Session 16: Malor's Keep Report

General Summary

Discovery of the Illusions We began by scouring the chamber, finding barrels filled with gore and viscera—clearly used to craft the grotesque Unrisen. The unsettling nature of this place weighed heavily on us, but we moved on. To the west, we found a winding hallway that led us upwards, where we discovered a door sealed by powerful magic. As we pondered how to proceed, Goq, ever curious, leaned against a nearby wall and fell right through it, discovering an illusion. We followed the hidden path, winding through another hallway, only to stumble upon yet another illusionary wall. Beyond, we discovered a storeroom—its centerpiece an explosive mine that none of us dared to tamper with.   We moved further south and west, finding more storerooms filled with pottery and knick-knacks, all depicting folk-heroes of old. It was a strange sight to behold within such a dark place, but we would later come to learn that Malor had been quite the collector in life. This small hint of his former self only added to the mystery.   The Tormented Attack As we pressed on, the sound of shuffling feet echoed from further down the hall. We were suddenly attacked by an undead creature that twisted and contorted in agonizing ways—a Tormented. Its misshapen body was a caricature of the mortal it had once been, now a tortured being. The fight was brutal, and just when we thought we had felled the creature, it rose again. We tried everything, but it kept getting back up, disfigured and enraged. Finally, in a move of pure frustration, Warby punched it, and for some reason, that seemed to finally put it to rest for good. I can’t quite explain how or why, but it worked.  

Meeting Tori Tonkins

We doubled back and soon came upon a friendly ghost, one named Tori Tonkins. She claimed to have worked for Malor for quite some time, and though she never explicitly said it, it seemed she had been here since long before Malor had turned into a Lich. She offered us food and drink, though of course, it was all spectral and non-existent to us. Still, her hospitality was appreciated in such a place. Tori also mentioned something about a riddle of the Twins that guarded Malor’s chamber.   However, while we were speaking, Goq—being Goq—decided to snoop ahead, trying to open a squeaky door. It was a mistake, as he accidentally alerted a full room of Unrisen to our presence. The battle was sudden and brutal, but we managed to overcome the creatures. Afterward, we looted a few chests full of gold and discovered a short memoir detailing Malor’s life, a small insight into the man who had become a Lich.   Before leaving, we promised Tori that we would end her servitude to Malor once and for all, and then we moved forward toward the Twins.  

Solving the Riddle

When we arrived at the statues, we found that they represented Fate and Death, as Tori had hinted. They were imposing, their eyes locked on us as if they could see through our souls. We pondered their riddle for a time, each of us offering ideas, but in the end, it was Warby’s sword—still inhabited by that strange voice—that whispered one of the answers to him. With the riddle solved, the statues undid the magic seal, and we entered Malor’s chamber.  

Confrontation with Malor

Inside, we finally came face to face with Malor himself. His appearance was skeletal and rotted, but there was an undeniable power to his presence. He greeted us coldly, sealing the door behind us with a wave of his hand. He began rambling about how he was owed the Shadowstones, and that Melkorion’s quest, however grand it may seem, was a fool’s errand. In Malor’s eyes, his own ascension was all that mattered.   At that moment, Dulb, in a rather questionable move, lied to Malor, claiming to have a Shadowstone. It was a desperate gamble, one that could have turned the tide in our favor, but instead, it spurred Malor into action. He released his "assistants," massive Wraiths that surged toward us. At the same time, Malor activated a Lens-like object and conjured a thick wall of thorns to separate himself from the battle.   The fight had only just begun, and the stakes were higher than ever.