With the portal below the tower closed and danger at least temporarily averted, Creel advised the party that he had sent messages out to his fellow 8 wizards (of ‘The Nine’) asking for assistance. While the party bivouacked at the tower, some of this aid arrived.
Shane Hillbarrow arrived from Markheim with several of the Castellan, Harald Marksgaard’s soldiers, courtesy of Aesil. Hillbarrow, a ’little person’, was a wizard, Aesil’s apprentice, and apparantly messenger boy, and had been sent along by that fire-scarred wizard to hurry us along and get us back to her tower while the Markheim soldiers helped secure the tower. Hillbarrow communicated Aesil’s impatience for the party’s return. Creel told him what to go do with himself, telling the midget that he (Creel) needed us to help with the cleanup effort, first. Chagrined, Aesil’s messenger left the tower and returned to Markheim, leaving Harald’s soldiers behind.
Some of the party accompanied Creel outside to walk the grounds. Creel went to a shed and released what appeared to be a team of undead (along with a fetid smell of rotting flesh), dressed like workmen, and directed them to begin digging graves for the actual dead household staff. They did so. Kyril tended to the horses outside.
Menka made his way to the servants’ quarters below the tower to formally Cleanse himself and to pray.
Creel asked if Kyril could check the area surrounding the tower for any danger or any lingering Deep One creatures. The druid cast Commune with Nature and became one with nature for a radius of about 5 miles around the tower. He noted that some unnatural presence or force still hung over the surrounding area. He also saw the Abigail’s hearse had been abandoned south of the tower along the river, and that strange creatures had entered the river and were swimming south at speed.
Soldiers Arriving#
Cathal and Kyril hung out upstairs, receiving visitors with Creel. A short while later, a laughing and amused Cathal went down to the servants’ quarters to fetch Menka, telling the priest he really needed to meet a new arrival. Following the knight upstairs he was introduced to the party sent north to aid Creel from Thoth-Azuul, all Menka’s people. 5 southern warriors stood in the room, their white raiment and kopesh swords standing out among the rest of the people present. They were accompanied by a young academic from Thoth-Azuul’s Tower of Magic named Hakeem. This academic was young, foolish, haughty and dismissive of the northerners present, especially the Hibernian knight.
Menka exchange formalities with Hakeem in Stygian common, introducing himself and the rest of the party present in that language. He asked after Ruatha and Thoth-Azuul and also informed Hakeemn that Cathal was a member of northern nobility and a knight of some reknown and that Hakeem would do well to avoid his wrath. Taken aback, Hakeem apologized to Menka and laughed nervously, Menka telling the academic it had taken a while for him to adjust to the northerners as well.
Menka and Hakeem switched back to the northern common tongue and in halting syllables, Hakeem apologized to Cathal, begged his forgiveness and re-introduced himself. The knight laughed it off and told the academic all was well and to forget about it. Menka mentioned to Hakeem that he’d like to chat for a bit once the academic had refreshed himself upstairs in Creel’s tower.
The soldiers from Markheim mixed with their southern counterparts and began chatting, examining each other’s weapons and armor. Creel spoke with them all, and began to usher them out of the tower to put them to work. Menka cast a Blessing on them all, just in case they should encounter any Deep Ones or other enemies. The southern warriors accepted this familiar blessing, while the Markheim soldiers were unsure what to make of it. Cathal told them “you’ll be fine”. Creel and the soldiers then left the tower to alk the grounds and distribute assignments.
Bored to tears, Gonchar headed to the well-stocked wine cellar for some refreshments.
An hour later several of us reconvened with Creel in his smoking room. The wizard provided brandy and offered us (the party) the chance to stay on at his tower semi-permanently to help him rebuild and secure the local area. He promised to pay us well for our time and to make it worth our while. We informed him that, alas, we have prior commitments, including adventures in the burning sands to the south and in the seas to the far east. We did offer hang around while the rest of his assistance from the other wizards arrived.
