Occa says, "Okay, who has healing now? I need some badly."
Then he says, "After this is done, we need to talk for a while and come up with some better strategies..."
"Me too!" Dani says, looking to the healers. "And you can lay hands *all* over me ... " Dani smiles, displaying those lovely brown stumps that pass for teeth. She arches her back invitingly, and her dress gapes open a bit ...
"Not so early in the morning, please," mutters Robert, looking unimpressed.
"Gosh, I sould have gone into the holy orders. I thought that bards got all the girls, and now it seems I was wrong." Jesse sighs heavily while wainting for the rest of the part to be healed.
Dani grins. "Well, don't despair. A woman does not want to be second-place to anyone or anything." She replies with a wink.
Orlon will casts two 'Restoration' spells on Op Code. He will also cure everyone up to full hit points. After that, he rests and then will pray some more to get his spells back.
Tracy - who seems to be walking rather stiffly this morning but is nevertheless brimming over with good spirits - helps the high priest. By the time they are done you are all cured of your wounds.
Op Code says "I would like to take care of the treasure we found."
Occa says, "Did you learn detect curse?"
Dani, still looking like an old crone seems suddenly very sour and downright grouchy.
"Where's the coffee anyway? Thanks for the healing." She grumbles.
"And what is the plan for today - I mean other than getting the other vamp? I mean ... what are our tactics? Not that it matters I guess. Where the hell is the coffee? Damnit!"
Valdar presents her with a cup of Portuguese coffe with the grounds floating in the cup...imparting the beverage with a special, chewy consistency.
"I personally, think that this is a waste of time. Let us deal with our foe and then we can, at our leisure, deal with the magic items we have discovered. I may be able to determine something about them based on non-magical means, but do not want to be picking up and using cursed items."
Jesse smiles, "Besides, it's not like you'll be able to spend the money here, I have not seen any shops or inn's."
"Yes, but some of those items may be useful for clearing this house," replies Valdar, as he breaks his fast with cold pizza and stale donuts.
Salaam gives over the magic items that he has been carrying with the following explanations:
In scholarly mode, akin to a professor dicussing the exact nature of the known planes, he begins, "Here is the scroll that we found in a coffin, it has many magics on it. Alos, a ring and wand with illusionary powers. A vial has alteration magic, as does this necklace. This others scroll has abjuration magics and the wand is of evoker's magic. Lastly, this robe has divination magic associated to it. If anyone can identify these items that would be quite useful."
Occa, who seems in an especially good mood, whistles a little tune and smiles at everyone.
When Salami tells of the magic items he says, "I can cast detect magic and look for command words..." He does so...smiling the whole time.
Jesse, warmed by Occa's good mode breaks out in song.
Salaam has already checked everything for magic, and it does.
The wand that Lady Tempest carried has the word 'gotcha' engraved on it.
The small house likewise has the words 'for sale' on the bottom of it.
From Lady Tempest's suite, the wand you found there has 'elzaperoo' engraved on it.
Occa says, "Might as well test these..." He takes teh wand and points it out of the barn saying "gotcha."
Nothing appears to happen.
He then throws down the token (out of the barn) and says "for sale"
Suddenly a gorgeous, full-sized house springs up. It has a thatched roof, shutters flanking the windows, and flowers growing in gardens around it.
Occa speaks the command word for the house again. Nothing happens. It remains full-size, in the middle of the driveway.
He pauses and says, "I hope it has large feather beds! They are much better for moving around in."
"And satin sheets..." adds Tracy.
"I'm sure ... " Dani smirks, drinking down the last of the chewy coffee.
Occa smiles and says, "Not even your sour disposition can ruin my day, Dani." He chuckles.
Dani sticks her tongue out at Occa but says no more on the matter.
"So, are we going to stand around all day being merry or make our plans to get the last vamp?" Dani grumbles.
"Plans? How would a group like this make plans?" He smiles again and then says, "Okay, who is going in this time?" He looks around at everyone. "I know I am....might even be easier since it is daytime. Maybe once we know that, we can make some plans."
"I may as well go back in too. I have the wands Occa lent me -- oh, do you want them back?" Dani asks, interupting herself.
Occa says, "You may use them if you like."
Dani grins, "Thanks! They will be a big help." Happier now, she helps herself to more coffee.
