"Hey Venmir. Bless this water."
The party is back to its full compliment and find themselves in a haunted house, filled with illusions.
Starring, in order they sit around the table:
Nyvan, (played by Jason) a elven knight, able to outmanoeuvre crying girls.
Venmir, (played by Brett) an elven clergyman, unable to bless water.
Sigurd, (played by Iain) a travelling swordsman, every gas monster's favourite foe.
Rodin, (played by Lorne) the sullen dwarven axeman, also known as the door-dweller.
Nandrin, (played by Hilton), the elven mage, slayer of paintings.
and The DM, (played by Alex), who loves to comment in blue. And writes this blog. He's also a bit of a git and likes to make life difficult for his players.
The party are in the haunted Van Galuss mansion and trying to recover the Book of Illusion for Talis the White. It's turned into one long series of minor puzzles - and the party are, as ever, undecided on how, what, why and when...
The party looked over the strange piece of metal the ghost had given them. Shaped like a V, it looked as though it might lock into some other pieces. "Perhaps it's part of a key?" suggested Sigurd.
The crew backed into the hallway and headed into the kitchen. It was well-stocked, but had nothing of note. The moved through to the parlour - where they immediately heard the sound of a crying female.
Nyvan moved to one side. Venmir went in the other. Rodin watched the door.
Nyvan saw her first, a female figure, sitting at the end of one aisle, crying uncontrollably into her hands. He approached slowly and called out to Venmir to move around to her other side.
"Why don't more of us flank the young girl?" asked Sigurd.
They tried to speak with her, but she ignored them. After a few moments, Nyvan stepped forward and placed his hand on her shoulder.
"ARGH!" she screamed, "Quit touching me you pervert! Help!"
"No, wait, I'm... I mean, hold on..." mumbled Nyvan.
"What kind of pervert are you, sneaking up on a young girl and touching her without her permission?" the woman demanded.
"No, miss, please don't be alarmed. We're here to help." interrupted Sigurd, the charm in his voice distracting the girl. "Why are you crying?"
"It's the mess. It's horrid, and I have to tidy it all up. It's disgusting and it will take me all day and all night."
"Perhaps we can help?" offered Sigurd. He, Nandrin and Nyvan started to help the woman tidy up the filthy pantry. Every time she touched something, it fell through her hands, but she continued working, thanking the heroes for their help, and glaring at the dwarf and cleric who refused to help - the cleric felt he was too good for such labours. Rodin watched the door.
After the work was completed, the girl stepped forward to thank Sigurd with a kiss on the cheek. As he turned, she offered him another metal piece, this time shaped like an L. Then she faded from view with a girly giggle.
The party walked out of the room and back into the passageway. They went through a door which lead into a parlour. Along one wall was a long table, with a white tablecloth on it, and book sat in the middle. In the corner was a small table, on which sat an empty bottle.
Nandrin walked over to the book, while Nyvan and Sigurd approached the bottle. After Sigurd looked closer, Nyvan picked up the bottle - and sprung a trap. A trapdoor opened underneath the two of them, and they both fell into a spiked pit. There was some cursing. In the bottom of the pit lay a small metal N, which had been hidden in the bottle.
Nyvan leaned forward and grabbed the book. Suddenly, a blade swung out from underneath the table, catching him across the shins. He yelped and jumped back. The party concocted a brave plan to grab the book. After minutes of coming up with ideas, they pulled the tablecloth out to get at the book - only to find the trap was no longer active. The book, labelled "My Best Friend" contained a magical dagger, which Nandrin kept.
The next room was another parlour. Rodin watched the door. In it was a mimic - a magical creature which was disguised as a harpsichord. Sigurd, the musician, was the first to approach it, and was surprised when the instrument suddenly leapt forward and bit him! Before long, the party had destroyed it, despite Nyvan strolling across the room and failing dismally to strike it - and as the creature died, it's massive maw spewed forth a metal O, which the party grabbed.
