Session 8

THE ECUMENICAL TEMPLE

15th Meadowlark 

Characters: 

Gorr, Ranger 2 

Robert the Swift, Fighter 1 

Suba-Jin, Cleric 1 

Eric Withakay, Cleric 3 

Lothos the Undesirable, Elf 2 

Aladar IX, M-U 2 

Aftermath 

Recovering from their ambush by shadowy dogfolk, the group were joined by the belated magic-user Aladar IX and his unfortunately-named dog "Mincemeat 2."

Progressing further into the building, the group triggered a pit trap with a sweeping wooden plank that knocked half of them in! They now realized what the other plank they had seen before actually was for. With no obvious way to close the pit, they climbed out and kept going.

Artist's Rendering may not be exact

Many odd and inexplicable things were found:

-A wooden face floating in a pool of black tar, that animated and gnashed its teeth when touched. Eric took some of the tar in a waterskin for later.

-A carefully arranged pile of debris, scraps and furniture. The group removed a large wooden table and began carrying it around the dungeon with them.

-Stairwells led upwards, covered with carvings & graffiti. Not all was understandable, but some pictographs showed people throwing things into a round basin and waves coming out afterwards.

-A room with carvings of buildings: A great castle under construction in a field. A tower high on cliffs above the sea. Thin, crooked & impossible towers twisting above dense woods. A fortress in the mountains blending in to the cliffs. A short, round tower on an island with a yellow tree.

-An altar with a faintly flickering slab of quartz resting on it, shaped like a clear disc with a yellow triangle inside. Suba-jin pried the quartz off the stone, but cracked it in half in the process.

In a room with a round altar covered in odd pictograms rested a huge glass basin with swirling brown & yellow colours at the bottom. After a few tests to see if it was safe, Gorr climbed inside. Passing through the swirling colours, he found himself in another world: cloudy grey skies and cracked brown & yellow landscape stretched in every direction. First he planted one of the Great Tree's acorns. Next, he began searching through the rubble and detritus piled up around the entrance and found a strange Y-shaped ivory crucifix of a hollow-eyed figure with a sinister, toothy grin. This treasure gained, he jumped back through the pool of colour before he could encounter any dangerous locals.

Upstairs

In a room with three tall statues of robed & ancient crones, the group were ambushed by a group of four dogfolk, but the large table they were carrying proved a useful barrier and the shadowy foes were dispatched with ease.

They found the source of the constant incense-smoke: a room with a dozen smoking braziers burning exotic & fragrant purple wood. The braziers were engraved with images of a king making strange hand gestures receiving benediction from robed monks, decorated with carvings of a cat. Turning over the braziers and quenching the fires allowed the smoke to disperse somewhat. Some spare bundles of scented wood were taken.

In a shrine with a stone cat idol, the group got into a brief fight with some shadowy satyrs through Gorr's readiness with a bow. After destroying one, the other surrendered and asked them to play a dice game. He offered to tell them a secret about the Sage of Lune, but instead hustled the group out of some minor treasure (Suba-Jin lost the double crescent-moon amulet he had found in Eralion's ruined keep). He did tell them about a blessing the shrine bestowed: rubbing the top of the cat's head granted a minor boon of luck.

[+1 to all d20 rolls for the remainder of the expedition. Players must remind me of this bonus when applicable!]

In a garden room with some thirsty talking plants, the group encountered a 9' tall knight clad completely in engraved brass armour. Not speaking, it pursued them slowly but relentlessly wherever they went.

They led the brass soldier towards the three statues. When it passed through the center of the three crones, they animated and began discussing it in approving tones: "Ah, very nice. Unbreakable grip. Impervious to mundane harm. Even immune to electricity. Sadly, you are controlled by someone else." Then the crones began asking questions and were roundly ignored by the brass man, which everyone was now sure was some kind of automaton or golem.

Seeking an alternate solution, the group managed to just barely trip the man of brass by ramming it repeatedly with their wooden table, sending it down the stairs. It didn't seem out of action, as they heard its joints creak & clank as it got up & walked around the lower floor.

The last room they explored had four massive wood columns carved as women in the four stages of life: young, adult, mature & venerable. In front of one column stood another brass man, but it did not seem to take notice of them.

