WINE CELLARS: Of Debts paid

 This short adventure took place on Halloween 2021

The Players:

Joe P. - Hagar (Barbarian) & Leonard (Magic-User) and hirelings viking archer and viking torchbearer.

Steve F. - Rook the Thief & hireling torchbearer.

Will C. - Master Blaster & Mister Blister: Dwarf & Fighter

After finding himself in quite a lot of debt to the locals of the Marqest village Master Blaster organizes his friends and some hirelings are obtained. The group then sets out for the ruins to score big!

Recent rumors about town have spoken of the rumblings of the Secret Underground and the seemingly growing sense of dread overtaking the countryside... is the power of the Duke on the rise?

The party hires a wagon to drop them off just outside the old gatehouse at dawn. The wagon master will return an hour before dark today and again at dawn & dusk the following day. If the party has not returned by then they are on their own to get back to town.

Leonard is quick to note that the outer wall and gatehouse seem to show signs of repair and look to be in better shape than they have for years. Once the group set foot in the inner courtyard they are greeted by the looming presence of Marqest Manor itself!

Both Leonard & Hagar confirm to the others that the rumors must indeed be true as this part of the castle looks vastly different from the last time they were here. Someone or something has indeed been reinstating the ruins to their former glory...

The Griffin

Moving directly to the great double-door entry the group see that a pair of statues now flank the doorway. One is a Griffon the other a Chimera and lying on the ground between them is body of a man.

Rook proceeds to check over the Griffin statue and Leonard looks over the Chimera, Hagar and Mr. Blister hang back for support and stay alert while Master Blaster checks the body on the doorstep.

The statues are both deemed safe and Master finds a small coin pouch on the body, when suddenly the Griffin animates turning its gaze upon the party and screeches "Hahahahaheeeee!" then the Chimera statue animates and casts a spell upon the body which rises as a zombie and attacks Master Blaster! There is a quick melee and eventually Mister Blister splits the zombies head open stopping it in its tracks.

The Chimera

Master then attempts to use the now double dead corpse as a battering ram and ends up covering himself in zombie gore as the body splatters harmlessly upon the heavy doors.

Rook discovers the doors are unlocked and entry is easily gained by simply using the handle and the party peers inside to the large entryhall.

A few beams of morning sunlight slightly illuminate the hall and ornate columns line either side of the once opulent vestibule. Master sees a coat rack just off to the right next to a low bench. There appears to be a cloak on the rack and some items under the bench. Wanting to remove the zombie goo from himself he heads directly over with the intent of using the cloak to wipe himself off. The rest of the party enter warily and continue to look about. 

Cloak-beast

The sound of struggle draws the attention of the group and they all see Master wrestling with the cloak from the rack. It takes a moment for them to realize that their friend is being attacked! The group move in to aid the dwarf and an intense struggle ensues. They realize using weapons and fire on the cloak creature is harming their friend so Mister Blister and Hagar combine their strength to tear the thing off of Master and they succeed!

The cloak-beast is then thrown out the front door and it flies away to lick its wounds. Back inside the party turn their attention to the items that were under the bench. A pair of boots and a walking stick are dusted off. Leonard takes the stick and Master chooses the boots, while Rook has discovered an old hat that was stuck to the top of the coat rack. 

The three items suddenly come to life attacking the party! Leonard is knocked out by the walking stick striking him in the head, the boots begin kicking Master in a frenzy of rib-bruising percussion, and Rook is trying to keep the hat from eating his hand!

After a quick battle with the animated items, Hagar is able to stuff the boots and hat into a large sack that the barbarian then throws down the well in the courtyard! The walking stick is broken in half and tossed aside. The bruised party then follow the trail of prior adventurers into a chamber just off the vestibule. Within this chamber the group discovers a stairwell leading down and an old table that has many inscriptions carved into it. 

Soon after taking time to scour this chamber a secret room is discovered behind the fireplace. To the great surprise of all they find a magically preserved pantry filled with all manner of fine food and drink!

Master Blaster in the Pantry

Master Blaster calls the find a win for all concerned and the party decide to loot the pantry and await for the wagon to return before dark so they can return to the village with their loot and lives!

Once back in the village the party supply the Dog-n-Bone tavern with enough supplies to have a feast for all and regale everyone with the tale of their adventure within the halls of Marqest castle!

THE END... 

Wine Cellars: The restless Un-dead...

 This short adventure finds a pair of players teamed up to put to rest the rumors of the undead roaming about in Hemlock Hamlet.

Players:

Mark E. - Gunther the Warrior: 2nd lvl fighter

John L. - Fredrick IV, Vicar of Tardome: 4th lvl Cleric

 Having successfully retrieved the sword Requiem Aeternam from the Chapel of Saint Brigid, Gunther finds himself paired up with an adventuring Cleric of Tardome who has been previously employed by Sir Atherol of Hemlock.

  The pair are sent to the graveyard just outside of the small village and are tasked with securing the property against any who would commit foul acts there or upon the souls of those laid to rest within. 

Hemlock Hamlet

As the sun rises the duo make a quick stop in the small village to let the inhabitants know that Sir Atherol is taking action to protect his people. While there they pick up a couple of items from the Chapel. 

