Patvolar "Half-Blood" Didn't Like Cheese
As the party continued to travel to Sacurbis the weather took a dramatic turn for the worse. As a blizzard engulfed the party, Mr. Zunn’s sudden disappearance was followed by the mocking laugh of Uncle Pally Wal. The party soon came across a man who was herding goat-like creatures known as Roungers into a barn. Frinch, a human with reddish hair and a large mustache, ushered the party inside his cottage away from the storm.
He explained that these creatures were called Roungers and were native to Sylvasker. After the party enquired about purchasing some, Frinch offered to loan the party some if they visited the ruins of a manor belonging to Patvolar “Half-Blood” to retrieve a diamond broach which was a family heirloom of his wife’s. The broach belonged to his wife’s grandmother who had worked at the manor and had one day lost it there. Frinch always dreamed of retrieving it from there to place on his wife’s grave as she had always admired it. He also delved into theories around Patvolar’s death - supposedly had supposedly died from eating som bad cheese but famously Patvolar didn’t like cheese so something didn’t add up. Frinch also warned that the site was once home to giants but that was decades ago and they should be gone by now as giants were said to live only 40-50 years.
The party agreed but would have to wait until the storm passed to travel. They slept in the barn. Thralisk experienced a dream in which Pally Wally warned him that if he didn’t keep the wand that would stop Horizon from teleporting. If he refued to use it, Pally Wal warned, then he would be sent to Mr. Bang Bang as punishment.
The next morning the party loaned three Roungers and travelled to the ruined manor.
Navigating through the area, the party found signs of giants’ influence on the environment, including cracked trees large footprint and pools of dried blood.
Inside the manor, they encountered a kobold named Nug, who was stealing shiny objects and ran off into the dining room. After some coercing, Nug informed the party that a terrible giant who’s skin was falling off was in the nearby area before fleeing.
Behind a portrait, they found a golden shield and mace, both magical. In the lounge they found a glass box containing four dice.
Upon further inspection of the foyer, they also came across a mysterious door with a white handle and three slots, surrounded by colored stones and Elven engravings that read “Spectrum.” After figuring out the combination the door opened to reveal a hidden cellar.
Descending into the manor’s cellar, the party discovered the embalmed body of Patvolar. The party also uncovered the diary of “Patvolar, the Grand Councillor of the Enclave of the North”. The entries revealed unsettling insights into his final days. One passage mentioned Gorwin Laimoira (Patvolar’s successor and Grand Councillor of The Enclave of the North until the crowning of Fongrurim Duskgranite a couple of months ago). He described her as a fearful antagonist yet also revealing that he carried a strange attraction to her, with one passage stating: "Despite how ghastly and evil she is, that bosom is divine."
From the diary it was clear Patvolar knew his life was in danger. He was certain she intended to kill him, driven by her desire for the throne—something she felt entitled to after being passed over repeatedly. He also revealed his deep distrust of the Mantel family, who visited him daily, making threats. Patvolar was resolute in his refusal to allow them entry into the Given Lands—an area of the Oreleth Empire he had declared independent, a sanctuary for those who had fled The South during The Blink.
The last page of the diary also revealed that Patvolar did in fact harbour a great dislike of cheese.
Through a Speak with Dead spell, the group was able to question Patvolar, who provided the following answers to their inquiries:
He explained that the Mantel family sought to infiltrate the Given Lands in order to exploit the refugees there, using them as cheap labor, and preying on their naivety. Patvolar had refused to allow this. He also revealed that this was not the first time the Mantels had engaged in illegal enslavement. Their matriarch, Evylin, was a devil worshipper, while Patvolar himself was devoted to Kaldep.
Patvolar spoke of an ancient and terrifying entity known as the Screaming Moon. This being, born into the universe, thrives on fear, anger, and hatred, feeding on uncertainty and chaos. It is drawn to their world and will eventually consume it. What it craves is Mothligra—a state of being created by enormous evil entities that have been summoned to the planet by acolytes who emenate fear, anger and hate. Mothligra is a constant, overwhelming force of insanity, mistrust, inhumanity, and evil, a state of pure chaos. Patvolar could sense its approach, and he feared that it was drawing ever closer.
The group then searched the rest of the basement until they found the diamond broach they had been tasked with finding and also found 12 gold bars, but regreatablly were only able to carry 8 of them without a bag of holding.
