The group of adventurers reached Edgewater Port in the evening, eager to conclude their journey. Captain Renshaw swiftly collected his payment and resumed his voyage without delay. Upon entering the bustling port city, they were surprised by the lively atmosphere despite the late hour. Without hesitation, they sought directions to the nearest inn from a passing soldier. Following his guidance, they arrived at the Lighthouse Inn, where they secured accommodations.
Varis and Bartimaeus opted to share a room, while Amelia and Keira did the same. Rayenne and Daviok also decided to share a room, with Daviok graciously surrendering the bed to Rayenne, content to sleep against the wall near the door next to a barrel of wine.
The Other Adventurers
While the others retired to their rooms for some rest, Varis and Bart were intrigued by the lively sounds of music and laughter emanating from the second floor of the inn. They decided to venture upstairs to investigate. The partially open door granted them easy access, and upon entering, they discovered a group of merrymakers, clearly intoxicated and reveling in the moment.
Spotting a dwarf at a nearby table, seemingly on the brink of finishing his drink, Varis cautiously approached him, engaging in a conversation to learn more about the festivities. The inebriated dwarf appeared somewhat uncertain of Varis's identity and questioned whether they had met before. Varis, quick on his feet, replied affirmatively and introduced himself as "Jeff." The dwarf, in his befuddled state, didn't second-guess the encounter and began to share some information.
He disclosed that they were also adventurers, hired by a certain Lady Elenora Hamilton of Edgewater Port. Varis continued to inquire further, offering the dwarf another drink. The dwarf revealed that their mission involved clearing out an old, abandoned manor plagued by multiple sightings of ratfolk, which had been causing distress among the local populace in Bekvik. People and soldiers sent on this mission had mysteriously gone missing. However, before he could provide more details, the dwarf passed out from his intoxication. Varis and Bart discreetly exited the room and returned to their own quarters, seeking much-needed rest.
As dawn approached, Varis awoke unusually early and prepared himself to share the information they had obtained with the rest of the party. Bart readied himself as well, while Varis left to awaken their companions. Beastbane sprang to his feet swiftly, with Rayenne trailing behind him. Amelia and Keira proved more challenging to rouse. When Keira finally woke, she requested a moment.
Amelia eventually emerged, and they arranged for breakfast and supplies for their upcoming journey. Beastbane reminded them about the fish fillets and hinted at his culinary skills, despite their doubts. They insisted he would be the one cooking, and Beastbane, in a quiet agreement, waited for the party to finish their preparations.
Bartimaeus ventured to Keira's room, gently urging her to hasten her preparations. Eventually, Keira emerged, well-groomed and ready for the journey, although she seemed displeased with Bartimaeus. As the entire party gathered, Varis relayed the information they had learned the previous night. Amelia expressed confusion about why they were heading to "her" manor and what exactly was happening there. Without further ado, she headed outside, and the rest of the party followed suit.
Reaching Bekvik
The leisurely stroll from the city port into the countryside unfolded with serenity, eventually leading them to the quaint village of Bekvik just before noon. This cozy hamlet was already bustling with activity. As they approached, their attention was drawn to a tall kenku who vociferously shouted at a woman while brandishing a document issued by Lady Hamilton, detailing the assignment to clear Tergeron Manor. Swiftly, Amelia snatched the document from the Kenku and tore it into shreds. The Kenku retreated momentarily but promptly produced a copy of the deed from another scroll before departing.
Amelia then approached the woman and inquired about the person in charge in the village. The woman directed her to seek out Karver. The group ventured deeper into the village and made inquiries until they located him. Karver was surrounded by a group of villagers, none of whom seemed pleased to see the newcomers. They questioned the purpose of their arrival, and the villagers explained that several groups of adventurers had previously passed through the village on their way to address the issues at Tergeron Manor, but none had returned. Additionally, soldiers had been dispatched to the manor, causing further disruptions in the village.
Consequently, people were avoiding the area, and the village was suffering from a decline in trade. When Amelia confessed that the manor was hers, it incited the villagers, and they began to accuse her of being the root of the problem. In response, Varis stepped forward to clarify the situation by inquiring about how long it had been since Amelia last visited the manor. While the memory was somewhat hazy, she admitted that it had been several years.
