Session 27 - "Puppet Masters, Ruins of Gauntlight - Part 13"
General Summary
Wealday, 5th of Desnus, 4721 AR
Gauntlight Keep
Level 4 - Belcorra's Retreat
Bridge
9.34p
The ghostly footsteps continue to pace around the area for a few moments before exiting down a tunnel to the southwest. Mezmin appears to consciously have to focus on speaking words instead of in growls. He says he hasn't seen the dwarf, nor the other two. When asked about hazards are in the area, he points to the southwest and says the shadowy ghost is that way, but it is also guarded by will-o-wisps. Pointing to the north, Mezmin says through that door are the "nightmare stairs". "You would do well to close your eyes if you wish to escape them." Zor'ahn asks if that is the way he came, but he motions to the east and shares that he came through an dangerous underwater sea cave. Kaliff asks what Mezmin has been eating, who motions to a small forest of mushrooms.
The party gathers around the fire and shares their rations as they strategize their next moves. Zor'ahn admits that recovery rather than rescue of the dwarf would achieve his same goal. With that, the Exterminators decide to return to the previous level and continue explorations.
Level 3 - Library
Scriptorium
9.54p
Augrael is here still gorging himself on the fallen ghoul corpses. The group ventures back to the ghost of the elven woman to examine the room more closely. Kaliff recalls how when they were here earlier he discovered a book that had writings about Nhimbaloth, which had made reference to something similar to the Mark on Zor'ahn's arm and the "Eyes of the Empty Death". The party looks closely In the area where the ghost kept disappearing into and finds a secret door, which slides open when the nearby sconce is pulled.
It opens to a dusty, small, cobweb-filled room with writing utensils and papers and a large cabinet to the north. Kalitos opens the locks on drawers, which contain gorgeous books, but nothing of immediate importance. Going through scrolls on the desk, the party finds them mostly blank, but still well-made paper. Catching Kaliff's eye is a scroll that is not blank. It appears to be in a language that he is unsure of, but the scroll is quite large and every part of it has writing on it,. It is 5 ft. of neat rows of paragraphs and subparagraphs.
Author's Hall
10.14p
The group goes back to the writing room with copious amounts of blood on the walls and floor. Examining the blood helps to make out what appears to be a secret door in the south wall; a short hall, ironbound door in a small alcove to the east. Examining the circle within, this version appears more extraplanar in nature rather than regular teleportation. From the southern door comes the sound of water in a large space that opens to a platform in a large cave with water. Something massive begins to break the surface of the water and the sound of muffled burbling can be heard, as if a large number of people are talking at once.
Tunnel
10.45p
The party attends to each other's wounds and begins exploring the cavern. Above the rock formation in the middle of the pool is a hole with water dripping down. The water is also surprisingly clear and several coins can be seen, and Zor'ahn put's his shadowy hand to task. Examining the coins, Kalitos realizes they are probably several hundred years old. The passage to the north turns and slopes down. The western passage curves out of sight. Ollie follows the passage up about 20 ft. and finds a small well room with a bucket, armor, and weapons.
Gathering themselves, the party sets off to the western passage. Tristan makes out the light patter of bare feet on rock, which stops as the continue forward. They then begin moving away. Three children wearing tentacled helmets holding spears come into view. The party is immediately suspicious. Tristan calls out to them, but they do not appear to understand. Kaliff calls out in Sakvroth, "Who's there? Come into the light." He spies a pattern of crimson streaks on the helmets, which appear to be made of shells. He suddenly remembers hearing about a tale from an old fisherman down at the wharf about a ship that only had Samual Hedgerow make it back to port after the rest of his crew had perished. A sea creature that embedded themselves in the brains of the crew and used them as puppets to slaughter to each other. Warning of seeing that pattern. Tristan charges.
Report Date
08 Dec 2024
Primary Location
Related Characters
