Session 94: When last we met 9/15/24

General Summary

When last we met, the party had entered the temple of a king simply known as "The Holder of the End". Inside they found a journal belonging to a man named Alhazred who was the last known wielder of the Book of Vile Darkness. He seems to have hidden it somewhere in this temple. 
The party presses on after finding four pages of his journal. They make it to a large windy chamber with a long 100 ft. bridge spanning a pile of shifting sands, whipped about by the wind. The entire party make it across as well as the majority of their companions. With the exception of Sebastian. He flies off the bridge and into the sand where he begins sinking. The party send out Vandread's steel defener who throws Sebastian a rope and begins pulling him out to safety with great difficulty. Romaia casts Tenser's Floating Disk to help aid Vandread's steel defender in removign sebastian from the Sand. Unfortunately, Sebastian's new Zombie minion was blown into the sands as well and it wasn't worth the risk to try and save the Zombiefied Yuan-Ti who sunk beneath the sands. RIP Thomas. 
From there, The party enter a new chamber, This one seeming to be a place where bodies are prepared for their entombment. Sarcophogi and burial tools are found throughout this new area. Along with two more pages from Alhazred's journal. In it, he records that there may be a way to destroy the Book of Vile darkness, albeit temporarily, By sacrificing oneself and enduring 100 years bound and attuned to the book. The journal entry expresses concern that Alhazred would not be able to live to be 100 years old. However there were methods to prolong his life located in the book. 
From there the party explore a few chambers ahead and come across a skull sitting on a miniature pyramid. The skull comes to llife and reveals iteslf to be a Demilich and a battle ensues. The horrifying power of the Demilich proved formidable as Mistral, Vandread and Maleeka succumbed to his howl attack that reduced their hit points to 0. From there what was left of the party juggled trying to stop this thing as well as revive their friends. Vandread is brought back by a healing potion administered by Celeste's pseudodragon Moonwing. Vandread then proceeds to give a potion to Mistral who is brough back from the brink. With some renewed numbers, the party chip away at the health of this Demilich who resists their magical attacks and is outright unaffected by non magical ones. Finally Celeste puts a well placed arrow right through the skull destroying it for the time being. As the party patches their wounds and recuperates from that intense battle, Celeste wanders over to a set of crates and unboxes them, revealing a horde of jewels, some potions, and clay jars containing what she can only assess is human organs. 
And that's where we pick up next time!

Rewards Granted

• 3 amber (100gp)
• 1 Amethyst (100gp)
• 1 Bloodstone (50gp)
• 1 Carnelian (50gp)
• 2 Chalcedony (50gp)
• 1 Chrysoberyl (100gp)
• 1 Chrysoprase (50gp)
• 3 Citrine (50gp)
• 2 Garnet (100gp)
• 2 Jasper (50gp)
• 2 Jet (100gp)
• 2 Moonstone (50gp)
• 4 Onyx (50gp)
• 3 Pearl (100gp)
• 1 Quartz (50gp)
• 4 Sardonyx (50gp)
• 1 Spinel (100gp)
• 2 Star rose quartz (50gp)
• 1 Tourmaline (100gp)
• 1 Zircon (50gp)
• 1 Elixir of Health
• 3 Potions of Healing
• 1 Potion of superior healing
• 5 Clay Jars - Filled with human organs???

Found among the crates nearby the Demilich's location

• 2 Blue Sapphires (1000gp)

Taken from the eyes of the Demilich

Character(s) interacted with

Alhazred - "The Mad mage of Antiquity" the party is following the clues left by his journal to locate the book of Vile darkness. Have they found his final resting place?

Notes

15th of Arawn

• Party ventured deeper into the temple
• Survived a windy bridge
• Found more journal entries
• Did battle with a demilich

It is well into the night when we pick up next time. The party will NEED to take a long rest soon or start facing exhaustion.

Report Date

16 Sep 2024

Primary Location

The Country of Sunwilde