Session 27: Catacombs of the Necromancer

General Summary

PCP saves Zhentharim from zombies. Thoril heals agents. PCP lets them escape up their rope but Cassy insists that they be escorted out for trespassing. PCP sees the noble corpse of Sedrair II laced with gold and silver but leaves the remains undefiled. Searching deeper into the catacombs they find a 2/3 scale city like necropolis said to house the remains of a famous paladin Miltiades. Sure that there were many enemies within the necropolis PCP investigates a shuffling sound to their right and finds a cultist surrounded by four zombies. The cultist is shot by an arrow but escapes to warn his master. After PCP dispatches the zombies they run into a partially collapsed crypt marked with arcane glyphs. A dark skinned elf hangs from a chain dripping blood into an arcane etching. Greeted by the necromancer Rorreth PCP lunges to attack. But the cultists shoutes a prayer to Tiamat and sacrifices himself becoming a gibbering mouther. PCP fights a knight follower of the scaly way and the gibbering mouther while being chastised by the necromancer. With a final bolt of lightning the necromancer takes out the gibbering mouther and Hadden before disappearing into his personal chambers. After dispatching the knight PCP finds an arcane circle slowly fading from it’s recent use, and a journal detailing the cult’s operations hastily left behind. Dameila remembers a day she was being taught to hunt with a bow by Vinchenso. He told her advice “Live as one with the woods, teach others to do so, and punish and curtail those that hunt for sport or practice cruelties on wild creatures.” Dameila struggles to hold the string back, but he tells her to clear her mind and breath. A small bird sits on a branch, she aims and releases the arrow. Later he is roasting the bird with her and he says “Intelligent beings can live in harmony with the wild without requiring the destruction of one in the name of the other.” There is a rustle in the bushes and a winter wolf jumps towards her. Later Delaan Winterhound emerges calling back his pet winter wolf Loska. He remarks how tall Dameila is getting, he has urgent news for Vinchenso.

Rowan remembers a pleasant memory of her and Pavlo Droverson. It makes her think how far she is from home. Thoril wonders if his family is doing ok, and if he’ll ever see Salina again. Hadden clutches his hand around the pendent, a cold chill pressing against his beating heart. You hope there is some way to resolve this quarrel with your old crew. Deep in the wood lies the Valinghen graveyard, the Enclave guard it, providing them a peaceful eternal rest. The graveyard is the resting place of Miltiades; a paladin of legend. Now, that rest has been disturbed by a necromancer seeking out a key to re-activate the Pool of Radiance. A sect of the dragon cult still serves sameister and wants to raise dracoliches. They have allied with the church of cyric to obtain spells from the "Tome of the dragon" to raise dracoliches. the taint of Necromancer magic has cursed the land rotting food and scattering the wildlife. Abberations and undead are spawning. Most of the important members of the Cult are wizards, particularly necromancers, who manufacture magic items, prepare the dracolich-transformation potions, and create undead. The Zhentharim have barricaded themselves into the tomb of Sedrair II, with zombies trying to get in. The orc holds the door while the injured elf tends to a diseased Tiefling that has been bitten. They request and accept any help. They insist that this tomb must have gold inside.

When PCP enters the lair of Rorreth Monforoth he is performing a necromantic ritual aided by a knight follower of the scaly way. He is guarded by a cultist and zombies. Hanging chained above a pentagram glyph is an unconscious drow slowly bleeding onto the floor. PCP finds out that there is another sect of the Dragon Cult focused on necromancy which seeks to undo the pragmatists of the cult (Rezmir, Severin). He reveals that his Undead ally whom Belak the outcast introduced to him has proved quite resourceful. Him and his journal tell of how the Red Wizards are assisting the cult free Tiamat and helping the necromancers find the Pool of Radiance. He mentions not fully trusting Azbara Jos, because he is assisting the pragmatists as well. There are extensive maps and calculations done that estimate the general direction, depth and distance that he must dig to end up beneath Valjevo Keep (where the Pool is last believed to be). The cultist is sacrificed to become a gibbering mouther whom fights with the knight. Rorreth mocks the party and teleports away.

There is an encounter where an injured patrol of the knights alliance has begun burning back the blighted forest and dead creatures lie on the ground. In the trees sit the three Emerald Enclave scouts arrows drawn ready to defend the forest. With proof the threat has been dealt with the factions will reward the party, otherwise they risk a skirmish. If revived the drow introduces himself as Tevish Malacont an old friend of Ontharr Frume, whom was abducted by the cult while on a mission for the Order of the Gauntlet. He returns to Blackford Crossing to inform Ontharr of what he’s heard. The Enclave guide the party to the second tree which holds a wealth of lore grown in plants in the tree. The party is paid with magic items and asked to meet with a head member of the Enclave for a night of revelry.

Rewards Granted

Players are lvl 5

Missions/Quests Completed

Current Quests:
I. Infiltrate the Cult's Caravan in Triboar

i. Meet Ontharr's contact in Triboar Ackyn Selebon

ii. Get hired to join the cult's caravan

iii. Report findings in Neverwinter

II. Journey to Khundrukar

i.The Stone Tooth is north of Blasingdell

ii. Orcs are raiding from Stone Tooth

III. Mysterious Sealed Letter

i.Knights with eye symbol seen in Blasingdell

ii. Who is R.T. and what do they want

iii. Smitherson family may know more about Bartholomeil's actions

IV. Triboar Trading Post Message

i.Deliver news of Darthag Ulgar's passing to his ex-wife Alaestra in Triboar

V. Emerald Enclave

i.Curse in Neverwinter Wood

ii. Circle of Druids - Dameila's Past

VI. Dangerous Trade Route

i.Caravan attacked in The Crags
VII. Light of the Dawnfather

i. Visit Spire of the Morning Waterdeep

ii. Apply to undertake Trials of Dawnbringer

Report Date

10 Jun 2020