The next room is cool and humid. The air carries the metallic smell of blood, and thin wisps of mist float through it. Ghostly light illuminates the room-white motes swirl around large pillars. Between these pillars is a hollowed·out stone claw holding a large pool of what seems to be blood. A soft gurgling sound issues from it, and runes are carved into the floor around it. Two upright sarcophagi, shaped like leering, stylized hobgoblin warriors, sit in wide eastern alcoves. Black bones are piled loosely around them. Two pairs of iron doors are on the southern wall, and another double door is set into the western wall.

When the party tries to open the doors, all the tomb doors open and blood mist pours from the blood pool.

Encounter: Honor Guard
Bloodblade Hobgoblin Skeletons
Hobgoblin Specter
Hobgoblin Wight
5 Bonepile Hobgoblin Skeletons

With the skeletons defeated and blood mist filling the room, they move to the western doors and proceed to a large chamber.

White light bathes this space, originating from the crystal eyes of an immense statue in its center. The figure has four identical sides, each depicting a richly dressed hobgoblin warrior making a heart-crossing gesture, apparently a salute. Bone-filled alcoves line the north and south walls, and the room has two pairs of iron double doors, one to the east (the one they’ve just entered through) and another to the north. Thick pillars support a ceiling that vaults from about 10 feet at the edges to 20 feet in the middle, high enough for the massive statue. In each eastern corner is a stylized statue of a hobgoblin warrior wielding a spiked chain, slightly larger than life. Two similar statues stand on a dais in the western reach of the chamber, but these show scimitar-wielding hobgoblin soldiers. The dais also has a lone sarcophagus set upon it. Ornate stone boxes sit to each side of the coffin. The smaller statues have yellow gems for eyes.

Despite the advisement of the party, Rick approaches the large statue in the center, presents his sword and kneels in reverence and honor. He repeats this action on all four sides of the statue. He stands up and the statue begins to rotate. Undead begin to emerge from the statues. Ashurta opens his sarcophagus and speaks. “The honorable among you should have guided the others, weak and ignorant as they are. Now you all must pay the blood price for your folly! Perhaps some will claim the blade of the Ashen Crown, a painful lesson learned.” He and his Wight followers continue to mock the disrespectful in the party.

Encounter: Ashurta’s Rest
Ashurta
2 Chainfighter Wights
2 Hobgoblin Soldier Zombies

Ashurta and his soldiers are defeated after much struggle. The party takes the amber eyes from the statues, then opens the small boxes near the coffin. They find some gold, a Skull Mask helm which is given to Gennal, and a Belt of the Brawler which goes to Rick. Sariel takes Ashurta’s Blade, their first recovered piece of the legendary Ashen Crown.