The adventurers had spent some time recovering in their fort, discussing goings on and planning what to do next. A debate grew, with Koko in favor of returning to the Barrowmaze to plunder the precious stones we had left behind, while Rarder was keen on manlier activities of a greater challenge. Mandras didn’t care, as long as he could hit it with his axe, if needs be.
Eventually, they had a chat with a hireling of Rarder’s who spoke to them of information she had come across about a huge manor in the NE mountains, said to be a source or origin of all magic in the lands. It was a place full of opportunity and danger.
Without further ado, the group assembled retainers, horses, supplies and set off. After a few uneventful days crossing forest and foothills, and hiding from a large shadow in the sky, the party reached a series of peaks. Camping on the third night, all the adventurers dreamt of an aged man in rich clothes, surrounded by what each character sought the most (marble and gems in Mandras’ case).
On awakening they observed two peaks, the furthest wreathed in an odd mist that was certainly not natural. The party struck out for it. On reaching their destination they beheld an enormous pleasure villa, 1000 feet across with 7 domes clustered in the center. Magic emanated from it heavily. The building was spotless and Mandras admired the quality of the construction. There were three staircases. Angling to the left, the heroes entered a corridor with loungers along the walls, a rich grey carpet running its length and tables with carafes of transparent liquid. It appeared to be an atrium of sorts.
Opening a door on the E side, they beheld a magnificent room with the furniture pushed back against the walls and a boxing ring in the center. A solitary fighter stood there, frozen in an en garde pose. A noble in a felt hat and two others watch the ring, the noble is jotting down notes. The party backs away quietly, uncertain if it has been noticed or not.
Continuing up the corridor Mandras and Konrad open a set of double doors leading into an enormous corridor – the grey carpet is ever present, but the floor and walls are mirrored and the view is spectacularly distorted, it runs to the right and one point there seems to be a raised passageway crossing the corridor. But there are a number of doors along it and one across from the group.
As the party fully enters the area, with Mandras and Konrad heading for that N door, there is like a gust of wind and everything falls into total darkness. The adventurers prepare for the worst. Mandras infravision slowly kicks in. Nothing happens, as everyone becomes more and more nervous. Suddenly there is a flash of light, so bright and intensified by the mirrors, that the entire party is blinded. Mandras falls to one knee and waits. After ten minutes nothing has happened, the mystery deepens. Sight does not return. The adventurers grope their way back into the atrium and close the doors.
Still blinded, all stay put, in defensive poses. During the next 20 minutes they hear a woman’s voice ringing out, giving instructions, as if talking to servants. Still nothing… it could be a long wait.