Previous: Ancient Citadel
Session 19: The Sword
Over the next couple of days the group made short forays throughout the top two floors of the citadel while Corwynne prepared and cast identify on the magical items that the group had found. They encountered no more dangers in the above-ground section of the citadel, but they knew that the basement was almost definitely inhabited by more undead. After two days the group had divvied up the magical items found throughout the building. They had found a rod of wonder, a staff of healing, and three ioun stones, one that increases dexterity, one that allows its user to see brief glimpses into the future to aid in combat, and one that stores spells to be cast later. Raymond got the staff, Flynn got the dexterity stone, Allister got the future stone, and Corwynne got the rod and the spell storing stone.
On the third day the group reiterated their promise to the crypt thing that they would ask the Tharkilite priests to release him to death and descended the stairs to search the basement.
At the second door that the group approached, the group heard some incoherent babbling. They threw open the door and they saw a twisted humanoid torso floating with vaporous black fog where its legs should have been. The group felt a compulsion to stand and stare at the creature as it floated towards Allister, with black fog trailing behind. Fortunately the group was able to shake the hypnosis and protect themselves from the creatures attacks. Without its hypnotic babble holding the group rapt, they were able to defeat the allip quickly.
The group turned into a tight corridor with several doors leading off to the sides. As they continued down the corridor, Allister and Corwynne spotted some shadows moving independently of the flickering torchlight. Just as they called out a warning to their companions the shadows struck. The creatures reached through the walls, striking at the group with their insubstantial claws. Corwynne and Ollorin rushed into the closest room to try and reach on of the shadows that was attacking through the wall, the shadow hit Corwynne with a claw, chilling her to the core and weakening her greatly. She realized that she couldn't take another blow from the shadow. Ollorin stepped into the room and between his blows and Corwynne's spells the shadow was defeated. Flynn, Allister, and Ollorin defeated the remaining shadows with some support from Corwynne's spells. Unfortunately, Allister and Flynn had been weakened by the shadows so the group decided to rest for a day in one of the rooms.
While resting, Corwynne searched the rooms thoroughly and found a secret door leading into a dark passage leading away from the citadel. Figuring that they should finish checking the citadel before searching the passage, the group headed toward the southern end of the basement. After passing through a locked door, the group entered a large, open room with a vaulted ceiling, and two large, stone tables. Just as the group entered the room three desiccated human forms with wild hair, eyes that burn with malevolence, and needle-sharp teeth rushed from the darkness. The group was able to quickly defeat the wights, but not before one of them had drained Flynn of a good portion of his lifeforce.
After defeating the wights, the group decided to explore the secret passage, and after about two hundred feet, the passage ended at a grate. The group was disappointed, but as they turned to go back to the citadel Skooby Two heard something and the group decided to exit into the night through the grate. With some effort, Allister was able to push the grate open and Corwynne flew out and up into a tree. The rest of the group climbed out, with Skooby Two helped out by Flynn. As soon as the group was out in the marsh, they saw a campfire and heard some people engaging in small-talk.
As a group the companions cautiously approached the strangers' camp. There was a man dressed in loose clothing picking his fingernails with a dagger, a small man a shaved head, and a large, boisterous man bragging at a woman quietly sitting by herself at the edge of the camp. The party was quickly detected and the other group stopped talking and readied themselves for possible attack. The woman stepped forward and hailed the group. She introduced herself as Charlotte McShane, a ranger guiding a small group of adventurers to a citadel rumored to be in the area. Corwynne volunteered the fact that the citadel was nearby, but cleared out. At this point, Corwynne and Ollorin noticed that the bald man was wearing the vestments of a cleric of Kharduun. Kharduun is an evil god of entropy, and as such his priesthood is universally reviled. As the group neared the woman, Allister stepped to the front and as he hailed Charlotte, he heard a call in his mind, "Take me from this dolt". Realizing that the entire reason for the group's travels was within reach, Allister attacked the warrior. Ollorin attacked the Kharduunite priest and Flynn attacked the man with the dagger.
Allister and the warrior traded mighty blows. The evil cleric tried to hold Ollorin with a spell, but Ollorin shrugged the spell off and rained blows on the priest. Corwynne hit the priest with a scorching ray. Flynn missed the man with the dagger and the man began casting. He dropped a fireball just behind Flynn, hitting him and Skooby Two. They both survived the fireball, but they were hurt. Charlotte had moved to the outskirts of the battle, watching for any offensive move from either group.
After a short battle, Allister felled Halburt, Ollorin was chasing the cleric into the darkness, and the wizard had turned invisible and fled. Ollorin returned with the cleric's corpse. The group explained the situation to Charlotte and she offered to lead them back to Riverton. They politely declined since they had to go to the Tharkilite temple to return their holy items.
Allister had finally rescued the sentient sword.