2nd floor

Finally, the group decided to experiment with the three crones and discovered some amazing things. The statues had keen insight into the nature of anyone who stepped into their triangle, and could even reveal previously hidden information about someone's status or equipment. Anyone entering was described at some length, then offered the chance to 'trade' or 'swap abilities' although it was a bit unclear how this was to be accomplished.

Gorr was labeled as "an aesthete" who will soon feel a great strain, and they observed that "the outer realms had best take care" with him around.

Aladar IX managed to get a clue about the wand he recovered from Orelia: "Your opponents must find it hard to breathe."

The most shocking of all was when Lothos entered. "Ah, like to consort with long-dead sorcerors, do you?" asked the statues. Eventually it seemed they weren't even speaking to the elf: "The corruptor of Bishop Gray! [See session 1] You have travelled many years to be here. Are your people still lost in the nightmare, or have they returned to the waking darkness?" It became clear they were addressing Pheldrazash, the strange 'talking book' Lothos carried.

Pulling out the book and asking if Pheldrazash wanted to trade for anything, it replied: "I want to have a body again." Gorr suggested they might somehow 'donate' to make it a brand-new body, and Lothos offered to trade his own body for the wizardly book's magical knowledge...

Treasure:

Ivory Y "crucifix"

2 bundles of scented purple wood

Broken quartz disc

Enemies Defeated:

4 shadowy dogfolk

1 shadowy satyr

TOTAL: 127 xp (21 each awarded)

Current experience totals 

Based on monster & misc XP from last few adventures, but not treasure.

Note - It is also worth mentioning that you can't go up 2 levels at a time - the most XP you can possibly gain is enough to be 1 xp short of gaining 2 levels. (Imagine a 1st-level fighter starts with 0 xp. If he were to retrieve a 10,000 sp diamond from a dragon's treasure hoard on his first adventure, he would end up with 4,064 xp - 1 point shy of 3rd level. The excess experience is wasted!) I mention this because you guys have a lot of treasure stashed that nobody has cashed in on yet, XP-wise. You aren't near this limit yet (that would be a huge sum) but it's something to keep in mind.

[If I don't have your character's age or any other vitals yet, please get this info to me!]

Session 3

THE EXCURSIONIST'S GUILD

13th-14th Meadowlark, 4433

Characters

Aladar IX, M-U 2 (Alex)
Eric Withakay, cleric 3 (Justin)
Lothos the Undesirable, elf 2 (Mike)
Robert the Swift, fighter 1 (Steve)
Suba-Jin, cleric 1 (John)

Morning at "The Sign of Olive & Lotus"

Aladar, Eric, Lothos, Meep & Tullius felt somewhat worse for wear after their night in the most upscale club in the Emerald City. Smeared with lipstick, smelling of expensive liquor & opium fumes, they tried to reconstruct their night:

-Eric recalled wandering drunkenly through Cliffside, where he was accosted by a guard patrol for "causing a disturbance." Only by paying a fairly substantial bribe of 275 silver did he avoid a trip to the drunk tank and perhaps an ass-beating from the irreligious guards.

-Tullius Junior was too hung over to go adventuring. Everyone remembered the shouting match he got into with another patron that night. The man had a Ming the Merciless-style moustache, purple robes, a tall conical hat and a Sactioning pin indicating he was a magic-user. The last thing he said was "You whey-faced, lily-livered cur! You haven't heard the last of Unazhon Conchobar!!!"

-Meep the dwarf woke up with soreness in his lower back. As it turned out, he had commissioned a tattoo while in his cups: great gothic block letters read "DWARVES SUXXX." Perhaps there was some hidden reason for this, relating to his departure from the ancestral dwarven under-realms? Time would tell. He was also too hungover to adventure.

A few other down-on-their-luck wastrels decided to come along with the group in search of action and treasure: Suba-Jin, a Tharbrian nomad dedicated to Hextor, spreading the gospel of discipline & violence amongst the horsemen of the steppes; and Robert the Swift, a dim-witted Legion veteran.

The group recalled hearing a strange rumour from another patron during their revelry:

“A printmaker named Ultan, while laying poison for rats in the basement of his shop in the Bazaar, has discovered a door that was not there before! He claims it leads to Wishery, the fabled land of dreams. Ultan charges 10 sp a head to pass through the door - no questions asked.”

Not interested in this tale at the time, they decided instead to pursue a rumour heard previously from a farmer about a mysterious building outside the Great Wall. Hitching up their wagon, they rode out of Viridistan with dry mouths and sore heads towards the Moon Gate.

