There were names on placards, secured to the two slabs, where the now lifeless sister wife vampires lay.  One read Thalia and the other, Lucretia.  After looting the bodies,(Lucretia had been wearing a bronze helm on her head and Pax tried it on, to see if it had any magical properties.  After a few minutes, when nothing seemed to have happened, she took it off and put it in her backpack.) we first tried to burn them but the chamber quickly filled up with smoke.  So we decided to drag them into the alley outside the library. As soon as we were sure that they had turned to ash, we went back inside and as we were passing through the skull room.  Jerro’s gaze fell on the skull with ruby eyes.  He picked it up.

 

“What do you think you’re doing bub?”  Asked Grizzle.  “Didn’t you see what happened to me the last time?  That skull is dangerous!”

 

“Didn’t you notice them, on the back wall in the other room?”  The wizard motioned for us to follow him back into the slab chamber.  “These.”  He drew our attention to two holes about 10 feet apart, almost hidden by an ornate tapestry.  “I just realized these rubies.” And to Grizzle’s horror he plucked them from the sockets as he spoke.  “Might fit perfectly into these holes.”  He deftly affixed the gems to the wall.

 

There was a low creaking sound as the panel slid back revealing (you guessed it) yet another secret room.  This one was barely an alcove; it contained a stone box flanked by two torch stands, both held a lit torch.  On the top of the box was carved letters from an ancient language.  Lastly, the box was secured by two bronze bands.

 

“No one go in there!”  Roared Grizzlegar.  “How could you do that, without discussing it with us first?!”  He fumed at Jerro, who just looked at him sheepishly.  “We need a plan.  You do realize what that thing is don’t you.  It’s a sarcophagus!  That must be the third vampire wife!  We need some kind of weapon.  Look, what’s in there?”

 

He was pointing at the trunk I had been sitting on.  I got up and examined it.  “I think it has a needle protecting the lock.”  I told him.

 

“But surely you could get around that.”  Said Grizzle.

 

“Yeah.” Piped up Pax

 

“Yeah.”  Echoed Jerro.

 

“You shut up!”  We all scolded the wizard.

 

All of my companions knew I was an ex Paladin candidate, but apparently they had also heard from the crew that I had spent my childhood surrounded by some of the most fiendish pirates ever to grace Thunder Rift.  I had picked up quite a few tricks from them.  So, against my better judgment, I picked the lock.  It opened but I was pierced by the needle.  I sat back down on one of the slabs and sulked while the rest of them rummaged through the trunk.

 

Pax had found a book.  She thumbed through it then set it down and slid it across the floor.  It landed at my feet so I picked it up and started to read.  The name of the book was:  A Historie of the Vampyres of Crag Island.

 

“What’s with all this bronze?”  Grizzle was saying.  “Bronze straps on the sarcophagus, bronze torch stands and now these bronze swords.  Maybe bronze can protect us from the vampire.”

 

“Ooh, look what I found.”  Jerro pulled a pair of smelly fisherman’s boots from the bottom of the trunk.

 

“Get those things away from me this instant!”  Commanded the gnome.

 

“Listen to this.”  I started reading from the book.  “The name of the first vampire was Leore.  She made a pauper fisherman her husband.  She turned him into a vampire and the two of them grew rich while they were practicing the tenants of the ancient vampire religion. They were happy like that for many years.  But one day her husband betrayed her by turning two milk maids that he had had his eye on into vampires, making them his wives.

 

“Thalia and Lucretia.”  Mused Pax.

 

“So it would seem.  And the husband must be the other vampire we killed.”

 

“I know what we can do!”  Grizzle interrupted my story.  “Don’t you have a spell that will float even heavy objects into the air?”

 

“Why, yes I do.” Said Jerro.  “But I didn’t prepare it today.”

 

“You’re absolutely worthless you know that?”  And to vent his frustration, the gnome picked up one of the bronze swords, ran into the alcove and slammed it down on one of the bronze straps, then threw the crumpled sword into the corner.

 

“Ahhh!”  He yelled.  OK everyone come in here.  Were going to try to push this thing out into the sunlight   Then we can find a way to open it and turn Leore into a pile of cinders.”

 

It took twenty minutes before Grizzlegar was willing to admit defeat.

 

“So, I guess we try something else.”  Said the gnome.  He picked up the long sword with the garnets in the hilt and stood over the sarcophagus.

 

“If we’re really going to meet Leore, I want some protection.”  Jerro conjured a small black terrier that started nipping at my heels.

 

“You call that protection?”  I asked.

 

“It’s better than nothing.”

