Session 18: Within the Vale Report

General Summary

Echoes of the Dawnbreakers

The Echo hummed with life as the final wards clicked into place, the air shimmering faintly in the aftermath of our work. As we stood there, admiring the ancient magic we had restored, a skeleton—yes, a skeleton—sprang to life. Startled, I nearly drew my blade, but the figure raised its hands in a gesture of peace. To our shock, it spoke, introducing itself as a servant of the Dawnbreakers of old. It claimed to have been bound to protect the barrier against the shadows during the War of Shadows and, with the restoration of the Echo, it had returned to its eternal duty. Though its time among us was short, it left us with a parting gift—a potion of flying that had been buried long ago. I felt both awe and sadness as it disappeared into the air, vanishing like a fleeting memory.

The Path to the Shattered Keep

Our journey forward was anything but straightforward. The Shattered Keep loomed on the horizon, no matter how far or in which direction we walked. It was disorienting and maddening, as if the keep itself mocked our progress. Warby and Goq worked together to use the Astral Map and Chrono Compass, tools that seemed to defy the tricks of time and space. Slowly, the path began to clear, the illusions peeled back, and we arrived at the massive gates. With the Phantom Key in hand, we unlocked the ancient doors. They groaned open, revealing a keep that had been frozen in desolation for what must have been centuries. Scrawled warnings covered the walls and floors, left by long-dead hands. We barely had a moment to take it all in before the guardians revealed themselves.

The Iron Sentinels

Massive Iron Golems emerged from the walls, their heavy steps shaking the ground as they charged at us. Their mechanical precision and unrelenting strength were overwhelming. Every blow they delivered threatened to crush us. Warby’s blade flashed with power, Dulb danced around their stomping feet with surprising agility, and Goq’s magic rang out like thunder. I focused on keeping everyone alive, my healing magic stretched to its limit. After what felt like an eternity, the constructs collapsed, their metal frames crumpling to the ground. It was a costly victory, but a victory nonetheless.

Whispers of Shadows

The next corridor was tight and suffocating. A dead acolyte slumped against the wall caught our attention. It was a grim sight, but before we could investigate further, the air turned icy. A low wailing began to echo around us, and suddenly, the shadows swirled to life. Spirits—many spirits—rose from the walls, floor, and even the corpse itself. They attacked us in a frenzy, their incorporeal forms slipping through our defenses. It was a brutal fight in the narrow space. My spells were less effective against their ghostly forms, but the party’s sheer determination carried us through. One by one, the spirits faded, their anguished wails finally silenced. I whispered a quiet prayer for their souls as we moved on.

The Vanyver's Descent

We entered the central chamber, a cavernous space with inscriptions etched across the walls and floor. The warnings spoke of "All’s first breath." The words lingered in my mind, heavy with foreboding, but we had little time to decipher their meaning. Shadows gathered above us, coalescing into massive forms. Four creatures—Vanyver—descended with terrifying speed. Their forms were twisted and malicious, their movements almost too quick to track.
The battle was chaos. We managed to bring one down quickly, but the remaining three closed in with a vengeance. Dulb became separated, surrounded on all sides. My heart nearly stopped as I saw him cut off from the rest of us, fighting for his life. I shouted for Warby and Goq to help (though I doubt they heard me) while I poured everything I had into keeping Chungle alive. The fight is still etched into my mind, the sound of weapons clashing against shadowy flesh and the desperate cries of our party echoing through the chamber.

Campaign

The New Dawnbreakers

Protagonists

Sunny Grannach

Brazen White Bulb Conquering Red Blossom

Dulb the Deckhand

Dulb's sheet

Level 13 Swashbuckler.

Health

/

Goq-Ixai

Report Date

16 Nov 2024