"Hey, where is breakfast - all this coffee ... well, it isn't enough. I need some food." she says, looking to Orlon and then Valdar.
The mighty elf lord offers her some cold pizza and Tim Bits.
"So ... some of us are going in ... guess we will do the 'servant' thing again ... and just blast her with what we have? Sounds like a good plan. I have no more salt though ... or garlic for that matter. Do any of you have any?" She asks.
"Oh ... I didn't get to study any ... I fell asleep." Dani frowns. "I guess I could do it now - in which case I can take 'requests'. I prefer a couple of good lightening bolts myself."
"Are we still trying to lern more about these magic items. If so, I'll take a look at them and see what I can learn."
Jesse will begin to look at the items discovered to date and see if he can discover any clues about their mode of action etc.
You have not inspected the scrolls yet.
None of the rings have any inscriptions on them, being completely plain.
The longsword glows brightly.
Occa eyes the house.
Occa sighs and says, "I guess it was a token that is usable only once. Oh well, we will have a place to spend the night."
Jesse tries on the robe, to see how it fits.
It is way too large for him.
"Oh, I must have missed all this stuff! What a pretty necklace ... oh, and this cloak - it looks nice and warm. "
Dani puts on the necklace, pretending to be some great noble lady...then whirls around like a child when she adds the cloak. She stands, one hand on her hip and the other behind her head, striking a pose.
Nothing seems to happen when she puts on the necklace.
The cloak is a neutral grey in colour, and when she puts it on she becomes almost indistinguishable from her surroundings...at least until she starts to pirouette...
"A cloak of Elvenkind," says Valdar. "A very useful item."
"Well, what do you think? Do I look like some great noble lady now ... or a half sodden adventurer with jewelry on?" She laughs.
Occa watches the others try on various things, "Uh, guys, why are you doing that here? What if those items are cursed? We could at least see if one the the clerics here has an augury or some other divinitation." He shakes his head and says, "Well, anyone want to cast augury to determine if these scrolls are dangerous or not...although I think all of this can wait until we are done and in a town in which we can fix cursed people."
Jesse laughs, "I guess we are all just damned then. Others have suggested that we should see if any of these items are useful, so I am attempting to be a good camper and assist the group in determining if there is useful magic here."
Dani shrugs her shoulders at Occa, "What's the matter? You want to live forever? Take a chance now and then - spices things up." She grins.
Dani eyes the longsword, and finally moves to pick it up. She holds it out, testing the balance and all.
"Hmmm. Wonder if this is better than the one I already have?" She wonders, making some sample lunges with it.
Meanwhile, Orlon decides to whip up some burritos with refried beans for Dani.
Oh Well will taste the potions, one at a time, to see their effects.
The first potion from the vampire-babe's room makes Oh Well feel like he can control very large creatures. The second potion makes gives his skin a healthy hue and makes him feel aglow with well-being.
Tasting the potion from Lady Tempest's suite, he shrinks in size slightly...then grows again as its effects wear off.
The potion from the spectre's room enables him to hear sounds at a distance.
The two potions from Vanessa's room heal him.
From the will-o-wisp treasure, an elixer that makes him feel as if he could jump through hoops of burning fire without damage...as long as Dani were waiting on the other side for him...
Orlon and Phil peruse the scrolls.
The scroll that Tempest carried had the following 1st level magic user spells: mending, push, push, comprehend languages, taunt, precipitation, unseen servant.
The scroll that Lady Tempest carried is unreadable to either of you.
From the vampire babe's horde are three protection scrolls: protection from magical blunt weapons, protection from magic, and protection from water.
From Lady Tempest's suite is a scroll of protection from undead.
From Vanessa's room are two scrolls: the first contains 4th level magic users spells: stoneskin, polymorph other. The other contains 3rd level clerical spells: prayer, remove paralysis, locate object, cure disease, glyph of warding, water walk.
Oh Well tastes yet another potion...this one makes everything around him seem to slow down momentarily.
"I suggest we go in when we have the strength of day with us in order to rout out the last foul beast!" exclaims Salaam.
Occa says, "I agree with Salami, let's go on back into the mansion and finish this business."