They went back to the kitchen in order to use the stairs up to the next floor.
The first room they checked upstairs, lead to a bathroom. In the bath was a naked woman, preparing to cut herself open. Rodin watched the door. She cried and cried, and only Sigurd honeyed words were capable of calming her down. She dropped the knife and smiled, thanking Sigurd, before disappearing. In the bath was now a dessicated corpse, a silver chain around its neck with a metal S attached. Sigurd grabbed it.
The next room was a bedroom. Rodin watched the door. They found a diary, which talked of a happy woman, Amelai Von Galuss, until the death of her young child, after which her husband turned into a sullen monster, and her life became increasingly unhappy. The party believed it was the woman in the bath next door.
Nandrin looked under the bed and found a painting, a portrait of a stern looking man. Convinced it held a secret, he carefully examined it, finding nothing. Frustrated, he sliced through the back, ripping through the painting. He shrugged and dropped it on the floor.
They found a commode next door - and in it one single gold piece, surrounded by dried out turds. Nandrin put it in his pouch.
In the ceiling of the bedroom was a hatch. The party carefully pushed Venmir up to the ceiling. The cleric peeked over the top of the edge after forcing the hatch open. It was dark. He moved up an inch higher and still saw little. He moved up an inch at a time and, after several minutes, pulled himself up into the room. It was an attic - and held several oldpiece of furniture, as well as a ladder, which he put down the hatch to help his friends ascend. Rodin was last, keeping a close eye on the door.
The room also had a black curtain covering one wall. Behind it was a sturdy looking door, surrounded by glowing runes. They read:
"My family name unlocks the door,
Nine pieces make the key,
For you I know not what lies in store,
'Twas eternal life for me."
The party searched several more rooms, including a linen closet, and a broom closet. In the linen room, they found a small bottle of water. Sigurd was convinced it would come in handy, and despite asking several times, was refused a blessing from Venmir. It lead to a heated debate, and ended with Sigurd pouring the water out over the floor.
In the master bedroom, they found a rocking chair and a chest of drawers, as well as a huge bed. Sigurd approached the chair and felt strongly compelled to sit in - and he did, rocking backwards and forwards violently (much to everyone else's surprise) until everyone heard a loud click. The rocking stopped immediately. A small drawer opened in the wall, and in it they found a metal S.
Nyvan opened the drawers and, to his surprise, the window burst inwards, followed by two gargoyles. Or something like gargoyles. A fierce combat ensued, as the creatures were nearly immune to their weapons. Finally, the heroes prevailed - but not before they'd taken a few hits.
They then found a library - which was dominated by an iron lockbox on the table in the middle. As if by sixth sense, Nyvan walked in and looked under the desk, finding a small iron key. Rodin watched the door.
Nyvan opened the lockbox from the back with the key, with a flourish, confident that he would avoid the trap within. He cheered in triumph as nothing happened to him. Sadly, the chest was filled with a gas monster which launched itself at the party, seeming to ignore their weapons and striking Sigurd repeatedly and the others a few times as well. It took some time, but eventually the creature was vanquished. Inside the chest was a metal U.
The party found themselves in a hallway. On the walls hung six paintings. A void at the end of the hallway indicated a seventh had once hung there. Nandrin looked around guiltily, before heading back to the master bedroom to grab the painting he'd vandalised. He hung it on the wall - it glowed briefly, then faded, and the painting turned to ash in front of his eyes. The party glared at the mage, and he cowered under their collective angry gaze.
When the party entered the next room, they found a large mirror and a comfy looking bed. Rodin watched the door. Venmir looked at the mirror, and found it had an insignia across the top, "Look Behind", so he looked behind the mirror and found a pouch with two potion bottles in it.
