The Keys of Telku / The Final Key pt. 16 / Kith the 30th, 3593 CE / 7-10-22

In a subbasement below Castle Eichon, the Adventurers and their Amita K'un allies are battling vampiric Bloodguard as they attempt to make their way into the enemy fortress and end the Vendetta against their patron, House Dracus. As they dispatch the last of vampire ninjas, Stele notices that some are turning to mist and escaping. Meanwhile Adrienne and Ashikaga the Wolf-Walker are locked in a deadly dual, as his silvered blades tear through her flesh and she gives back brutal strikes in kind. As she backs the leader of the Bloodguard onto a narrow stairwell, John plows into the melee, throwing the master assasin off kilter long enough to deliver a mortal blow with his hammer. The dying Ashikaga spits out a final warning, that it is too late for the party to stop "her." An Amita K'un guarding the party's rear shouts out a warning that the squad of Shadowmen they spotted earlier in the sewers are rapidly approaching, before his voice is drowned out in his own bloody screams. As the other Amita K'un attempt to fend off the deadly Shadowmen, Moss buys the party time with his stone spike spell, and Rados uses the power of his magic to cave in the doorway leading to the stairwell. With the Shadowmen hampered and blocked from entry, the party takes just a moment to catch their breath before carefully making their way to the upper floors of Castle Eichon, where they can hear fighting in the distance from the main assault force of Amita K'un. They are joined by First and some of his men, who advise them that the ground floor is secure. As he leads the party to the second story, he thanks them for defeating the traitor Ashikaga, who slew Master Yoritomo those many years ago. On the second floor the Adventurers are met by a platoon of House Eichon guards. As they battle their way through, Stele stumbles upon a cowering woman hiding behind in the platoon's armory; Lady Narya of House Eichon.