Occa then adds, "Of course, if you all are going to be slow about it, maybe I will check out this magical house. Of course, I might need some back up...Tracy, wanna check it out?"
"Ohhh, if you're up to it!"
The cleric of Thoth interrupts this little interlude...
"Occa, my dear friend," he says with a grating voice, "the name is Salaam, please do not make that mistake again. From where I am from, the name is an intrinsic part of one's soul, hence, a different name can taint or bless your soul, as I have said, don't mistake again !"
The bard steps in.
Jesse askes, "Are we ready to enter the den of the fiends now? If you all want, I will be willing to take the point position, cause I'm not hurt. Otherwise, I'll stay in back with Dani."
You return to the verandah of Tempest's home.
Upon opening the door, though, you find that it is held. Valdar expends the first spell of the day and knocks it open.
It is early afternoon, and the party consists of Dani, Occa, Valdar, Salaam, Jesse and Op Code.
"Well, lets go back where we left off last night or whenever." Dani replies.
Occa says, "Anyone know where we haven't been so far? I suggest we go there...oh, anyone with a locate object spell?"
Op Code says "Let's go check out those kitchen doors."
Occa says, "Right...to the kitchen doors!" He casts unseen servant followed by invisibility. The unseen servant will open any doors.
You make for the kitchen.
As previously described, the kitchen is 20' X 30', with a door in the south wall, and two doors in the east wall.
The place is barren...unlike the way it appeared when you initially visited the place this time yesterday. The partially hacked apart remains of a human torso are on the counter...now you know what the main course was at your dinner with Tempest...
You search.
In one of the ovens (not used as such for a long time), you find the following: 167cp, 333ep, 1 gem worth 10gp, 833gp, 333pp, 2 gems worth 100gp apiece, 6 potions and two scrolls.
You go to the south door and try to open it but it will not budge. Valdar knocks it open, and you find that you are looking outside...into the remains of an overgrown garden.
Two more doors remain to be opened.
Dani regards the human torso with a queasy expression.
"Oh ... YECH! Don't tell me ... we ate that ... " Dani covers her mouth with her hand and tries to keep from getting sick.
Valdar hands her an alka-seltzer.
Occa says, "Shall we search this garden...seems odd that it is locked so. Of course, we could spike it open and come back after finishing the house."
"I think that we should check the other doors before we enter the garden here. I have a sneaking feeling about entering this jungle without proper equipment, like torches and oil."
"If no one objects." Jesse will move to the closer door and get ready for Occa to open it.
"Well ... shall we try the next door - I mean the one that is closest. I like to do things in order sometimes."
Occa says, "Okay, let's check the other doors first then..."
He sends his unseen servant to open the northernmost door in the east wall. It opens in to a larder (10' X 20'...10' south, 10' east).
This dark, cool and damp room is a storage place for various foodstuffs. In here are a large number of sacks, boxes and barrels, as well as several pieces of meat (humans and elves, drained of blood...) hanging from hooks along the back wall.
You search this grisly place but find nothing that you would want to take.
Occa directs his unseen servant to open the last door...the one in the east wall, south corner. Revealed is a flight of stairs...leading down to the east, and into darkness.
Op Code will search for a secret door in the southernmost 10' section of the west wall.
He finds nothing.
Dani casts light onto the top of staff and wraps the bottom of the staff with a length of canvas, then turns to the others.
"Shall we? I guess we should be prepared for just about anything ... "
Occa says, "Right...down the stairs then..."
Dani taps on the first step with the end of her staff, testing it. If nothing explodes or gives way, she will make her way down the stairs. Hopefully the canvas-wrapped staff will not make too much noise ...
"Oh Great Thoth, grant me vision beyond mortal ability..." Salaam intones as he slowly walks down the stairs.
The stairs are sturdy, and the cleric sees no traps or other problems.
At the bottom is a passage that runs east for 30', ending at a door facing you. There are two additional doors in the first two 10' sections of the north wall.
"Shall we take the first north door then?" Dani whispers. She walks to the door slowly, just listening. She hears nothing. Then she will step back and let the unseen servant open it.
Beyond is an odd-shaped room (east wall runs north for 30', then west for 20', south for 20', east for 10', and south for 10'). This room is a vision of decay (no illusions on this level). Piles of bones are interspersed with mounds of junk.
