ity n he ky - art 3
he ouse f he agpa (iii)

Jodotha and Colloran left first as the others finished their preparations. In a leather bag Colloran carried the steaks coated in the poisons Ako had bought from the herbalist. After Jodotha had checked that no one was near the pair climbed the wall of Heydrech's estate and sat atop it. Colloran took out a steak and hurled it into the woods where it fell among the undergrowth with a loud rustle. The glow of a hell hound moved towards the sound. Colloran through another steak towards a different part of the copse with the same effect. He did the same with the other two pieces of meat. After a few moments both he and Jodotha could hear a few whimpers then silence. Cain and the others approached the wall but had to hide as a patrol of city guards approached. Cain tried to climb the wall to avoid them but lost his balance in the haste and fell to the ground giving a loud curse as he did so. The guards turned but before they could get any closer Rellan cast a spell upon them. They shrugged their shoulders and carried on away from the companions.

The others climbed the wall and followed Colloran who led them into the woods where he had thrown the meat. Lying, dead amongst the bushes was a pair of hell hounds. "At least that part of the plan worked." Said the paladin quietly. "Now on to the house."
He led them quietly towards the house where a few lights shone from windows, but little sound could be heard. Jodotha crept around the house hiding in the pools of darker shadow as he did so, looking for alternative ways in. He returned to where the others stood just within the trees.
"There are two doors, one at the front and a smaller, less used one in the north. I looked through the window. It is the kitchen, the fire has been damped down and no one is in there." He whispered.
"That looks like our best bet." Said Colloran. "Let's do it."
They scampered across the lawn as swiftly and silently as they could. Jodotha listened at the door then tried to pick the lock but failed. Trimus pressed his hand to the lock and whispered a spell. A faint click indicated that the lock had been unlocked and the door could be opened safely. They opened the door and spread out inside. All the normal paraphernalia of a kitchen were present along with foor exits. Jodotha listened at each hearing nothing beyond each of the thick wooden doors and seeing nothing through the small cracks at their feet. Jodotha knelt by the west door and picked the lock. He swung it open slightly and peered inside before shutting it quietly.
"Servants quarters." He whispered.
He did the same with the east door. Beyond this was a fifteen foot by twenty foot 'J' shaped room. Chairs stood around a large table. Over the back of one of the chairs is a leather jacket and upon the table was a pair of goggles, similar to those worn by some of the gnomish flyers.
The other door in the eastern wall opened into a walk-in pantry stocked with cheeses, hams and large jars of pickles amongst other household goods.
Opening the north door revealed a corridor which had a door on either side and a larger more ornate door at the far end. Jodotha listened at each before returning to the others. "Silence behind the side doors and the far door is the main front door. I can hear the trees whispering behind it. I checked the coat on the coat stand beside it but found no keys or such like. "
Trimus indicated that Jodotha should check the other two doors in the corridor. Jodotha knelt and listened at each but heard nothing but the pounding of blood in his ears. They tried the eastern door first which opened into a dark study. Shelves line the walls upon which lie scrolls and tomes. Many were written in languages that none of the party could readily decipher. Colloran however found a book of legends that he could read. He flicked through a few of the heavily illustrated pages before putting the tome into his pack. The door in the opposite wall of the corridor gave access to a room with a number of heavily stuffed leather chairs and an open sided stair leading to the upper storey of the building. On a table beside one of the chairs stood a table inlaid with mother of pearl. Upon the table stood a fine crystal decanter containing a ruby red liquid. Trimus raised the decanter to the light and smiled. He poured himself a small measure of the wine into a glass and sipped it delicately.
"Make no mistake. Whoever lives here has good taste." He said finally to the others who were looking at the young mage as if he had lost his mond. "Rintrah wanted us to find out what we could about Heydrech. A man's taste in wine and food says a lot about him."
Jodotha tapped the side of his head and Darkhawk nodded silently.

