Lyonia: House of the Beast

I must admit, I am unimpressed with Bailiff Oswald. I can see why Sir Thames, in Adreham’s Ledger may he rest, was the more senior of the King’s investigatory retinue. Our small coterie arrived to Leene by dawn’s first light following a rather uneventful journey. We were surprised to note a gaggle of villagers standing round a corpse. I had a mind to have a word with Oswald for his lack of industry in seeing to Sir Thames burial with greater haste considering the man had died a fortnight ago but we were told the body was not that of the knight at all but was instead the blacksmith, George. Concerned that Leene would soon run out of villagers, we inquired just how many such murders had taken place. The bailiff mentioned one other along with a host of farm animals.

From his description of Sir Thames and the condition of the other corpses, it appeared that poor George had died by similar means. Rather than be felled by that sinister apparatus, sharpened meat, it appeared George had succumbed to injuries from a talon or claw. Searching the grounds about the Leene Inn, we found a gory, bloody scene about some deep gouges in the ground, as might have been made by some feral beast.

Oswald implored us to travel to the blacksmith’s home several hours outside town to inform the man’s young daughter. The blacksmith was good and cold by the time we arrived so why Oswald did not move with greater alacrity to make such a notification himself, I know not. As I say, I am not much impressed by the man. Nevertheless, with some minor delays (the orcish cleric seems somewhat lacking in her facility with husbandry), we rode out to the blacksmith’s home and forge. We found the forge itself cold, the fire out completely and utterly. The home, being completely empty with no sign of George’s daughter, was nearly as cold as the forge.

In the kitchen, it appeared the floor boards had been pried up and a small lockbox drawn out. Said lockbox lay on the table unopened, though not from lack of trying. The lockbox was marked with claw-like gouges though the lock still held fast. Formidable against a feral hand, the lockbox could not abide my colleague’s lockpicks, and soon its contents were revealed. Within lay a note from father to daughter. Something about a silvered arrowhead crafted into an amulet. Against what, the note did not elaborate. The arrowhead itself appeared of elvish make and, upon further examination, like was indeed magical and carried enchantments targeting shapeshifters. For it to work, though, it would need to be shafted. How the blacksmith acquired the talisman, or found it bereft of its wooden component, he did not say. In the blacksmith’s study lay commissioned plans for an apparatus of metal bars and clasps, though we were not able to gain insight on who had commissioned the work. We did not find the blacksmith’s daughter but the state of the forge would seem to indicate she had been absent from the cottage several days at least.

Seeing no sign of George’s daughter, we searched the grounds. In the woods nearby, we found a set of tracks, small and booted. Following the tracks, the trail became difficult to follow as the trail gave way to what appeared to be a wolf’s tracks. The boot prints did not persist beyond their intersection with the wolf’s tracks and, as there did not appear to be blood or gore in the vicinity, we surmised that, despite how outlandish it may seem, whoever made them may have in fact become the wolf. Drawing this conclusion, we thought better of leaving the blacksmith’s amulet behind and instead lashed it to a supple tree branch, fashioning a crude arrow.

Returning to Leene, we implored Oswald to provide additional detail on Sir Thames’ murder. The bailiff took us to the knight’s cottage. Apparently, according to his wishes, he was buried in his garden. The townspeople noted that he was apparently killed some creature with large claws. I thought that an odd custom but who am I to question the aristocracy. Looking through the man’s effects, we found a letter detailing parameters for an apparatus similar to that identified among the blacksmith’s papers in his study. It appeared that Sir Thames himself had written a missive atop a stack of parchment. Like any decent cartographer, I was able to make a rubbing of this missive. It seemed to corroborate our concerns of a shapeshifter looming about and made reference to a curse and discussed the movement of a silver longsword to a drop point marked by an oak tree to be left after the full moon, which we calculated to take place in the next few days.

Crucially, whatever foul creature besets the village of Leene, it apparently does not seem to conform to parameters normally confining lycanthropes. It seems as though this evil is able to control its transformations, and may even be able to obscure its condition during a full moon. Oswald has wasted valuable time in his lack of deliberacy. We must redouble our efforts if we seek to prevent further tragedy from befalling the village.

The Metaphorical Plane

 "The metaphorical plane?"

"No, the Metaphorical Plane. It's . . . hard to explain."

"Try me, Dr. Amber."

"Okay, you know those 'just-so' stories for kids? Like how the seasons are caused by war between the fire and the water elementals? Even though we know that they are caused by the axial tilt of Earth as it goes around the sun?"

