Session 70

The Sunken City

Chapter 1: Memorial for Safi

The group returned to the Kragmorta dray victorious but with heavy hearts. They were provided with food, drink, and a place to rest. In the morning, Fazanna wished to hold a moment of silence for Safi, but Shank argued that since Safi was silenced forever, they should instead talk about him. A brief argument ensued, but the group quickly moved on, determined to continue their journey in Safi's memory.

Chapter 2: Kataal the Mover

The group made their way to an intersection after donating a magic item and continued upward. Upon reaching a branching path, a fierce debate between Shank and Fazanna ensued, with the group ultimately deciding to explore the side passage. Fazanna expressed concern that it might cost them more magic items to continue upward. After traveling about half a mile sideways, with Shank searching for his signature weapon, they reached a dead end where the tunnel had collapsed. They retraced their steps, were levitated again, and continued their ascent. At a second intersection, they ventured down another corridor only to find another collapsed end. Continuing upward, they encountered a magical wall of hard sand but noticed a crack in the tunnel before reaching it. They entered the crack, realizing they were near the Black Spire, and decided to follow the tunnel in its direction. The man-made tunnel rose steeply for 30 minutes before descending sharply. They were blocked by a massive stone portal inscribed with the seal of Raam’s sorcerer-queen, Abalach-Re. After discovering it was a door that needed to be forced open, they understood they were miles beneath the tunnel and would need to use all their clay tablets to continue upward, so they backtracked and headed in the other direction. After passing the crack, the tunnel rose and fell again until they reached a similar door. Shiv and Shank opened the massive door, releasing a flood of foul, black water that filled the tunnel. Fazanna then used her scroll to upcast Air Bubble for the group.

Chapter 3: A Grand Apartment

The group emerged from the water-logged tunnel, finding themselves submerged within a forgotten structure. As they navigated the murky depths, the weight of the water pressed down on them, and their vision was blurred by swirling silt and debris. The once-grand apartment, crafted from smooth gray marble, was now entombed beneath the water's surface, its former splendor ghostly and distorted by centuries of neglect. Faded frescoes and intricate carvings hinted at a time when this place symbolized luxury and power. Now, the marble was slick with algae, and the rooms were filled with remnants of a long-lost era, decaying in the cold, stagnant water. The overwhelming silence was broken only by muted gurgles and creaks as the ancient structure settled around them.

As they ventured deeper into the submerged chambers, a chilling, unnatural sensation ran through the water. The light from above faded, and they sensed a presence lurking in the gloom—something ancient and watchful, stirring in the shadows, as if awakened by their arrival. The apparition swam down and clawed at Karnos, who turned insubstantial. Karnos, the only one who could swim, swam up to the apparition and attempted to use his mind blast, but it had no effect. He then swam back down to the group and gave Shiv advantage. Fazanna used her lightning lure spell to bring Karnos back down and readied a lightning bolt in case the apparition reappeared.

Shiv took one of Shank's javelins and tossed it at the unseen apparition, hitting her and causing her to flounder. Shank prepared to strike when she came back down. As she swam down, Fazanna's lightning bolt went off, shocking not only the undead apparition but everyone within five feet, as the water conducted the lightning. Shank swung his axe and hit her, but she retaliated with two claw attacks. Anvar vaccinated Shiv against disease and used his vitality boost on Karnos. Fazanna cast toll the dead, but it had no effect on the apparition. She then missed with a short sword attack and activated her blade song. Shiv, entering a rage, grappled the apparition and pulled her down to the group, then struck her with his hammer, causing her essence to disperse.

Chapter 4: Finding a Helm

The pool lay before them, a still, black mirror of stagnant water, ten feet deep and eerily silent. Bodies and debris drifted lazily on the surface, while jagged stones and remnants of buildings jutted from the murky depths. As their light cut through the darkness, something glinted just beneath the water, about twenty feet from the shore—barely visible, yet unmistakably present, as if waiting to be discovered. Shiv and Shank waded out into the water and retrieved the helm, which Karnos identified as a Helm of Underwater Action.

