Session 6

General Summary

The sea hag is dead. Feng searches its body and finds a clouded, rough-cut emerald, 43gp, and an amulet around her neck. The amulet is of worked gold with small jewels. The party explores the room beyond the flooded chamber and finds it unfinished, as though abandoned during construction. They head for the apparent final room of the mausoleum, fighting two powerful skeletal guardians that emerge from alcoves on the way. The warriors pointedly ignore Feng, who has the amulet. Mrek turns into a dire wolf and Slint takes a skull as a trophy.   The last room contains the carved sarcophagus of a smith holding a steel chalice, as well as two gargoyles. Slint tips the gargoyles over in their alcoves, then Feng uses a rope to pull the chalice from the carving's hands. As it comes free the chalice pulls on a chain that activates the gargoyles, but they overbalance and crash to the floor, bursting apart to reveal that they were automatons. Fredegar finds a secret door in the south wall that leads to the saltwater-smelling tomb of the wizard.   The party prepares to head out, but Mrek, still a wolf, smells a corpse beneath the floor where they had previously closed a pit trap. Walking south, Mrek activates another skeletal guardian, which is swiftly defeated. It ignores Ludwig, who holds the amulet from the sea hag.   The party notices that the other alcove of this final pair didn't egest a skeleton, and discovers that its casket hides a rough-made tunnel that broke through the stone wall. Ludwig heads down the tunnel, followed by Feng and Slint. After about fifty feet they find a terrified, panicking human with a crossbow in a small chamber full of detritus and smelling like an outhouse. They calm him down, though he nearly shoots Slint, and he tells his story.   His name is Racto, one of three grave robbers led by Marva. Marva got her hands on the Bryce Amulet, which is supposed to protect its bearer from the traps and curses of the mausoleum. The trio thought to use this to rob the tomb of its treasures, but Marva disappeared, and the third thief, Doro, was chased by skeletons when he went to find her. Racto has hidden in this dugout chamber for days: their original tunnel in from the cliffside collapsed, but he's too scared of the skeletons to go out the other way. He offers the thieves' meager takings if they will bring him out and not turn him over to the authorities.   The party brings Racto out with them. They open the closed pit trap (as well as another to the north) using the lever in one of the tombs. There they find Doro's corpse and take his gold and a carved wooden bracelet. The other pit is empty.   Back topside, Racto promises to give up his life of crime and return to his original profession as an accountant, so the party lets him go. Bert says he'll meet them at the Ruddy Fishwife soon for the dinner he is owed; Fred says this was the easiest 10gp he's ever made and walks away whistling a dwarven drinking song.   The party heads to the Well-Founded Sailor, where Edward the Wolf and Lord Stephen are staying. They're stopped by the innkeep, who doesn't want these filthy adventurers in his common room, but lets them go upstairs when Ludwig shows the letter from Edward. The scout whom Edward sent to find them originally greets them outside the Wolf's suite; he thought they were dead, and says they've come not a second too late, as Lord Stephen is very ill.   Within the suite they find Edward with his head in his hands. He brightens a little to see them, and to learn that they've brought back a number of artifacts from the mausoleum.   Lord Stephen lies in his sickbed in a tall room lit only by a few candles. He stirs when the party enters, and perks up a little as they tell of what they found in the tomb. One by one he is shown each of the Bryce family treasures, and tells its story, but none is what he seeks. He does not recognize the emerald at all. Finally Ludwig shows him the amulet. He knows immediately that this is what his mother wanted him to find: the Bryce Amulet, which protects its wearer from the tomb's defenses. With this, his body can be safely interred with his family.   Lord Stephen dies, the amulet cradled to his chest and a smile on his face. Mrek gently arranges the other family treasures around him. In a nearby desk drawer they find the reward Lord Stephen promised, a strongbox full of platinum. Edward also shows obvious gratitude at what the party did for his friend. He says that Lord Stephen will lie in state at the temple of Aru off the market for three days, then a funeral will be held at the Bryce Mausoleum. He invites the party. They also tell him that the defenses of the tomb will need to be reset, and warn him of the leak; they recommend Fred to do the work and Racto to handle the expenses of the funeral. In parting, Mrek asks that Edward consider giving the Orkhon a seat at the negotiating table; Edward says he will think about it.   The party returns to the Ruddy Fishwife to count their treasure. They then spend a week of downtime and rest. Slint competes in the sailors' pit fighting ring, winning all three bouts, including against the agile foretopman who gave him and Belle trouble previously. He is becoming quite well known on the circuit. Ludwig continues performing on the streets, earning a small living. Mrek assists Bishop Akerlind in watching over Lord Stephen's body and preparing for his funeral, earning a promised favor from her. Feng also fights in the dockside fight club, winning two bouts and beginning to make a name for himself.

Rewards Granted

-Elemental gem (emerald) -17gp from Doro -Wooden bracelet (10gp) from Doro -43gp from Marva -55pp from Lord Stephen -25gp from Racto

Missions/Quests Completed

2.1 Riddle of the Chamberlain