Castle Amber: A D&D Adventure

BMR · Post by **BMR** » Wed Mar 04, 2015 6:57 pm

This is certainly interesting...

"Right, lads. Far as I can tell, something fused these folks into place. A powerful paralysis spell perhaps? Some exotic poison in their hors d'oeuvre? Or maybe something to do with King Stephen's curse?

"That spirit who took over Galse, claimed to be the Queen. We have heard though, that it was the murder of a certain King Stephen and not the the King Henry the queen mentioned, that set off the curse.

"So. Clues. Crown jewels are stashed away behind a poison dart trap. Courtiers are standing here in their regal best. Two figures sit at each throne, perhaps the Queen and her consort. Everyone here is dead though, unlike the other Clovers or Ambers or whatever they're calling themselves. Galse was possessed by the queen, so she perhaps was some powerful ghost or the other. Ghosts often come back to fulfill tasks they had left undone, particularly tasks left undone at their death.

"So, regal skeletons, hidden crown jewels, a dead couple on the throne, a ghostly would-be queen, and a murdered king. Does anyone else get the feeling that what we're looking at here, preserved in fused skeletons, is a coronation ceremony after a vicious coup against the rightful king?"

Master K · Post by **Master K** » Wed Mar 04, 2015 7:23 pm

The Crown Jewels of the Clo-uh, Amber family were especially exquisite. However, they were too exquisite for her to even dare to wear. For one, jewelry of that caliber and renown may provoke those to attempt to steal it. Second, if anyone of the family were to see her waltzing around with the treasures of their nobility and lineage, they may just kill her on the spot. So, for now, she figures it would be best to wrap up the jewels in her cleric robe, and keep them safely hidden on her person.

"Claude remembers me. However, he now claims to be Claude Amber. Whatever that bull did, it not only changed my dress from Clover to Amber, but it changed the name from Clover to Amber. Catherine Amber was once Catherine Clover. If we were to ask someone where we are, they may just respond Castle Amber." Lynda states.

She looks around the room, then looks at Kalar.

"We're standing in a scene, frozen by time. Perhaps you are right...this may be the coronation of King Henry, the one who succeeded Prince Stephen. Claude mentioned this. I believe he said that this was around the time that the curse became prevalent. Perhaps...Queen Catherine was Stephen's murderer? Should we bring this up to Claude, minus the part where I looted his families royal treasures?"

"Whatever that queen wanted, she wanted one of those Gremlins from the foyer. Should we go investigate them as well?"

Post by **Bob the Hamster** » Wed Mar 04, 2015 10:23 pm

Marching orders:

Tammytharn is feeling traumatized and guilt-ridden and overwhelmed. She is sulking and praying to Rao. She will cooperate with her allies, and go along with their plans within reason. She will share anything interesting the notices.

I can't update her spell list right now, but assume that she will have at least one level 1 inflict spell prepared for Hrulgin, and that she will freely heal anybody who asks for it.

Spoonweaver · Post by **Spoonweaver** » Thu Mar 05, 2015 4:13 am

Having investigated all they could in the throne room, the party followed Lynda's idea to investigate the gremlins. They stood outside the door to the foyer, partially leaning towards going back through the red room and down the ladder to their camp and partially leaning towards looking into these gremlins.

Gizmog · Post by **Gizmog** » Thu Mar 05, 2015 4:52 am

When you say Gremlin, how big are we talking here? Like uhh.. Furby sized? Teddy Ruxpin sized? Midget sized?

BMR · Post by **BMR** » Thu Mar 05, 2015 9:29 am

"I'd rather we head on out, but I also feel that we shouldn't leave any stone unturned. I'll wait out here while you investigate the gremlins. I doubt they'll be any trouble considering the other things we've run into, but we might be able to learn something from them."

Kalar waits outside the door, ready to enter should Lynda run into any trouble.

Master K · Post by **Master K** » Thu Mar 05, 2015 8:51 pm

"Well, I'd rather not hold us up any longer than we need to. To be quite honest, I'd love to get out of this wretched castle." Lynda says. "So, I'd be quite fine with us going now."