 

Grizzle raised the long sword and brought it down hard.  The first strap showed signs of giving.  Another swing and the first band fell to the floor.  Two more quick swings and the second joined its mate.  Now all that stood between us and the ancient vampire was a three inch slab of stone.  Grizzlegar started pushing and we all ended up helping him.  Finally the slab slipped over the side and fell to the ground. 

 

A sumptuously dressed woman lay in the sarcophagus.  We all stood over her with our weapons poised and ready to strike at the first sign of movement. She opened her eyes and before we could react, she had dissolved into a gaseous mist that lingered in the air above our heads.  The mist started to move out of the alcove and first Grizzle and then all of us followed it.

 

She reformed herself between the two slabs and said something in an ancient tongue.  I stepped forward and asked.  “Are you Leore?”

 

The vampire tilted her head a moment then said in Common.  ”I am.  I was asking, where are Thelia and Lucretia?

 

“They are both dead, we killed them. But I suppose you would be pleased with that.”  I answered her.

 

“Indeed I am.  They were the ones who trapped me in that room.  If you are the ones who killed them, I owe you a great debt.”

 

“We killed your husband too.”

 

“You probably think yourself brave for telling me that.  The truth is, he had strayed so far from my people’s ways that I barely knew him.  And that was long before his wives locked me away.”

 

Leore had an immediate need for blood, so Jerro offered her his dog.  I was glad to find that there was still enough of the Paladin in me that I had to look away, as did Pax. 

 

Grizzle was staring at Jerro.

 

“It’s not like I was attached to the thing.”  Said Jerro.

 

Grizzle just shook his head.

 

When Leore had drained it, the little creature evaporated into nothingness.

 

“Oh, we have some of the things we took off the wives you might like to see.”  Said Pax.

 

Leore was happy to have her slippers and necklace back.  And then Pax brought out the helm.

 

“That’s the great helmet of my people.  We wear it to draw closer to the Dark Gods of the Night; chiefly Eldrith. The connection is almost telepathic.”

 

Pax didn’t look well at all. So I put my hand on her shoulder and whispered:  “I’m sure Kord doesn’t mind.”  This didn’t seem to bring her any comfort.

 

It was now almost noon and Leore cautioned us that even though she had decided to let us go free, for liberating her from her prison.  Once night fell, the compulsion to drink blood would be so strong, if we remained in the village, we might end up her victims.

 

As I said she cautioned us, but she continued to talk, telling us stories from her long history, as if she were trying to keep us until nightfall.  In her ramblings, she did confirm my suspicion that the gray potion the villagers drank to be ageless was made from the ash in the urn from the next room.  She also mentioned a sister, who lived in a tower and was probably either dead or gone from this region. As for all the bronze, that was just the only metal available during Leore’s time. We finally had to tell her that we wanted to sell some things in the village before we left, and she let us go.

 

The merchant we found in the village would only agree to buy our five most expensive items and only then because of Grizzle’s intimidating personality.  We left the village around 3:00pm and headed North toward Rocky Harbor.

 

We came upon a tower.

 

My first thought was this might be Leore’s sister’s home.  But it seemed abandoned.  Pax of course wanted to search it.  We were attacked on the ground floor by five skeletons who jumped out of crates scattered there.  After what seemed like an eternity, we defeated them and continued on our way to Rocky Harbor. 

 

As night fell we found a clearing that had the remnants of an old campfire.  We would stay here for the night.  Grizzlegar took the first watch and I would take the second.  Nothing happened during Grizzle’s watch and nothing happened on my watch. But at dawn, I noticed a column of smoke to the South roughly in the direction of Leore’s village.

 

“I think the village is on fire.”  I said as I woke up Grizzle.

 

“What?!”

 

“Look to the South.”

 

“If it’s a fire it’s a small one.”

 

“What do you think?”

 

The Gnome heaved a heavy sigh and said.  “I guess we’re going back to check on the village.”

 

We took a path that avoided the tower, and by noon we were back in the village.  From several of the villagers we learned that Leore had burned the library to the ground last night.  She had also taken credit for killing the dragon, her husband and her two sister wives.  The upshot of this was that the village was free now.  They no longer had to make sacrifices or hold newcomers here against their will.  They were happy.   I was a little taken aback by this   I know it was probably her natural charisma, but I had really started to like Leore and this seemed like a bit of a betrayal.  But as Grizzlegar pointed out:

 

“Who cares who gets credit for what at this point?  The villagers are happy.  There’s nothing for us to do and we need to get out of here, so we can get off this island.”

 

We again took the path that avoided the tower and by nightfall were back at the clearing.  This time we decided not to stay but to push on to Rocky Harbor.  We reached the port by 9:00pm.

