Chapter Four: The Lost Villages (Vannondale, reprise)

It is noon, March 25. The heroes have just handed over the telescope eyepiece to Petrus after he nearly handed them their heads on a plate. They discuss what to do next. There is some plan to incapacitate or kill Petrus, but the majority feels this feat is beyond the party's means. They will talk to him and learn what he knows of the Starborn, the Host and the Equinox of Heroes.

The party heads back to the Colombe mansion and enter through the front door. With no one to greet them and no one to stop them they head upstairs. In the main foyer upstairs they find two gynosphinx guardians. One of them offers to allow Alev in to see Petrus, but demands that the rest of the heroes wait downstairs. When Alev is alone the gynosphinxes attack!

The heroes make quick work of their enemies. It turns out one of the creatures was an illusion and the other was actually a lamia. While the creature's illusions were quite powerful, the heroes managed to pierce them and bring the beast low.

Venturing into the library, the adventurers encounter Albie, a golem made of glass that seems to be a receptacle for knowledge. The creaturs spouts trivia about many things and asks questions incessantly. Eventually Alev, the Knife, Casey and Rygorh head up to the book tower above the library. A bit more searching there reveals a secret passage to the roof.

On the roof the heroes find Petrus. He is somewhat cordial, offering tea and a seat at one of the work benches. He is preparing for his work this evening and does not wish to be disturbed. He tells them a bit more about the Starborn, but nothing they didn't already know. He also informs them that he is quite convinced that they are the Starborn. While the party denies it, Petrus seems unconvinced. Eventually he kicks them out and tells them he will see to freeing the Colombe family later that night after he finishes his work.

In the meantime, Neil and Rumus question Albie extensively. They learn the names of three more Starborn from the most recent Equinox of Heroes and also that the creature will not discuss anything to do with Petrus.

The heroes spend the rest of the afternoon checkin in on the Colombe family. They find the lord and lady in the master bedroom playing chess. They are most grateful for the heroes' arrival and they offer riches in return for their freedom. The adventurers assure them that they will be freed and cured of their curses that evening. The two Colombe daughters seem to be taking things mostly well, although they are both upset that Eustace has escaped and left them hungry as Petrus has stopped feeding them. The oldest son seems to have lost his sanity. The heroes leave him to his own devices in his bedroom.

Late in the evening Petrus appears. He frees each of the Colombe family members of their masks. He fires a trio of magic missiles at Gustave Colombe to knock him unconscious (and dying) before he will tend to the insane man. Neil tends to Gustave's wounds and saves him from dying.

True to his word, Lord Padraic Colombe rewards the heroes with gold and treasures from his family's vaults. He also turns over two of his merchant ships for the use of Saragost in the upcoming hostilities. Finally, they agree that Vannondale should be evacuated ahead of the Duergar army and that everyone should seek shelter in Saragost.

The Starborn found Petrus Carolus's notes that he left behind when leaving the Colombe mansion.

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