Spoonweaver · Post by **Spoonweaver** » Thu Mar 05, 2015 11:18 pm

And so, the party decided to ignore the gremlins. They made their way back to camp, with the skeleton close behind. They were thankful when they saw Thistlewhistle was still sleeping peacefully and Rachelle's statue was similarly untouched.

BMR · Post by **BMR** » Fri Mar 06, 2015 1:49 am

"Right, lads, I believe we're as ready as we'll ever be to get out of this place. We have no idea what's on the other side though, so best be careful."

He turns to Lynda and says, "We also don't know if it will be night time, and if it is, if there will be a full moon. Claude said I could very well lose myself, so before we go through, I want you to tie me up, so if I do go crazy, I won't be able to run around."

Then he turns to the skeleton. "Also, and I apologize for this, skeleton, we don't know what will happen with you, so I would also prefer you be tied up as well. As you can see, you will not be the only one, so I hope you do not take umbrage at that."

Turning back to the rest of the party he says, "As for everyone else, take as much gold from the worm room as you can carry. We don't know if we'll be able to come back here. I was lucky with the portal to the ghoul lands, the portal back vanished, but there was another one relatively close by that allowed me to return. There's no guarantee that will be the case here. We might need the money later, so grab all you can. Thistlewhistle still has my large round shield, you can use that as a sled of sorts to drag more gold around.

"As for Rachelle, I am loath to leave her hear. We'll drag that statue through the gate. Perhaps we will find a means to revive her once we go through.

"Hrulgin and I will check out the room with the portal to the ghoul lands. If we're lucky, a few undead will have come up the pit, and I'll be able to take control of them, giving us much needed manpower.

"Right, let's get cracking. We'll meet back here in half an hour."

Gizmog · Post by **Gizmog** » Fri Mar 06, 2015 2:49 am

Galse will help anyone who can't shoulder their load, but isn't himself interested in taking any gold. He will check around the rooms that were "safe" for any thing more practical. Bags, Rope, food, tools, things of that nature. He's got a bad feeling that this portal might take them into the wilderness somewhere, and what good will 4 tons of gold do us out there? No need to mention it though. Nobody likes a spoil-sport.

Master K · Post by **Master K** » Fri Mar 06, 2015 2:52 am

Lynda decides to do the same as Galse, and rummage around safe areas for things that are practical. She'll also take some gold with her. Oh, and she'll keep an eye out for an ermine cape.

Spoonweaver · Post by **Spoonweaver** » Fri Mar 06, 2015 6:28 am

Lynda and Galse don't find anything too useful in the rooms around them besides lab equipment. They both gather 3 flasks of acid each and pick up 200 gold.

Tammytharn fills her pockets full of gold though in her depressed state she only manages 400 gold. Then helps to drag Thistlewhistle and Rachelle's statue till they are right outside of the portal room.

Kalar finds no new undead near the ghoul land hole. He spends a good deal of time gathering gold and amassing it near the gate. When it comes time to tie up the skeleton, the skeleton surprisingly agrees. The keys are all laid out and then Kalar is tied up. The group was ready to go.

Gizmog · Post by **Gizmog** » Fri Mar 06, 2015 6:49 am

Spoonweaver in IRC wrote:There's boxes and cauldrons too

Galse is going to drag along a cauldron and an empty box if he can. The cauldron could be good for cooking or making a signal, and the box might be nice to live in if they wind up in the middle of nowhere. And while he's thinkin about it, Galse ties something trivial to a bit of rope and throws it through the gate to see if he can reel it back safely.

BMR · Post by **BMR** » Fri Mar 06, 2015 6:51 am

Kalar sees the boxes and the cauldrons, and has a thought.

"Pile up as much gold as you can in that box and cauldron, then tie them to me. I should be able to drag it through if some of you help move it along."

Spoonweaver · Post by **Spoonweaver** » Fri Mar 06, 2015 7:04 am

Galse readied a rope and test object to toss through the gate, but it had not yet been open. The keys lay in front of it and the 4 keyholes, 1 of which covered in clovers, remained locked.