Chapter 5: The Sunken City

Inside the magical box of sand, a perfectly cubic structure with a gracefully curved dome, the scene was one of surreal disarray. The box rested at a 30-degree angle on the rocky bottom, causing stone streets and floors to crack and fragment into a chaotic network of fissures. Water bubbled up from an underground spring, forming a stagnant, black lake in the lowest section. In this distorted realm, sections of streets and buildings were grotesquely severed and left to crumble outside the confines of the box. Towering spires and building tops were sliced away, leaving doors leading to nothingness and ceilings made of magically hardened sand. The entire area resembled a once-thriving city entombed within a colossal, sand-filled box, its fragmented remains frozen in time beneath a dome-shaped roof. As they emerged from the oppressive, dark water, they instinctively gasped for air, only to be met with a suffocating void. The air was thick and musty, clinging to their lungs like a damp shroud, making each breath feel like a desperate struggle. The stagnant atmosphere wrapped around them, heavy and foreboding, intensifying the eerie silence that engulfed the submerged space. They were overwhelmed by a sense of dread, the oppressive air a haunting reminder of the forgotten depths from which they had emerged.

Chapter 6: Tomb

The building towered nearly to the sand dome above, reaching a height of 60 feet. Once majestic lion-headed statues had flanked the great double doors, but they had been removed, leaving only faint impressions and crumbling bases behind. The sealed doors were etched with enigmatic writing that pulsed with a forgotten power. The scene was one of grandiosity marred by decay, with intricate carvings and inscriptions hinting at secrets locked behind the immovable barrier. The group entered the tomb, which had once served as a grand temple but now lay in eerie silence. At its center, a massive stone coffin was bound by heavy, rusted chains—a grim testament to the passage of time and the sanctity once revered there. The surrounding chamber echoed faintly with whispers of its sacred past, adding a haunting weight to the ominous presence of the coffin.

After breaking the chains and prying off the lid, they found the skeleton of a giant with a lion's head inside metal armor. The breastplate glowed faintly, engraved with leonine images. Shank grabbed the sword, causing the temple to groan as three ghostly protectors emerged from the corners. Passk dodged towards the coffin, while one protector slashed Anvar with its lion's paw but missed with its sword. Karnos used his psionic ability to teleport near the coffin. Another protector slashed Anvar again but missed with its sword. Shank, in a rage, attacked a protector recklessly, hitting twice and critically unleashing his elemental flux ability, thunder. The third protector slashed Shiv with both its lion's paw and sword, but Shiv missed in retaliation. Fazanna used her blade song and hit with her flame blade. Anvar tried to grapple but failed. Shiv disengaged and killed another protector with his hammer, then baited and switched with Shank. Karnos moved behind his allies before using his blasting crystal. A protector lashed out with its lion's paw but missed with its sword. Passk ran behind his allies, while another protector attacked Anvar, who blocked the lion's paw but was hit by the sword. Anvar tried to grapple again but failed. Shiv struck twice with his hammer, and Fazanna cast toll the dead with no effect before hitting with her sword, which did no damage. Shank went reckless again, killing one protector and critically hitting the last one. The last protector critically hit Shank with its lion's paw but missed with the sword. Fazanna used her green flame blade to kill the final protector. The group collected three rings of protection, three metal long swords, and three lion's paw gauntlets as their reward.

Chapter 7: Looting the Coffin

Shiv, driven by the lure of power, crawled into the ancient coffin to claim the glowing breastplate. As he lifted it from the skeletal remains, the air seemed to thicken with a foreboding presence. The moment he donned the armor, a sharp, twisting pain shot through his body, as if the very essence of the armor was fighting to consume him. His vision blurred, and he staggered, the once-mighty breastplate now feeling like a weight of doom upon his chest.

