Session 053 - Mausoleum of Dark Secrets

General Summary

25 Peonu (2) (Spring) 721TR

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The story so far

Acheron, Sabretooth, and Avon have defeated a gang of Wood Cutters who at night practiced banditry and also were cultists of the Evil God Morgath. In their hidden lair, under the ruins of an old desecrated temple, the heroes have found a concealed passageway leading to the supposedly cursed Mausoleum of the Tyrant Peserl Lorseriel.

They have decided to investigate.

Continuation of Session 52 - Captives of the Woodcutters.

Part 1 - Skeletons in the Closet.

The heroes make their way through the old dark passageway. Along were hidden alcoves from which skeletons attacked although, they were easily dealt with. At the end of the passage was an antique door inscribed with the symbol of Morgath. Guarding it was a zombie with old and rusty armor plating secured all over its body. As it attacked half a dozen skeletons burst from hidden compartments along the walls. The zombie was hard to damage, but eventually, Sabretooth was able to rip it to pieces while Avon and Acheron dealt with the skeletons.

Avon inspects the door finding a powerful magical symbol embedded with dried blood. He skillfully disables it and unlocks the door.

Part 2 - Mausoleum

The heroes enter a small circular chamber containing dozens of canopic jars, a ladder leading up to secured trap door in the roof, and a table with some documentation and canopic jars. However, the whole room is filled with the oppressive Shadow of Bukrai, which eats at the character's will, and all suffered the effects of stress.

From motes of darkness, incorporeal shadowy forms attack. These three shadows strike from gloom and sap life and strength, with Sabretooth suffering most, before disappearing back into darkness. Worse, Acheron's holy smites were weakened by the room's evil aura. Eventually, Acheron thrusts a lamp into the shadow creatures, diminishing it with the light, and allowing the heroes to dispatched this undead.

Part 3 - Treasures

The table holds four Canopic Jars, the type used by Priests of Morgath to store and create undead monstrosities. Two are open and contain flakes of skin and few small brittle bones. The heroes deduce that these were used to create the Skin Bats, which attacked the heroes a few days ago (Session 51). Acheron senses the presence of undead in one of the other jars.

Also on the table are three smaller jars, one is a potion of Spider Climb, and the others are Magical Oils of Frost and Decay. The Acheron takes the Canopic Jar containing the undead creature, intending to deal with it at a later date.

The last item on the table was a partial copy of the fable, "The Ring of Haganax the Beautiful" taught to worshipers of the peaceful goddess Peoni. Unfortunately Acheron cannot recall all the details of this parable.

The party finds another concealed, very old, and unused secret passage. This was later investigated, and the party finds it opens up into an access tunnel, possibly between a guard tower and the castle. It appears they may have found a secret entrance into Castle of Themeson.

Part 4 - Sarcophagus

Acheron forces the trapdoor open and enters into the inside of a large stone Sarcophagus. He immediately identifies this as Morgathic sanctum, one of those used by the Amorvin, the free-willed undead to reform their body after a death. The Sarcophagus has two levers, one to open the exit down and another to open its lid.

Peserl Lorseriel, art by Attacus

Opening the Sarcophagus lid, Acheron discovers a chamber with a locked door and three large statues. One statue of Klyss the Necromancer the Lord of the Undead. The second statue of the Prophet Blasha, the inspiration of the Modern Morgathic Religious doctrine. The last statue is of Peserl Lorseriel, the infamous tyrant who ruled the settlement over 100 years ago. The party note that the statue looks like the man they fought a few days ago (Session 50), although this likeness does not have half his face burnt off. It appears this is Peserl Lorseriel, the Heart Stealer's unholy sanctum.

Avon sabotages the opening mechanisms of the Sarcophagus, damaging the gears and levers. He is confident that if Peserl were to reform in the Sarcophagus, he would be trapped. The party then leaves through the Mausoleum door, after Avon finds and disables the traps.

Campaign

The Uncivil War - Campaign Complete

Protagonists

Avon

Acheron

Sabretooth

Report Date

20 Oct 2019

Primary Location

Castle of Themeson

Oil of Frost

Oil of Frost

Potion Very Rare

Appearance:

A milky white oil, cold to touch and covered with fine ice crystals.

Magical Properties:

As an action the oil can be applied to either armor or onto a weapon.

Armor

Will give Resistance to Fire for 1 hour.

Weapon

Weapon will deliver an addition +1d6 Cold damage per hit for 1 hour.

Cost: Not normally available for sale Weight: 1lbs

Oil of Decay

Oil of Decay

Potion Very Rare

Appearance:

A black sticky oil smells of rotting flesh.

Magical Properties:

As an action, the oil can be applied to either armor or onto a weapon.

Armor

Will give Resistance to Radiant damage for 1 hour.

Weapon

The weapon will deliver an additional +1d6 Necrotic damage per hit for 1 hour.

Notes:

This Oil is usually created by Priests of Morgath in Canopic Jars using dead organs, the sacrifice of a living creature and secret rituals.

Cost: Not normally available for sale

Part 5 - Bullman and the Bandits

Golris the Ploughman

Investigating the old document, the party visits the local Peoni Priest Golris the Ploughman. He tells them of the cautionary tale of The Ring of Haganax the Beautiful; this is a parable on how the use of violence, even for the best of reasons, will led to greater evil. He also comments that over the years, many attempts have been made to consecrate the old Mausoleum, but any who have tried have died. He is unwilling to take the risk.

On their way out of the settlement, the party stop in at the Burning Ember Inn and find the two remaining members of the Woodcutters gang who ambushed them. Avon informs Arnalt and Imiden that the rest of their criminal organization have been killed, and they quickly come into line and agree to behave. Although Avon does not believe them, he may now have several agents he can use in the future.

NPC Interactions

Golris the Ploughman - Priest of Peoni.

Arnalt and Imiden - "Former" Thieves and Bandits.

Challenges Overcome.

7 Skeletons and 2 Decrepit Skeletons.

1 Armored Zombie.

Removed 2 Life draining traps.

3 Shadows.

Trapped the Sarcophagus.

Discovered a possible secret entrance into Castle of Themeson.

Intimidated 2 bandits.

Reward Granted

Potion of Spider Climb.

Oil of Frost.

Oil of Decay.

Created Content

The Ring of Haganax the Beautiful.

Peserl Lorseriel, the Heart Stealer.

Klyss the Necromancer - Demigod of Undeath.

Gulmorvin, Unfree Undead - Zombies and Skeletons created by the Shadow of Bukrai.

Oil of Frost

Oil of Decay

Related Reports

Shadow of Bukrai - the Evil taint of Morgath.

Castle Themeson.

Gibbet Woods - Minor update.

The Sacrifice of Meyasania.

Players Character Status

Avon - Level 3 Thief.

Acheron - Level 2 Paladin and Level 1 Warlock Disciple of Mendiz.

Sabretooth - Level 2 Barbarian and Level 1 Monk.