The Spice Merchants Of Sel-kai: Part Ten
General Summary
Sharna nimbly climbs the crumbling northern face of the rocky hill that the manor house broods on and within minutes she is followed by Cran and the rest of the party. The estate seems deserted but in the late morning mist and fog though the view from the hill of the surrounding moor and fen is commanding, details are difficult to make out. Approaching the rear of the building stealthily, Cherry unlocks a door that leads into what was at one time a rather well stocked conservatory. Neglected for years, the plants have all withered and died.
Four ravenously hungry ghouls have taken up residence inside, splintered bones and spatters of dried blood are clearly obvious on the floor and as soon as Cran leads his companions inside, the pestilent creatures swarm the party. They are no match for the companions however; Sharna's speed and skill quickly incapacitate a couple and Cran's terrifying strength is soon apparent as his enormous axe decapitates two of the creatures. Ugnan's clever use of spells takes care of a third and within mere heartbeats, the conservatory is quiet again.
The party clear the eastern wing of two more creatures and find plenty of evidence that slaves and slavers have taken up residence but there are no signs of recent occupation. Blood smears, gobbets of flesh and shattered bones indicate where more ghouls have made unpleasant lairs. Discarded swords and ripped clothing are a testament to a vicious fight – perhaps all the slavers were killed?
An extensive ground floor library turns out to be a treasure trove both in terms of a small coffer containing a sizable amount of gold but also books describing the detailed accounts and activities of the Honourable Guild Of Spice Merchants. Ugnan eagerly leafs through these and quickly deduces that there is more to this Guild than at first appears and again he notes the odd link between this group of "merchants" and the old asylum. Three familiar family names also reappear: the Cloots, Damssens and Orgillions. A tattered shipping and cargo ledger has been left behind on the floor and this confirms the presence of a group of slave traders who had been snatching Sel-kai citizens.
Moving to the western wing, the party find a large banqueting chamber that had been set for a large event that clearly never took place. The exquisite Orgillion porcelain service that has been laid out is priceless but far too bulky and fragile to simply be piled into sacks; packing straw, crates and Spotted Jim will be required. Rather sad and lonely, the once lively center of the manor leads on to the kitchens and the servant's wing. There is more evidence that the Orgillion home has been used as a base to hold slaves before their transport to other parts of Emer but fortunately no more of the horrible ghouls are encountered.
With evening now deepening, the party retire to the master bedroom to wait until morning ….
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