Salaam immediately notices a secret door in the 20' long west wall, at the north end.
Searching this room, you find nothing of interest or value.
Occa says, "The secret door then...." Sends the unseen servant to open it up....
The servant opens it and you find yourself looking into a large crypt (50' X 60': 10' south, 40' north, 50' west; door in east wall - beside you - in 20' - 30' section as measured from the south; door in north wall east corner; door in west wall 20' - 30' section as measured from the south).
In here are coffins and slabs upon which lie corpses in various stages of decay.
Also in here are a dozen skeletons, a dozen zombies, a half a dozen wights and about the same number of wraiths.
You are quite taken aback by this array of undead...and Op Code and Valdar come under immediate attack by a skeleton and a zombie, respectively. Both monsters miss, however, as their companions rush to attack the rest of you.
The next segment sees Valdar draw his longsword as a wraith closes on him. He fans, but also dodges the attackers as well.
The other monsters also miss, as Op Code fumbles with his sword. Salaam and Occa also came under attack, too.
This segment Salaam is able to take action...
A skeleton and a wight are attacking Op Code; a zombie and a wraith are on Valdar; two skeletons are attacking Salaam; two zombies are on Occa; a wight is on Jesse; and a wraith is on Dani.
"I BANISH YOU FOUL BEASTS BACK TO THE HELLS FROM WHENCE YOU BELONG." Salaam commands with his holy symbol in his hand.
His words hit the undead like holy fire, engulfing 8 skeletons, 7 zombies, 2 wights and all of the wraiths in flames and destroying them utterly, while sweeping the remaining monsters away. They flee to the north door and through it...leaving the crypt deserted...but for one coffin, whose lid slowly opens.
Vanessa sits up and looks at you.
"Good morning...errr...good afternoon," she says. "Jesse, I knew you would come to me..."
"Yes, I was looking forward to seeing you again." Says Jesse. "I have a surprise for you, close your eyes."
Jesse then casts Magic Missile at the Vamp, as does Salaam.
The two spells hit her simultaneously...Jesse's doing 21 hit points of damage and Salaam's doing 12.
Vanessa poufs into gaseous form.
Dani saves her lightning bolt for another occasion.
Salaam sees the form of the vampiress, moving towards the north door...through which the other undead fled.
While Dani deals with the coffin, the rest of the party goes and looks through the north door.
Beyond is another large chamber (40' X 50': 40' west, 40' north, door in middle of north wall, opening int west wall north corner). Dim daylight comes throug the opening to the west, and also through it you hear the sound of crashing surf. The north door is open.
The floor of this chamber is covered in guano...and the source is immediately obvious, for the ceiling is covered with bats...hundreds - if not thousands - of them. They do not move, being either asleep or in hibernation.
"Anyone in the mood for roast bat ?" Salaam says with a rare smile as he motions everyone to stay away from the guano covered chamber, and prepares to cast a fireball.
Occa stands ready.
"Interesting use of spells. However, I'll pass on the bat. My doctor put me on a low bat diet." Bemuses Jesse.
Occa says, "Well, hopefully they are the good kind of bats, not the bad bats."
"Perhaps they are low in bat, thus would be good to eat."
Op Code tells Jesse "Go back to singing. You're a bad comedian."
As you wish. Jesse will begin to sing...
...as Valdar puts up a minor globe of invulnerability and Salaam lets loose a fireball. The blast engulfs the chamber, toasting the bats.
Once the smoke clears a little you move in and inspect.
All of the bats were completely vapourized; and there is no sign of Vanessa. Searching through the smouldering guano, you find nothing of interest or value.
You look through the opening to the west, and find yourself looking outside. The opening is many hundreds of feet up the side of a sheer cliff: below you, you can see the ocean; above is the cliff top some 30' up. The sky is overcast and gloomy, and streamers of fog blow by on a keening wind. Looking to your right, you see a door inset in the cliff wall at the same level that you are but 20' away.
You move over to the north door and open it. Beyond is a torture chamber (40' X 50': 20' east, 20' west, 40' north; there is a door in the middle of the north wall, another door in the west wall, 10' - 20' section as measured from the south, and a third door in the east wall, north corner).