 

All we wanted after journeying all day was a place to eat and sleep.  There seemed to be some kind of celebration going on at the Pixxie and Lynx Inn.  As we entered we noticed that quite a few of the patrons were wearing yellow cloaks with sunbursts.  A bard was singing in the tavern and we were asked to join the festivities and enjoy as much of the food as we liked from the many buffets spread out around the room.  We took full advantage of this.

 

One of the patrons pointed out a ranger standing at the bar who was said to be looking for adventurers to go on some kind of mission he had planned.  Pax and I went up to the bar to talk to him.  I noticed he had a sea captain’s badge on his tunic which probably meant he had a boat somewhere in the harbor.  I was about to ask him about the mission when I heard Pax ask him instead:

 

“So what is this celebration about?”

 

“Oh, we are celebrating the second anniversary of the Yellow Cloaks bringing their religion to Crag Island.  They are the ones who united the humans and the Drow.”  The ranger said proudly.

 

“Drow!?”  Jerro had just joined us at the bar.  “Elves do not associate with those Lloth spider followers!  He stormed out of the Inn.

 

The music stopped.

 

The ranger turned away from us.  Grizzlegar came up and started pushing us toward the exit

 

When we had gotten outside and were able to catch up with Jerro, Grizzle roared:  “Are you out of your mind?!!!”

 

“The Drow are the lowest life form ever to crawl out of the muck and I spit in the face of that spider bi@#t!!!” Jerro said heedlessly.

 

“Shut up!!!  Shut up!!!  Shut up!!!”  Yelled Grizzle.

 

But it was too late.

 

We were surrounded by what appeared to be the entire patronage of The Pixxie and Lynx.  There was a brief thought of making a fight of it, but we all relented (Jerro did hurl a few more epithets) and allowed them to take us to the brig .  We were greeted with a surprise when we got there.

 

Malador and Surak were already languishing in a makeshift cell, which we were promply thrown into.

 

“You don’t know how many times I wished I’d have a chance to punch your lights out, Swabby.”  Said Grizzle to Malador.

 

“Well if Tarmikos the Sailorman there would have done his job right, you might not have had the pleasure.  As it was that raft of his broke up almost as soon as we left the lagoon.  We were detained by those Yellow Cloak goons and they tossed us in here”

 

Knowing hot-headed Malador, I was sure there was more to the story and he had done (or said) something stupid, but I kept my mouth shut.  I was thinking that it wouldn’t be such a bad idea to get some sleep, when Pax started taunting the guards.  They had taken all of our weapons and personal effects away, so when one of the guards stepped close enough in response to Pax, she made a grab for his spear and was able to get it away from him and toss it to Grizzle.

 

Surak was actually small enough to get though the bars and attack the second guard, while Malador made a run at the bars and almost knocked the door off its hinges.  I grabbed the third guard and tried to strangle him, and then I saw he had the keys so I grabbed them.  We were able to get the door open and Pax ran out and found our stash of weapons.  She threw me the dagger and I almost slit the throat of the man I had been holding but thought better of it and hit him over the head with the hilt instead.  In a matter of minutes all three guards were down and we had time to catch our breaths.

 

A plan was forming in my head, but the first part of that plan was making sure the men we were just trying to kill, didn’t die.

After reading Numbilung’s letter from the gold merchant, Padrius, more closely, I became even more certain that it referred to the statue of Kord.  Not surprisingly it also proved that the goblin had lied to Refrus and me.  Somehow he let the statue fall through his fingers, and he used us to get it back.

 

I decided I would show the letter to Regdar.

 

I found Apemantus asleep in the hallway, using his backpack for a pillow.  Now that the bugbear was safe he deserved a fitful rest.  Everyone else was still in the bed chamber.  Coincidentally, the first voice I heard was the bugbear’s:

 

“I understand the confusion Captain, believe me, I do.  Gortuck, Grotnuck.  Honestly, most of my men refer to me as Bertuck.  The original Bertuck was my grandfather.  I would be honored if you would call me by his name as well.”

 

I showed the Captain the letter and once Begdemagus had verified that it was as old as I said it was, he still had some questions for me.   Chief among them was why I had waited so long to seek the statue.  I realized there was still so much of my story I hadn’t told them.  How could I ever tell them about Refrus and Miranda?  Regdar accepted what explanations I did give him enough to finally let me in on the mission the Bloody Blades had undertaken.  They were in search of five rings and if they didn’t find them in time, it would have world shaking consequences.

 

“Let’s say we help you find the statue.”  Begdemagus was saying.  “What will you do?”

 

“I would want to return it to the Temple of Kord.”

