Castle Amber: A D&D Adventure

Master K · Post by **Master K** » Sat Jan 17, 2015 1:24 am

"I'm utterly mortified that he had the nerve to up and attempt to kill me...sure, I made some dubious choices in that battle, but it doesn't merit murdering one's allies." Lynda says. "As for my wound not healing...Silas did mention something about my amulet being anti-magical in nature. Perhaps this effect extends to all magic I come in contact with...that's certainly a problem, in a way."

Lynda decides to promptly examine Silas' body and see what useful items he has on him. Unlike the late Ardan, Silas did not die on good terms.

"He doesn't have a whole lot of items. He has rations, which Galse can take. He has a lot of parchment and writing implements, which are up for whoever has use for it. The staff can go to Kalar...I wouldn't even be able to use it if I wanted to, being antimagical in all ways...I'll lay claim on this ring. I'll also take his dagger, but if anyone else wants it, I'll happily give it up. Other than that, he doesn't have much else."

And with that, she'll wear the ring she gleaned from Silas.

On the off note, RIP Silas, you secretive little bastard.

BMR · Post by **BMR** » Sat Jan 17, 2015 4:07 am

Kalar is rather concerned that the healing didn't work, by all accounts it should have.

"Perhaps you're right about what Silas said. If that's the case, then we could have some pretty serious problems down the road..."

He takes some of the linen from his pack and patches up Lynda as best as he's able to. At the very least, it'll keep dirt out of the wound.

He takes the staff Lynda mentions and looks it over, trying to determine if there's anything special about it.

"He should have had a spell component pouch as well. I don't have much need for it, but if you find it, I'd like to keep it for myself."

*I don't remember the staff, has Silas always had that?

Spoonweaver · Post by **Spoonweaver** » Sat Jan 17, 2015 4:17 am

*It's more of a rod, and he got it from the statues.

Everyone is awake now and ready to venture forth to escape from this castle. Kalar, gathers up Silas' spell component pouch and looks over the rest of the items he had.

Then, the snake staff turned into a snake on it's own. Lynda could sense it. The snake slithered over to Lynda and climbed up onto her shoulders. She felt as ease as it did, as if she had known this snake a very long time. Then the snake turned into a staff again, resting in Lynda's quiver.

BMR · Post by **BMR** » Sat Jan 17, 2015 5:19 am

Kalar takes the rod and places it with his javelins. He'll experiment with it later, but for now, best to avoid more risks.

He mentally commands his zombies to head down the stairs and keep watch. He also orders them to attack anything hostile that comes through the doors.

Kalar turns to the others and says, "Right lads, time to figure things out. There are three of us dead already, Ardan, Silas, and Yauntor. I, for one, have no intention of losing anyone else, and we will have no more deaths if I can help it." (Mostly because losing more people will decrease his own chances of survival.)

"We've managed to scrape through and bumble our way around without major casualties so far, though we do have our share of wounded." he says, nodding at Lynda. "I say that here on out, we go about things more intelligently. First order of business, I believe, is to find Charles and wring every bit of information we can out of him."

"So far, all we know is that we're trapped here. It seems that our caravan was pulled here somehow, but how that happened or why, we don't know. If we're going to get out of here alive, we'll need to figure those things out. Also, I distinctly recall that there were more of us. Where did the others go? Are any of us that were in the caravan still alive? Were there other caravans or travelers that managed to get themselves trapped here as well? Those are also things that I believe we need to learn."

He gestures to Thistlewhistle and says, "In that chest back at the gargoyle fountain, we found a scroll. I have yet to peruse it fully, but our gnomish friend here has gone over it in detail. Perhaps he may be able to shed some light on our situation, and offer us a more substantial plan of attack."

"Lacking that though, I propose we head for Charles. I'll approach him myself, though I would like Thistlewhistle with me. Of all of us, I believe he looks the least threatening, and he may respond better to that." He turns to Lynda and says, "Also, I apologize for sending you after him yesterday, I was not thinking as clearly as I should have been. Perhaps sending the man who killed his sister was not a good idea, and I apologize for that."

Gizmog · Post by **Gizmog** » Sat Jan 17, 2015 8:22 am

Galse is more worried about what weird effects this place is having on people's minds than Kalar's briefing, but what he hears of it sounds good.

Spoonweaver · Post by **Spoonweaver** » Sat Jan 17, 2015 11:25 pm

Rachelle had heard everything. Silas, Arden, and Yauntor we're all dead. She stepped to the side as the zombies went downstairs. That's when the rest of the party noticed her.

She told them about how she had just woken up and how the others with her all seemed to have died, or at least had gone. They briefly told her about the mirrored hallway and the ones they saw disappear in the foyer. Then they set off to talk to Charles together.

They found Charles in his library as before. "Oh it you." Charles got up and retrieved a scroll from between two books. "Here, this is all I know about breaking the curse. I've found a few of these scrolls on my trips around the castle, all of them the same. If what this scroll says is correct, the whole kingdom is curse, not just this castle. I've also written down some notes on where to find the items mentioned on the scroll. I got this information from guests of the castle like yourselves. I would try to break the curse myself but I'm unable to. I'm compelled to return to this room. I can leave and go to many of the different parts of the castle but I must always return to this room before long. After that, my memories of what I had done outside this room begin to fade. Please, break this curse and save this kingdom."

