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Keys from the Golden Vault Session 40
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
The ghost of Rilago insists the party investigate the sound of ghostly wailing and screaming that only he can hear. Stayzie guides the party up the scaffolding surrounding the petrified giant statue, and leaps across to the mezzanine on the upper floor of the tomb (X18).
Varrow uses his rope of climbing to help the not-so-athletic Chéri cross.
The upper floor mezzanine features four massive stone doors in each cardinal direction. Two doors are already open to the east and west, but it’s the southern door that Rilago points out.
Stayzie isn’t keen on heading inside just yet, and convinces Rilago to snoop in there first.
He does, then materalizes after several moments, screaming about being killed, before he remembers he’s already a ghost! Apparently the ghosts inside are much scarier and angrier, but Rilago believes they need help.
Stayzie opens the door to the crypt, which makes a horrible loud grinding sound, and brings the attention of a nearby guard down the hallway to the west (X15).
Thankfully Chéri is disguised as Jefe, the overseer they took out earlier, and convinces the guard to turn around without incident.
Programming note: We’re out for the next two weeks due to vacations!
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Thanks to Rilago’s advance warning, Stayzie isn’t surprised when she steps into the creepy crypt, and a pair of nasty wraiths materialize and attack (X22).
Elo-cat casts conjure animals to summon a swarm of birds, Varrow uses his rope of climbing to grab on and throw daggers, while Chéri casts faerie fire to light one of the wraiths up.
Neither wraith is able to hit with their nasty draining attacks, and Stayzie decides to take note of Rilago and approach the monstrous ghosts with words instead of weapons.
She convinces them that they’re here to help, and surprisingly, her words get through. The wraiths anger melts away, revealing a pair of elderly adventurers, a human woman and a dwarf man.
The human recognizes Rilago as one of her descendants, and confirms that he broke Xeluan’s heart when he struck the giant’s chest.
The giant was a dear ally to them in their adventuring days, and he sacrificed himself to protect their homeland and their families, creating a sanctuary free of danger. In return, the adventurers pledged to always honor and protect his tomb, and pass on this duty to their descedants.
But, the duties have been lost to time, and Rilago’s discovery and smashing is like an anguishing betrayal to Xeluan.
But the ghosts have another, more immediate problem. An elven wizard broke into this crypt and managed to trap some of them within some of the black shards — just like Rilago and Stayzie’s shard. They demand these spirits be returned by bringing the shards to Xeluan. Only then can Rilago return and free Stayzie as well.
While speaking, the ghosts flicker back to the monstrous wraith forms. Their anger at these recent events are driving them to a wrathful rage, and they can barely contain themselves.
Xeluan’s protective magic is waning, and soon the region will be besieged by quakes and droughts.
Rilago knows the elven wizard, Edino. He was an acquaintance who also fancied Aminta, the Mayor’s sister. Though Rilago won her heart, Edino never gave up trying to impress her, even learning arcane spells. Rilago hates him, and realizes he must’ve learned how to trap souls within the shards after his own soul became trapped.
Another quake shakes the tomb, more violent than before, and the party quickly exits before the ghosts get wraithy again.
Rilago believes that Edino must have an office or study somewhere here in the tomb, where they can hopefully find the three Oztocanite soul-shards.
With guards to the west, they decide to head through the open door to the east, finding a storage room full of food (X20). Inside there’s a warning note saying, “Don’t forget to feed, Hambre!”
Taveen thinks that’s pretty interesting, and walks into the room.
One of the barrels in the corner transforms, revealing itself as a mimic, as a nasty tongue comes lashing out.
It misses the monk, and the rest of the party snaps into action.
Elo-cat moves her conjured bird swarm to peck at it, while Stayzie gives two powerful swings of her greataxe to split it in half, destroying the monstoristy.
Poor Taveen is still searching for food to feed it when he realizes it’s already dead.
Varrow picks a locked door that leads to a larget office-like chamber, with a central dining table, and several smaller rooms sparsely furnished as guest rooms (X21). There’s also a trapdoor in the corner, but it’s magically sealed. Taveen tries punching it, to no avail, and sees a message that reads, “Danger, Do Not Open.”
This is a particularly perceptive party, and they notice a secret door along the northern wall. Inside is a dusty, unused tunnel, and they can hear muffled voices at the end.
They very carefully open the secret door at the end, revealing another conference room with an even longer table, and several bookshelves (X19). This room is occupied, however. Aminta, a high-ranking leader of the Onyx Scar, sits at the head, hearing a presentation from an elven wizard – Edino! He’s unwrapping one of the soul shards and presenting his work as “Enhanced Oztocanite” that they can sell for an even bigger profit.
A pair of armed and armored gang members also sit at the table.
Before they can formulate a plan, Stayzie kicks down the bookshelf, surprising the gang leaders, and the fight is on!
Aminta fires her crossbow at the orc fighter, missing all three times! Edino tries to launch a fireball at the group, but Chéri is faster, quickly ducking into the room and counterspells it! He throws a card from his deck of illusions, which he got forever ago as a reward from Trench, and summons a troll into the room!
The troll distracts one of the guards, and Varrow pulls out his pipes of haunting, though only one of the guards fails the WIS save.
Elowen shifts out of cat form and casts fount of moonlight on herself, while Stayzie and Taveen move into the room to attack.
Taveen struggles against a nearby guard, however, only connecting with one attack from a flurry of blows, and the guard makes the stunning strike save.
Stayzie also struggles, rolling a nat 1 on an attack, and triggering the shard’s side effect misfortune table – leaving her temporarily restrained!
Aminta and Edino back up toward an open door on the other side, ready to flee and call for more guards as the battle heats up.
Programming note: We’re out for the next two weeks due to vacations!
Live post-session discussion:
Next session: Showdown with the Onyx Scar!
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