The pair decide to walk the short distance from the village to the cemetery, and are asked by a local herdsman to look for his brother who failed to come home the prior evening. 

The morning is overcast and a slight chill drizzle of rain falls from the sky. At about the midway point in the journey the pair catch sight of movement in some brush just off the road. Taking a closer look reveals some crows scrounging something in the tall grass. The men move closer and are greeted by a terrible sight!

Missing man

The ravaged body of the missing herder no doubt! Whatever has done this must still be near as the blood is still wet. Then without warning something large swoops down upon the pair and let's out a high pitched screech!

Gunther quickly loads his crossbow while Fredrick cover the warrior using his polearm. A trio of large hideous bats come swooping down at the men grasping at them with blood soaked talons! The Cleric is able to bring down one of the beasts as he sings praises to Tardome! Gunther is harried badly by the other two and his quarrel shot goes amiss as the older man is knocked to the ground. 

Giant Bat!

"Mess with Fred, you be Dead!" cries the armored Cleric as he smacks another foul bat with his weapon. The creatures wing is torn and it crashes to the ground and is dispatched with a dagger thrust from Gunther. 

The third creature dives in to attack and is neatly speared in the tip of the Cleric's polearm and brought down so the men can kill the evil thing. 

Knowing that evil is afoot, Fredrick calls upon Tardome to watch over the dead man's corpse until they can return and give him a proper burial.

Fredrick asks Gunther to join him prayer and after a few minutes a small falcon lands upon a branch just above the corpse. "Tardome is with us today Gunther, his blessing is upon us." 

"Yes, it seems he is. We should get ourselves to the graveyard I have not seen creatures like this in the hamlet for over twenty years easy." the old fighter mutters as he reloads his crossbow.

The pair set off along the road again with a bit more haste and head to the cemetery all the while on the lookout for more giant bats or any other foul beasts that might appear.

Upon arrival the pair are greeted with a gateway that has been forced open and a sense of overwhelming dread. Fredrick spies many large centipedes crawling about in dark earth. 

"Hmm, Vicar Osrin provided me these keys for the gates. would seem someone couldn't wait to get in." Gunther produced an iron ring with three thick keys on it from his vest.

Fredrick still looking intently about the grounds raises his hand and points deeper into the graveyard, "There Gunther just now in the fog I swear someone or some-thing moved!"

Hemlock Graveyard

Rather than enter the cemetery the men decide to stay outside and skirt the wall until the can find a secondary entry and hopefully sneak up on whatever the Cleric saw.

Quickly the pair find a section of the stone wall that has collapsed and the men can easily cross to gain entry to the grounds. The morning mist clings heavily to the ground and provides good cover for their actions. The pair are soon creeping up upon a pair of figures that seem to be milling about just outside a small stone shed at the back of the graveyard.

It is at this moment that Fredrick notices the sword Gunther carries has a pearl set in the pommel and it is glowing and pulsating softly. He motions to the Fighter who looks down and then grips the sword.

"This sword is blessed and made to slay undead." Gunther whispers to the Cleric. The men then both look over at the figures near the shed. They step closer and through the fog are able to discern that they are indeed shambling corpses! Fredrick swings his polearm down and smashes the skull of one of them, as Gunther draws forth the sword and the second one turns towards him mouth agape and uttering a moan! 

art by Mike B.

 The pair of zombies are dispatched, and a power of the sword revealed the men look about to see what the creatures were up to. It is soon determined that they seem to have been roving about the grounds perhaps set on guard.

"We need to check the tomb of Father Sigmund." says Gunther.

"Who was he?" asks Fredrick.

"Sigmund was the Elder of Hemlck when my father was a boy. Osrin took over for him when he passed and he is buried here. His Tomb lies at the heart of the cemetery." Gunther then motions in a direction  off to his right.

"Let us go then." nods the Cleric.

Much to their dismay the pair discover that indeed the tomb of Sigmund has been broken into and the men bolster themselves for a confrontation as they head below ground.

Gunther leads the way torch in hand and sword in the other, followed by Fredrick his polearm ever ready to strike the unclean! They use the key to gain entry to the tomb but can see that the way has already been trod by others.

The pair are penetrate the darkness and soon confront more shambling undead and Fredrick turns them from them with holy power! The men discover that Sigmund alone was not interred here but also other warriors of goodly virtue as well. it is a group of these that the men encounter who supply the pair with a set of magical elixers that they say will help them cleanse the evil that roams these halls. 

Fredrick communes with Tardome and drinks one of the potions and turns invisible! Then the men head deeper into the tomb and find that the resting place of Sigmund has been defiled and the skull has been removed from the Elder's grave! This spurs the men onward and they enter the last chamber of the tomb and confront a hooded figure and a pair of hideous Orcs!

the Orcs!

The orcs see only a lone grizzled man with a sword and attack! Gunther however is quite seasoned and engages the pair of creatures holding them at bay! The hooded figure however is holding a skull which our heroes surmise belongs to Sigmund and he begins an evil enchantment as the skull becomes wreathed in a spectral fire!! 

