Castle Amber: A D&D Adventure

Spoonweaver · Post by **Spoonweaver** » Fri Jan 30, 2015 6:21 am

Gontort respectfully lets Kalar take the lead. Kalar has seen this type of circle before. It's a very complex looking sealing circle used when summoning demons in order to gain information. From the look of it, it's very strong.
The creature inside the circle is a death demon. Kalar doesn't know much more beyond the name, but the name says a lot.

"I'm one of the Clover family members and I've been stuck here in this circle. I can help you escape if you let me out. I know where all the keys are. I know where the sword, the ring, and the mirror are and I can make the potions.LEt me out, we can break this curse together."

BMR · Post by **BMR** » Fri Jan 30, 2015 6:32 am

Kalar realizes that the creature is a demon, and not a devil as he originally thought.

On the one hand, it could indeed be a member of the Clover family as the creature states. But if such is true, then judging by the other family members, it's probably insane. And an insane Clover family member in the body of a death demon is not something he wants to deal with.

On the other hand, if it's not a member of the Clover family, then there is no way Kalar will be able to trust it. If it were a demon, he'd be able to strike a deal with it, as he knows they keep to their word, as he knows from his worshiping. Demons however, don't. He might be able to gather information, but judging from the power of the circle, he's probably not strong enough to impose his will on the demon.

His mind made up, he says to Gontort, "The creature is lying. Let's be off."

He takes Gontort by the shoulder and leads him out of the room, closing the door behind him. He leads Gontort south. He stops at the door in the room between the Demon Room and the Gate Room, wondering what sort of thing could be in there. He's tempted to open it, but now that he's retrieved Gontort, it would be better to regroup before exploring further.

Then again, it's important to know what's coming, so that when the group arrives, they're not going in blind. At least that way, there's less chance of everyone dying horribly.

"Gontort, my man, if you could open that door a crack and peek in. I would be much obliged if you could tell me what's in there before we head back to the rest of the party. I don't want us heading inside yet, but we should at least know what's in there."

Kalar hopes the room is a store-room or something similarly innocuous, but on the likely chance that it isn't, he says, "Oh, and do please try not to antagonize anything that might be in there."

Spoonweaver · Post by **Spoonweaver** » Fri Jan 30, 2015 6:54 am

Gontort looks a bit annoyed at Kalar but does as he says.
In the middle of this room is a 10' wide pit. The pit is guarded by two
hideous, beast-like humans, in armor holding large shields and lances.
"Halt, no living beings may approach the ghoul lands," says one of the guards.

BMR · Post by **BMR** » Fri Jan 30, 2015 7:00 am

Kalar looks at the two, trying to determine what sort of creatures they are, or if they are some sort of undead.

Spoonweaver · Post by **Spoonweaver** » Fri Jan 30, 2015 7:15 am

(Kalar's knowledge religion check)
Ignoring their armor and the fact that they are guarding a hole and not furiously attacking all living creatures for their bone marrow, these two guards are ghouls.

Gontort shakes his axe at Kalar as if to ask if he should use it on the ghouls.

BMR · Post by **BMR** » Fri Jan 30, 2015 7:38 am

"In a minute." he says to Gontort.

Kalar raises his holy symbol and attempts to command the two ghouls.

Turning Check: 1 (CHA) + 2 (Knowledge: Religion) = +3

Turning Damage: 1 (CHA) + 4 (Cleric levels) = +5

Post by **Bob the Hamster** » Fri Jan 30, 2015 3:23 pm

Tammytharn, glad that Kalar is gone, sits down on the table again next to the gently snoring Thistlewhistle.

She takes her pen and paper out, and continues writing.

Master K · Post by **Master K** » Fri Jan 30, 2015 3:41 pm

Lynda decides it would be best to do some more exploring. She shuts the door to the hellhound room, with the hellhounds left in it.

Lynda goes to the central room, and attempts to peek in the door.

