Session 230 - The Guardian

General Summary

8^th to 12^th Morgat (Third month of Winter) 724TR

The story so far

The heroes have made their way to the City of Shiran to gather information on the infamous Word of Tekhos, a document believed to strip the soul from a person when their name is written on it.

The Word of Tekhos has been secured in the Dethale family Mausoleum just outside a nearby village. Unfortunately, the nefarious artifact is also being sought by the renegade necromancer Win-Noora.

This is the continuation of Session 229 - The Laboratory.

Location - City of Shiran in the Thardic Republic.

Part 1 - Brother Goldier

Brother Goldier, art by Artbreeder

Shortly after arriving in the City of Shiran, the party makes their way to Saint Teron’s Shrine to meet with Brother Goldier. The Priest of the Irreproachable Order (Peoni) manages the shrine to a revered local saint and has a small soup kitchen for the poor.

Brother Goldier is also an expert on the Horahnam of Tekhos and the Theocracy he created. Acheron helps out in the food preparation, discretely enhancing the taste of the fish broth with Prestidigitation. After a short service to the local poor, Brother Goldier leads the characters up to his impressive library on the shrine's second level.

The good priest gives the heroes a summary of the life of Horahnam of Tekhos, and he has various secondhand references to the Word of Tekhos. This document is said to be given to Horahnam by the demigod Klyss the Necromancer. Whoever's name is written on the document will have their soul lost and replaced with the Shadow of Bukrai. They will be an undead gulmorvin under the control of the author.

Horahnam used this nefarious artifact to corrupt rivals and opponents, especially those with high moral values. It was instrumental in his rise to power, and the first name he wrote on the document was his much-hated father, Klodas Tekhos, Shiran’s governor. He was able to control Klodas for a short period before ordering him to kill his remaining family members. He disposed of Klodas in 563TR, seizing control of the city. In 568TR, Horahnam was secure in his power to declare the Theocracy of Tekhos with himself as absolute ruler and Shiran as capital. He stored the Word in a shrine to the prophet Balsha in Shiran. It disappeared from the records when the Theocracy collapsed twenty years later.

Brother Goldier believes the document is extremely powerful and should not be destroyed, for that will release the curse into the world. However, the evil it contains could be exorcised. The Shield of Belsirasin may be able to perform this difficult task.

From Brother Goldier's congregation, the party learns that the famous gladiator Ketan the Impaler, bodyguard to the renegade wizard Win-Noora, passed through the city three days ago. The party believes that they have had more than enough time to steal the Word of Tekhos from the Dethale Mausoleum.

Part 2 - Magistrate Serenima Dethale

Serenima Dethale, art by Artbreeder

The party then visit the Magistrate for the Shiran Province Senator Serenima Dethale. Magistrate Serenima speaks with the heroes immediately after they arrive, thanking and rewarding them for saving the life of her uncle Senator Brayzel Dethale (refer to Session 228 - The Word of Tekhos).

She also supplied them with a family signet ring. This will allow them access to the family vault, located just in the nearby village of Flexnar. She warns that the mausoleum is holy ground, having been sanctified by the clergy of the gods Larani, Peoni, Save K'Nor, and Halea. Jolanta believes teleportation and some necromancy magic will fail within that building.

Location - Village of Flexnar in the Shiran Province of the Thardic Republic.

Part 3 - Blood in the Vault

As the characters approach the six-sided Mausoleum, they spot two large cat-like figures staking them through the snow. Beasts are made from the assembled body parts of large felines, with a few bits of other predators added in for good measure. They are quite a handful, Avon is badly mauled; nonetheless, the Golem Beasts are eventually dispatched.

Using the Dethale signet ring, the heroes enter the vault that contains six stone Sarcophagi. They note pools of thick, jelly-like blood, strangely not frozen in the icy cold. After some searching, they note that a layer of ice has been moved from a central stone pillar, revealing a slightly open hidden panel. Avon misses the magical rune trap, and it triggers when opened. Blood congeals and forms strange ooze-like creatures. However, the Blood Oozes are no challenge.

The secret compartment is empty. The heroes search carefully but find no clear indication of where the looters went.

Part 4 - Guardian of the Mausoleum

Ivanoss Dethale, art by Artbreeder

The characters are at a loss where to look, as Win-Noora has seemly escaped with the artifact. Acheron recalls that they found a reference to some guardian watching over the Dethale Mausoleum in Win-Noora papers. This was thought to be Ivanoss Dethale, a former priest of Morgath still alive after 130 years. Acheron attempts to contact him shouting out his name.

A figure in black robes emerges from the trees, with a collection of necklaces of holy symbols (Larani, Peoni, Save K'Nor, Ilvir, Halea, and Agrik) around his neck. The party is shocked to see he is in a sorry state, appearing more dead than alive. However, this decrepit-looking man is relatively spry.

Ivanoss Dethale has watched over the Word of Tekhos since he betrayed the Church of Morgath 130 years ago and stole it, giving it to his kin for safekeeping. He is certain his soul is lost to Morgath, and only the holy trinkets prevent him from becoming consumed by the evil of his former god.

He watched while the necromancer Win-Noora and her gladiator bodyguard looted the Mausoleum and stole the Word. Judging that they were too strong to oppose, he kept his distance and followed them. He last saw them entering the nearby Village of Bidezz.

Ivonoss would like nothing more than to die and asks Acheron to put him to rest if ever the Word was to no longer be a threat.

Location - Village of Bidezz in the Shiran Province of the Thardic Republic.

Part 5 - A trip to the Docks

The characters follow Ivanoss's directions and quickly arrive at the small riverside village of Bidezz. Acheron, in disguise, looks around and learns that the small ship moored on the icy pier is suspiciously well guarded. He learns from locals that the famous gladiator Ketan the Impaler is onboard and awaiting the weather to improve before making its way down the River Thard.

He returns to the party to tell them he has found them. Jolanta confirms that fact with her Locate Person spell.