They climbed the stairs which laid to a landing with four doors. They tried the one at the far end of the corridor first, Jodotha having first ascertained that there was nothing to be heard from behind any of the doors. No light crept out from behind them either.
"If there is anything hidden in this house, I believe it will be in a basement or such." Said Rellan. "We should check these rooms carefully for clues but not take too long and we must disturb things as little as possible." He looked sternly at Trimus and Colloran as he said this.

They searched the suite of rooms. A bedroom, a lounge, a bathroom with a long copper tub, a pair of guest rooms and a storeroom. The store room contained the chests that Strumpy had been delivering. The wooden lids had been prised off and the only contents was the straw packing. In the bedroom Colloran had found a well thumbed tome entitled, 'Corporeal Animation and Secrets Of Necromancy'. He cast a spell of evil detection upon in and grimaced.
"This book is evil. It must be destroyed." He said grimly as he gingerly placed the book in the bag of holding Darkhawk carried.

They returned to the ground floor and Jedon put his ear to the slate floor of the kitchen floor. Taking out a small wooden hammer with cloth wadding on the head he beat upon the floor, bidding the others to be still as he did so.
"There is definitely a space, a void, beneath the floor." He said at last standing up and dusting himself down. "Somewhere, about, here." He knelt back down and stuck a pair of sturdy metal tongues into the gaps between the slate flags. Pressing down on the levers caused the slap to lift up revealing a stairway leading down, dim light radiating from the damp stone walls.
Jodotha led the way down the stair giving each step a cursory prod before proceeding. At the foot of the stair Jodotha signalled for silence and pressed his ear to the wood of a door.
"There is something beyond the door. Possibly someone in armour. The door is not locked and opens towards us." The rogue whispered in Darkhawk's ear. "I will go in first with You and Ako as backup. From the book that Colloran found upstairs I fear it may be undead that we face down here."
They conferred briefly before agreeing. Ako nodded that he was ready, his mace gripped tightly in his hand, the leather strap wrapped around his wrist. In his left hand he grasped the oak tree symbol of Normanus. Jodotha wrenched the door open and rolled into the room coming up in a fighters crouch behind one of a pair of armoured warriors. With helms down it was difficult to see what, if anything, what was within the skin of steel. Ako raised his hand and called upon his deity. Jodotha's guess was correct. One of the figures swayed upon its feet before collapsing, the armour falling into pieces releasing a cloud of foul smelling dust. The other turned to face the cleric. Jodotha struck this figure from behind but he could find few opening's in the creatures armour.
"Behind you!" hissed Ako. The rogue turned and engaged the skeletons emerging from the shadows. Rellan pushed past Ako and engaged the armoured creature who had now removed his gauntlets revealing hideously clawed hands. Ako presented his symbol again and destroyed the skeletons. Colloran entered the room and engaged the wight. The paladin's eyes glowed with hatred as he hacked down the undead creature. He knelt beside the bodies, his hands upon the hilt of his sword. "Take these remains Garthrana so that they may no longer trouble your servants." He intoned sombrely. A moment later an eerie breeze whipped around the chamber sweeping up the dust, all that remained of the skeletons and the wights.
For the first time they were able to look around and see where they were, a fifteen foot square room with a door in the south and west walls. Jodotha looked at the blades of the skeletons and winced.
"We were lucky." He whispered. "The blades were poisoned. One wound from these and we would have been dead. Or worse."
"I thought so!" exclaimed Colloran quietly. "Those skeletons seemed to appear from nowhere. The wall here is nothing more than an illusion." The paladin stepped through the wall and the others followed, Rellan bring up the rear.

The room they now stood in was dominated by a large elliptical table constructed of a dark wood with a grain like snakeskin. Evenly spaced around it stood chairs of the same material, the seats and backs padded with a pale leather. A large door within an arched stone frame fills the centre of the south wall. The door and frame are covered in numerous cabalistic symbols and ancient runes. Jodotha moved to listen at the door but Colloran holds him back.
"Touch that door with your flesh and you may loose you soul." The paladin said in a low voice. "Mage. Can you unlock any locks upon the door?"
"Of course." Replied Trimus and raised his hand to the door. A quiet click indicated that the lock had opened. Colloran nodded his thanks and booted the door open. Darkhawk, Ako and the Paladin were swiftly through the door followed by Cain, Trimus, Jodotha and Rellan.

