Short Synopsis
The party sneaks into the manor at Silverton Keep through a third-floor window. They encounter Chaplain Isabella Lightbringer in the chapel. She is ambivalent about Rylan Silverblade’s rule, and is more interested in protecting the people of Silverton.
On the second floor, they find Rylan Silverblade asleep in his bed. Jax plunges a blade into the lord, but revives him to interrogate him. Jax’s mother has been taken to tower of the wizard Duncan Shrike.
Long Synopsis
In the quiet of the morning, Ilidan, Jax, Kelderrin, Killian and Rasutar travel to the Silverton Keep. Under the protection of Killean’s *pass without trace* spell, the party stealthily approaches from the rear. Unfortunately, Rasutar stumbles and is discovered by a pair of guards on the castle. With silent speed, Ilidan and Killean send poison-tipped arrows winging towards the sentinels. The guards fall into a sleep induced by drow poison and most of the party climbs over the walls. Rasutar turns invisible and enters from the front gate.
Killean leads the way into the manor through a window on the third-floor. Inside, he knocks out a sleeping guard. The rest of the party follows him in. Next, they enter the chapel and encounter a somber chaplain called Isabella Lightbringer. Jax explains that he is only here to save Silverton and seek vengeance upon Rylan Silverblade and his diabolical wizard.
Isabella Lightbringer has no love for Silverblade or his wizard, but she will not suffer any attack on the people of Silverton. When asked about the adjacent room, she explains that it is the council chambers and that it is occupied by Reynard Swiftwind, a local political figure. The chaplain informs the party that Rylan Silverblade’s bed chambers are on the second floor.
On silent feet, the party moves to the second floor where they find four closed doors. Behind the first door, Killean encounters an armed dwarf in an armory. Ilidan fires another poison-tipped shaft into the dwarf to knock him unconscious. Killian ties up the dwarf. Jax and Kelderrin investigate the second room and find a sleeping dwarf woman. They leave her sleeping and move on. Killean confirms that the third room is empty. Meanwhile, Ilidan unlocks a chest to find a longsword with a keen edge that glints with magic.
Upon reaching the last door, the party finds it is protected by magic. Kelderrin dispels the magic ward and the party enters. They find Lord Rylan Silverblade asleep in his bed. Jax stares at his bitter enemy and the blade in his hand trembles. His eyes close for a moment as he considers what to do. Rylan Silverblade had inflicted much suffering on Jax and the people of the surrounding lands. Yet, Jax questioned whether he should assassinate this man in his sleep.
He had a choice.
And he made his choice with a swift downward plunge of the blade. It stabbed deep into the lord’s chest. Rylan Silverblade’s eyes flash open and stares at Jax with recognition. Before the light fades from his eyes, Rylan Silverblade utters a simple sentence. “Now, you will never find your mother…”
Quickly, the party revives Rylan Silverblade. Jax’s bloody dagger, combined with Rasutar’s unerring insight and *detect thoughts* spell, they discover that Jax’s mother had been taken to the wizard’s tower. They tie up and gag the lord. Then, they knock him out and place him into the bag of holding. Ilidan persuades Isabella Lightbringer and Reynard Swiftwind to try and delay the guards.
Meanwhile, Rasutar finds a hidden drawer warded by magic. After Kelderrin helps him open it, he takes out a number of items.
The party now prepares to press forward to find Jax’s mother.