Nandrin kneeled on the floor and lifted the covers to look under the bed, hoping for another painting. Suddenly, it all went black and he passed out. The others only saw him lying on the floor. Perturbed, Nyvan and Sigurd picked him up. They carried him over to the bed and, to Venmir's horror, they also both fell to the floor. Sigurd lying across Nandrin's warm young body. Venmir called over Rodin, who had been watching the door.
Carefully, the dwarf disentangled Sigurd and Nandrin, dragging the wizard out of the room into the hallway. He slapped the mage across the face, waking him up.
"It's the bed!" shouted the mage, his sixth sense giving him magical insights. They dragged the other two out of the room, and they swiftly recovered.
The party took a deep breath, and approached another door...
The crew backed into the hallway and headed into the kitchen. It was well-stocked, but had nothing of note. The moved through to the parlour - where they immediately heard the sound of a crying female.
Nyvan moved to one side. Venmir went in the other. Rodin watched the door.
Nyvan saw her first, a female figure, sitting at the end of one aisle, crying uncontrollably into her hands. He approached slowly and called out to Venmir to move around to her other side.
"Why don't more of us flank the young girl?" asked Sigurd.
They tried to speak with her, but she ignored them. After a few moments, Nyvan stepped forward and placed his hand on her shoulder.
"ARGH!" she screamed, "Quit touching me you pervert! Help!"
"No, wait, I'm... I mean, hold on..." mumbled Nyvan.
"What kind of pervert are you, sneaking up on a young girl and touching her without her permission?" the woman demanded.
"No, miss, please don't be alarmed. We're here to help." interrupted Sigurd, the charm in his voice distracting the girl. "Why are you crying?"
"It's the mess. It's horrid, and I have to tidy it all up. It's disgusting and it will take me all day and all night."
"Perhaps we can help?" offered Sigurd. He, Nandrin and Nyvan started to help the woman tidy up the filthy pantry. Every time she touched something, it fell through her hands, but she continued working, thanking the heroes for their help, and glaring at the dwarf and cleric who refused to help - the cleric felt he was too good for such labours. Rodin watched the door.
After the work was completed, the girl stepped forward to thank Sigurd with a kiss on the cheek. As he turned, she offered him another metal piece, this time shaped like an L. Then she faded from view with a girly giggle.
The party walked out of the room and back into the passageway. They went through a door which lead into a parlour. Along one wall was a long table, with a white tablecloth on it, and book sat in the middle. In the corner was a small table, on which sat an empty bottle.
Nandrin walked over to the book, while Nyvan and Sigurd approached the bottle. After Sigurd looked closer, Nyvan picked up the bottle - and sprung a trap. A trapdoor opened underneath the two of them, and they both fell into a spiked pit. There was some cursing. In the bottom of the pit lay a small metal N, which had been hidden in the bottle.
Nyvan leaned forward and grabbed the book. Suddenly, a blade swung out from underneath the table, catching him across the shins. He yelped and jumped back. The party concocted a brave plan to grab the book. After minutes of coming up with ideas, they pulled the tablecloth out to get at the book - only to find the trap was no longer active. The book, labelled "My Best Friend" contained a magical dagger, which Nandrin kept.
The next room was another parlour. Rodin watched the door. In it was a mimic - a magical creature which was disguised as a harpsichord. Sigurd, the musician, was the first to approach it, and was surprised when the instrument suddenly leapt forward and bit him! Before long, the party had destroyed it, despite Nyvan strolling across the room and failing dismally to strike it - and as the creature died, it's massive maw spewed forth a metal O, which the party grabbed.
They went back to the kitchen in order to use the stairs up to the next floor.
The first room they checked upstairs, lead to a bathroom. In the bath was a naked woman, preparing to cut herself open. Rodin watched the door. She cried and cried, and only Sigurd honeyed words were capable of calming her down. She dropped the knife and smiled, thanking Sigurd, before disappearing. In the bath was now a dessicated corpse, a silver chain around its neck with a metal S attached. Sigurd grabbed it.