 

“No I mean, after that.”

 

“I suppose I would go on my way.”

 

“Or….”  And I could tell how hard it was for the fire mage to say his next words.  “You could join us.”

 

I heard myself saying that I would like to do just that.

 

“Wait, wait.”  Dani piped up.  “OK maybe I can see Revlis, but I draw the line at Apemantus.  That’s not for you to decide anyway.”

 

“Actually it would fall to the Captain.  How about it Regdar?”  I couldn’t believe Begdemagus was standing up for me.

 

“Once Revlis completes his mission and if he’s willing to help us with ours; then I would say he would have earned his place among us.  But we can talk about that when the time comes.”

 

The truth was I still held on to the hope that once the statue was back where it belonged, Kord might smile on me and show me a way to bring my friends back.  But the monks had never promised me that.  I had a lot to think about.

 

Regdar had turned his attention back to Bertuck.

 

“What’s the last thing you remember before you were charmed?”

 

“First, let me back up a bit.  Fraudrick was little more than a charlatan when he first came to court.  But somehow he gained the King’s ear.  Then one day he relayed an order to me that he claimed came straight from the King.  I refused to carry it out until I had talked to the King myself.  He brought me before Grotnuck, who gave me the same order, but I could tell that something was wrong with him.  I turned to go warn my men and that’s the last thing I remember.  I’m sure Fraudrick thought it was a great joke to turn me into a glorified guard dog.

 

We began to hear the clattering of plates.

 

“That’s the sound of the kitchen staff.”  Said Bertuck.  “It must be lunchtime.

 

“Wait. Where are we?”  Asked Regdar.

 

“I thought you knew.”  Said Bertuck.  “Once we passed through the locked door and went up those steps we left the forge complex and are now deep in the heart of Goblin Mountain.  You can look out that window if you don’t believe me.”

 

Regdar took out his map and went to the window.  “This is Goblin Mountain.”  He confirmed.

 

“Whose bed chamber is this?”  Asked Dani I thought it was Fraudrick’s.”

 

“Oh no.  He’s not at all this…flamboyant.”  Said Bertuck.  This is the King’s bed chamber.” 

 

“But I thought you were loyal to the King?  Why would you stand by and  let us loot his chamber?”  Asked Begdemagus.

 

“I am loyal to the King he was, and hope he will be again.  But if I find out that he has truly taken Fraudrick’s side; I will be the first to slit both their throats!”  Swore the bugbear.

 

“Well, let’s assume he IS charmed for now; does anyone have a way we can restrain him until we can determine for sure?”  Asked Regdar.

 

“I suppose I could use Ensnaring Smite on him like I did on Bertuck.”  I suggested.

 

“Let’s go with that.   So, what’s the best way to get to the throne room?”

 

“Go down one level and then we can cut through the dining area.  The throne room is just on the other side.”

 

We strategized for another five minutes or so.  Iva was to take point; then Bertuck and Apemantus and me with our crossbows.  We went down the stairs and stopped just outside the dining area.  We went in one by one and tried to blend in, but when Bertuck entered his men recognized him and wanted to know where he had been.  They still seemed loyal to him so he ordered them to go back and secure the forge area..  As soon as they were gone we scanned the hallway and saw two guards at the throne room door.

 

“Halt, you shall not pass!”  They cried.  We quickly took them down with our arrows and crossbow bolts. 

 

Regdar took up a covering position, and to help him he had brought in his elephant. Iva flung open the door and we all rushed in, taking everyone in the throne room by complete surprise.  I must confess here that from this point on I knew little of the specifics of battle (although I seem to remember hearing Begdemagus hurling insults at Lloth as Tessia was taking fire from the goblins). 

 

From the moment I ran through the door my eyes were locked on one creature.  Numbilung stood in the far corner of the room and Apemantus and I bore down on him as quickly as we could.  I was preparing Ensnaring Smite in my mind when I realized I was supposed to save it for restraining the King.  By the time I had another prayer ready, the goblin had vanished and I wasn’t even able to put my mark on him.

 

Numbilung reappeared close to the throne where Lord Gunthor was ineffectively fighting with Fraudrick.  I saw that Iva had drawn on Numbilung and shouted for him not to fire.  It didn’t matter the goblin vanished before he could take the full impact on the shot.  This time he did not rematerialize.  Iva turned his attention to Fraudrick who vanished but had the misfortune of reappearing right next to Bertuck who wrestled him to ground.  The sorcerer almost slipped out of his grasp but the bugbear was tenacious and held on to Fraudrick’s heel long enough for Iva tocome up and put an arrow through his heart.

