Session 18

Date: 1/11/2015

Attending: Jake, Justin, Joey, Dave, Chris

Absent: none

Start Time: 7:30 p.m.

End Time: 10:40 p.m.

XP awarded: 400

Game time elapsed:  the better part of a day and into the night

Enemies Defeated: none

Notes:

The Session picked up with the Knights deciding to explore the staircase found in the basement of the Gutted Candle. Grigor notices that the Book Box is heavier indicating that Osgood has sent a book. It is the journal and Grigor reads aloud to the party Communique #4. Discussion is had, reaffirming that the Knights will be returning to Halvenspring ASAP. They resolve to wait for Bajol’s armor to be completed first.

Heading down the staircase they realize that they are in a fallen tower of some sort, and exit into an underground cavern. It seems that a settlement of some sort was buried here, and they are standing in an old courtyard or street. A sign (large, like that of a neighborhood) is found that reads “Valley of Nabu’s Tomb.” The remains of the front of a building has a sign made of a strange material which is labeled “Xiannian Pilgrimage House.” Fyn takes the sign.

Moving down a tunnel they find a shallow grave mound, but choose not to investigate. Continuing, the tunnel dead ends at the entrance to a vast buried building. There is an ornate entrance that was once flanked by two large boxes, similar to sarcophagi, one of which is intact and one that has been destroyed. Examining the intact one they see that a monstrous face is carved in relief on the lid. The destroyed one seems to be destroyed by a large clawed being – the marks similar to the claws seem on the suspected Marquis’ true form.

Next to the grand entrance is a smaller building that is built out of immense stones – and seems extremely sturdy and durable. On top is a symbol that is a shepherd’s crook on a shield. Entering the small building they find that it is filled with the remains of shelving. The back wall has a poem engraved on it that reads:

ARGLOS HAS FALLEN TO OUR ETERNAL GRIEF

THE END COMES

THE DESTROYER IS TRIUMPHANT

HERE WE LAY KNOWLEDGE

AGAINST THE COMING OF A NEW WORLD

ALL WILL BE DREAM AND MEMORY

UNTIL THE GOLDEN SHIPS

The Knights return to the shallow grave and dig up its occupant. A humanoid skeleton is buried there, with a chain around its neck that has a pendant of the symbol on top of the smaller building (shepherd’s crook and shield) which Frumious takes. In the skeleton’s hands is a metal box that holds some scraps of paper that say:

I have failed to place this repository inside the tomb. I dare not enter and awake the guardians. Instead I have built a structure outside the tomb to last the ages.

Returning to the large building, Grigor examines the door. It is covered in protection symbols and says “Here the Tyrant Nabu was entombed.” Grigor is fairly convinced that opening the door will release whatever is in the box. Bajol had detected evil and what is in the box radiated strong evil, and there was fainter evil from inside the building. With all of this information the Knights decided to leave well enough alone and return to the Gutted Candle, which they do.

They resurface and return to the taproom late afternoon. From there the group splits up. Fyn heads upstairs to examine the Halfling sized construct, Grigor goes to his room to study Daedalus’ spellbook, Feydor and Bajol head to Ellard’s, and Frumious goes in search of a local baker. A whole bunch of roleplaying, question asking, and discussion occurs which is summarized as:

*Frumious is rebuffed by the first baker, then hired by the 2^nd whose name is Theos. Frumious converts Theos to Omniism.

*Frumious bakes the box containing the mirror (received from Daedalus) into a loaf of bread to conceal it.

*Ellard’s Oddities apparently coexists or travels between several cities; but he was either unable or unwilling to transport the group by these means.

*A cult from south across the sea named something like the Golden Boat has tried to infiltrate Shadowmount, and was driven off by the Redsashes. Apparently they are zealous racial purists of some kind.

*Thomas arrived in town 2 ½ years ago as part of a martial order called the Azure Guard. His group attempted to establish a chapterhouse in Shadowmount, which was eventually destroyed by the Redsashes. This is how Thomas was captured by the Marquis.

*Shortly after Grigor reads the Marquis’ spellbook, the word “Thief” is magically cut into each palm of his hands. These wounds resist healing and bleed a magical glowing blood that leaves a clear trail where ever Grigor goes.

*The armorer who is making Bajol’s armor is named Ellicor. Ellicor apparently does not make armor anymore. When Bajol asks Ellicor mentions that the Knights are safe in the Center of Shadowmount as the Marquis will not come in it. Bajol asks why and Ellicor says to avoid a confrontation. Further inquiry reveals that Ellicor came to Shadowmount 3 years ago, and the Marquis has not entered the city since.

Eventually Feydor, Fyn, and Bajol wind up drinking with a table full of Redsashes (who still seem to have a high opinion of the Knights) in the Gutted Candle. They notice a duo of adventurers named Ehule and Marnar. As intimidating as Bajol can be, the adventurers don’t seem particularly affected; this leads Bajol to believe they are very seasoned. Finding out from Helga that Ehule and Marnar have been asking about the basement Frumious cast detect magic and knock on the door of their room. Ehule answers and, recognizing Frumious as a fellow cleric of Omnos, invites Frumious to breakfast in the morning. Frumious agrees and sees that both Ehule and Marnar are decked out in magical gear. End Session.