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Ten years ago, the Ghoul Imperium of the Underworld and the vampires of Morgau marched into Krakova and conquered the kingdom entirely, establishing the Greater Duchy of Morgau and expanding the borders of the Blood Kingdom.
The undead occupation has been kept in check by resistance from the Court-in-Exile, as well as opportunistic reaver dwarves who sailed across the Nieder Straits.
But the hidden machinations of the ghouls swirl beneath the surface. Rumors abound of an even more sinister plot that threatens not just one kingdom, but the entire world of Midgard.
Empire of the Ghouls is designed by Richard Green, and published by Kobold Press. It takes place in Kobold Press’ fantasy world of Midgard.
Chapter 4: Catacombs of the Ghul King
Episode 6: The Ghul King’s Catacomb p2
Active Party:
Alaric, level 9 dhampir Death Domain Cleric/Bard
Bahn, level 9 kobold Bard College of Whispers
I/O, level 9 gearforged Circle of the Moon Druid
Lucian, level 9 dhampir Clockwork Soul Sorcerer
Ry, level 9 shadow fey Black Powder Sorcerer
The chapel within the Elia mausoleum holfd only a single wandering zombie (area 9). But a sudden, magical sandstorm throws the whole party into disarray. I/O transforms into a bear and charges forward, carrying Lucian, while Ry and Bahn attack the zombie.
The sandstorm is strong and powerful, dealing damage every turn, threatening to knock them prone, and obscuring vision. None of it seems to affect the zombie, however, and when the creature goes down from Ry’s blind-fire burning hands, the storm continues to rage.
But Ry notices an indention in the spot the zombie fell. I/O creeps forward and inspects the area. Sure enough, the zombie had stepped on a pressure plate, triggering the trap. She pulls the zombie’s body off, and the storm finally subsides.
Meanwhile Alaric hadn’t entered the room, preferring to stay outside and attack from range. Unfortunately he didn’t get the memo not to stay in the rug room (area 8), and is attacked by a rug of smothering!
The rug misses its ambush.. Alaric responds by sinking his fangs and tearing out some fabric. A lot of carpet and rug jokes ensue.
With nowhere to go but down the nearby stairs, the party carefully descends even deeper into the dungeon. I/O is forced to de-shape due to the size of the staircase. Weary of Bahn’s heedless attitude, Alaric casts death ward on him.
After 30 feet, they finally reach the end. The stairs open into a large circular chamber. The room is broken and destroyed, as if half-demolished by a wrecking crew, with debris and cracked floors and ceilings.
Bahn and Alaric step forward, only for gravity to suddenly reverse, sending them, and all the rocks, tumbling toward the ceiling.
Bahn crawls toward the only exit to the south, and falls back to the floor. He would’ve dropped to 0 hit points, but thanks to Alaric’s death ward, he survives.
Witnessing these dramatic events, the others have a plan.
Ry casts vortex warp, teleporting I/O across the room toward Bahn, where she’s able to administer magical healing.
Unfortunately, she also spots a pair of Ghasts scratching on a door in the next room (area 13), and they certainly spot her and Bahn!
Lucian casts fly on himself and Alaric, allowing them to awkwardly fly through the reverse gravity field into the next room. Alaric gets a power rush swooping down and stabbing the nearest Ghast!
The reason Lucian didn’t target Ry, is because the shadow fey decided he wanted to test the gravity field himself, stepping off and tumbling around. With some preparation and DEX saves, he has a bit of fun, and it’s much less painful without the flying rocks.
I/O shapes into a bear again to battle the Ghasts. As a gearforged, she doesn’t have to worry about their noxious stench. The party quickly surrounds and defeats the undead.
On the other side of the door they hear a whimpering voice. When asked, the voice tells them to go away and leave it alone.
But that’s not what adventurers do!
They open the door, with Lucian taking point. Inside is a long alcove with shelves of empty canopic jars and scraps of linen (area 14/15/16).
A large, undead figure unfolds itself, towering above Lucian. It looks ghoulish, but without the claws and fangs. Its face is a mask of terror, pain, and sadness. Spectral swords pierce through its body (modified Lost Sorrowsworn, MMoM).
Lucian reassures the strange creature, and it responds by trying to hug him. He backs off, and the others get a bit tense as it wails about danger and fear.
Lucian relents, and the creature embraces him. Immediately the swords dig into his body!
Ry and Alaric are ready to throw down, but Lucian mentions the name Masudi. Could this be his brother, Makani?
Upon mentioning the name, the creature’s grip loosens as he begins to remember his fate, and tortuous resurrection.
Makani warns them that only his own grief and pain keeps the Ghul King’s commands at bay. The other undead tease and torment him, using a nearby secret door to reach the surface and drag victims back down, where they feast nearby.
The party tells him they’re here to end the Ghul King. Makani confirms they trapped him once, and that perhaps some of the trap, a magic urn, still functions, as the King seems unable to leave this tomb.
Only by destroying both the urn and the King can they finally destroy him for good. Makani warns them against simply trying to trap the king, as his power corrupts, and led to he and his brother’s deaths long ago.
Makani returns to his secluded alcove while the party explore the secret door to the outer chamber (area 18/19).
There are signs of tracks leading to a small tunnel with fresh air. A safe way out!
Back inside, the party hunker down for a short rest in one of the other alcoves, then continue south.
A large room is divided in half by a twisting hallway. Both halves are strewn with blood and bones (area 17). At the other end, a pair of jackal-headed statues flank a solid wooden door.
As the party investigate for traps, nearly a dozen skeletons animate form the bones and attack!
Or they would, if Alaric didn’t get to go first, use Turn Undead, and turn 9 out of 10 skeletons into ash in an instant. “I don’t have time for this.”
With the undead threat neutralized, the party turn back to the doors. Makani had warned of another, powerful creature guarding the King’s lair. They open the door and see another large circular chamber, dominated by a nest (area 20). Sitting in the nest is a winged woman with fangs and claws:
“Welcome to my lair. King Temuuri isn’t seeing any visitors at the moment. But we’re always accepting delicious offerings!”
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RogueWatson 