Now the still invisible Fredrick moves in and attacks the hooded man with surprise and stops his spell as well as causing him to drop the skull.

As Gunther battles the pair of orcs, and Fredrick squares off with the hooded man the men know this is who must be responsible for all the rumors of shambling dead lately! In a comedy of errors the Orcs end up practically killing each other through inept martial skill and Gunther is able to fell them and then come to aid Fredrick in his battle! 

The Hooded One!

The Hooded one attempts to be-spell the heroes and though Gunther is overcome for a moment it is by the grace of Tardome that the men are able to finally overcome the vile creature and defeat it by force of arms and Holy might! 

The men are able to put right what the Hooded one had defiled and restore the sanctity of the Hemlock cemetery. Items of note recovered from the evil doers and thier corpses are properly disposed of and everything that happened is reported back to Sir Atherol.

However something darker is afoot in the Duchy of Marqest and more investigations must be made...

THE END

for now....

Wine Cellars: Rumors abound, what have you heard?

a sight to behold

"I heard his eyes bulged and veins popped out upon his forehead! Then his stomach rumbled like a great peal of thunder, his pelvis gyrating as if it had become detached from his small body!!"

"The poor gnome was clearly demented and babbled about a White Canoe that would take him to the promised land, but the adventurers paid him no heed...."

"Just a week ago my cousin said he caught sight of something quite odd in the sky over to the west."

"Perhaps the gnome wasn't so crazy?"

The shape

"I hear ole' Radcliffe is up to something. A dark sahpe with glowing lights has been spotted just after dusk near the hamlet of Hemlock." 

"There's been tale of the restless dead as well. I'd not be caught outdoors after dark near there!"

"Both Radcliffe and Sindy-Loo have been asking about for items re-claimed from the Wizard's tower up at the old castle. But I don't think anyone has made it in there yet. Or at least if they have no-one has returned to tell the tale."

the Wolf

"A large and vicious wolf has been on the prowl across the moors between the old castle and the village of Marqest. I hope you're smart enough to stay in at night." 

Castle Marqest

" The secret underground has been hard at work again. You can sometimes hear them doing their work right under our feet."

"I'd swear that some of the old castle has even been repaired. It's like something has breathed a new darkness back into that terrible place!"

the Ship

"The fishermen swear that a strange ship has been coming and going from the sea-cavern."

"That can't be anything but bad, I'll tell you!"

Wine Cellars: A quick delve & quicker coin!

 This was a follow-up game to the "A call to Hunt" adventure. this took place on 9/6/21.

Our players were:

Joe P. - Hagar the Sinewy Barbarian & Leonard the Mage.

Steve - Rook the Thief

Sal - El Muerte the Luchador

Two days have passed since the group returned from their jaunt in the Black Crag foothills. We find ourselves in a corner booth at the Dog-n-Bone tavern in Marqest village proper. Hagar, Leonard and Rook are sharing a pitcher of ale.

"You need to learn to pace yourself when carousing." stated Leonard flatly.

Rook slumped back into the booth, his eyes still bloodshot. "I owe Master Blaster a goodly sum for covering me during my excesses."

Hagar leaned in and poured himself another mug, "There are ways to get yourself out of debt, and one of them is within a half days walk."

The hung over thief covered his eyes with his left hand as his right clenched his own mug. "Hmm, I would suppose you mean the ruins of castle Marqest eh?" 

"We do." chimed both the Magic-user and the Barbarian.

Rook took a long swig of ale, wiped his chin and looked the pair in their eyes. "A one-armed warrior told me he had encountered frogs as large as cows up there. I'd just as soon avoid that type of thing!"

 "Well..." started Hagar leaning in towards Rook as Leonard continued. "We have some information ourselves recently gleaned from a very drunk and talkative young Short-beard about a way in. that remains yet mostly undiscovered."

The haggard thief looked at his companions a he finished his drink and then poured another. "Let me guess you'll charge me small fee for this information right, taken from what I can return with?"

The pair sat back in the bench a most offended look on their faces! "Rook! we're practically cousins, I don't charge family!" grumbled Hagar, as Leonard shook his head in the negative.

"No, we will go with you to watch.." the Barbarian elbows the Mage in the ribs, "ouch! And to help as needed of course!" finished Leonard casting a sideways glance at Hagar.

Rook looked deeply into his mug and sighed.. "Alright let's do this, but we keep it between us alone. Agreed?"

Leonard put his hand out flat on the table, followed by Hagar who put his hand atop the Mage's. Rook then placed his atop the other two, "Agreed." they all said in unison.

The next morning a good hour before dawn the trio set out from the village following the path up the coast to the ruins. They took great precaution to leave as quickly and quietly as possible.

Unknown to them a dark figure watched from the woods as the three passed and once they were just out of sight the cloaked figure rose and followed them in the pre-dawn darkness.

About an hour after the sun rose the three men found the secret they sought. They descended below the moor into a handcrafted chamber of stone no more than five by five feet. In the torchlight a natural tunnel disappeared into the darkness and by Leonard's reckoning should take them towards the ruins of the castle. As the men proceeded single file down the passage, their boots became damp and the scent of stagnant sea-water greeted their nostrils.