 

That effectively ended he battle. 

 

At some point Dani had been able to turn King Grotnuck into a turtle so it turned out I wouldn’t have had to use Ensnaring Smite after all.  I sat crestfallen on the chest Fraudrick had been using to hold his ill gotten coffers.  Regdar was negotiating with the newly uncharmed  King to re-open trade with Lufkin (he also gladly handed over his ring to the Captain).  I was happy for these outcomes but I wondered when I would see any progress on my mission.

We picked up an elfin wizard named Jerro the next morning from the port city of Pugglenstone (some of the crew derisively called the town Poopenscoopen.  I decided I didn’t want to know why).    Malador greeted the wizard with his usual finesse and I showed him to the sleeping quarters.  Grizzlegar was taking a nap after breakfast and as I lingered at the top of the stairs, I saw Jerro plunk his gear down on his bunk, waking the now very grumpy gnome.

“You look like a girl.”  I heard Grizzlegar say and I returned to my duties, as I had no wish to play referee between these two.

At midday I found Pax chatting with the cook in the galley.  It seems she had shared quite an eventful night with Grizzlegar and she and the gnome were now something of an item.  I was becoming quite engrossed in their banter when I felt Malador bring his open hand heavily down on my shoulder.

“Why haven’t you set the sails yet Tarmikos?  The Captain wants us to be well on our way back to Thunder Rift by nightfall.  Once again I ignored his use of my father’s name and went out on the deck, where I saw Jerro stumbling around and looking quite green.  I still had some of the potion I had given to Pax the night before, in a flask so I offered it to Jerro but he pushed it aside.

Just then we saw Grizzlegar jump back down to the deck from the figurehead where he had been doing push-ups.  Naked.  He strode over to us and said to Jerro:

“Go ahead bub, take it.  It did wonders for Pax last night.  Come to think of it, so did I.  Oh, and you still look like a girl.”  He continued across the deck and disappeared into the sleeping quarters.  The rest of the crew acted as if they saw this sort of thing every day.

“Well, with a recommendation like that how can I refuse?”  Jerro took a swig from the flask and within a few minutes he was feeling much better.  “Say, is that the symbol of Kord you and the dwarf girl have there on your tunics?”

“Why, yes it is.  I spent the last eight years at the Great Temple of Kord on Thunder Rift.

“What were you doing there?”

“Training to become a Paladin.”

“So, what happened?”

For some reason, Jerro’s question had made me realize that not once in the past year had I even thought about going back south to either find or confront Sempronius.  I suppose I was afraid of what I might find:  Just like I was afraid of what Revlis might say to me, the uncle he never even knew he had.  I also realized in that moment that Mennoly must have known before she left me in the Cinnamon Star, that I wasn’t finished running from my friend’s betrayal.

“Let’s just say, it didn’t take.”  I heard myself saying to Jerro who was willing to let the subject pass.  It seemed he was much more interested in hearing about Mage Isle, the tiny islet in the center of Lake Ganif.  The lake itself lay directly to the southeast of Melinir and spanned the entire distance between Melinir and the ruined city of Kraal.  Jerro wanted to know if it was a good or bad place.

“Very little is known about the mage who lives there.”  I told him.  “I have heard stories that sometimes he’s made the entire isle disappear.” 

“People say you can grow to be a great wizard if you can become The Mage’s student.” The elf said starry eyed.  Jerro went on to tell me he had lived most of his life in a city far back in the mountains with a mostly unpronounceable name.  He continued to follow me around the deck, telling me more and more things about himself.  I politely listened as I went about my duties.  Before I knew it, night had fallen and we were well out to sea.

A finger of lightning split the sky in two.  As the thunder was rolling in, Malador came trampling across the deck shouting:

“Get the passengers below decks NOW!”  I locked eyes with the first mate and could see actual fear almost dripping off of him, which appeared to drown his usual bluster.

The wizard had caught the first mate’s mood and was in somewhat of a panic, so I escorted him quickly to the sleeping quarters where Grizzlegar (thankfully now clothed) met us at the top of the stairs.  I was relieved to see that Pax was lying in her bunk even if she did look queasy again.  Jerro wasted no time getting back to his bunk.

“Listen bub, I’m going to be very ill, very soon.  You need to let me pass!”

“I get the point.”  I said blocking his exit.  “But it’s too dangerous to be up on deck right now.  Maybe I can get you to the cargo hold.”

Before I knew it, I was standing watching Grizzlegar doubled over the rat’s nest, wretching, when I realized the boat was about to capsize.  The last thing I remember before blacking out was seeing a huge ham and several barrels of whiskey (that I didn’t recall being in inventory) come rolling toward us.

