Faalor V, Chapter One (May 27, 2006)

As the characters began to searching for the little girl (Kasha Bross), Sheriff Westerbrook appeared. He helped the party search for a while, but then had everyone gather in the inn. It was soon decided that Westerbrook would go check in on the Bross family. When he returned, he said that the girl was fine and the family seemed safe enough.

Kala was concerned that her father was not home so Westerbrook took her home. She quickly found out that her parents were gone and returned to town. There the mysterious woman was engaged in combat with the dwarven guard. When the PCs began to help, she disappeared quickly. The dwarves acted strangely, quickly retreating as if the humans might be involved with the woman.

Westerbrook ordered everyone to stay in the Inn, but it quickly was decided to go to the crypts (where the zombies probably came from). On reaching the crypts, the party made their way into the Crypt of Mulhuld, a large and very old crypt used primarily by the elders and founders of Havenshire. The dead body of a man was found, but it appeared as if it had shuffled out the coffin it was in and collapsed. A ghostly figure, maybe in clerics robes was seen soon enough and the constant sound of a woman in pain could be heard.

After a brief run-in with some spiders, the party encountered a group of undead. After they were dispatched, a dead townswoman was found. It soon became apparent that the undead were using the crypt as some kind of base of operations. When the party finally broke into the main crypt, the mysterious woman changed into a mist and sank into the wall, leaving her near-mindless underlings to die at the hands of the party.

In a coffin, lay a young girl no one had seen before. Her arms were crossed and she appeared quite dead. Oddly enough, she had bits of blood coming from her mouth. A small note was found in the coffin as well. It read:

(In a flowing hand, written in red ink)

Vlora,

The crypt is to be used for our forward base, make sure it is kept secret. The young ones will want to hunt in the town, but do not let them yet. When the time is right, you will do as our ally, Xadryd, asks and find those who are ripe enough to provide valuable information for him. In 10 days, you will pick those among the townsmen that you feel will provide the proper information for Xadryd. Feed the young ones if need be, but send back to the ruins at least 5. I await your faithful service.

Serrakh Kethlan

Once the party returned to the Inn, Westerbrook was not too happy even though progress seemed to be made on defending the town against the vampires. Westerbrook seemed incredibly angry that anyone would question him or disobey his orders. This led to some speculation about the good sheriff's motives and allegiance. By 3 AM, the party decided to turn in for the night.

In the morning, the party found Gildmara, the bard, reading in the upstairs. Rilen was surprised by her and questioned her sternly about her involvement. She knew that there was a vampire at the performance the night before, but indicated that she did not get involved in matters unless there was some danger to people. She seemed to think that the female vampire at the performance was harmless enough to stay neutral in the affair. "We all have a path in this life," she told an angry Rilen. "So, you'd just sit back and let a dragon rampage through town then," Rilen retorted. Gildmara seemed to think about that then proceeded to indicate that she would help if she could. The help that she offered seemed ineffectual at best.

With that the party prepared to head to the ruins. Arrand was able to find out that the person named Serrakh Kethlan, was a Teussian nobleman who lived nearly 250 years ago, a very powerful warrior who, tales say, disappeared one night never to be seen again.

As the party approached the Ruins of Castle Droth (an elven castle that, rumor has it, was destroyed by Vraalrym, the Red nearly 500 years ago, big brutish wolves attacked. Inside the ruins of the upper level, two elven mages seemed to be hurrying out, as if they were on some mission. Overcome by bloodlust the elves attacked, but were quickly dispatched. Into the darkness of the lower levels the party descended . . .

Characters attending today's game:

• Rilen Gadeli (Jas)


• Duskfang (Patricia)


• Mary Reed (Floria)


• Arrand (Lazarus)


• Cyril Tormund (Veth)


• Jack Reed (Arwin)


• Gregory Oak (Carn)


• Kala Horntaper (Rangarig)