Delving into the Hidden Vault
Greetings, fellow adventurers! Session 10, appropriately titled “The Hidden Vault of House Monder,” saw our party finally acting on the clues gathered in previous sessions and venturing into the depths of a secret location tied to the enigmatic Lord Mondor.
The session began with the party taking a long rest, allowing them to recover their strength and prepare for whatever lay ahead. The topic of crypt mondor was immediately on everyone's mind, establishing their intended destination.
Upon arriving at the crypt, located in the public cemetery, the party encountered two guards who were quickly identified as not being legitimate Royal swords. This initial deception hinted at the secrets and dangers lurking beneath the surface. Samara and Bergrom were particularly astute in noticing inconsistencies in their appearance and demeanor.
The party made their way into the mausoleum, noting its construction of blue marble and the presence of dwarven statues. As they descended a staircase, a faint moaning and wailing could be heard from the depths below, immediately setting a foreboding tone and confirming suspicions of a haunting.
The chamber they entered was described as the Hall of Respect, a vast area where their steps echoed. Fresh scuff marks on the floor indicated recent passage, confirming they were on the right track. Niches in the walls held urns, some cracked and spilling their contents, left undisturbed as a sign of respect by Mondor's descendants.
Strange Claw took a closer look at the urns, attempting to find any markings or numbers, but discovered nothing of significance. Meanwhile, further down a hallway, Samara discovered a secret door, a crucial find that would lead them deeper into the hidden vault.
Their exploration eventually led them to a chamber where a stone table held various items of interest. These included a leather-bound book identified as the personal journal of Lord Mondor. This journal promised to reveal details about his past, including his hazy memories of traveling to the Fae Realm and the true account of events he had previously withheld.
Alongside the journal, the party discovered a significant amount of treasure, including:
- A large wooden box containing an exquisitely crafted collapsible crossbow.
- A substantial amount of gold coins and gemstones.
- A decorated statue of a dwarven god.
- A lavishly decorated mirror and a two-foot-tall vase.
- Three identical paintings.
- Two scrolls containing the spells lesser restoration, dispel magic, remove curse, and protection from Poison.
- A wooden vial holder with six potions of healing.
- A plus one handaxe and a plus one light hammer.
- A gem of brightness and an ion Stone of protection.
The party also acquired an ancient booklet called “portents of Darkness,” which described a ritual for limited divination.
Amidst the exploration and discovery, there was a persistent angry ghost encountered earlier in the session. Eventually, the party deduced that to appease the ghost, they needed to return its body, say the proper Dwarven words, and place a stone on one of the shelves as a sign of respect. Unfortunately, none of the party members knew the correct Dwarven funeral rituals.
The session concluded with the party having successfully located the hidden vault and uncovering a wealth of information and treasure. The secrets contained within Lord Mondor's journal, particularly the true story of the king, were teased as a major point for the beginning of the next session, along with the highly anticipated level up for the adventurers.