Siege of Adalhard Manor

Lady Adalhard greets members of the Caravan.

The **Siege of Adalhard Manor** was a siege that occurred over the course of three days in Hadar Å-621. The culmination of the war with the undead that began with the Battle of Etalaan, it resulted in the death of the Necromancer and the neutralisation of the undead army. During the Siege, first contact was also made with the Kenku and Naga, races from elsewhere in the galaxy, and the Fext, who had been hiding underground for centuries.

## Background

After the Battle of Etalaan and the destruction of Lord Isolde's lands, the undead army turned its attention to the rest of Etalaan, fighting its way to Adalhard Manor despite the efforts of local forces. To defend her home, Lady Adalhard called upon her Caravan who had previously defeated the Necromancer. A group of bandits known as the Black Rams, seeing opportunity, joined the siege in hope of plunder

Simultaneously, a number of Fext, having been attacked by the undead army, emerged from their underground cities, hoping to find and kill the Necromancer. Though distrusted by some, a small number of Fext joined the Caravan to participate in the battle.

## 20th of Hadar

The members of the caravan approached the manor with caution. Fighting past the first band of attackers Thornwyn encountered a secret path into the manor grounds, laden with magical traps. One by one the mercenaries trod the dangerous path, with trackers pointing out the traps to the more unwary party members, and healers rushing to the aid of those who fell.

On reaching the manor house, the mercenaries were welcomed by Lady Adalhard where they rested and prepared for the next day’s battle.

Mrs Greenbeans along with the other magical and non magical healers such as Mama Kez, Tarrimer, Nocturne Moonwing and Mary Rose Lay perfomed a ritual of protective spells and blessings around the manor room which was to become the hospital base.

The first pages of notes on ancient unknown beings were discovered.

## 21st of Hadar

Early in the morning, Granny Pants officially adopted Breadán Casta has her son, in an elaborate ritual washing his soul and rebirthing him as foxfolk. The Ritual was organised by Valeria and led by Mrs Greenbeans, Zayats and Barron Ormauve who respectively bound up and protected him, flensed away his old soul and created the new one. Each ritualist was accompanied by an assistant and also a follower of the relevant god.

Later that day, the manor was attacked by the besieging forces, who were repelled; one member of the caravan, Larsa Vexicon, was captured and executed by the Black Rams.

A number of refugees from a nearby village, Dereksville, also made their way through the forces to the manor, looking for refuge and help. However, two of these were secretly members of the Rams in disguise and wreaked havoc through the manor before being caught and arrested.

In order to understand more about the wider situation, a large group of spellcasters went to an ancient ritual circle on the grounds of the manor, where they called upon the gods for answers.

Half the group (Zayats, Mrs Greenbeans, Morgan, Amanita, Demetrius Morningstar) were magically transported to a library where they met a Kenku who sent them back, while others, including Magnus Brock, Thornwyn, Arel and Tetka, were sent to another location where Brock was attacked by a Naga. When all returned, they were in possession of a partial star map.

In the evening, Lady Adalhard hosted a ball. Local traders, merchants and skilled people were invited along, while music was provided by the Caravan's bards and danced to.

## 22nd of Hadar

Members of the Caravan discovered a ritual being performed by cultists leading the Undead. Barron Ormauve briefly took control of the ritual, buying time for others to attack and slay the cultists, including the Necromancer, who was only killed when stabbed by Amanita of Dark Hollow with the sword Sorrowfall. In defeating him, Amanita’s life source ran out; she was restored by a group effort and prayers from many of the party, and the sword was placed away before escaping via teleportation.

## Aftermath

The Black Rams and undead were scattered and ceased to be a major threat to Etalaan, though the undead would continue to menace some, especially the newly emerged Fext, many of whom joined the Caravan.

Lady Adalhard, in recognition of their services, bestowed upon members of the Caravan the title of Knights of Etalaan, and would later send them on other missions such as resolving the Arbeth-Tegerron conflict and finding the Journal of Jack Ketch.

Their curiosity piqued by the brief encounter with two alien species, the Guild of History would continue to investigate, eventually attempting to return to the library.