The Manor
The group departed from the scene and headed towards the manor located on the outskirts of the village. As they drew nearer, they noticed a significant swath of trees had been cleared, and upon approaching the manor's grounds, they observed several ratfolk patrolling the area. Keria recognized them as native to the Vache Kingdom and attempted to communicate with them in Undercommon.
They decided not to sneak in and instead made their presence known, prompting the ratfolk to approach them. Although Keria could understand them, the ratfolk responded with threats. Another ratfolk, alerted by the commotion, brandished a whip and ordered the rats to attack the party. A shot was fired from an unknown source, narrowly missing Keria. Acting swiftly, she used her vampiric speed to intercept the Ratfolk Slavemaster before he could reach the manor, unaware of the two rat ogres guarding the manor's entrance.
The situation escalated, and the party initiated an attack. Varis hurled one of his Frostbite Gemstones, freezing half of the enemies in the courtyard solid. The Slavemaster attempted to break free from Keria's vine restraint, but she held him fast. Amelia charged in, dealing with those who survived the icy onslaught and tearing them apart with her claws. Meanwhile, Varis found himself pinned down by Ratfolk Hunters in one of the towers.
He endured some attacks while Beastbane rushed to his aid. Bartimaeus joined Keria in facing the Rat Ogres, struggling against their overwhelming strength. Nevertheless, the party prevailed, defeating the Ratfolk and the Rat Ogres. Amelia ascended the tower and eliminated the Hunters before discarding their bodies. As the chaos subsided, Varis investigated the fallen Ratfolk Hunters, recovering a Stormfire Repeater.
The Dark Crypts
The group caught their breath and prepared to enter the manor, which was covered in massive thorn vines with dark veins resembling the abyssal roots they had encountered before. As they ventured inside, they discovered more vines creeping along the walls and ceilings. They explored the rooms, finding them deserted until Rayenne noticed a large crate perched atop something. Amelia attempted to move the crate without success, but Rayenne effortlessly flipped it over, revealing a hidden hatch beneath. Keira decided to scout ahead, descending to a lower floor where she encountered a room entwined with large cobwebs. Inside the webs, she found people wrapped in silk. Varis carefully opened one of the cocoons, revealing a deceased adventurer. He looted a pouch from the corpse, leaving it otherwise undisturbed.
The party continued further, avoiding the cobwebs. Keira proceeded ahead, while the group examined a massive gate in the corridor with two peculiar stone faces that required keys. Deciding to postpone this puzzle, they moved on. Growls echoed, and an old, rusty cell door came into view, revealing a pack of Wolf Rats. Rayenne heated the cell door's metal to seal it shut. In the adjacent room, Keira explored what seemed to be an old dining area, with Ratfolk and a massive Ironclad Rat Ogre present. Using distractions, the party sneaked past into the next room without being detected.
The next room emanated the stench of old and fresh blood, containing iron cages with human prisoners chained inside some of them. The group cautiously traversed the room, reaching one cage where Keria's vampiric instincts got the best of her, and she attempted to feed on a prisoner. Varis intervened, and Rayenne noticed movement across the room. A Ratfolk Artificer roamed the area, and Amelia dispatched him with an arrow. As he fell, an unnatural transformation occurred within the prisoners, turning them into twisted Abominations.
Concerned for the unfolding situation, Varis attempted to decipher the Cursekeeper Sphere he had taken from the Artificer, which had triggered the curse on the prisoners. Meanwhile, Amelia eliminated those prisoners who had not yet transformed into Abominations. However, the cursed ones remained unresponsive. Varis finally unraveled the sphere's curse, but it was too late for the prisoners, as they had either perished or transformed. Ratfolk from the previous room arrived to find the Abominations. While they engaged, the party moved into the next room, with Beastbane waking up Keria.
The next room held a large chain connected to the portcullis, sealing them off from the Ratfolk. Amelia scouted further and discovered more Ratfolk. When the party resumed their advance, they found the Ratfolk had vanished.