He understood, poured out more brandy and spoke of Ruatha and Thoth-Azuul. He and Menka gave the party some details on what to expect when we arrived in the town far to the south.
Ruatha, and Thoth-Azuul#
The town of Ruatha was split into 2 sharply divided regions, due to an ancient enmity as a result of equally ancient wars [See 12.3, Southern Lore, *An Acolyte In Ruatha*] . The town was split into upper and lower sections. The lower town was a wooden city with a few stone structures, while the upper town was a walled fortress. Menka had spent a mandatory year in the lower Ruatha learning at a Temple of Thoth there, praying and proselytizing to the people of his faith in the lower town of Ruatha. Menka and his Stygian folk are not allowed in the upper city, due to those ancient, lingering enmities. The Tower of Thoth-Azuul, as well as the Temple to Thoth, are located in the lower town. After teleporting to the tower of Thoth-Azuul, Menka suggests the party head directly to the Temple to gather some information about the town. Creel stated clearly that Thoth-Azuul will extract his pound of flesh for any assistance he gives us, though we may have information he finds valuable and may be able to barter.
The walled fortress in the upper town is closed to Menka but freely accessible to the rest of the party. Those who would attack ogres and giants on sight should probably not enter, however. Also, Creel noted that plate mail is NOT allowed in the upper town, though travelers may keep their weapons.
The party will need to ask around Ruatha, perhaps among hunters and/or fisher folk, discreetly looking for a way to cross the Mountains of Qeb. Possibly via the Great Source river and the Underdark, or possibly via an unmarked pass through the mountains. Menka knows only very, very roughly where Ande’ril will rise, and we will need help with this as well. Possibly Mulai the Secretkeeper, who sought forbidden knowledge, or Father Arrot-Amon, both at the Temple of Thoth, can provide some information.
Wicker Baskets of Whiskey#
It was late in the day and Creel excused himself, leaving the brandy behind, telling us he would prepare the promised Recharge spell for the next day. The party retired for the evening as well. Early the next day, the party regrouped in Creel’s smoking room. Creel gave the Recharge spell to Lycovyne on a scroll. He also told the party it would take him a day to prepare the spell(s) for the teleportation mirror.
Another of the 9 had arrived, one Seamus MacGowan from the Hibernian realms. While Cathal and Seamus did not know him personally, they had certainly heard of him. Bedraggled and thoroughly hammered, Seamus sang some garbled songs and gave his compliments to Creel’s departed wife, comparing her to Brigit, the Celtic goddess of fire and poetry. He carried with him a wicker basket which turned out to be a magic device, capable of providing any food or drink we could ask for. Menka asked for a received some date wine, which he had not had sense adventuring north of his homelands. Seamus informed Creel he was leaving the basket in the tower to feed the wizard and what was left of his staff while he rebuilt. Seamus then roared off into several mixed up verses from the Pogues catalog and fell into a stupor for a bit. Creel looked on with a half smile.
Menka and Kyril wandered outside for some fresh air and the priest spoke with two of the soldiers from Markheim: Seargent Ragnar and Flaky, a footman, inquiring about the state of that fine keep and village. Apparently Chardas had been successful in locating Arndt but, alas, the ranger was dead. Chardas had returned to Markheim with Arndt’s body and well-loved as he was, the whole village was in mourning. The soldiers were forced to leave the keep before Arndt’s funerary services - perhaps the party would make it there in time.
Kyril also spoke with Rollo and Ubie from the Markheim crew. They asked him to look out for any Deep Ones and alert the soldiers to their presence. All the soldiers from Markheim wanted to avenge the death of Arndt; their swords thirsted for fish-man blood. The druid headed off to the woods to enjoy the greenery and scenery, rather than stay inside.
Thus ended day 3 of relative peace. The next day, Creel informed us that he was ready to teleport us to Aesil’s tower at our convenience. Gonchar looked forward to finally picking up his white dragon scale armor (see 4.3.3). We noted that the only gold piece outlay which would be required for leveling up would be for Kyril, and we reckoned we had the funds in petty cash to cover it (11,000 gp).
