Session 063 - Some Things Should Be Keep Hidden
General Summary
16th Larane (5) (Summer) 721TRThe story so far
Avon is a member of the elite Red Guard Legion and specializes in interrogation and intelligence gathering. He is often used to evaluate potential threats to the Thardic Republic.
He has been ordered to investigate the Company of Dead Men, a large mercenary band who have been acting suspiciously. Avon, aided by his friends, has infiltrated the Company and has maneuvered himself into a senior rank in this organization.
The Company, under the direction of evil Priests of Morgath, are mounting an expedition to recover some powerful and evil artifact hidden in the distant Izora Mines. They are assisted by a small band of Dwarven criminals.
The Heroes believe they have found the hidden vault containing this artifact. Can they find a way to keep this out of the Priests hands?
Continuation of Session 62 - Treachery among the Rocks.
Location - The Izora Mines, North of Lake Benath.
Part 1 - Rock Zombies
Scouting the Vault, he observes two humanoid rock creatures. They are similar to the Rock Giant Angi he met yesterday but decayed and cracked. These are likely the lost, corrupted brothers Angi told him of.
Avon attacks and lures the Undead Rock Giants into a choke point held by Sabretooth and some of the Company. The undead absorbs a tremendous amount of damage and expelled tiny rocks particles and dust, which blinds the eyes and tear into the lungs of the heroes. An explosion of rocks kills two of the Company. The heroes eventually pulverize these monsters, and whatever corrupted evil spirits occupying these stone corpses are released.
The inside chamber of the Vault contains a large stone chest and two giant Bronze Statues. A semi-transparent magical barrier seals the entrance.
Part 2 - The Quartermaster Arrives
As Gatgruir Craggip starts drawing magical power to destroy the magic wall, Acheron "accidentally" knocks him, disrupting his spell. Quartermaster Mauger is furious and does not believe Acheron's rather lame excuses. Acheron and the rest of the party are now viewed with some suspicion and sent to guard the entrance of the Vault.
However, Avon stealthily sneaks back into the Vault observes the following from the shadows;
- Quartermaster Mauger communicates with someone elsewhere using magic. During this one-sided conversation, the party's loyalty is questioned. They are to be dealt with shortly after the artifact is secured.
- He raises Zombies out of the nearby dead guards.
- Gatgruir Craggip successfully uses magic to bring down the barrier.
- The Villains enter the Vault, and the Bronze Statues come to life. A battle starts with the Zombies grabbed by the Statues and placed into the fiery furnace in their chests. They become ash.
- Corporal Argonery is also grappled and dragged into the Bronze Statues furnace, but breaks free, badly burned. As he tries to stand, he is struck down and killed. The spells and combat abilities of the Dwarves and Quartermaster eventually destroy these guardians.
- The Dwarves inspect the stone chest and find no obvious traps.
Part 3 - Orc Zombies
Outside the Vault, Sabretooth notes the arrival of one of the Priests of Morgath, the mysterious pale-skinned cloaked figure Acheron previously identified as Undead.
Six Orc Zombies follow behind him. Sabretooth attacks the Zombies while Acheron catches the Undead Priest by surprise. The priest attempts a series of life-draining attacks but eventually falls to a well-placed series of Divine Smites. The Orc Zombies are hacked to pieces.
Sabretooth sends his Ivashu companion Smeg to get help from the Rock Giant Angi.
Part 4 - Avon Steals The Treasure
Oblivious to the battle going on outside the Vault, Avon decides it is time to act. Using his Peripat of Wizardry, he encases Quartermaster Mauger and the Dwarves in a Dome of Ice and runs into the chamber and then picks the rather difficult lock on the chest. Inside is a sword wrapped tightly in a rune-covered silver cloth. The runes glowed when the fabric was touched.
Dwarves and Quartermaster use magic to blast open an exit out of their Icy Prison. Seeing this, Avon grabs the sword and runs, avoiding the arrows from a remaining guard. On the way out of the Vault, he spreads some Caltrops and sets a Bear Trap to slow pursuers.
Outside Avon blocks the entrance with more Ice, buying enough time to close the entrance door to the Vault.
Avon
Acheron
Sabretooth
Red Guard
Company of Dead Men
Peripat of Wizardry (wall of ice)
Periapt of Wizardry (Wall of Ice)
Wondrous Item
Attunement:
Required.
Properties:
This gem has a non-rechargeable store of energy which you can use to create a Wall of Ice Spell as if you were a Wizard. Each invocation will use charges equal to the level the spell is cast at.
Charges:
30
Curse:
When invoked the user must make DC16 Constitution Saving Throw or be cursed with Vulnerability to Slashing Damage for a number of rounds equal to the number of charges used.
Legendary (this item requires attunement)
Appearance:
A Smoky Quartz Gem, cold to touch.
Weight: Inconsequential
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