Sensing the dark magic at work, Fazanna stepped forward with urgency, her voice steady as she invoked the Remove Curse spell. A brief moment of relief washed over Shiv, the sickening feeling ebbing away as the spell took hold. But just as hope flickered, the curse tightened its grip once more, dragging him back into a state of torment. Shiv’s breath came in ragged gasps as he wrenched the cursed armor from his body, casting it aside with a mix of fear and disgust.

Gasping for air, he turned to the group, his voice strained but determined. “There’s more,” he managed, pointing to the dark recesses beneath the giant’s remains in the coffin. “A passage… hidden below.” The revelation hung in the air, the cursed armor now just a grim reminder of the dangers that lurked within the ancient tomb.

Chapter 8: Bone Pile

The group decided to explore more of the Sunken City and returned to the citadel. Outside the citadel, they encountered two towering piles of refuse that loomed ominously, marking the spot where anything that obstructed progress had been ruthlessly discarded. Dozens of ancient corpses were entangled within these mounds, their decayed remains barely visible beneath the layers of debris. The air was thick with the stench of death.

Chapter 9: Dregoth's Citadel

They entered the citadel, finding stone desks and rotted chairs scattered throughout the rooms, their once-sturdy forms succumbing to time's ravages. Shattered scrolls and torn parchments littered the floors, remnants of a forgotten scholarly past. Stone shelving systems, now lined with charred and brittle paper, hinted at the once-bustling activity these shelves once held. The air was thick with the scent of decay and lost knowledge, a poignant reminder of the room's lost purpose.

Continuing on, they reached the atrium, which once housed a vibrant garden of towering plants. Now, it stood as a grim reminder of defilement. Stone pits that once cradled lush greenery were empty and desolate. The soil, a stark mixture of lifeless dirt and gray ash, offered no hint of the vitality that once flourished there. The air was thick with the lingering echo of lost growth, with ancient magic reduced to a barren expanse.

Moving further, they encountered a room where worn and splintered wooden benches faced a grand obsidian platform dominating the space. The dark, reflective surface of the platform, with its sleek, polished edges, might have once been a grand altar. The contrast between the neglected benches and the imposing dark monolith created an eerie atmosphere, hinting at the platform’s once-sacred or ceremonial significance.

Continuing deeper, they discovered a chamber with a door that once bore intricate wards and protective runes, now shattered and broken upon the floor. Inside, the remnants of a once-thriving craft shop lay scattered. Shelves that had once brimmed with supplies were overturned, the room now a chaotic mess of broken tools and shattered materials. Despite the disarray, some metalworking tools, though weathered, remained intact and functional, solitary witnesses to the shop's former splendor.

Finally, they came across a chamber marred by scorch marks on the walls, floor, and ceiling, evidence of the destructive magic that once ravaged the space. Despite the lingering aura of arcane energy, the room was a ghost of its former self. Along one wall, rusted cages stood as silent witnesses to a bygone era, their purpose a mystery, as nothing within the chamber provided a clue to the grim history or function of these once ominous structures.

Chapter 10: Hall of Spells

The once-grand chamber, once a repository of arcane knowledge and spellbooks, now stood in mournful emptiness. The shelves, which had once held Dregoth's vast collection of spellbooks and arcane lore, were now bare, their contents long lost to time. The remaining scroll cases were empty relics, stark reminders of the knowledge and secrets that had vanished into history. The room's former grandeur was overshadowed by the absence of its treasures.

As they navigated through the dusty, empty shelves, something caught their eye—a faint glint buried beneath a pile of ash along the north wall. Brushing the ash aside, they uncovered an ancient amulet. It was a templar's amulet, but the design was foreign, bearing not the mark of Dregoth, but the unmistakable symbol of Abalach-Re, the sorcerer-queen of Raam. The moment Shank's fingers made contact with the cold metal, the air shimmered, and a ghostly figure materialized before them—a templar of Raam, his spectral form flickering with otherworldly light. He seemed oblivious to their presence and suddenly screamed, the words unfamiliar yet hauntingly clear as they reverberated in their minds through psionics.