In the next room, they disarmed a large bear trap and reached a spacious chamber with four pyres in the center. The Ratfolk awaited them, but Varis once again deployed his Frostbite Gemstone, freezing half of them. Amelia swiftly engaged and eliminated some while the others approached. However, they soon noticed a significant threat on the opposite side of the chamber – a massive mechanical Ratfolk Dreadnought accompanied by two Ratfolk Alchemists. Amelia charged in without hesitation, and Bartimaeus confronted one of the Alchemists. Meanwhile, two metal walls began closing in from both sides of the chamber.
The Dreadnought assaulted Amelia with its arcane-powered claws and drill, inflicting serious damage. Bartimaeus initially challenged the Dreadnought to one-on-one combat, but he lost concentration due to the threat from the closing walls, prompting the group to attack the Dreadnought together. The fight raged on until the Dreadnought's steam engine gave way and exploded, releasing a cloud of scalding steam that harmed those nearby.
The Brother
After the battle concluded, silence once again enveloped the scene. Before them lay two gates, one of which had its portcullis down. The party settled down to strategize, assessing their options with the resources they had left.
Taking a moment to catch their breath, they approached the substantial wooden gate. To their surprise, it was unlocked, and they cautiously entered the next room. Inside, they discovered a chamber adorned with bookshelves covering the walls from floor to ceiling, the ground buried beneath towering stacks of books and scattered notes. In the center of the room stood three ratfolk individuals—an Alchemist, an Artificer, and a Chieftain, all prepared to confront the party. However, as they entered, they once again heard a mysterious voice in their heads. Despite their suspicion, it wasn't emanating from any of the ratfolk before them.
With their patience for warnings running thin, a man at the back of the room rose from his chair. Instead of drawing weapons, he attempted to negotiate, asking them to leave. Amelia, standing her ground, revealed her claim to the manor through the deed she possessed. The man, Alekzander, appeared indifferent but agreed to finish his work and leave their way. Keira, curious if he might be undead due to his unusual eyes, realized he was very much alive, albeit with reptilian eyes. The party introduced themselves, and Amelia mentioned her father, William Vicarin. Much to her surprise, Alekzander revealed himself as her brother, mocking her in the process.
The party inquired about Alekzander's work, and he mentioned a missing "key," a book stolen from him, which they had unknowingly locked away—the Volkrag's Book of Greed. They presented the book to him, and he quickly discovered that the page he sought was missing. Handing the book back, he asked them to retrieve the missing page in exchange for leaving the manor. Amelia mentioned an old key she possessed from her father, and Alekzander pointed out a secret passage behind one of the bookshelves.
The party took a moment to explore the chamber. Amelia and Rayenne searched for valuable items among the books. Varis discovered a large book affixed to the wall, and despite it being securely fastened, his greed overcame him as he skillfully replaced it with the Book of Shadows. Amelia then used her key to reveal a concealed door behind one of the bookshelves. The party assembled and entered, only to find it led them outside the manor.
The Ritual
Returning inside, they decided to explore the manor's crypt. They reached a gate with the portcullis down and, driven by curiosity, attempted to lift it. Amelia and Daviok succeeded, allowing the others to unlock the gate. As they crawled beneath the portcullis, it suddenly slammed shut behind them, trapping them in a new room. Before them lay another chamber with a peculiar star-shaped pattern on the floor, radiating with green arcane magic. Surrounding it were hooded statues, and at its center rested a metallic sphere.
In front of the star pattern, an altar held a figure shrouded in cloth and adorned with various seals. They examined the mummy closely but refrained from touching it, as they detected magical wards upon it. Puzzled, they tried to discern the missing element. Varis asked Rayenne to scry for the supposed key, and as the magical eye appeared, it stared back at them. It dawned on Varis that he had a leather patch with text from the missing page. Using this text as a key, they attempted to solve the puzzle by manipulating the rotating statues, causing the floor to radiate with green arcane energy channeled into the central sphere.
