Session 24 - "Donde Esta La Biblioteca?, Ruins of Gauntlight - Part 11"

General Summary

Wealday, 5th of Desnus, 4721 AR

Gauntlight Keep

Level 3 - Library

Tattooist Workroom

10.00a

Catching their collection breaths, looking around the Exterminators find a workroom devoted to tattooing, including tattooist tools and books in Taldane on the subject. Kalitos moves to the northern door to monitor any activity beyond as Ehrn and Kaliff begins tending to Tristan's wounds. Zor'ahn notices the main tattoo subject appears to be that of a humanoid woman with companion pieces being of feminine lines and whorls. He determines that the tattooist has not been applying any of the skins to himself as he also recalls that the ghoul had been eating scraps of skin during the encounter. Searching his memory, the ranger knows that while ghouls are famous for eating the flesh others, it seems uncommon for the creatures to gain such abilities from their "food". Kalitos begins to hear muffled, irregular scraping sounds beyond the door. It does not sound to be coming any closer, but it does continue. Zor'ahn detects no sound behind the western door.

10.10a

Opening the western door reveals what once might have been an office is now a crude, disgusting butcher's room with gore and flesh clotted and strewn about the room. Everyone involuntarily reacts to the overpowering stench and site. A shiny silver hatchet is embedded in the chopping block next to what appears to be a morlock arm. Another door is seen to the south. Tristan moves cautiously into the room.
Opening the door shows a small and slightly colder "meat room" with several bodies of morlocks in various states of butchery. Zor'ahn quickly looks through the bodies, but does not find the remains of any humans. Kaliff notices despite everything the silver hatchet seems well-made and relatively in good shape.

Main Library

10.20a

The party gathers around the north door and sees a passage veering to the west with a closed immediately to the east. The scraping sounds are louder, but no closer. Tristan continues to see that flooring on this level is remarkable different and of better quality than the areas above. He also detects the sound coming from the eastern room with the soft whisper of moving fabric emanating from the west. Making his way quietly down short passage, the fighter finds a grand hallway going north and south that is packed with bookshelves and stuffed with books. A faint blue flickering is noticeable to the south.
Moving into the room the party finds two ghouls in bluish robes holding books looking in their direction casually. Tristan casually looks at them in return. "Welcome the Library. Are you here to donate flesh to the Canker?" one askes. Tristan simply states, "No." The speaker looks to his companion and seems to sigh before turning back.

The first ghoul reverently places the book he was holding down before launching himself through the air directly at Tristan, landing in front of him before scraping its claws down the fighter's shield. A third emerges from behind a corner and moves into position on Tristan as well. It tries to sneak a claw pass his defenses, but he wards it off with his shield. Zor'ahn moves in and his shadow flurries its sword against one of the ghouls completely ripping it to shreds. Kalitos advances and his dueling sword explodes fiery death against the third ghoul, instantly incinerating it. The remaining ghoul hesitates briefly, looking to the east, but it seems to steel himself before charging at Zor'ahn. Its claws scratch him slightly, and the dark ranger handily fights off the effect of its touch. Another robbed ghoul rushes in from the light in the south and leaps at Tristan, just barely scratching him with his claws. The fighter shrugs off the wound and points his sword at his aggressor, the blade bursting in flames. With a single, vicious strike, Tristan cleaves the Smoking Sword through the monster. A forth robed ghoul rushes from around the corner and immediately rips into Tristan. Kaliff rounds into the room and fires an electric arc at the two remaining ghouls. Ehrn suddenly charges into the fray and nearly impales the Zor'ahn's opponent.