After about twenty minutes or so the tunnel opened into another small chamber with an iron bound door as the only exit. There was a bit of trash and detritus spread about on the floor. While Rook checked the door for traps and such, the Mage discovered a small tin pie-plate, a mason's hammer, a pouch of dwarven tobacco and a pipe. 

"Would seem our dwarf informant was correct. Their party must have indeed passed this way!" Leonard inspected the pipe and put it away with the pouch for later use.

 A slight scuffing sound caused the trio to turn and look back into the tunnel from whence they had just emerged and they saw a large figure step into their torchlight!

"Uncle!" exclaimed Hagar, loosening his grip on his sword hilt. Leonard and Rook turned to greet the Luchador who was now adorned in a savage cloak stitched from the hides of the Black Goats they had slain on the prior quest. A pair of goat heads acted as shoulder pauldrons from which the cloak hung and the whole item was fastened with a silver chain!

"What foolishness do you three embark upon?" Inquired El Muerte. He stood to his full height now that he had exited the tunnel and sniffed the air... "I scent the odor of evil, Goat to be precise!"

Leonard squinted and pointed at the wrestler's regalia, "Your wearing it aren't you, goat I mean!?"

"Eh, what's that you say el Mago?" the Luchador seemed to pose for the three men as if showing off his newest accoutrement.

In unison all three leaned forward and took in the sight of the Black Goat Cloak, as they complimented El Muerte on his most fearsome look.

Once the luchador was filled in on the scheme to get Rook out of debt, they opened the door and descended a set of rough stone steps down into a dripping puddle filled natural cavern. About another twenty minutes was spent looking around before the group found sign of a secret door in the wall of mid-sized chamber. 

Dungeon cleaner

It was El Muerte that happened upon a hidden iron ring that sprung the secret door so they could enter the dungeon proper. In the dungeon itself the group found a recently secreted trail of iridescent slime that ran between a pair of archways that were their only choices of exploring further. After some experimentation on the part of the Luchador, it was determined that taking the left hand passage was the way to go... they all hoped they were not about to run into what is sometimes referred to as the Dungeon cleaner... and fortunately they did not.  

keeping track of light!

Since arriving at the entry chamber true dungeon crawling had taken over. We were already tracking the torches life span, but now resource management came to the forefront. The Thief even used his lantern when fine work like lock-picking and trap searching actions were done. The party was also aware of time spent below ground as they were wary of the tide coming in and possibly flooding all or parts of the way they came in. No one wanted to be stuck in the dungeon overnight!

Around the midway point of the second hour in the dungeon the party came upon a pair heavy doors opposite each other in a dead end hall. Through ingenuity and Thief skills they were able to open a door to what seemed to be a sort of tomb or burial chamber. Of note was the wooden coffin bound by rusty chains, an assortment of ancient rusted weaponry, tattered banners, a pair of small chests and a rotting tapestry showing a battle between what appeared to be elves and an army of dark figures led by a Bat-winged Helmeted warrior on a black horse. Rook discovered a hidden pit trap just within the chamber by almost falling in it, but his cat-like grace saved him from plummeting into darkness.

Leonard did not let his curiosity get the better of him and retreated to the hall with Hagar, while Rook wrestled with his feelings about robbing the dead. El Muerte was kneeling by the bound coffin attempting to see if anything inside would answer his whispered questions. And the chamber grew considerably colder over the span of a few seconds.

To the surprise of no one, the coffin began to rattle and expand straining the chains around it! Rook grabbed a small chest and made for the exit, while the Luchador pondered whether he could take-on whatever was contained within!!! The upper chain snapped and the wood began to splinter as the wrestler leaped out the doorway which was quickly slammed shut by Hagar and locked by Rook with a silver key they had used to gain entry.

A terrible racket echoed from the chamber and a dreadful sense of chill and terror overtook the party who now turned back the way they had come and ran with great speed back towards the exit!  The thought that the dungeon cleaner may have wound its way back in this direction crossed the minds of all but overwhelming sense of dread and the bone-chilling cold that seemed to be following them spurred the party on to the point of recklessness!!!

Like waking from a terrible nightmare the group exploded from under the ground back into the light of day feeling very lucky to have narrowly avoided what they surmised would have been terribly horrid and soul-crushing deaths. 

Upon returning to the village, Rook discovered he had come away with enough reward to settle his debts, share with his friends & family and live to adventure another day.

THE END.....

 

Wine Cellars: A call to Hunt!

 Another entry in the long Wine Cellars campaign, This time we find a small band of adventurers heeding the call of a fellow compatriot to seek out evil and face it down!

This game took place 9/5/21

Our players are:

Sal - El Muerte de Tijuana: the Luchador

Joe P. - Hagar the Sinewy Barbarian & Leonard the Mage

Steve - Rook the Thief

Will - Master Blaster (Dwarf) & Mister Blister (Dim-witted Fighter) 

Black Crag Mnts.

The adventure begins when El Muerte gets a solid lead from a Fur-trapper about a large Black-goat sighted in the foothills of the Black Crag mountains. The Luchador then summons his closest allies.. family.