I woke to the taste of sand in my mouth.

I sat up and looked around me.  Grizzlegar was slowly getting to his feet to my left.  We were on a beach.  The ship was gone (or at least most of it).  Thankfully I was able to stand.  I had no apparent broken bones and neither did the gnome.  We had only walked a short distance when we found Jerro and Pax stumbling and looking as disoriented as we were.

“The Captain, First Mate and the cook are down this way.”  Pax was saying.  “They’re all badly hurt.”

Malador and the cook were unconscious but Captain Trovebane had been able to get himself to a sitting position.  His back supported against a palm tree.  He beckoned for me to come closer.  With wheezing breath he related how the entire crew had been flung overboard as the deck splintered to pieces.  He had been able to lash himself to the wheel while Malador did the same at the mast.  But as the ship was tossed the wheel had crushed his chest.

“I’m dying son, there’s nothing to be done for it.”

“No!” I gasped, tears welling in my eyes.  “We have a healer here.  She can…You promised me an adventure!”

“Listen to me!”  He grabbed my arm with the last ounce of his strength.  “You must build your own boat and get these people off this island.  This is a very dangerous place.  The undead walk here.  There still maybe hope for your friend yet.  He…”  He was gone.  This was someone I had known my whole life, my uncle Algenon’s oldest friend, and he was gone, they were both gone.

“What was that he said about the undead?”  Asked Pax.

“He said they walk here.”  Answered Grizzlegar.

“Can you build us a boat sailor?”  Pax wanted to know.

“Yes I think I can.  There seems to be enough planks washed ashore from the Crimson Hawk to make a small raft.”

“What about these palm trees?  We could cut them down.”  Said Grizzlegar helpfully.

“No, the wood is too light, but I may be able to use the sap as pitch.  You can collect that.

I was making preparations to build the raft and Pax was trying to heal the cook, when Jerro let out a yelp.  He had found a crate and when he opened it, a huge rat had jumped out at him.  Grizzle walked up and knocked the rat over the head with his mace.  In the crate we found rations that we split evenly.

Now Pax was calling out.  A giant sand leech was attacking the cook and five others were coming at us from the water.  Pax saved the cook and pulled him to safety while the rest of us beat back the writhing beasts.  Jerro cast sleep on the two remaining leeches and we cut of their heads.

I decided I would pay my last respects to Captain Trovebane before anything else could happen.  I honored him with the final death ritual, then burned his body and covered the ash and bone with sand.

It took me about three hours to build the raft.  Try as I might, I only had enough planks for four people to safely sail.  Maybe just maybe we could take the cook with us but Malador was out of luck.  He still lay unconscious where we had found him hours ago.  Grizzlegar and Pax had rolled him for his money and anything else of value he had.  In the hopes that he might know something about the island and help us fight off anything dangerous, Pax had decided to try to heal the first mate.

I was coming back from Captain Trovebane’s ritual, when I heard Grizzle yelling:.

“You’ve got to be kidding me!”

The raft was gone.

After being healed, Malador had taken one look at his surroundings, recognized he was on the Island of the Undead, realized we had taken all his valuables, so he had absconded with the cook and our shiny new raft.

“Why would you heal him?”  Grizzle was asking.

“I thought he might be an extra sword against whatever dangerous stuff is here and he could tell us something about the island”

“And did he?”

“No, he jumped up, talked to the cook and the next thing I knew they had taken the raft and were half way out of the lagoon.”

“So, let me get this straight.  Instead of having six hands to fight, with a possibility of getting four maybe five off the island.  We now have four hands, with no way off the island!”

“And I used up all the good planks making that raft.  Unless more of the wreckage washes ashore here….”

To top that off, this stretch of beach was cut off from the rest of the shoreline by huge jagged cliffs that extended well into the sea.

Jerro came running back; he was carrying a now unneeded pot of sap from the palm trees.  “Hey guys, I just found a path that leads into the interior of the island!”

“That’s probably the last place we want to go.”  Said Grizzlegar.

“It may be the only place we can go.”  I pointed out.

“We could try to climb.”  Insisted Pax.

We had two coils of rope between us and a grappling hook.  Grizzle tied the rope together and gave it a valiant effort but it became clear that it was also futile.  The jagged rock would cut us to pieces by the time we reached the top.  We were able to retrieve the hook but the rope had become hopelessly frayed.

“Then I suppose our only option is the path.”  We all reluctantly agreed and set off into the jungle.

We had walked about a quarter of a mile when we came upon a village.

It was now midday and there seemed to be quite a bit of activity; people going about their normal routine.  We watched stealthily from the jungle.

