Session 09

General Summary

The party continued their tactical "cleansing" of the tomb, with Haldrick systematically torching coffins to prevent the dead from rising. After Mariana navigated a series of pressure plates and the group bypassed a "Make Undead" spell, they discovered a stranded cleric named Maron. Upon being healed by Haldrick and fed by Asira, Maron joined the party's quest for the mysterious sphere. The group reached the final chamber—a stagnant vault containing a chained black coffin and the grapefruit-sized stone sphere—but Haldrick opted for caution, forcing a retreat due to heavy smoke inhalation from his own fires. Returning to town, Asira and Mariana prepared for the next descent by purchasing a specialized breathing bubble and a scroll of protection. The day ended with the arrival of Magistrate Noreeno, who reclaimed Maron and thanked the party for the rescue.

The new month began on a high note with Dubak preparing a hearty breakfast of deer bacon and mushroom omelettes before the party returned to the now-breathable tomb. Inside the final chamber, Asira identified the tomb as belonging to Luken Silverbend, and the party successfully looted the dais of gold and gems. However, the recovery of the orb triggered an ominous, echoing sigh, and Haldrick soon realized the artifact pulsed with an "incredible yet sickly" magical energy. The triumph was short-lived; upon exiting, they were met by Magistrate Noreeno and a small army. In a chilling revelation, Noreeno admitted his allegiance to the Lich King, Balor, claiming the ancient evil’s release was inevitable. He also provided a grim lead on Linus, revealing he had been magically conscripted into the Queen’s guard. With the sun setting and the threat of Balor looming, the party rode hard toward Dockhouse to begin the search for their lost companion.

10am, Tomb, Quest for The Mysterious Sphere

Haldrick heads to the other room and lights all 6 other coffins on fire, neither of the 2 rooms have doors so the smoke is probably accumulating.

Following Mariana, we all head back down the new hallway after she clears it of pressure plates. Haldrick recovers 2 daggers and a lockpicking set from the body.

Dubak peeks around the corner and then the party advances with long staffs and javelins testing for pressure plates. We turn another corner and face another room of 8 coffins, we move through, following Mariana we all trigger a pressure plate and a magical force passes over us.

Haldrick determines that it was a Make Undead spell, so we are unaffected and a quick peek tells us that the coffins behind us were not affected.

Around the next corner is a person in armor slouched against the door. Mariana pokes him with a stick, his eyes snap open and he looks at us weekly. We help him up and check him out. Asira gives him a ration and some water. His name is Maron, a Cleric, he’s also here from Noreeno looking for the Orb. Haldrick casts Lay on Hands to heal him, which perks him up a bit and he’s grateful. He is happy we can help him finish the job.

Dubak asks Maron what happens in the tomb after dark. He hears things at night moving in the dark, but nothing has come down the hallway. He was injured by the traps. He seems to be telling the truth. We agree to be behind him to help find the orb.

He pushes the very heavy door open in front of us and behind it is a great chamber, a path of marble leads to the back, it’s cold and stagnant. There is a black chained coffin at the back of the room, there is a stone sphere on the coffin the size of a grapefruit. On the stone slab are also coins.

Haldrick holds Maron back from advancing and persuades him from rushing forward, and to wait one day and burn all the coffins on the way out. Haldrick rushes forward to check the other room and its very smoky, he comes back and breaths fire in a cone and lights the 8 coffins on fire, we hurry back towards the entrance and the room where only 1 coffin was set, Haldrick rushes in covering for smoke and lights 3 coffins on fire. 2 are remaining and he tries to go for them but takes 5 damage from smoke inhalation, then another 5 damage when he tries again. We are able to open the lever and get out, we try to prop open the door and can’t.

It’s about 2-3 o’clock in the afternoon outside. Haldrick talks to Maron about the current situation, he doesn’t care about the war and is loyal to Noreeno.

Asira and Mariana goes to the apothecary and asks if anything is good for smoke inhalation. For 100 gold they carry a breathing bubble that you can use once a day that will give you 1 hour of breathable air, does not work below depths of 50ft. They also carry peppermint. 102 gold for the lot. She bites. Then heads to a magic shop and asks for magical items under 200 gold that deal radiant damage or can help with fighting the undead. She buys a scroll of protection from good & evil for 60 gold. We head back to camp and try to decipher another book of Norvus, but don’t get that far tonight.

Noreeno shows up and takes Maron aside, is grateful we rescued him and that he’ll be staying with us.

We wake up at Dawn and Dubak has made up a huge omelette with deer bacon and local mushrooms, we love it.

Haldrick goes and opens the door to let the smoke out, after it’s mostly cleared it smells like a campfire but it’s breathable. We head in and check on the two rooms and see the charred bodies. The coffin-room before the last room also has 8 charred bodies. We game plan in the hallway to check for traps.

Asira reads the language on the front of the dais and read Luken Silverbend, who she recalls is an ancestor of Rosemary Silverbend.

Maren grabs the orb and we hear a great sigh that echos through the room. He turns and offers the orb to Haldrick, who does not take it. We exit without incident and step into the sunshine. As Haldrick takes the orb (now in the clear) he senses incredible magic inside, as well as slightly sick but more connected to his magic as well. We study the orb and learn a bit of it’s evil. We get 1,000XP each.

Haldrick starts to see Magistrate Nooreno and 10-12 others coming a distance away. Dubak hides and the rest of us wait for his arrival.

Noreeno, his Cleric, Maren, and 9 soldiers approach and smells the air and says “Oh good, Balor has been released.” He gives us 6 sets of papers for everyone in the party.

We ask him about his comment and he says this plan has been in the works for over a century and has come from much planning. He says that Balor (the Lich King) will emerge at sundown and he seems to be telling us the truth that nothing can be done at this point.

He tells us that Linus was turned into one of the Queen’s special guard, likely to be in one of the smaller towns, the soldiers are controlled by the Queen through the helmet, we’d have to pull the leather strap under the helmet and take it off to restore his free will. He and his party leave. It’s around 1pm.