Game Session: Pilgrimage (Part 2)
Since it's been a while between Game Session posts, you may want to refresh yourself with the last session, here, or review all previous Game Sessions, here.
As mentioned in the previous session recap, our small party of heroes had been tasked with journeying to the Shrine of Sir Arden Brightheart to look for a group of pilgrims who had apparently gone missing recently. In the shrine, they found some of the pilgrims under a magical compulsion. Since these pilgrims posed no threat, the party left them alone and journeyed further into the shrine...
Continuing down the well crafted hall, the party turned a corner and found a door along one wall and huge, ornate double doors at the end of the hall. Checking out the single side door, they found it locked, but could hear noises coming from within. After "picking the lock" forcefully with a dagger, they opened the door.
Inside was a room dedicated to Sir Arden Brightheart's greatest achievement, the defeat of the necro-lich, Dread Watcher. At the far end, on top of a dais, were the remains of a skeleton covered in tattered rags, pierced to the wall with a gleaming bastard sword. At the foot of the dais was a golden basin and leading up to it were several rows of pews. Around the room about a dozen of the town pilgrims were moving about, performing strange tasks which, included swapping out white candles for ones cast in black wax, or pouring water into the golden basin.
As the party enter the room to confront the villagers, the doors slammed shut and dark, incorporeal wisps swirled and coalesced into a floating form. Just then, the room was filled with the baleful cry of an undead form.
"We must stop the intruders! This room still has the taint of goodness... We must not fail, lest we shall never bring Dread Watcher back to us!"
The enchanted villagers, who had been ignoring the party up to this point turned to attack with simple implements, or bare fists. The incorporeal undead attacked Duncan while the monk and the mage focused on subduing the villagers without killing them. After trading a few blows with the wraith, Duncan defeated the creature while the villagers were immobilized.
With all the threats in the room dealt with, the party looked more closely around the space. The skeleton and the sword on the dais turned out to be fake, neither were they the real bones of Dread Watcher nor was the sword Arden Brightheart's legendary blade, Conviction. After talking with some of the villagers, now free of their magical compulsion, the party learned that they were instructed to help desecrate this chapel, and that more activities were going on in other parts of the shrine.
Moving further down the hall, the party came to the double doors at the hall's end. On either side, just before the door, were skeleton heads embedded in the walls. It seemed this sanctuary also served as an ossuary for the local faithful. The heads looked to be several hundred years old. Placards positioned among the skulls showed various family names, some of which were still active in Saltmarsh.
The party opened the door to find a huge oblong shaped octagonal room. the walls of this huge chamber, which measured almost 70 feet across at its widest, had shelves carved into them and all held embedded skeleton heads. Hundreds of eyeless sockets seemed to be looking at the party as they walked closer in. On each side of the doors were a pair of statues, looking like an honor guard of knights of Solamnia standing at the ready.
Against the left and right walls of the room were additional double doors, and the far side of the room held a raised dias. On the platform seated upon a white marble throne, was the pristine body of a Knight of Solomnia, clad in resplendent robes and burnished armor.
This could only be Sir Arden. As the party came forward in reverence of the hero before them, a shimmer revealed that Sir Arden was not the one seated on the throne, but instead it was the skeletal form of Dread Watcher. As the necro-lich rose, it waved a hand around the room, and all the statues started to animate, all moving closer toward the party.
A wave of fear overcame the party as they stood before the harrowing form of Dread Watcher. Everyone fled the room, until they were far enough away to collect their senses. Once calm had returned, the party prepared a second foray into the throne room. Once again the statues animated, and Dread Watcher presented a fearsome appearance, but thanks to the blessings of the gods they followed, the party was resolute in defeating the terrors that resided within.
Duncan and Rainos concentrated their attacks on Dread Watcher, the monk concentrated his attacks on the animated statues. The lich tried dominating the will of Duncan through magic, but the cleric was able to resist the undead's commands.
While the monk destroyed the animated statues, the mage and cleric defeated the necro-lich with their own power attacks. Upon its death, the bones of Dread Watcher crumbled to dust, leaving behind several powerful magic items, including a mace, an enchanted breastplate, a ring of unknown power, and a wand.
Through one set of double doors, the party found a trio of villagers. They had been under the command of the lich and were digging through marble floor and searching through the many bone piles in the room. It seems this room held the most revered of Kiri-Jolith's followers and neither Dread Watcher, nor any of his undead followers could enter here. These townsfolk were in the process of trying to dig a deep enough grave to bury the true bones of Arden Brightheart. The freed townfolk were happy to flee the room and rejoin their fellow pilgrims.