Beyond the door they found themselves in a large room, easily twenty five feet long and almost fifteen feet wide. Ako and Colloran cursed as they sensed the evil present in the room. Eight zombies each armed with blades flecked with rust and poison faced them as did a huge golem made from mismatched bones. Each of its four bony arms ended in a bone blade as long and as curved as a Ylari scimitar. Further back stood a gnome that they instantly recognised as one they had seen quite frequently in their surveillance of the house. While in the far corner stood a nagpa. Its bald vulture like head surrounded by a collar of dirty grey feathers. The rest of the creature's body was that of an ancient human, dressed in a red robe spangled with golden stars. Colloran vaulted over the zombies and moved towards the golem his mouth a thin line, while his eyes filled with rage and loathing. Darkhawk pulled out his gnomish crossbow and loosed three bolts at the golem. Ako held his holy symbol before him and called upon Normanus to aid him. As he did so a lamp beside the nagpa gave forth a bolt of flame before returning to a sickly glow. To Ako's horror only one of the zombies collapsed. Letting go of the symbol of Normanus the cleric drew his mace and prepared to attack the undead. The gnome moved his hands and pointed at Colloran but nothing seemed to happen leaving the gnome to snarl impotently. The Nagpa, the semblance of a grin on his avian face, pointed a withered hand at Ako and muttered an incantation. Ako was shocked to see sparks jump from the symbol dangling from his neck but glad that it appeared to be undamaged by the spell. Magic missiles knocked Ako out of his reverie and hit Rellan as he tried to aid the others. The nagpa cast another spell and this time Ako's symbol grew hotter and hotter until he had to lift it clear of his robes in case the caught alight. Colloran meanwhile was hard pressed to keep the bone golem at bay, the whirling blades glancing off the sweating paladin's shield and sword. "Look out Ako! Above you!" called Trimus pointing out the near transparent wraiths that were floating along the ceiling towards the cleric.
Disregarding the heat from his holy symbol Ako held it in front of him. One of the wraiths disappeared like the morning mist at sunrise but the others kept coming. Trimus launched a volley of magic missiles at them which slowed their progress. Darkhawk clasped his amulet and changed form while almost simultaneously Colloran's shield glowed briefly before a lightning bolt arced from it to the golem. To the paladin's dismay nothing seemed to happen. Jodotha looking for a target swigged a potion of giant strength before drawing his sword and turning to face the zombies. Trimus pins a zombie in the arm with one of his daggers but before he could draw another the gnome cast another spell and as if from nowhere a vampire appeared. For a moment it appeared confused then it swung it's cloak around and walked towards Colloran.
Suddenly all was dark and almost as sudden light came back. From the sneer on the face of the nagpa and the wry smile on Ako's lips the battle between light and dark had become literal for a brief moment. Rellan steps forward and tries to run the vampire through but misses, the undead creature ignoring the attack, moving sedately onwards towards Ako. Distracted briefly Rellan took a wound in the arm from one of the zombie's poisoned blades. The companions were beginning to worry now, things were not going their way. The vampire steps past Ako and reaches towards Colloran who simultaneously ducks below the golem's swinging blades and the vampires hand. The gnome casts another spell, this time upon himself and starts to rise from the ground.
"I've had enough of you." muttered Ako and cast a spell of silence upon the gnome who then was thrown against the wall by a volley of magic missiles from Trimus.
"Good of you to move into sight." The young mage said quietly.
Rellan meantime destroyed a wraith with a trio of magic missiles of his own while Jodotha almost sliced a zombie in half with a mighty blow from his sword. Sensing the tide was turning Colloran shouted an oath into the air.
"Die abomination, return to the grave which spawned you!" and swung his sword, now coated in magical flames at the vampire. To his horror the vampire vanished as soon as the sword touched it, it was just an illusion.
Cain, who had been slowly knocking back a pair of the zombies, tried to leap over them to gain a better position to attack from, but one of the zombies caught the mystic's feet as he leapt. Cain fell atop the foul undead creature and started to pummel it. The nagpa cast a spell at Darkhawk but nothing appeared to happen. Ako was now surrounded by zombies at eventually one managed to wound him with a sword. Instantly the cleric's arm began to swell and blacken. Jodotha quickly moved to his side, dispatching two zombies and handing the cleric a potion.
"Take this quickly, Ako. It should reduce your swelling." The rogue barely looked at Ako, he was too busy fending off the undead fighters. "Watch out, Trimus has got a wand!" he pulled Ako to the ground as a silvery-blue cone of icy air passed over their heads. It struck the golem, gnome and nagpa. The mage fired again at the same targets. Each suffered badly from the magic wand. The golem was partly encased in ice making its movements sluggish and predictable. The gnome had blackened patches of skin, while the nagpa's feathers drooped and an icicle hung from his beak. A flying kick from Cain dispatched the last of the zombies while Colloran and Rellan between then finished off the wraiths. Darkhawk smashed the now brittle bone golem to shards with his clawed fists and stepped towards the nagpa.