Taking Our Leave#
Creel had communicated with Aesil, and all was prepared. We followed Creel up several flights of stairs to a large, sparsely furnished room at the top. At the entry to each floor at the top of the stairs, Creel’s golems (shaped as Anubis) turned toward us and then turned away following a muttered command from Creel. Creel brough the party to a large room at the top of the tower.
The room contained a large table with lit candles which seemed to be made of blue crystal. Small blocks shaped like carvings of animals sat in a box on the table. We said our goodbyes and Creel re-stated his hope and request that we would return and stay a while. He then placed carved animal blocks into a receptacle in front of a large mirror in a specific order and layout, and suddenly we could see in the mirror not ourselves, but Aesil’s similarly large room on the other side. We could see Aesil swaying with anticipation of our return. Gonchar farted loudly.
Cathal reminded Creel that Tim would be returning through this same teleportation path to carry a message to their peers far to the east. Creel looked at Aesil, she nodded and then he agreed.
We stepped through the mirror and into Aesil’s tower.
The room contained 2 stout clay golems, but the the Egyptian motif we saw in Creel’s tower was absent. Shane and a very anxious Aesil greeted us. Our poppinjay of a paladin complained to her about Shane’s poor manners. Aesil frowned at the midget and made her apologies. Cathal then handed the large, blue diamond over to her.
Her eyes lit up as she held and beheld the gem. Once again, she agreed to send Tim back to Creel’s tower when he was ready, though she warned that Lord MacGowan “may or may not” be present to receive him. We agreed to contact her within 2 weeks when we had a better timeline for teleportation.
We made our way down to the ground floor and out through the front gate. 2 men on horseback holding 8 horses greeted us. Chardas and Agnar, Harrald’s captain of the guard. Agnar bid us follow him to the keep in Markheim for a feast and we agreed, heartily. The ride was but 2 miles and as we rode Chardas filled us in about Arndt. See Harald’s Feast, following.
We arrived in Markheim without incident and Chardas and Arndt shook our hands and returned to their duties, saying they’d see us at the feast the next day. Aesil’s men-at-arms (at Creel’s tower) had told Cathal a priest of his faith was pinting up at the Bottomless Keg. Apparently the same priest the knight had met at the Hall of Seven Pillars, previously.
We planned to convene at the Traveler’s Rest later this evening. It was a mere sliver, waxing crescent (lunar schedule image under construction). Tim retired to the Traveler’s Rest to get ready for Lycovyne’s training and all the identification work. Flint handed his Periapt of Healing to Cathal and asked him to try and get it recharged.
Brendan O’Bain#
Two Irishmen are hammering down floorboards in a house.
John Francis picked up a nail, realized it was upside down and threw it away.
He carried on doing this until Frankie Reilly said ``why are you throwing them away?''
``Because they’re upside down!’’ said John Francis.
Ya daft twat'' replied Frankie Reilly, save ’em for the ceiling.''
Cathal, Seamus, Lycovyne and the dwarves headed to the Bottomless Keg to meet with Brendan O’Bain, a paladin of Cathal’s faith, who Cathal was told was in Markheim, seeking the knight and staying at Thursson’s Traveler’s Rest. They found Brendan, accompanied by two men-at arms and assistants, Jamie Fearnley and Phillip O’Chevron. Brendan had been sent by Phaledra, of the Temple of Hidden Light in the Seven-Pillared Hall.
When he joined the group, Seamus was seeking Bretha Dein Cecht (Dii-an Kite), a book of healing by a mystical healer of Hibernia. Seamus had been told by the Abbott of his Abbey, Brother Reiuri O’Gallagher, that this sacred book of healing had been stolen from the sacred library in the Abbey and was last seen in the hall of Seven Pillars, but had long since disappeared.
