After their humiliating defeat at the hands of the monsters, the party attempts to recuperate. Kalerecent, grateful that the party has rescued him, tells them his story of how he got stuck in the BW: following a lead from an Oldtown resident complaining of strange digging sounds, he discovered that monstrous creatures, obviously up to no good, were moving around the abandoned manor. In addition to the minotaur, the lamia, and the four goblins the party encountered, the group of monsters also consisted of two more goblins and another lamia, this one male. They were led by an old-looking crone: certainly an odd assortment of creatures to be working together. Not one to stand for this, he investigated further. He and his cohort, the monk Rsanir, passed through the manor house under the effects of potions of invisibility and eventually followed the creatures to the high-ceilinged chamber to the west of the entry tunnel. The paladin and the monk watched and waited until they determined that the creatures were attempting to enter the large sealed door in the chamber. The crone proceeded to use a ring she was wearing, causing the steel door to lose its bluish sheen and temporarily open. At that point, Kalerecent and Rsanir attacked. In the ensuing battle, Kalerecent managed to close the Sealed Door again just after it was opened. But as he did so, the male lamia slew Rsanir. Two of the goblins also perished in the fight. Knowing he could not stand alone against the remaining creatures, Kalerecent was forced to flee.

He spent the next several days playing hide-and-seek with the other creatures, but managed to evade them. Eventually they gave up, and after trying unsuccessfully to re-open the sealed door, they left the Banewarrens, leaving the male lamia behind to keep looking for Kalerecent. Once the paladin was healed he confronted the lamia one-on-one, and managed to wound it severely, forcing it to retreat itself. Kalerecent was himself wounded in the battle, and was nearly healed when the party arrived. He chose not to reveal himself until he knew if they were friend or foe. Unfortunately, the other creatures returned while the party was battling the blue creature near the vaults to the south. The other creatures heard the fighting and went to investigate. When Kalerecent heard the sounds of battle, he decided that any enemy of the creatures might be an ally, and chose to help if he could. He arrived on the scene just as Ian fell to the minotaur's blows.

After telling his story (and thanking them once again), Kalerecent invites the party to a meeting at the Church Cathedral next afternoon (Starday). The party accepts his invitation. They spend the night at the Grand Church of St. Cuthbert. While there, Richter tries to cast remove curse on Vangkor so he can take bone ring off, but it doesn't work.

Harvester 22

The following morning, the party, much rested, goes to the marketplace to do some shopping, picking up many items. On the way back from the market, Vangkor spots Itollan, his superior at the College of Wizardry. He excuses himself, and has a private conversation with the wizard while the party waits. After a bit, he comes back with a thoughtful expression on his face. The party pries him for information, but he doesn't say much, only that Itollan will be remaining in town to keep an eye on the proceedings. Richter thinks Vangkor's behavior is a bit odd but says nothing.

At noon, the group heads to the Cathedral at the Church of St. Cuthbert, there to attend the meeting. They are introduced to several members of the church, including Brother Heth, a priest of high standing in charge of the smaller, older church of St. Cuthbert in town, the Temple of St. Thessina. After introductions are made, Heth offers the party a scroll of Legend Lore to cast on Sealed Door, in the hopes that they can determine the means to open the door. He promises a reward if the party can learn more of what is going on down there. The party agrees to continue their investigations. Kalerecent volunteers to return to the Banewarrens immediately, to guard the Sealed Door against further intrusion. He'll leave the next day. He completes the party's map of the rooms north of the Sealed Door, which is where he'd been hiding after he was attacked. Vangkor asks about the bone rings found on the monsters' bodies, and Brother Heth promises to look into it. The party then returns to the Electrum Eel Inn and spends the night.

Harvester 23

The next morning the city guard comes knocking on the party's door, telling of a series of murders that have taken place over the last 24 hours. The Cuthbertians had said that the party might have some leads on this matter. The cause of death of the victims were all the same: each victim's spinal cord is missing, having been ripped out. This instantly reminds the party of the blue creature they encountered in the Banewarrens; it must have found its way out into the city. While the party is sympathetic, and tells all they know, they say that they can't really help out at this time. The guard asks them to report any other information they might obtain as soon as they can, to which the party agrees.

Without stopping at the Church of St. Cuthbert, the party returns immediately to the Banewarrens. They first explore the area around the Sealed Door; nobody is there. Richter is fascinated by the large unfinished-looking device in the room, and closely examines the parts room to the north. Unfortunately, it looks like it would take weeks if not months of study to figure out even what the device is for, much less how to repair it.

While exploring, they hear someone approaching. Without a word, the party spreads out, ready for trouble. Fortunately it's simply Kalerecent, arriving to guard the door.

Continuing to explore, the party next examines the opened vaults to the south, where they encountered the "blue guy" earlier. All the ice from the frozen vault has melted, leaving the area full of water; however, the "blue guy" doesn't make an appearance.

