- Homer
"The Iliad"
Defeating an undead menace requires careful thought, conscientious preparation, and immediate action when the time is right. This sequence of steps is, of course, vague, and carrying it out requires numerous smaller steps. The exact order in which substeps are performed varies with the circumstances. Each powerful undead creature is unique, and a slavish devotion to any generalized plan will only assure the hunter's death - or worse.
In my campaigns against the ancient dead, success has rested on accomplishing five tasks: identification, research, assessment, reconnaissance, and the kill. The method presented here is a somewhat abridged version of the steps I outlined in my earlier work on ghosts, as these two types of creatures require similar approaches. Readers familiar with the procedures from the previous work should nevertheless review the material I have included here. To guide the reader, 1 have provided practical illustrations of the techniques I describe in the form of excerpts from my own journal.
I cannot overemphasize the value of improvisation when hunting a mummy. Nevertheless, do not improvise blindly. One cannot best a mummy through mere guesswork. Do not be afraid to draw conclusions from your investigation, but always ensure your conclusions follow logically from the evidence.
Obviously, the hunt cannot begin until one learns that a quarry exists. One may encounter a foe first hand, or one can discover some tale or account that points to a creature's existence. Of the two, the latter is much more typical; it is highly likely that someone else will be the first to see the creature.
Even when one happens upon a mummy, clues about the creature can be found well away from its lair. In any case, the first task is to discover what sort of creature one faces, which is not always immediately apparent.
Picking Up the Scent
A prime example of the kind of early detective work required at this stage is the case of the Bog Monster of Hroth, which I mentioned earlier. This quest began, as so many adventures do, with a fireside tale.
My companions and I had paused in the town of Skald to put up our feet for awhile and enjoy a hot dinner (a stew of mutton and flavor ful Kartakan turnips, in this case) and warm beds for the night. In keeping with local custom, the landlord had barred every door and shutter in the place at sunset. This, I learned, was a precaution against wolves, which were bold enough to enter the town. When I remarked that I seldom had visited so dangerous a place, my host gave a belly laugh and replied that but a few leagues west lay a land where the night was haunted by groaning spirits and where strange, horned beasts stalked the forest.
The landlord, of course, was referring to the adjacent land of Sithicus, whose border lay close at hand. The banshees ofSithicus were an old tale to me, but never before had I heard mention of any horned beasts. Knowing full well the Kartakan reputation for tall tales, I grinned and bade the landlord to recount the entire story. The fellow obliged, spinning a tale in that melodious voice for which Kartakans are justifiably famous. He told of the cursed town of Hroth, where on moonlit nights the melancholy elf folk shunned a certain bog where a horned fiend dwelt. The creature stalked the countryside, seeking vengeance, and could be appeased only through an offering of gold or silver.
My friends and I were well aware that investigating a Kartakan tall tale might prove a fruitless endeavor, yet there were elements to the yarn that intrigued us. What manner of creature was this nocturnal monster from the bog? A wereboar, perhaps? How was it any tale illuminated the gloomy land of Sithicus, where the elf natives were friendly enough, but the prevailing pessimism did not encourage long visits? We questioned the innkeeper at length, seeking to resolve certain contradictions and omissions. Our interest only deepened the fellow's jovial mood as he embellished his tale in response. At length he waived a hand, urging us to journey to Hroth and visit a certain Jameld, an elf hunter of some repute. It was this elf, the innkeeper maintained, who first told the story.
Our party had intended to return to Mordents/lire by road, north from Skald through Silbervas and Chateaufaux. After hearing of the bog beast, we opted to travel west to Sithicus and hence to Hroth. We would seek out Jameld and test the story's verisimilitude. That done, we could strike northeast to the Musarde River and travel it to Richemulot. A short overland trek would take us into Mordent and home to Mordentshire. Even if the tale proved spurious, the cross-country trek would save miles of travel, even if it would cause us more discomfort.
Confirmation
I draw the reader's attention to the fact that, as we gathered up the first threads of information about the monster from the bog, my companions and I had no clear idea of what we were facing. We had a vague and highly questionable physical description (horned beast), a probable location (a bog near the town of Hroth), and the name of a contact who might have more details (the elf Jameld). Having learned all we could from the first witness, and having determined that he had not seen the creature himself, we sought a more reliable source of information.
The innkeeper's tale in no way convinced us we were dealing with the supernatural. The story might have been a complete fiction or, more likely, spun from a mere fragment of truth. Perhaps the yarn was based on the exploits of some entirely human bandit, though the reference to moonlit nights suggested that a werebeast might be involved. Or, perhaps someone had been startled by an owl or fox one evening when the moon was out, and the tale grew in the telling.
