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-----As they carefully move up the incline, they pass at least three old buildings that have collapsed on the side of the hill long ago. Their basic construction looks to have been of a stone foundation topped by a wooden structure. Ahead of them through the tall grass and trees, they can see more deserted old houses atop the hill.
-----As they reach the top of the hill, the party can see they have found the center of an old ruined village. From their present position, they stand at the west end of what was once the village green. The village square is now covered with high grass and weeds. A few raggedy looking trees have grown up in what used to be the clearing. About fifteen to twenty feet on their left and right, stand two dwellings in various stages of decay. The roof of the old house on their left has collapsed onto the lower floor, while the chimney of the dwelling to their right has fallen.
-----Seventy feet in front of them, about in the center of the square, stands a raised wooden platform. On top of the platform appears to be a crossbeam structure with head and hand sized holes in it. Dull looking chains and metalwork hang from it. A rickety looking set of steps leads up to the top of the platform.
-----Directly on the opposite side of the village square is a building that is perhaps twice the size of the others the party sees. Its dark windows stare at them impassively. Between the two buildings the adventurers stand between and the larger one are four other old houses surrounding the square. One of the old houses to their left is flattened underneath the weight of a huge oak tree that some time ago fell onto it.
-----Everything around them seems quiet and a musty smell prevails in the air. There are no signs or sounds of animals here and there are no birds in the trees overhead.
-----"Too quiet here," says Zentil. He readies his bow and kneels to the ground listening and looking around.
-----"Yes, too quiet," Sarah murmurs too, she dismounts and ties her horse up on a nearby tree. She looks around nervously, "Let's not split up, let's all go look inside the big house first."
-----"Maybe the place is just empty. That would be irritating," comments Sol. "Well...one house is as good as another." With that said, Sol slides off his horse, strokes it's nose affectionately, and begins walking towards the house indicated by Sarah.
-----Sarah walks with Sol toward the house.
-----Raven seems to sniff the air and in low voice says, "This pit reminds me of the last orc lair we wiped out." Raven sees Sol and Sarah starting to leave and says, "Wait a minute. Let Zentil and I scout the area first. You all stay here and please be quiet." Raven then looks toward Zentil to see if he's ready.
-----Zentil nods to Raven and staying low, begins to advance on the house crushed by the tree. Zentil keeps a lookout for any signs of danger.
-----Sol stops walking towards the house, turns and gives Sarah a slightly bored look, before returning his eyes to the surroundings.
-----Sol, Sarah, Amythiel and Thalog stay behind as Raven and Zentil walk carefully forwards across the tall grass of the village square. They keep their eyes on the seven ruined buildings surrounding them. The structures seem like unholy guardians ready to pounce. Just as unnerving, everything remains silent except the breeze that whispers through the grass and the trees.
-----Zentil stops suddenly as something catches his eye. Raven jerks around and follows the elf’s line of sight to an open window in the house crushed by the tree. Something moves inside the dark opening. After a few tense seconds, they see it is an old curtain or window covering fluttering in the breeze.
-----The two make it to the middle of the square. Then the silence is broken! Raven and Zentil jump as they turn toward one of the houses along the north side of the square. The door of the old house vibrates and rumbles as something behind it pounds as if trying to get out.
-----Zentil and Raven look back at the window in the other house. Where the moving curtain was before, something stands there peering out the window, but its features are hidden in the shadows. Something about it seems very, very unnatural and very . . . dead.
-----A sound in the grass behind them causes the two to spin around. Behind them, advance two forms dressed in ancient armor. The condition of the armor is thoroughly rusted, worn and decayed. As Raven and Zentil look at their faces, they see the skin has long since rotted from the brownish color of the skeletal features. The two advancing forms raise swords covered with rust.
-----Before the rest of the party can react, sounds come from the two houses they stand between. Sol and Sarah turn to their left and see three armored skeletal forms emerge from one of the houses. At the same time, Thalog and Amythiel face two more of the horrors stepping out of the ruined house on their right.
-----Raven reels back in horror, puts away his bow and draws his swords. He starts to retreat back towards the group. Raven yells, "Over here!"
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