Episode Five Recap
• The party discovered the ruins of Doncastle deep in the woods; the unicorn who led them here now gone. Near the outer gate portcullis a large obelisk of granite is discovered, with the Dedication to the Earthmother carved into it. Though it is made of granite, it is worn from the weather, and is clearly very old.
• Inside the outer gate the party encounters a large group of undead: Shadows. After unsuccessfully trying to rest at the gate, the party flees the Shadows for the safety of the castle. As they draw near, a cleric emerges, fleeing from the inside of the castle. He turns the undead, and introduces himself to the party as Cairn. He is persuaded to re-enter the castle with the party with a bag of coin, and the promise of a larger party with perhaps better skill.
• The party decides to check out a gated area outside, which is the outdoor smithy. They battle several minotaurs, which turn out to be some kind of human beast cultists, wearing bull heads as helmets. The area is rife with the stench of rotting Ffolk, as they appeared to be the main diet of the cultists. They also were in the company of a gorgon, which turned Zirkin and Thondar to stone with its magical breath.
• A secret entrance is found into the castle. The party takes it, and they find themselves in a massive outdoor temple to the Earthmother (The Moonshae’s aspect of Chauntea). Inside three massive sarcophagi, a restorative potion is found to cure Zirkin. There is a giant tree, a great deal of rubble, a catapult, and a blazing sun high in the sky, where only moments before it was cloudy and rainy outside the castle proper. Inside the temple is a Moonwell, recognized by Noah immediately. It has become partially corrupted by some evil force, and lures in most of the party with its hypnotic powers, each of them seduced with unique visions. Noah remains unaffected, as do both clerics, due to their high wisdom. Gorgar hears the song of the well, but is able to use her monk powers to shield her mind. The four work together to quickly save the party before they drown, with the exception of Limp Dick, who is saved last, but suddenly revives, coughing up water. The Moonwell has immense power, especially during a full moon, which Noah recognizes as being the next day.
• After the ordeal of the temple, the party explores most of the rest of the main level of the castle, noting the sun seems to be shining in from all windows. They also find several pieces of manuscript, and some kind of riddle(s). With Karl racing through the castle, the party keeps up, and winds up battling a Greater Basilisk. Before it could turn its gaze to the party, Alecdora leapt upon its back, dealing a devastating blow with her longsword. As the party piled on with further rapid attacks, Gorgar slipped around the castle to burst in the other side of the hall, and charged the giant creature face to face, braving a near certain death by petrification or poison from its mouth and claws. Leaping into its grasp while laying on the damage with open hand strikes, she somehow avoids being petrified; she stalls the mighty creature long enough for the party to finish it off, before falling victim to slashing claws and multiple wounds of poison. Noah uses his rod of curing, which heals her wounds, and somehow clears the poison from her body.
• While the melee ensues, Karl comes face to face with some kind of ghostly elven woman, which deals an icy blow and sends him fleeing in terror. The party regroups in a large room, barricading the door, eager to rest for the night, before the full moon rises over Doncastle…
Parent Plot
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