Road to Kebnegard, Chapter Seven
The Black Tower, part IV, continued
Friday, January 13th, 988 AD
We continue our way up the tower, easily defeating the faux Extraplanar Creature and Basilisk, now that we know the secret. We get to the tenth floor and use the wizard key on the wizard locked door. Inside we find a sumptuous library with books upon books on the walls, as well as Prince Vselov of Polotsk sitting in a chair.
Reynaldo: Wait, are you the centuries-old wizard?
Prince: No, no, of course not. That wizard is actually just another of the mother's aliases.
Edward: The mother?
Ivan: He means Baba--
Prince: Ah, ah! We really shouldn't be dropping her name like it's a hot potato. She might hear us.
Reynaldo: What are you doing here, then?
Prince: I knew your friend over there (points at Wong) wouldn't be able to resist the Tower.
All but Wong and the Prince laugh uproariously.
Reynaldo: Heh, oh excuse us. Heh heh, we had to drag Wong in here kicking and screaming. She wanted nothing to do with this place... ha ha ha. Oh man, that was good.
Prince: Oh, I'm sorry. I saw her sword and assumed she would also be looking for a tower like the other Masons.
Wong looks down at her Masonic sword just to make sure the hilt, which has all the Masonic symbols, is still wrapped in cloth.
Wong: How you know?
Prince (ignoring her): Why are you here then?
Reynaldo: We heard about this tower from someone.
Prince: Yes, you heard about it from me when I told you to stay away.
Reynaldo: Right... We obviously don't listen very well.
Prince: I know why you're here. And I have to tell you, the mother would never let magic out of the kingdom.
Jean-Claude and Reynaldo: Say what?
Prince: When you find her, mention the Duchess and I'm sure she won't eat you. I have to go now.
Reynaldo: Wait, before you go, do we have your permission to look through all these books?
Prince: Oh, right.
The Prince waves his hand and most of the books on the wall disappear, as well as all the sumptuousness of the quarters. We're left in a dark, dingy study with only a few books on the shelves.
Prince: Sorry. It helps me think when I'm surrounded by largesse.
Reynaldo: Dude, can we look at your book?
Prince: I'm sure I don't know what you mean. Good day.
And the Prince teleports out of the room. Jean-Claude and Reynaldo quickly grab the remaining books and find scrolls for the following spells: Shadow Magic, Summon Shadow, Contact Other Plane, Graft, Mind Blank, Shadow Monsters, Wizard Eye, Delude, and Shadow Door. Jean-Claude promptly failed to learn Summon Shadow and Shadow Monsters. We decided to stay in the room, after Reynaldo locked the door again, for two weeks while we rested, healed, and copied spells.
Copying
Saturday, January 14th through Wednesday, January 25th, 988 AD
Jean-Claude copied Shadow Magic into his book, and Reynaldo copied Shadow Monsters and Wizard Eye into his.
Avoiding Anusia
Thursday, January 26th, 988 AD
We leave the Tower by the not-windows on the tenth floor. Nicolae Feather Falls everyone down and Reynaldo confirms that the not-windows are only one way. We head for Novgorod, but avoid the town of Anusia because that's where the tailed people attacked us and made the Flail useless again.