Midway through the second day of travel, the gang passed through the imposing Great Wall of Viridistan, built by the ancients in days before men walked upright. Farmers, traders, slaves & other folk of all the world's races pass this gate in a never-ending procession to and from the Emerald City.

After asking for directions, a helpful (for once) guard directed the party westward along the edge of the Elsenwood. They proceeded along a clear path amongst well-manicured lawns until they came upon a bizarre, sprawling manor house nestled back near the woods. Four stories high, bristling with towers, angular with its steep shingled peaks, useless in Viridistan's balmy sub-tropical climate. It was built of dark stone and aged wood, trimmed in brass and wound with ivy. A carriage-house and old barn could be seen on the wide lawns in the background.


The Night Wolf Inn

The front porch looked inviting enough with rocking chairs and a large, sturdy iron-studded oak door. Aladar IX displayed an un-wizardlike boldness and ventured inside first.

The entryway was decorated in rich hardwoods (another strange thing in Viridistan, where most buildings are stone, brick or adobe) and washed in amber light from stained-glass windows. A macabre fresco covering the ceiling depicts a girl being devoured by a wolf, while a woman with a sword looks the other way. In the background, an older woman with a crown of roses walks down a path while dark clouds rain bones over the scene.

Behind a broad mahogany desk lounged a handsome middle-aged man with a glass of brandy. He introduced himself as James Everbleed, and offered to rent the group a room. Much discussion ensued. Several rooms were available, of which a few were mentioned by name. Forest of Dreams, Restful Seas, and The Stygian Library (James counselled against taking that one). They asked to see the Forest of Dreams.

They briefly balked at the prices - 40 silver per person, per night! But during their conversation, James mentioned that members of the "Excursionist's Guild" get discounts. Eager to save money, the group asked for more detail and decided to sign up, which James seemed quite happy about. They were nervous about his mention of 'guild quests' but his friendly & open manner reassured them somewhat. After paying an entry fee set by James which varied for each person, he got out his tattoo kit and inked a black wolf's head on the shoulder of each of them.

The other guests in the common room were a strange and diverse lot. Some Altanian warriors in traditional garb, a few sullen and strangely-dressed southern Ghinorans, a misshapen man in robes, and a bright red-skinned man in black armour with horns on his forehead! Apparently guild members themselves, they greeted the party's induction with a cheer and bought them a round of drinks.


Room I - The Forest of Dreams

Stepping through the door in the second floor hallway, the group found themselves in another world! Finely made furniture set up exactly as in an ordinary Inn bedroom stood in the deep shadows of giant trees that shifted at the edge of sight. The vast forest's floor was illuminated by multicoloured flowers that bled into the air like paint meeting turpentine, creating gaseous halos of colour. In every direction, the Forest of Dreams was thronged by fleeting shadows. A trail of golden lily bells led away from the furniture into the distance, and a giant tree, larger than all the rest, could be seen in another direction. Bewildered by this strange world, the group ventured away from the furniture in the direction of the massive tree.

Halfway there, Suba-Jin noticed a colourful sparkle in the shadows: three shimmering, multicoloured peacock feathers. Aladar had his dog "Mincemeat" sniff one and he led the group along a winding route through the forest towards the great tree.

The massive tree stretched hundreds of feet into the air. A whisper of wind surrounded it, resolving into intelligible words as the group drew closer - the tree could speak! It desired news of the outside world and friendly conversation, but the group was more interested in finding some loot. As it happened, the great tree recalled some 'two leggeds' had left a jingling bag in its branches some days ago, but warned about the prismatic peacocks roosting high in the tree which defend their territory viciously.

Aladar summoned his familiar Yegmoz to scout the tree and survey the wider region. It reported a sack left in the branches 100 feet above, and some large colourful birds roosting 50' above that.

Aladar, Suba-Jin and Eric dared to climb the tree to retrieve the loot, hoping to avoid the peacocks' notice. After a few tense moments they found a sack full of strange bluish-silver coins and a note:

"Anastasius:
Here is payment as agreed. Make it swift, for the Horned Empire does not smile upon failure. 

-Habakkuk"

With some loot and a cryptic clue for their troubles, the group made for the Inn furniture to plan their next move in this shadowy & ethereal world.


What Yegmoz Saw

When Aladar IX asked it to fly high and survey the forest. All 'clock' references are relative to the group's facing when they came through the Inn door.

