05/04/2023 Virtuous Age Session 43: Deeper into the Ziggurat, Evil Fire Clerics and The Thing At the End of the Hall

We begin this week’s session resting in a magical rope trick in the alcove where Tena and Aevum restored the altar of Agamotto. Despite this whenever anyone of us leaves the rope trick, for whatever reason, they continue to hear haunting melody deeper in the ziggurat.

Upon waking everyone remarks on the awesome rest they just experienced and for the first time in a who knows how long, no entity was looking upon us. 

For Aevum, his mind was able to calibrate and regain focus allowing him to realize that the giants  from this era measured time by the moon. This iconography seemed to be a focus for these giants. Upon waking Aevum also believes we are slipping back in time.

Tena awakes with a feeling of great accomplishment in not only restoring the alar but mentoring a fellow party member into the worship of Agamotto. Her piousness even had an affect on Kron Even before he was smiled upon by his god, Kron had started to pray regularly. In addition one of her pearls of power is increased by +1 level, and she has a free save before her next long rest- which she uses later. 

Eabrossi wakes having unlocked another song after dreaming about the Adele songbooks. Furthermore, he can now extend his bardic lingering performance by one more round.

Before our characters set out from the Rope Trick, Tena combines an ability from Eabrossi and casts healing token on various holy symbols in the group- this is the first time she has cast this spell. 

Our characters find a hidden passage behind the altar and decide to investigate. We head down the very narrow passage to a room with an archway to the north and an antechamber to the east. The haunting music also seems to originate from the eastern hall. Eabrossi successfully counters the persistent haunting melody.

In the corner Aveum finds a table with crude carvings in it, elsewhere is a wall featuring a half moon wall carving, under this are humanoid statues. On the north side within the archway is a stone double door.

In the adjacent antechamber is a table with a bronze platter that contains silver coins and small ivory tokens in the shape of a crescent moon of a gearworks design. There is also an engraved tablet and two bronze coat racks. The coins and the tablet are magical. Upon examination the tablet reveals a cursed scroll- which Tena avoids.

The ivory moon tokens seem to be some kind of keys, the silver coins our characters leave behind.

All of a sudden, we are attacked with strength damaging touch attacks from multiple greater unhallow shadows. Once we dispatched most of the shadows we were attacked by a flame strike.

Past the antechamber is a larger room lit by unseen flames where two clerics stand ready- their shapes wavering in the dancing flame light.

An area of silence is dropped on the spell casters while Zaigan and Kron reign death to the two clerics and their leader.

Tena detects magic on the fallen opponents and Eabrossi and Aevum help clean up. Each had one valuable diamond on them. We spend a minute and a half taking anything of value or radiates magic.

The fire clerics: +2 light crossbow, masterwork light crossbow, neckless of fireballs type 3, potion of delay poison, wand of shield of faith 17 charges, 2 sets of +1 breastplate, 2 +1 heavy steel shield, masterwork heavy mace and +1 heavy mace. Amulet of natural armor +1, amulet of natural armor +2 (Kron), cloak of resistance +1, cloak of resistance +3. Headband of inspired wisdom +4. 2,906 gp 

The fighter: +2 longsword, +1 halfplate, +1 heavy steel shield, plus one 10k gp item of choice.  

There are six clay statues about that are unbroken among the debris elsewhere in the room. Closer examination reveals one of the statues seems not as old as the others and all the statues look like primitive humanoid figures with facial animal features.

Eabrossi investigates of a small chamber that contains other doors leading to other areas. Zaigan laments splitting the group so our characters back-track to the archway at the end of the narrow stairs. When we get within 5’ a magic mouth appears and tries to warns us away. Eabrossi is able to figure out how to open the door to reveal the passage continues down to a new level.

After a short debate we decide to clear this level before we head down.

Next, our characters choose a locked door Kron easily opens to reveal a room that has writing on the walls and every surface. Stone tablets litter the room. 

Our characters avoid this intriguing room in favor of finding the source of the haunting song. We head down a passage to a door where those close enough can hear spell casting. Behind the adventurers, coming down the hall is this thing.