To our surprise, we did find a hunter elf named Jameld living in Hroth. He seemed a robust and steadfast person, if a little past his prime. He confirmed that he had once ventured into Kartakass, seeking wolf pelts. In the end, a yearning for his homeland and the deep-seated suspicion most humans have ofdemihumans sent him back to Hroth, to once again hunt deer and even the occasional banshee.
Yes, Jameld assured us, the bog monster was real. No, he hadn't actually seen the beast, but he had discovered the bodies of its victims from time to time. Jameld spoke of homes wrecked and their occupants torn to bits. In several cases, he had found sets of prints made by cloven hooves, prints from a creature that walked two-footed, like a man.
In years past, elves living in the forested hills north of Hroth kept watch fires burning on moonlit nights, and left offerings of coins and livestock for the monster. Eventually, the folk moved away, south or into the town. Even so, Jameld assured us, all manner of people tended to disappear if caught north of the town after moonset. Over the years Jameld bad tracked the beast, but always had lost the trail in a vast bog northwest of town.
Upon hearing his story, we questioned Jameld at length and discovered two key facts. First, the victim's corpses invariably rotted very quickly. Second, the bog had been the site of an unusual battle many years before.
According to Jameld, a band of minotaurs - strange creatures with the heads of bulls and the bodies of huge men - had once tried to raid the town. The elves, however, were wary and laid an ambush for the monsters. Using their superior woodcraft, they surprised the raiders near the bog and inexorably drove them into it. The last phases of the battle took place in pitch darkness, after the moon had set. Both sides relied on their night vision during the fight.
To prove his story, Jameld introduced us to many veterans of the battle during the next few days. This was not a difficult feat, given the length of an elf's life span. Several elves confirmed the hideous condition of the monster's victims. The stories varied, but two factors were constant: the creature's great strength and the rapid decomposition of the bodies. Even more telling, all the accounts of the ambush at the bog were similar in their vital details: the date, the numbers of elves and minotaurs involved, the method of attack, and so on. It was clear that we were hearing accurate, eyewitness accounts of an actual event, and not retellings of a local myth.
Later that week, Jameld led us to the bog where the battle had raged. Several grassy mounds rose out of the still water, marking the graves of minotaurs that had fallen to the elves' arrows. The bog's murky depths hid the rest.
Commitment
Once it becomes clear that a foe is genuine, the next step is to hypothesize about its nature and powers, and to decide if one has the resources and skills to achieve the objective of destroying the monster. It is fruitless to commit to a task one cannot finish, and no higher purpose is served by one's needless demise. Before continuing with the hunt, one must decide if there is a reasonable chance of success. Doing so is instrumental in summoning the courage to undertake the job and see it through to its conclusion.
We pondered Jameld's information carefully. The elf had not actually seen the monster - nor, it seemed, had any of the other witnesses. Still, there were remarkable similarities in all the anecdotes we had heard. Of these, I found the condition of the victims' bodies to be the most telling; surely here was evidence of mummy rot at work. While I was not willing to rule out any possibilities, I doubted the bog monster was a ghost; incorporeal creatures don't need to batter their way into homes, nor do they leave tracks. Likewise, I doubted the creature was a lycanthrope; moonlight held. some significance for the creature, but there was no sign of the bloodlust that leads werebeasts to consume their victims, nor were there inconsistencies that pointed to a hidden shape-changer lurking among the townsfolk. When the beast's hunting ground became barren, its depredations dropped off. Certainly a werebeast would have sought prey elsewhere.
Whatever the beast was, it seemed clear that its victims had little chance against it. There was no evidence that it had ever slain a spellcaster of any kind, nor had it ever faced an enchanted weapon. It remained to be seen if our own resources could meet the challenge.
To begin the second phase of the hunt, gather as much information about the creature as you can. Speculate about the mummy's origins. If possible, uncover the creature's past and relive its life. Consider the creature's death and how that drama might have affected its undead form. As the facts emerge, classify the mummy according to categories discussed in Chapter Two. Draw some conclusions about the creature's reported powers and weaknesses.
When we made clear our intentions to hunt down and destroy the bog monster, Jameld became enthusiastic. The creature represented a continuing threat to the community, and nothing would please Jameld more than to end that threat. During the next few days, the elf led us over the sites of the creature's various attacks. Some careful map work confirmed that every attack took place no farther from the bog than a healthy human or elf could walk in a single night. Our most useful discovery, however, came when we found an elf who had survived one of the beast's assaults.
