Post by hubertbartels on Oct 30, 2021 13:19:00 GMT -5
March 1819
The adventurers received a request from the Earl of Charwell to help solve an undead problem; he had been busy razing his old estate to make room for new construction when workers in the old chapel were attacked by undead. The Earl sent in a small armed party into the crypt – none returned.
The next day, the adventurers set out for Charham, the hamlet closest to Charwell House. They took rooms at the Horse and Goose Inn as Charwell House had no rooms for them. During dinner, they heard stories about Charwell House. The 5th Earl of Charwell, a man named Theophilus or the Black Earl, was a warlock of no small power. Cromwell sent his Witchfinders to kill him and name a distant relative of Theophilus as the 6th Earl. Cromwell’s men buried the Black Earl’s head in the crypt of Charwell House’s chapel and the body in the now abandoned church at the old site of Charham. There were also rumors that there was a marriage to a woman in the house, a marriage in the old style and a child, spirited away when the Witchfinders came. The truth could be verified by talking to the Waeld sisters, three women that had lived in the woods since the fey gates had been opened.
Going up to the house, they found the son of the Earl and some of his friends, down from Oxford. While Henry and his friends went fox hunting over in Oxfordshire, the adventurers decided to examine the crypt.
After defeating several undead, the party found an opened feygate deep under the chapel. The coffin that was supposed to hold the Black Earl’s had been broken open and the cold iron seal was missing. The feygate was also supposed to be sealed but that seal was also missing.
Returning to the Earl of Charwell, he mentions that the workmen and Henry had surveyed the crypt a few days ago and both seals had been in placed. Henry had said that he told his friends about the contents of the crypt and seals.
Granger, the Earl’s butler, did say the young men had been all over the house. At this point, Lady Warwick wondered if there was a portrait of the Black Earl. The Earl of Charwell said yes and took them upstairs to the portrait gallery. The room was cold and little used. There was a line of the Earl’s ancestors – but the 5th Earl’s was missing.
While the young men were still foxhunting, it was decided to search their rooms. In George Sutton’s room, the adventurers discovered a bag of holding containing several items, including the two missing seals and a rolled up canvas. The picture of the Black Earl looked exactly like George Sutton.
By now, Henry and his friends had returned from the day’s sport. George Sutton was not among them; he was last seen walking his horse back to Charwell House. George claimed his horse had come up lame.
Early spring’s long twilight was fading. The Earl disappeared into the library. The adventurers had refreshments in the Great Hall until the Earl called them into the library to show them something he had found. In an old book, there was a description of when the Witchfinders last fought the Black Earl. Three cold iron seals were needed to seal away the Black Earl’s power. The adventurers had two and from the description, the third was being used to seal away the grave of the Black Earl’s body.
Riding on borrowed horses, the adventurers traveled to the ruined Charham church. At the top of the ridge leading down the church, they found George Sutton’s abandoned horse. Then appearing at the treeline, three women strode forward. Granny Weald introduced herself and said that they would need help in stopping George Sutton and the Black Earl. Her sister, Mama Weald gave the adventurers a bundle of twigs. “Cast them on the ground and for 1 minute, they will become armed men and fight for you.”
Inside the church, they found George Sutton walking back and forth while a tall, gaunt figure brooded.
George was ranting that he was the true Earl of Charwell and with the evidence that the Black Earl can give, he will send those imposters running. The Black Earl gestured – and George Sutton dropped dead. With a voice groaning and creaking from the grave, the Black Earl said that he was the only Earl.
Percy ‘misty stepped’ to behind the Black Earl, scattered the twigs and grabbed the remaining seal which had been lying on the old altar. Reginald and Lady Warwick ran into the church and dropped their seals.
Suddenly, there was a feeling of power in the ruined church as the seal took hold. With his powers crippled, the Black Earl flailed away at the twig soldiers and the adventurers but finally dropped. Charles Krenko pounded the Black Earl’s skull to ash and Dr. Trevelyan set the remains on fire.
The adventurers returned to Charwell House and reported on the destruction of the Black Earl. The next day, they returned to London.
