Twenty-Ninth Session

Book of Shadows

Dramatis Personae

  • Actias Aureus, a 12th level Dhampir Warlock
  • CoralKing, a 14th-level Gnome Monk
  • Orky, a 14th-level Half-Elf Paladin
  • Tasbros, a 12th-level Sky Elf Sorcerer
  • Tysnera, a 12th-level Sky Elf Wizard
  • Viker, a 14th-level Eladrin Druid
  • Wulrif, a 12th level Human Warlock

Summerday +1264 hours

From the journal of Countess Orky

We decide to speak to the Crusaders on Level 5 to find out where the bodies of the slain **Templar are. CoralKing, Actias, and Lady Varkosian are going to the market. Wulrif is heading to the nearest inn on Level 3. The Crusaders have no information, they said the Templar took the bodies and handled the investigation. So, we head to the Templar on Level 6 and speak to them. I find Lord Commander Sozenskaat and ask him. Lady Stokes was the Watch Commander at the time and he doesn’t think she has been corrupted. I invite her to have a meal at the inn that Wulrif is in and use him to figure out if she is being truthful.

Meanwhile, Lady Varkosian remembers that she can inherit Lord Varkosian’s Barony due to his death. So, she and Actias travel up to the Ledger of the Peerage on Level 1 to begin the proceedings. Interestingly, although Lord and Lady Varkosian have no heirs, an illegitimate child has also filed a claim and is supposedly in Conyberry, but that makes no sense because it’s been wasted by Barbarians.

We all congregate at the inn to question Lady Stokes. Wulrif immediately notices that he cannot read her. She explains to me that she appointed Sergeant Carruthers to take care of the investigation. She questioned him and he doesn’t know either. He questioned his team members and they don’t know either. She mentioned Brother Basil, a cleric, who would have handled the bodies after arrival at the cathedral. I decide to arrange to meet the Sergeant at the inn. He tells me that he and his men brought the bodies to Sepulchre and passed them off to Brother Basil. Wulrif notes that the Sergeant, and someone Wulrif cannot see, is suspicious of Brother Basil when he mentions him. Viker puts her Inquisitor's Robes on and notices a spider in the corner of the room that scuttles away immediately. Wulrif senses the second mind has left.

We make our way to St. Paul's Cathedral to question Brother Basil. Apparently he has gone missing before meeting Father Saphil to discuss a sermon. So, I seek out Father Saphil and he informs me that he hasn't seen him in 3 cycles. I ask if he knows anything about his disappearance and he said he has always been a strong member of my order. He also performed his original Rites of Passage. He mentions Brother Basil's mother is a miner on the Level 0 and he came from poverty. He is also young, which is why he is getting the grunt work of the mortuary.

We decide to take a rest cycle and have Tysnera tailor a spell list for investigation before heading to Brother Basil’s living quarters. He shares with 8 other brothers with chests at the ends of their beds. I decide to physically look around while Tysnera tries to open the chest. She opens it with a Knock spell and we immediately feel malaise. We see the inside of the chest is lined with lead, and inside is a strange book that is radiating extraplanar magic. Tysnera sees letters in a spidery script between him and his mother, in which she recognizes is Drow. Tysnera concludes that this is a Warlock’s Book of Shadows to Llolth with a 6th level spell in there. This is a tome that is gifted to the Warlock by his patron.

When we bring the book into the cathedral, the writing disappears. We bring it outside the cathedral and the writing reappears. I decide to rent quarters in the Noble's District on Level 5 with appropriate space. In my new ballroom, I cast Magic Circle, as does Actias, and Tysnera. I retrieve my Bag of Holding (thanks Calmul!), remove the book, and open it. Some kind of spell goes off, and a Gate opens. Immediately, 4 Yochlols and a Marilith step through.