-Line of twinkling golden lights leading from the room furniture to a wide grey body of water at 12:00
-Massive, round white structure of some kind at 9:00, surrounded by an area of darkness
-Great trees and shadows as far as it could see in any direction


Inn Exploration

Enemies Defeated:
none

Treasure:
220 blue-tinted silver coins, stamped with a symbol of flame & the words "Gordzu Kor"
3 chromatic peacock feathers

Session 2

LOVE, DEATH & SAFE-CRACKING IN TARGNOL

2nd-12th Meadowlark, 4433

Characters

Aladar IX, M-U 1 (Alex)
"Sir Karavon" aka Tullius Jr, fighter 1 (Jake)
Lothos the Undesirable, elf 1 (Mike)
Eric Withakay, cleric 1 (Justin)
Meep, dwarf 1 (Spencer)
Veigar Thricescarred, fighter 1 (Kevin)


Leaving Drydale

After their torchlight exhumation, the gang re-interred the corpse of James Blake with a mocking note, taunting whoever might come searching afterwards for his journal and The Great Devourer.

"Meet on the 10th of Blackmoon in Viridistan. Under the Grand Red Statue, look for the man with twelve lit candles."

After recollecting their previous adventures, they decided to follow up a lead at the port of Targnol a few days travel away:

"The rich merchant Philotheos Sten hasn't been around lately. His large estate lies on the edge of town, and nobody has been seen coming or going for several days. Some fear the worst while others remark on the man's riches, accumulated through a lifetime of trading. A few thugs are going to case his place soon. You might be able to beat them to it and see what kind of loot is lying around!"

The port of Targnol was a sprawling mess of crumbling wooden buildings packed with Imperial sailors on leave, dockworkers, merchants, thieves and cutthroats. Notable buildings included a grand temple to Thoth and a mysterious black pyramid containing a sleeping sorceress within a glass coffin. The town offers a standing reward for anyone who can reawaken this mysterious ebony-skinned woman.

Not having an interest in that, the gang met with a local contact of Two-Faced Humphrey's (he had business back in Viridisan, and couldn't accompany them). The man was a sullen and scarred Viridian named Komang. He gave them some basics, and a few trips around town asking questions filled in the blanks:

- Philotheos and his family hadn't been seen in two weeks, but there had been no surge of activity suggesting they were moving house or taking an extended vacation. The current theory was sudden illness or foul play of some kind.
- Old Graham's Gang, a strange and mysterious crew of all-child thieves from Viridistan about whom rumours have swirled for years, were casing the place. They planned to raid it for valuables the next night. Komang offered to put the party in touch with them, but this offer declined.
- Philotheos kept no personal guards, for he lived on the edge of town in a rich area patrolled by (notoriously lazy) Imperial troops.

The party pooled their money and bought a wagon and two horses. On the way up to Philotheos' mansion, Eric and "Sir Karavon" drove while the rest hid under some straw in the back, hoping the "knight" and priest would discourage prying eyes or nosy guardsmen.

As night drew down they pulled into the driveway and approached the great mansion. Disdaining to explore the large grounds, "Sir Karavon" knocked on the door and getting no response, opened it. A distant weeping could be heard, but no foes presented themselves.


Charnel Mansion

The party entered the lightless home and progressed through a set of double-doors into a large parlor and dining-room. The place was trashed. Plates and vessels broken, splashes of blood everywhere, and the source of the weeping: a young Viridian girl strung up to the chandelier, her innards hanging out in a bloody mess!

In terrible shape as she was, the girl regained some lucidity after being released from the chandelier. She told them her name was Ariel, and related a strange story:

“One night after dinner, Father told everyone that he had a very special present for Mother. It was a very pretty necklace! But then a big monster and two smaller monsters came out of the necklace! And the big monster told the smaller monsters to get the lovers, and they jumped on Father and Nanny Alba! Then Mother and Grandma started yelling at Father, and everyone ran away! Then Grandma came to get me... and now I’m here.”

The child's injuries were quite severe and the party wasn't sure if they could help her. In the meantime, they explored the dining room and parlour, spotting an oil painting of a newlywed couple with a copper nameplate that read:

Philotheos Sten and Domitilla Sten. Married Sunstrong 17, 4423

Mounted on the wall above the painting were two fine-looking crossed falcatas that looked functional enough. The group took all these items and left Ariel for the moment to continue exploring.