"No, my queen," the ghost wailed in agony. "I have not failed you. Give me just a little more time! Please! No, don't!" A wave of intense pain washed over them, nearly unbearable, as the spectral figure was consumed by a blinding light. As the light faded, the ghostly templar stared at the pile of ash on the floor, his voice now cold and determined. "I will show you, Abalach-Re," he vowed, his tone a mixture of defiance and desperation. "This templar did not fail you. You wanted Dregoth's secret, and you shall have it. Perhaps if you hadn't destroyed him so quickly, we could have convinced him to give you everything, but that is not your way." The apparition drifted down the row of shelves, moving with eerie silence. It paused at the end of the row, as if struck by revelation, and declared, "I've found it!" With those final words, the ghost stepped through the solid wall and vanished, leaving them alone in the oppressive silence of the ancient ruin.

After failing to locate the secret door, Shiv smashed down the wall, revealing a hidden entrance leading into a small, secluded chamber enveloped in shadows and silence. The space was almost oppressive in its isolation, with stone walls barely touched by light. Amidst the dim glow, they discovered three ancient spellbooks, their leather covers cracked with age but promising forgotten knowledge. Two wands lay nearby, their intricate designs hinting at once-great power. Against one wall, a case held six glass vials, though whatever mystical substances they once contained had long since evaporated, leaving the vials empty and forlorn. The chamber's air was thick with the weight of lost secrets and long-forgotten magic.

Chapter 11: Grand Meeting Hall

Fazanna, Passk, and Shiv searched the Hall of Spells for treasure, but found nothing of interest. Meanwhile, Shank, Karnos, and Anvar rummaged through a nearby bone pile and discovered two precious gems. The group then proceeded to the hall.

As they approached the remnants of what had once been a grand meeting hall, it was evident that its former splendor had been ravaged by time and destruction. The hall, still standing mostly intact, bore the scars of a catastrophic event. A powerful spell had cleaved through the heart of the structure with brutal precision, and the roof had partially caved in, leaving jagged edges of stone and wood hanging precariously. Debris from the ceiling littered the floor, creating a chaotic landscape of broken beams and shattered tiles. Despite the ruin, the hall’s original purpose as a place of gathering and decision-making was still palpable, its solemn atmosphere a stark contrast to the devastation.

As the group deliberated whether to enter, Karnos was suddenly struck by an unseen attacker, leaving him debilitated. The group turned to see a shadowy form vanishing into the bone pile.

Chapter 12: Run!

Anvar healed Karnos, and the group fled towards the tomb and its secret entrance leading below. Despite another attack on Karnos that left him wounded, they managed to reach the passage safely.

The Spiral Ridge, an inclined ledge embedded into the deep tunnel, provided a precarious route down into the cavern below. The winding, treacherous tunnel extended for over half a mile, its walls slick with age and darkness. As they descended, the narrow path eventually opened into a vast, shadowy expanse. The cavern sprawled beneath them, its sheer size and encroaching gloom hinting at untold secrets hidden in the abyss.

Chapter 13: Tree of Life

The group stepped into the cavern and were immediately drawn to a grand, living tree standing resiliently at the center. Despite the subterranean gloom, the tree thrived, its leaves a faded brown. A crystal-clear stream meandered through the cavern, its bed four feet deep but with only six inches of water. On the opposite bank, a dense tangle of weeds and plants flourished. Light revealed large insects scurrying into the shadows, disturbed by the intrusion.

Shank spent time talking to the tree, while the group explored the area. They found a cluttered space with rotted foodstuffs and empty, evaporated barrels of water. Though nothing of value remained, the space offered a surprisingly safe refuge for rest and spell memorization. Fazanna discovered a much-needed spell scroll among the remnants.

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