Fountain of Light

After a rest period Fanara wondered if they should head up to the door out of the Maiden. Santrel said that even if Marislova had made it out she would be long gone after the party had rested for eight hours. Fanara was red headed today after her seance, a welcome change from the cadaverous sight from before.

Now the question became where to head next, the supposed hags or the room with sunlight spilling from the entry.  Given that they must go through the hag area it probably behooved them to check of the hag area first.

As they approached the chamber from the north Fanara tried to view the area over the hanging curtains. The area inside seemed to be divided into at least three chambers. Fanara could not get a good view into any of them, but there was some magic in the areas.

A series of eight foot high partitions fashioned from intricately brocaded cloth panels stretched over wooden frames made up the center of the cavern, forming a large enclosed area in the center of the chamber.  Jorgen searched the north side and found two areas where he could pull back some of the panels to enter. Around to the west he saw a path going further west.  In the southern portion of the chamber, a wall of unmortared fieldstone covered an apparent opening in the natural cavern. In the center of the fieldstone wall was a door.

Amadeo began to enter the northern cloth paneled area so Jorgen headed back and helped as they looked in on compartment containing a sleeping pallet, a large clay vase, and a table set with various items such as small stones, clay plates, bones, knives, and wooden drinking cups, as well as hooks upon which hung cloaks, blankets, and other sundries.  A trunk fashioned from hardened leather was at the foot of the pallet. This compartment seemed to take up about half the area of the northern part of the walled chamber. 

Amadeo examined the wall of cloth panels that extended from west to east across the chamber.  Finding it made of the same cloth he began to cut a hole in it.  Eventually he made an opening large enough to enter a compartment to the south.

Jorgen checked the trunk which was not trapped nor locked, inside one side held ragged feminine
clothing. The other side had a potion, a black star sapphire, and a jar of earwigs. Santrel wanted the potion but could think of no use for the earwigs but took the sapphire.

Meanwhile Amadeo had found a larger chamber decorated in the same manner.  But in this area was a beautiful, barefoot young human woman with long, dark hair wearing a simple homespun dress.  Upon seeing Amadeo enter the room with Fanara not far behind she first took a step back and then asked who they were.

Excitedly the woman then greeted the crew hailing them as saviors.

"I appeal you for help against Artrosa's warden. She is as a malicious monster who wears a false human guise. This creature imprisoned me and performs all manner of atrocities upon those who inhabit Artrosa."

Who is this warden?  And who are you?" Casia inquired from the previous chamber.

"I am Caigreal and she is the dreadful Jadrenka."

"Are you sure that this Jadrenka is so evil?" Casia replied.

Caigreal approached Amadeo and and begged him to protect her and kill the wicked warden, for only
then can she escape.

"You are so strong and manly. I could see your muscles flexing as I came near to you."

Fanara was shooing Amadeo and Caigreal out of the room as she wanted Jorgen to open the trunk. Jorgen was being a bit befuddled but eventually found his footing and looked at the trunk.  It was not trapped nor locked.  Inside again were some ragged feminine clothing albeit it large size. Also there was a scroll, a bejeweled skull, a leather sack containing assorted coins and small gems, and a wooden case containing what appears to be a collection of children's scalps. The party took all but the scalps.

Milos was interested in the last chamber which he cut his way into.  It held a pallet, table and chair.  The whole area was covered in dust as if unused for some time.  No magic was apparent so the party headed out toward the west and south.

Caigreal indicated that the western hallway led to an arch. She said she hadn't been beyond the door. The face of the door was carved with the image of a young maiden walking with a deer in a wood. Jorgen checked the untrapped door but it was locked.  He then made a few attempts before actually unlocking it.  This led to a another tunnel leading down and south.  As he approached brilliant light erupted from the end of the tunnel as it led to a room.

Jorgen cautiously entered the room and found the light so brilliant it was almost blinding. His eyes failed to adjust quickly and he was dazzled and hurried to return to the tunnel.

"There is a door to the east and a passage to the west but be careful of the light.  It may have even more effects."

A plan was hatched in which Casia would begin to cross to the west trailing a rope which others would follow. As she got a little more than halfway to the opening she felt a slashing attack but saw no enemy. Now an interesting battle began as the party was assailed by invisible folk. Attacks were made but they mostly failed as the party edged into the bright light.  Santrel cast Glitterdust to expose two small fey creatures. The large-eyed humanoids looked like a glowing, emaciated elven children save for their small, transparent wings. One appeared to be blinded by the dust. 

Milos yelled out that he could actually make out the creatures a little, still hard to hit but easier. Back and forth the battle went, two more creatures were identified by Milos who directed the attacks. 

The battle was somewhat easier now that the party could see the enemies and knew to hit with cold iron weapons.  Milos identified two other Lurkers in the Light and made sure the party knew where they were. One by one the enemy fell, the last even trying a spell on Santrel which failed.

Fanara plugged a hole in the floor where the light was emitted from. This allowed easier access to the room even though there was no magic. After some healing the party decided to try the door to the east. Jorgen quickly unlocked this door which led to another tunnel heading down and east eventually curving northward.

The tunnel opened up to grisly scene.  Flickering light fille the cavern, it emanated from the eye sockets of nine skulls hanging from chains staked into the walls with iron spikes. Huge stone menhirs formed a ring about the perimeter of the chamber, catching the candlelight and tearing it into swaths of wavering shadow. The gutted corpses of two frost giants hung from two of the menhirs, facing each other from the east and west. Bound to the massive stones with rusted chains, the giants were soaked in their own blood, which flowed into the center of the room to disappear into a huge pile of wilted wildflower blossoms. Fanara noted that the skull on the north wall was magic.

"Whoever did this is pretty powerful.  We have trouble with one Frost Giant," Casia remarked.

Jorgen, Milos, Amadeo and Casia entered the cavern cautiously.  As Jorgen and Milos approached the wildflowers a delicate figure rose from the flowers, her long ears tapering to points above her head. Her eyes burned red, her skin was a deep gray or black. Black fingernails topped her wicked talons, even so her beauty was painful in its perfection.

As the party gaped her presence, Jorgen, Amadeo, Milos and Santrel were blinded.

DM's Notes: The party earned 1066 XP for the night.