Shadowdark Session Recap: 1/4/2025 – New Moon Bay Trading Company, Pt. 2 – Gongaii Games

Summary

The party ventured to investigate an elven barrow that had recently been occupied by orcs, arriving just two days after other adventurers reported a fierce three-way battle between orcs, an owlbear, and themselves. Under the cover of a dark, moonless night, they discovered mutilated orc corpses scattered outside the barrow. Upon entering, they found signs of hastily interrupted meals and Orcish markings throughout the alabaster halls.

The deeper chambers revealed a tragic scene where seven dead elves wearing teal tunics, followers of Yaloss the Rainmaker, lay with their ears cut off. Religious and cult imagery dominated the space, with warlock symbols adorning tapestries and desecrated elven statues standing as silent witnesses to the defilement. While Ninette performed solemn last rites for the fallen elves, the others meticulously searched the area for traps and clues.

The ancient structure’s layout included a palisade compound and numerous secret passages, leading them through rooms with defiled altars and down a long corridor to an underground chamber. Strange statues bearing Celestial inscriptions mentioned specific gems—citrine and tiger’s eye—adding to the place’s mystery. Their exploration was briefly interrupted by an encounter with a young halfling thief who attempted to negotiate entry to the barrow. The party eventually reached a daemon-warded gate inscribed with daemon-repelling enchantments written in Celestial script.

Scenes

Infiltrating the Palisade Compound

• Party waits until nightfall to approach
• Observe gap between tree line and palisade
• Notice dozen fresh orc corpses outside
• No signs of current occupation observed
• Kerim and Kat scale the palisade
• Open main gate using pulley system
• Light lantern to illuminate area
• Discover mutilated orc bodies with claw marks and elven arrows

Exploring the Elven Barrow Entrance

• Find iron-barred gate leading to alabaster halls
• Discover abandoned fireplace with partially eaten food
• Notice Orcish markings of serpents and warlock symbols
• Find elven statues with broken arms
• Found seven dead elves (2 old, 5 young adult) with hacked-off ears
• Bodies wearing blood-soaked teal tunics of Yaloss the Rainmaker
• Bodies estimated to be 1-2 months old
• Ninette performs last rites and receives a luck token

Main Chamber Investigation

• Character finds hollow sound in southeast plinth
• Discovers undone latch and secret passage
• Found Orcish warlock symbols on crimson banner
• Discovered desecrated statue of elven scholar
• Found pile of humanoid bones with Elvish writing
• Character spots movement near northern mound

Prayer Hall and Underground Discovery

• Party finds a defiled altar covered in black charcoal-ish sludge
• Khemsa places a book on the altar and reads quietly
• Group notices sleeping mats and piles of bedding
• Party finds stairs descending down
• They hear Young halfling thief outside
• Party travels 100 feet down into a hexagonal chamber
• Discover two strange statues with Celestial inscriptions
• Identify names ‘citrine’ and ‘tiger’s eye’ in Celestial script
• Young halfling thief appears outside wanting entry
• Negotiation about payment and ownership of the site
• Halfling uses invisibility ability

Npcs

Young Halfling Thief

Patchy-bearded halfling youth with a bow who attempts to negotiate entry to the site, turned invisible.

Yaloss the Rainmaker

Matronly goddess of marriage, sexuality, the hearth, and weather. Followers wore teal tunics. Had a statue in the barrow.

Locations

Demon-Warded Gate

Heavy iron gate with Celestial glyphs designed to repel daemonic forces, located at the northern end of the underground complex.

Underground Chamber

Hexagonal chamber with domed roof located under a mound, containing two strange statues with Celestial inscriptions and multiple passages.

Refuse Room

Area behind gate filled with garbage, rotting bodies, and swarming with flies.

Prayer Hall

Room with black-stained altar and sleeping mats, converted from religious space to sleeping quarters.

Palisade Compound

Wooden fortification surrounding the barrow, with a gap of 20-30 feet from the tree line. Contains carved stone columns with red and black tapestries.

Elven Barrow

Ancient elven burial mound with alabaster halls, recently occupied by orcs. Features iron-barred gates, carved stone columns, and religious statuary. Three mounds connected by passages.

Items

Elven Statues

Stone statues depicting elves in fluted plate armor, with broken curved swords at their feet. Named Lalibor and Venish.

Teal Tunics

Blood-soaked ceremonial garments worn by the dead elves, indicating their allegiance to Yaloss the Rainmaker.

Warlock Tapestries

Red cloth decorated with black ouroboros/viper symbols, hung on columns throughout the barrow.

Daemon-Barred Gate

Heavy iron gate with Celestial inscriptions designed to ward against daemons.