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- Aros – Lightfoot Halfling, Rogue
- Galiena Erenaeth – Half Elf, Celestial Warlock
- Baldur – Human, Pack Chain Warlock (Spear)
- Wickedstraza – Dragonborn (Bronze), Sorcerer (Draconic Bloodline)
The party realizes they may be in over their heads with this business in the manor and the ghost of a murdered woman who’s had her neck slit from ear to ear – and get in a circle and focus on the run of one of their companions – Wickedstraza – a Bronze Dragonborn Sorcerer whose magic coursed through her veins from the natural magic of Dragons themselves.
She is bewildered as to where she is – she knew that Galiena and Baldur, also students of the mad wizard Mordak had departed with Aros – a thief that Mordak had enslaved – using Aros’ forgery skills, they booked passage aboard The Sundial headed for the Broken Lands, in hopes of finding a way to break the Mordak’s seal of enslavement on all of them. What puzzled Wickedstraza was the fact that all their research had shown that the Broken Lands was a massive desert region – so the last place she expected to be was in a run down plantation manor.
That’s when she turned and saw the spirit of a human woman, whose head was barely attached to her body, whispering, “Find my killer and bring them to me.”
Baldur and Galiena explain that they had to abandon the ship they were on – stole a row boat and washed ashore – where they encountered some goblins (some of which they knocked out with the “Mouse Trap Boat”) – and that according to the goblins, there’s two towns opposite sides of the manor – and that the manor was essentially the central zombie graveyard (because they’d encountered a zombie in the front). There’s some discussion that salted meat is supposed to keep zombies at bay – but it didn’t – and Baldur was convinced because his meat was not salty enough. (Galiena believing the meat may have gotten damp… when they jump in salty sea water…)
The party asks several questions of the female ghost – including how she died (her throat had been slit), when did she die (she explained time doesn’t matter to her as a spirit), who killed her (she never saw her killer, only felt the ‘cold steel’). Aros decides to look around for evidence of her body – but he’s too shaken by her presence. Galiena notices something under the rug by the front door and moves it – and reveals a large blood stain here – and after investigating it further – sees the blood has seeped deep into the wooden floor – indicating this had been a large, deep, blood pool – and one that had been here for a long time to seep so deeply into the wooden floor.
The party determines this is probably the woman’s blood – and based on how deeply it had seeped into the wood and stained it – that the blood stain was definitely at the very least – several years old. This rules out that Jauhk the Goblin killed her and that this isn’t his blood either.
As they were investigating the bloodstain – Wickedstraza heard footsteps approaching from inside the house and was startled to see a human butler – who was just as startled to see people inside the plantation manor. He asked the party what they were doing and Baldur assured him that they’d fixed the squeaky door and that it shouldn’t squeak anymore. The party also noticed – upon the butler’s arrival – the ghost disappeared, as if fearful or not wishing to be seen.
The party speaks with the butler, who introduces himself as Dennin. After speaking with him and inquiring about the manor, the party learns there’s two others – Shorkil, whose primary job is being a gardener; but he also does other things around the manor (such as repairs, which he’s not done much of), and Hellina, who is the maid (and judging by the layers of dust on everything, she too doesn’t seem to be doing her job).
Baldur asks if it’s just the three of them – and Dennin explains that there’s also Lord Erihk Starfall, who owns the plantation manor of Eagle Rock. They speak with Dennin further and ask about the zombie they encountered in the front yard – but Dennin declines knowing anything about zombies and blames the bruise Baldur got (from the Zombie’s critical hit last session) on perhaps having bumped the boat they were on when they ran aground on the beach.
Baldur uses his arcane magic to create an illusion of the zombie (Natural 20 Performance!) and creates an exact duplicate – Dennin is stunned – and then mentions that Shorkil had told him before how he hates tending to the front because it makes him feel “uneasy” which is why it’s in the state that it is – but that he’d never reported seeing zombies or anything else out there.
Dennin then offers to bring them out food and escorts the party to the dining room – which has a table that runs about forty feet long – but there is a massive layer of dust on the dining room table. Baldur accepts the idea of eating – however, Wickedstraza informs Dennin that she will pass because of her “particular” diet. Dennin then looks the dragonborn over and assures her that Lord Starfall has hunted all kinds of animals and has all kinds of meat in the kitchen to ensure he has what his guests might desire – and confesses that there’s even horse meat (implying that dragons were known to feast on horses as a part of their diet).
The party asks Dennin what happened in the dining room with the paintings – and he explained (uncomfortably so) – that he can’t speak of it – and tells them that he will bring food and drink for them – and quickly scuttles away before more questions can be asked.
Galiena calls for the female ghost to appear again – and she does so – bound to the foyer, she’s unable to enter the dining room. (Unbeknownst to the others who went to the foyer to summon the female spirit again – Aros began rolling up the undamaged paintings on the floor and quickly shoving them into his bag). A few moments later, there’s a sound of glass breaking somewhere behind the female ghost. (What the others are unaware of – during all of this Aros took to exploring the house and was trying to follow the butler, Dennin – when he accidentally bumped a table and knocked over a lamp while attempting to stealth).
