The Faceless Magician, Al-Hazred Hearing the cries of the waking cockatrice, the party decides it best to avoid the beast, moving through the narrow passage beyond the cavernous chamber. The passage widens into a semicircular room with a pool, beside which stands a figure robed in blue and black. Entreating the party to come no closer, the figure identifies himself as the wizard, Al-Hazred. His face remains concealed as he speaks. Al-Hazred explains that his power stretches far and wide, and the form the party speaks to is but one of his many manifestations throughout the planes. This manifestation is trapped in this pseudo-dimension, and is thus separated from the wizard's true power. In order for him to escape, Al-Hazred, pleads for the party's assistance in finding all the Jester's cards. The other wizards, Darjr (the Yellow), and Erodiade (the Red sorceress), hold cards as well. The Jester, Hazred explains, is the demonic master of this domain, and holds the final card which he never deals, the devil. In return the wizard offers passage to anywhere they wish. The party finds the wizard to be arrogant and evasive. They tell him as much, and decline his offer. The Matron's Key To get back to the stairs to the manor above the party must go back past the cockatrice. The monster is easily evaded thanks to a charm delivered by Gonzo in a demonic voice. The group rejoins the Matron, and they ask her a few more questions. The Matron believes the Jester did not want her to associate with the characters because of what she was holding for him. She reveals a silver chain about her neck, upon which hangs a black key, engraved with a laughing devil skull.. The Matron is persuaded to leave the key with Lichalia. The Source of the Smell (A Watery Grave?) Leaving the mansion by the gate they entered, the party stops to re-investigate the horrible rotting meat smell in the courtyard. Following the pooling water, Margrave pries up a flagstone to reveal a 20' narrow passage downward into the rock. The buzzing of thousands of flies fills the passage. Foregoing the ladder, the party ties Gonzo to a rope and lowers him to investigate. The chamber the gnome is lowered into is a muddy mess, swarming with flies crawling out from a passage beyond, and filled with ankle deep water and an overwhelming smell of decay. The adventurers decide to move the flagstone back and investigate further at a later time. To The Center of the Lake The party moves to investigate the lake by the mansion. Finding a four person boat, the party does the unthinkable, and splits up. Maggie, Theedi, Gonzo, and Hrissa row through the night, eventually deciding to rest in the boat. The rest of the party explores the banks and rests there. The long search proves fruitless. The Disappearing Realm The party arises to an alarming sight. The walls surrounding the realm have grown closer. The worms devour ever-still. Time is of the essence! A New Day And A New Deal - The Maids In Waiting Bheldor and the party members on land spot the maids leaving the mansion with buckets of water to fill at the lake. They strike up conversation with them and ask to follow them on their task. It is discovered that a new hand of cards has been dealt to the wizards. Because of this, the Maids are now in service to the yellow wizard (their once white dresses are now yellow). They are to take the water on the long trek to the Tower Behind the Moon where the wizard Darjr awaits them. They welcome the party to follow, saying the wizard wishes to speak with them. As they walk, the remark upon the now pink-orange sun, saying it represents the new winner of the day. The Four Of Swords Approaching the tower, the party is attacked by four charging skeletal warriors with tabbards of yellow. The warriors are quickly blinded, blasted, and bladed to oblivion. The Maidens hardly seem impressed, instead complaining that they must now wait until dusk for the bridge to the Tower to appear. The bridge will disappear when the moon passes in front of the tower, and the ladies will be trapped there until the next dusk. The Maidens are questioned about the fireflies over the lake. They relate that the fireflies also appear at dusk and disappear as the moon moves in front of the tower. The party takes their chances investigating the lake once more instead of being trapped in the tower for the night. Literal Fireflies The party watches the blue lights of the fireflies begin to emerge at the lake's edge at dusk. They hover together as time moves slowly on. Theedi decides to investigate closer, but the flies attack, striking with hot blue flame. Luckily Margrave brings her back from the brink of death, though Theedi still wears the scars of the burns. The party keeps their distance and continues to watch the gathering lights in growing disappointment. Just when they are about to give up their watch, the fireflies swarm as one toward the center of the water-mass, and begin to fly down to its core. Their lights illuminate a bridge that leads out into the water. Wasting no time, the party runs across the bridge and descends a crystalline staircase that leads to the lowest depths of the lake. Beneath The Lake The twinkling blue stars of the fireflies illuminate the muddy floored chamber at the bottom of the crystal staircase. The party moves through a tight passage to a room beyond, the thick walls of water pressing against them all the while, small trickles running beneath clothes and armor. The semicircular domed room beyond is a sight to behold. Streams of color cascade down it's watery walls. Crouching in the center is the red sorceress with her belt of silver and her veil of falling rain. She radiates majesty as she draws runes in the mud floor around the metal plaques of her six cards; among them, the faceless wizard, the king, the four of swords, and the one of swords. She reveals that she knows they have spoken to one of the other wizards. The Sorceress wants her hands on all the cards as well, and demands the group find them for her. Before any more can be said, the curious child wizard, Maggie, snatches one of the cards from the floor. Erodiade's rage is swift and frightening. Screaming, she gathers the remaining cards in her arms, her body quickly filling the massive 80 ft chamber. Tremors wrack the gound, and water gushes from the walls, rapidly filling the room. Some of the party unleash spells to buy time, while others flee the watery doom. Margrave snatches up Maggie as he runs, but the little one is blasted by a horrific bolt from Erodiade, dying instantly. Lichalia dives into the walls, and Hrissa grabs up Gonzo to flee as well. Trudging futility through waist deep water, and seeing her companions struggling to survive, Hrissa calls out to the Sorceress. "Stop this now and we will find the cards for you, I swear it!" "You speak for the group," the stilled sorceress inquires. Looking to the others and seeing no dissent, Hrissa responds, "Yes." Relieved Disappointment The forlorn party escapes from the lake, mourning the loss of their friend. But as Margrave examines Maggie, she opens an eye. As the party stares in amazement, a tearful Margrave admonishes, "I'm very disappointed in you, Maggie."
