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
| Group 1 | Group 2 | Group 3 |
|---|---|---|
| +/- 0 | +/- 0 | +/- 0 |
| 265 | 195 | 65 |
NPC's
Zalryr,The Whispered One,Wintershield Watchmen
Session Handouts
| File | Category | Associated NPCs | Associated Quests |
|---|
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:
- 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:
- 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:
- 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