Sanctuary

Arvien started out by calling down a fireball on a large group of the Zombie Wolves.  None of them died from the fire but several were severely singed.  Grunyar clambered up a tree after being attacked from two wolves.  Baru, Seglun were surrounded by several wolves and once in a while they were tripped and fell prone from the attacks.  Varrid moved up to flank a wolf, while Drovic called a flaming sphere onto one wolf who died from the flames.

Several of the wolves stayed at the ridge line trying to dig into the ground.  Arvien let loose another fireball, this one actually killing several of the wolves. The battle continued with wolves tripping the heroes, heroes killing off wolves, back and forth.  Then suddenly the earth collapsed under the wolves continuing to dig at the ridge.  Several wolves disappeared into the ground while others continued their efforts at making the hole larger.  Arvien sent Summergale to investigate while the rest of the party pressed their attack on the remaining wolves.
Summergale returned with a description of a cavern, with some red haired bodies laid out on biers.  The wolves in the hole were attempting to extricate themselves from the dirt of the cave in.  In short order the flaming sphere, arrows and other attacks dispatched the remaining wolves.  Ralom did some healing while Baru kept a wary eye on the collapsed area waiting for the other shoe to drop.  Once they felt better the party made its way to the edge of the hole in the earth.  Inside were six wolves either digging at the back wall or gnawing on bodies laid out on the biers.  In short order the ranged weapons of the heroes eliminated the six wolves.  Baru and Seglun led the way down into the chamber.  Looking around it was clear that they had stumbled on a tomb of some sort.  There were seven bodies laid to rest on short wooden pedestals, with three more pedestals empty and waiting for future users.  The bodies are loosely wrapped in gauze, and each of them holds a shiny weapon under its hands.  The chamber was natural but had been worked in some fashion to smooth out the rough edges.  Drovic felt that the bodies were Druidic, some had red-hair.
Baru looked at the rear wall, which had a hole in it leading further underground.  He called Grunyar down to use his hammer to widen the area.  Meanwhile Drovic found that the sickles held by the bodies were magical.  Grunyar's hammer opened up the area and he led Baru forward into a tunnel which led to another chamber.  There were sconces on the walls, unlit, baskets of dried or fresh food, and three pottery jars.  Piled nearby were blankets, bedding, candles and books.  Baru and Grunyar headed toward the northern exit from the chamber after Baru determined no evil existed in the area.  Just to the north was a crossroads, the path continued north, to the west was a semi-secret doorway, to the east the path soon turned back to the south.  Baru headed west to the door which was very obvious from this side,there was even a latch but he did not open it.  Ralom headed east and south but did not advance too far as his armor and weapons jingled and jangled as he walked.
The rest of the party was advancing, Varrid looked at the sickles but decided grave robbery was not a good idea.  Drovic found a magic potion in the cache of medicinal herbs.  Grunyar send Dirk north and found another chamber filled with weapons, clubs, darts, daggers, slings, staves and wooden shields.  Drovic determined that none of the weapons were magical.  So the group headed south on the new path which soon turned to the east.  Advancing quietly, Grunyar found a passage north that ended in a heavy wooden door.  Further east Dirk found a larger chamber, with people lounging on cushions.  The floor covered with moss carpeting. Drovic, Baru and Grunyar walked into the room, where Drovic heard them discussing the latest battles with the Goblyns.  He recognized Shelaugh, from the Wild Hunt, and she turned in their direction.
Shelaugh asked "Have you come to join our faction?"  Drovic replied that he still wasn't interested but that they had found a group of Zombie Wolves clawing at a hillside.  The hillside collapsed into the caverns.  "Our whole group is here exploring, we didn't realize this was your area."  Shelaugh reacted in concern, "Is there an opening still to the outside?"  When Drovic responded affirmatively she dispatched several members of her faction to repair the damage.  Seglun went along to guide them to the open area.  Baru introduced Svendar and related the party's action in finding him.  Shelaugh knew nothing about Svendar nor the beast Aggie.
Meanwhile Shelaugh explained that the series of caves was known as Sanctuary.  This was one of several spread across Forlorn.  They are a hiding and resting place unknown to any outside of the Druids.  When asked about Ursula and Petar she related that they were in the care of Maeve, the leader of the Oak faction.  She sent a faction member to fetch Maeve and the new members.
In short order Seglun returned with the druids who had repaired the cave in.  She related that she had found another passage leading north.  Grunyar asked what was behind the locked door just west of their present whereabouts.  She said, "A few weeks ago we captured a lost one, a raving madman who was wandering near the castle.  We have tried to restore his sanity, but have failed thus far.  He has to be locked away for his, are are, own safety.  He can become violent even though we provide him with bedding, food and water."
Maeve, Ursula and Petar, along with several other druids arrived in the north part of the room.  The party was glad to see Ursula and Petar and that they had been treated well.  Maeve seemed mighty interested in where and when the heroes had arrived.  She whispered to Shelaugh, "They may be the ones.  I think we should ask them." 
Maeve turned to the party and suggested they sit and listen to her story.  "Nearly 100 years ago, two high-level druids, Gregory and Dorinna, created a magical device of great power; the horn of the sacred grove.  Through the magic of this horn, it was said, balance would be restored to the land and the lord would be defeated.  Before the artifact's powers could be tested, though, Dorinna was captured and dragged away to the dungeons of Castle Tristenoira.   Gregory, fearing the artifact would be captured by the Goblyns, hid it in a place of safety, but he was killed before he could pass on word of its location.  As he died, Gregory cried, 'None of this cursed land shall ever find the horn!'   We asked Ursula about the horn, to which she replied.  'Earth protects the secret.  Hidden from the sun by shovel may they find it, by the sword shall it be won.'"
Shelaugh interjected that "they" means the goblyns will be the ones to find it, and the druids will have to fight to recapture it.  Maeve said, "I believe that the relic is hidden in the caves, we have dug many short tunnels, but none have revealed the horn's secret cave."  Maeve continued, "I now believe that you, outsiders, will be the ones to find the horn!  Do you have the means to Find and Object?"
Ralom replied that indeed they did but it was limited in scope and could be blocked by rock.  Maeve was very excited, "We will start tomorrow, our Sanctuary was home to Gregory.  He certainly hid it there."

DM's Notes:  The characters earned 3,429 XP for the battle with the Zombie Wolves and now have 45,871 XP.  They need 7,129 addtional XP to reach 7th level.