Session 64: Gildon's Lair Part 2 Report

General Summary

Session 64 – Wednesday April 28, 2021

4.5 Hour Roleplay and puzzle session. 5:30 PM to 10:00P

Party of 6 (The order of Heroes, Inc.):

It is the 27th day of the month of Marpenoth (Leaffall) in the 3rd year of the Age of Enialis

Fredrik Fredson – Human L11 Barbarian/L3 Fighter – Dan King
Jaquette Mara – L14 Human Druid – Jackie Armstrong
Lucky Lightfoot – Leprechaun – L13 Bard/L1 Sorcerer – Jacob Munson
Annalisa (Anna) – Human – L 8 Monk – L4 Wizard /L2Fighter – Ryan Armstrong
Rolen – Human L14 Warlock – Josh Pozsonyi
Tyrus Rechs – Human L11 Ranger/L3 Fighter – Nathan Gioconda

Goals:

Empty Dragon Lair
Red Rocks treasure
White Dragon at Purple Rocks
Finalize claim to Gauntlgrym treasure

Gathering Treasure

In addition to the other items in the room, Anna found 3 letters in a chest along with 1,000 gp.

Oh, Great Bahamut, please bring mommy a child of her own, and perhaps then she'll be happy. Constance Hornthall
Bahamut, Most just of all. On this day of my assentation to adulthood, Hear my plea. Guide my sword in pursuit of Justice. Let my tongue only speak in truth. Help me to have compassion on those who have not been as fortunate as I. Allow me to Honor those who have introduced me to the path of good. Grant me Valor so I may smite those who are opposed to your virtues. I begin my life today and vow to keep the oaths I have made. Eustice Thornhall
I hate you, you're not my real father. Your kind killed my parents and I will never forgive you. Where were you when the other dragons came? I hate you. Rheagar HORNTHALL

Tyrus collected the paintings and put them into the portable hole. In doing so he located a hidden door that was behind a painting on the eastern wall. Before moving on Jaquette removed Fredrik’s deafness and Rolen’s exhaustion. The party took a short rest so Fredrik could reattune to his items. Anna spent about an hour chipping the gold plating off one of the Golems. In that time, she removed about ½ the gold from one of the statutes and had collected about 100gp worth of gold plating. She cast unseen servant to stay behind and continue peeling off the gold.

All That Remains

Tyrus opened the door and discovered a small empty octagonal room. They eventually figured out that both doors of the room cannot be open at the same time, so everyone crowded in and the proceeded to a very large room with amazing detailed carvings in the walls. The room also had a mist covering the entire floor about one foot thick.
The walls contained 5 Large Murals. As the party gazed at each mural the mist turned into creatures from the mural and acted out the scene depicted. The party walked around examining each one. Each Mural had a title and Anna cast comprehend languages to read each one:
Justice will always prevail depicted A young Gildon beside a woman and behind a young wizard killing a clearly evil wizard. Anna recognized this as the famous battle that took place in 238DR. The woman was Mystra, the wizard was Elminster, the evil wizard was Ihundyl. The head of Bahamut was faintly carved behind the entire relief.
High respect, to Keep your obligations depicted a Beautiful Elven Queen resting her hand on the head of A handsome young man(Gildon). Behind them were hordes of dead dark elves with many fleeing into caves. The carving bled into another scene where A Silver dragon bowed to a Golden Dragon in front of a long passage that seems to fade into mist. Within the carved mist was a temple carved into a cliff face. Tyrus recognized this temple as the Amber Temple. In another corner was Bahamut presenting the hilt of a sword to the Dragon Gildon. Lucky recognized the Elven Queen as Titania (the Summer Queen) and one of the drow fleeing into the caves was the necromancer Ducia.
A bond that begets your honesty depicted a deep forest with an older Gildon (as a man) with one hand over his heart and his other is up by his side with the palm facing another man. The other man was carrying a long bow. Anna recognized the other man as Artus Cimber.
____ for Neverwinter depicted Gildon (as an older man) leading a very large group of children from a burning city. A volcano was seen erupting in the background.
Bravery in battle: All along the eastern wall was a carving of a massive battle. Orcs and Goblins vs Dwarves Elves and Men. Wizards wearing cloaks were seen with the Orcs. Gildon wearing plate male was in the middle of the battle wielding a sword. Behind him were Dwarves, Elves and men. Jaquette recognized the mural as an artistic amalgamation of many battles over the past 1,000+ years. Anna was able to recognize Gandalgug Battlehammer the great great grandfather of Buernor Battlehammer.
At the northern end of the eastern wall was a door. The door had draconic writing on it that said "Flying won't help you, praying won't do you no good. Your actions define you. Watch your step."

Your steps define you

They walked into a long room covered with needles embedded into the stone on the walls and ceiling. Each floor tile had a letter on it. There were several obvious paths. Rolen saw the stones spell out: HEROIC ACTIONS ARE… and started walking. Nothing happened on the “H” but the “E” triggered several poison darts. Rolen came back out and Anna saw HOPE.. and she started walking again, “H” and “O” were fine, but “P” triggered 4 darts. Jaquette saw “DO NOT TOUCH ANYTHING…” She stepped onto the D and took 4 darts.