I nod. Dr. Emile D'Amberville was the foremost authority in quasiplanar metaphysics at the University of Orlaine, and I wasn't about to disagree with anything he said. 

"Well, it turns out those children's stories are also true. It's easier to describe using arcane math, but the axial tilt and the elemental war both cause the seasons!"

"You mean the axial tilt determines the tide of the war? Or does the war of the elementals cause the globe to tilt?"

"Yes." I must have looked confused, because he continued on, "That is, while it's natural to think one phenomenon must be more basic than the other, both actually have the same explanatory power as the other. Neither is prior to the other."

"Does that imply that the world is actually flat?"

"In a sense. It is definitely a sphere, but it is equally definitely a flat plane floating above the elemental chaos. This is all derivable from the Covellian equations, but Ferrier's work from just before the Second Demon War makes it clear. It's similar to how Faerie is an echo of what we call the Prime Material, but the Prime Material is also an echo of Faerie."

"So can we visit these locations, like we can visit Faerie?"

"It's difficult, but with the right sort of magic it's possible, similar to how some spells can transfer you to the plane of Fire."

"But didn't Fayon famously just walk into Hades, no magic required?"

"Well, I think you'll find that travel is its own sort of magic."

Sessions 19 and 20: Mounded

The next morning, Remi returned from scouting the rest of the village. He found nothing, but the Bartknockers, feeling stronger with their magus back decided that they would take on the protean again and make sure the town had nothing to fear. Perhaps due to Remi's help, or perhaps with the knowledge they had gained from their first encounter, the battle went far more easily than the first round, and the Naunet fell beneath their blades. The next day, they used Remi's expertise more productively, and found a scroll of comprehend languages on the black market. They had thought they might just pay a caster, but reasoned that requiring a translation of an abyssal tome would raise questions they would rather not deal with. In the diary, they found a wealth of information, including the location of the slime base in the Rhenish fens, just north of Perrin. 

Gnick saw immediately that there were two paths into the swamp -- a high road to the east, and a low road that ran closer to the water. The party decided on the low road, and they proceeded into the swamp. After about an hour, Barth spotted a glint of gold on one of the hillocks scattered along their damp path. Seeing only bloodseekers flying around it, the group clambered onto the mound and dealt swiftly with the bloodsuckers. However, as Barth moved forward to claim the treasure, the mound lashed out with a pseduopod and slammed at the dwarf! The party began to get nervous after their first few attacks did not have the desired effect, but they soon feel into a rhythm and the shambler died alone.

The Diary of Fabala Martinix

[Ed. Note: The diary has been abridged to include only relevant entries]

May 1st, AC 142

The Assez family are the worst sort of Capitalist! They claim to love their workers, but do they set them free? Do they treat them as equals? No! I've tried to explain how the Assez's are getting rich on their surplus labor, but the peasants don't care as long as they are being fed. Some more radical action needs to be done!

January 7th, AC 144

I received a message from someone who calls himself "a friend". Apparently he's been working on a plan to free this land from the nobles and hand the means of production over to the workers and serfs, and I am key to this plan! I need to lay the groundwork, and he will send his servant here when the time is right. The nobles will fall!

September 14th, AC 148

My son was born today. We named him Remi to remind us that the oars of justice are always pulling us closer to a day when all are equal. The world Remi inherits may be a chaotic one, but it will lead to a brighter dawn.

March 15th, AC 158

At long last, the Great Master has sent his servant to us, the slime-that-walks-like-a-man. He calls himself Equanimious Slurp, and is planning on setting up a base in the Rhenish Fens north of here. His plan is odd -- he wants to use small slimes to steal things from townspeople, believing that this will increase mutual suspicion. He has a medallion that greatly increases his summoning ability, which he will use to increase his forces.

I don't see how this will help us liquidate the Assez's, much less the rest of the noble caste, but my orders from the Great Master are very clear that I am to support Slurp. I will have to try to convince him that if we can eliminate the Assez family, we will be well placed to take over and use the resources of this province to move against nobles in other areas.

September 12th, AC 161

Word has come from the Grand Master -- we must move against the Assez's soon. The medallion the disgusting creature Slurp had been using to summon slimes has to be sent back, to be used in a different plot the Great Master has in mind. I am nervous about my son Remi and his friends -- they are clearly inexperienced and no great threat, but even the weakest adventurers can find a way to foil the march of destiny.