The two other rooms on the main floor turned out to be Philotheos' office and a conservatory. The centrepiece in the conservatory was a grand harp, and three statuettes of dark blue & yellow marble rested on the mantelpiece: a dragon, eagle and nymph. The group took all of these and loaded them into their cart.

In Philotheos' office, Lothos rifled the great oak desk and found stacks of business papers - deeds, shipping manifests, etc. He pocketed a stack to peruse later, along with a fine stiletto in one of the drawers. The group was drawn to the large, shining silvery cube in the back corner which turned out to be an advanced combination safe! Three number-wheels ranged from 1 to 20. After giving it some thought, they fetched the painting of the Stens' wedding-day from their wagon. Guessing that 17 and 8 were important (Sunstrong is the 8th month of the year), they tried a few combinations until hitting upon 17 - 8 - 1. The shining door swung open and revealed Philotheos' hidden fortune!

It was at this time that Lothos thought to consult the mysterious ancient tome in Eric's possession. Pricking his finger, he wrote on the pages in blood, describing the party's situation and what they knew. Oddly, the book had a ready answer! This disaster was likely caused by the gift Philotheos gave his wife. The book identified it as The Necklace of the Sleepless Queen. It was created long ago by someone called the Dead King, to destroy all love in the world.

Perturbed by this news and not wanting to meet Ariel's sadistic grandmother or the "monsters" spawned by the necklace, the party elected to start the mansion ablaze and retreat safely with their wealth. Aladar IX used his Unseen Servant to carry a torch around inside the house while the others barred the door to prevent any aberrations from escaping. They waited until flames were visible from outside, then rode out of Targnol full-tilt, their wagon full of loot.

Return To the Immortal City

On the road home, Lothos consulted the strange blood-drinking tome again, learning its name: Pheldrazash. It claimed to know many other secrets, and was willing to teach him and Aladar IX a spell that would expand their knowledge for free: Call to Familiar Spirit.

Two days' travel from Viridistan, the party approached the Great Wall: a colossal structure a quarter-mile high and 200 feet thick, built by the ancients in the dawning days of the world for reasons unknown to men. Approaching the eastern entrance, called the Moon Gate, they met a farmer on the road who told them a strange tale:

[EDIT - Sorry, I got mixed up here. I had written Sun Gate before, but Targnol is east of Viridistan so the party actually passed through the Moon Gate.]

"Not too far from here, a brand-new building has sprung up overnight! It's a great structure in a bizarre foreign style, red stone and dark wood with a peaked black roof and pointed square towers, set back from the road on the edge of the Elsenwood. Travellers say it simply appeared one day with no signs of construction, no work crews, and certainly no negotiations with the elves who make the woods dangerous for honest Imperial folk!"

After hearing that rumour, the gang pressed on towards the City of Spices, glad to be home after their bizarre and harrowing journeys. To move their ill-gotten loot, Lothos travelled to the Otherside district where many of his elven kinfolk live in ghettos, segregated from the larger city. His cousin Darius said he "knew a guy," and a meeting could be arranged at the Plaza of Dark Delights that night. The sullen, cloaked Viridian who met Darius & the party was eager to buy most of their loot - his eyes lit up with greed at the sight of the gold trade bars. He wasn't especially interested in the painting, but kicked in a bit of silver for it as part of the whole deal.

Thousands of silver richer than they had ever been before, the party cast about for something to spend their money on. Someone had heard of a pleasure palace for the rich in the exclusive Cliffside district, called The Sign of Olive & Lotus. Anything could be had there for the right price: fine liquor, exotic foods, high-stakes games of chance, tantalizing companions and strange drugs.

Once again installing "Sir Karavon" in the front of their humble wagon, the group rode up the gates of Cliffside, waving their stolen deeds in the guards' faces. Suitably cowed by the presence of a knight who owned such property, they opened the gates. Following the main Cliffsedge Road, the party espied a beacon in the night. A lone tout, signalling late-night revellers down to his place of business, which turned out to be the very establishment they sought!

The Sign of Olive & Lotus was built right into the side of the cliffs, accessible only by narrow, ancient stair carved into the living rock. The view of Trident Gulf during the day is said to be unparalleled. Checking in cost a princely sum of 200 silvers per person per night, for the cheapest suites and a berth for the horses and wagon! The group was led through sparkling marble hallways by a mute eunuch wearing only a sash of gold lamé. Over carpets made from the skins of striped tigers and snow-white northern wolves, past doorways trimmed in gold leaf with smiling silk-clad houris the party reached their rooms.

