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Sun 19th Nov 2023 11:05

Session 27: Shadowkeep

by Spook

After another day’s travel we met again with Severin Blackthorne, this time at the base of Draken Peak, where the Shadowkeep, another name for Castle von Galuer, lay at the summit. Blackthorne warned us of the ascent we would need to undertake, and also of the “Devil’s influence” on those within the castle. He requested that we attempt to spare his brothers and sisters within, if possible. He also informed us that the path to von Glauer lay within the floor of the main chamber. He told us to beware the Bone Organ in that room, but nothing more.
 
Our ascent was uneventful as we climbed up through the dark clouds above. The path was clear, however, and led us more or less directly to the keep entrance. Outside we did encounter a curious old woman who crawled out of a demogoblin corpse’s ear before addressing us. “Putrid Agnes”, as we would come to know her, was a bizarre thing who would talk of beets and sing a strange lullaby.
 
We chose not to investigate other paths, choosing the front doors for expediency. The doors opened as if to welcome us on approach. Upon entrance, we were set upon by four vampire spawn. We are eventually able to subdue all four, mainly because Bait could turn away a few of them to make the battle more manageable.
 
That room led directly to the main chamber, with a massive organ at one end, with the face of an angel as its main decoration. As Scar entered the room to investigate the organ, one undead dragon appeared, quickly followed by another. One blue and one green, they pushed the four of us to our limits to defeat them, Scar and myself falling after landing near lethal blows, to have Pyre finish the last of them off. After besting them, we found a passage through the floor in the center of a pentagram symbol. The passageway led downwards to a statue of an angel without a face. The statue appeared to be the top of a sarcophagus which upon opening, revealed a body with hands crossed in front of it, open, as if to accept an object.
 
Without hesitation, I placed the Sceptre of von Glauer into the hands of the long dead corpse. The rod crumbled to dust, releasing a wave of necrotic energy. Soon thereafter, we witnessed the form of Rhodar von Glauer, renewed, floating over the sarcophagus.
 
He greeted us and gave thanks for delivering his artifact back to him. He offered some gifts as reward for our actions. I received the Essence of Shadowkeep for bearing the rod back to him. He also offered a shield, which Bait took up, and a contract that would allow one to “remake” themselves. The encounter quickly turned to talks of Alliance with the Scales.
 
His realm is still occupied by the Bloodlord Varrax and his army, and this will be the first test of our new alliance.