The Torchbearers wound their way up to the North Coast, following the West Road. On their way a peasant scrambled from the brush out of breath and frantically asked for their help. Teller, a local villager, said his family’s homestead had been overrun by shambling dead. The company took to the woods to see what aid they could offer. As they approached a clearing, the simple wooden house was surrounded by zombies.

Mumbling under her breath, Druuna closed her eyes and sensed an object which had drawn the rotting undead. She infused Corben, the stalwart follower, with magical energies and told Tamari the likely source of foul energy beckoning the walking dead was within the remains of an old tower. 

The Torchbearers moved towards the tower. Teller unslung his simple bow and let an arrow fly, but in his haste the shot went wide. Zane as a more seasoned warrior had better luck with his crossbow. However the bolt lodged into the zombie’s chest with no apparent effect. The dead drew closer…

Corben and Karl the Inquisitor closed ranks and hacked into the undead. Corben struck deep but did not fell his foe, while Karl smashed the skull of another. Teller and Zane both took careful aim and dropped another two zombies.

Meanwhile Tamari under the eye of Druuna scrambled toward the ruined tower, digging through the crumbling masonry. Inside she found a stone tablet with a crude etched semblance of the North Coast. Odd arcane lettering bordered one side of the map, and markings of a ruin beneath the White Cliffs. A likely dungeon to explore and provide answers to the evil plaguing the region.

Corben soon found himself in a pitched melee. As another zombie closed in he panicked, losing his footing, and was quickly dragged down.

Karl the Inquisitor stepped forward bellowing a war cry. Wielding his warhammer he destroyed the head of a zombie, dragging his comrade away from the fray. To the Torchbearer’s horror, another zombie stumbled from the edge of the wood. Tamari whistled once and urged her companions for a hasty retreat.

Both Teller and Zane shot a final volley dropping two more, and the company made haste leaving the doomed homestead. Teller recognized some of his kin shambling haphazardly about as freshly raised walking dead, and the gory remains of others near the overrun farm. Tears welled in his eyes as he saw more undead come towards the house…

Teller gritted his teeth and right there threw his lot in with the Torchbearers, begging to allow him to join and seek vengeance on the evil responsible for his family’s demise. He led the company to a nearby buried cache of grain to add to the company coffers. The group will need it, as Corben appeared feverish with a festering wound.