With a bit of privacy for the first time in a while, Lothos and Aladar IX ignited the special incenses and herbs they had previously brought and each cast the spell that would summon a spiritual helper to their side: Call to Familiar Spirit.

This done, the gang prepared to party as only those in the Immortal City can...

Enemies Defeated: 

none

Treasure:

3 blue & yellow marble statues
1900 copper coins

633 silver coins

10 gold trade bars

a mound of gold & silver jewellery - necklaces, rings, bracelets, etc

portrait of Philotheos and Domitilla Sten, in frame

Ornate grand harp (planned to sell later)
fine stiletto (Lothos)
2 decorative falcatas (Lothos and Meep)
stack of Philotheos' documents, deeds, etc (Lothos)

Total: 
2295 silver pieces

2295 experience

Carousing:
Lothos - 1500 xp
Eric - 400 xp
Tullius Jr. - 1300 xp
Aladar IX - 400 xp
Meep - 200 xp

TOTAL EXPERIENCE:

Lothos - 3795 xp
Eric - 2695 xp
Tullius Jr. - 3595 xp
Aladar IX - 2695 xp
Meep - 2495 xp
Viegar - 2295 xp

Session 1

NO SALVATION FOR WITCHES

1st Meadowlark, 4433

Characters

Aladar IX, half-elf magic-user 1 (Alex)

Tullius Jr, human fighter 1 (Jake)

Lothos the Undesirable, elf 1 (Mike)

Eric Withakay, human cleric 1 (Foulds)

Avala, human elementalist 1 (Brielle)

Two-Faced Humphrey, human spy 1 (Tim)

Funeral For a Friend

The characters met at the funeral of James Blake, an old army buddy who died under mysterious circumstances. They assembled to pay their respects on the way to Drydale Priory where longstanding rumours suggested heretical activities and/or valuable treasure.

A neighbouring farmer was the only other attendee. He was confused that Bishop Gray hadn't sent at least a junior priest to officiate and worried about Blake's missing 11-year old daughter Deotina. He also mentioned a group of tax collectors had been asking questions, and asked the group to find out anything they could. A search of Blake's home turned up little except his old Legion gear and a scrap of paper torn from his diary about the taxmen. There were signs someone had packed and left in a hurry.

At the caravanserai, the party found human bodies everywhere killed and mutilated in the most horrible ways. The only two people left alive were a terrified, useless traveler named Arrerand and the concussed woman Naniela, who was beyond his power to help. She mumbled and raved about "red lights in the sky... the dancing woman with skin of diamonds" and clutched her bleeding head wound. Eric healed her injury and she became more lucid. The two helpless travelers were interrogated about the tax collectors and recent events but didn't know much. The party sent them on their way.

The priory itself was unreachable, covered by an impassable dome of lambent red light. Leaving it for the moment, the group proceeded to Drydale for clues and found the citizens in the middle of a witch trial! Leading the event was a thin, intense man named Kynnakon. Four women had already been killed and a fifth cried upon the scaffold, pleading for mercy. At the back of the village, a strange glow similar to the red dome could be seen.

Thinking quickly, Eric stepped in and engaged the man in a discussion about witches and their verification. As a man of the cloth his words carried weight on these matters and he convinced the crowd to disperse. Without his mob, Kynnakon was less confident. He released the "witch" Mertysa to the party's care and told them a strange story: six women had passed through towards the priory a few days ago armed and armoured, dressed in strange clothes. Since then all their livestock had died and they blamed witchcraft.

Lothos circled around the village to investigate the red glow. A small red sphere floated at head height, softly glowing. While the townsfolk were distracted he took it in his cloak and rejoined the group, who departed before the crowd's temper could change again. Returning to the priory, the small red sphere crumbled into dust, sympathetically bringing down the giant glowing dome and allowing entry. Unluckily for the elf, the sphere destroyed a few of his possessions as it vanished from the world - including his spellbook!

Inside The Priory

The party entered the grounds, avoiding the church for now. Searching the outbuildings revealed a succession of horrors - women giving birth to mutated children, a man and woman fused together while still alive and a puddle of fast-moving scarlet bile.

