Maure Castle: The Unopenable Door

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About the Saga

A few weeks after their victory over Tharizdun's Doomdreamers, the Blackrazor Guild learns of a possible portal to the Fading Land of Necros within the ruins of Maure Castle. Concerned that their old enemies in the Cult of Death Undying will learn of the portal, they decide to investigate the rumor and do what they can to make sure it remains secure.

Timeframe

Cast of Characters

Notable Quotes

"Scrappy’s 15th level?" -- Ken

"Yeah, but those are Canadian levels." -- unknown

What Has Come Before

Adventure summary

The Saga

Ready'reat 15, CY 591

It has been six weeks since the climatic battle with the leaders of the resurrected Temple of Elemental Evil. The "Redshirts" have finally returned home to Obsidian Bay, and taken up residence in the Blackrazor Guild once more.

Six weeks seems like eons after the rushed final days of the fight against Tharizdun's Doomdreamers, and at first, the survivors of that battle simply reveled in their suddenly expansive free time. And yet, among some the itch to be out again, to be adventuring, to be fighting the good fight against the forces of evil (or at least garnering more loot), has returned. These survivors sought out other guild members hungering for a return to the field, and turned to the guild's sage, George Fillerman, to research a new quest for them.

Fillerman was more than happy to oblige, and by Ready'reat 15, he'd found the perfect mission. After receiving approval for his plan from the guildmaster, he gathered together these glory-seeking Blackrazors in the guild's subterranean meeting room.

"As you requested, I have been researching locations that would provide a suitable challenge for guilders of your ability. As you may or may not know, Master Malphas has had me indexing the journals left behind by the Four Wizards all those years ago. In doing so, I have found two references to an ancient ruin known as 'Maure Castle', one of them quite disturbing."

"This castle is located a few days travel from Greyhawk City. It has stood for centuries -- some say it was old when the Aerdians began their great eastern expansion; others hint that it may have been built by Suel refugees. Some even say it was a construct of the Ur-Flan. In any case, for decades it served as a training ground of sorts for the rogues, thieves and other assorted scum of Greyhawk, before some force moved in and took it over. I do not know the nature of this force, but it was apparently powerful to attract the attention of Mordekanian and the Citadel of Eight, who traveled to the castle and dealt with it. The castle has been deserted ever since. Or so they say. I have my doubts."

"First, I found a partially-ruined scroll written by someone calling himself 'the Black One of the Valley of the Mage', who was apparently obsessed with the Plane of Shadow. The scroll makes reference to a 'Shadow Vault', said to be located somewhere within the confines of Maure Castle, or perhaps just near it -- he wasn't clear, and to be honest, I suspect he was quite mad when wrote it. He says this 'Shadow Vault' was constructed by a group known as the 'Cult of the Long Shadow', and that it contains many of their treasures. However, these treasures are apparently hidden in a 'shadow space' that can only be opened by casting certain spells in a certain order. Naturally, what those spells are is not mentioned."

"That's interesting, but what I found disturbing was a reference to the Fading Land of Necros. As I'm sure you are aware, Necros is a foul, evil demiplane ruled by liches and populated by hordes of undead. The Blackrazors have had engagements with a group known as the 'Cult of Death Undying', which is apparently obsessed with returning Necros to our reality.

"The reference I found was in a note about Maure Castle written by a man named Kerfane, who apparently belonged to some sort of explorers guild. The page notes that there is some sort of an extra-dimensional portal within Maure Castle that connects to various demiplanes; Necros is apparently one of those that can be reached through it."

"There is no mention of the Cult of Death Undying in the letter, so it is possible that they do not know of this portal. Then again, the entry was apparently written 10-15 years ago, and who knows what they have learned since then. I do not know the fate of this man 'Kerfane'"

"Master Malphas and I are greatly concerned about this reference to Necros portal, particularly about what the Cult of Death Undying might do if they learned of it. Master Malphas asks that you travel to Maure Castle -- teleportation will be arranged – and attempt to discern the status of this portal -- whether it exists, whether its operation, and who may be using it."

"To assist you in this quest, we have called up on the aid of the Church of Pelor, who have supplied us with a very capable cleric named Willum to aid in your quest. He should prove very useful should any of the inhabitants of Necros have escaped from their prison ... or should you run into agents of the Cult of Death Undying."

Ready’reat 17, 591

Before leaving Obsidian Bay, the Blackrazors learn that Kerfane belonged to the Seekers, group of explorers 25 years ago or so. They then teleport to Swamphold. Ian, Korem, Willum, Ian journey to Greyhawk overland from Swamphold to Greyhawk. Enter through the marsh gate, identifying themselves as being in the city to conduct research, Willum explains he wants to learn about Maure Castle

Go to the Library, where Fontain tries – and fails – to get a library card – informed he must pay 200 gp. and have support of a noble to get card. Then Willum talks to the clerk – Tondhere – who is skeptical, but gets greedy when learns willing to pay. Demands 400 gp to get the research in one day, finally agrees to 300 gp in two days.

That night, Willum goes to Temple of Pelor, who are shocked when told that he’s from OB and in the presence of Blackrazors. Willumn tells that evil undead may be in the area. Tells that their may be a portal in the ruins.

Meanwhile, Fontain and Ian go from bar to bar looking for information about Maure Castle. Learn from some caravan guards out of Urnst that bandits around Maure Castle have been displaced by gnoll warbands.

Korem goes to Keloden. Tells how saved the world. Places order for adamantine sword, ready in two weeks.

Ready’reat 19, 591

Return to the Great Library. Learn about Suel creators, as well as they went into recluse. Then how it was sacked over the years, discovery of the unopenable door.

Ready’reat 21, 591

Arrive back in Swamphold.

Ready’reat 25, 591

Arrive in Maure Castle. Scout out area, find ruins of human civilization and gnoll tracks. Two hours after arriving, see a gnoll leave from the area of the unopenable door. Go there, find many gnoll tracks, passage into the ground. After 10 minutes, reach T, find star in floor. Scrappy touches dagger to star, get tingly sensation from star, causing hand to go numb.

Go down corridor, found Unopenable Doors. Try to find way to open, but can’t. Wait for gnolls to show up, and find door opens in two hours. Surprise gnolls as they emerge into corridor.

Fierce fight follows, and one gnoll makes a break for it. Catch him, knock him unconscious but not before he raises an alarm that attracks the bodoks.

A few blackrazors catch a glimpse of them, but only Ian charges forward. Somehow, he throws off their gaze attack. The others then move to attack, and Willumn turns two, destroying them entirely. Battle ensues, some destroyed by attacks (Scrappy charges and finally uses the resonating powers of his swords of the planes).

Waken gnoll after having tied him up. Gnoll defies them, saying he will tell them nothing. They threaten to throw him into pool, at which point eyes widen and he begins to pray. Put legs into water, attacked by strange fish, which cause him to burst into flames. Throw into pool to put out flames. Flames don’t go out, and creature burns more, finally consumes him.

Turn explore western reaches of the room. Find bodak lair and quickly dispatch the cowering creatures.

Turn to the next room, and find candles flickering in the darkness. Painted figures of warriors can be found on the backs of four closed doors inside the room As Scrappy enters the room and examines one of doors, a candle goes out, and the painting steps from the door, and attacks the startled thief.

As the rest of the party rushes in to help the Mundane One, more candles go out, and suddenly the Blackrazors find themselves battling three more of the creatures. The strange constructs moved insanely fast, and seemed to bleed paint when cut. When defeated, they collapsed into a puddle of color that quickly evaporated.

Experience

Not available.

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