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Keys from the Golden Vault Session 34
StarringChéri Powder, level 7 human Illusionist Wizard
Elowen Fernwhisper, level 7 wood elf Circle of the Moon Druid
Stayzie Diamondz, level 7 orc Champion Fighter
Taveen, level 7 aasimar Warrior of Mercy Monk
Varrow, level 7 gnome Thief Rogue/Ranger
In the library of Castle Cinnis (S5), the party witnesses a magical scene play out via smoke and haze: scenes of Charmayne desperately researching something over time, before finally discovering it, then retreating to her mage tower.
The tower is no longer connected to the library, however. The fiery void above has not only transformed the city into ash, but also slowly drawing everything up into it. The entire mage tower has been ripped from the library, and now floats near the second floor on the east side.
Varrow listens at the door. Hearing nothing (a 7 Perception!) he opens it, discovering a long hallway with several fiery guards (azer sentinels, S2). And at the far end, the kitchen door lies open, revealing a pair of monstrously transformed hounds (hell hounds, S4).
Varrow manages to capture the nearest guard with net and manacles while Stayzie and Taveen remain near the door in a defensive posture.
Elowen, however, conjures a spectral pack of animals in the hallway, drawing the attention of the hounds, who had been feasting on the kitchen staff.
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The first two guards are quickly dispatched thanks to the manacles and a stunning strike by Taveen, though their constant fire damage aura proves painful.
Seeing the hounds have dog collars with names, Stayzie tries to talk them down with a little meat from her ration pack. But her pleas are met with deep growls (failed Animal Handling checks!).
The party is forced to fight the creatures. They prove far more formidable than the guards, unleashing their fiery breaths and bites. The conjured animals aren’t very effective either, with the enemies constantly succeeding on the DEX saves to avoid them.
Stayzie, Taveen, and Elowen all take some nasty burn damage, while Varrow stays clear of danger, taking potshots from the first room.
Finally the fiery creatures are put down, though Stayzie makes sure to knock out the hounds instead of destroy them (Taveen also knocks out a guard, though Stayzie cares less about them).
Looking at the map Neavys gave them, they figure they need to work their way up toward the king’s bedroom.
But the entire northern wall of the castle, including the king’s room and study, have been ripped away, and now float well above them.
The opening lets them see into the art gallery (S6) where they witness another magical scene from the past. This scene showcases a pair of servants violently transforming during the ritual’s effects, becoming burned, charred, and lifeless.
Varrow carefully listens at the doorway to the spiral staircase (S7), then leads the way upstairs into the Royal Gallery (S13).
The Gallery features tables of trinkets, trophies, and treasures of the kingdom. Much of it is mundane and starting to burn and flake away, save for a single magical shield.
Elowen equips the Sentinel Shield, which features the Ghalasine coat of arms.
Another smoky scene of the past reveals Charmayne giving the coughing king a potion while subtlety weaving a spell, trying to drain his vitality as she leads the listless king away.
Most of the party still reels from the painful fight earlier, prompting them to drink healing potions while Varrow listens, and stealthily opens the northern door into the Upper Hallway (S8).
Like downstairs, the northern wall is completely gone, reduced to crumbling ash, while the northern rooms float far above. Varrow recalls the mage tower was the lowest of the floating buildings, but it was closer to the east side of the second floor.
Of course, the upstairs hallway also features patrolling guards!
Live post-session discussion:
Next session: The Castle’s second floor… and beyond?
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