Also of importance in the room was a crystal dagger that Rainos found. Upon further examination, Duncan was able to determine that it held the true life force of Dread Watcher. With the destruction of this phylactery, the necro-lich was truly, and finally dead.
Through the other set of doors, the party found more bones, but in this chamber hungry undead feasted on the ancient remains of the citizens of Saltmarsh. After a pitched battle with the rotting ghouls of this room, where steal, magic, and well trained fists proved the winning combination, the party tried cleaning up the disturbed remains, along with the small bits of jewelry belonging to the long departed.
This room also held an important surprise. Hidden among one of the highest shelves in the room, behind ancient bones, was a gleaming bastard sword. Touching the blade, Duncan felt a telepathic connection to the item. It identified itself as Conviction, Sir Arden's trusty blade, and having judged Duncan worthy, now his weapon in the fight against evil.
Afterward the party returned the entrance, and following down the other pathway descended a set of crude stone steps to a natural cavern, almost 50 feet wide, the far end containing a small lake. The center of the lake held a pedestal, rising just over the water's height. Atop the pedestal was an alabaster statue, similar to the ones in the main entrance. This one depicted Sir Arden down on one knee, head bowed in contemplation.
As the party drew closer to the water's edge, a pair of undead, lurking under the water, leaped out and attacked. They were quick and surprised the party, but after getting a few good attacks on the mage, the undead were soon defeated.
Ataraxia swam out to examine the statue more closely, and found a small placard, with the following inscription:
"You must be worthy to have the spirit of Conviction at your side. Tell me your tale..."
Duncan and the rest of the party explained what had happened and how they were able to defeat Dread Watcher. The ghost of Jarson was pleased to know that the great evil, so long confined to this place had been permanently destroyed.
"Go now, and return the travelers back to Saltmarsh and take with you these treasures that I have accumulated over the years."
The treasures included holy water, enchanted insence, and divine prayer beads. With that, the party gathered up the travelers and returned to Saltmarsh.
Once back in the city, Duncan was able to inform Lady Miranda what had happened at the sanctuary, and how it had been desecrated by the followers and minions of Dread Watcher. Lady Miranda was pleased at the out come and set Duncan in charge of leading the effort to reconsecrate the holy site in the name of Kiri-Jolith.
Next time, we'll learn what the rest of the party does while Duncan is away, and meet a new PC...
As mentioned in the previous session recap, our small party of heroes had been tasked with journeying to the Shrine of Sir Arden Brightheart to look for a group of pilgrims who had apparently gone missing recently. In the shrine, they found some of the pilgrims under a magical compulsion. Since these pilgrims posed no threat, the party left them alone and journeyed further into the shrine...
Continuing down the well crafted hall, the party turned a corner and found a door along one wall and huge, ornate double doors at the end of the hall. Checking out the single side door, they found it locked, but could hear noises coming from within. After "picking the lock" forcefully with a dagger, they opened the door.
Inside was a room dedicated to Sir Arden Brightheart's greatest achievement, the defeat of the necro-lich, Dread Watcher. At the far end, on top of a dais, were the remains of a skeleton covered in tattered rags, pierced to the wall with a gleaming bastard sword. At the foot of the dais was a golden basin and leading up to it were several rows of pews. Around the room about a dozen of the town pilgrims were moving about, performing strange tasks which, included swapping out white candles for ones cast in black wax, or pouring water into the golden basin.
"We must stop the intruders! This room still has the taint of goodness... We must not fail, lest we shall never bring Dread Watcher back to us!"
The enchanted villagers, who had been ignoring the party up to this point turned to attack with simple implements, or bare fists. The incorporeal undead attacked Duncan while the monk and the mage focused on subduing the villagers without killing them. After trading a few blows with the wraith, Duncan defeated the creature while the villagers were immobilized.
With all the threats in the room dealt with, the party looked more closely around the space. The skeleton and the sword on the dais turned out to be fake, neither were they the real bones of Dread Watcher nor was the sword Arden Brightheart's legendary blade, Conviction. After talking with some of the villagers, now free of their magical compulsion, the party learned that they were instructed to help desecrate this chapel, and that more activities were going on in other parts of the shrine.
Moving further down the hall, the party came to the double doors at the hall's end. On either side, just before the door, were skeleton heads embedded in the walls. It seemed this sanctuary also served as an ossuary for the local faithful. The heads looked to be several hundred years old. Placards positioned among the skulls showed various family names, some of which were still active in Saltmarsh.