The witness, Aynruth, had decided to take over an abandoned homestead within what we had determined was the bog monster's hunting grounds. All had gone well for Aynruth and his family until one night, when the creature came calling. Aynruth had heard tales of a monster, but he had dismissed them. In any case, he was a frugal elf and felt he had no coins or livestock to spare in appeasing the creature.
When it attacked, the monster used its massive horns and fists to literally tear the family home to bits. Only quick flight saved the elves. Once inside the house, the creature seemed more intent on plunder than on pursuing the fugitives; it stopped to grab furs, money, and anything else that might have value while the elves fled. Aynruth quickly determined that the attacker was an undead creature, and he lost no time dousing it with oil and setting it alight with a flaming brand from the fireplace. The monster's waterlogged body appeared to be utterly impervious to fire, however, and the beast simply rampaged through the wrecked house, setting what was left of the homestead ablaze. For a time the creature, too, was completely engulfed in the flames, and Aynruth lost sight of it. When it emerged, steaming, it bellowed and prepared to charge, but a shot from Aynruth's bow sent it scurrying into the darkness, still clutching its smoking booty.
By this time, at least a few key facts should have emerged from your research. This is a good time to review them. Reflect on your original hypothesis about the creature. Consider modifying it if the facts seem to warrant a change. Try to refine your classification of the creature, but do not be discouraged if you cannot make a definitive identification. Your investigation is really just beginning, and chances are you will throw out a few of your earlier theories. Do not hesitate to do so; stubbornly clinging to an insupportable theory is foolish and dangerous. Review all you have done so far and decide if you can follow any new lines of inquiry.
We were hard on the creature's trail now. We had learned that fire would be of no avail against it, and its lust for treasure was confirmed. It seemed the creature could indeed be appeased by silver, gold, and other valuables.
Back in Hroth, we sought out a knowledgeable veteran of the battle at the bog and asked about the habits and abilities of living minotaurs (a subject we had neglected until now). The warrior protested that he knew very little, but his information proved valuable. We were reminded minotaurs could see in the dark in the same manner as elves. We also learned they were physically powerful, and that in their original home they believed themselves destined to rule all beings. Though neither I nor any member of my party had ever heard of minotaurs, the veteran insisted they were infamous brigands and pirates. Perhaps most importantly, we learned minotaurs took great pride in their horns. To be shorn of them was to suffer utter disgrace.
Further questioning revealed that the minotaur chieftain had been last to die in the battle. Volleys of arrows had driven the creature far into the bog until it finally sank from sight, thrashing and cursing.
It now seemed likely the monster from the bog was the restless, naturally mummified corpse of that minotaur chieftain. We surmised it was still seeking to pillage the area, as this would explain its desire for treasure. Several avenues of attack seemed promising: archer elves would likely defeat the creature, and elven bows might ward it off. If the mummy could not be slain through outright attack, shearing its horns might deal the final blow. If all else failed, a few gold coins seemed likely to distract the creature, should we need to escape a confrontation.
Once you have assembled enough facts to form a few solid theories about your foe, it is time to get a look at the mummy yourself. In many cases, your research will not be complete until you do this, as the mummy might have powers or vulnerabilities that other witnesses have failed to note. Now, too, is the time to test any suspected allergens and weapons. Use what you've learned to further classify the mummy.
Caution is still your byword. If possible, arrange to observe the mummy more than once, preferably from some position where it will not observe you. Also, if possible, test your allergens first by placing them where the mummy might stumble upon them. Once you've confirmed your theories about the mummy's weaknesses, you have a better chance of surviving your first assault. In all cases, plan your escape route carefully; time is not necessarily on your side, and if the worst consequence of failure is flight, you have cause to be grateful.
A succession of cloudy nights delayed our investigation for some time. We were certain that fading moonlight on the bog heralded the monster's appearances, and the fruitless nocturnal vigils we kept oner the place seemed to confirm the fact. Our persistence was finally rewarded after a week of dreary nights spent in the open. A hush fell over the bog as the last rays of the waning moon diminished. The still water seemed to grow black, like a pit of tar. Shortly, my own sight failed altogether. I could see the stars above the trees, but nothing in the inky blackness at ground level.
Presently, I heard a clumsy splash in the bog, and Jameld hissed a warning. A musical tinkle filled the air as the elf moved forward, waving a bag of silver. (Because the creature had night vision at least as good as Jameld's, we assumed it would see us long before we could see it, and so we had resolved to distract it with some treasure.)
My ears strained to follow the beast's footsteps, but I heard only my companions carefully feeling their way downhill toward the bog. There was a hoarse bellow and a cry from Jameld, followed by a loud chink and the sound of pounding feet. The elf had dropped the bag of silver and fled.