Feral Peasants, Giants, and the Genesis of the Big Toe Helmet
Friday, January 27th, 988 AD
We keep going towards Novgorod and are attacked by six grotesque peasants with blood on their mouth and strips of raw meat on their teeth. They're easily defeated with the help of a shadow Winter Wolf. These peasants attacked with a sword and their teeth and most of the party got bit, but we pay it no mind. We walk for a few more hours and then decide to rest. Right before resting, though, Conrad leaps at Wong with the intention of getting some Chinese take-out. Edward casts Hold Person and we bind him. We also bind Thalia and Edward when they confess to having these urges to eat human flesh as well, although they're obviously controlling it better. Near nighttime, Thalia breaks her bonds and chases after Reynaldo, trying to eat him. We figure she wants elven flesh instead of human flesh because she herself is an elf. Reynaldo hides behind Ivan who beats Thalia into unconsciousness. We bind her again and continue resting. At around 8pm, Anna casts Remove Curse on Edward~, Thalia, and Conrad, and they all feel much, much better. As we're abut to bed down for the night, we hear large footsteps in the distance. Jean-Claude, in imp form, flies over to see what's what. We all see at relatively the same time two giants about to crash down on us. Reynaldo, using his Axe, moves unimpeded under the snow and positions himself under Jean-Claude's impishness. They both let loose with Lightning Bolts, which tenderize the giants just enough for the rest of the party to beat them down. We find a bit of gold, and Ivan decides he wants to make a helmet out of the big toe of one of the giants. He cuts off a toe and empties the gore out and keeps the skin and nail. We're moving camp when we come across three regular peasants that have no desire for flesh. They were being chased by the giants while trying to trade furs around the area. "Furs?" Ivan asks. "Is one of you a furrier or tanner?" The answer is yes and he agrees to make a helmet out of the toe that Ivan has with him. They also lead us to their little village where we spend the night.
Downriver Means North
Saturday and Sunday, January 28th and 29th, 988 AD
On Saturday morning, the tanner gives Ivan a small cask and he says that the he should leave the toe in the cask for a week. Then he can take out and use it on his head. They also tell us that there is a river to the west that leads straight to Novgorod. We find the river and follow it down. Both nights we sleep in abandoned homes or barns.
Rumors in Rusa
Monday, January 30th, 988 AD
Rusa is a port city on the southern shore of Lake Ilmen. Novgorod, we learn, is on the northern shore of Lake Ilmen. We find the harbormaster who tells us that there are no more ships making the run into Novgorod because the monsters now control the northern shore of the lake and it's much too dangerous to try to supply the city. We go to a tavern and perk our ears. We hear that Prince Vselov has been seen cavorting with a woman named Vomatar. We also hear that air and water will war with each other, using fire as a weapon, and the Moist Mother Earth will suffer because of it. Reynaldo asks this man what he means and gets an impromptu lesson on the religion of the Northern Russians. We rent rooms in the inn above the tavern. Reynaldo never does find out what was meant by the elements war remark.
Planning the Entrance to Novgorod
Tuesday, January 31st, 988 AD
We spend the day planning how to get into Novgorod, bandying about underwater routes and air routes and so on and so forth, finally agreeing on just going by land, around Lake Ilmen, and then under the river when we're nearer Novgorod. We also learn from townsfolk that the nearer to Novgorod we get, the more likely the towns will be paying tribute to the monsters. We sleep at the inn again.
Splitting the Party on the Eastern Shore of Lake Ilmen
Wednesday, February 1st, 988 AD
We march around the coast of Lake Ilmen until we get to the last non-tribute paying village. There, Jean-Claude and Reynaldo turn into giant eagles and fly towards Novgorod so as to reconnoiter a little and let Sadko, the wealthy merchant who pleaded Novgorod's case to Prince Vladimir in Kiev, know that we're coming. Once near the city, they both dive into the water and turn into fish so as to swim into the city using the river that goes through the city. They are shocked to find zombies patrolling underwater, so they quickly jump out of the water and turn into ducks. Once in the air again, giants throw boulders at them, narrowly missing them. They land on a rooftop within the city walls and turn into rats. They sneak across the city until reaching the citadel. They turn into their regular selves and ask to see Sadko. They're led to him and they let him know that the adventurers are coming.
Back at the Russian village, a peasant woman asks about our intentions in Novgorod. We tell her we haven't decided in an effort to get more out of her. Instead, she promptly leaves with Nicolae in Wraith Form and a sneaky Thalia following her. Then Anna goes too and they all talk to her. Whatever they learn, they refuse to share only because the other party members seem very disinterested.
Reynaldo and Jean-Claude sleep in a room at the citadel, Reynaldo winning the bed, and the rest of the party sleeps in another barn.
