Kull's Report, Part 2
I led the others in exploring the remainder of the ground floor level of the monastery. My search soon found the kitchen, as well as the dining hall. There were skeletal remains of monks in both rooms. Those in the kitchen were inert, but those in the dining hall animated as we entered, and moved forward to attack.
As the first of the creatures clawed at the warrior, Brodnak, I invoked Hextor's Will. He was generous, allowing His power to flow through me, and the skeletons cowered in fear. With the undead held paralysed by Hextor's might, my cohorts proved capable of destroying them in short order.
I had just begun directing the others in smashing up the furniture in the hall for firewood, when a strange, tentacled creature floated through an archway to attack us. Unfortunately, it appeared right next to Brodnak, who cut it in half before I was able to personally test its mettle.
Examining the creature's remains, Brodnak proclaimed it to be the creature that had attacked him in the darkness. I decided that the best course of action would be to wait to see if the darkness cleared, then search for the bodies of the two men who had not emerged. However, as this would take time, I determined that the first thing to be done was to build a fire. Not only would this provide physical warmth, but it might also shore up the spirits of some of my more callow companions, who were obviously disheartened by what had befallen us.
The others saw the wisdom of this course, and - with the encouragement of a flask of oil - a fire was soon going in the kitchen. As the room warmed up, I began to get a clearer idea of who my companions were, and which of them could be relied upon.
Of them all, only Brodnak had proven his worth so far, but to my surprise the halfling, Zalich, also proved level-headed. He made use of the fire we had started to prepare food and drink. Few people understand the three keystones of morale: keep your people warm, fed and dry. Perhaps he served on a military vessel at some point.
Of the others, the weakest link was quite evidently the woman who called herself Troilan. Her attitude and remarks made it clear that she would not take instructions well.
As soon as the darkness ended, I led the others back to the front hall. I quickly found the two people who had not emerged when the creature attacked. One was dead: partially consumed. The second - the ship's young navigator - was alive, but unconscious and suffering from frostbite.
Returning to the kitchen with the injured navigator, I placed him near the fire. The self-styled "druid" set his wolf to watch over the boy.
Reasoning that the cellars of the monastery would be less extensive than the upper floors, I led the group down into the lowest level of the complex. This proved an excellent decision - no doubt Hextor had guided my choice - for the cellars comprised not only a large storeroom, containing many useful items, but also an immense furnace, obviously intended to warm the entire monastery.
Fortunately, though the furnace had long gone cold, there was a vast supply of coal at hand. Starting with only the smallest of fires, I directed the others in gradually building up the flames, until the furnace was functioning at full strength.
Returning to the kitchen, I was much pleased with the providence we had enjoyed. Obviously Hextor must be guiding my steps, for I had immediately found the very supplies that were needed most. There could be no clearer indication that He had brought me to this place in order to cleanse it of the curse that befouled His House.