Galiena, Wickedstraza and Baldur converse with the spirit and learn that the female spirit and the owner of the manor – Lord Starfall – had a relationship at once – that was, until he “found another” according to the spirit. Galiena learns that apparently Lord Starfall had a (brief? One Night Stand?) with a human woman named Layna Ollarina.
The party continues speaking with the female ghost – and learn that she’d been summoned to the house – and she had a key – and when she entered – whoever killed her – had been hiding behind the door – and grabbed her and slit her throat.
The party learns that her name is Ellana Treeglade and that she’d been summon by Lord Starfall, because he’d wanted to talk to her and make things right. Galiena asks if Ellana has seen or heard from Layna – and Ellana explains that she’s not felt her presence for a very long time. The party begins to believe that perhaps Lord Starfall killed both women – and that perhaps Layna’s ghost is trapped in another room. Just then – the butler comes stumbling up from the basement kitchen area – and Ellana quickly disappears again.
The butler has food and drink with him and apologizes; he explains that he was startled by a noise and that a lamp seemed to have fallen off the table by itself. The party speaks to Dennin about getting an audience with Lord Starfall who is “upstairs” (and the stairs look as if they’ve been badly damaged). Dennin encourages the party to go back into the dining room so he can set down the plates of food and drinks.
Aros has managed to stealth and reach the kitchen now that the butler has left – and sees rather large and unusual looking meat. Granted the butler, Dennin did say Lord Starfall keep all kinds of meat and foods for his guests – but there was something particular about this meat that was hanging on the hooks. Just as Aros approached it to examine it closer – his party members, now seated at the dining room table realize he’s not there – and form a circle to summon him back to the dining room – assuming he’d fled the manor. They ask Aros where he’d been and what he found out – and he explains he followed the butler and accidentally broke a lamp while trying to hide – and that he found some weird meat hanging in the kitchen in the basement – but didn’t get a chance to look closer before he’d been summoned back. Aros, feeling uneasy, then slides into the shadows again, but remains in the dining room.
Dennin returns and introduces Shorkil and Hellina –
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Then all three smile and say, “Welcome to the manor, I hope you enjoy your stay!” And all three of them quickly change their forms – revealing a dark secret. They’re wererats!
Baldur shouts to Hellina saying that she was much better in her human form. (As a side note – Baldur had some fun – give inspiration for this! – and decided to do a Wisdom check to see if he’d still be attracted to Hellina – and rolled a 6 – so he decided that he was still attracted to her and would seek to somehow save her!) Aros leaps into battle – running up to the butler, Dennin, leaping out from the shadows and stabbing the startled Butler (landing in some sneak damage since he’d just come out of stealth for the attack!)
Wickedstraza unleashes her dragonborn breath – and lightning strikes all three wererats standing shoulder to shoulder. Shorkil, the gardener, attempts to swing at Wickedstraza, but still dazed from the bolt – fumbles and strikes himself with the sword, so he lunges forward and sinks his teeth deep into her bronze scales and skin – infecting her with Lycanthropy (she failed the Con save!)
Baldur rushes forward with his spear to try and help Aros – however, because everyone is kind of close to one another – he critical fails and hits Aros for some minor damage. Due to being a pole-arm master, however, Baldur makes a second attack against the Butler that lands a hit! The hit – combined with what Aros had done – is enough to bloody the Butler (meaning he has half health or less left!)
Hellina goes after Galiena, but swings wide with the kitchen knife – but does successfully lunge forward and sink her teeth into Galiena’s skin infecting her as well with Lycanthropy (failed Constitution Save). Galiena attempts to retaliate by striking Hellina with a booming blade, but the female wererat nimbly avoids the swing! Aros decides to take an action and disengage for his turn and quaff a potion as a bonus action. (Quaffing potions is a Bonus Action for my games – see House Rules).
Now with only Baldur in front of him, Dennin swings hard with his short sword and misses! He then lunges forward to bite Baldur – but Baldur quickly lifts his shield and deflects the bite attempt! Wickedstraza attempts to cast Infestation on Shorkil – but the wererat is able to avoid its effects! Seeing that she’d tried to use magic, Shorkil attempts to use his pitchfork but fails – but lands a critical hit (Natural 20!) on Wickedstraza which sends her collapsing to the ground. Thing seem to be falling apart as Baldur lunges with his spear, but fumbles (Bonus action – Critical Fail!) and inflicts some damage upon himself instead! He does however, manage to make his actual attack hit! Things continue to get worse for the party as Hellina then strikes Galiena and renders her unconscious and bleeding out.