Moving back to the north, Minaret opens a door leading to a room with a pit; she is promptly greeted by a menacing, chained, deformed-looking giant rising out of the pit! She quickly closes the door and steps back as it pounds its fist against the door. The others beat a quick retreat back to the catwalk in the Sealed Door chamber. Kalerecent is curious, but doesn't move from his post.

Hoping to find an alternate route around the deformed giant, Minaret opens the door just south of the Sealed door. She sees a room containing an iron statue and a hallway leading east. Immediately, the giant peeks around the corner of the eastern hallway, and begins howling again. In response, Vangkor casts a sonicball around the corner, and the giant howls and falls back. Before the party can advance, however, the statue in the room suddenly animates, and begins moving forward! Minaret and Vangkor, guessing that this is a golem and a more powerful foe than they can face, flee the room, slamming the door on their way out. However, the statue continues its charge, smashing right through the closed door, and lands a massive blow on Ian. Before the fighter can react, the statue then falls apart, erupting iron plates and some goo all over Ian (damaging him further). Ian, hoping to get some recompense for his injuries, probes the remains of the statue further, only to have the parts explode into tiny bits (causing him still more damage). Frustrated, he moves as far away from the mess as possible.

Deciding that they've sufficiently explored the area to the south (the giant appears chained up), Vangkor casts the Legend Lore spell on the door. Nothing happens. Unfortunately, the potency of the magic in the scroll is too great for him to control, and the magical energy discharges without effect.

Disgusted, the party makes ready to return to the surface to get another scroll, but Kalerecent seems worried about the giant in the pit to the south, not wanting to be left all alone if it does break free. He'll gladly assist the party in dispatching it. The group agrees that this might be a wise move.

The party attacks the giant from three directions: from the north door (Ian and Vangkor), from the south door (Fletcher & Minaret), and from the statue room (Richter & Kalerecent). After multiple attacks and spells, the party realizes that the giant is an illusion. As the giant disappears, Minaret sees some sort of whirlwind forming at the bottom of the pit, and casts a color spray into it. However, the whirlwind rises from the pit and advances towards her and Fletcher. She flees out the door, but Fletcher gets caught up in it, and is tossed about for a bit. Fortunately, Vangkor recognizes the effect as a whirlwind spell, and is able to dispel it. The whirlwind swirls out of existence, and Fletcher is slammed against the wall. He gets up, bruised but not seriously injured.

Meanwhile, now that the whirlwind has lifted, the party spots a lamia in the pit, and guesses that this is the one left behind by the party of monsters. Richter gets a searing light spell off, and then, with a shout to St. Cuthbert, Kalerecent leaps fearlessly into the pit, and beheads the lamia with a single devastating slash of his weapon!

Feeling confident that they have cleared out the area, the party goes back above to get another scroll of Legend Lore, then return below. Kalerecent is still there, standing guard. This time Vangkor succeeds in casting the spell. They learn that there is a key to the door in the city above, and that "only the hand of Danar can open the door." Mystified but encouraged, the party returns to the surface. They report to Brother Heth, who says that the Church will do research on this information, and encourages the party to do the same.

While they do some research, the party contacts Jevicca Norr, telling her what they have learned so far. She seems distressed to learn of the party's association with the Cudgel, and tells them not to tell the Church of their arrangement with her. The party, not sure what this indicates, warily agrees to her request. She encourages them to continue their researches, saying that she will pay them the remaining 700 gp of their fee once they know who has this key and who wishes to use it to gain access to the Sealed Door. She also promises each party member a 2000gp magic item of their choice in two weeks if they continue working as her agents. She says that she can reccomend a sage named Ishara Jare, and gives directions.

The party goes to see Jare, and pay her 100 gp up front to find out what this key might be. She says they should return in two days.

Harvester 24

The next morning, the party is told by the innkeeper that an inmate in the local asylum is asking for them. They pay a visit to the asylum, and learn that the inmate who wishes to see them is one of the men who was affected by the chaos unleashed in the marketplace by Tavan Zith. The man is mostly incoherent, but is very anxious to tell the party that they are in danger. From his ramblings they eventually discover that the House Vladaam is somehow involved in the proceedings. Asking around town, they learn that the House Vladaam is a powerful and corrupt family of the city, and not ones to get on the bad side of.

Armed with this new information, they return a day early to Ishara Jare, who concurs with what they have found. They put the pieces together, and decide that the House Vladaam must have the key, and probably are ignorant of its function (or else they would have used it to their advantage already). Jare concurs that it's a good idea to relieve the Vladaam of the key as soon as possible. She recommends that the party contact a man named Nicalon Regelis. A Knight of the Chord known to be an mortal enemy of the House Vladaam, Nicalon may be able to assist the party in their endeavors.

The party visits Temple of Ye'Cindan, the headquarters of the Knights of the Chord, and find Nicalon is out of town. They leave word for him and return to their room at the Inn.

