier Attack: 8 Damage: 9

 Toot tries to use her magic hat 21 to cast Fire bolt Attack: 21 Damage: 8

 Dagger Attack: 17 Damage: 7 Dagger Attack: 13 Damage: 4 Sneak Attack 7

Round 2 18 v 7

 Mace Attack: 11 Damage: 6

 Scimitar Attack: 12 Damage: 4 and Scimitar Attack: 20 Damage: 4 

 Rapier Attack: 21 Damage: 7

 Attack: 19 Damage: 3

 Dagger Attack: 20 Damage: 6 and Dagger Attack: 20 Damage: 1

Sneak Attack : 7

 The ghoul falls to the ground dead.

 Thomas direct the investigation of the room.

INV 17

 Elandra reaches down and plucks a ring from the ghouls bloated finger.

"Looks like this was the dwarf in charge before the place fell."

 "A sad end."

Toot used prestidigitation to clean off the ring. It is a gold signet ring that bears the Axeholm crest: a handaxe clutched in a dwarven gauntlet.

 "Can I take a look at that."

Feldoran takes the ring and studies it for a moment. "Wait here, I'll be right back."

The dwarf makes his way back up the stairs with the rings and finds the locked box that would not open. His hunch was correct. Pressing the ring into the symbol of the box it clicks open with ease and Feldoran takes the contents. He also takes the box.

 Anders identifies the items when Feldoran returns.

They are a dread helm and a pair of gauntlets of ogre power. "You had best wear those gloves for a while Feldoran if you want to lug that box back."

 Elandra takes the dread helm. 

"How do I look?" her face is shrouded in shadow and her eyes are glowing red.

 "Terrifying."

East Guard Post

 Feldoran moves to the front right hand side and tries the door.

The gnawed bones, torn armor fragments, and rusty battleaxes of two dead dwarf guards lie in the middle of the room. The guards were trapped here by ghouls, killed, and eaten.

Two ballistas aimed at arrow slits in the west wall come equipped with five bolts apiece.

West Guard Post

 Elandra opens the doors into this room while Feldoran searches the other.

Two ballistas point toward arrow slits in the east wall. Each ballista is equipped with five bolts. The guard post is otherwise empty.

Inner Gauntlet

The group gather to open the double doors at the head of the room.

 "Be ready."

Four arrow slits line the walls of this corridor leading to Axeholm’s throne room but otherwise the hall is empty. Trying the next set of double doors they find themselves standing at the south end of the mustering hall.

 "Excellent! Just the last set of double doors back there to check then."

The party return to the throne room and try the door. 

 Dining Room

In the middle of this room, a carved stone dining table (15 feet long by 5 feet wide) is flanked by a pair of equally long wooden benches. Above the table hang two iron chandeliers, their candles long since melted away. North of the seating area is a sooty fireplace and an alcove containing a rough-hewn pit that descends 60 feet.

 "Anyone fancy climbing down there?"

 "Well volunteered Anders."

 "Seriously? Well shit."

Anders clambers down into the pit. Strength 4

He slips and falls into the dirt and bones at the bottom taking 3 damage.

The bottom of the pit contains mouldy animal bones and other refuse discarded by the dwarves after their meals.

Kitchen

 Feldoran peeks through the kitchen door while Anders climbs out of the pit.

The dusty room has all the trappings one expects to find in a dwarven kitchen, including metal dishware, utensils, and drinking mugs. A stone sink is equipped with a faucet which, when turned, spouts hot water channelled from a naturally heated underground spring.

 "It grows late. We will take our rest here."

DAY 22 AXEHOLM

The party take a long rest and leave the castle midmorning. 

Dragon 15