We spoke at length with Teos at the bar. He was loquacious in his gratitude and willingly answered our questions.

Creel’s tower was less than a day’s ride from the Horne’d Lamb. The good barkeep told the party that to simply touch the walls of Creel’s tower was … dangerous. Creel himself is a good man and had long held commerce and communication with the Inn as well as the surrounding area. Creel’s wife had died of some unspecified malady - perhaps plague, all sudden-like, and while Creel was out - and the man had not been the same since. Creel had turned to the dark arts of necromancy in an effort to bring his beautiful wife back to life. Teos had nothing but praise for Illyssa.

Brian O’Boise, a Hibernian lad, had worked at the Horne’d Lamb and later also for Creel. Brian liked to talk and frequently brought news back to the Horne’d Lamb from the tower, but had grown dismayed with Creel’s … experiments and had left the area last year, possibly back to Hibernia. Apparently Creel had reclaimed portions of an older series of tunnels under his tower and constructed a series of rooms where he conducted experiments - including, Brian said, a “safe room” and he remained under the tower for long stretches of time. Servants slid food and supplies under the locked door to the underlevel, as it were. Malley, a gnome, is Creel’s man and sees to all these arrangements. Creel’s groomsman Stevenson, a man who is good with horses, works at the tower as well.

We asked Teos if he had any large rooms to rent for the night. He gave us room, board and cocktails for free in thanks for saving Tatiana. Dinner that evening was heaping helpings of On\cdot Cor Gravy & 6 Salisbury Steaks. Shortly after dinner Cathal shit his pants, and then he shit everyone else’s pants for good measure. He left several gold pieces under his pillow to pay for the hose-down and squeegee work in the morning when we left ^{[It is a matter of some debate whether or not Flint slipped into the room and filched the gold pieces shortly thereafter]} .

We rested well that night, dreaming of brown gravy and mudslides in the tropics. In the morning Tatiana felt much, much better. Cathal slipped her and her sister a few more pieces of gold.

The River Chase#

We saddled up in the morning, gave Teos our thanks and said we hoped to see him again soon. We formed a marching order and followed the road west and north along the river. From Teos’ description of events Abigail’s party was almost certainly already at Creel’s tower. Whether they had invested it or simply held siege outside remained to be seen. Kyril would shape change into some species of bird and fly ahead when we reached the tower.

While riding, we saw and heard giant flies in the distance (perhaps of the sort encountered previously in the swamp), likely buzzing around the corpse of something large, but the party did not approach and they left us alone. As we tucked into rations two horsemen, riding swiftly in archaic armor, approached towards us from the direction we were riding and, seeing Cathal, rode off the road, jumped off their horses and into the river. They swam much faster than horses, trying to get to the hills across the river and away from us. Cathal and Seamus ran into the river to give chase.

• Menka saved the game (quicksave slot)
• A pelagic soldier reached the other side and shot an arrow at Cathal, who with Seamus was charging toward the water. Cathal took 3 points from the arrow. The other rider exited the river and appeared to be trying to gather their horses.
• Menka and Kyril split off north to see if a larger force of cavalry was approaching our position
• initiative win
• Tim zapped both of the soldiers from the shoreline with magic missiles for 34 and 36 points of damage, killing the swordsman. The archer seemed sorely injured by said sorcerous attack, yet still stood.
• Seamus reached the opposite bank, leaped upon the shore and, wielding his stout mug, attacked the archer and punched his lights out
• 2 pelagic soldiers: 30, 35 hp

Pelagic Soldier Loot#

• wax-sealed cylinder
• 13 shockingly misshapen, tentacled pieces of gold

To the Tower#

The priest and the druid returned, having seen no approaching enemy forces. We searched the saddlebags on the grazing horses and found a wax-sealed cylinder within. Cathal handed the scroll to Menka who popped the seal and read the letter.

So Abigail’s fishy friends had found Arndt first, it would seem. It would also seem that Creel did not know we are on our way.

