Trescendor Manor!

This week in Dungeons and Dragons our group continued our adventure in Trescendor Manor. The Helmed Horror Guards the door that leads to the family we are trying to rescue. Although the Helmed Horror seems to take the group in, it does not respond to us. Through Aggrippiana’s knowledge of the arcane, she is able to tell the group that this being was placed here as a guardian by a powerful wizard. Likely Glasstaff, the wizard who the group seeks. Aralon has the wonderful idea to turn our rogue elf invisible, allowing him to sneak past the horror and unlock the door behind him. Although this initially seems to work. When passing the Helmed Horror, Vorn is the victim of a nasty blow to the shoulder and falls down injured. The Horror can see him it seems, although the other adventurers can’t! Deciding it would be best to find the master of this guardian, Aralon, Vandal and Vorn look for secret doors when they hear voices coming through one of the walls. They hear what hears to be Bugbears and Goblins talking about a casket given to them by Venom Fang. A name the group is very familiar with. While attempting to find the secret entrance into this room, Thraback as expected uses his strength to simply bash down the wall, with the room now being empty. There is a foul necrotic air in this room which leads to a cavern with two planks acting as bridges. There is the smell of a rotting corpse and the eerie sense that the group is not alone. Through Vorn’s exploration of the cavern he sees two doors across the cavern and after checking the sturdiness of the planks, the group attempts to make their way across with ropes as an aid. It should be noted that Vorn is still invisible at this point! An angry necrotic aura descends upon the group with each member suddenly subjected to telepathic chanting in their head. This foul demonic voice taunts the group, “Welcome to my home, do you smell my last meal?” This hunched olive skinned creature stares at the group with its one huge central eye, as it attempts to delve into the minds of each of our adventures to reveal their darkest secrets. Aralon, despite the attempts of the creature to rend his mind, is able to fight off the attack. Vorn and Vandal quickly take charge and begin attacking the beast with Death summoned to assist. Thraback injures it from afar with his bow but Vorn deals the killing blow. Before dying the creature inflicted psychic damage on the group causing Vorn to succumb to his wounds. He was, however, quickly healed by Aggrippiana. The group crosses, with Vandal being thrown over by Thraback no less… with our Orc friend choosing to sprint across one of the thin planks and making it over without a scratch. The group then turn their attention to the cavern below, where the neurotic energy seems to be coming from. The group sees the casket which was mentioned early. An emerald green colour and adorned with two dragon head sculptures, we are not surprised that this came from Venom Fang. Aralon, in his wisdom, casts Agonising Blast at the casket twice. Both times it emitted a green vapour but was undamaged. Vorn and Aggrippiana make their way into the cavern to investigate further. The cavern floor is littered with bones, likely the previous victims of the Nothic. On the casket, there is what seems to be writing in dragon language. On discovering this Aralon comes down to translate. The floor is also covered in what seems to be regular fungi. On closer inspection, Aralon recognises that it is Viet, a poisonous substance which then starts to move and attack the three. After a debacle the fungi are defeated, with Vorn harvesting the poison for good measure. Within this cavern is a body, the father of the family we have come to rescue. Vorn searches the body, finding a necklace to return to the wife. Lucas and Aggrippiana pray for his soul that it be guided into the afterlife. Using his ability to comprehend languages, Aralon is able to read out the inscription on the casket. “An angel can sing with broken wings, but not with a broken heart” He then pulls out the 4 emeralds, which adorn the dragon sculptures. When the last one is removed, a trap is triggered, causing the green foam to rise from the casket, injuring the group. This doesn’t stop Aralon however as he continues trying to prise open the casket, causing more of the green substance to materialise, almost killing Aggrippiana! When the box is eventually opened by Vorn there are two compartments. One contains the very familiar Hag’s Eye and the other an ornate vial with a substance which seems to be tears. The vial is of celestial style, and has written on it “The Tears Fall When the Moons Align” Moving out of the cavern the group hears screaming from behind one of the doors. We sneak up to the entrance and see 5 bugbears and 1 goblin being used as a punching bag. Before entering the room, Vorn gives Aralon the Hag’s Eye, which he hopes to use for his own gain. On entering the room, chaos ensues. In the midst of this battle, Aralon attempts to use the Eye to enhance his powers. However, from the orb an evil cackling voice of an old woman is heard, laughing at him. After the group emerges from the battle, alive but somewhat roughed up, Aralon’s hand is burned by the eye. Leaving a black eye-shaped mark etched into his skin. The Goblin, Droube, under duress, tells the group of the Common Room where the Red Brands will be. He tells us that there are 72 within that group which we are sceptical of. He also tells us of a lab where Glasstaff conducts his experiments. Thraback takes a liking to the Goblin and brings him along. Vorn sneaks into the Common Room taking one poor guard completely by surprise by stabbing him right through the heart, and then injuring another just as quickly. Aralon, rushes in and uses Burning Hands, incinerating the other three guards at the table before they knew what was happening. Aralon was a little disappointed he wasted such a strong spell on weak foes. Moving into the lab the group discovers an extensive bookshelf. We are able to find books referring to the Fey Wild and Orc Clans. We also notice failed attempts at making healing potions throughout the lab. Aggrippiana finds a specific tome and on looking through it finds a page with the number 47 written. She quickly takes the tome. From reading through the other texts, it seems that the mark on Aralon’s hand with spread until eventually the owner of the Eye will make him their servant. Within the text, there is also the mention of the legend of the mace, “Light Bringer”. The celestial bowl is also mentioned as part of a summoning ritual. Through Vandal’s knowledge of the rotations of the moon, the group will know when to complete the summoning using the Angel Tears. Satisfied, the group makes their way into the next room in the search for Glasstaff. We make our way into a bedroom where were can see another door slightly open, leading into a corridor. Droupe runs through this doorway with Thraback following quickly behind, the rest of the group are busy searching the bedroom and do not notice this. In the corridor, Thraback watches as Glasstaff slowly materialises in front him. He is then literally stabbed in the back by the little goblin Droube, leaving him with a nasty wound. In an almost instant response, Thraback cleaves the traitorous goblin in two, then turns his attention to Glasstaff. Using his magical powers, Glasstaff is able to charm Thraback into attacking the group. With the group not aware of this until the orc badly injures Vorn. The group quickly react and try to focus their attention on Glasstaff in order to break the charm. Vadal slips past Thraback and deals the first damage to the wizard, dodging his magical attacks. Lucas also moves into the hall and uses his Thunder Wave spell, causing the rooms to vibrate and pulse with magical energy, with Vandal caught in the crossfire, but still fighting on. Back in the other room Aralon is able to blind Thraback, giving them some time. Thraback, despite his lack of sight, is able to knock Vorn unconscious. The fight continues with Glasstaff while Aggrippiana is able to stabilise Vorn. Thraback moves towards the half-elf to attack but she is only grazed. Lucas gathers all his energy and casts one final Thunder Wave towards Glasstaff. The group holds their breath as the wizard slumps to the floor, and dies. Until next week!