Regrouping and Planning
Thursday, February 2nd, 988 AD
Reynaldo and Jean-Claude fly back to the Russian village and regroup with the rest of the party and let us know that underwater route is closed to us. We decide on a land route the whole way through, and sleep for the rest of the day so that we may set out at night. We set just after dusk and ford a small river to get closer to Novgorod.
Zombies
Friday, February 3rd, 988 AD
Around 2am, we come across five zombies that stink something fierce. Edward turns three of them and we kill the other two quickly. We keep going until just before daybreak. We rest in a semi-enclosed thicket for the day. At about 10am, we smell some more zombies nearby, but they pass us up. We continue resting. We set out just after dusk again.
All Kinds of Monsters, the Loving Arms of Novgorod, and How to Save a City in Ten Easy Steps
Saturday, February 4th, 988 AD
We run smack into a patrol of twelve zombies led by a patchwork girl, who quickly surround us. Nicolae blinds a lot of the zombies and we kill a few others before we can even start beating the patchwork girl, who seems to only be hurt by magic weapons. We kill them all and pick up a possible magic dagger that a zombie was using to stab Reynaldo from afar. We get about three hours outside of Novgorod, so Jean-Claude and Reynaldo leave the party again to set up the defenses and help for the party upon their arrival. Jean-Claude turns into a giant eagle again, and Reynaldo turns into a tiny squirrel and holds onto his back. They make it to the city, once again narrowly avoiding boulders thrown by giants. They sleep in the relatively safety of the city.
Back in the wilderness, the rest of the party tries to rest, but we are set upon by a patchwork girl and two feral peasants during second watch. We kill them only after Conrad and Wong are taken down. We also fear that they, along with Thalia and Nicolae will start craving flesh because they were bit. We try to move camp, but encounter a group of five zombies, which Edward luckily turns. We move again and rest for seven hours before an ogre, a feral man, and six zombies attack. Edward turns five of the zombies and Nicolae blinds the ogre, who runs away. The other two are killed easily, with only Ivan being bitten by the feral man.
Back in the city, Jean-Claude and Reynaldo meet with Sadko, the Lord Mayor Lotargius Yarognedavich, his wife Yarena, and Captains Gaffa and Arkady. We try to explain to the mayor that the seven people we want to get into the city can really help out against the monsters. The mayor hems and haws and says the last time someone came to help, she brought twelve unruly men who have done nothing but raid their taverns. After a bit more prompting, Reynaldo figures out that Stepanova has made it back to the city and has found some help. Captain Arkady then the steps up and vouches for the party. He says that he has heard of the great things we have done and he invokes the name of some general who has also heard of us. Reynaldo and Jean-Claude look at each other and then at Arkady. The mayor then welcomes them properly and says the party is more than welcome to help. Arkady takes Reynaldo and Jean-Claude aside and suffers many ridiculous questions before talking.
Arkady: Tell me, Reynaldo, whatever happened to the squid-man?
Reynaldo: We tracked the bastard down and killed it. How do you...
Arkady: I am gladenned to hear this. I thank you for avenging my death.
Reynaldo: ...Gunther?
Arkady: Yes. my friends. I don't know how or why, but it is I.
Reynaldo: Holy shit... Do you want your money back?
Arkady (chuckling): No, I've no need for it here.
Reynaldo: We're real sorry about talking to your dead head.
Arkady: Oh, that actually happened? I thought I was dreaming.
Reynaldo: And, um, I took the tooth out of your mouth and put it in my own. I hope you don't mind.
Arkady: Reynaldo, I would have expected no less from you. However, my friends, I have to insist on you calling me Arkady here. This is who I am now and it is better not to let any Russian know about this.
Reynaldo: What about Ivan? Can we tell him?
Arkady: Well, yes. The rest of the party is okay. I meant the Russians here who think of me only as Captain Arkady. Now come on, we have to plan.
Arkady/Gunther takes them to the parade ground where his unit, the Stone Mules, has gathered, as well as Stepanova's unit, a motley crew of surly-looking fellows. Arkady asks if any of his Mules want to take part in a very dangerous mission to help escort the party into the city. He will not order any of the men to do it and he will think no less of those who wish not to help. Twelve of his men answer the call, as well as Stepanova and her unit, because Stepanova wants very much to help Anna, a fellow warrior woman.