However, their actions did not go unnoticed, as Alekzander entered with his ratfolk companions, clearly agitated. He drew his sword and demanded once again that they leave. Despite his anger, the party tried to convince him of their intent to help. They had found the last key. Alekzander approached the sphere and initiated a ritual, drawing magic from it and channeling it through Keira, who had experience with the abyssal roots similar to those covering the mummified figure. The ritual successfully freed the woman from the cloth, revealing a young lady in an ancient, tattered dress, previously afflicted by dark veins akin to abyssal roots.
Bartimaeus attempted to use his paladin powers but encountered resistance, resulting in a backlash of psychic harm. Keira offered her assistance, allowing Alekzander to channel the remaining magic through her, purging the lady's dark affliction with radiant light. This was at the cost of Keira taking the brunt of the radiant energy. Alekzander revealed the lady was his mother, further confusing Amelia, who wondered if she too might be related. Unable to provide answers, Amelia approached the lady, who hugged her briefly before stepping back.
Alekzander thanked the party and told them one of his ratfolk to retrieve something. Alekzander announced his departure from the manor, uncertain of his destination. The ratfolk were concerned about their sanctuary, but Keira offered them refuge at the Iron Isles, which they declined due to the presence of vampire rulers. Amelia granted them permission to stay at the manor, provided they stopped harming innocent people. Though they were reluctant, they agreed.
The ratfolk warlock returned with a pile of books, a gift from Alekzander, including the Codex of Arcane Insights, Book of Elemental Essences, Book of Curses and Counter-curses, and a Scroll of Fey Familiar. Alekzander left with his mother, and the ratfolk turned to Amelia before resuming their activities in the manor. The party gathered their belongings, still trying to comprehend the extraordinary events that had just unfolded.
Meeting Lady Hamilton
The group retraced their steps to Edgewater Port, where they spent the evening at a local inn before paying a visit to Lady Elenora Hamilton. While at the inn, they decided to take hot baths, and during this time, Amelia Vicarin shared her past with the party, including her father's obsession with a mysterious book and an otherworldly entity.
After their baths, Rayenne approached Varis to express her disapproval of the prisoners' killing at the manor crypt. Varis didn't shoulder the responsibility but showed some understanding. Rayenne then brought out a barrel of fine wine they had brought and indulged, revealing her lightweight tolerance. Later, Varis quietly left the inn to investigate a tall tower nearby. He broke into the tower, ascended its long spiral staircase to the top, and discovered an old brazier. Opting to light a small fire and rest there for the night, he was rudely awakened by guards who had spotted the fire and climbed the tower. To escape, Varis jumped off the tower but used a feather fall spell to land safely, then quickly transformed himself into a small Otterfolk.
The following morning, the rest of the party was awakened by a knock on their door as local guards sought them out due to their actions at the manor. They got ready and noticed Varis was missing. Nonetheless, they proceeded without him and were escorted to the Hamilton estate. Unbeknownst to them, Varis followed them while remaining invisible. Inside the estate, they met Lady Elenora Hamilton, who was engaged in a conversation with some unidentified individuals but made time for the party. Bartimaeus provided a brief account of their recent activities, and when Lady Elenora inquired about the prisoners they encountered, Amelia explained they had no choice in the matter. Lady Elenora expressed her sadness but upheld her contract, rewarding them for their services. She also offered one of her carriages to facilitate their journey to Greenfield.
As they prepared to depart in the carriage, Varis reappeared and took the reins. They set out of Edgewater Port. During their journey, they were ambushed by a group of goblins mounted on wolves. Arrows were fired at the party, one of which struck Varis in the shoulder. Amelia took control of the reins to urge the horses to go faster, while the rest of the group retaliated with arrows and magic. They eventually reached a substantial stone bridge on the other side of which were imposing wooden fortifications manned by soldiers and knights wearing green attire. They rushed through the gate, leaving the goblins behind as they noticed the fort. Most notably, they encountered a colossal knight in full armor, a remarkable sight.
Varis hailed one of the knights at the fort to inquire about the situation and whether they had encountered any Dominion patrols. The knight confirmed that a small company had passed through and verified that they were led by Ameena Summerwind, as Varis had suspected.