Round 1

  1. CoralKing casts Darkness and Shadow Steps behind the Marilith.
  2. Tasbros casts Scatter, which teleports 5 people away from the circle.
  3. The Marilith leaves the Magic Circles, attacks Tasbros, and does 33 HP damage, who is restrained in her coils. He is hit 3 more times, leaving him with 6 HP remaining. Wulrif is hit, doing 48 HP damage. 2 more Yochlols appear next to the Marilith.
  4. 2 of the Yochlols attack CoralKing twice and do 16 HP damage. Actias uses his reaction to attack with his Sunblade. He does 24 HP damage.
  5. Viker summons her Unicorn Spirit and then casts Mass Cure Wounds, healing the party for 35 HP each.
  6. Wulrif Scatters Tasbros out of the grapple, and moves everyone into a strategic position where the spellcasters are against the wall and Actias, CoralKing, and me are in the front. He hits one of the Yochlols for 11 HP damage.
  7. I step forward, cast Searing Smite, and attack the nearest Yochlol twice for 52 HP damage. Then, I step back into formation.
  8. Tysnera casts Fireball and does 14 damage to the Marilith and 28 damage to the Yochlols.
  9. Actias walks forward, uses his Sunblade light and Banes 3 Yochlols.

Round 2

  1. CoralKing takes 5 HP damage as he moves past a Yochlol to attack that Yochlol with his Staff of Striking and a Flurry of Blows, doing 28 HP damage, killing it.
  2. Tasbros casts Firestorm and delivers fire cubes to the top of each enemy in the area. 24 HP damage to the Yochlols and 12 HP to the Marilith.
  3. The Marilith wraps me in her coils for 11 HP damage, grappling and restraining me. She then hits me with her swords 5 more times for 57 HP damage. Actias is also hit by a sword for 14 HP damage, but counterattacks for 23 HP damage.
  4. The Yochlols attack CoralKing and do 12 HP damage.
  5. Viker uses her Mace of Disruption on the Marilith for 13 HP damage and Fey Steps away.
  6. Wulrif attacks the Marilith for 42 HP damage.
  7. I make a Vow of Enmity on the Marilith and attack her twice with my Greatsword, doing 59 HP damage.
  8. Tysnera casts Magic Missile on the Marilith, doing 24 HP damage, exploding her into chunks of ectoplasm.
  9. Actias uses his Dancing Sword to attack a Yochlol, doing 36 HP damage.

Round 3

  1. CoralKing moves to flank a Yochlol and attacks it twice, doing 34 HP damage, killing it!
  2. Tasbros casts Confusion on 2 Yochlols.
  3. The non-Confused Yochlol does 66 HP damage to Viker. I use my Chromatic Dragon Wings to protect her from further damage. Actias is attacked for 50 HP, initially knocking him prone. However, Wulrif protects him and brings him back to 1 HP.
  4. Viker does 21 HP damage to a Yochlol, killing it!
  5. Wulrif does 40 HP damage to a Yochlol.
  6. I cast Searing Smite and hit a Yochlol twice, with one critical hit, for 85 HP damage total.
  7. Tysnera casts Melf's Acid Arrow on a Yochlol for 19 HP damage, killing it!
  8. Actias attacks a Yochlol for 30 HP damage, then Misty Steps to the back of the pack since he is low on health.

Round 4

  1. CoralKing moves behind one of the Yochlol and attacks with his Staff of Striking for 18 HP damage, then uses a Flurry of Blows for 15 HP damage.
  2. Tasbros casts Chromatic Orb at a level 2 and does 26 HP damage.
  3. Tysnera uses Melf's Acid Arrow and does 26 HP damage.
  4. One of the Yochlols attacks CoralKing, but misses.
  5. Viker uses her Mace and does 18 HP damage, Disrupting it!
  6. Wulrif casts Witch's Bolt on the remaining Yochlol and does 27 HP damage.
  7. I hit the last one twice, killing it with 40 HP damage.
  8. Tysnera summons a Water Elemental and puts out all of the fire from Tasbros' Firestorm.

The Gate is still open!

20,000 XP Each