1.5 To the Tower

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Tyrion Kanderyall; male High Elf Ranger/Thief
Derek Custer; male Human Fighter
Erith; female ½ Elf Cleric/Mage
Vincent de Argenson; male Wood Elf Druid and the Druid’s dog Blue
Mickel Ironthwaite: male Dwarf Fighter
Al-Theras; male high elf fighter
12/29/2012
Moving on from the beaver dam, we find a good location to camp for the night.  Looks like it will only take another day to get to the tower.
During the night we are attacked by three gargoyles.  The group defeats the beasts with only minor injuries and early the next morning we head off in the direction of the tower.
We spot the tower from a distance, although it appears to have been a small keep.  There is a wall with several small watch towers.  It appears the keep had been besieged years ago.  There are several burned areas inside and outside the walls, there are a couple destroyed siege weapons lying about, and the walls appear to have been breached in several locations.
We decide to enter by the main gate, looks like the gate had been knocked in by the attackers.  As we approach the gate area we are attacked by a group of skeletons. Erith, with assistance from her god, turns several of the skeletons.  Tyrion attempts to chase down a couple of the skeletons, but they quickly depart through breaches in the outer wall.  Derek smashes the remaining skeletons into dust.
After making sure there aren’t any surprises waiting for us in the courtyard we go to investigate the guard tower in the corner of the courtyard.  Upon entering the small tower we are attacked by a group of zombies coming from the basement.  Again, we defeat the group of undead with some minor injuries.
Tyrion while investigating the second floor causes a minor structural failure.  In the debris we find a small silver chest packed with an assortment of treasure.
Back to the basement and time to check out a secret door we found earlier.  The door opens to a short passage which leads to a group of rooms.  The large room that the passage ends is filled with a variety of good quality furniture that appears to have been stored for many years.
Upon entering one of the side rooms, which appears to be a study, we are attacked by a wraith.  Al-Theras quickly strides forward warning the rest of the party back.  Although the wraith seems to strike Al-Theras, he appears to be unaffected.  Al-Theras defeats the wraith and lets us know that his armor, a family heirloom, provides some protection from the touch of the undead. 
Another secret door in the study opens to a shrine with an alter that contains a large stone statue.  When we approach the alter the statue steps off and attacks.  We defeat the statue and it just seems to dissipate and reappear on the alter.  Searching around the alter base we find a secret compartment with a silver chalice within.
This place is just full of secrets and we’ve only begun.
In this room is a some stairs leading further into the depths and a bunch of worked stone passageways.  One path stops at a barred and locked door, the bar being on our side.  We’ll leave this alone for now and investigate the other areas.  Another branch of the passageway leads to an open area with several side alcoves.
One of the alcoves contains a statue that, surprisingly, attacks us as we approach.  This one appears to be real, as it crumbles to gravel after several minutes of combat.
Another alcove is blocked by a bunch of rocks and gravel.  We take turns digging into the room.  Eventually we get through and Tyrion takes a torch in to investigate.  Shortly after entering the rest of the group outside can hear nothing from within.  Mickel grabs another torch and enters the alcove.  Again, with a minute of entering the area no movement from either Tyrion or Mickel can be heard.  Victor is next to enter the area, but this time with no light source.  Feeling around he finds a framed flat area.  When Victor describes what he has found to the rest of the group,  Erith says she has heard of mirrors that can cause bad things to occur.  Victor goes back in and covers the mirror with his robe.   Erith enters and we add a little light to the situation.  Exposing just the frame  Erith is able to read a little bit of the runes and text on the frame.  We also notice little carvings that look like Tyrion and Mickel.  Erith speaks the phrase that appears would release our two companions.  Both Tyrion and Mickel appear and it looks like they have both been in combat.  Mickel is unconscious. While Erith and Victor tend to their wounds, Tyrion tells what occurred why they were within the mirror.  It seems when they had seen their image in the mirror they were instantly sucked into an alternate area and confronted with their mirror image.  Tyrion was able to defeat his image and arrive just in time to see the two Mickels in combat.  One Mickel is knocked unconscious by the other.  Tyrion is able to knock the other Mickel unconscious using the flat of his blade.  Tyrion was just tending his and the Mickels’ wounds when they were recalled.  After a brief discussion, Tyrion goes back into the room and destroys the mirror.
The other alcove in this area is blocked by a portcullis.  We notice a lever just inside that could raise the barrier.  Several of the stronger members lift the portcullis up just enough for Victor to squeeze under.  Just as he reaches for the lever Victor is attacked by a gelatinous cube.  Victor backs quickly backs away from the cube, and the cube turns to attack the other people trying to get through the portcullis.  After the portcullis is lifted again Tyrion jams a couple wedges under each side to keep the bars up so they can finish of the cube.
Investigating the other passageways in this area we come across a pair of locked double doors that we are unable get through.  We check a little farther down and find a more agreeable door.  Almost immediately upon getting through this door we are attacked a mixed assortment of skeletons and zombies.  Another several minutes of combat another pile of dead undead.  We do notice that this chamber is rather cold.
Derek and Tyrion enter side area of this cavern that seems warm and welcoming.  Almost immediately upon entering Derek feels compelled to go further within the room, open another door, and lie down on a bed within.  When Tyrion enters this inner room he notices a skeleton changed to the wall.  This skeleton is still alive, but seems to have a mind of its own.  Although unable to communicate verbally the skeleton is able answer questions with gestures and hand signs.  It seems the skeleton just wants to get away from this area.  We unchain the animated pile of bones and it wanders off.
Until next time…