12th Day Of Vroden, 67252
Yesterday we chanced upon a mansion in these foreboding woods. A storm was rising and we sought shelter within. The mansion looked pleasant enough from the outside as it was well-lit and charming save for the garden maze and enchanted bronze horse sculptures guarding the door. I ventured forward cautiously aware and when I came within five feet of the statues the one on the right came to life.
With glowing red eyes and the creak of metal moving the horse looked me dead in the eye, “Three questions stand before thy way,
Answer true, or here thou stay.
Speak with wit, or face my wrath—
For lie or doubt, ye shall not pass.“
“I’m ready,” I reply.
“What’s your name?”
“Oberon, son of Garleth, son of Stefan.”
Satisfied with my answer the horse statue continued, “What is your quest?”
“We are heading to Revel’s End on the Sword Coast to free Prisoner 13.”
The horse statue snorted, a vapor exhaled from his nostrils but he nodded in affirmation and continued, “What is your favorite color?”
Surprised by the simplicity of the questions, I answered “Green.”
Faylith and Emeria passed with simple questions as well. Yapheh’s first question “What is the air speed of a swallow in flight?” was answered incorrectly. Battle was enjoined. Eventually we prevailed and the party was able to fight our way past and take shelter inside. A ghastly storm erupted as we entered, rain pelted the windows. More than just wind howled outside. We couldn’t leave now.
Announcing ourselves to the lord of the Manor or any servants garnered no attention (or so we thought) and we sought to explore our surroundings. something felt off about this mansion. It seemed to be the house of a Noble, but instead felt like a tomb. Our party, (have I mentioned we discovered each one of us serves the One True Creator?) felt compelled to search the house and loot it of it’s treasures. I can hear my hypothetical readers asking “Isn’t ‘Do not take what doesn’t belong to you.’ one of the commands from your Deity?”
Yes, it is. In turn, I ask my readers have you ever heard a voice in your head so strong and so commanding that you felt compelled to obey it? The over-whelming sense of purpose overcame our whole party. This house was evil. We needed to face the horrors within and liberate the ill-gotten treasures.
There wasn’t much to find in the first room. However, the overwhelming sense of “You must cleanse this house was stronger, I took a book of Arcane Elf Magic from the shelf and Faylith sensing the same thing I was, takes it and puts it in her bag. (Oberon addendum, thank you Faylith for correcting my entry)
We ventured forth into the Hall. A hunting trophy, an Elk head (Which we later dubbed a H’Elk) was mounted to the wall. It turned its head to look at me. In all my years as a Ranger, I never understood why anyone would kill a beast just to mount its head on your wall. I can understand harvesting an animal for food and using the skin, sinews and bones. This elk looked inquisitive. I tentatively walked (as I’ve done many times in nature) over and offered the back of my hand for the beast to sniff.
Its eyes glowed red. It sniffed my offered hand and then bit down hard. Battle ensued. My party engaged the beast and awakened two potted plants. I’ve fought fauna before, but never have I ever fought plants and never have I fought the outdoors inside a gilded hallway. Bloodied and bruised we bested the vile beast and fiendish plants. We entered the next room.
It seemed to be a Lounge of some sort. Simmons was drawn to the grandfather clock on the west wall. The Grandfather Clock opened its eyes and attacked. It unleashed a fiendish horde of Time Flies. Battle ensued. We are learning to be cautious in this house.
By now wary of any furniture in this house we are careful to prod first before taking anything. We exited the Lounge and drug Simons along with us. Simmons found a Glowing Orb on a Staff in the room just to the north of the Lounge. Beyond that in the room in the Northwestern corner of the mansion, Yapheh found a tome about Dragons. Faylith found the Druidic Verdant Codex. We left the area through the common closet back into the now quiet hall.
We entered the bathroom wary of the mirrors. After defeating a corrupted Water Elemental hiding in the bathtub, the party explored the mudroom next to the water closet. Inside the mud was a pair of talking boots that imprinted on Simmons and began following him. Back in the hall we elected to take a short break, while we heal and check our preparedness for the next room. I am quickly updating my Journal. The party is ready to go. The evil permeating this house is palpable. I do not look forward to what awaits us.
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Oberon Oberon’s Journal, base images were built using ChatGPT using prompts by Alien Graphics. Maps were built using Dungeon Alchemist. All images ©2026 Alien Graphics
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