A third ghoul enters the melee and strikes out at Kaliff, who appears shocked to still be alive. Another more ornately robed ghoul strides out of the glow and channels negative energy into Tristan. However, his new amulet pulses and the fighter feels no effects. Still another ghoul rounds the northern corner and moves against Ehrn, accomplishing nothing. Zor'ahn shifts his immanence and instantly heals himself, the energy of it spilling over and healing Tristan as well. Almost as an afterthought, the rangers cuts down his attacker. Kalitos steps forward, falling into an arcane stance, and slices his sword against his brother's attacker. Tristan turns away from his foe and begins moving towards the new threat, pushing over a book pedestal as he goes. Almost effortlessly, he plunges his smoking blade into the ornately robed ghoul's shoulder. With a snarl, the abandoned ghoul flanks against Zor'ahn, ripping into him. Kaliff casts bane and moves about the hallway, trying to catch the ghouls in its aura, but to no good end. Ehrn steps up stabs past Zor'ahn to impale the new aggressor.
The ghoul on Kalitos strikes uselessly against him before moving to assist the one to the south, who runs his claws over Tristan. He then falls back towards the blue light as a tendril suddenly lashes out at him. The energy fills him, healing his wounds, and he smiles evilly at Tristan. A ghoul he spied early rushes at him and scratches him slightly. Still another emerges from the shadows to the north and attempts to engage Ehrn, but fails miserably. Zor'ahn glides around him and his shadow utterly destroys it. Looking over his shoulder, the ranger spies another ghoul cowering in the corner. Kalitos powers to the south and cuts down the new ghoul on Tristan. Tristan in turns takes out the other one against him. Kaliff extends a finger as cold iron darts fly forth and impale the cultist. Ehrn sidles up as well and plunges her glaive into the undead's body. He hisses menacingly, "Go away!" and Ehrn feels compelled to do so. He then pulls one of the hanging straps of meat around his neck and consumes it. The blue energy twists and arcs again, healing his wounds.
The ghoul to the north rushes at Zor'ahn and slashes him with its claws. The ranger in response lashes out with his Wooden Argentis, slicing into his body. He then falls back before healing himself and Ehrn. Kalitos moves up and tries to grapple with cultist, but the energy makes targeting him difficult. Kaliff casts forbidden ward on his brother. Ehrn quickly moves away, but immediately shakes off the command and returns to the fight.
The cultist cautiously moves away and gestures at Tristan. The fighter suddenly finds his body wracked with phantom pain and becomes sickened. More void energy fills the cultist body. The remaining ghoul chases after Zor'ahn and cruelly rips into him with one claw. Zor'ahn quickly moves around their undead foe, but is unable to land a blow. Familiar blue energy strikes the ranger and he feels his soul splinter slightly. Kalitos moves up and grapples the cultist and is struck by the energy in return. Tristian sneaks his blade around the magus and strikes their foe. Kaliff fires a phase bolt and Ehrn follows up with a thrust from her glaive.
The cultist hisses and flails against Kalitos' grip but is unable to free himself. However, the blue energy fills it again. The remaining ghoul rushes forward and attempts to strike Kalitos, misses, and is healed as well. Zor'ahn's shadow flows out again, finally cutting down the cultist. Kalitos refocuses for his spellstrike and cuts down the last ghoul.

10.41a

After regrouping, the party begins taking in their surroundings. To Kaliff's eye, the signs over the doors are legible: Door 3: "Workroom", Door 1: "Repair Storage". He brings out Dr. Quagmire's letter to consult and then suddenly curses aloud as he pulls out the tiger painting they found in Undertown. He begins looking over the back of it and is able to make out that a signature, which was hidden to one side, is a stylized set of initials:

VA

Zor'ahn begins sensing for magic and starts walking down the hallway. Kaliff peers closer at the back of the painting and sees that part of the dust and dirt has been disturbed, having the appearance of something letter-sized being tucked into it. Zor'ahn removes the flesh necklace from the cultist and finds it to be disgusting and mundane, but tucks it away just the same.

Bunkroom

10.51a

The party decides to investigate the eastern door first seen and it opens to reveal a group of ghouls in a room to the north. Still in the hallway, Kaliff opens the northern door beside him to only find a storage room. Swearing, he powers up his bane. The first ghoul flings itself at Tristan and he is able to block some of its strike. Tristan activates his sword and viciously strikes the monster down in response. Zor'ahn advances and slashes out with his weapon. Kalitos moves it and finishes off the first foe. Ehrn positions herself in the room but is unable to make out the remaining ghouls in the gloom. One of the ghouls leaps at Zor'ahn and gnashes him with its jaws. The other squares off against Kalitos.
Kaliff moves up and waits for an opening. Tristan steps in and is able to demoralize one of the ghouls. Kaliff immediately steps up to take Tristan's place and catches one of the ghouls with his bane. Zor'ahn tumbles through the overwhelmed ghoul and quickly heals himself and Kalitos. Ehrn cuts down the first ghoul, and Kalitos ignites a spellstrike, ending the last ghoul as well.

Looking about, the party finds themselves what appears to be a bunkroom. The remains of a mostly eaten morlock is strewn about. Looking back into the storeroom, it appears to have once held supplies for firefighting that long since dried away. Hanging on the back of the door is a long wooden baton, which Kaliff retrieves.
Gathering in the alcove to the north of the hallway, the party opens the door labeled the "Restricted Room", revealing another cultist and two more ghouls.

Report Date

17 Nov 2024

Primary Location

Gauntlight Keep

Related Characters

• Ehrn Ricard
• Kaliff Raiboren
• Kalitos Raiboren
• Tristan Ricard
• Zor'ahn the Dark Ranger

Constellations