Breaking the icy needle off with a curse the vulture headed cleric pressed a button on the wall beside him causing a section of the wall to slide back. With a brief, angry look over his shoulder he ducked into the secret passage. Colloran jumped upon the shivering gnome while Jodotha hit the prisoner with a crossbow bolt.
"He is our prisoner now, Jodotha. It is not my way to attack prisoners." Colloran said sternly.
"I surrender." Squeaked the gnome through chattering teeth. "I surrender."
While Colloran tied the shivering gnome up Ako administered healing to those who most needed it. All had taken at least one serious wound others were very badly hurt. The cleric passed amongst them doing what he could as did Trimus using the more secular method of bandaging and sprinkling healing herbs upon the wounds. "Where did your master go." Asked Rellan.
"Into the Undercity. He's going to get a skyship and fly away. You'll never catch him."
"We'll see about that." said Trimus.
With Darkhawk carrying the gnome under one arm they ran back up the stairs and out through the front door into the garden. Once their eyes had adjusted to the early morning light they saw a strange sight. Boris Vaselev and the Master of the Onyx Tower were engaged in a magical duel. As they stood there open mouthed a huge gout of flame erupted from the gates sending Vaselev's hunchbacked assistant to the ground, his clothes aflame. He rolled around on the dewy grass moaning and writhing. "I'm not going back to Glantri! You'll never take me alive!" shouted Boris defiantly.
"We must catch Heydrech." Urged Colloran.
Darkhawk took a potion from his pouch and swallowed it. Then he grasped Cain, Trimus, Colloran and Ako and dragged them towards him causing them to merge with him. Then he leapt into the air and flew towards the landing strip.
Jodotha made to move towards the duel but Rellan held him back. "There are politics here you don't understand. Leave them to fight their own battles."
Jodotha struggled for a moment then shrugged. "In that case, let us see what we can find in Heydrech's lair."
As they turned to go they heard a high pitched voice calling to them from the ruined gateway. There silhouetted against the flames was Gilbo, the gnome was jumping up and down excitedly. Rellan and Jodotha ignored the gnome and ran back to the basement. There amongst the remains of the bodies they found a number of treasures. Jodotha collected two potions, each a virulent green colour, a short bow, a wand, a selection of pieces of jewellery. Rellan found on the bodies he searched, a blue potion, a yellow potion, a rod, some arrows and a short sword. Rellan sipped the potions and guessed at what they may be, noting the taste and appearance of each for future reference. They had just finished their investigations when Gilbo arrived, out of breath and flushed.
"Why didn't you wait for me?" puffed the gnome breathlessly.
"We were a little busy." Replied Jodotha looking around at the chaos that filled the basement.
"How can we get to the landing strip, quickly?" asked Rellan.
"The quickest way would be to fly." Gilbo a little testily, angered by being ignored earlier.
"Then that's what we shall do!" Rellan said smiling at Jodotha and Gilbo's surprised looks. "Take this potion Jodotha, once we are out in the open, then follow me." He said forcing the flask of yellow liquid into the rogue's hand. Once outside he cast a spell upon himself and grabbed Gilbo round the waist. At first Gilbo was frightened for his life as the elf soared into the air followed a few heartbeats later by Jodotha. They left the battle between Boris and the Master of the Onyx Tower raging on the lawn below, from what they could judge it seemed as if Boris was losing. They then sailed over the darkened city, Gilbo squealing with a mixture of fear and pleasure at the experience.