Within 24 hours Master Blaster the dwarf of the Thirty One League clan and step-brother to El Muerte arrives with his faithful warrior companion Mr. Blister and a bonus, the ex-brother in-law Rook!

Rook was married to El Muerte's sister Rosalita but there was a falling out and we'll go into that another time.

Hagar the Sinewy Barbarian and nephew of the wrestler also arrived with his friend Leonard the Mage in tow.

With the party assembled El Muerte led them into the Black Crag foothills in search of the elusive Black Goat of Marqest.

As dusk approached the party began to grow weary as no sign of the goat could be found. But then the bleat of the creature echoed through the foothills! The group quickly found a small game trail and followed it up into the mountainous crags. 

With less than an hour of daylight to spare the party comes across a cave entrance with a small encampment just outside it. They watch three diminutive cloaked figures milling about doing chores when a fourth cloaked figure drives a Stone giant out of the cave by lash of whip! The giant proceeds to upend a pair of containers he carries into a pair of wooden wagons. The whip-master drives the giant back into the cave as the trio begin to prep the wagons for travel.

Master Blaster uses a large sack to create a makeshift disguise that just may pass him off as one of the cloaked figures below. With this hastily concocted plan the party carefully descend from the trail and creep towards the encampment.

Master Blaster emerges from the brush and approaches the trio, in common he says he's been sent to fill in for the night-shift and begins to make small talk. All the while he has his hand-crossbow ready just under his sack disguise. Meanwhile El Muerte has climbed up tree to get height advantage and Mr. blister & Rook have taken up positions to flank the hooded ones. Hagar and Leonard are hanging back just out of sight.

Common tongue seeming to get no response from the cloaked figures Master Blaster resorts to a word or two in Dwarf and instantly draws the ire of the creatures! They reveal obsidian daggers and rush to attack!! Blaster is quicker and falls back firing his hand-bow but misses! The Luchador leaps from his perch and delivers a fatal Elbow Drop on one of the knife wielding foes! Mister Blister emerges from the brush and clips the one chasing Master Blaster with his great club flipping it head over heels, this blow is followed by a crossbow bolt pinning it to the ground from Rook! The remaining cloaked figure attempts to flee into the cave but is stunned by Hagar using his Glistening muscles technique then cut down by the brawny Barbarian.  It is soon discovered that the slain creatures bodies have dissolved into a black goo, and the wagons are filled with raw silver ore.

Dark Gnome

Upon inspection of the wagons it is surmised that these fellows are most likely using the stone giant to mine the silver here. Master Blasters suggests they hitch up one of the wagons and head back to the village. El Muerte is conflicted as he wants to confront the Black Goat! Frustrated the Luchador attempts to get the party to look about for proof the Black Goat is here or nearby. After a few minutes of rooting about the camp nothing connected to goats is found, however Rook reports that he hears the sounds of mining work and the faint bleat of goat from within the cave itself!

Rather than dashing into the cave, a plan is concocted involving lantern oil one of the wagons laden with ore and a flaming donkey! 

Mr. Blister and El Muerte take up positions on either side if the cave entrance, Rook stands back crossbow ready as  Hagar and Leonard hide near the second wagon. Master Blaster astride the first ore wagon now doused in a good quantity of lamp oil ignites the donkey's tail with a torch then steers the careening animal straight into the mouth of the cave!! At last instant the surprisingly nimble dwarf leaps from the wagon setting it afire with said torch and takes his position strapped to Mr. blisters back and arms his hand-bow.

The flaming wagon & donkey barrel into the cave disappearing into the darkness. A few seconds later loud crashes, yells and a weird screeching are heard. This is quickly followed with billowing smoke and the sound of many feet heading to the entryway.

The sun has now set and the party have only the dim flicker firelight from inside the cave to see by. When the first creature emerges from the cave! The Wrestler hesitates with a camp chair held over his head to better see what his target is, Mr. Blister swings his large club and breaks the rear leg of a large bug-like thing that comes scittering out of the smoke! The thing begins spinning in a circle flailing about with whip-like tail ending in an odd bony protrusion. 

Beetle-us Giganticus!?

"What in the Hells is that!" cries Rook, bringing his crossbow to bear. 

"Hit it again!" commands Master Blaster to Mr. Blister, just as the pair dodge a flailing tail swing!

Muerte watches the cave wary of more targets emerging.

Rook yells "Clear!" and fires a bolt into the bug-thing putting an end to its screeching, "Well now we know what was making those noises..."

Just then a pair of cloaked figures emerge from the smoke, one wields a club and the other an obsidian dagger as well as a small brass trumpet. A scuffle ensues resulting in the club wielders gooey demise, but the second gnome sounds his trumpet and everyone especially El Muerte are taken quite by surprise!!

The sound from the trumpet is an unmistakable bleating that sounds just like the Black Goat! The group are flabbergasted as questions pop off around the table!! Are the gnomes in league with the Black Goat? Is the goat even here in the mountains?? Does the Black Goat command the Gnomes??? One thing is for sure though the party as whole agrees, THEY NEED THAT TRUMPET!!!

A brisk melee ensues with the Gnome deftly dodging incoming attempts to subdue him! He even resists the effect of Hagar's Glistening Muscle technique and sounds the trumpet a second time as he turns to retreat back into the cave!