Brendan said that Phaledra had been told that Karamel McCullough, a legendary paladin of your sect, had traveled far to the south and received knowledge that the Bretha Dein Cecht was stolen by an adherent of elder gods, who sought to trade the book’s knowledge for knowledge of older, more forbidden things, and the holy book of healing has been located in the far south, in an ancient temple to Thoth which had sunk beneath the sands of the desert. This sacred tome is stored in a library there, possibly related to a bargain struck between the individual who stole the book, and the god Thoth and/or one of his servants, who knowledge was sought from. Cathal made a mental note to speak with Menka about this library.
Also, he knows Karamel, or rather knew her. She was a paladin who preceded him in his order, and was known for fighting with dual daggers, and wearing bracers instead of armor - it is said that she loathed the restrictions of armor. Cathal fought against the giants in groups of warriors of which she was a part, and she was determined, and slightly aloof, but a deadly fighter against the cruel and violent, and devoted to the cause.
In any event, Brendan told Cathal that many months ago, Karamel McCollough wrote to the church of Dianechet, and stated that she would go beneath the sands to seek the book and return to it. She has not been heard from since. The Church of Dianechet in The Boyne of Hibernia is concerned for her - and the book - and Brendan says he was told to ask Cathal if he could assist.
Brendan told Cathal that he and Jamie and Phillip have another task to accomplish north of Markheim, and will accompany the caravan they traveled in with, north. As such, they will not be returning directly to the Hall, although he says that before they depart they are happy to counsel Cathal on the route to the Hall.
The Wild Goose#
Kyril and Menka took a walk and visited an old associate at the Wild Goose. That excellent messeger the smoke mephit was present and as profane as ever. The drinks were excellent, though.
We received some information about the status quo far to the south. It would seem that the party is utterly hated by Set. Not that we’ve ever gotten along in the first place, mind. Suggestions were made about securing some support from other powerful factions in the region.
``Good father Menka - High priest of Thoth whose knowledge of ALL things eclipses all others! Kyril, Initiate of the 8th Circle!
Come! Have a drink! You deserve as much after sealing the gate in the Eventide Valley! That place is already befouled by the stench of the old ones and their cultists, but sealing the gate to R’lyeh (``Rill-yay’’) and freeing the mind of the necromancer will bolster our defenses against their power returning to a level in the wild north which cannot be controlled. And sending the Twice-Crowned to his final rest (he raises his glass and smiles, showing sharp teeth) - this eliminates another MAJOR asset. Indeed, I SALUTE you, and I truly hope deeply that what you found therein will recompense you for the pain and difficulty of YOUR travails. It worries me that I have lost track of that difficult blood-drinking priestess, oh she can be a challenge, but I expect she will turn up eventually. Or hopefully not, as it may be.
A little bird - or perhaps a not quite so small a bird - has been heard to say that you, my erstwhile southern priest, will be returning with your comrades to the southlands from whence you hail.
I have called you here to give my strongest encouragement that your travels to the Ruins of the sand-swept, once-glorious metropolis of Andi’ril are safe and successful, and that the gate which has opened thereunder, beneath the temple to Thoth, and even below the hall of the Gods of your land, can be closed successfully and with the haste necessary to do so before that temple sinks below the sands again.
I seek to remind you, good travelers, that you remain VERY unpopular with the Power known as Set, Lord of Evil, Lord of Carrion, Defiler of the Dead, King of Malice, Father of Jackals, Brother of Serpents, Outcast of the Gods, God of Darkness and God of Desert Storms. HE, I am afraid, does not like you or your comrades and I MUST warn you that the closer you go to Stygios, the land where his sect has GREAT power, the more dire danger YOU are in.
As you are aware FATHER Menka, that group of powers can be very territorial, vengeful and petty, and I would not expect that when - for it is a question of not IF, but WHEN - Set becomes aware that you have veritably walked into the serpent’s den, that he will not hesitate to send his minions to make your goals much harder to achieve.
YOU, I must say, need the help of other powers of that region. With ALL due respect to the all-knowing Thoth, he tends to be very bookish and less inclined to involve himself in conflicts with other powers. But I recommend you ingratiate yourselves with the other powers, so that perhaps you may have a bulwark against Set, when he becomes aware you have appeared in the southern lands.