Darkhawk and the others were also flying high above the city towards the landing strip. As they landed they steeped out of Darkhawk's form and asked a gnome working on one of the sky ships which one belonged the Heydrech. At first the gnome looked flustered and refused to answer but once he saw the steely glint in Colloran's eyes he relented.
"He doesn't have one. He normally hires one if he want's to go down below."
"Which skyships are for hire?" asked Trimus.
"There are several, but it's dark. None will be flying until the morning." The gnome replied. At that moment another gnome, wearing scarlet flying overalls came in clutching a nasty head wound.
"What happened?" asked the first gnome.
"Someone hit me and stole my ship." Said the second gnome groggily.
"Did you see who it was?" asked Trimus as Ako healed the gnome's wound.
"No. But I think he had a large nose."
"To the Phoenix!" called Trimus. "That must be Heydrech."
"Which way did he go?"
"East, I think" replied the bruised and confused gnome.
They ran towards the Phoenix just as the others arrived.
"Heydrech has just stolen a skyship. We must chase after him." Shouted Trimus.
Once they reached the Phoenix, Cain, Jodotha and Trimus checked that it had not been tampered with before they all climbed aboard. Ako was just about to take off when Gilbo shouted and exclamation and jumped out of the plane. He returned a moment or two later with a collection of large canvas backpacks.
"Bummerchutes!" he said passing them around. "Just in case any off you fall out."
Ako took the Phoenix straight up and turned it to face in the direction Heydrech had taken. Touching a gem on the panel in front of him, Ako made the Phoenix invisible then he sent it after the nagpa as fast as it would go. Soon they were speeding east over Shraek's Blackheart forest.
Trimus and Cain each took a healing potion but neither did more than cure a few of their more superficial injuries. Cain then sunk into a meditative trance and Trimus was impressed to see many of the mystic's wounds heal. Darkhawk changed back into his normal form and moved over to where the nagpa's gnomish assistant was tied up. "Let me help you." said Rellan to the very pale Trimus. The elf rubbed his hand over his shield causing a beam of warm orange light to pulse from its mirror like surface.
Almost instantly Trimus felt a lot better.
"Thank you Rellan. Now I feel up to questioning our friend."
Meanwhile Jodotha and Colloran had identified the potions found in the nagpa's basement. Two were potions of invisibility the other was a potion of giant strength.
"My sword gives me the ability to detect magic. Should we check the other items that we found?" said Rellan drawing his sword and holding it out hilt first over the remaining items. "We may want to check the gewgaws you found as well Jodotha."
Jodotha shrugged and deposited a golden bracelet, an emerald and silver ring as well as a ruby and quartz broach onto the pile.
"The wand and rod are magical, but the sword, bow and arrows are mundane." Said Rellan after passing the hilt of the sword over the items. Rellan took the rod and passed the wand to Trimus.
"Gilbo. Our guest seems reluctant to speak. Do you know who he is." Darkhawk asked from the other end of the cabin. Gilbo walked over and peered at the bearded face. "Yes. It is Tarras. I have seen him around occasionally. What are you doing getting mixed up with evil doers like this Heydrech, Tarras?"
"Money. Power. The usual." Replied the gnome in a surly tone.
"Where's he heading?" asked Darkhawk.
"Why should I tell you?" replied the gnome.
"Because if you don't I will throw you out of the door." Bluffed Darkhawk.
"You're bluffing." Said the gnome in reply, seeing through Darkhawk's gruff exterior.
"He may be bluffing, but I wouldn't hesitate to do it." Said Jodotha from his seat beside the door.
Tarras looked into Jodotha's eyes and blanched.
"He may be heading to Kavel's Tower, it's deep in the forest. He has been there before but he never took me. Left me back at the house to look after things." The gnome was gabbling and sweating as Jodotha continued to stare at him.
"Do you know where this tower is Gilbo?" asked Darkhawk.
"Somewhere deep in the forest. Other than that I have no idea." Replied the gnome.
"We've got company." Called Ako from the cockpit. Leaving Colloran to guard the gnome the went forward to see what Ako had seen.
The light of dawn was tinting the sky and silhouetted against the pink sky several large winged shapes could be seen.
"Dragons, red, six of them, one female." Said Colloran. "They don't look hostile but it may be better to avoid the if possible. They could still feel our presence despite our invisibility."
Ako waited until the dragons were only a few hundred feet ahead then used the ships dimension door ability to jump past them. Ahead Rellan's sharp eyes can just make out the shape of a skyship.
"That must be him." Said Trimus. You and Gilbo keep watching it and help Ako keep on his tail. I'm going back to see what else Tarras can tell us."
Colloran was looking pleased with himself but there was still a look of concern and anger on the paladin's features.
"I have found out a bit more from our friend. I promised that he would not be harmed if he told us all he knew." He turned to the prisoner. "Repeat what you told me a few minutes ago."
The gnome swallowed and licked his dry lips. "The tower is home to Karrel Kleinster. He is a necromancer, a member of the Grey Front. Heydrech has gone to gain more information to help him create more undead creatures. There are a lot of undead guardians in his tower, you'll never get Heydrech out of there. Turn back now before we are all killed."
"We should try and get some rest, we will need it when we reach the tower." Said Trimus pulling a bunk from the wall. The others agreed. Jodotha and Gilbo offered to take first watch.