As they prepared to leave the manor, a sudden flurry of green and yellow curtains fell from the sky and revealed Mr. Zunn at the entrance of the manor. The ground also started shaking as a 15-foot zombified hill giant emerged from the woods, making its way toward them, setting the stage for an intense confrontation.
He explained that these creatures were called Roungers and were native to Sylvasker. After the party enquired about purchasing some, Frinch offered to loan the party some if they visited the ruins of a manor belonging to Patvolar “Half-Blood” to retrieve a diamond broach which was a family heirloom of his wife’s. The broach belonged to his wife’s grandmother who had worked at the manor and had one day lost it there. Frinch always dreamed of retrieving it from there to place on his wife’s grave as she had always admired it. He also delved into theories around Patvolar’s death - supposedly had supposedly died from eating som bad cheese but famously Patvolar didn’t like cheese so something didn’t add up. Frinch also warned that the site was once home to giants but that was decades ago and they should be gone by now as giants were said to live only 40-50 years.
The party agreed but would have to wait until the storm passed to travel. They slept in the barn. Thralisk experienced a dream in which Pally Wally warned him that if he didn’t keep the wand that would stop Horizon from teleporting. If he refued to use it, Pally Wal warned, then he would be sent to Mr. Bang Bang as punishment.
The next morning the party loaned three Roungers and travelled to the ruined manor.
Navigating through the area, the party found signs of giants’ influence on the environment, including cracked trees large footprint and pools of dried blood.
Inside the manor, they encountered a kobold named Nug, who was stealing shiny objects and ran off into the dining room. After some coercing, Nug informed the party that a terrible giant who’s skin was falling off was in the nearby area before fleeing.
Behind a portrait, they found a golden shield and mace, both magical. In the lounge they found a glass box containing four dice.
Upon further inspection of the foyer, they also came across a mysterious door with a white handle and three slots, surrounded by colored stones and Elven engravings that read “Spectrum.” After figuring out the combination the door opened to reveal a hidden cellar.
Descending into the manor’s cellar, the party discovered the embalmed body of Patvolar. The party also uncovered the diary of “Patvolar, the Grand Councillor of the Enclave of the North”. The entries revealed unsettling insights into his final days. One passage mentioned Gorwin Laimoira (Patvolar’s successor and Grand Councillor of The Enclave of the North until the crowning of Fongrurim Duskgranite a couple of months ago). He described her as a fearful antagonist yet also revealing that he carried a strange attraction to her, with one passage stating: "Despite how ghastly and evil she is, that bosom is divine."
From the diary it was clear Patvolar knew his life was in danger. He was certain she intended to kill him, driven by her desire for the throne—something she felt entitled to after being passed over repeatedly. He also revealed his deep distrust of the Mantel family, who visited him daily, making threats. Patvolar was resolute in his refusal to allow them entry into the Given Lands—an area of the Oreleth Empire he had declared independent, a sanctuary for those who had fled The South during The Blink.
The last page of the diary also revealed that Patvolar did in fact harbour a great dislike of cheese.
Through a Speak with Dead spell, the group was able to question Patvolar, who provided the following answers to their inquiries:
He explained that the Mantel family sought to infiltrate the Given Lands in order to exploit the refugees there, using them as cheap labor, and preying on their naivety. Patvolar had refused to allow this. He also revealed that this was not the first time the Mantels had engaged in illegal enslavement. Their matriarch, Evylin, was a devil worshipper, while Patvolar himself was devoted to Kaldep.
Patvolar spoke of an ancient and terrifying entity known as the Screaming Moon. This being, born into the universe, thrives on fear, anger, and hatred, feeding on uncertainty and chaos. It is drawn to their world and will eventually consume it. What it craves is Mothligra—a state of being created by enormous evil entities that have been summoned to the planet by acolytes who emenate fear, anger and hate. Mothligra is a constant, overwhelming force of insanity, mistrust, inhumanity, and evil, a state of pure chaos. Patvolar could sense its approach, and he feared that it was drawing ever closer.
The group then searched the rest of the basement until they found the diamond broach they had been tasked with finding and also found 12 gold bars, but regreatablly were only able to carry 8 of them without a bag of holding.
As they prepared to leave the manor, a sudden flurry of green and yellow curtains fell from the sky and revealed Mr. Zunn at the entrance of the manor. The ground also started shaking as a 15-foot zombified hill giant emerged from the woods, making its way toward them, setting the stage for an intense confrontation.
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