The coffin that was ransacked was named ‘Uther’. We head to the library and look for info on Uther. We find a book that looks useful. It seems that Lord Uther slayed a notorious vampire and was rewarded with the barony. The magical sword is mentioned as well as the missing chalice. We also find a loose sheet of paper. It seems to detail a spell to impart a long dead soul into a new victim. It also has some handwritten notes. The notes indicate someone searching for the components for the ritual – sword, cup, stone and spear. The sword and the cup are both missing.

Rufus has a flash of inspiration and notices that the piece of paper was marking a particular page in the book, which covers a generation after Uther. It also has a map of the manor. It seems a descendant of Uther slayed a dragon within the manor and this possibly caused the collapsed portion of the cellars. It also indicates there are four cellars below the main tower. We have only found two so we head to the treasury to have a search…

We find an odd section of wall. We cannot scratch or even touch it. We can’t find any obvious means to open it. We’re stuck!

We decide to remove the barricade from where the beast is hiding. As we remove the last peg something large snarls and leaps out at us. The creature emits a terrifying wail – we are all frozen to the core and struggle to wield our weapons effectively.

It’s a ghoul! It bites Mahan’s arm before Nailen hacks it’s arm off. It is mortally wounded! Mahan and Olsen hit back and the ghoul is dead. Much rejoicing as it dawns on Nailen that this was the beast that had been haunting the cellars and had savaged Dobry’s men just a few nights ago. Mahan has a numb arm – could it be poisoned? Diseased? Rufus defies expectations but successfully remembering how to heal – the wound is staunched. Mahan feels better but the arm is still numb.

We head through the doorway. We find some jewellery, worth thousands (possibly). There’s no evidence of access to another cellar.

The wedding feast is finished. None of the family are on evidence.. we check with the serving wenches. They giggle at Mahan as he is so hunky and charismatic and explain that the family have retired to rest. We go to speak to Dobry instead. He is suitably impressed that we have killed the beast that haunted the cellars. He takes us to see Dr Halvenstrom, to take a look at Mahan’s arm. We discuss our findings in the cellars. It seems that the strange wall is some kind of magical ward. It cannot be dispelled, but it isn’t permanent so if not refreshed it will fade. He also tells us that the 4 items mentioned in the spell are symbols of the king – they symbolize control over the four elements. Dr H is interested in studying the ghoul and possibly carrying out a dissection. He seems to be primarily an academic man – we doubt he is mixed up in these foul acts. He doesn’t recognize the handwriting on the note, but Nailen wonders if there is some way to compare it with samples from people in the manor, Bardolph for example…

Possible next step is to camp out in the treasury room and wait for a mystery person to appear and recreate the magical ward. Some planning will be needed around hiding ourselves in suitable locations but still being able to strike. Mahan considers that the coven may act against us once news of the ghoul slaying gets out.

We attempt to return to the cellars but our way is barred by two soldiers, on the orders of Korrik, a deputy of Dobry.
We go to see Dobry, he is fast asleep in his bunk and takes some rousing…he seems to have been drugged!!
Our alternative is to go down through the gatehouse and navigate the dungeons.. Mahan leads us through the dungeons. As we approach the unspeakable acts altar, we see torchlight, and hear chanting. Five or six people surround an altar and a nudey lady is tied to it. Our plan is for Mahan and Olsen to shoot arrows in and Nailen will charge in with his sword and dagger. Rufus will administer first aid to any survivors… Mahan hits the priest in the arm, Olsen hits the altar. Two robed figures turn to fight back, the other run to hide behind the altar. Nailen lunges through the door, first attack is parried. Counter attack parried. He draws the baddie back through the door and proceeds, with Mahan to duff him up! We then advance into the room, split into pairs to take them on. After some tremendous fighting, we defeat them and the leader turns out to be Korrick… A brief interrogation reveals little so we head back to Dobry’s room. We manage to rouse him and start to explain what’s happened. Dobry is very groggy and seems surprised that Korrik has been up to evil deeds. On further discussion, and some wandering about we notice that the entire place seems deserted – has everyone been drugged??#

Dobry’s guards report back that lady Katharine and Rosalind are missing from their rooms. We head down to the Treasury – the ward seems to have faded from the wall and after some searching Rufus finds a button to unlock a secret door. Inside is another altar, chained to the altar is Dale and behind it is Helena! Katharine and Rosalind are chained to the wall. Two ghouls advance menacingly….but don’t attack. We fire arrows at Helena and eventually do enough damage to make her run away but not before she kills Dale and casts an evil spell on one of the guards, causing his heart to burst out of his chest – unspeakable!! We enter the room and engage the ghouls. Our superior numbers tell, and the ghouls are defeated. The door that Helena escaped down is stuck fast. We bash it down and the corridor is blocked by a roof collapse – she has covered her escape!! Katharine and Rosalind explain that they too felt sleepy after the wedding feast. They went for a lie down and then woke up to find themselves chained to the wall. It seems Helena’s plan was to resurrect the vampire of the marsh, be it’s consort and rule the land! Bwah ha haaa!!

The Invocation we find in the library