Feenicks · Post by **Feenicks** » Sun Jan 18, 2015 1:25 am

Rachelle looks over the scroll, not entirely sure what to make of it. Are these the names of people or places?
...and beyond space and time? What's a casket doing there, anyway?

"Would you know which one of these is easiest to get from here?", she asks Charles.

[Character sheet.]

Spoonweaver · Post by **Spoonweaver** » Sun Jan 18, 2015 1:55 am

Everyone pauses and turns to Rachelle, none of them really expecting her to ask such a good question.

Charles gives her an odd look that seems as if he's about to ask who she is, but snaps out of that and simply answers, "Oh, Vyones is the city closest to the castle. It's also the capital city of Averoigne. Ximes and Perigon are other cities of the realm. I've heard of Les Hiboux being south of Ximes, in the swamp. Sylaire though, is an ancient city. It was long ago lost. The names to the right there, I don't know any of those people."

Master K · Post by **Master K** » Sun Jan 18, 2015 2:04 am

Can I just appreciate this expression right here

BMR · Post by **BMR** » Sun Jan 18, 2015 2:14 am

Kalar wonders about this, particularly the Gate of the Silver Keys mentioned in the scroll.

"Charles, this Gate of Silver Keys. Would this be those silver keys the scroll mentions?"

He turns to Galse and asks him to present the silver key the party retrieved from the gargoyle fountain.

"Also, I believe you are a scholar of some sort? If we are to break this curse, we will need all the aid and information we can get. Would you perhaps be able to tell us the function of these items?" he gestures at his cloak, the rod, the ring that Lynda picked up, etc... "It will aid us greatly going forward if we know what these do, and how they will affect our efforts."

*Was it two? I know for sure we got one from the chest at the gargoyle fountain, and I think Ardan picked one up before he died.

Spoonweaver · Post by **Spoonweaver** » Sun Jan 18, 2015 2:37 am

"Well I don't know about the keys or the gate," says Charles. "However, I can help with those items." With that Charles retrieves a sword the party hadn't noticed and draws it from it's sheath.

*cough* *cough* "It's been ages Charles! You told me you wouldn't leave me sheathed in a corner anymore, remember?" The voice seems to be coming from the sword.

Charles says to the sword, "I'm sorry, my memory isn't working very well recently. Anyways, I need your help. Could you identify these guests items for them."

With that, the sword flies into action. Charles seems to be getting pulled along as the sword points to each magical item the party has and calling out their functions. Then it points to Lynda and sags.

"This one seems to have some sort of magical nulling aura. I can't tell what she has."
"Don't worry about that one" Charles says with a cold stare at Lynda. Then he sheaths the sword as it protests it's imprisonment.

Kalar:
Cloak (+3 resistance bonus to saves)
feather token (a token of feather fall)
necklace (of fireballs type III [4-3d6 2-5d6 1-7d6])
rod (of enlarge)
Tower Shield (+2)

Galse:
Quarter Staff (+4)

BMR · Post by **BMR** » Sun Jan 18, 2015 2:55 am

Kalar considers this new information, and wonders about their next course of action. They should obviously try to find these things to get out of here, but it would also be a good idea to scour the area first in case there's anything useful.

"Lynda, dear, you were here before any of the rest of us, back when you were exploring with Silas." Kalar spits the name out. "Were you able to explore fully? Or are there any other areas here that might hold something of use, either information or tools that might aid us?"

Master K · Post by **Master K** » Sun Jan 18, 2015 2:59 am

Charles has given her quite the cold shoulder. He has every right to, as well. Lynda turned his dear sister into a raggedy pincushion. She'd like to ask Charles some questions, but seeing his reaction to her nulling amulet, she feels it would be best not to speak at all...and then Kalar decides to ask her a question.

Looking down towards the floor, towards Kalar, she says "Yes, Silas and I...we explored around slightly. There's a room back there, with...bewitched apparel, dancing about ceremoniously. There's another room too, but...we were warned not to enter it."

And with that, she resumes staring off into space.

BMR · Post by **BMR** » Sun Jan 18, 2015 3:09 am

"Very well, let us explore those rooms. Let's head for the one that you know about first, that way we'll have fewer surprises to deal with. Lynda, do be a dear and lead the way."

Kalar commands his two zombies to follow behind Lynda, and to support her in combat should anything attack.

Before leaving with Lynda, he turns to Charles and says, "Charles, we may be back. So far, this is the safest place we've been to, and we would appreciate your help in breaking this curse." He tries to be as diplomatic as possible and continues, "We would like to use this room as a base of operations of sorts, and with your knowledge, you would be able to help us greatly. You said that you would like to help us," (he didn't exactly say that, but Kalar is trying to convince him that he did) "and we would like to take you up on that offer. You need not venture out, just stay in this room. We shall be back when we have more information, and we will require your aid in piecing that information together."

With that, he leaves the room, following Lynda and his zombies. He gestures for the others to follow.

Spoonweaver · Post by **Spoonweaver** » Sun Jan 18, 2015 3:15 am

Everyone enters the room with the dancing cloaks. Charles follow behind, not leaving his own room. "There's nothing in this room. It's just a simple enchantment. It's been here for ages. Oh and come visit me any time."

No one finds anything in the room beyond the dancing cloaks and magically circle.