Harvester 25 - 26

The group spends next the two days doing further research. On the 26th they receive word from Nicalon, asking them to meet him at The Griffon inn that evening. They arrive and meet Nicalon. A tall, dark-skinned human, he is curious why the party is attempting to contact him. When they reveal that they wish to obtain something from the Vladaams, he quickly becomes enthusiastic. It appears he's had a long feud with the Vladaams, and is more than happy to tell what he knows. According to Nicalon, the Vladaams are a powerful noble family of Verbobonc, possibly the oldest, certainly the most corrupt. They are involved in many criminal activities, including theft, extortion, smuggling, illegal gambling, assassination, and trade in slaves, drugs, and evil magic items. The family is headed by Iristul Vladaam, who is currently abroad. While Iristul is away, the house is headed by Navanna Vladaam, Iristul's daughter, who is assisted by her brother Aliaster, a powerful wizard. Nicalon's hatred of the Vladaam family dates back many years ago, to when Navanna killed Nicalon's parents while she was robbing their home. Because of her family's political power, she was never brought to justice for the crime.

When he learns that the item the party seeks is in the Vladaam mansion, Nicalon suggests trying to steal it. He claims that a direct assault would be suicide, as there are many guards, not to mention Navanna and Aliaster themselves. However, Nicalon has unique knowledge of the Vladaam estate, as he says he was a prisoner in the dungeons there about a year ago, after challenging Iristul Vladaam to a duel. He managed to escape, and has evaded open confrontation with the family since then. He still longs for revenge, however.

Nicalon says that anything of value would be held in their "storing room" in the dungeons. He can get the party down there through a secret entrance he discovered when he escaped the dungeons, but warns that the party must be cautious of traps and guards. He knows the watch rotation, and forms a careful plan to sneak over the wall between patrols, and break in through the library, where the secret door to the dungeon is. The party agrees to the plan, and agrees to meet Nicalon at around midnight near the estate.

Harvester 27

At midnight the party travels to the estate of the House Vladaam. After meeting up with Nicalon, they hide in the shadows of a nearby alley and prepare for their assault. Through Nicalon's knowledge of the guards' patrol schedule and spells such as silence, invisibility, and fly, the group manages to climb the wall and reach the manor undetected.

Minaret finds that the windows of the library, their planned entry point, are magically trapped. She manages to disable the trap, and the party sneaks into the library. There Nicalon moves aside a chair and the carpet, revealing a trapdoor. The party cautiously opens it, and finds steps going down.

The steps descend into the dungeons of the mansion, ending in a largish room. Voices come from one exit opposite the stairs; Nicalon says that's where the dungeons are, and that the voices are probably guards. At the northeast corner of the room is a large iron door, which Nicalon claims leads to the "storing room". The party swings phase two of their plan into action.

Using silence spells to mask their entrance, Minaret and Vangkor float across floor towards storing room door; however, Richter steps on a pressure plate in the floor, and is shot with a poisoned dart. Fortunately he shakes off the effects, and leaves the exploration to the two arcanists of the group. After setting off another deadly flame trap in the door, the two break into the "storing room" itself, and finds an unlocked iron box inside. After making sure it isn't trapped, Vangkor opens it and sees that inside is a mummified hand. Surely this is the item that they seek. Hoping to cover their tracks somewhat, Vangkor takes the hand but leaves the closed box. They retreat back to the stairs just as the silence spell wears off. Unfortunately, as Richter begins retreating up the steps, he makes quite a bit of noise in his armor, and the voices in the dungeon suddenly stop. The party hides in the darkness of the stairs as a guard suspiciously enters the chamber. Holding their breath, the party doesn't move as the guard looks around. Seeming to spot nothing out of order, guard shrugs and returns to dungeon. Casting a final silence spell to cover their retreat, party returns to upper level, closing trap door, and replacing the carpet and chair. They then flee the estate.

The party feels pleased that the raid went so well, and they make their way back to Electrum Eel Inn. Vangkor flies above the party, looking at the mummified hand. Nicalon, not having seen the object in the vault, appears startled when Vangkor describes it, and asks if he can look at it. Vangkor hands it over. Nicalon looks at it closely, looks up at the group, smiles and says "Thank you!", then disappears!

A moment later, the party hears a gruff voice say from behind, "Steal from House Vladaam, will you?" They turn and see two large, shaggy, lupine figures approaching: werewolves! A short but intense battle ensues. The two werewolves are killed, but not before biting several of the party members.

The party acts quickly. Vangkor uses a feather token to send a message to the Church of St. Cuthbert, warning them that the key to the Sealed Door in the Banewarrens has been stolen by someone, and that Kalerecent may be in danger. Since Nicalon knows they were staying at the Electrum Eel, the party themselves then go to the Church as quickly as possible. There they describe to Brother Fabitor what happened: that they engaged the services of one Nicalon Regelis of the Knights of the Chord; that with his help they infiltrated House Vladaam and made off with a mummified hand that appeared to be the Key to the Banewarrens; that Nicalon took the key and then vanished; and that the party was then attacked (and infected by) werewolves apparently in league with the House Vladaam. Brother Fabitor does not approve of the party's illegal actions (breaking and entering), and hopes no evil will come of it; however, he agrees that the key is dangerous in the hands of House Vladaam. He assists in healing the party and curing those infected with lycanthropy, and asks what their next move is.