The party returned to the Fisherman’s Guild Hall, hoping to make sense of what they had seen at the Cannery. In their absence Duncan had gathered what local and traveling merchants still remained in the city, giving the party a chance to acquire some new equipment. He also drained the Guild’s coffers and supplies in an effort to prepare the party for whatever might be coming, as he figured that the Guild would have little use for such things if they were all dead.
Jones had become somewhat unhinged, struggling to keep himself together while attempting to research the vision. He found reference to the “Pillar of Orman” in the Balance Resource Book, apparently Dwarven cultists had created them while attempting to survive the Long Winter in the northern kingdom of Khumalt. They are a way to amplify magic but little other information is available. Edward, having vast knowledge of things from beyond the stars, was able to describe the pillar. He described a horrifying tower made of flesh, bone and bound spirits. The party theorized that the processing of the townsfolk at the Cannery was in service of making one of the towers, although the volume of materials used seemed to imply a tower of enormous proportions.
Armed with new equipment, the group prepared to attack Volévont Manor. Various plans were suggested and rejected, with the party attacking the side gate while the Guild rolled barrels of gunpowder to both distract and weaken the forces at the main gate. The party cut down the guards with ease and found themselves in the midst of a chaotic scene. Hybrids and sinspawn rushed to douse the fires at the destroyed main gate while others tried to move carts full of goods away from the fire.
A steamcannon on tracks idled in the corner of the yard. The party took the fight in to the courtyard, cutting a path through the chaos. As they made their way toward the manor, the chimes rang out again, this time sounding like they were underneath their feet. A rift tore open in the space above the courtyard, dropping a Tentacled Horror in to the middle of the battle. The sight of this mass of flesh, teeth and writhing limbs caused some serious sanity issues for the party, resulting in some tense turns.
The Horror began attacking everything around it, friend and foe alike. It shredded and ate most of the remaining manor forces and gave R4D a serious beating while the party attempted to put it down. Sildar managed to get the steamcannon trained on the Horror and fired logs in to it until it finally was defeated. He also managed to hit the final guard as she ran in to the manor, blasting the doors in while he did so. The yard contained carts full of the collected goods of the townsfolk sent to the Cannery, giving the party a lot to sort though.
After taking everything of value, plus a few worthless things, the party headed toward the manor. As they approached, Edward was taken by a vision. He found himself floating out among the swirling stars of the last vision, facing a planet sized being. Mantorok, the second of the Great Old Ones Edward had encountered, told Edward of the ongoing war between itself, Xel’lotath and Chattur’ghath. It spoke of how Edwards world was being pulled from its current reality in to theirs, a process that Xel’lotath has been attempting to speed up by tearing open a rift to enter this reality. Mantorok thinks that the races of this world could be used to end the millennia long stalemate between the three warring gods and offers to help Edward maintain his arcane powers in exchange for his service. Edward agreed and was told to seek the Blackstar, an artifact of Mantorok that would help them against the forces of Xel’lotath. The Blackstar was under threat by the Countess as she had been attempting to break it and combine its powers with the artifact she possessed.
Edward returned from his vision and told the party what he saw, telling them they didn’t have much time before the Blackstar would be broken. The party entered the manor and began exploring the first floor. Reith scouted out the ballroom, finding a lone elf and some deactivated bronze constructs among crates of supplies and strange machines. He attempted to shake down the elf for information, only to have the elf’s disguise melt away, revealing an Unknown. Gaelin Caitris, the quartermaster, quickly activated the constructs and gave chase as Reith retreated. The party destroyed the constructs but Gaelin vanished, disappearing further in to the manor. The party gathered themselves and continued, exploring the kitchen, pantry, servants quarters, the library, a sitting room and the main hall. They made quick work of the few guards they found and occasionally became aware of Gaelin’s presence from time to time. Once satisfied that they had cleared out the main floor, the party headed up the grand staircase to the second floor. Here they found a large group of guards as well as Gaelin. It was a serious battle but the party bested them all, leaving us ready to continue.
Early Frost Warning 