Session 029 - Dwarven Crypt
General Summary
Date 13th to 15th Halane (8) 720TR (Autumn)
The story so far
Quazzy has spent months trying to infiltrate the Church of Naveh hoping to undermine their plans to summon the Greater Gytevsha Krasula. She has passed all of their tests and been given the critical mission of obtaining an important package.
The heroes acquire the item finding that it is one of the Demigod Desridaen's legendary Long-knives. They plan to substitute the knife with another lesser weapon, one previously hidden by Quazzy when she escaped from a Cult a few years ago.
Unfortunately, she hid it in an ancient Dwarven Tomb but has only a foggy recall of the events.
Continuation of Session 28 - Diplomatic Issues.
Part 1 - The Tomb of Prince Kulks-Xan
The heroes enter a cave behind a waterfall on Mt Serlu, finding in a small antechamber leading to a partially broken down wall of dwarven worked stone. Craved in runes is an inscription, which Quazzy magically translates, revealing that this is the Tomb of Prince Kulks-Xan, an exiled prince of the Kingdom of Kiraz and master alchemist. Athena takes a Herbal Potion of Eye-of-Dwarf and her eyes turn red as a colony of symbiotic Fungi establish giving her temporary Darkvision.
Inside the party find a central chamber with a large statue of a dwarf and two adjoining side chambers. The nearest has a partially opened stone Sarcophagus. Detecting no traps, Yureb investigates. In the Sarcophagus he finds the looted skeletal remains of a Dwarf, but accidentally sets off the traps which he had missed. At the same time, the Ghost of Prince Kulks-Xan materializes and attacks.
Flames from the trap block off the exit from the Sarcophagus chamber confining Yureb and Kalin inside with the Ghost, while most of the remaining party cower in fear. Yureb is badly injured by the ghost's spectral axe and flesh dissolving touch, so he and Kalin flee through the flames deftly avoiding further damage while the Ghost throws his spectral axes nearly killing Lucia. Eventually, Yurb is able to redirect the exhaust nozzles of the Flame trap onto Prince Kulks-Xan, creating an opening for Athena to safely enter the chamber to eliminate the Ghost, at least temporarily.
Among the skeletal remains of the Prince the party find an old and damage Alchemy Manual written in Dwarven.
Part 2 - The Hall of Empty Warriors
The other chamber has eight Alcoves filled with rusty, very old suits of Dwarven Plate Armor and a stone combination lock casket. Yureb investigates one of the suits of armor finding clues that there may be an item hidden in the armor. However, he again sets off the fire traps, he failed to notice, and the armor animates and attacks. They are eventually smashed into small unmoving fragments, and inside one suit Yureb finds a Desridian Long-knife, the one that Quazzy had hidden years ago.
Part 3 - Orc's Camping
As the party begins to leave the Crypt, Yureb discovers that a band of Orcs from the Colony of Korego has camped out near the exit. Using Illusion magic he and Quazzy were able to distract and send them off hunting phantoms.
Part 4 - Exorcism and Looting
The next day the Party re-enters the Crypt and Athena undertakes ceremony to put the Ghost of Prince Kulks-Xan to a final rest, which involves the cremation the remains of the Dwarf, in typical Agrikian fashion. This appears successful and the party then loot the stone casket finding a valuable collection of Oils and Alchemist Fire.
Part 5 - Avalanche
The party then head for home taking the northern route. The Orcs, redirected by the party the day earlier, had antagonized a nearby Ivashu, a Hru or Rock Giant. This normally peaceful monster attacked by animating stones and creating an avalanche, however, it was easily dealt with.
Rewards Granted
Prince Kulks-Xan Alchemy Manual - Badly damaged but worth 500sp and will impart some knowledge in Alchemy.
Tattered remains of Dwarven Armor - Athena is able to salvage enough material to assemble at least 2 suits of plate mail but this will require significant refitting and repairs.
Oil of Rock Skin - A slate grey oil which gives skin gains the hardness and properties of stone for 1 hour (AC base 16).
Oil of Distribution - A slightly yellow jelly-like oil which absorbs massive damage (the next physical damage of 20 points or higher will be absorbed).
Oil of Giant Strength - A golden yellow oil with a strong musky smell which gives 22 strength for 1 hour.
Oil of Sharpness x 3.
Alchemist Fire x 6.
Missions/Quests Completed
Recovered Long-knife of Desridaen, one of the early versions but still excellent quality.
Character(s) interacted with
The Ghost of the Dwarven Prince Kulks-Xan - Put to rest.
Eight Suits of Animated Armor - bashed to pieces.
A large Orc Warband - distracted.
One enraged Hru Rock giant - killed and spirit sent to Ilvir.
Related Reports
Eye-of-Dwarf - Athena soon works out that her Paladin immunity to the disease will burn away the symbiotic fungal infection which gives darkvision within a day.
Common or Brown Orcs from Korego.
Desridaen, Demi-god - the creator of the infamous Long-knives and Quazzy's patron.
Notes
Players Character Status
Athena the Banshee - Level 9 Paladin of Vengeance - gained Level.
Yureb - Level 9 Arcane Trickster gained Level.
Quazzy - Level 4 Necromancer and Level 5 Warlock Disciple of Desridaen gained Level.