This spacious chamber is furnished with all manner of instruments of torture. You see pincers galore, several racks, a large fire pit, a large collection of branding irons, and many manacles hanging from the walls.
Several skeletons hang from the latter...shaking their chains feebly.
A small library and reading area has been set up in the southeast corner.
There is no sign of Vanessa.
Dani plays with the torture devices.
"Kinky, very Kinky. Can I join you?" asks Jesse.
"I was hoping you would ask..." Dani whispers, running her hands over some of the devices. The leather straps and whips are very supple and inviting...
"Hey, about that door in the cliff wall? That looks very promising." Dani says.
"Should we do something for those poor skeletons - like put them out out their misery?"
Jesse wonders:
"Could they be a ruse? Might they actually be animate, and waiting for unsuspecting folks like us to free them, and then get attacked?"
"No! I meant destroy them while they are chained up - I certainly did not mean to free them!" Dani replies with a shudder.
Op Code searches the place, and is joined by Valdar. Together they find nothing of great interest until they search the library corner. There, they turn up 6 standard spell books.
Salaam slowly approaches the reading area and joins Op Code in examining the books.
Occa has his unseen servant open them (with each away from the others and the party) and then looks through them.
The first book contains the following spells: level 1: read magic, magic missile, Nystul's magic aura, shield, protection from evil, enlarge, affect normal fires and comprehend languages; level 2: detect invisibility, strength, audible glamer, forget, locate object, scare, fool's gold and pyrotechnics; level 3: lightning bolt, dispel magic, blink, Leomund's tiny hut, water breathing, monster summoning I, infravision and fireball.
The second book contains the following spells: level 4: plant growth, monster summoning II, massmorph, remove curse, hallucinatory terrain and minor globe of invulnerability; level 5: monster summoning III, passwall, teleport, wall of stone and contact other plane; level 6: disintegrate, spiritwrack, anti-magic shell, glassee and control weather.
The third book contains the following spells: level 7: charm plants, reverse gravity and phase door; level 8: incendiary cloud, monster summoning VI and power word blind; level 9: Bigby's crushing hand and meteor swarm.
The remaining three volumes, while obviously standard spell books, are incomprehendable by any of you.
Op Code will check out the east door, after collecting up the spell books.
"Hey, not so fast Op Code." Dani says. "I hope you were just going to carry them for us ... not keep them, right?" She grins.
Op Code Replies "Of course. I am a noble Ranger. What do you think I am, a thief? I just didn't want to leave them behind. Would you like to carry them?"
Dani grins, "Oh no, noble ranger. I shall let you carry my books ... errr... I mean *the* books." Dani smiles and winks at Op Code, and gives an extra wiggle as she flounces away .
The east door leads into a barren 10' X 10' room (door in north wall). There is absolutely nothing in here.
Salaam scans the room with his true seeing.
There is nothing of note in either the 10' square room or the torture chamber.
"The room is bare, everyone." says Salaam.
"Well, it seems that we should choose one of the doors here." quipes Jesse. "I vote we take the left one first and then the right one. Get it?"
Dani frowns in thought. "Uh ... no. I don't get it. Don't suppose it matters though." She says with a grin. "Lead the way ... I want out of here! How hard can it be to find the dumb vamp anyway? Can't we just make her come to us?"
Dani laughs, "Here vamp ...vamp ...vamp ... here liitle vamp ... got some nice warm blood for you ... " Dani calls out as if calling a kitten to supper.
Op Code will open the north door in the torture chamber.
This door opens into a large room (50' X 50': 20' east, 20' west, 50' north; door in east wall south corner).
Like the attic rooms, this one is piled high with more junk...old furniture, trunks, scratched K-Tel albums, clothes, etc etc.
Salaam with his true seeing immediately notices a secret door in the ceiling, 10' west of the middle of the room.
You search...and turn up four more coffins. Taking the usual precautions, you open them, and find Vanessa in one of them. She wears a sheer black ankle-length night gown.
"Ohhh, not tonight, Jesse," she says with a sexy yawn. "I'm too tired right now."
Any Ronco pocket fishermen? How about the Ronco food dehydrator?
No, but you do find a rusted out Chevy Chevette.
"What is this ? Jesse, did you charm these lasses. Actually, if they want you, that's fine with me."
