Episode 28 - The Siege Continues
General Summary
While the Guardians of Golarion healed after their battle, Hugo Powerfist began having technical difficulties. His image began to glitch, his audio cut in and out, and finally, he disappeared. A now audible slurping sound from behind them got the party's attention, and they turned to watch an elephant-sized Bebilith spider as it fed on the large ashblood savage that Ella had slain and knocked through a set of doors that led outside. They remained silent, and the huge beast dragged the body away. Proteus Marin cast the Close cantrip and closed the doors as it left. They entered the darkened library proper, managing to avert an ambush when the drow that had been waiting for them attacked Stinger, Proteus' familiar. Battle began, and the Guardians dealt with drow blademasters as well as a drow captain. Blinded by Reh the captain managed to dominate Ella and she ordered Ella to protect her. Ella ended up attacking Proteus, knocking Fjord unconscious as he tried to grapple her, and was about to close on Sir Godric before the hold was finally broken and the captain was killed. Searching the library revealed a stack of tomes. An inspection of the six tomes and assorted scraps revealed that all of the books dealt with one of two subjects: astronomy and the Great Beyond. Of particular note, one bookmark denotes a page dealing with the properties of the “realm of shadows” and how time can be “mutable in such a domain.” All of these tomes were written in Elven. There was another book, bound in what was actually dragonhide, that discussed Zalatas the Celestial Darkness. Reh, however, discovered something else. A box, made of onyx and marked with the symbol of the Akashic Order, seemed to call out to her. It was protected with a rune of warding, so the contents remain a mystery. Minutes later, two squads of elves entered the building to secure it. The captain, speaking in elvish, instructed the group to head back to the camp as Eviana had another assignment for them. Back at the camp, Eviana thanked the Guardians for taking out the library. However, as soon as they were able, she wanted them back in the city to take out another target. This one was presumed to be the alchemical workshop that was producing many of the weapons the drow were using against the elves. The group readied themselves and, along with Fjord, returned to Celwynvian to take out the alchemist. Making their way north through the city, the party came across one of the many scenes of the battle that continued to rage across the city. Buck and Ella made the initial discovery of an elven soldier who had been tortured to death and had his ears removed, a procedure that drow referred to as "husking." When the Guardians arrived at the workshop, they discovered a domed stone building surrounded by debris. The ground had been saturated with chemicals, making it difficult to travel through. They began to formulate a plan when an invisible drider made his presence felt by casting a lightning bolt at the group, nearly killing Proteus and Fjord while seriously injuring the others. Godric and Ella gave chase and managed to kill it just before it could unleash any other spells. Low on spells and healing supplies, the Guardians prepared to enter the alchemist's workshop.
Rewards Granted
50 gp Scrolls
- arcane scroll of clairvoyance (CL 3), scroll of cure moderate wounds (3), scroll of web (CL 3)
- wand of magic missile (CL 3rd, 10 charges), wand of lesser restoration (CL 3, 3 charges)
- mithral chain shirt (2), masterwork longsword (2), full plate, heavy steel shield, +1 whip, masterwork flail, silver holy symbol of Abraxas
- Onyx Box with the mark of the Akashic Order
- Six tomes referring to the realm of shadows and the Great Beyond
- One tome of Zalatas
Missions/Quests Completed
- Secured the Library of Dust.
Character(s) interacted with
- Eviana
- Fjord