We saddled up and continued north upon the road, following the river into the early afternoon. Two quiet hours later we saw a deserted hovel, overgrown by weeds and forest, about 30 yards off the road. Kyril and Cathal rode over to the hovel, dismounted and checked within. Cathal detected a sense of lingering evil. Searching the hovel they found an idol to a fat, winged mind flayer of some sort. Definitely evil.

Kyril stuck the idol in his pack. The hovel was ancient. Clearly the influence of the Old Ones had been in this area for a long, long time.

Later that afternoon, the road began to rise, and we could see the tower in the distance, much taller than the trees. We rode to within 1 mile of the tower and dismounted. Kyril spoke with the horses and asked them to hang around til we got back, but to flee if they found themselves in danger. A road or path had broken off toward the tower and we continued on foot. Kyril took the van and, passing without trace, scouted ahead. He left the table with the DM and returned, shortly.

The tower was set within a red-bricked wall 20’ high around it. A large courtyard seemed also to be within. Stables stood outside the wall and guards in archaic armor seemed to be using it as a guardpost. These guards patrolled the perimeter in pairs. Cathal levitated above the trees to try to get a better view. Ponds and manicured gardens lie within the courtyard around the base of the tower and he could clearly see at least some guards within the walls. The knight returned to the ground. It was obvious there was no way to approach quietly.

We skirted the edge of the forest southest and went around the back of the courtyard. No features or gates were discernible, so we approached the wall and followed back to the front. There was a hum emanating from the wall, with an intermittent buzzing that we both heard and felt. We reached the front of the building, then discussed what to do.

Sick to death of waiting around, Cathal and Gonchar stormed the stables. Seamus beat them there.

• surprise
• there was one guard standing outside, and Tim zapped him from afar with magic missiles for 34 points, felling him
• The stable door opened and Cathal and Gonchar rushed in
• initiative loss
• In an empty room containing only the blood ruin of a desk, a pelagic soldier pulled out a rope whistle
• A different guard hit Seamus for 8 points
• They missed Cathal
• The guy trying to raise an alarm fumbled with the whistle
• Cathal hit that same creature with a natural 20 and separated his head from his shoulders - no whistling today
• Seamus hit back for 8 points
• initiative tie
• Seamus popped him again for 5 points
• Cathal slashed the other guy for 8 points
• They missed Cathal but hit the monk for 5 points
• Gonchar hit one of the soldiers twice for 29 points, killing him
• Menka flailed the remaining pelagic soldier for 7 points
• The last guard backed up and started to yell
• Cathal ceased his screaming with his sword, dropping him to the ground
• 4 pelagic soldiers, 30 hp each

Kyril had scouted around the northern wall of the courtyard while we fought in the stables. He had seen 3 or 4 loosely wrapped bodies lying up against that wall, with a symbol on them which nobody in the party recognized. Not one of us had the common sense to grab a picture of it with his phone. He returned to the stables as the last of our enemies fell and reported in. Kyril, Menka, Gonchar and Cathal walked around the northern corner to investigate. We found four bodies, loosely wrapped in linen. Three of them were fish folk and Cathal decapitated them. The fourth body was, unfortunately, Stevenson, whom Teos had mentioned. His throat had been cut.

Back to the stables, which were largely empty save Stevenson’s bloodied desk. Upon the desk appeared to be a ledger (dates, horse feeding and supply schedules), under which appeared to be a letter, addressed to Aesil.

Abigail’s Carriage#

A carriage was parked just outside of the stables. It looked like a very secure hearse. Flint found no traps on the carriage door in the very back (the only apparent opening), though he did find one the hard way when he picked the lock. Luckily he made his save vs. poison.

Opening the door we saw seats on the side of a central table which reached the full length of the carriage. Tim searched around and found a large compartment under the table. It was freezing cold in the compartment, and filled at the bottom with soil. The soil seemed to be impressed with the shape of a coffin. We pondered some destructive possibilities, but it was getting dark and we decided to put some distance between us and the carriage and head to the tower.

The Courtyard#

We approached the door in the western wall, the only apparent portal available. A giant knocker in the shape of a bull’s head said “thank you - not today” when Flint got within 2 feet.

