Session 53 - Meeting Ridwik of the Relic

The party gets an offer they cant refuse from Ridwik of the Relic, a lich.

This write up is based on our Sunday, May 4, 2025 session and was written by our scribe Carl with a few additions from myself. Thanks to our mapper Jimmy for the screen shots.  Since we are scattered around the country, we use Discord for voice communications and the Roll20 online tabletop to connect with each other.

Continued from: Session 52: Vampires, Ghosts and Traps

Location: Inside the Cottage next to Tegel Manor

It was to be a rest day, after our too near encounter with a vampire. We were in our cottage, home sweet home, taking it easy for a little bit. 

About half way through our resting time, just after the bell in the wizard tower rang noon, it got dark, as if someone had put out the sun, or threw a blanket over it. Not just dark, but quiet. No more sound of waves from the ocean.

Then there was a knock at the door.

Even Beneddar with his cloak of eyes could not see outside. Inside we could see and hear normally. And as always, we got set to fight whatever it was.

A person outside identified himself as Ridwik. Arkhelm said that he had been told to avoid Ridwik Rump at all costs - Ridwik is probably the most powerful being on the entire continent. Ridwik is a Lich.

A quick discussion put us in the normal mode of not trusting anything or anybody and rejecting any chance to talk peacefully. The door stayed closed and we cowered inside, trying to hide our fear behind bold talk.

Ridwik said he wants to hire us, and opened the door from the outside.

He said he didn't mind us killing some of his relatives (if they cant defend themselves so be it).  He wanted us to leave the laboratory alone and stay out of his tower.  He wants us to work for him, to find the formula for "Cauldron Born Zombies". They sounded like the zombies wandering around, the ones that exploded when killed.

He said the formula is NOT in Tegel Manor, but instead somewhere under the Temple of Frigga. There is a 'fool' in the temple 'messing with things', a cleric doing his own experiments, and Ridwik wants his recipe.

He said OK, stepped back into the blackness and was seen no more. In a little bit of time the light and sound of waves crashing on rocks returned.

We finished our long rest, overnight.

May 14
The next morning off we went toward the temple of Frigga. We went up the road for ease of travel.

None of the goblins bothered us, and we got to the front door of the temple.

Aefir did his sense evil thing, and found none permeating the building. A couple guards we had met before welcomed us with good comments on our Manor escapades so far.

Inside, seeking counsel. We left our weapons outside as requested.



We said we wanted to talk to the head cleric about the zombie problem in the area. They said that  Sarthoggus was busy and could not be disturbed. No tour of the facility was possible.

Reebo made an audio distraction and snuck into the back part of the temple. He tried two doors before finding one he could get through. We lost track of what he was up to after that.

The cleric we spoke with got nervous about our mission, spoke to the mercenary captain, and the captain went through the back door where Reebo was sneaking around.

After a bit, the mercenary brought another cleric out... Martinis. Shadow asked why there were zombies coming from the temple. Perhaps making it up as he went along, he said he was in charge of the whole area an demanded obedience.

Aefir tried to defuse the situation, implying that the zombie problem might be unknown to the temple. Aefir suggested a more formal discussion, and absent immediate obedience Aefir also got pushy and scared off the villagers while readying to (if needed) wipe out the entire temple.

So we walked into a temple, demanded obedience, and were outraged to not get it instantly. Our local reputation might suffer. Aefir said we would wait, and the guards were OK with that Martinis went to the back, hopefully to get someone to talk with us.

Inside, while we waited for the priest to return with a bigger priest, time passed. None of the mercenaries did anything other than watch us, and more came from the back.

After about four hours of waiting, with Reebo off on his escapades, we noticed that a group of villagers were approaching. Our plucky band went outside to meet them.

It was Ternelmor, the mayor, and his personal guards, eight village guards were there as well.

A relatively accurate tale of the morning followed, and the mayor said he would try to get us a talk time with Sarthoggus soon. Shadow added some glamorization to the story, for effect.

And just like that, our two month good dealings with the town and folk are TRASHED.

Off we went to town, to tell all and sundry that their temple is evil and spawning zombies. Probably true, but our 'inside source' was a Lich and might not be the most trustworthy of beings.

Shadow sat down with the mayor and some brandy. The Lich as our source was discussed, and finally someone pointed out that the Lich might have wanted us to fight the temple.



The mayor was not indifferent to our position, and would set up a meeting with Sarthoggus. The town DOES want the disappearance of people to be investigated.

Aefir laid on some butter, saying he just was not convinced that the temple was taking us seriously.  Friday a party, hopefully, with all included. Friday evening.

Next day and a half, out of our 30 the Lich gave us, went to rest and meditation for people who meditate. Some liberal buying of drinks for the town to try and mitigate the 'temple trashing vagabond' talk of us that was going around the town.

People in town talk about a rumor that there were TWO Liches in Tegel Manor.

An old man said, "The Wizard Rasping Rashuak's gates have left the fabric of reality thin around the Manor, created something called a thinny. Things sometimes wander in from other worlds, things that have no right to be here."

That would explain a lot.

We learned that Ridwik and Rashuak are brothers.

So, to summarize our experience today:

     We are believing a Lich who says he is too busy to get the formula
                              and
     We refuse to believe that a Priest was too busy to talk RIGHT NOW

Hmmmmmmmm at least we will get to talk, hopefully with rational words, on friday night.

At least the alcohol flood that Shadow unleashed cooled some local heads.

We heard another rumor: "Centuries ago, Tegal Manor had spells placed on it that protected The Manor from the ravages of time, over the last couple of years, it has started to fade."

...and another: "Ridwik of the Relic, a lich of incredible prestige and great power, long ago claimed the Wizard’s Tower for himself as his new lair. He added several rooms to the manor that now connect to the tower before setting his minions to the task of protecting the new wing."

And wait, there's more: "Ranold Rax was once a famous pirate, 'the Defiler of Dearthwood'. Everyone who knew where he hid is treasure is dead. Except for him of course."

Order now to get two rumors for the price of one, it is amazing what you can learn when you talk with the villagers.

Continued in Session 54. The Tests of Garm