Session 084 - Rats, Ghosts and a Basilisk Egg

General Summary

22^nd of Peonu (Spring) 722TR

The story so far

Acheron and friends are traveling to the Dwarven Kingdom of Azadmere to collect a magical Silver Sword.

On their way, they have uncovered a conspiracy. In the long-forgotten tunnels under the City's Amphitheatre they have discovered a nest of shape-changing Ratmen. The Ratmen appear to have been created using strange Magical Fur Cloaks and controlled by magical domination.

The continuation of Session 83 - Vermin under the Amphitheater.

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Location - City of Tashal in the Kingdom of Kaldor.

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Part 1 - Yet more Rats

The Heroes continue forward down the passageway encountering swarms of rats and another Hybrid Ratman. The man flees; however, he and his vermin friends are quickly defeated. Like the two previous Ratmen encountered, he was knocked out and transformed into a human after his magical cloak was removed.

Lurking nearby was Eldon Farbeck, formerly an employee of the Thespian Company of Esaldin, who manages the above Amphitheater. He does not appear completely sane, muttering about creating a new family after observing the party holding the magical cloaks and surrounded by dead rats. He proves a handful, throwing vials of acid and transforming into a Hybrid Ratman. Sabretooth quickly restrains him, and he is killed by Acheron using his Silver Sword, believing that he is the source of the infestation.

On his corpse, they find a Metal Ring with crude animal symbols inscribed on it. This is later identified as a Ring of Animal Influence. It appears Eldon Farbeck was using the magical cloaks to transform the unwilling Bards and performers into rats and then coercing them with the magic ring.

Part 2 - Room with a Warning

A nearby door has a crude warning written in dried blood, "Horrible Room, Keep out," and the door is wedged shut. The Heroes investigate and find an ancient chamber with what looks like a stone table holding three heads, each with empty eye sockets and mouths open. One head is that of a mummified Human, one is made from stone, and the last head is carved from wood. On the ground is a dead body of a Ratman. Removing his cloak reveals an ancient man who appears to have died of old age and fright.

The cause of his death quickly becomes evident as a Ghost, in the form of a man dressed in archaic colorful robes, materializes. Suddenly the Heroes are overwhelmed with terror. Avon is particularly severely affected, aging three decades in moments, then struck again for another thirty years by the Ghost's Withering Touch. Lucky being a Half-elf gifts him an extended lifespan. The Heroes eventually recover their composure and attack, driving the apparition temporarily back into the Ethereal Plane several times.

Frustrated, the Ghost possesses Sabretooth and forces him to attack his friends. Eventually, the heroes manage to knock Sabretooth out and dispatch the Ghost as it is expelled from his body. They expect that the Ghost will reform again, but they plan to be long gone.

In a concealed compartment, Avon finds a bag filled with sand containing two stone eyes (one with a red iris and the other blue) and a stone tongue. Acheron placed the red eye in the Human right socket and gained a magical boon, the ability to run faster. Avon puts the tongue in the Stone Head finds he can now create a shock wave on earth and stone. Sabretooth places the blue eye in the socket left socket of the wooden head finds he can now cause plants to grow and impede his enemies. These boons have a limited number of times they can be used before the magic fades.

Part 3 - The Stone Egg

The last chamber the heroes find has a Hybrid Ratwomen who appears to be protecting what looks like a Stone Egg. She is confused, and Acheron convinces her that he is now the new Master after displaying his the Ring of Animal Influence. He tricks her into taking off her Magical Cloak resulting in her transforming into an attractive young woman. She warns the party about the "Guardians of the Egg" but gives no details about what the guardians are. As they approach the Egg, three stone winged humanoids emerge from the stonework. Avon grabs the Egg and flees down a passage while Sabretooth blocks the pursuing Gargoyles. The stone monsters are resilient, but after many hard strikes, they are demolished, reduced to rubble.

The heroes collect the confused and injured bards and actors who they have rescued and returned to human form, then return to the surface.