In a weary, tired voice, it offered to let the party go unmolested if they left the tower immediately. The Pactlord looked ancient. Xichlanatlazhotal reminded the Pactlord that he had killed her offspring, and he balefully replied that they were killed for interfering with his plans. Without another word, Cirend sprung to the attack, and the rest of the Company followed suit. Rays of raw magic shot from the beasts� many eyes, rendering some members of the party disoriented or frightened. Before any mortal blows could be struck, the Pactlord levitated back through the door on the ceiling, with Xichlanatlazhotal immediately behind.
Seconds later, Xichlanatlazhotal let out a horrible screech of anguish. The Company quickly ascended to the next level, but it was too late. Xichlanatlazhotal lay dead on the stone floor. The Company renewed its attack and eventually slay the foul creature. Attached to one of its eye stocks was a bone ring, the ubiquitous symbol of the unnatural alliance between magical beasts bend on the destruction of the civilized races of Samoth.
After burying Xichlanatlazhotal under a cairn, and after Jeremi performed last rites, the party struck off for the Black Manor in search of the second piece of the Staff of Shards rumoured to be in this other-world. The party once again crossed the lake, and headed toward the wall of green muck. Cirend threw a coin into the muck, and watched it dissolve in seconds. The party then took to the air, using the combination of spells to ferry all party members over the barrier.
Once on the other side, the Company set off for the Black Manor, a squat compound with windows immediately beneath the low, flat roof. The Company circled the building, which was eerily quiet, and ultimately entered through the front door. From the end of a long, dark hallway, came the sound of skittering. Seconds later, a long, purple snake-like creature with dozens of legs emerged from the darkness and attacked. From its mouth shot bolts of lightening. The party managed to slay the beast, but not without alerting two groups of ogres who poured from doors lining the hallway to join the fray immediately after the worm-beast was slain. The battle was pitched and enduring, but the ogres fell
The Company started to explore the succession of rooms in the Manor, which seemed like barracks for the ill forces of the Pactlords. In exploring a room in the rear of the manor, the party came across a creature floating above its own offal, the stench overwhelming. It belched an acidic slime. Despite its hideousness, the party defeated the creature quickly.
As that melee was ending, the Company heard the shout of Uso from the large room at the end of the Black Manor. When the Company emerged from the snake-creature�s lair, they found Uso flanked by two creatures with tentacles for arms. Uso valiantly fought them off, using magic to slow one of them, until Cirend jumped into the fray. With the aid of the rest of the Company, Uso managed to fight off and defeat the creatures, which seemed to have the discipline of trained martial artists but the hideous form of monsters. Their tentacles bore bone rings.
Without stopping to survey the rest of the Manor, the Company went outside to track down the snake-like creature that had escaped. It did not take them long to find the creature. He was waiting, with a gigantic crocodile at his heel. In tandem, they attacked. The crocodile lumbered forward, and snapped at Si�lara with its enormous jaws. The snake-creature stayed back, moving as if to cast spells. Si�lara recoiled at seeing him use the same type of nature magic as she does, but warping it to serve evil purposes. The snake-creature blasted Sebastian with a raw, enfeebling spell, and caught Jeremi in brambles as he tried to minister to Sebastian�s wounds. After a fevered battle that left Sebastian and Si�lara seriously injured, the snake-creature and its companion were defeated.
Seeing Si�lara�s near-mortal injuries, Cirend came to her side, laid his hands upon her, and called upon �ton. As the party watched, Si�lara�s injuries transferred to Cirend. Somehow, Cirend�s prayers to �ton were answered. Jeremi watched Cirend�s act of mercy with astonishment, seeing how his prayers to �ton had gone unheeded since he was attacked in High Brother Heth�s chapel in Bima�Hara. Jeremi had been grappling with his faith since then, praying to �ton, and trying to reconcile his faith in �ton with his shattered faith in the earthly church of �ton. Jeremi was starting to believe that faith in �ton might be enough to commune with Him, even independent of the church�s rules. Seeing �ton respond to Cirend, who also adheres to the Bhuwani faith, gave Jeremi proof that �ton does respond to the truly faithful when they are in need, even if they do not adhere to the strictures of �ton�s earthly church. Jeremi prayed to �ton to heal Cirend and, much to Jeremi�s relief, Jeremi felt the warm embrace of �ton�s beneficence flowing through him. Jeremi arose, his faith renewed and stronger.
