Session 11: Not Quite a Lich 2

Date: 8/19/21

DM: Babylonius

Chronicler Name: Sirje (Jesir)

Players: 


 * 1) Sirje (Jesir)
 * 2) Carnith (Bladesabers)
 * 3) Amrâkh (Shrike)

Body:

Carnith’s find familiar returned to him and provided an update on the Silk Merchant. He made camp and headed North towards Clearcraft. Carnith notes that he will ask around and see which direction the merchant traveled after Clearcraft.

Upon their return to Clearcraft, the adventurers decided the best path forward was to speak with Priscia Nightbane and ask for assistance in dealing with the phylactery. Priscia was about to leave Clearcraft in search of more information on the missing children. She planned to head into the Turter Morass. Carnith suggested we take Priscia out to the glen area where they originally found the missing children and Mother Natalia’s cave. It is far enough away from town to deal with the phylactery, and also provides an opportunity to discuss the missing children with Priscia.

Priscia agreed and the party headed out. During their trip to the glen, Priscia took the opportunity to address any and all questions related to the child disappearances. She has been investigating these events for the last two years. The disappearances happened in many places including King’s Hall, Fentear, Arkkukari, Icechild, and many other villages centered around the Turter Morass.

She was unclear if the disappearances at Clearcraft were linked to her investigation, but felt it was important enough to investigate. There wasn’t a consistent pattern to any of the disappearances.

The party informed Priscia about the happenings with Tristus and what they were hoping to do with the Phylactery. She was open to assisting, assuring us that she does this on a regular basis. The party also took the extra time to ask additional questions about Priscia. Some highlights included the following:


 * Priscia is a member of the Silver Order (Secret Order of Paladins)
 * She wore a ring on her finger, (fancy/elegant band, but a pebble in the gem slot). It is one of the ten rings. Ring of the Stalwart Defender.
 * It was given to her by the bronze dragon Lirgyss. Found on the eastern coastal area of the Unscathed Highlands. Likely on the islands north east of Founder’s ring. The Dragon tested her and she was found worthy.
 * She also talked about the silver dragon Akyl (likely found north of Vririe in the Narrow Tundra) and how it is the Patron for the Paladins of the Silver Order

After arriving in the glen, Priscia prepared a cauldron/basin and filled it with water and blessed it. She proceeded to describe that we should expect this process to take 24 hours once the ring is placed into the water and the intention was to weaken the dark magic present in the ring.

Carnith takes a caution approach and sends his familiar to watch over Tristis and take a note to her. The note included a short amount of information that we have found a solution to her problem and she will pass on shortly. If something goes wrong with Tristis, the familiar will return to Carnith. Sirje and Amrâkh took up nearby ready positions and were ready for anything. Carnith took the ring out of his bag of holding and placed it in the water. Upon entering the water, the water reacts and changes color to a blacker shade. The following 24 hours are logged at the bottom of the page. (Combat highlighted in Red, Rest in Blue)

The following 24 hours were a dangerous slew of encounters with shadowy creatures. Priscia wanted to observe the adventurers' merit and was pleased. She did enter the fray in the ninth hour when six creatures burst from the ring. The adventurers had some opportunity for rest during the day, but death was only a hit away. The creatures flocked to anything Amrâkh cast, so the party adapted and killed the creatures as they swarmed them. Some of the shadow creatures relentlessly pursued Sirje.

At the 24th hour, the water bubbled more than it had before. It turned a jet black color and the water roiled. Water proceeded to shoot up from the basin, producing more water than was in the bowl. The water then settles as five appear around the basin. Four shadows and one phantom encircle the basin and an enormous dark creature appears. Just the existence of this Nightwalker makes you feel awful.

Priscia ran towards the massive dark monster and shouted to the adventurers to focus on the little shadows and this one was hers. Brutal combat ensued. Priscia engaged the great monster, unloading all of the holy power she had within her. The monster endured and took swing after swing in response. The party split off and attacked the remaining enemies with Carnith sending his Steel Defender in support of Priscia. Sirje battled off the Phantom and was heavily injured, while Amrâkh and Carnith handled the shadows. Amrâkh caught the Nighwalker’s attention after casting a radiant spell on the shadows. This mass of shadow pointed at Amrâkh and dealt her a crippling blow inducing a state of fear and paralysis. She was then swarmed by shadows and beaten within an inch of her life, but Sirje and Carnith were able to kill the remaining shadows and stabilize her.