Back in the wilderness, we run into pack after pack of zombies while trying to get closer to the city. Edward turns a group of five and then half an hour later, he turns a group of eight. An hour later, a group of six attack and he can't turn these. They take down Nicolae and Conrad. We decide to run for it instead of trying to take them down. Wong and Thalia carry the two downed people and Anna turns them and herself ethereal as eight more zombies appear. Edward turns them and he and Ivan run for it, very much corporeal. When we break tree cover and find ourselves on the eastern plain outside of the city, we see that two giants have been lured away by Jean-Claude's Audible Glamour and have been corralled away from us by Reynaldo's Wall of Ice. Ivan and Edward are running faster than the ethereal people, who notice a plumed snake in the ethereal plane that thankfully ignores them, and they have to avoid zombie attacks while they run to the open gate on the eastern wall, where Arkady, his twelve men, Stepanova, and her twelve men wait in case they need to rescue. As Ivan and Edward near the gate, a Blade Barrier appears in front of it. Arkady orders his men to the wall so that they can drop a rope. Stepanova offers to throw herself in the barrier in an attempt to slow the blades down. Arkady shoots the idea down. Ivan and Edward get to the rope and start climbing, but the two giants break throught the Wall of Ice and start throwing boulders, hitting them both. They both, however, keep their grip on the rope. Reynaldo and Jean-Claude Lightning Bolt the giants and a giant Pillar of Fire strikes Jean-Claude. Edward and Ivan make it over the wall while the ethereal people simply walk through. We all make it in relatively safely with no loss of life. Ivan takes his Giant Toe Helmet out of the cask and tries it on. A nearby tanner notices it and offers to make is better. He puts eyesockets on the nail and then allows the nail to swivel up and down as a faceplate. Ivan is ecstatic.
Once inside, Sadko takes us all and explains what he thinks we should do to help out the city. There are two dungeons built under Novgorod: one was built by Baba Iakulu and the other was built by a race of dog-headed men called Kobolds. The Kobold dungeon contains a polluted pool near the entrance. This polluted pool is the factory for all the zombies on the field. All any one has to do is put a dead body into the pool, even a dead zombie will do, to get a new zombie. This gives the enemy an unlimited supply of zombie. This pool is protected by many giants, undead, and many other things so that a frontal assault would be suicide, even for the likes of the party with all our powers. Sadko thinks that the two dungeons are connected, though, underground, which would allow for a sneak rear attack after hacking both dungeons. The entrance to Iakulu's dungeon is in the city and governed by a set of Tarot cards. Anyone who wants to enter the dungeon takes a card and is immediately transported inside. Each card, however, has a different effect on the person who pulled it. Sadko's wealth is in part owed to the card that he pulled which gave an almost supernatural ability with instruments. There are good effects and bad effects in the cards. People have become monstrosities and gibbering idiots because of the cards. There is however, one card in the deck that can undo any effect another card has wrought, and this card is the card of the Fool. A very large, bright torch lights up above all our heads when we realize Nicolae is currently carrying a Fool card. Inside Iakulu's dungeon, Sadko warns, people have gone mad. He thinks it is because of the dreams one experiences when inside the dungeon. After all, he says, Novgorod is the City of Dreams. He says he can't force us in, but he thinks this where we would be best put to use, hacking two dungeons and then destroying a polluted pool. He also says that if at any time, the odds are too overwhelming, one can always rip the card they pulled and they will be transported back to the city where the cards are housed. The effect, he reminds us, is forever unless a Fool card undoes it.
We go to Arkady's house to rest, and he says this would be the best thing for us to do. He asks that before we go in, if we do in fact go in, we leave one of the teleportation boxes with him so that when we are near the pool, we can let him know and he will attack from the front so that we have a better chance of success. We take a quick vote and find that only Nicolae and Wong are still unsure if this is the best course of action. We rest.
End Chapter Seven
