33 - 7/1

In the bowels of the burned out abbey the group began to explore the remainder of the entry hall. A few extra rooms and a pair of magical boots were found before the group explored the altar room and found the hidden hall to the remainder of the abbey cellar. The initial room had a pair of undead minotaur and some skeletons, but these guardians were eventually overcome. More strange journal entries were found and the group continued on into a sort of maze that contained numerous traps that required careful traversal.
After heading south, a false treasure room resulted in a mysterious jade statue attacking the party, and while a difficult foe, concentrated attacks eventually shattered it. A false door was found to the real treasure room where among the magic items was a scroll of resurrection, finally allowing the group to bring back their old friend Danta.
Continuing on, the crypt was found with one last stone guardian. This was the final resting place of Hanfred Vel, a famous paladin and the grandfather of Panics wife. Unfortunately no diamonds were found but crypt contained the last reagent to cure the Lycanthropy, and information on the whereabouts of a mysterious artifact that the group sought for the Tortle.
With night falling the group hurried back to the ruins of Triumvale, gathered the last of the reagents and continued on to the safety of the grove. Morrigan began to prepare the vile concoction of ingredients and chanted evil rites, hoping the potion would cure her of the wererat affliction. As she drank it, a spectral wererat shadow of her was ripped from her body and she stood triumphantly... but it seemed Hecate had other plans. Her skin began to shrivel, her eyes melte and Morrigan dropped dead. Robin rushed to her cousins side, sobbing. Despite all she had done she wept for the only one she had left.
Darkness fell over the land, Robin collected her cousin and carried her into the darkness, leaving the group to ponder whether Ruven should drink the mixture or not. Deciding this was the last resort and having the resurrection scroll as a backup, she drank the concoction and wished for the best. It had the same effect of ripping the wererat specter out of her, but Hecate did not impart a curse upon her and Ruven was relieved to live.
A fire was prepared as the group pondered the nights events. From the shadows a remorseful Robin stepped, having laid Morrigan to rest. She began to tell stories of their childhood, fondly remembering the times they spent together as children... while lamenting the evil that had seduced her. As she began to confess some secret, illuminated by the firelight a figure appeared beyond Robin. Morrigan grabbed Robin and viciously sunk her fangs into her neck, draining her dry as she collapsed into a heap on the ground.
Not long after, Robin rose from death as a thrall in servitude to her new master to the horror of everyone. After regaining her senses the group confronted Morrigan about her transformation. It took some convincing but Morrigan seemed to regain her sense of self, and the group decided to stick with her and agreed to help her seek out a cure if one existed.
Before night finally fell, the tortle expressed his urgency in retrieving the artifact that had been taken and gifted Zelem with a powerful Rod to aid him in his mission, and promised great reward should he accomplish it.
In the morning it seemed that not all was as normal, for as the sun rose the worlds second moon, the Dark Sister, rose along with it and eclipsed the entire region. Panic recognized this as a rare astronomical event she read in ancient tomes, said to shadow the world in darkness for an indeterminate period of time. While it would eventually pass, it seemed that the coming darkness has given Morrigan a bit of time to come to terms with her new affliction as the moons shadow appeared to protect her from the daylight.

Important Characters

Morrigan Oweland - After the untimely death of her mother, Morrigan is now the Matriarch to the Oweland estate and The Oweland Family. She is the half-elven daughter of the late Eda Oweland and cousin of Robin Oweland. As a worshipper of the evil deity Hecate, she keeps this dark secret between her and her closest allies. Recently in an effort to ward off wererat lycanthropy she drank a concoction but Hecate cursed her, trading one for the other and transforming Morrigan into a Vampire.

Zelem - Tiefling, conman and swindler. Accomplice and partner in crime of Morrigan, has numerous alter-egos including Valor Windsail who is considered upstanding and is liked by the Saltmarsh guard. Involved romantically with Priscilla Primewater, the sorceress daughter of the council member Gellan Primewater. A mysterious tortle has given him a quest to find a powerful artifact, though what this will result in remains a mystery.

Panic - A tiefling more like a moth than a devil, the charming Druid joins the group in an effort to save her beloved from a terrible affliction. She has acquired enough funding from her perilous adventures in the south to charter passage to the Abbey Isle, hoping the clerics of Muir can perform miracles to provide the cure she needs. Unfortunately it seems her wifes-grandfathers Abbey has fallen to evil. His resting place was discovered and further clues were given as to attempts to curse some sort of ailment, but the evidence did not seem to indicate it was her wife that had the affliction, though in most respects it seemed similar.

Ruven - A trusty half-elf that has worked with Zelem in the past, after her adventures with the Snake God in the south she has ventured to the north with her friend Panic in an effort to aid her on her quest. She seems distrustful of the significantly more evil companions Zelem has found himself in the company of, but has reluctantly continued to journey with them.

Pink - Former captain of the Lady Matilda, she has been disposed by her old crew and seeks revenge. The ferocious Satyr carries a large pole-arm and hopes they can aid her in her desire to get her old ship back.

Robin Oweland - Morrigans cousin, after Morrigans transformation her first feeding was Robin, killing her and having her rise as Morrigans thrall.

Namas - While his purpose on the island is unknown, he knew Zelem by name and called for the group to follow. After a brief discussion he gave Zelem and the group a strange quest that he emphasized was of great importance.