El Muerte however is able to trip the gnome and break his ankle as well, allowing the party to capture both him and the brass instrument. El Muerte's blood is raging and he attempts to interrogate the captive gnome, but succeeds only in turning it into a gooey mess in his fists! Leonard however identifies the deceased bug as a "Beetle-us Giganticus, obviously." The size alone and the fact it emerged from a cave seem to be enough for the rest of the group to agree to the Mage's knowledge on such things. "And as for this," Leonard peers at the brass trumpet, "some sort of creature mimicry instrument, rather like a Duck call hunter's use I would say."

"See the Goat thing was a ruse to scare the curious away from their camp here." states Master Blaster, "Now we can make off with the other wagon, let's go!"

"Argh!" grunts El Muerte, stomping the ground! "I am duped, this was a waste of ...."

From deep in the cave a cacophony of stampeding hooves and horrid bleating is followed by sight of a half-dozen black goats charging out of the fiery cave!!!

El Muerte grins widely and bellows, "Not one but six black goats! Meet my fists you demon beasts!"

The party is bowled over by the charge of the Black Goats and a terrible battle ensues!!

Master Blaster was dismounted from Mr. Blister and the dim-warrior was severely Nut-busted twice by the hell-spawned goats!

Rook was head-butted near to death and saved only by the quick teamwork of Hagar and Leonard.

All the while El Muerte laid about himself with punches and kicks dealing death to his hated family enemy!

In the final moments of the battle Rook bulls-eyed a de-horned goat that Mr. Blister had sorely wounded, and Hagar who was down to his last breath protecting and KO'ed Master Blaster was aided by Leonard using his patented Magic Side-Winder missile to explode the final goat!!!! 

The wounded were quickly loaded onto the remaining wagon along with the carcasses of the slain goats and the party returned to town where much carousing was had, and Rook constantly griping about how he was almost head-butted to death by a goat!!

THE END

Wine Cellars: A tale of the Sisters of St. Brigid

 Word has spread amongst the people of Hemlock hamlet that a recently deceased adventurer has returned from the dead and has been prowling the countryside. Sir Atherol and the Vicar Osrin have summoned a couple of trusted men for an important mission.

Player: Mark E. - Gunther the Warrior & Brother Frederic an Adept of the Holy Saints.

Atherol Manor

 Gunther the Warrior a gruff man of late middle years, and Brother Frederic an Adept serving the Vicar directly are instructed to travel north to the Chapel of Saint Brigid and request the usage of a sacred weapon sequestered there by the Holy Sisters.

  "What is this weapon you send me to retrieve?" asked Gunther.

 "It is the sword Requiem Aeternum, a most powerful and holy item." stated the Vicar.

 The grizzled warrior made a face, "Requiem Ater- what kind of name is that?"

The young Adept spoke up, "It means Eternal Rest, in the common tongue." He smiled broadly.

"This mission is likely to put me in eternal sleep." grumbled Gunther.

"You may remember the sword by its more common name, Draugr-Doom." Sir Atherol remarked pointedly.

Gunther smacked the tabletop with his large fist, "Draugr-Doom! That sword was lost during the final battle with old Marqest's forces."

Vicar Osrin stood and raised his hands in supplication to the Holy Saints, "Not so much lost, as kept in readiness to be used against evil when the time called. Let us thank the Sisters of Saint Brigid who tended and buried the last Hero who used that weapon." The old man sat down and continued, "The two of you will take this request from Sir Atherol and myself to the Headmistress at the Chapel of Saint Brigid. The sisters will then turn the weapon over to you to be returned here for use against the Spectre that now haunts our hamlet."

"I trust you Gunther, to get the sword back here." said Atherol rising from his seat, "I hope there is no undue trouble that besets you, but there have been rustlings of trouble as of late. I want to be ahead of any steps taken by those who would follow darkness. Let us be proactive this time hmmm."

The following morning would see Gunther mounted on his trusty horse "Sally" followed by Brother Frederic leading a pack mule as the pair set of along the west road towards Watchtower Hill. Once the pair crossed the river bridge it would be a couple miles more until they would meet up with the road that would take them north.

Gunther leaves Athelor Manor

The weather was dreadful and both men suffered miserably as a cold drizzle drenched them throughout the day. By late afternoon the rain had finally ceased and a campsite for the evening was chosen. Gunther showed Frederic how to dry out their soaked clothing over a fire the way he learned as a young man in the army. After a hot meal the two men found themselves overcome with weariness and soon fell fast asleep.

Something poked Gunther and the warrior sat up quickly dagger in hand. It was Frederic bathed in the dim light of the glowing embers form the campfire. "Gunther, I heard something in the woods!" the young cleric hissed. 

His back ached from sleeping on the ground, it had been many years since campaigning had been a regular duty. "Ugh, I'm sure it was just some forest game moving about Brother. Anyway, it seems close to dawn why don't you get the mounts ready and I'll make us a proper soldiers breakfast eh?"

Bother Frederic

As the Warrior fried a pair of sausages over the fire, he thought about his old companions and smiled to himself. The lay Brother was no hardened fighter but he was a seemingly good and steady lad. Just then Frederic emerged from the brush with a severed piece of rope in hand and a pale face!

