Session 40 - Work Experience: Nest of the Eldritch Eye pt. 3

Roster

Eremis Varr,Harry Blackstone,Lyra Everlight,Milfjord Goodleaf,Redrnic Udertaken,Vigilius Palamas

Session Overview

Session Status: Occurred

In Game Date: 14th Flamerule 1509

Group Cup Points

NPC's

Zalryr,The Whispered One,Wintershield Watchmen

Session Handouts

Summary

The students descend into the lower levels of the catacombs and uncover a hidden cult temple. While investigating, they discover evidence of a far-reaching cult network dedicated to a mysterious figure known as “The Whispered One”, before interrupting a dark ritual led by Zalryr.
A chaotic battle follows as the party attempts to subdue the cultists alive. In the aftermath, a terrifying apparition manifests, marking the party as targets of a greater power. With their prisoners secured and strange magical charms in hand, the students return to The Wintershield Watchmen.

Descent Into the Temple

• The students awaken early:
  • Eremis prepares breakfast
  • Harry conducts a final search of the upper catacombs
• They descend into the lower level:
  • Entering a temple-like chamber
• At the far end:
  • A large carved hand holding an eyeball rests on a raised dais
• Eremis attempts to remove the eyeball:
  • It does not budge
  • Milfjord warns the group not to tamper with the structure

Signs of the Cult

• Lyra scouts ahead:
  • Spots a grey-robed cultist
  • Hears multiple voices nearby
• The party chooses caution:
  • Avoids immediate confrontation
  • Moves in the opposite direction

The Cult Library

• The group enters a large library:
  • Harry searches the shelves
  • Finds a small lockbox
• On a central table:
  • Notebooks and torn pages detail:
    • Experiments and movements by Zalryr
    • A wider cult network spanning Faerûn and beyond
    • References to a leader/deity known as “The Whispered One”
• The writings suggest:
  • Zalryr is part of a much larger organised structure, not an isolated cell
• Attempting to open the lockbox:
  • Milfjord triggers a trap and is sprayed with liquid
• Redrnic:
  • Smashes the box open with his greataxe
• Result:
  • More liquid spills out
  • Milfjord identifies it as healing potion residue
  • At least two potions were contained inside

The Ritual Chamber

• Hearing voices ahead, Eremis sneaks forward:
  • Enters a cavern filled with sickly green light and whispers
• She observes:
  • Zalryr leading a ritual
  • Two cultists within a glowing runic circle
• Zalryr commands:
  • “Release your secrets… become stronger.”
• The cultists transform:
  • Their bodies warp into shadowy entities

The Fight Begins

• Milfjord wildshapes into a giant centipede:
  • Moves into the chamber
• Eremis casts Zone of Silence:
  • Attempting to disrupt the ritual
• Redrnic charges in:
  • Greataxe swinging
  • Rage boiling
• Party objective:
  • Subdue cultists alive for The Wintershield Watchmen

Chaos in the Catacombs

• One cultist escapes into the tunnels:
  • Alerting unseen allies
• Reinforcements begin to move through the area
• The party remains partially unaware due to the silence field
• Key actions:
  • Vigilius knocks out a cultist
  • Milfjord pursues fleeing enemies:
    • Discovers additional cultists deeper in the tunnels
    • Attempts to herd them into Lyra’s Moonbeam
• Cultists attempt to flank through side passages

Breaking the Ritual

• Harry investigates the runic circle:
  • Determines energy is channelled through surrounding pillars
• He directs the party:
  • Destroy the floor and destabilise the structure
• Eremis, Lyra, and Harry:
  • Crack the stone beneath the ritual circle
• Consequence:
  • A beam of unstable energy erupts from above
  • Injuring several party members

The Apparition

• As the final cultist falls unconscious:
  • The ritual collapses
• Shadowy smoke rises:
  • Forming an emaciated skull with a single glowing green eye
• The entity speaks:
  • Addressing Zalryr
  • Then turning its attention to the party

“You have brought me new… points of interest… I have my eye on you.”

• The apparition:
  • Passes through each party member with a whispered scream
  • Explodes into shadow and vanishes

Aftermath and Return to the Watchmen

• The party secures the unconscious cultists and returns them to The Wintershield Watchmen
• Upon debrief, they are paid for the successful operation:
  • 100gp each for completing the assignment
  • An additional 140gp total, split between them
    • (Payment of 20gp per cultist returned alive)
• The Watchmen confirm:
  • The cultist captures are considered a success
  • The intelligence gathered from the catacombs is of high importance
• The mysterious charms recovered from the apparition are retained by the party for further study

Ongoing Threads

• The Whispered One – A major deity/leader figure behind the cult network
• Zalryr – Captured cult operative tied to wider operations
• The Cult Network – Spanning Faerûn and beyond
• The Undying Entity – A powerful being now aware of the party
• The Ritual Magic – Capable of transforming cultists into shadow entities
• The Charms – Mysterious items left by the apparition
• The Party’s Exposure – They are now directly marked by something watching from beyond