02nd August - The Monster of the Durst House
General Summary
Lars awoke in the dining room to the rest of the party returning from their exploration of the catacombs underneath the house.
Even though he was feeling refreshed and ready for more adventure, the rest of the party were looking a little worse for wear, so they decided to try and recuperate for a little while.
A loud howl reverberated though the house, sending a wave of concern and fear through the party who were unable to determine the source of the alarming sound.
The group decide to bunker down, and use the dining chairs to reinforce the doors to prevent anyone, or anything, get inside. Suddenly, noises can be heard from within the fireplace, getting closer and closer. A loud thud against the door alerts the team to a potential threat so they prepare for a fight. Sorrow lays down some caltrops, Aeli draws her weapons, and Lars throws his torches into the fire place. Before Lars can light them, a ghoul drops down and attacks.
As the party deal with the undead intruder, the pounding on the door continues. The ghoul inside the room are defeated, and the party can hear that the remaining enemies scurry away.
Lars and Marcus use the reprieve to move the furniture from the hunter's den into the dinning room and start breaking it down for fire wood. As Lars disassembles the furniture he finds a hand, light and heavy crossbow. He also finds a deck of playing cards.
The party use the down to start to open up to each other, learning more and more about who they are and where they came from. Lars reveals the traditions of his home town and is surprised that his companions are not yet married considering their ages. Vidar reveals that they can change their form, and transforms into a masculine presenting form.
Using the deck of cards found earlier, the party keep themselves entertained with a few friendly games.
The pounding on the door starts again, springing the party to action. Aeli bravely takes the fight to the ghouls and opens the door, to face the creature as more ghouls come in through the fireplace.
The creatures are defeated, but the party realise they are not going to be able to rest without any further interruption. Convinced that there must be a way out downstairs if there is water, Lars, Marcus and Aeli start making their way down and are joined by Sorrow and Vidar.
They head back to the bottom level, the source of the chanting and Aeli is surprised when the chanting stops as she peers through the portcullis into the large water filled chamber. Unable to find a lock to pick, they use brute strength to bust open the barrier into the chamber.
They study the room, seeing featureless stone pilLars support the ceiling, and a breach in the west wall leads to a dark cave heaped with refuse. Murky water covers most of the floor. Stairs lead up to dry stone ledges that hug the walls. In the middle of the room, more stairs rise to form an octagonal dais that also rises above the water. Rusty chains with shackles dangle from the ceiling directly above a stone altar mounted on the dais. The altar is carved with hideous depictions of grasping ghouls and is stained with dry blood.
Marcus and Sorrow use the ledges around the edge of the room and stay out of the water, while Vidar hangs back at the entrance. Lars and Aeli trudge through the water towards the pile of refuse, Lars' unsure of what may waiting for them brings his axe down on the pile. The rotting heap of vegetation animates and looms up half again as tall as a human, tapering into a faceless “head” at its top.
Dark apparitions of faceless black-robed figures appear on the ledges overlooking the room, each one holding a torch that seems to draw light into it, chanting, “One must die!” over and over.
The party quickly learn that the apparitions are harmless and focus their attention on defeating the shambling mound. Sorrow hurls insults, Vidar draws radiant flames, Marcus casts firebolt after firebolt, Aeli and Lars make use of their weapons. Aeli's instincts kick into overdrive and she jumps on it's back and continues to attack from a better vantage point.
The shambling mound grapples Lars and eventually swallows him up, but is brought down.
An alarming sound rings through the house and the group make hurried tracks to get out of their.
In the room at the top of the stairs, slashing scythe-blades have replaced the door, making passage through the door precarious as smoke starts to fill the room. Lars notices that the walls are rotted and brittle and smashes through.
The party may make it out of here alive...
Report Date
02 Aug 2024
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