Aros moves to Wickedstraza’s side and uses her healing potion on her to get her back to health. The spirit of Ellana appears and attempts to help the party by placing her hand through the Butler’s chest – but the wererat senses her cold presence and manages to avoid the attack – he then spins around and strikes her with his sword! Wickedstraza uses Burning Hands and despite the Butler and Gardener trying to avoid it – and doing so successfully – each still takes half damage, which is enough to put down the Butler! The Gardener tries to flee, but is killed (attack of opportunity) by Wickedstraza and Baldur; leaving only the maid, Hellina. Baldur shouts to Hellina, “Stop! It doesn’t have to end like this! You don’t have to be like them,” pointing to the two other dead wererats. However, Hellina doesn’t believe him – so instead, Baldur throws himself on Hellina and manages to grapple her, while Galiena bleeds out another point. (Side note – I was highly amused that Baldur chose to save Hellina rather than his fellow student, who was bleeding out on the floor! Gave me a good chuckle!)
Aros goes to Galiena’s side and gives her a potion and gets her back up too. Once Hellina sees that her two “companions” are dead and the party is all standing again – she simply ceases struggling knowing that even if she breaks free she would not survive trying to flee or fight the party. The party uses some of their rope to tie Hellina to the dining room table and try to convince her to switch back to her human form – but she just growls and hisses at them. It isn’t until Galiena speaks to her that Hellina switches back to her human form. Aros and Galiena both notice that the ropes loosen due to her human form not being as muscular as her wererat form and Aros attempts to tighten up the rope – but instead, just ties several extra knots that don’t do much in the way of making the rope more secure. Galiena asks Hellina if Lord Starfall is upstairs and if there’s any more people to be aware of (Galiena rolled a double Natural 20 on her Advantage roll!)
Hellina explains that the boat she’d been on was damaged during a storm, and that she appeared to be the sole survivor who washed ashore. She saw the plantation manor and crawled up the beach and to the manor where she was greeted by the Butler, Dennin, who offered her food and drink and said that Lord Starfall could help her. After eating the food and drink, Hellina recalls passing out almost immediately and awoke in a bedroom in the manor with a bite mark on her arm. Shortly there after, she changed into a wererat and learned that Dennin and Shorkil were also wererats. Because she was not spared of the curse, she began feeding on human flesh which Dennin kept in the kitchen basement – which was from other victims who’d come to the manor – some of which, may have been survivors from the same ship Hellina had been on.
Galiena asks about if there’s a cure to lycanthropy – and Hellina explains that not that she’s aware of. She goes on to say that she’s been a wererat now for roughly one hundred and twenty years, and her human form ceased aging once she became a wererat. She explains that when the moon is full, there is an undeniable need to feed on human flesh. Baldur asks Hellina if she’d seen a goblin in the manor (since Jauhk the Goblin had snuck into the manor) – and her story collaborates what Dennin, the Butler, had said earlier – that there’d been a creak (the door) – and that the three rushed up thinking someone had come in – but found no sign of anyone.
Galiena asks when the next full moon is (and since she asked – I had her roll a D10+D20) – and they learn the next full moon is in 12 days! Aros pulls out a dagger with some inscriptions on it and asks if Hellina had seen it before. She explains that she has – and that it had been Shorkil’s dagger. According to her, Shorkil saw someone wash ashore on the beach, rushed down there as a wererat and apparently murdered them. The dagger had been the only weapon on the person’s body – for some reason, Shorkil became very attached to the dagger – never letting it out of his sight. Galiena looks at the writing and runes (rolling Arcana – Natural 20!) – and learns that this is a Silver, Magical Dagger – ideal for dealing with any kind of Lycanthropy enemy.
Aros decides to run the flat of the blade against Hellina’s legs to see if she has a reaction to the silver – but it doesn’t do anything obvious, as she pulls her leg away and asks him what he’s doing. Baldur shakes his head and tells Aros that that was very inappropriate. He then looks to the others and asks about giving a small cut to see what the blade does – the party agrees to a small paper cut type wound (though Hellina isn’t inclined to agree and tries to struggle away) – but Aros is able to deliver a small cut which causes the wound to hiss as if acid had been applied. Aros then does a medicine check successfully to bandage the wound after confirming the blade’s ability to inflict damage on Lycanthropy infected individuals.
The party opts to short rest in the foyer, knowing that the spirit of Ellana is bound there and will probably protect the party since they’ve offered to find her killer. While Galenia is trying to get comfortable, she finds a note that’s fallen behind a small table and pulls it out and shares with the party:
Aros asks Ellana about the note – and she explains that Lord Starfall was once a great man who commanded the Rocs of Eagle Rock. However, none of the party members are familiar with what Rocs are (all failed a pretty easy Nature DC check) – so Ellana describes Rocs are gargantuan birds that were said to be big enough to fight off the likes of dragons; and that throughout Eagle Rock’s history – Lord Starfall’s family has commanded the Rocs and have some kind of bound to the magnificent birds – who would often provide safe passage by simply carrying wagons of weapons, cargo, even people to their destination and thus avoiding brigands on the ground.
The party heaves a deep sigh and begins their short rest…