Chapter III

Cast of Characters

Loralask, Human Elementalist (Geourgy), played by Mike

Morpheus, Human Ecclesiastic (Theurgy), played by Carl

Phylus, Unordered Gnome (Physique), played by Chad

Rhys, Human Warrior-Monk (Unarmed Combat), played by Jeremy

Tuesday 2 October - 5:00 p.m.

The Avatars returned to the Keep on the evening of October 2 with a severely-injured Rhys in tow. The whole Keep -- except for the Tavern and the Inn -- was closed in anticipation of the next day's religious holiday. The Avatars returned to their apartment, while their hirelings Allan, Gwydion, and Johann headed over to the Tavern. Rhys' wounds were rubbed with salve and he went immediately to bed.

About two hours later (around 7:00 p.m.), there was a knock on the door of the Avatar's rented rooms. Loralask opened the door to reveal the slender figure of an ilf. The ilf introduced himself as Ben-adar, an advisor to the Castellan. He asked the Avatars if they were associated with some mercenaries -- Allan, Gwydion, and Johann. It seems that these three had engaged in some revelry at the Tavern, bragging about their exploits in the Caves of Chaos, and had a little too much fun. They were put in gaol for the evening and warned that if anything of the kind happened again they would be expelled from the Keep. Loralask, somewhat surprised, responded that he had no knowledge of the three and couldn't be responsible for them. Morpheus and Phylus pleaded innocence, and said that they weren't responsible for them, either, and had severed whatever business relationship they might have had. Ben-adar then warned the characters that because their adventuring was exposing the Keep to risk, they ought to "donate" a certain percentage of their adventuring "take" to the Keep. The Avatars also learn the Castellan's name from their conversation with Ben-adar -- Sir Maldwyn. Loralask (foolishly?) shut the door on Ben-adar while he was still talking.

After this brief encounter, they retired for the night.

Wednesday 3 October - 7:00 a.m.

The night passed uneventfully. In the morning, Morpheus was able to heal Rhys and also Phylus, who had suffered a number of injuries the previous day when fighting first the ghoul and later the troll. Morpheus and Rhys then went to the Chapel and joined the Curate, Melchior, and his three acolytes, Shem, Ham, and Japeth, in singing the morning's Office. They were able to speak to the Curate once services were completed. Here they learned some new details about why many inhabitants of the Keep are so mistrustful of gnomes. The mine that the gnome-like creatures known as "kobalts" were under contract to quarry was known as Mercy's Fortune and it lay somewhere to the north of the Keep. But Melchior wasn't certain when the mine was abandoned -- it must have happened before he arrived at the Keep some 12 years ago. Melchior was also careful to point out that at least some of the dislike of gnomes prevalent among the Keep's inhabitants is probably just old-fashioned prejudice, and the incidents at Mercy's Fortune only brought it out into the open. Morpheus and Rhys then told Melchior about the chapel and cemetary immediately north of the Keep and the ghoul-like creature inhabiting one of the tombs. Melchior gave his thoughts on the matter, namely that the tomb should be sealed completely and the entire area (re-)consecrated. But neither he nor Morpheus has the ability to do so at the moment.

Morpheus and Rhys went back to the Avatars' rooms and then on to the Tavern with Loralask. Allan, Gwydion, and Johann were there, looking a bit disheveled. Morpheus talked with the taverner, Leopold, briefly, trying to find out more about Mercy's Fortune. But Leopold didn't know much more than Melchior; he said that he had been in the Keep for over 15 years and that Morpheus should ask an old-timer about the mine. While Melchior et. al. were sitting at the bar, Allan came up and asked if anything was on the agenda for that day. Morpheus told him that his and his cohorts' services were no longer required. Allan became quite angry, pointed his finger in Morpheus' face, and told him that he would regret it. Then he stomped off.

The Avatars then set out for the Caves once more. Realizing that they were low on food supplies, they decided to do a little bit of hunting. Thanks to Loralask's Ranging ability, they were able to track and kill a small deer. Quickly butchering the deer, they were able to procure some 20 pounds of venison. They decided to pack it up as well as they could, and perhaps smoke it later to preserve it.

They reached the Caves about two hours later. This time they decided to try and explore the first cave on their right, but before they could even take a peek inside they heard a rustling in the trees above and 10 small, blue-skinned figures dropped down and moved in to attack. The Avatars were were taken by surprise, and a bit taken aback by the speed and ferocity of the "kobalts"' attacks, but eventually were able to overcome them. All of the kobalts were slain, but the party did sustain a number of injuries.