Post by hubertbartels on Mar 7, 2020 15:41:37 GMT -5
While the clerics and scribes of the church of Zilchus pored over the record we had recovered from the hidden temple of Iuz, we got ready to travel to the secret chapel at the Longshank’s farm. The seat of the Longshanks was a place known as Hawthorne Manor, twelve miles up the road to Pale. It’s a fortified site with pretensions of being a castle with twelve knight-bannerets and some 40 men-at-arms. We at least, had a writ-of-attainment.
The following morning, we rode out of Midmeadow. Our plans were to make camp near Hawthorne Manor at a common resting spot for caravans heading and out of Midmeadow. From there, we would scout out the surroundings and make our plans.
There was a caravansary near by with a place to put up our horses. The road continued on in a landscape of small farms, freeholds and larger estates. Hawthorne Manor itself lay down a broad lane, surrounded by fields edged with hedgerows. In the fields were young pea plants, cattle and cereal crops.
Gideon changed into a common rat and scampered off to scout. He was gone a long time, returning after a few hours in the form of a terrier. He had to run a long distance across the fields, climb the mortared fieldstone wall, and enter the grounds of Hawthorne Manor. He found the house – a log and timber building like a block house – lay near the front of the enclosed area. There were several barns including a large structure for hay and another filled with several dozen warhorses. In the area around the house, he found a flock of geese. The fieldstone walls were topped with manned watch posts and in addition to the main gate, several small postern gates were placed in the walls.
The back of the compound was given over to a kitchen garden and a orchard. The orchard gave some cover from the house. It was while scouting the orchard, Gideon was discovered by one of the many terriers on the grounds. Gideon quickly switched back to human, cast Animal Friendship on the small dog, followed it with Speak with Animals and proceeded to question his new friend. When it came time to leave, Gideon changed into another terrier and ran out the front gate.
Back in the caravansary, we discussed our plans for that evening. After talking it over, we decided to enter by a postern gate on the side of the house, away from the geese. The gate was close to the hay barn – which we figured was where the hidden chapel to Iuz lay.
At night, we crept across the fields to a spot near the fieldstone walls. Saphie cast a Sleep spell on the watchpost closest to the postern gate and Wolfram used his Ring of Jumping to leap up onto the post. The halflings dispatched the guards and descended to let us in the postern gate.
Once inside the compound, we made our way to the hay barn. It took a few moments to search but we found the hidden entrance to the chapel. I (Aerwyn) threw Arcane Lock on the trap door, keeping anyone inside from surprising us as we studied the house.
It was 150 feet to the house but we were able to cross the space using cover. Duncan cast Silence on the flock of geese, keeping them from giving the alarm. At the back of the house, next to the kitchen door, Gideon changed form into a mouse and crept into the house using a gap in the walls. Inside, he quietly changed back and opened the kitchen door. We entered a kitchen pantry, overpowered the sleeping kitchen maid and moved out into the servants’ hallway.
The hallway led to a narrow stairway going up. On the 2nd floor, there was another hallway with a door at the end. We noticed that this hallway had openings overlooking the Great Hall. There was quiet talking coming from the Great Hall. When we peeked out, we found a large number of armed men preparing for trouble. The clerics of Iuz had used Divination to foretell the attack on the manor but not where and when.
Continuing on to the door at the end of the servants’ hallway, we opened the door to find a room with two guards looking at us. Gideon and Thabo quickly dispatched them. Then the other doors in the room opened and Deidric , Aidan and an older man, Harry Longshanks, rushed out. Deidric danced around us to attack the spell casters in the back row while Harry and Aidan kept the fighters in the front busy. Harry shouted and a door further down opened.
Stepping into the fray was an older woman, Aelfwin Burberry. She was a witch and was ready for traveling. Thabo drops Harry as Aelfwin began casting Eldritch Blasts at us. We manage to kill the two younger sons but Aelfwin’s spells hurt. Thabo and Wolfram manage to hurt her so bad that she finally plane-shifts away.
Going out into the Great Hall, Aerwyn drops a Fireball on the mass of armed men. None of them survived. Then we descended to the basement, following a hunch that there would be a hidden tunnel to the chapel from the house.
In the chapel, we find Thelma Ironhand and three armored guards. They had detected the locked trapdoor and were waiting for us. In moments, the guards were gone, falling under Gideon’s, Wolfram’s and Thabo’s fury but Thelma fought on, using necrotic spells to severely hurt us. Aerwyn went down as Gideon and Thabo finally strike her down.
When we left the chapel, the remaining men-at-arms and knights were fleeing the manor. We held the servants in the house for later questioning. Aerwyn is healed and asked to identify the arcane things we found.
The next morning, a squad of clerics of Heironeous ride up. They take over the place and begin to determine the guilt of those at the manor. We ride back to Midmeadow.
In the next few weeks, there is a increased guard presence at the gates. The guards have been bolstered by clerics and wizards searching the people leaving the city. Inside the city, the guards continue rounding up people named in the records. Everyday, trials are being held and the guilty are hanged. The purge of Iuz worshipers continues. It is all being overseen by the Grey Seer himself.