"Salaam, may I have the stake please." Jesse asks in a sickly sweet voice. "Now Vanseea, I want you to know that this will hurt you more than it will hurt me."
Occa frowns and has his unseen servant place a stake over Vanessa's heart. "Jesse, if you would like the honors. Tis a shame really, such a lovely lass."
"Noooo, my Jesse," Vanessa replies, licking her lips but too weak to move. Her breasts rise and fall as the servant places the stake over her heart. "We could be together...lovers...for all eternity...AAAAAAAA!"
Jesse pounds the stake into her. Her eyes bulge, and she is still, staring sightlessly at the bard.
Ten minutes later the job is done.
Searching the room, you find nothing of value.
You open the only door leading out of this room...to the south.
This leads into another large room (30' X 50': 30' east, 40' north; door in south wall west corner, door in middle of north wall).
Going by the doggy smell in here, you surmise that this place is a kennel, though it is currently unoccupied. Apart from many bones being scattered about here, the place is empty.
As you finish your search, however, the north door bursts open and in pour the horde of undead that you turned awhile back. Remember them? Namely five skeletons, four zombies and four wights.
Jesse raises his magic missile finger.
"Salaam, Occa, someone, do your stuff on these guys."
Salaam winks at Dani, "I love this part, OH GREAT THOTH, I BESEECH THEE TO BLAST THESE CREATURES TO THE NETHERWORLDS."
Salaam invokes, thrusting his holy symbol in front of him.
This time all of the undead are engulfed and consumed in the holy fire of Thoth. When the smoke and flames clear, none remain.
The rest of you look impressed...as your spells were clearly not needed.
You look through the doorway through which they came, and see a long passage stretching away into darkness.
"Wow .... Salaam. That was great! So... we're done with this house, right? I mean, we got them all? Or do you all want to search for more stuff?" Dani asks.
"Cool. That was neat Salaam. I know that you can't teach me that trick, but I like the special effects (thanks ILM)." quipes Jesse.
Continuing, "I think we have reached a crossroads. Do we continue to search this house, now that we have killed the vampires? Or do we continue on our merry way, after torching the house?"
Occa says, "I think we should not leave until we have explored every nook and cranny of this place. How do we know that Tempest was the head vampire? We don't. I vote we head down that long dark corridor..."
Salaam, though, still looks concerned.
"Ok, something is up, I have a feeling that there might be someone else, these undead are not capable of independant thought, hence someone sent them. Alas, we thought all were dead, be on guard, my friends, it may depend on our lives. Let us move forward."
Occa says, "Okay, that is what I figured...down the long corridor then?" He smiles and says, "After you, Op Code."
He casts wizard eye and sends it and his unseen servant down the corridor.
The corridor, you discover, runs north for several hundred feet, then ends at an opening that leads outside. You see no tracks in the mud near the entrance, but you surmise that this was the route that the wolves who lived in the kennel used to go outside.
It is cold and overcast outside, but the rain has stopped.
Op Code, leading the way back, suggests that you search for secret doors along the passageway.
Jesse will search, "However, didn't this passageway already get searched by those with 'sight beyond sight'? Did we check the other door yet?"
Salaam walks slowly down the corridor, seeking any sort of secret doors or passageways, with his true seeing. There is nothing, and you return to the kennel area just as his spell expires.
"There are several doors down here that we haven't checked," says Valdar. "Let's open them and finish this place off before lunch."
"Lunch? Now that sounds good - as long as we are not eating anything from around here. Let's be off then." Dani indicates she is ready and follows Valdar.
"Here, here, let us move on," agrees Salaam.
Occa sends his unseen servant scurrying to open the first available door.
The nearest door that does not lead to some place obvious is back in the crypt where you first met Vanessa and the hordes of undead, so you go there. The door is in the south wall, next to the secret door through which you entered this area.
The servant opens it...to reveal another 10' wide passage, running east into darkness.
You head down there...and again after several hundred feet it ends at the surface, within sight of the Elven Coast Road, and outside of the Tempest grounds.
You return to the crypt, pass through the secret door and through the room beyond, to return to the passage at the bottom of the stairs. Two more doors remain to be opened, here...one in the north wall, 10' - 20' section, and one in the east wall at the end.
You open the door in the north wall, to see another room (20' X 30': 10' east, 30' north).
