The party checked each alcove carefully, though Mandras was not at all expecting to find anything. To his surprise, there was a secret door, which sank into the ground as he put pressure at just the right place to cause a reaction. He entered the room, though his colleagues wisely hung back. A figure wearing a caster’s raiment was sat at a table, with his back to Mandras. Moving silently, Mandras approached… no reaction, he continued approaching until he was next to the figure, expecting to be momentarily blasted. He touched the figure and watched the skeleton fall apart. Still his colleagues hesitated to come in. Searching the table, Mandras found a book ‘Secrets of the Philosopher’s Stone’, which he pocketed, along with a red, quail egg sized stone and a golden skull. His colleagues now poured in to help themselves to other golden riches.
Sensing it was time to move on, they returned to the main thieves’ room, checking the footlockers and other nooks and crannies and appropriating a bolt of fine silk. Exiting by the stairs, they discovered it opened into the main room of the mansion, the moaning room.
Thanking their friend Rarder for his guards, the party returned to Ximes, well protected. After a good night’s sleep, Mandras spoke to a Zorian thief about opening the metal box that had foiled his thieving skills. The offer of 10GP gave little results, so he went off to find a blacksmith. The contents of the box was a ring.
After some useless twiddling of thumbs, the party agreed to proceed to Sylaire, to get items identified. On the way, they ran into Moriyami, a woman they had met near here before. Mandras engaged her in conversation. This time, he was more open to answering her questions and was surprised to be told that she might help the adventurers return to their time. Of course, assistance came at a price. Apparently, the Duke of Ximes was making folk disappear; Moryiami wanted to know why and how and sought to free the 20 odd and assorted persons. Mandras’ ears perked up as he heard the name of Sophie Du Chaudronnier on the list – whose father possessed one of the items the party needed.
Further discussion with Moriyami, revealed arcane skills as she conjured a robin to serve as go-between with her and the party. It perched on Mandras’ shoulder. She looked at the magical plate and the ring taken from the manor and identified their magical properties in exchange for the red egg Mandras carried. She then headed SW.
No point continuing to Sylaire now thought the fellows, back to Ximes to start work. They camped for the night near the forest. A few hours later the guards warned them that 3 hairy, filthy, naked men were approaching. When challenged they answered they were simply there for food. They kept walking towards the party. Tyrian noticed that another 3 heat signatures were waiting in the forest behind the party. With a final challenge, Mandras had the guards loose a volley at the 3 visible intruders, only to watch them pluck out the arrows and turn into lycanthropes. Their colleagues in the woods charged out. Mandras yelled at Farin to read the Hold Person Scroll. It paralysed one in front and one behind. The troops were told to hold off the 2 werewolves behind, while the adventurers used their magical weapons on the two in front. It was a grind and somehow, the mercenaries’ morale held longer than the lycanthropes, two of which fled into the woods dragging dead light infantry. The party killed one of the held beasts and tied the other up as they argued over whether to finish him off or interrogate it.