[This entry is a recap of the twelfth gaming session, which took place on January 30th, 2011. The characters were just about to enter the third room of Into the Shadowhaunt, a 4th Edition Game Day module from 2008 that I adapted so that I could make it part of the town of Fallcrest.]
We were taking a short rest, talking about the fight and watching the oil-fires burn down, when we felt (rather than saw) something appear in front of us. It was, once more, the spirit we had seen above. It gestured with its inky claw towards the spilled bones scattered on the floor, and it in its cold voice it said: "Honor them."
We looked at each other, and it dawned on us that it wanted us to gather the bones and put them back in the sarcophagi. One had burned almost completely, and another one was half cinders, but still, we did the best we could and put all the bones we could find where they belonged, more or less. No sooner were we done than the spirit floated to the stairs we had come from, and pointed down to the first step. Upon inspection, we noticed that a stone slab was covering a small indentation in the rock, in which a little vial was hidden. We picked it up, and Trax put it away for later inspection. By then, though, the spirit had vanished.
This being done, we got ready to move on down the hallway. Soon, the hallway became more of a tunnel, the stone turning rough and twisting, finally leading into a large natural cavern.
We were taking a short rest, talking about the fight and watching the oil-fires burn down, when we felt (rather than saw) something appear in front of us. It was, once more, the spirit we had seen above. It gestured with its inky claw towards the spilled bones scattered on the floor, and it in its cold voice it said: "Honor them."
We looked at each other, and it dawned on us that it wanted us to gather the bones and put them back in the sarcophagi. One had burned almost completely, and another one was half cinders, but still, we did the best we could and put all the bones we could find where they belonged, more or less. No sooner were we done than the spirit floated to the stairs we had come from, and pointed down to the first step. Upon inspection, we noticed that a stone slab was covering a small indentation in the rock, in which a little vial was hidden. We picked it up, and Trax put it away for later inspection. By then, though, the spirit had vanished.
This being done, we got ready to move on down the hallway. Soon, the hallway became more of a tunnel, the stone turning rough and twisting, finally leading into a large natural cavern.
Water dripped like a light rain down the stalactites. Glowing fungi illuminated the warm and humid chamber. The eerie light reflected off many small pools of water dotting the slick and irregular floor.
Across from us, we saw a large alcove cut into the side of the living cavern. Ancient, crumbling masonry adorned the alcove, bearing vile pictographs and strange, spidery writing. (Clearly, the architectural style and the script dating it to the later days of the empire of Bael Turath) A sinister iron-bound portal stood at the back of the alcove. An immense devil's head was carved upon the door, and its eyes were glowing with a faint green light. The effect was startling, but it soon became obvious that the light was coming from the other side of the door, from which also came the faint sound of crying.
We got closer to the door, and saw that the devil's eye-sockets served as windows into the room beyond. Trax peered in, and told us he could see two young boys in chains.
Immediately, he proceeded to try to break the door down, to no avail. No sooner had his body struck the door, though, we heard the boys crying out to us. "Who's there? Please, can you help us?"
Gilthos told them not to worry, that we would get them out of here.
Joining Trax in his efforts, they both ran and bashed the door hard enough to break it open.
The chamber beyond appeared to be a long-abandoned tomb or temple. On each side, a line of stone statues stood watch.
In the middle of the chamber, a circle of glowing magic adorned with geometric runes was glowing with an emerald radiance. The magic of the circle was palpable, drifting upwards like an eldritch vapour, slowly dissipating into the stale air of the ancient room. And cowering in the center of the circle were the two boys. As soon as he saw us, the oldest one told us to stop: "The elf who captured us told us this place was trapped. I we leave the circle the ceiling will come crashing down on us!"
I made my way past Trax and Gilthos, and kneeled next to the circle, seeing as magic is (supposedly) my area of expertise. I closed my eyes, my right hand hovering just over the edge of the circle. I could feel the magic, old and destructive. Then, in my mind's eye, I saw that it had been tuned so that anyone leaving or entering the circle would trigger its effects. I then tried to settle my psyche so as to be able to disable the magic, but it seems I was not powerful enough, as I felt it come to life. Opening my eyes, I told my companions of my failure, and at this moment we started to feel the cave shaking and grumbling. It was collapsing, and fast! Already we could see rocks falling down in front of the door to the alcove. Quickly, we grabbed the kids (the smaller one on Tigrallin's back, the other one riding piggyback on Trax's back) and ran out of there. All of us made it through relatively unscathed. Halfway between the alcove and the exit to the sarcophagi room, we noticed two things.
First, the Shadow Spirit was back, pointing towards the exit and urging us to run, quickly, and make our way out. Secondly, while looking back to wait for Trax, we noticed that two of the statues we had seen in the alcove had come alive, and were marching towards us. It was then that I used my Expeditious Retreat, rapidly making my way to the head of the group so as to be able to better help anyone in trouble.