Spoonweaver · Post by **Spoonweaver** » Fri Jan 30, 2015 5:07 pm

The guard's both salute Kalar. "Sir, pardon our rudeness. What our your orders?" Kalar can feel that he has them both under his control. Gontort lowers his axe.

Lynda peaks into the center room. This room seems like a library. At least it would be if any of the shelves had books in them. The many shelves in this room have nothing on them aside from a few pieces of paper.

BMR · Post by **BMR** » Fri Jan 30, 2015 5:17 pm

Kalar only just barely manages to suppress an outbreak of maniacal laughter by calling on every ounce of his cultural upbringing in hiding emotions.

"Nothing to worry about, my friends. For now, follow me. And while you're following, tell me your names. Also, I would like to know more about these ghoul lands and their relationship with this castle."

Kalar gestures to Gontort to follow. With Gontort and his two newest friends in tow, he heads back to where he left the party.

Spoonweaver · Post by **Spoonweaver** » Fri Jan 30, 2015 5:35 pm

The ghouls follow Kalar and Gontort in a clumsy manner. The bang against the walls and stumble as the walk. It would seem they aren't very proficient with the weapons, armor, and shields.
"My name is John and his is Kretivuslar," says one of the ghouls. "The ghoul lands are a massive kingdom. They are home to many undead. They are connected to lots of places, this is but one of many entrances."

The ghoul gets all of this out just as Kalar, Gontort, and the ghoul arrive in the Lab. Galse and Tammytharn heard them coming for a while before they arrived thanks to the clanking of the ghoul's armor.

Master K · Post by **Master K** » Fri Jan 30, 2015 5:45 pm

"Hmm." Lynda says. She decides to cautiously enter the room.

She goes over and decides to see if the pieces of paper have anything on them.

BMR · Post by **BMR** » Fri Jan 30, 2015 5:50 pm

This is most interesting information... If the ghoul lands are indeed a massive kingdom that connects to various places, then it might just be possible to escape the castle through the ghoul kingdom. Then again, the problem remains that it's filled with hordes of undead. After enough preparation, and should Tammytharn agree to work with him, it just might be possible to survive, but it would still probably be a rather difficult journey.

Once with the others, he quickly relates the past events about the trapped demon, the encounter with the ghouls (who are now his good friends), and the Gate of Silver Keys.

"Well, lads, we've found the Gate of Silver Keys. The only problem is, when I peeked in, I saw that the gate had four keyholes, and we only have two keys. I propose that we explore the remaining rooms in the western area here, and see if there are any other silver keys. If we manage to collect enough for the gate, I'd say we head back to Charles to get some rest before venturing through the gate.

"If, however, we don't have enough keys, we just may need to venture back into the forest. I believe that the path continued past this chapel, and we may need to head that way for more of these keys.

"Alternatively, we could backtrack. Who knows? Maybe the lion-headed man or the woman with the unicorn might have keys.

"What say you?"

He looks around. "Incidentally, what happened to Lynda and Rachelle?"

While waiting for the others to answer, he asks the ghouls, "Are you two really comfortable in that armor? If you feel you can move around and fight better without the weapons, the shields, or the armor, you do not need to keep using them."

Post by **Bob the Hamster** » Fri Jan 30, 2015 6:00 pm

Tammytharn says nothing, scowling furiously at the sight of Kalar leading his new pet ghouls, although when she hears Kalar inquire about the monster's comfort, and lets them make their own choice about their equipment, her face softens considerably.

Spoonweaver · Post by **Spoonweaver** » Fri Jan 30, 2015 7:05 pm

The ghouls drop their lances and shields and take their armor off. After they remove it they seem very dexterous indeed as they crouch down and half crawl around the room looking at things.

Meanwhile, Lynda looks at the pieces of paper in the empty library. She finds that two of them are notes similar to the one Charles gave to the party, only without the writing at the bottom. Some of the other pieces of paper are blank. Three of them Lynda recognizes as divine scrolls of Charm Animal, Hold Person, Inflict Moderate Wounds. The last one is a map of Averoigne. The writing on it is in a language Lynda can't read.