The adventurers received a request from the Earl of Charwell to help solve an undead problem; he had been busy razing his old estate to make room for new construction when workers in the old chapel were attacked by undead. The Earl sent in a small armed party into the crypt – none returned.
The next day, the adventurers set out for Charham, the hamlet closest to Charwell House. They took rooms at the Horse and Goose Inn as Charwell House had no rooms for them. During dinner, they heard stories about Charwell House. The 5th Earl of Charwell, a man named Theophilus or the Black Earl, was a warlock of no small power. Cromwell sent his Witchfinders to kill him and name a distant relative of Theophilus as the 6th Earl. Cromwell’s men buried the Black Earl’s head in the crypt of Charwell House’s chapel and the body in the now abandoned church at the old site of Charham. There were also rumors that there was a marriage to a woman in the house, a marriage in the old style and a child, spirited away when the Witchfinders came. The truth could be verified by talking to the Waeld sisters, three women that had lived in the woods since the fey gates had been opened.
Going up to the house, they found the son of the Earl and some of his friends, down from Oxford. While Henry and his friends went fox hunting over in Oxfordshire, the adventurers decided to examine the crypt.
After defeating several undead, the party found an opened feygate deep under the chapel. The coffin that was supposed to hold the Black Earl’s had been broken open and the cold iron seal was missing. The feygate was also supposed to be sealed but that seal was also missing.
Returning to the Earl of Charwell, he mentions that the workmen and Henry had surveyed the crypt a few days ago and both seals had been in placed. Henry had said that he told his friends about the contents of the crypt and seals.
Granger, the Earl’s butler, did say the young men had been all over the house. At this point, Lady Warwick wondered if there was a portrait of the Black Earl. The Earl of Charwell said yes and took them upstairs to the portrait gallery. The room was cold and little used. There was a line of the Earl’s ancestors – but the 5th Earl’s was missing.
While the young men were still foxhunting, it was decided to search their rooms. In George Sutton’s room, the adventurers discovered a bag of holding containing several items, including the two missing seals and a rolled up canvas. The picture of the Black Earl looked exactly like George Sutton.
By now, Henry and his friends had returned from the day’s sport. George Sutton was not among them; he was last seen walking his horse back to Charwell House. George claimed his horse had come up lame.
Early spring’s long twilight was fading. The Earl disappeared into the library. The adventurers had refreshments in the Great Hall until the Earl called them into the library to show them something he had found. In an old book, there was a description of when the Witchfinders last fought the Black Earl. Three cold iron seals were needed to seal away the Black Earl’s power. The adventurers had two and from the description, the third was being used to seal away the grave of the Black Earl’s body.
Riding on borrowed horses, the adventurers traveled to the ruined Charham church. At the top of the ridge leading down the church, they found George Sutton’s abandoned horse. Then appearing at the treeline, three women strode forward. Granny Weald introduced herself and said that they would need help in stopping George Sutton and the Black Earl. Her sister, Mama Weald gave the adventurers a bundle of twigs. “Cast them on the ground and for 1 minute, they will become armed men and fight for you.”
Inside the church, they found George Sutton walking back and forth while a tall, gaunt figure brooded.
George was ranting that he was the true Earl of Charwell and with the evidence that the Black Earl can give, he will send those imposters running. The Black Earl gestured – and George Sutton dropped dead. With a voice groaning and creaking from the grave, the Black Earl said that he was the only Earl.
Percy ‘misty stepped’ to behind the Black Earl, scattered the twigs and grabbed the remaining seal which had been lying on the old altar. Reginald and Lady Warwick ran into the church and dropped their seals.
Suddenly, there was a feeling of power in the ruined church as the seal took hold. With his powers crippled, the Black Earl flailed away at the twig soldiers and the adventurers but finally dropped. Charles Krenko pounded the Black Earl’s skull to ash and Dr. Trevelyan set the remains on fire.
The adventurers returned to Charwell House and reported on the destruction of the Black Earl. The next day, they returned to London.