17-20 Thaumont 1000AC

After a night in the castle, the group headed back to Threshold. They reported the results of their expedition to Caldwell, who said that he would see if he could find anyone to open the locked door. With that room still unexplored, the group's contract was not yet fulfilled. So, the group decided to heal up and sort themselves out before returning to the castle.

Three days later everyone was healed and Caldwell had returned with a scroll, which he said would open the door. Once this room and any cellars that might be present were cleared, Caldwell would consider the group's contract to be complete, and he would pay their reward for this work.

16 Thaumont 1000AC - Eviction Notice Part 2

After few days in the fleshpots of Threshold the group returned to the castle. The bloated corpses of the evictees were still present in the ground floor, although some had clearly been eaten by scavengers. The remaining treasure that they could not carry had been picked up by someone else too. Time to evict the denizens of the upper floor.

Castle Caldwell - Upper Floor

The group advanced up the stairs in the south-western tower and into the upper floor of the castle. The first room north of the tower was empty of all but rubbish and guano. The next room was occupied by a small group of dog-like humanoids (Kobolds as our heroes were to later learn). Without preamble the group charged in and carved up the Kobolds.

The next two rooms to the north were empty but for the usual mess. The north-western tower appeared empty until a large spider dropped from concealment onto Lacrimos. Its effort to gain a meal was in vain as it was soon carved up by a variety of sharp weapons.

From here on the going was easier. Whatever denizens had inhabited the castle, they were no longer here. Exploration showed that there was a large trophy room containing more treasure hidden behind a secret door in the centre north of the castle, but other than this there was little to be found. The castle was clear apart from the one locked room downstairs.

Time to return to Threshold and report this to Clifton Caldwell.

12 Thaumont 1000AC - Eviction Notice Part 1

After a short delay organising themselves, the group prepared to continue the eviction. Breccia and Vladimir would wait outside with the mule, while the rest of the group continued on into the castle and informed any residents present that they were no longer welcome here.

Castle Caldwell - Ground Floor (Click for a larger image)

The first task was to check out the store room to the south of the kitchen. A quick search showed it to be full of rotting sacks of food, old cupboards and a bloated, blackened body on the floor. As the group searched the room, suddenly Bogdan cried out. A large snake had been disturbed by his rummaging among the sacks. It bit him before anyone could kill it and soon his arm was beginning to turn black. Fortunately, Callinicus was able to suck the poison out of the wound and administer a healing potion that restored Bogdan to full health.

With no other exits, the group chose to head into the western corridor, where they encountered a group of four Goblins. The Goblins were carrying a deer on a pole between them. They eyed the group warily and greeted them. Fortunately, Shalander speaks Goblin, so he was able to greet them and assure the Goblins of the group's peaceful intentions. The Goblins proceeded past the group and into the tower room in the north-west of the castle. The group headed south. Stopping at the first door they were unable to open it by any means so they continued southwards into the next room, where they were attacked by Stirges. The bloodsuckers managed to suck a fair bit of blood before they were crushed under foot.

The next room south of this was a chapel. Its glass windows were shattered and the furniture was old, but the room was otherwise in reasonable repair. A cleric in plate armour was praying here when the group barged in. She was clearly annoyed to be disturbed but did not attack the group. Instead she introduced herself as Olga and led the group in prayers to bless their venture. Then she departed the castle, having been informed that its new owner was making every effort to take it over properly.

Continuing southwards and focusing on the western rooms, the group found a starving giant shrew in the nest room. At first it hid under the beds but then hunger overcame its cowardice and it attacked the group ferociously. All too soon the shrew lay dead and the group was bandaging its wounds before enetering the south-western tower, where they were attacked by a pair of wolves. Once more fortune favoured the now battered group and the wolves became nothing more than rugs to lie before the fire.

The group now headed eastward and explored the entrance hall and dining room in the south and centre of the castle, finding some treasure in the rubble. Moving to the south-eastern room and tower, they heard arguing from beyond the door. Shalander recognised Goblin voices arguing over treasure. Bursting in, the group found four Goblins standing around a table laden with treasure. Their swords were drawn and they were clearly none too happy about what constituted an equitable division of that treasure. In the ensuing fight, the group made short work of the Goblins and then started wondering how they were to carry all this treasure away with them. A lengthy discussion ensued, but finally the group was able to agree to cart back to Breccia and the mule as much as they could fit into the various sacks and backpacks they had with them.

Returning to the scene of their 'crimes' the group then continued their methodical progress northwards up the eastern corridor. The next room up proved to have been a library. The books were not in good condition but the room was occupied by two fire beetles, who were reduced to eating the carpet since they became trapped in here. The fight was short and in short order Elias was soon hacking the beetles up to extract the glands that emitted the glow that gave them their name.

