And on to the Hermitage

We retreated back into the Mumbling Hall; Virmir admitted the map was hard to read but we got onto Singing Swordsman Hall and then to judge by the tip-tapping, we had found Footsteps Hall. We stopped to get our breath and still the footsteps kept on around us in the emptiness. As we started creeping down the corridor, a skeleton creaked out in front of us from the gloom. Brother Odo raised his hand in the Holy Sign and the boney fellow turned and ran. Down the eeriness of Whistling Hall and there was the Vestibule Door, praise be! Novarion checked it and Usk shoved it open - ahead of us lay a dank, overgrown garden where dismal weeds had choked any flowers years ago - we followed the gavel path but Novarion stepped off it and a wiry, yet rotting hand grasped his ankle! Oakheart shouted "HOLD your steps!" but Lucca had already gone to help the Elf and he too was snatched. We gathered about, avoiding stepping off of the path and hacked at the hands at arms length while our comrades were slowly dragged under the rank soil! Sir Hugh's double handed sword had the reach while Usk and Oakheart, being tall men could just manage. Novarion was helpless but Lucca's stilleto stabbed his attacker sharply. With a slashing of reeking flesh as Usk's broadsword tore, Lucca was freed and joined the desperate fight to save the Elf. Oakheart's bastard sword ripped the bony nighmare into a tatter and Novarion was dragged out of the earth.

We kept to the path now and moved quickly in the dying afternoon light to the Hermitage - which sat unchancily in the shadow of The Wizard's Tower. "Open in the Name of Light!" called Brother Odo. "And of the Overlord, you degenerate varlet" muttered Sir Hugh. The door creaked open and a dishevelled Dwarf stood in the way - a dubious shortsword in his hand; behind him stood an Elf and two men at arms and behind them, holding a shaking longsword, traces of soup on his rusty armour was Sir Runic Rump himself "Are you here to buy the place?" he quavered, an aspect of hope on his raddled chops.

"No" replied Brother Odo "we are here to salvage your soul from the nighted gulfs and pour sweet benison upon your tortured mind".

Lucca brushed past the guards and servants as if they were feathers, "I'm more interested in a glass of wine, a meal and a sound sleep" he said, spying a warm place by the fire and munching on one of his garlic buds. With that a ghostly moan was heard and a sad visaged old man sank through the room, hurling a mug at Sir Runic who ducked. The mug shattered.

"Et in arcadia ergo" commented Virmir Pale Eyes, "ghosts everywhere".

We slept badly as the wind howled around the rackety old building. At midnight, from inside the Manor, a wolf howled.

The Kitchen and Worse

We enter the Grand Dining Room, it is full of fine decor and graceful ladies dining - who disapear amid ghostly laughter. The finery vanished - and all that was left was rotten dresses, with a Spectre at the head of the table! Odo's prayers failed and it came towards us wielding a cold blade. We ran and slammed the door behind us.

The corridor smelt stale and we crept towards the Kitchen; in we went and were met by a hail of silver cutlery as the possessed silverware attacked us followed by the knives off a chopping block. Odo couldnt remove the curse and the flurry only stopped when Usk son of Osk hammered a silver tea tray out of the air with his shield and stamped on it.....we took the silverware after Odo sprinkled holy water over it. Its worth about 320 sp

On to theButler's Room where a slimery blob of goo was glooped around an opal ring and some coins. It was evil in some way but Vimire put a torch to it and it globbed away leaving 180gp and 55sp.

Through a door we could hear warriors singing a dirge in the distance. Comforting.

Then we went into the Maid's Room; a young girl kept screaming and disappearing....a chest was in the corner, Novarion tried to unlock it but succumbed to a poison needle. He was paralysed for 10 minutes - during which a zombie came into the room. Lucca hacked it down with his sword but we noticed that Odo failed to turn it. Usk then smashed the chest - a opal necklace matching the ring - call it 720gp for the pair - and a silver dagger which may be more useful than the loot.

We are going to try to find a way through the Manor and find Squire Rump; at the pace we are making we will need a safe base to explore from and recover. If anywhere is safe here. Lucca is already muttering he'd rather fight giants and Oakheart agreed readily.

The Mumbling Hall

We headed out of the Foyer down a corridor; we could hear mumbling all around us. It went cold and a red eyed, black shape appeared. Undead! Brother Odo tried to turn it but almost collapsed - a wraith! It was too strong for him. Ulf tried to charge but Hugh of Stokesay blocked his way, he hit the wraith but it struck back and touched him. Hugh nigh fainted but slashed back, as Ulf circled around. Both of them hit hard and the wraith vanished with a shriek. Hugh is greyer and has lost energy....

On we went and into The Maid's Room. Oakheart found a silver goblet, but then the doors shut and the room began to pant and shrink. Ulf, Odo and Hugh hacked and bashed at the door. It gave way and we burst out, just as the room closed in on itself. We gathered our breath.

Next is the Grand Dining Room....

The Hallway

The Manor is cold and grey, the doorway of old wood in a granite portico. The wind is colder here and the door ajar. No sign of Rump, the Squire; Brother Odo recited a prayer of blessing and Ruggerio pushed the door open with his boot. It creaked and swung aside. We walked in, to be greeted by a spectral butler who asked for our hats. "We have none" Novarion replied and with a hurrumph the ghostly lackey walked through a door.

The walls are lined with pictures, as we viewed them, a scythe materilised, swung at Brother Odo, who ducked and then it vanished. A door opened at the end of the hall and three corpses fell into out before us.

Virmir's torch blew out and a mad scream came from behind another door.

And so it begins.

The road to the Manor

An early start, hampered by a number of hangovers. We bought supplies from the traders and set out on the way to Tegel Manor; the road was quiet but we could see a rider crossing the fields towards the Monastery; a slight wind, again bringing the smell of sea-wrack in land. Justicar Hugh rode ahead on his warhorse while Oakheart and Ulf son of Osk guarded the flanks. Ulf spotted a dozen ruffians creeping along the hedgerow; a challenge and on they came. The fight was brief, the bandits were cut down and only one ran. They had little gold and Oakheart saw tracks leading from the woods....we carried on our way.

As the road bent to the south, a flight of stirges flew at us. much hacking at the aerial pests ensued and Virmir Pale Eyes used a torch on them - having used too many of his spells against the bandits. With the stirges routed, we turned the corner of the road and there ahead was Tegel Manor......

The Arrival

We arrived at Tegel Village late in the afternoon, the square was already deserted, doors closing, shutters up and traders packing. A cold wind blew from seawards and a thin bell tolled in the distance. The Taverns were nigh empty and the locals chary. Sword-Brother, Justicar Hugh read his proclamation in the square to a dog, two beggars and a child. We adjourned to The White Horsed Sleigh where mine host - one Haanover, sells a savagely strong ale. A fellow called Ternelmor, the Mayor, appeared and seemed most friendly. A meal of steak pie (which Oakheart suspected was stoat) and several ales later and so to our rooms.

Much howling in the night and rattling windows.

The Decree

Let it be known, that mindful of the many divers rumours and alarms of dark deeds and evilness afoot in the Manorilty of Tegel, Sword-Brother Hugh Of Stokesay is hereby appointed Justiciar of Tegel, with a writ to establish order and safety for the well being of the populace and the encouragement of trade and profit. All who hinder him answer to me at their peril.

By Order and Proclamation this 5th day of the Month of the Newt

Overlordarius Invincibilis Civus Roglaroonii