Sirje shouted out to Priscia if she needed any help, but Priscia was insistent they stayed back.

Moments later, the Nightwalker struck Priscia with a fatal blow, killing her instantly.

In a moment of sheer determination, fully expecting to perish, Sirje sprinted towards Priscia’s body, grabbed her maul, leapt up the Nightwalker's legs and chest as it knelt over her body. He drove the maul deep into the creature's head. In doing so, the creature recoiled, shrieked, then began to collapse in on itself, consuming the maul and everything nearby.

The Nightwalker was defeated, at great cost.

The body of Priscia lay crumpled near the basin, extinguished. Her body gradually turns into light and fades into the morning sun, leaving only her cloak, ring, and journal.

Sirje asked Carnith to inspect the ring lying in the now empty basin. It still emanated necrotic energy, but nothing near what was present before. Carnith ordered his Homunculus to grab the ring and hold it at a safe distance. Amrâkh cast sacred flame on the ring and it slowly melted away.

After retrieving Priscia’s belonging and taking a longer rest, the party headed back to Clearcraft. They returned to the house and spoke with Tristis, letting her know they were successful and that she should be able to pass on. Tristis expressed that she was ready now.

In a tender moment, Sirje (borrowing Carnith’s dagger), held Tristis and pierced her heart. As the dagger pierces her heart, the small undead body of the woman that was Tristis dissipates into mist. She left a bag of holding and a Gem of Brightness upon her passing.

The adventurers still had one thing left to do. They headed to Clearcraft’s graveyard to memorialize Tristis and Priscia.


 * Priscia’s Headstone:

Priscia Nightbane - Protector till the end


 * Tristis’ Headstone:

At Peace at Last

Amrâkh also forged a golden ring and mounted it in Tristis’ headstone.

This encounter left quite the impression on all of them in different ways. They headed back home and briefly spoke to Hodgkins. He was saddened about the loss of Priscia, but remarked that it was a dangerous profession and she knew the risks.

Points of Interest/Rumors/Notes:


 * Akyl - Silver Dragon north of Vririe
 * Lirgyss - Bronze Dragon east of Wimborne
 * Silver Order (Located somewhere around Vririe)
 * Priscia planned to head somewhere in the Turter Morass

Loot:


 * Ring of the Stalwart Defender (Dormant) given to Sirje
 * Cloak of Protection given to Amrâkh
 * Gem of Brightness given to Carnith
 * Bag of Holding given to Carnith

Other Notes:


 * Hour 1: The water darkens slightly and two flashes of energy are emitted from the basin. One taller humanoid shape made of darkness and shadow, the other was a smaller and amorphous shadow creature.
 * Hour 2: Nothing
 * Hour 3: Two more spirits erupt from the basin.
 * Hour 4: Nothing Amrakh Short Rest
 * Hour 5: Dark Energy screams out, three shadows appear
 * Hour 6: Four Dark Shadows rise from the basin
 * Hour 7: Nothing
 * Hour 8: Two Shadows Rise
 * Hour 9: Six Shadows/Phantoms burst from the basin, Priscia joins the fray
 * Hour 10: Sirje take a rest
 * Hour 11: Nothing
 * Hour 12: Four Spirits
 * Hour 13: Nothing, Amrakh Short Rests
 * Hour 14: Nothing
 * Hour 15: Nothing
 * Hour 16: Four Shadows
 * Hour 17: Four Shadows
 * Hour 18: Nothing
 * Hour 19: Nothing
 * Hour 20: Nothing
 * Hour 21: Three Shadows, Four Phantoms
 * Hour 22: Sirje Short Rest, Carnith Short Rest
 * Hour 23: Nothing
 * Hour 24: Water bubbles then a dark light flash happens. Jet black. Roiling of bubbles. Water shoots up. More water than there should be in the bowl/cauldron. Water settles.

''Creatures appear around the basin. Four Shadows + One Phantom + Nightwalker''