The party opened the door to find a huge oblong shaped octagonal room. the walls of this huge chamber, which measured almost 70 feet across at its widest, had shelves carved into them and all held embedded skeleton heads. Hundreds of eyeless sockets seemed to be looking at the party as they walked closer in. On each side of the doors were a pair of statues, looking like an honor guard of knights of Solamnia standing at the ready.
Against the left and right walls of the room were additional double doors, and the far side of the room held a raised dias. On the platform seated upon a white marble throne, was the pristine body of a Knight of Solomnia, clad in resplendent robes and burnished armor.
A wave of fear overcame the party as they stood before the harrowing form of Dread Watcher. Everyone fled the room, until they were far enough away to collect their senses. Once calm had returned, the party prepared a second foray into the throne room. Once again the statues animated, and Dread Watcher presented a fearsome appearance, but thanks to the blessings of the gods they followed, the party was resolute in defeating the terrors that resided within.
Duncan and Rainos concentrated their attacks on Dread Watcher, the monk concentrated his attacks on the animated statues. The lich tried dominating the will of Duncan through magic, but the cleric was able to resist the undead's commands.
While the monk destroyed the animated statues, the mage and cleric defeated the necro-lich with their own power attacks. Upon its death, the bones of Dread Watcher crumbled to dust, leaving behind several powerful magic items, including a mace, an enchanted breastplate, a ring of unknown power, and a wand.
Through one set of double doors, the party found a trio of villagers. They had been under the command of the lich and were digging through marble floor and searching through the many bone piles in the room. It seems this room held the most revered of Kiri-Jolith's followers and neither Dread Watcher, nor any of his undead followers could enter here. These townsfolk were in the process of trying to dig a deep enough grave to bury the true bones of Arden Brightheart. The freed townfolk were happy to flee the room and rejoin their fellow pilgrims.
Also of importance in the room was a crystal dagger that Rainos found. Upon further examination, Duncan was able to determine that it held the true life force of Dread Watcher. With the destruction of this phylactery, the necro-lich was truly, and finally dead.
This room also held an important surprise. Hidden among one of the highest shelves in the room, behind ancient bones, was a gleaming bastard sword. Touching the blade, Duncan felt a telepathic connection to the item. It identified itself as Conviction, Sir Arden's trusty blade, and having judged Duncan worthy, now his weapon in the fight against evil.
Afterward the party returned the entrance, and following down the other pathway descended a set of crude stone steps to a natural cavern, almost 50 feet wide, the far end containing a small lake. The center of the lake held a pedestal, rising just over the water's height. Atop the pedestal was an alabaster statue, similar to the ones in the main entrance. This one depicted Sir Arden down on one knee, head bowed in contemplation.
As the party drew closer to the water's edge, a pair of undead, lurking under the water, leaped out and attacked. They were quick and surprised the party, but after getting a few good attacks on the mage, the undead were soon defeated.
Ataraxia swam out to examine the statue more closely, and found a small placard, with the following inscription:
When strength of steel in trouble fails,They soon found that this statue rotated on its base, and after rotating it half a turn, found that it unlocked a door on the other side of the cavern. Within this hidden room, the party found a corpse matching the description of of shrine's caretaker, Jarson Tender. Rising from the body of the dead hermit like a wisp of smoke, the ghost looked upon the living. A momentary look of anger was soon quelled when the spirit beheld that Duncan was in possession of Sir Arden's sword.
Silent reverence knows the way
Arden's arm was strong and true,
But 'twas his faith that won the day
"You must be worthy to have the spirit of Conviction at your side. Tell me your tale..."
Duncan and the rest of the party explained what had happened and how they were able to defeat Dread Watcher. The ghost of Jarson was pleased to know that the great evil, so long confined to this place had been permanently destroyed.
"Go now, and return the travelers back to Saltmarsh and take with you these treasures that I have accumulated over the years."
The treasures included holy water, enchanted insence, and divine prayer beads. With that, the party gathered up the travelers and returned to Saltmarsh.
Once back in the city, Duncan was able to inform Lady Miranda what had happened at the sanctuary, and how it had been desecrated by the followers and minions of Dread Watcher. Lady Miranda was pleased at the out come and set Duncan in charge of leading the effort to reconsecrate the holy site in the name of Kiri-Jolith.
Next time, we'll learn what the rest of the party does while Duncan is away, and meet a new PC...
