We begin this session with a recap of what's gone on so far - it helps that I write things down because in the week since we had the first session, I'd mostly forgotten everything that had been going on (I should probably mention; I'm Cora - the pirate).
When last we met we were holed up in a long forgotten bedroom, sleeping off our wounds. We had managed to infiltrate the temple of 'Mistra', though it is quite apparent that that is simply a front for something far more sinister.
Now, it's time for us to awaken...
After our nap, our DM prompts us for spot checks, everyone but Car fails. We all see Shadow Guards emerge from the walls, though only Car sees the 'weird monster guy' arrive, and through the fight it becomes apparent that he is an elemental as he merges with the stone walls.
[Unfortunately, I didn't write up the encounter, suffice it to say we won and no one died - yay!]
We head to the corridor with the statues, stack up books from the bedroom by the door at the end, and bowl heads to detonate the traps. After the first hit against the door, a loud gong sounds, at the third hit (we take it in turns) all the books are down - hurrah!
We go through the door and see a 'black disc of darkness' surrounded by purple stone. Suddenly, horrible serpents slither from the black disc of darkness, led by the Lady herself, Nadia Arthas. At one point Car drops, but thankfully Yelena and Cora manage to get him back, and defeat the evil priestess. Loot: +1 full plate armor, heavy mace, cloak of resistance, periapt of wisdom, a second set of keys.
Through a set of double doors we enter Nadia's chambers. Upon a desk there are letters to Sar Redbeard. 'Starweaver - wants to kill TD as he's suspicious' apparently.
Using the keys from Nadia's room, we enter what is obviously a torture chamber with three bodies inside, and in a second room, the chamber of shadow guards. Under a bed there is a diary, that explains how at first they were scared but then became happy at all the pain and destruction.
For a while we discuss what's going to happen. Obviously we need to get out of here, and the only apparent way out is the large 'disc of doom' on the wall at the end. Taking the initiative, Cora steps through and enters a funny shaped room. Sticking her hand back, with a thumb up, the other's follow.
There is a heap of dead humanoids on an altar, but between us and them is a shadowy curtain hanging between two pillars. We search the perimeter and find a nest and food for the dead serpents. On examination of the bodies we estimate there are about 50, all with their flesh removed - as though misted away.
Car decides to be brave, and against our best advice that he shouldn't, steps through the curtain. It lances a piece of darkness within him, creating within him a dark template, a shadow mantle. But he survives. The Dark Template can be done for 10 minutes a day, it gives him Resist Cold 10, Spot +10, Hide in Plain Sight, +8 Hide, + 6 Move Silently.
We follow the corridor and come up in a place where the cistern water flows into, with a bridge over it. There is a woman in a cage and two guards. Car creeps up to the blond haired guy by a desk who is called Mher (mmmm herrr!), who is employed by the temple but only tolerates the presence of the Shadowguards. We tell him Fenras and Lady Arthas are dead which seems to calm him somewhat.
We ask about the prisoners, he tells us it's where petitioners stay until he sends them out on Wivenflow river to follow the map. Where they go to Cormyr's lost refuge and see Bestra (who was mentioned in one of Lady Arthas' letters).
[Now it gets a bit...confusing - most of this is exactly what I have written in my notes - you ready?]
We take the map. Mher isn't going to help us kill the guards, in fact, he turned on us just as evil demons appear from the water. They have a DC 24.
Car and Cora are down - dying, only Yelena left fighting. Yet she keeps getting grappled by a strange amphibian Cthulu.
Car and Cora are revived, only for Cora to die...again. But they managed to kill the guards and the Cthulu eventually leaves.
We release the prisoner, a pirate by the name of Vera who venerates Mistra. Cora and Vera get along well. According to her, the other prisoners left 8 days ago on the catamaran that's tied to the docks. But Vera couldn't fit on. In Mher's room we find a hidden locked compartment filled with loot! Gold bracelet, noble's outfit, gold and silver circlet, bag of holding 1, +1 dagger, 3 arrows of ork slaying and a lens of detection.
With Vera sailing we set off away from the temple on the Wivenflow back to town.
In town we find Taernaster, and report on our findings. He asked us to find proof of wrongdoings, we feel we've done the job and would like to be paid. According to him, however, we have yet to fulfill our task. With many grumbles, we agree to follow the map taken from Mher and discover the root of these wrongdoings.
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