Session 82 - The Orb from the Vault of King's

The party wakes on the 15th of Decem to find Dorax still missing, but Brenlazar also not present. The drinks and partying the night before hit some harder than others.

After breakfast, they all head off to... you guessed it - Lacrimosia's! Ater updating on their successat destroying the vials, everyone breathes a sigh of relief as the Cult's plans appear to be thwarted in Ardenholt. A few other points are made in the conversation:-

• A large congregation of the Inquisitorial Order is heading to Ardenholt from Stoneport. It appears they have an interest in Gildar...
• The Valgard Nobles and Harcourt family may start to target the group within the city for disturbing the Cults business.
• Brenlazar was seen very drunk and heading north, talking about vengeance

Lacrimosia advises them all to wrap up their business and leave the city. With that, Gildar asks for aid in obtaining the Orb he needs from the King's Vault. Lacrimosia agrees to help, but needs a day to prepare.

That night, Jaxxon is visited by the Succubus disguised as a Fey-being. ot falling for any tricks, Jaxxon succeeds on resisting the charm of the Demon. A fight breaks out, but the Succubus is eventually driven off, disapointed that it's plans for Jaxxon didn't come to fruition.

The next day, the 16th, is spent buying supplies for travelling and ensuring the smuggling business, The Underground Ale Road, will continue to do business without the par present. That night, he group go to break in to the Ivory Palace.

Using Jaxxon's link to the teleportation circle, and with help from Lacrimosia, the heist is a success. Jaxxon manages to get a direct link to his ndead familiar, known as BirdRatCrab, a obtain the orb for Gildar. Lacrimosia then teleports them out back to her house.A farewell is said to her mimic-table, Winston, as the party prepares to leave Ardenholt behind.

They leave through the tunnel Dorax found that leads to the King's Wood. Nearing dawn, the group reaches the woods, but Gildar has had a nagging feeling that the Orb he recieved needs destroying all this time.

In the dark of the trees, several party members begin to see shaows out of the corner of their eyes. Strange creatures are stalking them. Gildar decided to smash the orb, and chaos ensues.

Everything goes abnormally dark, and then the moon appears eclipsed. Twilight invades the material plane as some eldritch being directs its influence aross the region. In the sky, chained crpses hang upside down in torment. Screams can be heard coming from Ardenholt in the distance, its roofs and spires barely visible in the dim light coming from behind the moon.

In the forest, dark swirling masses appear slowly around the adventurers. Three entities of shadow and fear rise from blackness. And Gildar hears a million voices in a million languages say two words: "A test".

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