"Gunther! The mule has been slain and the horse is gone!"

"What! My Sally you say, gone!" the big man moved swiftly grabbing his gear and weapons. Then he stamped out the fire and tossed a sausage to the bewildered monk who caught it in his free hand and winced as the heat scalded his fingers. "Eat that and grab your bags, hopefully I can track whoever made off with my horse!" 

The day was spent following the trail of the horse thieves, and fortunately they had not even tried to hide their tracks. What bothered Gunther was that they had killed the mule and taken the horse. Both animals were valuable and killing one made no sense. 

It was nearly dusk by the time the pair caught up to the thieves. Frederic was nearly overcome with exhaustion from the pace the two had been keeping and Gunther was feeling spent as well but hid the fact from his companion. 

"I say Gunther," huffed Frederic "can we not rest a moment? My legs feel like lead!"

The grizzled warrior stopped and drug the young monk down behind a fallen tree. "Goodness, what are you doing?" cried Frederic.

A gloved hand covered his mouth, and Gunther whispered, "Listen brother!"

The pair huddled in silence by the downed tree and just as Frederic was about to comment when the panicked whinny of a horse was heard emanating from a copse of firs just ahead.

"That's my Sally," grunted Gunther as he drew his sword, "we have the scum now!" 

Frederic stumbled after Gunther as the older man moved like a wolf stalking prey. The young adept gulped in fear at the thought of physical violence, but was this not why he had been paired with the old warrior.

In the gloom of the setting sun the two men were shocked to see a pair of cloaked figures wrestling with Sally at the center of the copse. One of the pair drew a short blade and slashed at the horse! Red with anger Gunther burst forth from the trees and charged the pair as Frederic ran after hands trembling in a nervous grip upon his stout walking staff.

As the pair reached striking distance Gunther gave out a howl expecting to frighten the scoundrels who had abducted his horse, however the cloaked pair turned and revealed themselves to be cloaked skeletons! This threw poor Frederic for a loop and only Gunther followed through and entered combat!

"Bless my soul!" cried the young monk as he stumbled

forward. 

He watched in a daze as Gunther laid about with powerful blows and he practically shattered one of the unholy creatures. The second skeleton slashed Gunther across the thigh with a lucky blow, but this only served to enrage the warrior and he shoulder blocked the bone-man to the ground and proceeded to stomp it into grave dust!

Gunther bound his wound and then looked over Sally. "Poor girl, you'll be fine now." 

Frederic watched as the old warrior nuzzled his horse and calmed the frightened horse down.  The pair came to the conclusion that evil things were afoot and they would have to move as fast as they could muster and reach the Chapel as quickly as possible.

The night went by in a gloomy haze as Frederic staggered after Gunther in the darkness. He could tell the wound was bothering the warrior as his limp was getting worse and he leaned on Sally for support. 

At some point a thick fog rolled in and Frederic could not discern whether the pair was walking in circles or making headway to their destination. 

Gunther finally slowed his pace and came to a rest near a large tree. He motioned Frederic to sit and he handed him a flask and a hard biscuit. The fog was actually melting away as the morning sun was rising. 

"Goodness, we walked through the night!" noted the young man.

"Indeed we did Brother, and you kept with me. No small task that is." Gunther smiled and chewed on his biscuit. "We need to get our bearings, so have a look about and see if you can spot the road or landmark." The warrior motioned in the direction he wanted Frederic to go and he headed in the opposite, "Don't get lost!" he called out over his shoulder.

Weary to the bone Frederic leaned on his staff and began to look about. The brush was heavy here and there were many trees blocking view. The adept decided to see what lie beyond the thick foliage.

Gunther returned to Sally and rebound his thigh wound with some fresh linen from her saddlebags. It had been about ten minutes since he left Frederic and he wondered if the young fellow had wandered too far. 

"Gunther! Over here! Bring Sally."

Frederic called out, and there was no trace of fear in his voice. Gunther walked with Sally through the brush and after a few minutes he found his new friend. 

The landmark

"I suppose this would count as a landmark correct?" the young adept smiled at the Warrior. "We must be very close to the chapel."

"Good work Frederic, you found the road! The Chapel lies just up to the north of here. we should easily make our destination before dark."

Together the pair set off feeling better about not being hopelessly lost in the wilderness. 

Sally's wound prohibited anyone riding her, and Gunther was moving much slower as well. Frederic was doing all he could to not collapse from exhaustion himself. He had never been put to such physical exertion before, and found that he was drawing upon an inner strength he hadn't known he possessed. The party took a half dozen short rests and Frederic never let on that this was for any reason other than himself, though he knew Gunther was putting on a front. 

"Gunther, let me lay hands upon your wound. It is within my powers to do so." 

The old warrior grimaced, and kept limping along. "Bah, this is nothing and I've suffered far worse in my day. I'd rather you keep that for when we really need it than to end up lamenting later."

As dusk set in and a fog began to rise again, the pair sighted their destination just ahead. The Chapel of Saint Brigid was a welcome sight and the men were eager to rest and recuperate in the safety of its walls.