This place has an unmistakable charnel smell about it, for in here are a dozen skeletons, who of course rush at you.
Jesse will bow to Salaam and say, "I believe it's your turn."
"Its Showtime, THOTH, HELP ME DEFEAT THESE FOUL CREATURES !"
Salaam involkes with a flourish, thrusting his holy symbol forward.
Seven of them are reduced to ashes...the rest charge on.
"Take off, eh?" says Valdar, brandishing his own symbol at them...and the remainder go to dust.
You search the room, but find nothing.
Opening the door at the end of the passage, you see a store room (20' X 40': 20' east, 30' north, door in east wall south corner). Filled with boxes and barrels, this place is a mess. Searching, you find that they contain watery wine, rotted foodstuffs and the like. Nothing of value.
You open the east door. You see a store room (20' X 40': 20' east, 30' north, door in east wall south corner). Filled with boxes and barrels, this place is a mess. Searching, you find that they contain watery wine, rotted foodstuffs and the like. Nothing of value.
"Well," says Valdar, "I'm about ready for lunch...then what say we continue on our merry way?"
You head back outside, when Salaam expresses his wish to see the head of Lady Tempest again.
It is still lying on the ground at the northeast corner of the house, by the downspout.
"Ohh really, alrighty then," he kneels by the head of Lady Tempest, and stares at the head, eye to eye and intone, "OH GREAT THOTH, ALLOW ME TO SPEAK TO THE UNHOLY SPIRIT THAT ONCE POSSESSED THIS BODY SO THAT I CAN FURTHER YOUR WILL, OH THANK YOU GREAT ONE...."
The world grows silent for a long moment, then a ghastly whisper is heard.
"Yessss..?" says the voice of Lady Tempest. "Who is it who disturbs my long sought-for sleep?"
"It is I, Salaam, I must apologize, madam, but the need for your destruction was imperative. Anyway, is there a map of the castle anywhere?"
"Nooooo...."
"Were you, Lord, and the others the only undead?"
"Yesss..."
"What made you like that?"
"A hunger...for power...riches...eternal life....and a thirsty vampire..."
"Where is your treasured riches stored ?" Salaam asks, waiting for an answer.
"In the library...the books..."
Dani grins, "Great. I have about all I can carry - we will most certainly need to back your wagon up to the house ... hey, if we park the wagon below the window, we can have some folks in the wagon to catch the books as we toss them down. Save us a lot of walking and such."
Op Code says to the cleric, "Finish your questioning, then let's go get it."
Salaam is finished.
Occa says, "Well, right then..the library. Let's unload it all into the wagon and then press on? Alright?"
He says, "Can someone get the wagon? I will summon up an unseen servant to help us...if we all pitch in, we should be able to get everything."
You do so. Backing the wagon up to the edge of the verandah near the library windows, you load up with books.
Valdar inspects a sample of them.
"Most of these books are quite valuble," he says. "I think we'll be able to get quite a pile of money for them."
"Let's load 'em up and leave." Salaam starts perusing the tomes to see what the value is. After looking through a bunch of them, you estimate that they would be worth about 10gp each...and there are over 5000 of them.
"Right, sounds good. So ... ummm ... where was it we were going? Somewhere to check out pirates or somesuch?" Dani asks.
"Dragons and pirates," says Valdar.
She tries to straighten her rumpled and torn clothing, her gnarled hands fussing with the various layers. She pats her hair, as if trying to straighten that unruly mop and gives you all a toothless grin.
"I'm ready. Let's get outta here!" She cackles.
Occa says to Valdar, "Where are we exactly in this land? Is there a city up the road a ways?"
"Yes...there is a city, Frisco. But it has been a ruin for centuries. I fear that we may have trouble traversing it," he glances at Orlon. "There is little more than wilderness, and the occasional small free town, all the way up the coast from here. The nearest cities - apart from those in the Elven lands to the south - are many hundreds of miles southeast of here, and beyond the mountains.
"Why?"
It is after lunch when you leave the grounds of Castle Tempesta and return to the Elven Coast Road. It is a damp and overcast day, as you walk northeast. The countryside is quiet, you camp that evening off the road near the cliffs that overlook the Pacific Ocean.
You sleep well this night.