The next several days were spent traveling through Nexuses that were mostly deserted. Some times small rodents were spotted. In others larger animal life was spotted in the distance or around corners but these never approached the party. The last three magic items were a Rod of Lordly Might, a Ringe of Spell Storing (Air Walk, Mage Armor) and a Spell Lattice (Dimension Door).
While traveling the group continued to restore sanity and reduce the possibility of further problems with Madnesses that had afflicted the party. By the time Erich said that they were approaching the Seine River the group was back to relatively good health.
Late that day the party reached the banks of a River. Erich wrote on his pad that this was the Seine leading to Paris.
Continuing on the party came upon a larger slice of city on both banks of the Seine. Erich led the party to continuing to the west where two islands stood in the middle of the river. Erich turned north on a cobbled street began south of the river and crossed it twice over large bridges of black stone. The river here had a foul smell, and the light from Carcosa’s black suns was particularly dim. Once past the northernmost bridge, the street became very narrow and precariously steep, occasionally nothing more than flights of steps with rails. Toward its end, the street became a patchwork of cobble, paving stones, and bare earth with struggling greenish-gray vegetation that ended at an ivy-covered wall. One house in particular stood taller than all the others, a rickety five-story building with a garret room. The attic room directly under the peaked roof had a window facing west that overlooked the border between this nexus and the next. Along the way the party saw hardly any one in the streets and those who were there appeared to be lunatics or worse. A mist began rolling in and became a cloying fog.
Erich strode up to the door of this house and opened the lock with a key. The inner chamber again had doors that Erich opened and motioned for the party to follow him into the house. He entered with a jaunty gate but the party was leery and only followed slowly with great separation.
In the paneled entry hall Erich was greeted by a semi-canine humanoid with rancid green flesh and hoof like feet, yet its eyes sparkled with the gleam of intelligence. Erevel, standing in the doorway with Gavril knew this was a Leng Ghoul and was ready for an attack.
"Sir, you have returned. We are relieved. The master of the house has returned," he shouted in a loud voice.
Three more ghouls entered the chamber and immediately surrounded Erich snarling at Erevel and Gavril.
The nexus had been torn apart in his absence. Whereas Erich once commanded the Leng ghouls by appealing to their love of knowledge, a powerful, savage ghoul named Armel had arisen to take his place. Armel has organized many of the Leng ghouls into a semblance of a military police organization he calls gendarmes in blue uniforms and kepis. At first, it seemed this action was intended to maintain order, but Erich’s allies reported that Armel’s reign had become violent and erratic. Any compatriot who have embraced civility, as well as the unfortunate human refugees here, suffered under his tyranny.
Erich asked questions regarding the strength and capabilities of the gendarmes, they apparently had fire sticks that threw ammo at high velocity. They took humans and ghouls off the street to the Military School apparently. But all were tired and Erich indicated that they should rest and he would have a proposal for the party in the morning.
In the morning the party again convened in the sitting room with Erich again sitting by the fire. Paullus seemed different somehow, he talked with a child's voice and was asking questions and commenting on things all the time. He seemed confused about where he was and what was happening. He pulled out a makeshift wooden sword and flashed in the air.
Erich ignored this spectacle and opened his pad and showed the party a plea. He asked that they rid the Paris nexus of Armel, so that he can reassert reason over the ghoul community and restore it to the small sanctuary it was before he left. As a reward or enticement, he promises the PCs three powerful magical treasures that could aid them in whatever tasks still awaited them.
Ciprian led a discussion of the location of Armel, the Military School perhaps. When asked where Armel could be found, Erich’s ghoul allies explained that Armel was said to frequent a nightclub that was built to resemble one in the Montmartre district in “the other Paris” on Earth. They did not know its exact location, but suggested the party walk through the gendarmes’ territory, they’re sure to encounter a patrol that can likely direct them. They cautioned that the gendarmes were not as civilized as this group.
When asked where the gendarmes territory was the ghouls indicated it started at Notre Dame cathedral toward the Louvre and Ecole Militaire to the Eiffel Tower. The Leng ghouls will not permit Erich to accompany the party—not because they doubt his ability, but because they suspect Armel would stop at nothing to assassinate Erich. Instead, they insisted that Erich’s return remain a secret until Armel is taken out.
Just as the party was leaving Ciprian suggested that Paullus, now known as Ofraham leave his wooden sword behind, it might get broken.
"That is a good idea. I will use this instead." As he pulled out the Rod of Lordly Might, pushed button 2 and swung the battle axe expertly.
DM's Notes: No XP for tonight.
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