It has been too long. For that I am sorry.
After I lost my job in January, I tried to continue writing for Dungeon23, but my heart was no longer in it. I then attempted to write a novel, which went well for about 11k words until I hit a motivation wall I have been unable to ascend. Last weekend I wrote a 4k short story. After I get around to editing it, I will try to talk about it here. I also just began a new campaign in GURPS, and will discuss that here as well. Finally, I do have a job again, though it is third shift.
With all of that disruption in my life, I hope it is understandable why I have neglected the blog. Even so, I am sorry for that. So, without further ado, here are the last few entries for the Castle of Silvered Lightning.
January 15: Entrance to the Bursar’s Vaults
Descending from the secret passage within the bursar’s office leads one to a room square in shape with stairs running down all four walls in three rotations. The middle section of the room is a void dropping down all the way to the bottom and there is no railing. At each landing there is a door, beyond which lies either vault or tunnel.
At the bottom of the inverted tower lies a pool of still, stagnant water. Ancient coins gleam within, but they are cursed. The water stifles their malignant power, but should anyone take a coin out from the pool they will begin to succumb to dragon sickness. Even those near the coins begin to feel their call. The coins have blood on them. To prevent murder and madness, an older bursar in former times hid them here. Each new bursar is warned against the coins and the trouble they bring.
January 16: Money Vaults
Several of the vaults hold money in a variety of currencies used across the continent over the last several centuries. A thief able to pillage even a single one of these vaults would be made for life. Of course, no thief would brave the securities of the castle just to get gold guineas or thalers or cash coins. These are the boring vaults, so any black key can open them up.
January 17: First Serpent Vault
The door to this vault is a nest of iron snakes interlaced so tight as to be watertight. Each serpent has a keyhole on its brow, and only by unlocking the correct heads in the correct pattern can the door be opened. Only the bursar’s, provost’s, and headmaster’s keys will open it.
Within this vault lie certain important relics of the school’s rituals and ceremonies. Most bear some minor ensorcellements to draw the eyes of onlookers. As such, it can be a disorienting room to enter. Of special note is that the vault contains the sword Oathmaker. This heavy bastard sword was once carried by the governor himself. It is bound tight with spells of strength and vengeance. All graduates of the school must swear an oath upon the sword to serve king and country faithfully. As with all regalia left behind by the governor within the school, the words of the oath are a mockery to everything the man believed in. After all, he was a faithful servant of the Lord Protector and no friend to kings.
Nor was he a friend to wizards, it must be said.
January 18: Second Serpent Vault
This chamber is sealed with a door similar to that of the first Serpent Vault, save that its pattern of snakes and keyholes is totally unique. Within it is a slightly larger room, yet a more empty one as well. It is unnaturally cold within, and empty save for a stone plinth bearing a single book.
The tome is a copy of Dead Deer Whispering translated into the tongue of the Isles. The original was in the language of the Inq’rorwanna people across the sea. Their shamans and the Hessarura sorcerers used it to study necromantic rituals. This particular copy was transcribed by hand and is of an excellent translation.