32. November 26, 2011

The party contacts their colleagues at the garrison to request that they look into a way to contact the ruddy-faced boy. To date, the communications have occured one way from the boy to the members of the garrison. The party wants to find out what he may know about the book containing the rituals that resulted in the sacrifice of the half-breed children to expand the land mass of the island.

The party then tracks down the ex-vampiric minotaur to ask for his assistance in locating the creature who turned him into a vampire. The minotaur indicates that he can feel the vampire-maker and will help the party to track him down. He admits that he would like to take the powe r of the vampire-maker, which is why he's willing to help the party. He asks for "first dibs" on the vampire-maker when the party tracks him down. He believes that it will take a week to reach him.

The minotaur indicates that the vampire-maker was wearing a stone that looked like a ruby, carved into the shape of a skeleton key on a gold chain around it's neck. It was humanoid in appearance, with cole black hair, no horns, no fangs, with piercing "black" eyes (they were more the absence of color and described as soulless). Its skin was a mix of grey, red and black (the color was different each time he looked, but he never saw it change). The vampire-maker channeled energy from the obelisk as the minotaur stared into his eyes, and after a pain that felt like it went on for years, he was larger and stronger - but the vampire-maker was still the same height in relation to him (one head higher). All the vampire-maker asked for was unfettered access to the room with the obelisk.

While traveling, Kayla reaches out to a hawk to find out if it has seen the vampire-maker. While it has not, it does say that there is a valley where it does not want to hunt, but not for any reason it can pinpoint. Darwyn observes the minotaur while it is sleeping and is shocked when it opens its eyes and stares at her with soulless depths. This leads the party to believe that the minotaur is still fully connected to the vampire-hunter. In an effort to "cleanse" the minotaur of its taint, Darwyn strikes it with lightening after using a hybernation spell and then trying to reach it in the dream state. As the minotaur prepares to pummel Darwyn, Shelby leaps onto its back and is able to calm it with soothing words and loving caresses.

After the minotaur refuses to allow the party to attempt to remove its taint, they decide to part company. They then hide and observe the minotaur's next action. The minotaur takes off after the vampire-maker so the party decides to try to ride lightening to the valley where the vampire-maker is located. With further consideration, they decide instead to try to enchant their boots so that they can run more quickly, and with greater endurance, towards the vampire-maker. Everyone runs at their own pace until they can run no more (Darwyn, who can run forever without tiring, picks up Shelby when she finds her and carries her to Kayla's camping spot to spend the night). The group decides to approach the vampire-maker together, and the cleric blesses water to make it holy.

The valley where the vampire-maker is located contains the remains of a city, including a ziggurat. The minotaur finds the party and tells them about a large alter at the top of the ziggurat, and an entrance into the ziggurat where the vampire-maker's lair can be accessed. The party investigates the altar and finds a large bat statue, and a large stone with blood stains. There are no fresh remains. They then move on to the entrance to the ziggarut.

Kayla and Darwyn are able to enter the complex without incident, but Shelby and the minotaur end up tumbling into the opening, bringing several tons of debris down with them.