5. The Cult of the Skull

The Adventures of Godrik the Magician*

Radovan is waving his mace in the air. “Where did that heathen witchdoctor go!” he shouts. The excitement of combat is still in his voice. The party has followed the retreating goblin into this room, but the creature is nowhere to be seen, and there are no apparent exits. The walls of the 30’ by 40’ hall before them are covered in detailed frescos, the colors of which have been subdued by the soot of uncounted years. There are torches burning in sconces, and there’s a single table in the hall’s center with a large, closed book lying upon it.

In the chamber behind them, the party as just killed several goblins. Not to mention two hobgoblins. The goblin ‘witchdoctor’ was the only survivor from among those monsters. It escaped into this room after demonstrating considerable skill with magic, injuring Godrik sorely. So that’s how it feels to be on the receiving end of Magic Missile, Godrik thought at the time. Seems to injure the etheric double more than the physical body. Fascinating!

Godrik answers Radovan: “Very likely there’s a secret door in the midst of one of these paintings. That must be how that nasty little bugger escaped from this place. I’m not just examining these mosaics for their aesthetics, you know….” His voice trails off as his attention gets absorbed into the giant…