Session 14 - Lance Rock: Vacancy

Day 14 of Olmis (Continued)

The determined, resourced-drained heroes are chasing after The Lord of Lance Rock. As they chase him down the rear passage they run into a small horde of 8 zombies.
The party fights the zombies in their path - Thurgood (with one spell in reserve) does a fine job as the tank-wizard alongside Josef who smacks Zombies as they move up. They can hear the "Lord" ranting about trespassers and rummaging through things up ahead. He tells something he needs protection and hopes aloud maybe "the eye will protect him". The "Lord" apparently finds what he was searching for and the PCs can hear him guzzling potions.
Something new hollers down the passage toward them saying "I.. know... muh boy Zane... sent you. He made me. He invoked... Vecna! Whelp... not... wanna face... his da? Zane is... bad!"
Lane sweeps his Moonbeam spell through the zombies melting them like ice in a fire storm before the spell ends. One zombie (Bazil) refuses to stay down! Round after round he is beaten into the ground only to rise up and fight on! Ultimately Bazil the zombie does give up it’s tenuous hold on false-life and ceases moving.
With the way forward clear of undead, the PCs advance. Ahead they can see a faintly illuminated round cave. It’s walls are covered in grungy purple drapes. In the center is a glowing crystal orb (later determined to be a Driftglobe) supported by a dead hand which itself is part of a "pedestal" of interlinked arms. Above the orb is a translucent eye, floating in the air, seemingly taking in all that is around it.
The party engages the a half-rotting, wine drinking, mercenary looking figure. Its vengeful gaze is enough to paralyze a man in his tracks. Several resist his dreadful glare, but Taraxacam does fall victim to it. The thing takes advantage of this and nearly drops the furious Eladrin. Some star-sparkles from Lane helps Taraxacam escape the fear and he retreats long enough to slug down some healing potions from Josef’s dropped backpack.
Josef bathes the room in silence. Olivine attacks the glowing globe nearly destroying it. It flickers, nearly goes out and the eye disappears. The eye got a good long look at Lane and Olivine.
Maddened by the attack on the globe, the “Lord” (who had been casting spells from behind the curtains), rushes out and nearly kills Olivine (4hp remaining). Pulling out his most deft moves Olive extricates himself from the dangerous room.
Soon our party has the drunken, undead mercenary surrounded and proceed to lay into him like ants on morsel. At its end, a rift opens in the ground below the merc he falls in clutching to the sides of the rift, but a large demonic hand grasps his body! He is pulled down and the rift seals back up.
The Lord is ganged up on next and at his demise he erupts into a dark purple flame leaving nothing behind.
The PCs search the room and find:

A "Silver Diamond"(needed for resurrecting Nidalia)

500 gp

6 polished jet gems (50 gp each)

A wand of magic missiles

An Adamantine strong box that Taraxacam (with Olivine helping) are unable to pick open - it seems magic of some sort is interfering with its opening.

The party moves outside to a nearby grove of trees. It is late afternoon. The party makes camp and takes a long rest. The Jackalwere’s and Taraxacam take all the watches.
The party experiences a common dream during their long rest. You see yourself creeping forward through shadowy darkness. Around you, you see your allies and other "familiar yet unrecognized". In the center of this darkness is a large baleful eye that watches unceasingly for any movement. A searing wind, blowing dirt, hot ash and sometimes steam attempts to drive the encroaching circle back...

Players

John

Mike

Jay

Wil

Owen (briefly virtual)