The sun had long since set in Longsaddle, a sleepy little hamlet situated on an isolated stretch of The Long Road, when the Lions finally found respite at the Gambling Golem Inn. After a much needed day of rest, the group came together for dinner. Many of the inn’s patrons cast curious glances towards the large decaying dragon head that Zoltan was transporting on a magical Floating Disc.
“Perhaps the Harpells would be interested,” the barkeep said, responding to Zoltan’s inquiry, referencing the hamlet’s mysterious benefactors, a powerful family of wizards that resided in a sprawling estate to the east.
No sooner was this said than Tristan Harpell himself made a flamboyant entrance into the tavern. Hyacinth, the group’s satyr bard and resident chatterbox, decided to take the initiative. Buying Tristan a drink, she leaned in to reveal their possession of the dragon head.
But as Tristan took a sip, the mug in Hyacinth’s hand spoke for him, confirming the whispered rumors of his clan’s eccentricity. Tristan wasn’t interested, and the mug made a paltry proposal for the dragon’s head, which the group quickly rebuffed, but eventually, they struck a deal.
Tristan would buy the head for 1000 gold, but only if the group offered their assistance in dealing with some nuisances at the mansion he had inherited from his late uncle Siegfried. For this he was willing to give them an additional 500 gold each, a magical silver raven, and he even agreed to bind Zoltan’s arcane grimoire with the preserved dragonhide.
Tristan instructed them to each order an Ivy Port from the bar when ready. Krum, always eager for more action and drink, bought another round of ale and everyone agreed to venture to the mansion at first light.
The next morning Atticus revealed he had experienced a terrible dream in which he had murdered Henrick. Not so terrible, Belomesh thought. The nightmare had broken the spell of amnesia afflicting Atticus, with the realization he was actually a powerful wizard. Zoltan seemed skeptical.
After a hardy breakfast, the group ordered a round of Ivy Ports. Zoltan, being the group’s senior arcanist (with Raith absent), drank first, and immediately vanished. With much trepidation and delay, the rest of the party followed suit.
They found themselves in a mysterious mansion hallway. An ornate portrait of Tristan Harpell hung on the wall. It proceeded to instruct them on the tasks ahead.
As the companions delved deeper into the mansion, bizarre occurrences began. Henrick was bitten by an animated sofa in the study and Belomash was ambushed by an aggressive potted plant. An armored figure named Clatter appeared. Chaos ensued as the group fought off the animated threats. Krum recognized Clatter as the mansion’s resident butler sent to aid them and reprimanded Henrick for shooting him with an arrow.
Amidst the chaos, Atticus found a spellbook in the library. Zoltan was swift to remind him of the gentlemen’s agreement he and Raith had regarding newfound spells, before opening the library door into a nearby hallway.
The hall was filled with funhouse mirrors. Hyacinth noticed her reflection was winking at her in one of the mirrors. Curious as ever, she touched the mirror only to find herself trapped inside, with her reflection winking at her from the outside. Hyacinth flipped her off, which Zoltan found odd, unaware of the switch that had just transpired.
.
Before this mystery could be solved, Atticus discovered a room filled with animated constructs. A large construct charged at him, but Atticus froze it with a Hold spell before Henrick intervened, quickly dispatching it. Torinn and Krum encountered an old man entranced by a strange light, which Krum dispelled, enraging the man.
Meanwhile, the real Hyacinth attempted to signal her trapped status by fogging up the mirror and writing HELP. The imposter tried to escape, leading to a chase. Acting quickly, Zoltan Banished the imposter, but Hyacinth still remained trapped inside.
Determined to free her, Torinn shattered the glass with the hilt of his sunsword. When Hyacinth finally emerged, she was in a different room down the hallway. Exiting the room, she found a concerned Krum waiting for her.
With the mysteries of the mansion continuing to unravel, the adventurers steeled themselves for more challenges, knowing that the Harpell Mansion was not done with its surprises. In the basement, something stirred.
