The Faceless One Report

General Summary

Ready'reat 13th, 595 CY

2024-01-29

As they gathered the loot from across the labyrinth, Malakai cast a healing spell on the wounded Paelex as Paelex started sorting through the growing pile of treasure. Once the maze was clear, Paelex led them to the kenku commanders' nest where found a loose flagstone that hid the bosses' treasures. Kaszu used this time to identify the magic they had found and distribute the items where they'd do the most good. Taking a short rest in the bosses nest they set out to find the Vecnan cultists and this "Faceless One " mentioned by the other two cult leaders.
Prowling around the Labyrinth of Vecna, the Topknots reasoned that the cultists would likely be to the north and sure enough, carefully searching a northern passage turned up a secret door leading to a pillared hallway. The walls were a dull gray, and as the companions entered, hundreds of eyes opened up on the walls, following the Topknots while slowly blinking. Rounding the corner, they heard the sounds of babbling voices before spying the main altar chamber. Two acolytes of Vecna were here in the midst of some type of ceremony, joined by a shadowy undead creature which was the source of the babbling voices.
As one of the acolytes cast a spell to protect himself with magic armor, the maddening shadowy creature, an allip, moved to engage Crichton. As it approached, Crichton tried to slash it with his infused glaive, but the creature dodged out of the way. Paelex was prepared and fired a sorcerous burst at the creature, which did less damage to the incorporeal undead than he expected. Kaszu sent his spider up to block the creature from attacking Crichton, but the spider was seriously wounded by the allip's maddening touch. Crichton swung wildly, but was unable to strike the undead. The second acolyte cast a mind sliver, trying to throw Crichton off guard, but the dragonborn was able to resist the spell.
At Kaszu's command, the spider began repairing itself as Argan charged the allip and struck with his axe. His axe and his drake's infusions damaged the creature, but part of the strikes were resisted by its incorporeal nature. The first acolyte used this time to cast magic missile at Crichton, which was absorbed by his new brooch of shielding.
Meanwhile the others targeted the allip, Paelex missed with a sorcerous burst, while Malakai's halo of spores did nothing to the creature, Tolman's magical bonfire did some damage. The allip, in return, began a howling babble which affected much of the companions, luckily, they were able to fend off the worst of the creature's magic. Crichton, his anger rising, vowed enmity on the undead creature, and when he struck, he smote it with divine power.
Malakai used the creature's demise to close with one of the acolytes, his spores combined with a chill touch seriously wounding the evil cultist. The other acolyte bombarded Argan with magic missiles. Kaszu attacked the one engaged with Malakai, getting a nice shot with his crossbow as Argan charged the one who struck him, felling the acolyte. The last acolyte used a burning hands to try and get a few Topknots, but fell to Tolman's bonfire and Paelex's sorcerous burst.
Gathering some of the loot, the companions had several doorways leading further north, deciding to just kick the doors in and surprise anyone there, a few of them found their way to a laboratory. There two more acolytes followed the command of a mage wearing a porcelain mask, the Faceless One. Crichton charged in and landed a good strike on the cult leader. One of the acolytes responded by unleashing magic missiles on the dragonborn, surprised when they were absorbed by his brooch. That was when the Faceless One cast a lightning bolt at Crichton, followed up by the other acolyte's toll the dead. Crichton fell dying.
Argan raced in and struck at the Faceless One who dodged out of the way. Paelex tried casting a chromatic orb, to have it counterspelled by the cult leader. One of the acolytes cast a burning hands, and damaged Argan. Malakai ran in and enveloped one of the acolytes in his halo of spores. Tolman took his time getting a good shot at the acolyte distracted by his companions, and taking the cultist down in one precise shot.
At that point, the Faceless One blanketed the room in a hypnotic pattern, momentarily stunned, several of the Topknots inspired themselves to resist the spell. The remaining acolyte used that time to catch Argan and the spider in another burning hands spell. As Argan fought the Faceless One, he commanded his drake to attack the remaining acolyte. Malakai got a good hit with his shillelagh on the Faceless One, while Paelex's chromatic orb finished the job.
Kaszu wasted no time in running up to the dying Crichton and forcing a healing potion down his throat, reviving the dragonborn as his spider attacked the last acolyte. Surrounded by enemies, the acolyte tried to give himself magical sanctuary and while Argan was unable to strike him, the drake tore his throat out.
Taking some time to search through the laboratory, the companions found the Faceless One's spellbook along with a Vecnan codebook, remembering that they had found a coded note in Theldrick's chambers, they considered their next move.

Campaign

Against the Ebon Triad

Protagonists

Paelex Cavian

Chaotic Neutral Tiefling (Noble)
Sorcerer 5

32 / 32 HP

STR
8

DEX
14

CON
12

INT
11

WIS
13

CHA
18

Tolman K’hurzz

Malakai Steelbuckle

Delilah Raincloud

Crichton Eogen

Argan Agu-Ulakanu

Chaotic Good Goliath (Outlander)
Ranger 4

36 / 36 HP

STR
18

DEX
14

CON
14

INT
10

WIS
12

CHA
8

Kaszu Billowcase

Chaotic Good Rock Gnome (Guild Artisan / Guild Merchant)
Artificer 3

24 / 24 HP

STR
8

DEX
12

CON
14

INT
17

WIS
14

CHA
10

Report Date

06 Feb 2025