Torches flared and the beast, which had stooped to seize the coins, straightened and whirled on us. I felt a wave of preternatural fear grip my heart as the creature faced us, but the feeling passed, leaving only a slight tingling in my limbs. (This, I noted, had to be mummy-inspired fear/ The hum of bowstrings filled the air as my companions loosed arrows out of bows we had borrowed from the elves of Hroth, and the creature staggered and bellowed as the shafts struck home.
The creature responded to our attack by lowering its head and charging down upon the archers, who held their bows high and stood ready to sidestep the beast if it came too close. This precaution proved unnecessary. The beast checked its charge, its watery eyes fixed on the upraised bows.
Taking the better part of valor, the company used this respite to end the confrontation, and we scattered like chaff. Bellowing once again, the creature gave chase, but we had chosen our escape routes well. The creature rapidly lost ground, its horns tangling in low branches that nonetheless stretched high enough to offer no hindrance to us.
Once you are sure of your theories and your weapons, lay your final plans and strike quickly. Speed is important. Your foe probably is not mindless, and it undoubtedly has been observing you even as you have been observing it. Any delay invites countermeasures - or even counterattacks.
Planning
Your final plan should consider the following elements: time, place, weapons, and escape. Note also that no plan is complete until each member of the group knows exactly what is expected and is capable of completing all tasks without supervision. Your foe could have plenty of surprises in store for you, and you do not need any surprises from your own team.
Time: Assuming that a mummy doesn't force this decision upon you, time your assault to your own advantage. If, for example, the mummy's most potent ability depends on the rising of a certain star, attack when the star is not visible.
Place: Again, you might not be free to choose the site of your battle. If you can, study the area. An intelligent mummy fighting on its home ground undoubtedly will try to exploit its knowledge; do your best to anticipate what it might do.
If you are not forced into a location, choose terrain that will give you an advantage, and use what you know to bring your foe to you. Judicious exploitation of a mummy's allergens and motivations is far more reliable for this purpose than simply picking a locale for an ambush and waiting for the mummy to happen by. Focus items are particularly useful for this purpose, as mummies usually attempt to retrieve them no matter what the circumstances.
Weapons: If you accomplished nothing else during your preliminary encounters with the mummy, be sure you have tested every weapon you intend to employ in the final battle. I do not make this statement lightly. Test everything ahead of time. Enchanted steel, allergens, special weapons, even holy water and clerical power over the undead are unreliable until proven effective. If one item has failed during a preliminary encounter, replace it with another and test the replacement. I do not suggest leaving every bit of untested weaponry behind, although that is not a bad idea if encumbrance is a problem. Who knows? Fate might intervene of your behalf when you employ an untested weapon, but fate is a notoriously undependable ally.
Escape: No plan is complete unless it allows for failure. After many years of undead hunting, I have learned to take nothing for granted. Confidence in a plan is fine, even desirable, but if things go wrong you must take steps to assure that you can retreat. Failure is perhaps the greatest teacher, but its lessons will go for naught if you don't survive.
If you have followed my suggestions thus far, you might already have confronted your foe several times and quit the field. If at all possible, plan a new escape route for your final battle. If the mummy has observed your previous escapes, it might anticipate your actions and trap you.
By now your plans should be ready to bring to fruition. With all contingencies accounted for to the best of your ability, you are ready to move in for the final confrontation.
Our success at the bog won us considerable support among the veterans ofHroth, and soon we had two dozen archers willing to take a hand in dealing with the beast. A quick scouting trip revealed a narrow footbridge spanning a deep, fast stream with high banks.
We positioned these archers on both banks downstream of the bridge. We moored boats close by to aid in any retreat. At next moonset, two fleet-footed elves bearing jingling sacks of coins lured the beast onto the bridge. The archers opened fire. Two of my companions, bows once again held high, blocked both ends of the bridge, trapping the beast in the open. The creature was swiftly transfixed by dozens of shafts and toppled from the bridge. Taking to our boats, my companions and I hastily recovered the body and hacked off the beast's horns, whereupon the creature's withered body crumbled to dust.
The ancient dead are notoriously resilient, and any celebration of their demise is premature without first confirming the kill. If you have access to a creature's tomb, check it for signs that the creature's body is rejuvenating; a mummy often reappears within its tomb even if "slain" far afield. If you have recovered a creature's body, watch that for signs of rejuvenation, too. If the mummy's appearances were connected with a trigger, watch for that trigger's next few occurrences. If the creature does not return, at last you can celebrate. Your task is well and truly completed.