Just as we were getting back to the man-made hallway, we heard a scream: "Don't let them get away, after them!"
We didn't stick around to find out who that was. We ran, from the collapse and from the statues, making our way through the sarcophagi room once more…
Across from us, we saw a large alcove cut into the side of the living cavern. Ancient, crumbling masonry adorned the alcove, bearing vile pictographs and strange, spidery writing. (Clearly, the architectural style and the script dating it to the later days of the empire of Bael Turath) A sinister iron-bound portal stood at the back of the alcove. An immense devil's head was carved upon the door, and its eyes were glowing with a faint green light. The effect was startling, but it soon became obvious that the light was coming from the other side of the door, from which also came the faint sound of crying.
We got closer to the door, and saw that the devil's eye-sockets served as windows into the room beyond. Trax peered in, and told us he could see two young boys in chains.
Immediately, he proceeded to try to break the door down, to no avail. No sooner had his body struck the door, though, we heard the boys crying out to us. "Who's there? Please, can you help us?"
Gilthos told them not to worry, that we would get them out of here.
Joining Trax in his efforts, they both ran and bashed the door hard enough to break it open.
The chamber beyond appeared to be a long-abandoned tomb or temple. On each side, a line of stone statues stood watch.
In the middle of the chamber, a circle of glowing magic adorned with geometric runes was glowing with an emerald radiance. The magic of the circle was palpable, drifting upwards like an eldritch vapour, slowly dissipating into the stale air of the ancient room. And cowering in the center of the circle were the two boys. As soon as he saw us, the oldest one told us to stop: "The elf who captured us told us this place was trapped. I we leave the circle the ceiling will come crashing down on us!"
I made my way past Trax and Gilthos, and kneeled next to the circle, seeing as magic is (supposedly) my area of expertise. I closed my eyes, my right hand hovering just over the edge of the circle. I could feel the magic, old and destructive. Then, in my mind's eye, I saw that it had been tuned so that anyone leaving or entering the circle would trigger its effects. I then tried to settle my psyche so as to be able to disable the magic, but it seems I was not powerful enough, as I felt it come to life. Opening my eyes, I told my companions of my failure, and at this moment we started to feel the cave shaking and grumbling. It was collapsing, and fast! Already we could see rocks falling down in front of the door to the alcove. Quickly, we grabbed the kids (the smaller one on Tigrallin's back, the other one riding piggyback on Trax's back) and ran out of there. All of us made it through relatively unscathed. Halfway between the alcove and the exit to the sarcophagi room, we noticed two things.
First, the Shadow Spirit was back, pointing towards the exit and urging us to run, quickly, and make our way out. Secondly, while looking back to wait for Trax, we noticed that two of the statues we had seen in the alcove had come alive, and were marching towards us. It was then that I used my Expeditious Retreat, rapidly making my way to the head of the group so as to be able to better help anyone in trouble.
Just as we were getting back to the man-made hallway, we heard a scream: "Don't let them get away, after them!"
We didn't stick around to find out who that was. We ran, from the collapse and from the statues, making our way through the sarcophagi room once more…
And back to the first room through the secret door.
But we were not alone. Four skeletons had come out of a sarcophagus (evidently another secret door). Being in such close quarters, the fight was unavoidable. We told the two boys to go hide in the corner, and the fight started.
The skeletons were tougher than expected, and did not fall (or even seem phased) by a couple of my magic missiles. Things still looked hopeful until finally we saw an elf come out and immediately start to use his dark magic (most probably necromantic) against us. Both sides were taking a beating, and then the two statues came out, still after us. Or after me, should I say, because I was the one to trigger the trap, and so their only focus was me. One of them got to me and punched me bad, and I tried to use my magic against it but it didn't seem to do much. Gilthos came to my aid but he was also wounded.
A few of the skeletons went down and Trax and Gilthos made their way to the necromancer. Eventually, the Shadow Spirit materialized once more, and after having said the word "Revenge!" he swopped down on the necromancer.
With his helped, we defeated him, after which the remaining skeletons collapsed and the animated statues stopped moving.
We had won!
The skeletons were tougher than expected, and did not fall (or even seem phased) by a couple of my magic missiles. Things still looked hopeful until finally we saw an elf come out and immediately start to use his dark magic (most probably necromantic) against us. Both sides were taking a beating, and then the two statues came out, still after us. Or after me, should I say, because I was the one to trigger the trap, and so their only focus was me. One of them got to me and punched me bad, and I tried to use my magic against it but it didn't seem to do much. Gilthos came to my aid but he was also wounded.
A few of the skeletons went down and Trax and Gilthos made their way to the necromancer. Eventually, the Shadow Spirit materialized once more, and after having said the word "Revenge!" he swopped down on the necromancer.
With his helped, we defeated him, after which the remaining skeletons collapsed and the animated statues stopped moving.
We had won!
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