“They don’t look undead.”  Said Pax.

“What do undead look like?”

“Beats me.”

“There’s an inn over there; The Butchered Calf.” Pointed out Jerro.

“Might as well give it a try.” I said.

As we entered the gate, we noticed we had become the center of attention.  Everyone seemed to be interested in the newcomers.  Everyone seemed to be happy to see us.  We entered the inn and the innkeeper almost stumbled over himself getting out from behind his desk and grabbing our hands obsequiously.

“Come in, come in.  Can I get you a drink?  Can I get you a room?  Can I get you anything?  Anything at all?

“I don’t think we should drink anything in here.”  I whispered to Grizzlegar.

“I think you’re right bub.”

Pax was looking at the innkeeper with keen interest as if she was appraising his face.

“You must be very tired from you journey.  Let me get you a room.”

“How do you know how long our journey was?  I  asked the innkeeper.

“Well I just assumed…”

“Yeah, yeah.  All we really want to know is where we can find a boat off the island.”  Said Grizzlegar forcefully.

“For that you would have to go to the North Harbor.  If you go out the back gate of the village, you will see a sign pointing the way there.  But surely you need some rest.  Let me get you a room.”

People were pouring in from the tavern attached to the inn and offering us all sorts of libations.  In particular, a Bard named Min had caught Grizzle’s attention.  Pax had had enough and pulled the gnome away from her.  I pushed Jerro in the same direction and we quickly left the inn through a side door.

We were turning to walk away, when the innkeeper ran up to us and in a low voice said.

“You were right; you must get off this island.  If you stay the villagers will try to keep you here.  They do the creature’s bidding.”

“What creature?”

“I’ve already said too much.  Only..”

“Only what?”

“The creature took my boy last night; to the mountains with the rest.”  He turned and went back into the inn.

“What should we do?”

“Did you notice the innkeeper’s face?  Asked Pax.  “It had a weird ageless quality; as if you couldn’t tell how old he was.”

“Do you think he was undead?”

“Like I said before how can you tell?”

Outside the back gate of the village we found a signpost with directions to the North Harbor, the lighthouse and the mountains.  We took the road to the mountains.  As expected the road got steeper as we went along.  Grizzlegar’s eyes grew wide and as I looked in that direction I saw why.

“That’s a dragon’s cave!”  Exclaimed the gnome.

“No wonder the innkeeper was so freaked out.”

“I think we should just go back and take the road to the harbor.”  Said Jerro.

“No.  We have to see this thing through.”  Grizzlegar sighed.

“I agree.”  Said Pax.

I agreed too, although it took a little more to convince Jerro but he soon relented.

Inside the cave there was a rickety drawbridge over a moat and on the other side of the moat we could see a small juvenile dragon sleeping on a heap of treasure.  On either side of the dragon were what appeared to be statues.  Pax Grizzle and Jerro crossed the bridge with no problem but as I reached the middle of the bridge it collapsed and I fell into the moat.  This awoke the dragon AND the two statues that turned out to be golems.

The dragon breathed acid on my companions and then retreated into another room.  Jerro took the biggest hit and was slammed unconscious against the front wall of the treasure room.   I climbed out of the moat and shot at one of the golems with my crossbow, while Pax and Grizzle took on the other.

Jerro came to and picked up one of the scrolls from the treasure pile (which turned out to be a spell usually cast by a 9^th level wizard).  I followed his lead and grabbed a long sword with two garnets in the hilt.  I charged at one of the golems, but fell.  Luckily I was able to hold the sword so it didn’t break or do damage to me.

When the golems were finally down, Pax charged into the back room and tried to take the dragon by surprise but the creature was ready for her, parried her blow and breathed acid on her point blank.  She went down mortally wounded.  Grizzle ran in and dragged Pax back into the treasure room while Jerro let loose with the 9^th level fireball spell, knocking the dragon unconscious.  I employed what healing techniques I remembered from the Temple and with Jerro’s help, Pax slowly came out of the woods. She would live.  Grizzlegar took another long sword from the pile and cut off the dragon’s head.

We began to here cries coming from a grate in the back room.  We pulled back the grate and found what we believed to be the dragon’s next victims.  After sorting out the treasure (Grizzle talked me into taking the magic dagger he had found in the rats nest while I gave him my new long sword), we and the dragon’s captor’s went back to the village.  We were so proud of ourselves:  One of the captor’s had told us he was the innkeeper’s son.

At the inn, the innkeeper was flabbergasted to see us and once again offered us a room.  This time we took it (but we still refrained from drinking).

