Candle in the Dark Campaign Diary - Session 14: Cleansing the Catacombs

The Cast:

• Enid, half-elf cleric of Bahamut
• Nashgar, dragonborn paladin of Bahamut
• Leilua, tiefling warlock
• Corrin, halfling barbarian
  

When last we left our heroes, they continued to press through the evil contaminating the Catacombs beneath Gardmore Abbey.  They encounter the entity behind the contamination; an undead servant of Orcus named Vadin Cartwright, who also claimed to be the apprentice to another minion of the Prince of Undeath; someone by the name of Kalarel the Vile.  Fighting through the undead guards trying to get to Vadin, the heroes were unable to prevent it from teleporting out.  The heroes continued to fight the guards and the skeletal dragon that Vadin raised prior to escaping.  Searching the area, they soon find an alcove containing what appears to be a holy relic called the Bowl of IO's Blood.  Said to be an artifact dedicated to the mythic creator of the universe, an overgod called "IO", The bowl contained holy waters that heal those that partake of them.  Chained to the wall near the bowl was another undead, but when it began to move, it spoke with the voice of one not tainted by the darkness that fills other undead.  Claiming to be a cursed paladin of Pelor, the undead introduced himself as "Jhixal" and said that he was cursed to roam the world until it was cleansed of the taint of now dead demon prince Orcus. Testing the paladin's claim, they offer the waters from the IO's bowl and the paladin regains his strength, proving his continued loyalty to Pelor.  He thanks the heroes and departs, eager to continue his holy quest.

The heroes then begin the arduous task of cleansing the catacombs.  They discover that dousing the cauldron that Vadin was tending, and which was emanating the dark cloud of evil, they green fires throughout the catacombs regained their normal color and the corruption was banished.  After, they begin collecting the bones of the knights and restoring them to their proper sarcophagi, taking many hours of work to complete.  Upon finishing the work, they are once again awarded a boon from Bahamut.

Having cleansed the Hall of Glory, the Temple and Catacombs, the heroes must now decide whether to continue this effort in the Vaults or the Main Gate on the surface that they have yet to explore.  They also continue to seek out a means of gaining entry to the Wizard's tower in the orc-infested village to find the secret lair of the Prophet of Tiamat, Calastryx.

End of session

Candle in the Dark Campaign Diary - Session 13: Tunnels and Temples

The Cast:

• Enid, half-elf cleric of Bahamut
• Nashgar, dragonborn paladin of Bahamut
• Leilua, tiefling warlock
• Corrin, halfling barbarian

After cleansing the Hall of Glory, the heroes move on to the next structure, an abandoned barracks.  Approaching the barracks, they notice a number of large holes around the building.  Investigating more closely, they find these to be tunnels burrowed out by some large creature. While exploring the tunnels, they make their way into the barracks and find that they've been abandoned for many years.  They also encounter the beast that has been burrowing around the barracks, and the monster known as the bulette attacks!  The fight is brief and the heroes manage to kill the monster.  Doing so bestows upon them another minor boon from Bahamut for ridding the barracks of the monster.

Next, the heroes head to the Grand Temple. Within they find shrines to several gods, but the temple itself is dedicated to Bahamut.  Nashgar and Enid feel a strong sense of wrongness in the temple and not long after entering they are confronted by an angel of Tiamat, who warns them against tampering with Tiamat's claim to the temple.  The heroes defy the angel, claiming the temple belongs to Bahamut and the angel departs.  Immediately after, a beholder zombie floats into the hall and attacks the heroes with it's deadly eye rays.  The heroes fight bravely and defeat the monster, only to have another door open and a horde of skeletons rush through to attack them!

End of session.