DIT 19: "Just One to Go"

Discovery, Exploration

You have but one Black Gate to secure to begin the steps to disrupt enough of them to get into the Phylactery Vault. But you also have no idea if Tarul Var has rejuvenated yet or not so even making it into the Vault, will you face an army of guards? Tarul Var's rejuvenated self? or Szass Tam himself?

Returning the Far Realm Cysts after finding no glyph keys in the Forests of Slaughter, you enter a large, tiered cavern full of gricks, gibbering mouthers, and a grell. Among them are several commoners, clearly prisoners of the Red Wizards who are quite grateful to be freed but unfortunately have no useful information.

Within the chamber you find a slab of jet-black stone, its sides show relief carvings of familiar humanoid faces — your own. Examining the slab using identify and knowledge of the arcane, Malice and Brehana ascertain that laying a magical item on the slab can impart additional power – however, that additional power requires the absorption of a living soul by the item.

Continuing further to the north of the sector toward where you know an entry point Black Gate exists you find yourself face to face with a Beholder. Choosing to parlay rather than attack you discover that her name is Thaxalia and you can clearly see that her central eye and two of her eye-stalks have been maimed. When she learns you are here to stop the Red Wizards she is more than willing to admit her desire for revenge.

You agree to give her a glyph key, having also just discovered one attuned to Warren of Eyes, so that she is free to roam the Doomvault at her leisure to deal with Red Wizards.

But as she attempts to pass through the White Gate between the Warren of Eyes and the Prison of Filth, you hear her scream in rage – “YOU DECEIVED ME!! THIS KEY DOES NOT WORK!!”