10. Barkling Ancestors’ Rest

The door to this room (coming from the south) is unusual since it is kept closed by two different locks. It is described below. At the end of a short corridor, you run into a heavy iron door. It appears to be more recent than the other doors found in this cave. Getting closer, you notice that two locks keep it closed and that opening it likely requires two keys. The door itself is imposing and breaking it seems unlikely without the proper tools and strength... Both locks can be picked, but the second one, which opens with Rosk’s key (see area 22), is very complicated; a Thief trying to pick it will have to do so with a 20% penalty (reduce the Open Lock target number by 20%). This room is a special room as it is considered sacred by the Black Paws and contains a great quantity of treasure. When the PCs first enter it, read the boxed text below. Once you manage to open the door, an odd spectacle unfolds before your eyes. At first, you all brace for combat as you notice the presence of five barklings. After a brief instant you realize that the creatures are in fact incredibly realistic statues of barklings. You are not sure what to make of this unsettling scene, but a few moments later, you realize these are actual barklings that have been stuffed and mounted on wooden bases. On the eastern wall, a large bookcase stands with small terra cotta urns placed on its shelves. At the other end of the room, a small wooden door faces you. Although it might seem odd to the civilized races, this unusual feat of taxidermy constitutes a great honor for barklings, just like the process of mummification was for ancient Egyptians. Indeed, when an important barkling dies, his body is preserved, clothed, and placed in a forever position that represented it best. The statues are carried from lair to lair by the barklings and are considered some of the tribe’s most valuable treasures. There are five stuffed barklings in this room, each with a small wooden sign at its feet. A detailed description is given for each below. Rex Baston This barkling has gray hair, and wears a small chain mail covered by a reddish tunic and a thin leather belt. It carries a small round shield and a handaxe. A small headband is laced around its forehead. The stuffed creature is endowed with various pieces of jewelry. On the wooden base at his feet, writings read "Rex Baston, The Lizard Slayer – Defeated in combat while fighting lizardmen". This statue is slightly taller than your usual barkling, being almost 4 feet tall. It wears a small gold necklace with a bear-shaped pendant with two tiny tourmalines lodged in its eye sockets (600 gp) and another necklace composed of a string of leather and an owlbear claw (2 gp). If the statue’s mouth is opened, the PCs will notice two of its teeth are made out of gold (5 gp each). Lord Fido Rector Short but buff, this one looks like it was someone very important. Its fur is damaged in random places and was clearly sewn back together. It wears a long red velvet cape on top of a magnificent barkling-sized plate mail. In its left hand, it holds a tiny scepter composed of a wooden handle and a jade bulb in the shape of a wolf’s head at the other end. Its other hand is raised as if addressing an assembly. Clearly someone of high status, this barkling wears a magnificent necklace of heavy links, and a beautiful gold ring set with a ruby on its right middle finger. The most impressive piece of jewelry is the gold crown the figure wears; a beautiful piece, decorated with various tiny gemstones and intricate motifs. A writing on the statue’s base reads: "Lord Fido Rector - Our beloved Duke, slain during the battle of Groompaz." The necklace is worth 800 gp, while the ring is worth 700 gp. The scepter is worth 600 gp, and the crown is worth 1,000 gp. Everything is sized to fit a barkling. Toby Barkor The writing at the statue’s feet reads "Toby Barkor, Battlemaster – Drowned in the Tourmaline". This one is also quite large for a barkling, being a few inches above the four feet mark and of strong build. The statue is dressed with an exquisite barkling-sized hauberk. It carries a spear, a kite shield, and a Norman helm covers its head. Over its armor, the barkling wears a white surcoat enhanced with a beautiful silver brooch shaped like a turtle and decorated with flakes of jade. The brooch worn by the statue is worth 600 gp. Luna Lolan This figure is the only female among the figures found in this odd burial place. It wears a long dark purple velvet mage robe, elegantly sewn with silver thread. In one hand, the figure holds a sinuous wooden staff while holding a scroll in its other hand. The writing below reads "Luna Lolan, Queen of Magic – Consumed by her own powers". The staff is not magical, but at the top end, it is set with a large blood stone (worth 100 gp). The scroll is a scroll of protection from undead. Loki Crocket Appearing much older than other statues, this one displays an aged barkling with a whitened face and hunched back. It wears an old out of fashion chain mail and carries a small battleaxe. On his right ear, the creature has a single gold earring shaped like a snake. Looking at the base of the statue, the following words have been carved: "Loki Crocket, Kobold Crusher – Died of old age after a life dedicated to slaying Kobolds." The earring is worth 50 gold pieces. When the PCs inspect the large bookcase on the eastern wall, read the following text. These shelves are old and dusty, but appear to have been moved here recently. About a dozen urns have been placed on these shelves. Each urn is made of terracotta and has a name carved on it. Next to the urns, a beautiful ornate silver vase is displayed as if it was an important collectible. Each of these urns contain the pulverized remains of other lesser important barklings. There is nothing but barkling ashes in these urns. The silver vase found in the bookcase is the Sprinkler of Saint Bebrah (see room 24 and 2. The Chapel of Saint Bebrah in The Hamlet of Péripont). The Sprinkler of Saint Bebrah: The item is composed of a vase (aspersorium) and a sprinkler (aspergillum). Both items are made of silver and decorated with words of prayers finely carved into them. If the vase is filled with water (contains up to 60 oz), the water will become holy and stay holy as long as it stays inside the vase. Using the sprinkler to throw water at an undead creature will preserve its holiness and cause the undead to suffer 1 point of magical damage. The two items must be used in conjunction in order for the effect to manifest. The item can be used as a ranged weapon, having a short range of 5 feet, a medium range of 10 feet and a long range of 15 feet. If the bookcase is dragged to the side or otherwise moved, a hole in the wall will be revealed. This opening is three feet squared, large enough so that a human character can crawl through it. This opening connects room 10 with room 11. The door to the north is made out of wood and is not locked although it is closed.