Session 058 - Shadows of the Past

General Summary

16 to 20th of Kelen (3) (Spring) 721TR

The story so far

Acheron is investigating a missing member of the Argent Order and wants to recover his Silver Sword. He has learned that it may well be hidden in or under the Mansion of the dead Senator Baloth Nemirina, the former high priest of the God Naveh and leader of an Assassins Cult in the City of Coranan.

The Master Thief Yureb has been planning to rob this Mansion for some time. He was a member of a group of Heroes who killed the evil Senator and prevented thousands of deaths (refer Sessions 43 and 44). He happily joins the party in their mission.

Part 1 - The Plan

The Yureb meets with Koral the Bloody, the head of the Cities Thieves Guild, who discreetly aided him before when dealing with the Assassins Guild and the Church of Naveh. He agrees to organize a distraction for the City Guard during the night of the robbery.

He says that he would like the Nemirina family seal if the party were to find it and would be willing to pay a significant sum.

Part 2 - Over the Walls

Just before midnight, the party cross over the walls, evade guards, and sneak into the Mansion through a back entrance, the kitchen door. This leads into a grand dining room and party climb over a balcony accessing the building's second floor. Here they find a bedroom with a sleeping man, likely the son of the Senator, Baldil Nemirina.

In a small library, Avon notes a fireplace that appears too shallow, but he couldn't find any concealed openings, deducing that there may be one on the other side of the wall in the master bedroom.

Part 3 - The Pit of Snakes

The master bedroom is locked. After gaining entrance, Avon finds a deep shaft with a ladder going down around 25 ft. Behind a bookcase is a well-hidden compartment holding a small fortune in gold and gems. However, as Yureb opens it, he sets off a magical trap.

Suddenly the floor collapses into a deep pit filled with snakes. Then two shadowy Gytevsha attack the heroes during the confusion, nearly killing Acheron. The Pit is an illusion, and half the party sees through it, but the others are trapped in snake-infested hell. Eventually, the Gytevsha are dispatched, and the Illusion overcomes, although Acheron had to be dragged out of the room.

Part 4 - Ghost of Baloth Nemirina

The disturbance in the bedroom was enough to attract some guards. Acheron takes on the illusionary form of the Ghost of Baloth Nemirina, sends them running.

The Ghost has been seen many times in the last few months making the illusion plausible. Baldi Nemirina is also roused from his sleep but is captivated by Yureb's illusion magic and knocked out. His sleeping body is position so that it looks like he hit his head, getting out of bed.

In an adjacent room, the party finds a small study and steal the family seal and some expensive writing tools. Yureb forges a note in the Dead Senator's handwriting, instructing his son Baldi to do penance and donate wealth to the good churches and the poor. He uses his Cursed Inkwell, and unfortunately, what he ended up writing may not be what he intended, as an evil entity may well have twisted his words.