Shadowdark Session Recap: 11/29/2024 Shadowkillers – Geeks & Games

Summary

The party arrived at an elven tomb near Runewick, a town whose inhabitants were obsessed with mirrors as protection against supposed elven curses. After stealing a cracked mirror, they made their way to the tomb, which was marked by distinctive bronze blackberry decorations and elvish writing, identifying it as the resting place of ‘Queen Lia’. Their exploration got off to a rough start when Thru and Jeffrey the wizard triggered a trap on the stairs, causing them to slide down into a pit containing a gelatinous cube, though they managed to defeat it with oil flasks and discovered arrowheads.

As they delved deeper into the underground complex, they encountered the magnificent Tree of Ord, a magical living tree, and met the mephits, small elemental creatures who served as the tomb’s caretakers. In a Memorial Hall, they found urns containing remains and a chamber with viewing discs that looked down into sarcophagi below. The Tree of Ord shared its wisdom through a mystical word, revealing that Queen Lia’s bones were uneasy and needed to be properly laid to rest, while the dutiful mephits warned against disturbing their charges.

The exploration continued as the mephits initially showed hostility but were calmed by Thru’s singing spear. Their search led them to discover a hidden passage beneath the sarcophagi, where they found a dark tree that had grown through Queen Lia’s skeleton. The situation grew tense when the queen’s ghost appeared and threatened the party, leading to a confrontation where Darn Sackins seized the queen’s circlet and fled while Ember the kobold mage launched a fireball at the corrupted tree.

The encounter reached its climax when the queen, now revealed as a banshee, unleashed a devastating wail that nearly proved fatal to several party members. Thru emerged as the hero of the moment, defeating the banshee by attacking the magical tree she was bound to with his spear, causing both to be consumed by blue flames. Their victory yielded two precious magical items: a mythril tiara called Bramblewood and a mythril ring known as Faun’s Leap. Upon returning to town, they sold the magical wood from the burned tree and used their newfound wealth to throw an elaborate celebration that eventually escalated into a riot, earning them valuable experience points.

Scenes

Preparation and Journey to the Elven Tomb

• Party learns about previous adventurers who explored the tomb
• Darn Sackins steals a cracked mirror from Runewick
• Group discusses the town’s superstitions about elves
• Discovery of bronze blackberry decorations at tomb entrance
• Reading of elvish inscription about Queen Lia
• Party begins descent into tomb

Early Tomb Exploration and Traps

• Thru the fighter and Jeffrey the wizard trigger stair trap
• Both slide down into pit area
• Thru gets caught in gelatinous cube
• Party burns cube with oil flasks
• Discovery of arrowheads at bottom of pit
• Party operates mechanism to slide open stone wall
• Discover door with sapphire runes about Queen Lia
• Find empty plinth in western room

Tree of Ord and Mephit Encounters

• Party discovers 20-foot tall magical Tree of Ord in planter
• Darn Sackins attempts to take leaves without permission
• Tree speaks and grants permission for leaves
• Tree reveals information about Queen Lia’s unrest
• Tree whispers magical word granting +1 Wisom to party
• Encounter four orangish-gray flying mephits
• Mephits warn party about disturbing their charges
• Discover six glass viewing discs showing sarcophagi below
• Find plundered tomb chambers with disturbed sarcophagi
• Party encounters agitated mephits after breaking a glass disc
• Combat initiates but is quickly defused by sleep spell
• Thru’s singing spear calms the mephits who apologize

Final Battle with Queen Lia’s Ghost

• Party finds sarcophagus with stone pins
• Removing pins reveals secret passage
• Group descends into hidden chamber
• Party discovers tree grown through queen’s skeleton
• Ghost queen appears and threatens party
• Combat begins with Darn stealing circlet
• Ember casts fireball on corrupted tree
• Banshee unleashes an ear-piercing wail
• Several party members nearly die from the wail
• Darn Sackins flees with a tiara
• Jeffrey the wizard suffers great damage and falls
• Thru attacks the magical tree with his spear
• Blue flames engulf both the tree and banshee
• The banshee is destroyed
• Party recovers a mythril ring, Faun’s Leap

Return to Runewick and Aftermath

• Party collects magical wood from the burned tree
• They sell wood to craftsmen for bolts and gold
• Group spends gold on elaborate carousing for experience points
• Players received luck tokens for completing the adventure
• Discussion of character leveling up
• Mention of a previous celebration/riot
• Discussion about a ghost queen and tree encounter

NPCs

Mephits

Small humanoid elemental creatures with leathery bat wings and brown-black skin that maintain cleanliness of the tomb complex. Initially hostile but later apologetic when shown elven artifacts, they are protective of their charges.

Tree of Ord

A living magical tree serves as the guardian and balance keeper in the tomb, a servant of the god Ord, and provides wisdom and information about Queen Lia.

Queen Lia

Ancient elven queen who became a hostile ghost after death. Originally a mighty hero from birth, she ruled the Summer Court and was connected to the magical tiara Bramblewood. In undeath, she manifested as an ethereal spirit with black eyes and floating white hair, bound to a magical tree. She became a banshee capable of unleashing deadly wails and claimed connection to darkness. Her bones were said to be uneasy, and she could only be put to rest by destroying the tree she was bound to.

Locations

Runewick

Small town of a few hundred people, known for having mirrors on all surfaces to ward off supposed elven curses. Constantly under attack by goblins and trolls. The party returns here to sell their loot and celebrate.

Elven Tomb

Ancient tomb with white marble stairs and doors, decorated with bronze blackberry vines. Contains traps including sliding stairs and a pit with a gelatinous cube. Located three days southeast of Runewick.

Memorial Hall

Underground chamber with marble walls containing urns of gray dust and a magical living tree (Tree of Ord) growing from a central planter

Viewing Chamber

Room with six glass viewing discs in floor showing sarcophagi 20 feet below, maintained by mephits, surrounded by plundered tomb chambers.

Hidden Tomb Chamber

Underground chamber with four marble sarcophagi and stone pins concealing a secret passage.

Spells

Detect Magic

Used to identify magical properties of the recovered items.

Invisibility

Used by Darn Sackins to steal Queen Lia’s circlet and escape.

Fireball

Cast by Ember against the banshee’s tree, severely damaging it.

Items

Tree Leaves

Magical leaves from the Tree of Ord, granted to the party after requesting permission.

Bramblewood, Circlet

Thin banded tiara of silvery metal worn by the queen’s skeleton, partially embedded in tree bark. Mythril tiara resembling blackberry vine with ripe fruit. Sets wearer’s Charisma to 18 but curses them to believe they are elven and become cold and arrogant.

Faun’s Leap

Unadorned mythril ring that allows wearer to move unhindered through any terrain, loses power for 7 days if wearer consumes meat.

Magical Wood

Remnants of the magical tree, valuable for crafting, can be made into magical bolts or wands.