A statue in the next room northwards gave the group pause. The room was empty but the group leaders quickly determined that they would not go anywhere near the statue, so they closed the door and headed northwards to the last room before the tower. Here they found a small group of brigands taking a rest from banditry. The group launched into the assault immediately and were victorious after a short but bloody fight. They tidied up the corpses and put them into the beds in this room, before they searched it and gathered up the bandits' loot. The final tower room proved to be empty, but upon exiting it, they encountered the same group of Goblins that they had met with earlier in the other corridor. The Goblins greeted them warily and unsuspectingly made to pass the group in the corridor on whatever errand they were running. As they did so, the group fell on the Goblins and slaughtered them in a brutal, short and effective ambush.

Everyone in the group was now injured and even though the ambush had been effective, the group had still taken some heavy wounds. This being the state of affairs the group decided to head back to Threshold to bank their loot and heal their wounds before cleaning out the rest of the castle.

12 Thaumont 1000AC - Eviction Begins

The group sneaks up to the back door under cover of the fog and lurks in the bushes there until Elias has scouted the room beyond it. He finds a kitchen with old tables in it. A rusty stove and a rusty pump complete the ensemble. On the tables lie a variety of pieces of crockery. None appear to have any value. Against one wall lie some old sacks, their hessian exteriors rotting while the goods that were once inside have rotted away or been taken by rodents. Other than these items the room is empty. Wooden doors lead out of the room in all directions. A quick examination of them shows that they are not locked and nothing can be heard through any of them. A circular staircase leads up to the next floor.

12 Thaumont 1000AC - To the Castle

The group gathers outside Janacek's Inn at the first grey dawning, stamping to keep warm in the chill morning mist. The three new recruits are all waiting and ready. Judging by the straw in his hair Bogdan stayed in the stables last night to make sure that he would not miss the departure. After the usual fussing and fettling all is ready and the journey begins with a quick trip to the town hall to collect weapons.

It is fourteen miles to Antilles Castle, which means that it will be late evening by the time the group arrives there.

As the morning progresses the sun comes up and burns off the mist. The day looks set to be fair and the journey passes comparatively quickly along the road with a pause for lunch, at which point Breccia reveals that he only has a couple of dead rats left to eat. It looks like he will be scrounging food from the others tomorrow.

Shortly before turning off the road into the mountains, a large merchant caravan passes by heading for Threshold and possibly points north. The guards on it are well-armed and plentiful and there are easily a dozen or more wagons loaded with goods. The group leaves the road and heads into the mountains, following the ancient and unused trail that was once a major road leading to Antilles Castle. They arrive near the castle shortly before dusk and set up camp. There is still enough light to scout the castle. A quick check reveals two entrances: the main double doors and a smaller door that is hidden in the shrubbery at the opposite end of the castle.

The group watches the castle until night falls and then sets up watches for the night. The guards not only keep look-out for the camp but also watch the castle for activity. It is not long into the night, on Breccia's watch, that four Goblins are seen entering the main doors of the castle. Later in the night Shalander sees three small dog-like humanoids about 3' tall entering the castle, again by the front door. No other activity is spotted.

The following morning a great fog has rolled in and everyone is hard-pressed to see more than twenty feet in front of them.

Antilles Castle

Antilles Castle is a fortified manor rather than a castle. The Antilles family owned it from its construction in the reign of Queen Katarina Radu in the early eighth century AC until their demise in the mid tenth century AC. At the time of its construction the Antilles family had a controlling interest in the settlements, mining and logging operations of the area. Their demise was not the result of enemy action but rather a simple matter of lack of fecundity. The family produced no legitimate heirs and just died out. Since the death of Vaclav Antilles, the last of the Antilles line in 947 AC, the castle has lain vacant. Duke Stefan Karameikos took control of it, once the lack of heirs had been established and sought to sell it to raise funds for his other ventures. Unfortunately the area is no longer as prosperous or as safe as it was under the Radu dynasty and few have even considered buying the castle. That is, until an outlander merchant called Clifton Caldwell bought it in 999 AC. Since buying the castle he has realised that it is in need of repair and that it currently has unwelcome denizens in residence. He is seeking to have the residents evicted and plans to settle in it near his main mercantile interests. 

Antilles Castle in the morning sun:

The Old Antilles Castle - Plan View

Here is a top-down view of the Old Antilles Castle. Each square is 10 feet across. The castle stands two storeys high (ground floor and first floor) and is clearly roofed. The double doors at the front are open, as is the single door at the back. 

Click the pic for a larger version.