Curse of the Crimson Throne Recap # 80 [RPG]

 [Fireday, 7 Arodus 4708 continued]

 

Having learned that the key to defeating the chained spirit in the throne room is to first destroy each of the “anchors” that keep it bound to the Material Plane, the Harrowed Heroes discuss how to find them.  Yraelzin laments that no one in the group is skilled in divination, adding that the group has already spent days in Scarwall and could easily spend several more before they’ve searched it thoroughly.  But with no better options available, the group continue their room-by-room search of the second floor.  After looking over what must have been servants’ quarters, now containing only sagging bunks, the group head toward the front of the castle where the winch mechanism sits to raise and lower the main portcullis.  Murder holes in the floor alongside troughs of magically-cold oil testify that it must have been from this vantage point that the group was attacked on their way into the castle.  But, mysteriously, evidence that the defenders were destroyed here recently is everywhere: scattered and broken bones, dented weapons, and small impact craters in the wall from something small but powerful.

 

Adjacent guardhouses contain stairs descending to the first floor, but The Reckoner is most interested in the ladders providing access to wide trap doors above.  Climbing up quietly, he puts an ear to the bottom of the trap door and can hear creaking sounds—something heavy is walking around up there!  He climbs back down and whispers to the group.  After more discussion about the shattered bones and the pock-marked walls, The Reckoner has an insight: what if Shadowcount Sial and his bodyguard are still exploring the castle?  Or could there be other, even more mysterious, forces at work in Scarwall?

The decision is made to investigate where the trapdoor leads.  Anorak takes point, but he’s not nearly as stealthy as The Reckoner, and the trapdoor creaks loudly when he raises it just a few inches to peer out onto a rooftop turret overlooking the castle’s main gate.  A pair of massive skeletal minotaurs, presumably the reanimated remnants of the castle guard, hear the creeping of the trapdoor and spring to attack!  The Reckoner hurries up to do battle, activating his mask of the mantis to see through the supernatural gloom, but even he isn’t fast enough to stop the guards from shouting an alarm in some foul tongue.  Lorien ascends quickly and channels the glories of Cayden Cailean through his rapier, shattering one of the massive skeletons, and the other one falls soon thereafter.  The group decide to retreat back down the ladder before anything can respond to the alarm, but Anorak can’t help but gaze over the castle’s parapets into the crater lake below.  Was that a shadow just below the surface of the water?  If something’s swimming there, it must be enormous!

Back in the winch room, the sounds of pursuit are clear.  The group decide to stand and fight, hastily blockading the doors.  But doors can be no obstacle to the incorporeal, and two shadowy apparitions drift down from the ceiling!  Seconds later, one of the blockaded doors bursts open to reveal a skeletal figure with a flaming skull and a wicked-looking battleaxe.  But when fully prepared for battle, the Harrowed Heroes are unstoppable!  Anorak utters a spell that forces one of the shadows to flee and the other is quickly dispatched.  The fearsome looking skeletal warrior withstands only a few quick blows from one of The Reckoner’s many enchanted mauls before crumbling to dust.  And not only is no one seriously hurt in the fighting, but a breakthrough has been accomplished: tremors shake the castle, the gloom recedes somewhat, and a shriek can be heard from the direction of the throne room.  A spirit anchor has been destroyed!

 

With its primary defender dispatched, the castle’s heights are now open for investigating.  The Harrowed Heroes find little of interest beyond more evidence that others beyond themselves are exploring (and occasionally fighting) in the castle.  The Reckoner says that if it’s Shadowcount Sial and his bodyguard, the group needs to get to the chained spirit as quickly as possible once the fourth spirit anchor is destroyed before their rivals can get Serithtial.

 

Extensive discussion is held about whether to rest or press on.  Anorak pushes to keep moving, and agrees to take the lead as the group searches more rooms on the second floor, finding little of interest apart from a sparring chamber manifesting splotches of blood and a haunting that grabs hold of Yraelzin’s psyche, convincing him that he needs to clean the castle before the spiritual hold over the former Priest of Razmir is broken by Lorien’s magic.  Before long, the Harrowed Heroes have cleared the second floor proper, and are ready to move on to the roof of the guest wing.

 

With one of the spirit anchors destroyed, only three more remain before the curse of Castle Scarwall can be broken forever.  But if they are in a race against time—or Shadowcount Sial—are the Harrowed Heroes winning or falling behind?

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GM Commentary

Yraelzin's mention of divination is a shout-out to the most underappreciated school of magic--there are so many great divination spells that would save adventuring parties loads of time if they were used more often.

The PCs quickly picked up the clues that they weren't the only ones exploring Castle Scarwall.  Indeed, Shadowcount Sial and Laori Vaus were each (separately) exploring the castle and hoping to find Serithtial.  I assigned odds and rolled randomly each in-game day to see if they found the weapon or died in the attempt.

It was just sheer good luck that the first spirit anchor, a skeletal champion named Castothrane, happened to be in the area to respond to the alarm.  He was no challenge for the PCs.  One day, three to go!