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Keys from the Golden Vault Session 4

Starring
Varrow, level 3 gnome Thief Rogue
Stayzie Diamondz, level 3 orc Champion Fighter
Elowen Fernwhisper, level 3 wood elf Circle of the Moon Druid
Chéri Powder, level 3 human Illusionist Wizard
Taveen, level 3 aasimar Warrior of Mercy Monk

From up in the attic (V17), Varrow hears the brief alarm that Taveen had tripped. Before he can move down to investigate, he sees a pair of figures approaching the skylight.

It’s Arlo and Enna, two professionals from the Zhentarim, and they’re here for a mission. Arlo, a snarky halfling, is the leader, and he doesn’t like the look of the skylight already open, and a rope dangling over the side of the building.

Instead of hiding or running away, Varrow makes his presence known by shutting the skylight and holding it closed with some rope. He says there may be a double booking here, but his crew was first.

Arlo doesn’t care. He hurls a large stone through the skylight (that was suspiciously packing for specific reasons), while a pale elven woman shoots Varrow with her bow.

Varrow is forced to back off and rush downstairs to the prehistoric exhibit (V12), calling out that they’re going to have company from above.

But the party already has their hands full. Elowen retreats and moves her moonbeam spell atop the guard and animated statue, destroying them both. Stayzie tanks some nasty blows, while Taveen tells her to get inside the gemstone wing and use the bag of holding with the stone.

She rushes in there around the same time Varrow makes it in, hurling a dagger at the remaining guard, killing her (V13).

Stayzie grabs the stone, but doing so triggers the pressure plate trap, magically closing and locking all the doors.

Thankfully Varrow knows the route he scouted earlier, pointing out the secret closet doors that lead to the hallway exhibit to the south (V9).

Every round, however, the ominous stone pulses, even within the bag of holding, and radiates a magical effect, most of which deals nasty shock damage to Stayzie.

While he and Stayzie escape the gemstone wing, Elowen moves her moonbeam spell over the stairs, killing another guard with radiant light. The guard captain finally calls for a full retreat of the guards.

But the party has a new problem to contend with — the rivals.

In addition to Arlo and Enna making their way downstairs, the other half of their team arrives from the basement. Sabrina “Kill More” Kilgore and Tosh Starling are wearing guard uniforms, while Gregir is their man on the inside, and magically disguised.

Gregir lets them in from the breakroom (V7). Chéri overhears some chatter, but isn’t sure what’s going on. Still magically disguised himself, he exits the offices and attempts to “hello, fellow guards” his way over to them.

But the rivals have a simple plan — to clear the first floor. As the guard captain comes down, harried and screaming about the deaths of several guards, one of the rivals, Kill More, swiftly knocks her out. Tosh waves his hands, and casts dispel magic on Elowen’s moonbeam, finally ending it.

Gregir uses his magical arcane blast to knock out Chéri, but doesn’t quite deal enough damage. However, the crafty mage pretends to crumple to the ground, and that’s good enough for them.

With the guards dead or in full retreat, the party just has the rivals remaining. But they’re a tough crew, and the trio makes it up the stairs. Enna has fired several arrows at Taveen as he closes in, realizing she’s a lot tougher than the guards, while Arlo has chased Varrow, and then Stayzie through the halls, noting the missing stone, and the conspicuous (and hilariously bedazzled) bag of holding.

Alro asks her to give it up, but she successfully bluffs him off. Though while sifting through the bag, she sees the stone has been cracking, and there appears to be something inside trying to get out.

Arlo chases after Varrow, who has made it back to the prehistoric exhibit. Stayzie grabs him from behind at the same time that Kill More starts attacking Elowen and Taveen, and the rival spellcasters are there to throw down.

What could be a huge, deadly brawl is diffused thanks to Stayzie holding her sword to Arlo’s throat. But the real motivation is the stone itself, which bathes the two in glowing green light.

Stayzie mentions that there’s something inside the stone — and that gets Arlo’s attention. He demands proof, and she pulls the stone out and shows him, as another crack appears. 

He’s mad, but not necessarily at the party. He mentions that Arkin is indebted to his organization (they funded the Chult expedition), and that she said the stone would be super valuable. But it’s currently destroying itself as something is trying to burst through. He doesn’t want any part of that!

Arlo calls for his crew to back off. He doesn’t take it personally, they’re all professionals after all, but the group refuses to give their names, or reveal who they’re working for (Elowen mentions the “moon goddess,” much to his annoyance).

The rivals leave with some loot they nicked from the basement, as Stayzie dramatically hurls the stone away. With a satisfying crack, it splits open, revealing a tiny, lizard-like creature inside. It’s covered in a hard, rocky exterior, with large crystalline eggs and spikes along its back, which discharge electricity between them.

She falls in love instantly, ands scoops it up.

Live post-session discussion: 

Next session: Mission success?

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