Outside the baths, they were greeted by an imposing figure - Sir Karavon, a knight in gleaming white plate mail. He demanded to know their business and claimed to serve the cause of Mistress Orelia. After all his tough talk, battle was inevitable. Lothos sustained a terrible blow from Karavon's greatsword but the group felled him together and stripped the body.

The group had had enough of these horrors. They barricaded the infirmary full of aberrant children and set the roof on fire. While they were debating their next move, Kynnakon arrived on the scene leading a small torch-and-pitchfork mob. The group took up ambush positions, Tullius Jr slipped inside incognito as Sir Karavon while Eric addressed the mob, whipping them into a witch-hunting frenzy.

Inside the church was a whirl of activity: dozens of peasant women dancing in a mad frenzy guarded by five heavily armed foreign women, overseen by two robed & hooded men and an ice-pale Avalonian sorceress in a red sash. Orelia called out to "Sir Karavon," asking the knight for a report. Tullius Jr indicated the angry mob outside and mobilized the warrior-women to battle, remaining indoors at Orelia's side in case of emergency.

Battle was joined in front of the church! The Five Bishops (as they called themselves) guarded the door in a wedge formation, bravely meeting the mob's charge. What they weren't prepared for was the party's vicious ambush: Humphrey ran up behind one for a backstab while Aladar and Lothos peppered them from a safe distance. The Bishops couldn't withstand this assault for long and began a fighting retreat into the church. This turned out to be a mistake, as the mob charged in and held the door open! Things began to happen very quickly. Tullius Jr showed his true colours when he struck Orelia by surprise with his greatsword, nearly killing her in one strike. Retaliation with her magic wand did not have its intended effect. Two-Faced Humphrey ran around to the back and climbed up to a window for a surprise attack. Eric began smashing windows which allowed Lothos, Aladar and Avala to take up firing positions.

In a deft use of magic, Aladar used his Unseen Servant to snatch Orelia's magic wand right from her hand before she could use it again. Tullius' greatsword finished her off after that. With magical support from Avala's earth elementine, a diving attack by Humphrey and a magical grasping fist from Aladar, the two robed figures were destroyed and revealed to be only the flayed skins of men animated by Orelia's witchcraft.

With all opponents defeated, the mob began dragging the dancers off the platform and the party felt the beginnings of a tremor run through the building. Thinking quickly they fled the scene just in time for the church to come crashing down in a blaze of light and magic, killing or wounding all inside! The rubble began to burn, but Eric and Humphrey dragged over a tub of water from the baths, buying everyone time to sift the wreckage, rescue a few townsfolk and recover some valuables and the mysterious book they originally sought.

Exhumation

The smoky priory grounds were visited by a new group - the much-talked-about tax collectors! Their leader was a turbaned Viridian named Irmugar, sent by the Padishah to investigate rumours that Blake had stolen or unreported wealth. They seemed not to know he was dead. The party convinced the taxmen to take the peasant survivors back to Drydale - Irmugar indicated Tullius Jr and agreed the situation was well in hand with a "Knight of the Cockatrice" present. But something else he said got the group thinking...

The adventure ended where it began with the party exhuming James Blake by torchlight. Inside his coffin with his body was a locked oak box. Prying it open revealed a battered knife in an old scabbard, a locket containing a single golden hair, Blake's diary and a strange leatherbound book called The Great Devourer.

Eric meanwhile was perusing the blackened tome he had found in the rubble and touched its faded pages with his bloodstained hands. They blossomed into fresh crimson runes and symbols, while words formed in Imperial: "Greetings. Whom do I have the pleasure of addressing?"

ENEMIES DEFEATED

Charles & Gwendolin
scarlet bile
Sir Karavon
"The Five Bishops"
Orelia
2 animated skin guardians

TREASURE

Sir Karavon's white plate mail & greatsword (Tullius Jr.)

Assorted armour, weapons and ammunition from the Bishops (various)

Orelia's ivory-tipped magic wand (Aladar IX) and red sash (Tullius Jr.)

A mysterious blackened tome (Eric)

Blake's diary (Aladar IX)

The Great Devourer (Lothos)

Locket with a golden hair (Eric)

Silver drinking horn, carved with runes and studded with garnets, slightly scuffed (640 sp)

A silver-gilt radiated brooch ringed with amethysts (1200 sp)

Solid-gold decorative phallus (800 sp)

Treasure value: 2640 sp

Each character gets 440 sp and 490 xp