• Gonchar rolled unsuccessfully against AC5 to hurl himself against the door and force it open
• Seamus punched the door, and considered his anger control issues

The party entered and on first look saw a large courtyard around which a pebble strewn path wound, within which were three small ponds surrounded by trees (SE of door), several large gardens within which various vegetables grew and scarecrows loomed (NE), the Tower (N) and large collections of flower gardens (NE beyond gardens).

The party also saw more angry-looking fish-folk guardsmen, one near the door, two others to the southeast with bows! The closest pelagic soldier saw us and pulled out his sword and a thin, reed-like whistle. The other two, more distant, nocked arrows to bow with intent to do grievous bodily harm.

• initiative win
• Flint hit the guard with two (count ’em two) natural 20s, doing 18 points of damage
• Cathal hit the guard for 9, but his second shot missed
• Lycovyne zapped the guy with a magic missile for 17 points, fish frying him before he could blow into the reed whistle
• We charged through into a hail of arrows from two soldiers on the right
• Gonchar got stuck with an arrow for 6 points
• initiative win
• Kyril cast warp wood on the bows and they twisted out of shape and became useless
• Cathal charged in, hitting one of the archers for 15 points
• Gonchar hit the other for 13 points and then again with a natural 20, killing him
• Cathal dispatched his opponent
• 3 pelagic soldiers, 30, 28, 28 hp

Cathal applied first aid to Gonchar, getting him back 3 points.

We walked into the courtyard and marveled at the well-manicured gardens, flower beds, pools and pathways. There were 5 gardens to the left (north) and each one contained a scarecrow. All of the pools seemed to be empty. There were beehives to the left. One of the party wandered too close and the hives belched forth bees in large numbers. These bees formed into a roughly humanoid-shaped cloud and attacked us!

• initiative loss
• Cathal got stung for 2 points
• Lycovyne cast burning hands at them, doing 7 points of damage
• Cathal hit twice for 24 points, though the cloudy bee creature only took 2 points of damage
• Tim cast web from his Cloak of the Archnidia - this seemed to clog the bee cloud and bog them down, and they dispersed
• cifal, 44 hp

We continued on, following the left path. The scarecrows seemed to follow the party eerily with their eyes and attention as we walked by the gardens. Cathal examined one of the scarecrows and looked in its eyes - the air seemed to darken, for a moment he felt a cold wind blow and a feeling that he was alone with this fascinating garden-guardian as he gazed at it… Luckily he made his save vs. magic and wrenched his eyes away from its gaze. The creature was made of wood and straw, but the knight of Diancecht detected evil within. We left the scarecrows alone.

We entered the grid of flower gardens from the southern point where the pebble path ended, which was large, with 9 sizable flower-boxes, three larger than the eastern six, the southeasternmost decorated with large, decorative boulders.

In the far northwestern corner of the grid of flower gardens we found a path which led around the tower to the western side, where the party found a door to the tower. As we rounded the corner and saw said door, a huge, misshapen humanoid creature saw us and retreated through the door, into the building. Kyril recognized the creature as the virtual twin of the albino he and his treant compadre had slain in the forest, a few short hours earlier.

• initiative win
• Gonchar threw his hammer at the creature, hitting it for 28 points as it closed the door
• Cathal checked his strength against that of the creature, trying to open the door
• Gonchar threw his back into it, literally, and the door flew open - 2 of the large, hulking guardsmen were within and primed to kill
• Menka said a prayer
• Gonchar hurled again and hit the large creature for 31 points
• Cathal hit it twice for 27 points, though the creature missed!
• initiative loss
• it hit Cathal for 5 points
• and the party had to save vs. magic - to those who failed, the very fabric of reality seemed to split asunder, marked by a feeling of nauseous unease, a sense of vertigo as the walls and floors failed to add up as they usually would, the floors, ceilings and skies shifting and sliding beneath and above your feet
  • Kyril and Seamus failed and reality dissolved into druknen confusion and they were out of the fight
  • the rest of the party were slightly less affected, yet were unable to use missiles or spells, and attacked at -4 and were effectivly blinded (Gonchar at -2, blind fighting)
• Gonchar killed the last soldier
• initiative tie
• Cathal yelled out that that spell was why we killed his brother!
• The tall, skinny person snarled and said “pain!” to Cathal and the knight doubled over in agony, the end-result of which meant he suffered another -2 to attack and slowed to half movement
• Gonchar attacked with his hammer up close and personal, hitting for 15 points
• initiative win
• Gonchar and Cathal missed, with Cathal missing slowly
• The spellcaster said “pain!” to Gonchar but Gonchar saved, and flipped him off
• Cathal, although hobbled, managed to hit the guy for 13 points, praise Diancecht
• initiative loss
• Cathal hit for 15, then Gonchar hit for 30, felling the foul spellcaster
• Phipps’ guardsmen - 60, 58 hp; M. Phipps, ?? hp