The Ruins of Andi’ril are dangerous, oh INDEED they can be dangerous, especially the Hall of the Gods far beneath the temple, which you must traverse to reach the grotto where the chime sounds and where the clear, cold natural springs which still flow there, far beneath the earth, have become befouled by what the chime summons.
In the Hall of Gods you must tread carefully, for the Gods there can send servants - and even, if their interest is piqued, avatars to greet interlopers. I would suggest that before you enter the temple at Andi’ril, you act to ingratiate yourselves with Osirus, and with Ra.
To that end, in the mountains south of Ruatha, in the highlands above the village of Mitra’s Fist, is a Temple, once devoted to Ra, which has become accursed by Set. The followers of Ra have been driven from Mitra’s Fist and the temple, but to re-take the temple for Ra would surely cause that power to become more sympathetic to your presence in the Hall of the Gods.
Also south and east of Ruatha, carved into the cliffs of Sirona, overlooking the Valley of Tombs, is a forsaken burial vault, once used by Ruatha for its residents, long forsaken. It is said that Osiris, who your folk worship as the god of nature and the dead, Menka, is displeased that these tombs, and the dead therein, have been defiled by the necromantic Cult of Xirarix (Zee-roar-ix) and in some cases are under the sway of undead most unnatural.
In particular, Valeria, a mighty Paladin devoted to Osiris, fell from grace when her heart was broken by her unfaithful lover, whom she slew, and ended her own life. Sadly, necromantic activities IN the burial vaults have caused her remains to be turned to evil. Osirus, I am certain, would be very pleased to have his lady knight restored, and saved from her murderous undeath.
Again, I can ONLY surmise that doing such service to Osirus and freeing these burial vaults of unnatural undeath would be viewed as a GREAT service to that power. Further, buried in those vaults is the Hammer of the Mongoose, said to possess special powers against snakes, and in particular the servants of Set.''
It was suggested in the strongest possible terms that we seek to ingratiate ourselves to the other powers in the area, namely Osiris and Ra. Both would make very strong allies and could possibly provide us with a bulwark of sorts as we attend to the Temple of Thoth.
Two smaller temples should be cleared first, if at all possible. One temple to Ra, which has been defiled and befouled by Set himself. The other a temple to Osiris, whose favorite knight has been slain and raised from the dead. Further, buried in the vaults (which now fill the temple of Osiris) somewhere is the Hammer of the Mongoose, said to possess special powers against snakes, and in particular against the servants of Set.
Auntie T. Drops By#
On his way out of town Kyril encountered Auntie T. She told Kyril that Bran mac Thorn had asked after him. She stated that Bran, as always, was busy communing with the trees and the root systems and only occasionally returned to human form and spoke as a man, but on one of those occasions advised that he thought the elf-druid named Kyril may have been correct about the unnatural cold that gripped the region, and wanted to confirm whether Kyril and his companions may have caused the unnatural cold to cease. Bran mac Thorn also indicated he wanted to discuss another matter with Kyril.
Harald’s Feast#
As the party left Aesil’s tower, you are met by two riders, one of whom is Harald’s Captain of the Guard, Agnar, to them. With him was Chardas, the ranger. Agnar told us that Harald welcomes us back to Markheim, and that he would like to host us for a feast, and that we should send word to the keep when we can be available.
Chardas told them - with sadness - that he had found Arndt, the Sergeant of the Guard, who was Harald’s ranger, dead on the northern edges of the swamp, slain, he thinks, by the fish-men. He had brought his body immediately back to Markheim. Harald’s daughter, Lagartha, is inconsolable.
After our various errands during the day, we dined with Harald He and his wife Lady Maeve greeted us warmly, sadly explaining that their daughter, Lagartha, was in grieving and unavailable. Agnar was present, also Floy-Leaf, an Elf, Harald’s advisor; Bjorn Rannsson, Curate of Odin, Harald’s spiritual advisor; and Ninax, the watchman of the waters.