The next room was a bedroom. Rodin watched the door. They found a diary, which talked of a happy woman, Amelai Von Galuss, until the death of her young child, after which her husband turned into a sullen monster, and her life became increasingly unhappy. The party believed it was the woman in the bath next door.
Nandrin looked under the bed and found a painting, a portrait of a stern looking man. Convinced it held a secret, he carefully examined it, finding nothing. Frustrated, he sliced through the back, ripping through the painting. He shrugged and dropped it on the floor.
They found a commode next door - and in it one single gold piece, surrounded by dried out turds. Nandrin put it in his pouch.
In the ceiling of the bedroom was a hatch. The party carefully pushed Venmir up to the ceiling. The cleric peeked over the top of the edge after forcing the hatch open. It was dark. He moved up an inch higher and still saw little. He moved up an inch at a time and, after several minutes, pulled himself up into the room. It was an attic - and held several oldpiece of furniture, as well as a ladder, which he put down the hatch to help his friends ascend. Rodin was last, keeping a close eye on the door.
The room also had a black curtain covering one wall. Behind it was a sturdy looking door, surrounded by glowing runes. They read:
"My family name unlocks the door,
Nine pieces make the key,
For you I know not what lies in store,
'Twas eternal life for me."
The party searched several more rooms, including a linen closet, and a broom closet. In the linen room, they found a small bottle of water. Sigurd was convinced it would come in handy, and despite asking several times, was refused a blessing from Venmir. It lead to a heated debate, and ended with Sigurd pouring the water out over the floor.
In the master bedroom, they found a rocking chair and a chest of drawers, as well as a huge bed. Sigurd approached the chair and felt strongly compelled to sit in - and he did, rocking backwards and forwards violently (much to everyone else's surprise) until everyone heard a loud click. The rocking stopped immediately. A small drawer opened in the wall, and in it they found a metal S.
Nyvan opened the drawers and, to his surprise, the window burst inwards, followed by two gargoyles. Or something like gargoyles. A fierce combat ensued, as the creatures were nearly immune to their weapons. Finally, the heroes prevailed - but not before they'd taken a few hits.
They then found a library - which was dominated by an iron lockbox on the table in the middle. As if by sixth sense, Nyvan walked in and looked under the desk, finding a small iron key. Rodin watched the door.
Nyvan opened the lockbox from the back with the key, with a flourish, confident that he would avoid the trap within. He cheered in triumph as nothing happened to him. Sadly, the chest was filled with a gas monster which launched itself at the party, seeming to ignore their weapons and striking Sigurd repeatedly and the others a few times as well. It took some time, but eventually the creature was vanquished. Inside the chest was a metal U.
The party found themselves in a hallway. On the walls hung six paintings. A void at the end of the hallway indicated a seventh had once hung there. Nandrin looked around guiltily, before heading back to the master bedroom to grab the painting he'd vandalised. He hung it on the wall - it glowed briefly, then faded, and the painting turned to ash in front of his eyes. The party glared at the mage, and he cowered under their collective angry gaze.
When the party entered the next room, they found a large mirror and a comfy looking bed. Rodin watched the door. Venmir looked at the mirror, and found it had an insignia across the top, "Look Behind", so he looked behind the mirror and found a pouch with two potion bottles in it.
Nandrin kneeled on the floor and lifted the covers to look under the bed, hoping for another painting. Suddenly, it all went black and he passed out. The others only saw him lying on the floor. Perturbed, Nyvan and Sigurd picked him up. They carried him over to the bed and, to Venmir's horror, they also both fell to the floor. Sigurd lying across Nandrin's warm young body. Venmir called over Rodin, who had been watching the door.
Carefully, the dwarf disentangled Sigurd and Nandrin, dragging the wizard out of the room into the hallway. He slapped the mage across the face, waking him up.
"It's the bed!" shouted the mage, his sixth sense giving him magical insights. They dragged the other two out of the room, and they swiftly recovered.
The party took a deep breath, and approached another door...
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