Everyone was exhausted and went straight to bed, but I decided to keep watch and around 3:00am I heard a noise.  I quietly stepped into the hallway and at the other end of the passage I saw a shadowy figure.  He had his back to me so I quickly went back in our room.  Something about the man was familiar but I couldn’t put my finger on why. 

I woke up my companions, but none of them wanted to be bothered.  Finally Pax got up and stuck her head out into the hallway.  Then she went all the way out and shut the door.  After a few seconds I followed her.  She was at the end of the passage with the man.  She had a rapt expression on her face, and he was beckoning her to the window.  He climbed out the window and she willingly let him pull her through.

“Uh, guys.  I think Pax has been abducted.”

This time Grizzle was out of bed like a shot.  We all ran to the window and looked out.  The man was hovering with Pax over the courtyard.

“That’s one of the ‘victims’ from the dragon’s cave.  He’s a vampire!  Shouted the gnome.  “Give me one of those flying potions you got from the cave.” He demanded of Jerro.  The wizard was loath to part with it but finally gave in.  Grizzle took a swig.

While they were arguing, I took a shot at the vampire with my crossbow but it only nicked his foot.  He changed direction.  My next shot was better.  The vampire fell to the courtyard, Pax still in his clutches.  Grizzle and I ran out to where the vampire had fallen (it was just dawning on the gnome that he had wasted the potion).  Grizzle got there first and jabbed his long sword into the vampires face.  I came up right behind and plunged the magic dagger into his heart.  He let go of Pax just before he melted into a sticky puddle.

“Hey do you guys mind if I take his cloak?”  Asked Jerro.

“Knock yourself out bub.”

We all went back in the inn to confront the innkeeper.

We showed him the vampire’s cloak and he knew the jig was up.  He explained that the dragon and the vampire had struck a deal.  They had agreed to share their victims back and forth.  Most of the village was under the creatures’ thrall. That’s why they were always happy to see new victims come to town.

“One last thing.”  Said Pax.  “Why does everyone here look so young?”

“Well, I guess it’s because we drink the potion the vampires give us.  Here, let me show you a sample.”  He pulled a bottle filled with gray liquid out of his desk.

“I’ll take that.”  Said Jerro.

“You’re not going to drink that!”  Snapped Grizzle.

“No I just want to study it.”

“Wait a minute.”  I said.  “Did you say vampires?”

“Oh did I leave that out?”  Said the innkeeper coyly.  “Well, you see, the vampire you killed tonight has three wives and they’re still somewhere in the village.  You might want to check out the village library, if you want to find out more about them.  Have a nice evening folks.  He quickly slammed his office door shut and we heard him turn the key.

It didn’t take us long to find the library.  It looked as if it hadn’t been used in years.  Pax went over and started rummaging through the books.

“Ah, here’s the book we need.” 

As soon as she had pulled the tome down, the shelf slid back to reveal a secret room.  We all went into the chamber and looked around.  On either side of the room there were statues honoring the dead with warnings on placards underneath cautioning against disturbing the dead.  Beyond this was another room this time with skulls (one of which had rubies in the eye sockets) and an urn filled with ashes.  Along the back wall was draped a banner with yet another prophesy about the dead.

Jerro reached into the urn, pulled out some of the ash, and sprinkled it on the skull with the ruby eyes.  He immediately felt stronger and Pax was weakened.

“You idiot!” Pax yelled at the wizard.  “You stole my constitution!”

“I’m sorry.  I didn’t know.”

“It must have been because Pax was closest to the skull when Jerro performed the ritual.”  I reasoned.

Jerro picked up the skull and looked into the ruby eyes.

“Give me that!”  Grizzlegar grabbed the skull from Jerro but it slipped out of his hand and fell on the floor without breaking.  The gnome became hysterical and started running around the room shouting “We’re all going to die!”

It took several attempts but Pax and I were finally able to wrestle the gnome to the ground and then Pax forced him to drink a vial of holy water.  He came back to his senses.

In his rampage Grizzle had managed to tear down the banner on the back wall and we saw that there was a panel that opened yet another secret room.  We held our breath and pushed the panel.  The wall slid open.

Two women lay on two slabs.

“These must be the vampire’s wives.”  I said.  I walked over and was about to plunge my dagger into the first wife’s heart when I realized she was the most beautiful woman I had ever seen.  All at once I had a vision of Mennoly  and I was able to fight off the vampire’s charm.  My dagger found the vampire’s heart and she was gone.  Meanwhile Pax had been able to fight off the other vampire using shear will and dispatch her to nothingness.

“There, we’ve cleansed the village.”  Said Pax.

“Not quite.”  I said sitting down on the slab.  “There’s still a third.”