Chapel of St. Brigid

With Sally stabled and her wound treated, the men took refuge in the main hall of the Chapel. There they conversed with the Sisters and gave the letter to the Headmistress. 

"You shall rest for the night and have a hot meal. In the morning we can bless the sword and prepare it for travel." The Headmistress motioned for a pair of nuns to get food for Gunther and Frederic, "I have sensed a faint evil growing nearby, but nothing untoward has occurred here. The wards of St. Brigid should be more than enough to keep any bone-men from our doorsteps."

"Many thanks Sister," Gunther made the holy sign before tucking in to the bowl of hot stew that was set before him. Frederic did the same and both men began to relax. "Frederic and I are in your debt. We weren't sure that this place hadn't been already besieged by darkness after our encounters on the road."

"Your are both welcome, and may rest easy now. Finish your meal and rest here. We will speak more in the morning." The Headmistress turned and left with the sisters through a heavy side door that led out of the main hall. The sound of a heavy bolt being drawn followed the closing of the door, and Gunther smiled to himself. The nuns had locked the two of them in the Chapel itself, even though the men were of good nature the sisters rules were strict. The old soldier felt more weary than he thought he was and his leg ached terribly.

"Gunther, please let me heal that." Frederic stood and came around to Gunther's side of the table.

The soldier huffed but allowed the young adept to call upon the power of the Saints and heal the wound in his upper thigh.

Frederic was unsure how long he had been asleep, but something stirred him awake. Opening his eyes he could see the hall was dimly lit by a low burning lantern hung from the ceiling. He rolled to his right and could see Gunther laid out upon one of the long pews snoring away under a blanket. Again something caused the young man to feel alerted!

Sitting up and reaching for his staff, Frederic looked about the hall and saw that the door through which the sisters had left earlier were slightly ajar. He stood and began to move towards the open portal when a voice called out to him from a shadowed corner of the hall.

"What a strong young man you are Brother, you shall wet my appetite indeed!"

Peering into the gloom Frederic was surprised to see one of the sisters in her nightshirt moving towards him, her eyes seeming to pierce the young adept like a dagger made of ice. His heart thumped in his chest, a cold bead of sweat ran down the back of his neck. His arms and legs seemed locked in place and it was all he could do to hoarsely whisper his companions name in a pathetic warning....

The woman stalked closer to Frederic and he could feel waves of bone-chilling cold emanate from her. It frightened and excited him at the same time, he felt for sure she was going to do something far worse than just kill him. His eyes darted to the slumbering soldier and he whimpered through his clenched jaw! 

"The big one was drugged," the pale sister cooed, "we knew he was the stronger of you and we wanted no resistance from him. You however, are a servant of the Saints and we want to relish our chance to defile you!"

The unholy-nun raised her hands and bared her fangs as she lunged at the paralyzed young man! "I will bathe in your blood!"

Frederic closed his eyes and prepared himself for death when a deep growl and the sound of movement to his left made him peek through one eye! 

It was Gunther! The old soldier had flung his blanket over the vile sisters head and followed that up by smacking her in the face with the butt of his crossbow. The Nun screeched and fell back across the table tearing at the blanket!

"Snap out of boy!" Yelled Gunther at Frederic, as he raised the weapon to firing position. He pulled the trigger and the bolt shot directly into the center of the sisters chest pinning her to the table! 

The spell broken, Frederic reacted by knocking the lantern from its hook, catching it and smashing it on the creature that was squirming on the table! "FWOOSH!!" a cloud of flame burst in the room!

"May this fire cleanse your soul and by the power of Saint Brigid I rebuke thee!" Frederic brandished his holy symbol at the former holy-sister now engulfed in flame! 

Her screams seemed to pierce the night and she ripped herself from the table and turned to face Frederic. "Aaaahhhhhh!"

Gunther stepped between the two and with a single blow he severed the burning woman's head from her body! "Open the entry door!" Gunther commanded the young man. Frederic lifted the oak plank that barred the door and pulled it open. Gunther proceeded to then give the smoldering head a swift kick sending it out the doorway and bouncing down the steps of the Chapel. Frederic slammed the door shut and barred it again. He slumped to the floor breathing heavily and looked at Gunther... "Were you awake the whole time?"

"Not the whole time, besides I wasn't sure if I should've intruded on your budding romance." Gunther grinned and winked at him.

Frederic stood and brushed himself off. "Well I'm glad you did!"

Collecting his dropped crossbow Gunther moved towards the doorway of the chapel interior. "I suppose we best find that sword ourselves then, eh?"

The pair of adventurers delved deeper into the Chapel and soon found the desiccated remains of a handful of nuns in their cells. Soon the men found their way to the lower crypt and basement of the site and came face to face with the fallen Headmistress now wielding the fury of hellfire upon our heroes!

The pair faced off against the vile witch who summoned a Hound a hell and a Gargoyle to battle the men! 

A pitched battle was fought, scrolls of protection were read and vials of Holy water thrown about! In the end the men were victorious by the skin of their teeth.

The Holy weapon was retrieved and brought back to Hemlock.

More adventures to come in the haunted lands of Marqest.....

THE END