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Keys from the Golden Vault Session 39
Starring
Chéri Powder, level 8 human Illusionist Wizard
Elowen Fernwhisper, level 8 wood elf Circle of the Moon Druid
Stayzie Diamondz, level 8 orc Champion Fighter
Taveen, level 8 aasimar Warrior of Mercy Monk
Varrow, level 8 gnome Thief Rogue/Gloomstalker Ranger
At Mayor Tavio’s suggestion, the party had decided on posing as workers to infiltrate the Tomb of Xeluan beneath the town. But, they still need a plan to get their gear inside.
Thankfully they have a bag of holding. Tavio warns of a pat-down search when they enter, so Chéri says he will split off and go invisible with the bag to get inside.
Elowen wild shapes into a cat, and rides on Stayzie’s shoulders as Tavio leads them to the tunnel at the ruined citadel around which the town was built. They had previously stripped their gear, including armor, and placed it into the bag, with Tavio providing more common street wear clothing for day laborers.
Taveen laughs in monk. What armor and weapons?
Despite being the Mayor, Tavio doesn’t hold a lot of respect or authority over the Onyx Scar that runs the mining expedition. The guards sarcastically thank the Mayor for bringing new workers, and they escort them down the 200-ft damp tunnel to the Tomb (X1).
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One of the guards provides a code knock, and the large double doors swing open, revealing an entry chamber with a big mural.
Before they step inside, Chéri starts to split off. Acting quickly, Varrow casts minor illusion of rocks falling as a distraction, letting the wizard quickly slip away and cast Greater Invisibility.
The ruse works, and an invisible Chéri, literally holding the bag, quickly rushes through the entry room (X2) and beyond.
The rest of them have to submit to a security checkpoint. They’re told they can bring in a lunch, and Stayzie hilariously replies that the Elo-cat draped around her shoulders is her lunch, which suitably intimidates the guards.
Since nobody has any gear on them, they make it through the guards with ease, and are led through a passageway that’s been recently converted into tight hallway with barricades and crossbow-wielding guards (X3).
They catch up with an invisible Chéri in the central chamber, which holds the 30-ft high petrified remains of the giant, Xeluan. The two-story room features a surrounding mezzanine, and scaffolding that reaches to the second floor (X4).
As Stayzie enters the room, the shard (which she smartly hid and covered up) pulses, and a tremor rocks the Tomb, knocking rocks and rubble. At least one worker already in the room is injured, and the boss calls them to take a break, as newcomers have arrived to work.
Chéri uses the distraction to cast a major illusion of a wall, just as his invisibility spell wears off. Varrow sneaks over to rearm and equip his armor, and casts disguise self to appear as if he wasn’t wearing armor and weapons.
A ghostly image forms itself from the shard, introducing himself as Rilago, the young man who was killed after discovering the Tomb.
Only Stayzie can see the ghost, but everyone can hear as he speaks through the shard.
Rilago explains how he struck the giant in frustration over being unable to mine anything from his obsidian body. But when he did so, he somehow broke its chest, and was killed when a shard pierced his body.
While talking, he’s upset about hearing ghastly voices nearby, drowing him out. Stayzie is concerned. Are there more ghost-shards? He points to the second floor, but the boss told them not to leave the scaffolding.
That’s where the others come in!
While Varrow sneaks around behind the boss, Taveen walks up and sucker punches him in the face.
The shocked (and heavily injured guard) reaches for his alarm horn — but Varrow already swiped it! The rogue then non-lethally stabs the guard from behind, preparing to knock him out.
But, Stayzie wants to help from above. So she drops a big ass rock, crushing the man!
Oh well.
The party finds two more map pieces to help them navigate the Tomb. Rilago knows there are stairs leading up on the west side, though the mezzanine can also be reached from the scaffolding.
Chéri also hands over Stayzie’s gear, and then uses disguise self to appear as the man they just killed (sort-of accidently).
The party prepares to enter the room that has Rilago so distressed.
Live post-session discussion:
Next session: Ghost Hunters!
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