Deeper and Deeper

June 30, 2011

We start in the pauper’s grave from last time.  They know they are done with the task Laeral mentioned but there is movement from the steps going down.  They decide to check it out.  They go into the passageway going down and it’s more of a shaped cave with some carved steps at time.  Alex thinks there is movement above them but isn’t sure. 

They come to an open cave and see treasure lying out in the open.  Of course this is a trap but they are curious.  A dracolich comes out and starts by talking but they indicate in talk that they are going to attack, so it attacks first by breathing fire into the area!  Soon a fight breaks out. 

A wall of force is conjured and it blocks Paavu from going into the attack.  He will be surrounded by drider!  However, he runs at it swinging his avenger and dispels the wall!  He joins in the fight with the dragon. 

Vahn says he is an abomination before Myrkhul and that’s when the dragon says that he’s here because of Myrkhul!  They talk and stop fighting when Vahn and the dragon realize they are on the same side.  The dragon explains that to keep going, he often has to sacrifice to Myrkhul and he tries to make it people who should be dead but have cheated Myrkhul.  Vahn can understand that and so stops fighting. 

They talk for a while and Vahn reveals that they were given a quest by the skulls, who Myrkhul wants dead.  The dracolich, who calls himself Spark, asks to see the mark and recognizes it as Netherese!  It may be the first mistake he knows that the skulls have made!  He says that he can’t fight them now, as there are thirteen skulls, but this helps!  The group offers to help and Sparks says there are several ruins that might help him figure out the rune specifically.  The group is willing to go. 

Unfortunately, Spark and his drider can send them there but can’t pull them back.  After talking, though, they set up a schedule where he will open the gate where they appeared every five days for three times.  If they can’t get back in that time, they will have to walk back.  Spark supplies them with supplies and information, including scrying on the ruins, and then they go to the ruins. 

The desert is cool at night and Vahn, Gabriel and Alex manage to sneak up and take care of one of the guard towers, letting Lucan and Paavu get closer.  They work on getting to the next tower when Alex is spotted.  He fakes talking to them and tries to delay them but it moves up the group’s time.  Vahn grabs the decanter of endless water the Zhentarim use to create the oasis and poisons the water. 

Paavu and Lucan find a secret chest hidden in the tower.  It turns out to have a mirror of entrapment and Paavu is caught.  When Vahn gets back, he also gets caught but as he can turn insubstantial, he can move between the four cells and meets the others.  He doesn’t like the human female redhead, who introduces herself as Al, but the other human woman seems to be okay to him. 

Eventually, Gabriel and Lucan find a way to get them all out and they make a deal with the ladies to help them get back if they help them search the ruins.  The woman agree.  Al has to make do with what she finds in terms of arms and armor and Gabriel realizes it’s the princess of Cormyr.  He keeps that information to himself.  The brunette finds her stuff and Gabriel guesses she is a harper as she said she was spying on the camp.  They all get ready to descend into the dungeon below. 

800 xp

GM Notes

• Tough time with this.  It’s a trap and I told them, as the DM, they were done with the request and had other things to do.  They were pulled into the trap, so I went with it.  Not sure if it’s good or bad.  Maybe players don’t like to ignore things? 

• Gotten them too much in the mode of table talk.  It’s a fine line, like most things, between having fun and playing a “structured” game.  Should they do the optimum thing every time?  Or have a default action?
• Fun rolling to see if they were spotted in front of everyone.  Quite the tense moment when I was off by one a few times!

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