Tienarth’s Raiders made another attempt to confront the lich in his tower on the 19th (2/19) after resting for a week on the ship (2/10 – 2/16). Ollie had offered three bottles to the old elf for analysis, but they radiated no magic. Zhargrave, the rescued cleric, was outfitted with a shirt of magical chainmail, a warhammer and a shield. On the 17th, Silverfish began a conversation about the situation which eventually turned to Aderian wondering about asking for help from the Anointed One. Zhargrave considered it an insightful suggestion. It required another day of rest. Meanwhile, Tienarth gazed into his crystal ball and saw Carrasthinian (the lich) standing on his tower, looking at the ship in the distance.
Zhargrave was a middle-aged cleric whose swept-back locks and beard were threaded with streaks of gray. The next day (2/18), he knelt in prayer on the deck of the ship as the Raiders and many of the sailors watched in wonder. The clouds parted and a ray of sunshine bore down on them. Presently, the heavenly form of an angel was seen. It spoke in a voice at once thunderous and gentle. “I am an angel of the lord and will answer ten questions. I will respond only with ‘yes’ or ‘no’.” Zhargrave took suggestions from those around him, though he seemed to concentrate and ignore some questions lest they be wasted. The questions asked and answered were as follows.
- Is the lich’s soul the island? No.
- Have the questions started yet? Yes. (A senseless question from Urgesh)
- Is the world in danger of the Neh Rod or have we been tricked? Yes. (An ambiguous question from Jerker).
- Is the ring fragment in the tower? Yes
- Is there a basement to the tower? No
- Is there treasure worth more than ten thousand pieces of gold in the tower? Yes
- Is the ring fragment above or on the 4th floor? Yes
- Is the party concealed? No
- Is the ring on the lich? No
- Can the lich read minds? Yes
With the final question answered, the angel ascended above the clouds once more. Jerker, overcome with emotion having been in the presence of a holy being, shed a tear of joy. Nate felt his faith reaffirmed. They all spent the rest of the day in contemplation, thinking about the assault they would make the next day.
As the sun rose (2/19), they rowed the longboat towards the island once more. Ollie remained with the ships. Zhargrave, now armored and ready for revenge, came along. They beached the boat. Tienarth transformed into a dragon and cast an invisibility spell over himself and the entire group. They climbed into a net, and the dragon carried them all to the tower where he set them down on the roof. Elf in the form of a dragon then used another spell to enlarge himself.
Aderian and Jerker descended into the top floor of the tower and began searching for a way down. They found nothing new, just the various implements of torture from where they rescued Zhargrave. Tienarth continues to circle over the tower as Jerker called out to him. Presently, Tienarth spotted Urgesh approaching the tower. He was sure it was a trick of the lich and nearly cast a wall of fire on him. At the last moment, he decided to try dispelling magic. A beam of energy washed over Urgesh to no effect.
They decided to retreat once again. All gathered into the net and Tienarth pushed down with his mighty dragon wings, lifting into the air. It was then that a ghost appeared on the roof the tower. Owing to a radiance of protection from Nate, they felt no fear from the sight of a ghost. Tienarth dropped the team back down on the tower roof, the sprang back into the air. Nate blessed the group.
Presently, the ghost cast a spell. An enormous fireball projected from his hands, blasting everyone on the roof. Most of them turned away, taking less than the full effect of the blast of fire. Nate and Zhargrave were not so lucky. The old cleric fell stone floor, but somehow maintained consciousness. Nate was burned horribly, killed instantly. Nothing remained of his eyes as fire burned past them into his brains.
Jerker held up his ring and hollered, “Jump back, Jack!” as he leapt towards the ghost, who turned away his head, seeming to make ready to flee. Ferris rushed to Zhargrave and administered a healing potion. Down below, Urgesh tossed a grappling hook up the second story window and began climbing.
With Nate dead, his protection against fear was gone. A wave of fear passed over them with all resisting except Aderian. The pirate ran to the edge of the tower seeming to contemplate climbing down. Tienarth cast a haste spell on the group.
Next, Ferris produced a potion granting control over the undead. He struggled with the will of the ghost but was unable to control it. Zhargrave cast a spell of silence on the ghost, prevent any further spellcasting. Down below, Urgesh pulled a feather from his magic bag. The feature transformed into an eagle. The ghost passed down in the floor of the roof, disappearing out of sight.
Jerker grabbed Nate’s body. Aderian grabbed Zhargrave. Ferris climbed on the back of the dragon who then glided to the groun where Urgesh could climb up to join Ferris. Tienarth grasped Jerker and Aderian and flew back to the longboat.
Back on the ship, and after a night of rest, Zhargrave had healed himself and then performed a ritual of resurrection on Nate. Once again, angels made visits upon them. The spirit of Nate came with them and reunited with his body, which healed itself. The burns over his bodies smoothed over, and his eyes opened once again. He was pleased to know that this arms and armor were undamaged by the fire.
End Notes
- Days
- 2/10 – 2/16 Resting on the ship
- 2/17 Making plans
- 2/18 Communing with an angel
- 2/19 Assaulting the tower
- 2/20 Zhargrave resurrects Nate
- Treasure: none
- Combat:
- Lich 5,650 xp
- Characters 869 xp each (6.5 shares)
- Aderian (human) 956 xp
- Ferris (human) 956 xp
- Jerker (human) 956 xp
- Nate (human) 956 xp
- Tienarth (avoid combat) 878 xp
- Urgesh (half-human) 912 xp
- Zhargrave (npc) 435 xp
- Ships
- The Howl of the Demon
- Crew/Passengers: 86 + 11
- Cargo: 8 of 210 tons
- Food: about 595 man/weeks
- Water: 934 gallons, about 266 man/weeks
- The Turkey of the Sea
- Crew/Passengers: 8 + 0
- Cargo: 0 of 10 tons
- Food: none
- Water: none
- The Howl of the Demon