Anna then followed “HONOR” and no darts hit her. A loud sound of metal on metal was heard. She then saw JUSTICE and again followed the letters. A second loud metal sound was heard. She then noticed the word TRUTH and stepped on those letters. Again, no darts and this time she saw an adamantine bar in front of the exit door fall into the floor. She saw there were two more remaining. It took her a bit longer but eventually she spotted the words COMPASSION and VALOR. Stepping on each of the letters, the final 2 adamantine bars fell, and she came to a door that read "To open one, the other must be shut." She yelled to the rest of the party to follow the specific letters and close the door.

Backstabber

They opened the next door and saw a square room. It had a pit near the far door and a rack of daggers. The daggers all rose from the rack and headed towards Anna. Anna walked in and dogged the daggers. Jaquette walked in and dispelled the daggers, they fell to the floor. Rolen walked in and pushed 9 daggers into the pit. The pit moved toward Rolen and he jumped out of the way. Anna tried to unlock the door but was unsuccessful. Rolen ran up and picked the lock but the door did not open. Jaquette tried to dispel magic on the door, Tyrus tried to open the door but it still did not open. Anna started smashing the door with her hammer. Jaquette went and closed the first door. After the first door was closed Rolen opened the exit door with no problem and proceeded to the next room.
As Rolen left the cloud of daggers sprung back to life and stared dicing up Lucky (95 points of damage!) Tyrus stepped towards the cloud and slashed into them with his sword taking out about ¼ of them. Fredrik took his Warhammer and destroyed about ½ the remaining daggers. Lucky (close to death) polymorphed into a giant ape. Anna ran into the next room to join Rolen. Jaquette joined Anna and Rolen in the other room. The pit moved towards Fredrik and Tyrus and Tyrus fell in. The remaining daggers barely cut into the giant ape. Tyrus climbed out of the pit and Fredrik destroyed the remaining daggers with his hammer. Fredrik and Tyrus walked through the door into the next room.

A Tense situation (pun intended)

When Rolen walked into the room Cersei was laying on a large pile of gold and platinum in the form of a massive Red Dragon. Rolen said “I thought you were with the children” as he drank a healing potion. Jaquette walked in, saw the dragon, and said “I though you were with the children” as she drank her potion of heroism. Rolen saw Fredrik and Tyrus walk into the room and saw Lucky (as a giant ape) look very angry at the red dragon. Rolen cast force cage on the door to keep Lucky the ape in the other room. Lucky began banging on the force and the wall quite angrily.
With the rest of the party in the room Cersei in Red Dragon form spoke calmly and confidently and said, “Who sent you?” Rolen replied, “No one. We mean you no harm.” Cersei replied, “What you seek is not here, it was stolen over a month ago.” Rolen asked what was stolen and Cersei told him, “The artifact, The god Destroyer.” Cersei did not believe a word Rolen said but he convinced her that they’re not looking for that artifact. Cersei asked why they were there an Rolen began to weave a tale about their contractual obligation.
Rolen said “Any treasure that belonged to Gildon we are under contract to…” Cersei interrupted, “Belonged?” Rolen then began to explain how Gildon was slain by an organization called “The Triskins.” Rolen was extraordinarily convincing in his tale and Cersei asked him to explain to her about “The Triskins.” Rolen explained that he himself was tricked by these people and they are at the root of his suffering. He explained that Slim and Modrons killed Gildon and his remains are in the woods north of Gauntlgrym.

Let’s make another deal

Cersei looked to make a deal with the party. Anna offered Cersei the Gem from the Modron. She asked if the part was going to fulfill their agreement. She said, “First we need to kill this Triskin and then we can finalize our agreement.” She sternly warned the party that if they lie or double-cross her, she will kill them. She offered the party ¼ of all the gold (about 12,500 gp.) Fredrik asked about the children and Cersei said she doesn’t plan on leaving her home and has no intentions of eating the children. As a token of good faith, she allowed the party to choose any 2 items from the chest. In addition, she would allow the party to keep ½ of the gold the party uses to bait the Triskin once the Triskin is dead. Anna and Rolen looked in the chest and choosing from several 9th level spell scrolls, a few potions and some glue and solvent, they wound up choosing the Staff of the Woodlands and a potion of Storm Giant Strength.
Tyrus tried to make friends with Cersei offering her a cigar. She was mildly amused. Lucky dropped his ape form and calmed down some. Rolen explained the situation and told Lucky (telepathically) the children will be safe. Lucky looked calm and Rolen dropped the force cage.

The god Destroyer

Tyrus asked about the artifact she referred to. She explained all about The god Destroyer
She explained that Artis Cimber holds the Ring of winter and once all the parts of the sword are assembled, striking a god will render it mortal. After explaining the details of the sword. they discussed luring Slim to a location west of Triboar. Cersei turned into her human form and agreed that tomorrow they will kill the Triskin. She agreed to fly the party to the location, set a trap and then allow the party to lure Slim. She then led the party back to the mansion and offered them to stay in the children’s room for the evening. The party rested for the night and achieved level 15.