Down at Alloway Farm

The High Elder of the Deathcrafters followed Elowen into the farmhouse and sat down by the hearth, the trophies of his brown leather vest clanking. He looked at Bowen briefly with a puzzled look in his ancient blue eyes. “I assure you there is no danger to your child, Mr. Alloway. At least, not from anything I offer you.”

He turned back to Elowen and smiled warmly. He drew a deep breath and began. “I should preface this story with the warning the Haunted Hause still exists and will for the foreseeable future. It can rarely be ignored and remains dangerous. I know you are interested in reports of the events of Silver’s Glory. "

"To begin with, a group of us (myself, Elder Jingles Vulture, Sky Claw Broken Claw, Quick Wit Hawkborn, Seeks Hidden Knowledge Hawkborn, Tragic Raccoon, Neko and Sayed the Lion) Rifted into an odd dreamlike building, very reminiscent of Mathias old tavern in Ravensvale, the “Unkindness of Ravens.” The so/self-called “Master of All”, Ali Khali; former-apprentice of Duke Deralba himself; taunted us with his “game”, find his battery and destroy it or become part of his new reality. According to Quick Wit, Ali Khali created the Haunted House centuries ago to seize power. The Innkeeper Marcus offered us food and drink as a big group of young adventurers entered. I spoke with the young ladies: they were recruited by Khali to oppose us."

"Seeks, Quick Wit and I found glowing spawn nodes for dream elementals – they walked away from us if left unmolested. They went to a statue on the edge of town – the statue gave us the following riddle:"

“My first task is for a tailor of Spirit.
My second confines them to finish the piece.
How mournful the duty but how great the merit.
If by taking me they effect their release.”

"We all agreed on the meaning of the first line but the rest was murky. And we found no spirits needing Resurrection or Spirit forging.  A group of Lord Abhorash’s retainers arrived next. We suggested they explore the road. Quick Wit took a group of us to consult the local mayor Lord Helsfath. We left a request for an audience.  Skyclaw, Quick Wit, and Seeks went to sleep as I talked extensively with Sirius the bodyguard and Chives the butler. Cork and Cap Kinallen showed up next. Later, I met with Lord Helsfath and deduced he was part of the House. Afterwards, I walked Tragic to our cabin."

"I slept well. Woke up well before noon to find a sunny warm fall day instead of the cold rainy winter night. At breakfast, a pair of elder goblins appeared trying to raid/trade. As they amused us, a Blood Mage resembling a freshly skinned Skeleton approached Quick Wit and produced an intriguing flesh dagger. He offered it to Quick Wit, who wouldn’t take it, to slaughter the innocent younger version of the Mistress of Volcanoes. She was trapped in the Haunted House with us too. The Blood Mage took control of me and made me Transform – despite my best efforts to rebuff him. Quick Wit took the flesh dagger to keep me from it. Of course it devolved into a fight. I didn’t kill anyone but Seeks got in a damaging Nature spell – I tried to Rift but wound up back in the Tavern, free and untransformed."

"I sat apart for a while and gave Marcus a Card reading, then found Quick Wit shapeshifted in to a Naga. Elder Jingles set up a contest for Night of the Vulture while we watched, I got caught up with Skyclaw Broken Claw.  Later, while Quick Wit, Seeks, SkyClaw, Cork, Neko & Tragic cleared one path; Terse, Athena & Lord Abhorash’s company followed me to clear another. At the end we destroyed two 40-foot skellies. Khali Rifted in to taunt us – he threatened to destroy me personally. We regrouped with the others. They played Night of the Vulture games while we ate a quick dinner."

"Sayed and Jingles cast a Ritual as we prepared for a final battle. Ali Khali Rifted in after Korianna the young Mistress, -- Jingles solved her puzzle and restored her to full strength. I ran off with her to hide her from Ali Khali. Eventually Jingles ended the Ritual and he led us to a Portal in a cave. The young adventurers spearheaded our fight. When we reached the end, we fought an assault against the Flame elementals and the Corrupt Mistress of the Volcano. We fought her, she couldn’t harm me, as did Quick Wit but it was Seeks who Petrified her. The Young Mistress Rifted us to the time-frozen Ravensvale. Afterwards, the Gypsies, Kinallens, Sayed and I departed for Aranhod. I cannot say where Lord Abhorash’s company went.”

BadShark paused, then continued, staring at Bowen. “Death of the Year is the name all Tribes of the People of the Land call your season of winter. It has nothing to do with ‘Elemental Death’ or Undeath, as you know them. At this time of the year, we People of the Land lighten the load of the Winter Migrations, by giving gifts to those we deem worthy. I wrote this book to help my own son learn to read. I thought Miz Alloway and yourself might find it useful in teaching your daughter. However, if my gift is unwelcome, I’ll depart, and trouble you no more.”  The black-clad man stood and exited the door deliberately.