Flint rummaged through the corpse’s belongings.

Mr. Phipp’s Loot#

• bag of coins (45 PP, 65 GP, 20 EP, 20 SP, half of which are of the same strange, tentacled, disturbing mint noted above)
• wrinkled piece of paper
• foul, tentacled holy symbol

The pain and drunken confusion dissipated when Phipps was slain. We found ourselves in what was until recently an ornate entry hall, reduced to rubble and ruin by some recent battle. Statues of Anubis lie on the floor, broken and defiled. They may have been animated by the good god Anubis himself and taken part in the battle, defending against the pelagic besiegers. There was a door in the eastern wall and a hallway off to the north.

The hallway contained several doors and one lead to a kitchen. The party entered the kitchen, which had a crackling, seemingly smokeless magic fire in a small fireplace, and splattered blood and broken pottery strewn on the floor of what otherwise appears to be a well-kept kitchen. One door exited to the northeast of the room.

Inside the Tower#

Through the door in the kitchen was a pantry - small, shelves from floor-to-celing, various foodstuffs, and a wheeled pantry cabinet in the SE corner. Flint opened the door (cuz why not?) and was immediately charmed by a pale, stout woman within, who asked him to protect her from the bad men and reached for him…

• Cathal attacked her and hit for 16 points
• initiative win
• The knight hit her again with a natural 20, knocking her down
• Kyril fashioned a stake from some broken furniture and drove it through her heart!
• newly turned vampiress, 30 hp

Moving the wheeled, bloody unit aside, we found stairs going down into an underpantry. Following the stairs downward, they ended in a room with two doors, both of which were on the eastern wall, and open, broken off their hinges. Light glowed through the southernmost door, leading into a second kitchen. The northernmost door lead into a dark room filled with cobwebs and casks and bottles of wine.

A trail on the dusty floor of the entry-room showed that something heavy had been dragged through the room.

Kyril searched for hidden doors and found one. Seamus and Flint found no traps on this secret door. It opened onto a set of steep steps which went downward into inky blackness. We headed down the stairs for quite a while before they landed in a 10’x20’ room. There were several barrels in this room, some shelving with various labeled boxes and jars, along with several brooms, mops and an empty bucket.

There was also a secret door in the northern wall. It was not trapped, or the trap had already been set off. We opened it and light flooded in - through the door is a large, long room, well-maintained.

Far across the room to the north, a large doorway had been fully bricked in with the same red brick which formed the perimeter wall, but all the bricks had been torn out and removed.

The room itself contained bookshelves (west wall), with numerous books and jars on the northmost shelves. The jars seemed to contain clear fluid and scalpels and other tools of the medical trade.

The eastern portion of the room contained a wine rack (SE) which held seven 7 bottles. There was also a sitting area with a reading chair and spilled wine and crumpled paper strewn about. Portraits hang on the east wall, displaying a stern-looking white haired man and a stunningly beautiful red-haired woman. Menka read one of the crumpled sheets of paper and it seemed to be a half-written love letter to Illyssa, stained with wine.

There was a door on the eastern wall. The body of a fish man lay on the floor, blasted to death by what appeared to be a fire rune on the east door.

Flint found no traps around the bricked up door, nor around the door in the east wall but for the remains of the aforementioned fire rune.