The adventurers pressed onward, following the eerie sound of a horn through the thickening fog until they reached a towering ten-story structure. Outside, the air reeked of decay, and the ground swarmed with enthralled ghasts and ghouls. These horrifying undead were known for their paralytic, flesh-eating bites that could turn victims into ghouls, and the ghasts emitted a nauseating stench that made the party uneasy.
Zita slipped forward stealthily to the building’s entrance, with Audrey Rose close behind, moving quietly to avoid disturbing the undead sentinels. The rest of the group followed cautiously. Audrey Rose took her mutagen as they entered the tower, where no doors or traps barred their way. Inside, the structure was a chaotic patchwork of narrow, twisting passages and cramped rooms, seemingly constructed by merging dozens of different buildings. The ghoul infestation was everywhere, filling the corridors with their sickening stench and eerie presence. Even Tweetie Bear’s fur stood on end, his discomfort palpable.
They paused to decide who would play the horn once they retrieved it. Audrey Rose suggested Sabrina, but Sabrina was hesitant. On reaching the ninth floor, Audrey Rose fortified herself with a shield spell. The floor was an expansive, open area with many doors and windows that looked out into the void. There, in the distance, stood a strange woman surrounded by a crimson aura. She wore a professor’s uniform and was undead—but unlike the others, she wasn’t enthralled. She smiled at the adventurers, revealing an unsettling surplus of teeth.
Sabrina boldly announced their intent to ascend to the horn’s resting place. The woman introduced herself as Belleth Zenden, petting Barry the Barrel, a mysterious companion she trusted to watch the others. Audrey Rose speculated whether Belleth was a victim of the horn’s power or already dead before its call. Belleth explained she had tended to this undead flock for months, having learned the horn’s location in Calisart’s vault from the hag Iron in exchange for two university students. The horn had been sounding for weeks, drawing the undead flock to her. Belleth, a native of the region, revealed her dark ambition to take over the world.
Spotting a staircase, Audrey Rose and Zita moved upward, with the rest following except Sabrina, who remained behind to distract Belleth. Sabrina attempted to bluff her way into favor by performing a fake fire bolt spell, which was actually a cleverly disguised dispel magic. The unexpected magic caused some spells to fade, startling Belleth who vanished with a scolding “Naughty girl,” and then commanded the undead to attack.
A horde of undead surged forth, inflicting damage on the group. Zita was paralyzed; Audrey Rose retaliated with a flesh-eating bomb, while Bosley unleashed burning hands and Dahl cast haste. London channeled healing energy as the undead continued their assault. Zita grew nauseated and Audrey Rose was also paralyzed under the onslaught.
Sabrina cast glitterdust, revealing the swarm and blinding many. She called for the group to gather the paralyzed and retreat upstairs. Bosley carried Audrey Rose to safety, and Tweetie Bear rescued Zita, enlarged by Dahl’s magic to aid the escape. London healed the party as Barry watched Sabrina, smiling ominously. Sabrina cast glitterdust again, this time including Barry, drawing the creatures’ attention toward her.
Bosley and Audrey Rose reached the tenth floor, finding an empty room except for a plinth holding a green and gold horn that played on its own. Sabrina hung off the side of the building, blinding the undead below. Audrey Rose checked the plinth for traps before grabbing the horn. Zita attempted to play it, producing a terrible sound. Dahl tried next, but nothing happened. London hurried downstairs where Barry was eyeing him; the undead swarmed him. Audrey Rose tried to play the horn but failed, while Sabrina climbed a window to join the others.
Zita, wearing slippers, descended the building’s side as angry growls followed her. Belith cast a spell at London, which failed, while Dahl rushed to Audrey Rose to retrieve the horn. London retreated upstairs as the undead stormed upward, with Bosley attacking first with fiery breath, igniting several foes but quickly overwhelmed.
Audrey Rose identified the artifact as the Horn of Quintus—an ancient magical item requiring a high skill check to activate. It could enthrall certain undead through performance or device use but risked turning its wielder undead if exposed too long. The horn also carried specific instructions for its destruction.
After deliberation, Dahl and Tweetie Bear took the horn, flying under the cover of fog toward the train station. Meanwhile, Zita used a ghoul’s voice to command the undead inside the tower, signaling it was safe to descend. London healed the weary group and moved to protect Bosley, preparing for whatever awaited next.
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