September 23rd, AC 161

Oh joy! The local druids have taken exception to the Assez family's despoliation of the natural environment in the name of capital. Strange bedfellows, but it's distracted Remi and his bunch. Slurp is ready to move once I give him the signal.

October 15th, AC 161

That dwarf is so obnoxious, but at least they are headed south -- into Dôle, apparently. Once they are gone, it will be time to take over the manor and make sure that the Assez's do not live to lord it over the rest of us any longer! Slurp says he used the medallion before he sent it back to the Great Master to bring a powerful outsider here to help us take over the manor.

November 11th, AC 161

The day is here. We've barricaded ourselves in our room as Slurp and his slimes devastate the estate. They will take the workers downstairs and sacrifice them to create a powerful ally. Unfortunately, but necessary for the aid of workers everywhere! Once the manor is secure, we will come out and lead the slime army in glorious revolution! But wait, what is that noise at the door?

Session 18: Under Assez Manor

The party enters the last room, a circular chamber sixty feet across with a golden statue on a pedestal in the center. The statue depicts the lady of beasts, a heretical version of Ryanna with the head of a lioness, ears of a donkey, and the legs of a goat. As they enter, the statue transforms into a Naunet before their eyes. Guy springs into combat faster than the foe can react and knifes it in the gut. Unfortunately, the usual organs seems to be missing and the creature barely notices. Barth charges forward to hold it in place while Clooney hits it with a touch of idiocy. Naunet strikes back with its tail, grabbing and squeezing Clooney in its tight grip. Gnick charges in to rescue him, casting Scatterscree to pelt the weird unnatural creature with stones. Ash also advances, and enchants Barth's weapon. Guy moves around to the other side of the beast, but cannot land a blow. Barth's attacks are also repelled by the creature's strangely repellent hide, but Clooney does manage to use the distraction to change into a spice weasel and --- BAM --- escape. 

The creature pounds Ash with its tentacles, but Ash holds his ground, and it bites at Barth in frustration. Gnick heals, and Ash shoots it with a Ray of Enfeeblement. Guy stabs it again, while Barth is finally able to land a solid blow, enhanced by Ash's magic. Clooney gives it an intimidating glare, but the creature is able to land a tail strike on Guy, grabbing him while he lands a tremendous bite on Barth. Gnick tries to remember where he's heard about this sort of creature before, but can't come up with anything. He then wraps up Ash's wounds, helping him somewhat. Ash begins charging up his chakra, while Guy wriggles free, though Guy's trip attempt does not succeed. The Naunet charges forward to attack Barth, landing a blow that Barth is able to shrug off. Ash kamehameha's the creature, giving it pause as the rest of the party prepares to flee. 

Guy moves up to assist their flight, trying to trip it again. The minion of Chaos grabs Barth with its tail and drives him into unconsciousness with the tightness of his squeeze. In response, Gnick moves back up to regenerate his comrades with divine energy. Guy steps up to help Barth escape from the creature's tail, and Barth retreats back. Clooney creates an illusion to slow it down, but the illusion only slows it down, and it's bite incapacitates Guy. Ash is able to let out another torrent of inner radiance. Gnick treats Guy, and Guy scatters caltrops in an attempt to cover the Barthknockers' escape. Meanwhile, Clooney fires off some magic missiles to slow it down. The protean however charges through the caltrops, knocking Clooney unconscious. Gnick heals Clooney, then continues his retreat. Clooney casts another phantom cloud, and Guy grabs weasel-form Clooney to run.

Session 17: Secrets

So, without warning, the swarm of rats attacked! Gnick threw up a swarm of rocks at them, but the rocks went wide, narrowly missing Guy. But a poison cloud from Clooney dazed the rodents, and Barth was able to kill a truly amazing number with just one swing of his axe. The remaining rats scurried up in his armor, biting and clawing the unfortunate dwarf. In response, Gnick summoned a swarm of insects, which killed the remainder of the rats, but left Barth with a lingering itch. After the fight, the Bartknockers are divided about what to do next. Barth wanted to go underground, but Ash was worried about some enemy burning down the building around them. Baby Bear wanted to finish exploring the first floor, so the party followed the bear.

Around the corner from the ballroom, the group found the winemaker's quarters, where Remi's parents lived. The room was much neater than the rest of the house, with a map of the vineyards on the wall and a bare desk in the corner. The desk is locked and trapped, but Guy is able to untrap it, and Barth, showing more skill than he had with the wagon, sawed off the lock to open the drawer. Inside there was a diary along with 100 gp in jewelry. The diary is in a language no one can read, but Gnick is able to recognize it as abyssal, the language of the demons.