Jodotha sat and looked out of a porthole as the sunlight crept over the ground below. He felt uncomfortable in such an enclosed space, especially one so enchanted as this. Small magics he could cope with but this skyship was another matter. Gilbo tapped him on the shoulder and whispered that he was going to check on Ako, "He must be hungry and thirsty by now." The gnome said quietly. Jodotha kept watching the trees pass by below for a few moments before his sharp ears heard a shuffle from where Tarras was tied. He turned and ducked as the gnomes ropes flew past him striking Colloran. The paladin woke and rubbed the sleep from his eyes to see Jodotha and the gnome struggling on the floor. The rogue rolled backwards and tried to fling the gnome away but only succeeded in throwing the bearded figure straight up into the air. Tarras landed on Jodotha before he could roll away winding both of them. The gnome grasped Jodotha's dagger and brought it back.
"Threaten to throw me out of the door would you." grinned the gnome but before he could bring the blade down, Colloran brought the pommel of his sword down on the back of the gnomes skull. Tarras slumped sideways, unconscious.

This time they tied and gagged the gnome more securely to prevent him from trying the same trick twice. They spent the rest of the day flying over mountainous jungle. Ako and Trimus taking turns flying the skyship. Towards evening they saw the Heydrech's ship spiral down into the jungle. By the time they arrived at the landing site, a small clearing near a swampy pool, Heydrech was nowhere to be seen. Jodotha opened the door and stepped out. He was soon sweating, the air was hot and full of moisture. Colloran followed, the paladin suffering in his heavy mail even more than Jodotha.
"I sense great malice and evil." Murmured Colloran. "This is not a good place."
"This skyship isn't going anywhere in a hurry." Said Gilbo. "He hits some trees on the way down and broke a wing mounting plate."
"We should wait until morning. We need to rest, memorise new spells and who knows what could lurk in the forest. We will be far better equipped to deal with Heydrech in the morning." Suggested Rellan. Everyone agreed and all bar Jodotha went back inside to rest and eat. The rogue sat with his back to the skyship and watched the sun go down behind the trees.

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