After taking a short rest and exploring the Jabberwock’s cave, the Daring Friends followed the trail back to see Frederick D’Amber with the head of the Jabberwock.
On the way, they heard crying from a nearby well to the west. Gruffudd and Dameron opted to investigate, and they approached the well, where they found a wheelbarrow and buckets nearby. Dameron called down into the well and was answered by the voice of a young boy who introduced himself as Sertieren. Balthasar sent his Broom of Flying down, but it stopped after forty feet as if it hit an invisible wall. Balthasar retrieved his broom. Gruffudd cast Dispel Magic on the barrier, which caused an explosion followed by a booming voice that said, “Wish not upon the wishing well. I only wish to be left alone. I wish you to go take a dip in the river.” Dameron heeded the command but was restrained by Balthasar’s Iron Bands of Binding. Gruffudd cast Dispel Magic again with the same result. This time, the explosion and outraged voice was followed by an eruption of gold coins that formed into a golem. Freeing Dameron from the bands, Balthasar cast Shatter on the golem. Dameron hit the golem with a Lightning Bolt. The golem, transforming into a whirling hoard of treasure, washed over Gruffudd and Balthasar, sweeping up Gruffudd’s staff and Balthasar’s sword, Rufus. Disengaging, Gruffudd quaffed a potion of Greater Healing. Quaffing a potion of Superior Healing, Balthasar caught his breath. Dameron smashed the golem with a Storm Kick. The golem swarmed Balthasar. Gruffudd hit it with a Flaming Sphere. Balthasar breathed his Cold Breath on the golem. Engaging the golem, Dameron hit it with a Crushing Haymaker. The golem continued to swarm Balthasar, then turned back into a golem. Bumping it with his Flaming Sphere, Gruffudd hit it with a Fire Bolt. Calling Rufus back into his hand, Balthasar struck into the golem. Chasing after the golem, Dameron hit it with another Crushing Haymaker. Transforming back into a whirlwind hoard, the golem grabbed Rufus’ staff and Dameron’s rod, dropping them into the well. Gruffudd blasted it with Fire Bolts, exploding it into a shower of coins. Retrieving Rufus, Balthasar tried to inspire Sertieren. They lowered the bucket, which passed through the barrier and Sertieren sent up the rod and staff. Gruffudd used the staff’s last charge to Heal the friends. The staff froze in Gruffudd’s hand, draining him, and transformed into a Staff of Winter. When they lowered the rope again and tried to lift Sertieren up, he bumped his head on the barrier. While negotiating with the well, Sertieren shared that Etienne Stephen Amber is the master of the place. A nearby worn statue was that of a young woman holding a basket. Gruffudd transformed into an owl and flew around for a bird’s eye view. From high above, the garden seemed once a ritual site. Promising to return, they made their way back across the stream to the clearing and the cave. They showed Frederick the head of the Jabberwock, and Balthasar insisted he introduce them to the lord of the manor. Frederick led them to an area with beds where they could rest safely. After a long rest, Gruffudd recalled some lore about Etienne Stephen Amber: Always late but ever early Searching for the perfect time Master of A house uncared for His family of another time A fate of greatness, A doom forevermore Stephen Amber found his prize In one future, long ago But one path could bring this fate A path only for his blood, alas love could not walk Few now live, but echoes forevermore Haunt the worlds of Amber's delight Of times now and which never were Dameron repeated a premonition from his dreams: “Echoes of a nightmare can still haunt you. Old sins cast long shadows.” The Daring Friends emerged from the cave and headed to the well, where a pair of gigantic stag beatles jousted. On the edge of the well sat a dozen cheering squirrels that insisted this was a private party and demanded they leave. Gruffudd bet the squirrels a pile of acorns he could knock over the beetles before they knocked him over. When they agreed, he transformed into a mammoth. The beetles charged the mammoth, but he stood firm and flung one with his trunk. He charged and knocked over one of the beetles. Intimidated, the squirrels took their acorns and left. They could hear Sertieren’s voice from the well. Gruffudd used the broom to fly down to the barrier and cast Polymorph on Sertieren, transforming him into a squirrel. Sertieren hopped into the bucket and they lifted him out of the well and transformed him back into a child. Sertieren was grateful to be freed and shared that Uncle Etienne was not friendly with outsiders and that his great uncle Merton was wise in lore. With Sertieren, they went to the stream where they unfolded their boat and took the stream to the bridge. After dismounting and folding their boat, they made their way to the chapel. Covered with overgrown foliage, the chapel was in a state of extreme disrepair. The primary religious iconography was an unfamiliar cross. Dameron pushed the doors open, revealing a dozen praying monks inside. The priests greeted them and welcomed them in. Sertieren privately warned that the monks don’t say what they mean. When they shared that they sought Merton, the monks warned that no good would come of the meeting but revealed that he could be found beyond the right door. Beyond the right door, a tapestry depicted sheep, a village, and a keep. Opening another door beyond, they were dumped into a pit. Balthasar cast Featherfall, and they all floated down into a room dominated by a blood-drawn pentagram. From inside the pentagram, a Bone Devil commanded burning skeletons. Gruffudd surrounded the bone devil in a domed Wall of Ice. The Bone Devil shot the wall with bolts of fire, punching a hole in the dome. The burning skeletons engaged, slicing the air with their scimitars. Balthasar destroyed one of the skeletons, causing it to explode. Dameron was struck as he maneuvered to cast Spirit Guardians. Sertieren withdrew from the melee. Dropping the Wall of Ice, Gruffudd cast Insect Plague, but the Bone Devil countered it. He hit it with a Flaming Sphere, but it was immune. The Bone Devil shot a Lightning Bolt at Dameron and Balthasar, destroying two skeletons in the process. The fallen burning skeletons rose and three of them were seared by Spirit Guardians. Balthasar engaged the Bone Devil. Raising his holy symbol, Dameron commanded the burning skeletons to turn away. Gruffudd hit the Bone Devil with a Cone of Cold. The Bone Devil threw bolts of acid at Balthasar, striking him with one. The burning skeletons fled from Dameron. Balthasar struck into the Bone Devil with Rufus. Dousing the flames on him, Dameron cast Mass Healing Word on himself and his companions. Casting Shillelagh, Gruffudd cast Blight, draining the Bone Devil. While the Bone Devil and Balthasar traded blows, Dameron blasted it with a Lightning Bolt. Gruffudd engaged the Bone Devil, which cast Banishment on Balthasar, who resisted. Balthasar slashed into the Bone Devil and Dameron blasted it with a Lightning Bolt. Balthasar struck the Bone Devil down with Rufus and the burning skeletons collapsed. They decided they would take a short rest.
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