Harald asked the party what had occurred with the Twice-Crowned King, and the status of the lands south of Markheim. We filled him in on the destruction of both crowns, and the state of Creel’s tower and the surrounding area.
Harald informed us that he had received word that the Lord Jarl of Cragenheim (#18 on the worldmap) takes the growing power of the Bone Tusk very seriously, and the eastern reaches of the Empire of the Great Jarl are heavily fortified and in a constant state of skirmishing with orcish raiders.
Those in the know say that it is not a case of if, but when a war is coming, and they wonder whether it will begin with orcish legions sweeping out from the mountains of the east, or whether Cragenheim will marshal a horde of Northmen to break the growing power of the Bone Tusk.
“I have received word that some of my men may be called to travel far to the east to join the Lord Jarl’s troops to engage the Bone Tusk." He asked the party if they may be available to return to Markheim, and be available to engage whatever becomes aware of Markheim’s depleted forces, and seeks to take advantage thereof." Menka asked Harald if he could discuss the topic the following day, and before the cleric traveled to the Hall.
Short Term Plans#
Having feasted and rested, the following plans were agreed upon.
Kyril: changing shape and traveling to the grove of Bran Mac Morn. Kyril offered some vellum to Lycovyne in case the elf got a chance to write some scrolls. Menka suggested Kyril keep his and offered Lycovyne 2 sheets instead, leaving 2 for himself. The cleric hopes to get some supplies while at the Hall.
Cathal, Menka, Seamus: Traveling to the Hall of Seven Pillars. Cathal to visit a priestess of his church and have is new rank and honorific formally sanctified. Seamus to visit that same church. Menka to drop in on Father Azoth and, if possible, write a few scrolls.
Lycovyne, Tim: Cooling their heels in Markheim. Lycovyne will level-up and then the two will kick off the Identify parade.
Gonchar, Flint: Also cooling their heels in Markheim. Gonchar plans to ride among the Markheim patrols and seek out giants and other enemies to dispatch, while Flint hangs with his crew at the Diamond Spider Inn.
Shopping in Markheim#
Menka and Seamus visited several places in Markheim in their spare time. The two visited Brewmar’s Workshop to see what was in stock. A gruff dwarven armorer was behind the desk. For his size, he was also a giant asshole and had nothing of value to offer.
We then visited Bronn Arvo’s Armory, where Gonchar had financed his white dragon scale armor (which he would pick up later). The nice woman working the front of the store showed us around and answered questions. Bronn’s wife, apparently. There was a gorgeous and highly ornate (and also very expensive: 8,500 gp) set of full plate in the window. The helmet was visored and shaped like a bear’s head, and the entire body was covered in gemstones. It had been created for one Sedrick Bearkin, who was slain in battle before he could pick it up.
Menka was impressed but the armor was far too ornate for his spartan tastes, and also quite spendy. Speaking with Bronn, the cleric plunked down 500 pieces of gold as a down-payment for the construction of a new set of plate mail. His armor had gotten him this far but was by all accounts plain and unexception. Time for an upgrade. It would be ready in 4 months. The Temple of Thoth would sink back in to the sands in a little over 2 months so the timing may be good.
Seamus spoke with the men at the Bottomless Keg and offered his services as laborer and brewer to the beardless dwarf with the little keg that, literally, did not run dry. His offer was accepted and he jumped in, reveling in the smell of hot malted grain and the reek of spent yeast.
Gonchar visited Bronn’s shop and picked up his new armor. It fit very, very well, although it was altogether too clean. Formally it was a set of scale mail equivalent to +2 armor, though not actually magicked in any way. It came with a +1 dragon scale shield which also held no magic. The set was of very high quality. The white dragon scales should work as an effective protection against that creature’s breath weapon. He wondered if it would provide any protection against a general Cone of Cold but, alas, only time would tell, as Bronn could not provide him with an answer.