Chaos Ascendant pt. I-III

The first three weeks of the final month of 1372

Waiting at Harrowhoff was a new would-be slayer, Papio, an aging veteran of the Camlanish legions. The heroes of Harrowhoff were dismayed to find foul rumors swirling about them, spread by agents in the growing town who wished to sully their reputations.

The heroes used their mirror transportation to delve into the 7th deep. Beyond a secret crusader cache, they encountered two flaming salamanders with fire spears, charming one and slaying the other. In the great portal chamber, they found Sir Hugo la Pegase, wearing a ring of chaos and ushering drow through a portal from the Underdark. After a battle, Hugo was freed from the ring's influence and recalled seeing prisoners being driven south in the dungeons.

The heroes pressed on, eventually finding themselves in an octagonal room with six mirrored walls. From behind the enchanted glass, the six serpent-eyed sorcerers appeared. Protected from spells by their glassy shields, the reptilian magic users began a dire battle. A few of the mirrors were destroyed, but the heroes fled by pulling a magic leaf that transported them to the woods of Brieberus.

The old wizard knew nothing of the mighty sorcerers, but he advised them not to take sides in the conflict between Morcarat and Carwellan.

The heroes left for Tandis the next day. The following week, they investigated the town to find the "silver-tongued rogues" responsible for their slander. They learned that three musicians and a comely dancer had been performing at the Inn of Ill Omen, spreading foul rumors. The heroes waited in the streets and confronted the players, who all turned into bats and flew off into the night. When the heroes returned to Harrowhoff, they found that some livestock had been slain. The next day, Visefrin prepared holy water and sharpened stakes, and the heroes delved into the dungeon's fifth level. In the Court of Chaos, they met the dancer. The vampiress commanded shade-like undead and engaged the heroes in a terrible battle, draining a great deal of vitality from the drow warrior, Dolyra. The heroes eventually slew the vampire by driving a stake into its heart. They quit the dungeon without finding the others.

The following week, a rumor spread that someone had thrown open the dungeon doors, allowing a brigade of goblins to attack the men of Castle Tandis. The heroes investigated the first level, retracing the early halls for the first time in years. They found new secrets and lost tombs, eventually discovering the royal tomb where some of Lord Fillip's forebears were buried. There, in a heavy cloak in the darkness, was Lord Fillip himself, now a vampire. The heroes battled their liege lord, who was fully in the thrall of chaos. Lord Fillip charmed Papio, eventually becoming ethereal and escaping through a small vent in the ceiling. The heroes returned to the surface, certain they had discovered the traitor who had allowed the goblins within the walls.

Welborn spoke to Constable Throy, telling him that their liege was now a vampire and a servant of chaos. The holy bishop Visefrin confirmed this, and Throy left his post to go into hiding at Harrowhoff, fearing he would be charmed or worse if he remained. The heroes returned to their freehold, unsure of how to proceed, for Tandis was truly ruled by evil. Visefrin took his acolyte and went west to seek wisdom among the holy sages of Arimur.