Exploring further, the Bartknockers find the kitchen set up with extra tables and chairs, presumably to serve as a sort of ersatz dining room. Ash went to investigate the dumbwaiter in the corner, but noticed nothing out of the ordinary. Finishing up their search of the ground floor, the group went into the parlor. There the walls were decorated with the heads of animals, and there was a full-sized stuffed bear in the corner. Ash threw a sheet over the bear to spare Baby Bear's tender feelings. On the far wall was a fireplace and in the fireplace was the head of lynx. On entering the room, Clooney noticed it quiver, but couldn't tell what had caused it, so Gnick went in to investigate. Upon getting close, a grayish ooze reached out from the fireplace with a pseudopod, grabbing Gnick and squeezing him tight. 

Baby Bear slashed and Bart dealt a mighty blow to the slime, but it held tight and continued to squeeze Gnick. However, Gnick was able to reverse the hold, and Clooney ended the ooze's life with a well-place ball of flame. Barth searched the room, and found a pair of rubies in the head of the lynx. The group went up to the second floor next. In the master bedroom, they found a skeleton with a silver mirror held up over its thin hair and a four-poster bed with three posts missing. The dumbwaiter terminated in this room behind a pair of shutters. Barth walked up behind the skeleton as quietly as a well-armored dwarf can manage, only to find it a true skeleton, held together with wires. Frustrated, he searched the room, and tore the fourth bedpost off the bed, but he found nothing. However, they did find a pair of Boots of Elvenkind behind the desk.

Finally, the group followed the ramp in the ballroom down into the cellar. It led into a small, well-appointed tasting room, and from there into the barrel room. The barrel room still contained dozens of barrels of wine, but Guy warned that if they opened them improperly, they risked vinegaring the wine, and indeed it appeared that many of the barrels had been improperly opened. Behind the barrel room were rooms for gathering and crushing the grapes. Deeper in, the cellar turned into a natural cave, and as the Bartknockers entered this area, they were accosted by 10 zombies covered in an olive slime! Unfortuntely for the undead, they were no match for the party, and Barth's native constitution was enough to throw off the effects of the slime.

Going further down, the party entered a larger cave that seemed to be designed to serve as some sort of amphitheater. The floor was cut roughly into tiers as it descended towards a square platform 30 feet on a side, covered with arcane symbols and a dark script written in a brownish red ink. On the stage stood a gigantic bowl with long rusty chains hanging above it. The Bartknockers skirted the edge of the room and continued downwards.

Session 16: To Assez Manor!

 

Continuing on to Perrin, the group found a town under siege. It was nearing nightfall, but the streets were too quiet. The houses were shuttered, and while there was light peeking out from under the shades, the voices were muted. Guy scouted out the town, but found no one stirring, so the team moved immediately to Assez Manor. There, the walls were starting to crumble for lack of maintenance, and the proud iron gate that bore their words "Assez Bon" was rusting, and one of the doors was off its hinges. The grounds inside walls were in bad shape, the small family vineyard severely overgrown, and not a sound came from the cooperage or the barn. The party moved up to the manor house, and started towards the large, battered oak doors when Barth noticed something on the roof. Two of the gargoyles, gargoyles Remi had assured them were decorative, were moving to attack.

Barth stood in front of the party at guard, but the gargoyles showed a marked preference for gnome flesh, swooping towards Gnick and staying out of the reach of the dwarf's axes. Gnick found it difficult to retaliate, but Clooney was able to hurt the beasts with magic missiles, and Ash threw flames when he wasn't healing Gnick. Barth moved to guard Gnick more closely, and was able to land some opportunistic strikes, and the party eventually felled the beasts and moved into the manor. 

The foyer had been the scene of a battle, with bloodstains and broken weapons littering the red-carpeted floor. The door leading out were intact, but open, and the party went into the ballroom to the west, leaving the spiral staircase for later. The ballroom still showed some of its old charm, with marble walls and and elegantly carved wooden frieze above the fireplace depicting the Assez family. But the floor was littered with broken furniture, apparently cannibalized to barricade the windows of the room. Ash examined the fireplace and the frieze, but found nothing. Barth searched the floor and found a menuki, but also disturbed some rats that had been sleeping peacefully. Annoyed at having their slumber disturbed, the rats immediately attacked!