Welcome, fellow adventurers, to a recap of our recent delve into the shadowy mystery of “Beneath the Black Rose“! This session took us to a seemingly ordinary inn, but as is often the case in these games, things quickly took a turn for the peculiar and the perilous.
Our party, assumed to know each other for the purposes of this adventure, found themselves seeking refuge for the night. We arrived at the Black Rose, the only inn for miles that looked remotely inviting. The innkeeper, Cecil, a muscular fellow with a few scars hinting at a past life, greeted us warmly. He seemed like a decent sort, offering hot meals, ale, and clean rooms, even if the decor was a tad dated. We settled in, eager for some rest after our travels.
However, the evening was far from peaceful. We encountered a young girl named Nell, who seemed to be staying at the inn with her parents. There was something a little odd about her, but nothing immediately alarming. Things got truly strange when Cecil suddenly fell into a trance and became aggressive, even attacking one of our party members! It was a chaotic scene, involving shouts of “Wake up!” and desperate attempts to subdue him. Eventually, with some quick thinking and perhaps a touch of bardic inspiration, the real Cecil seemed to resurface, horrified by his actions and apologetic for the outburst.
Cecil revealed a dark secret about the Black Rose: it was haunted by the ghost of a woman named Eliza, who was supposedly abducted and murdered there. Legend had it that she was searching for her daughter or seeking revenge on her killers. Nell's presence at the inn seemed to have triggered the ghostly activity.
Intrigued and concerned, we decided to investigate further, especially after Cecil mentioned a locked door in the cellar that had never been opened. Our curiosity piqued, we managed to gain access to the cellar, and the atmosphere immediately shifted. The smell of stagnant water filled the air as we descended into the darkness.
The cellar revealed a network of passages and rooms. We discovered an altar dedicated to the god of death, complete with a disturbing offering. We found parchments detailing a bogus vampirism ritual, hinting at dark practices that had taken place in this underground space. There were also chests containing coins and old jewelry, some bearing the names of long-gone noble families. The inscription “Enter and cast death aside” above one of the tunnels added to the ominous feeling.
Our exploration led us to a chasm spanned by a rickety rope bridge, with caged skeletons hanging above. The skeletons abruptly animated, their screams echoing through the underground. It was clear that something sinister had occurred in this place.
Further investigation led us to a room where we found Victor and Naomi, Nell's parents. They revealed that they were vampire hunters who had come to the Black Rose because they sensed Eliza's presence. While investigating the cellar, Victor had been possessed by the ghost, leading to the struggle we had unknowingly interrupted. They believed Eliza needed vengeance and a proper farewell to find peace.
Learning more about Eliza's tragic fate – abducted and murdered – and the strange vampirism ritual we'd uncovered, a grim theory began to form: perhaps these would-be cultists had something to do with Eliza's demise, or even her daughter's.
Our path led us to a hidden chamber containing an obsidian altar with an ancient skeleton and a moth-eaten dress. Nearby stood five polished mahogany coffins, each bearing the name we had seen on the chests earlier. And then we saw her – the ghost of Eliza, looking mournfully at the skeleton on the altar.
We attempted to communicate with Eliza, and she confirmed with a nod that the five individuals whose names were on the coffins were her killers. We learned that a proper burial ritual might help her find rest. As we spoke with her near her remains, the ghostly figure began to fade, seemingly finding peace. In a surprising turn, after Eliza vanished, a bush of black roses bloomed in a nearby cemetery.
Though the session ended with Eliza seemingly at rest, the memory of the tragic events and the potential fate of her daughter lingered, leaving us with a sense that the secrets beneath the Black Rose ran deeper than we initially imagined. It was a night of eerie discoveries, unexpected battles, and the bittersweet resolution of a haunting.