Lavinia investigates and learns to her dismay that most of the containers have been plundered. While a few coins, gems, and other valuables have been left untouched, the vast majority of the treasure is gone. She soon learns that her estranged brother, Vanthus, has been by to visit the vault several times over three weeks. It is hard for her to imagine how he could not be responsible for the theft. On the bright side, her parents' documents, ledgers, and journals were unmolested. Included in these papers are IOU's that have yet to be collected upon. These, combined with the money that was not taken, should be enough to keep Lavinia's head above water for a while at least.
Once again, the heroes have come through for her, and she is very grateful. She happily pays the adventurers their first month's wages in advance and asks yet another task from them. Despite recent events, Lavinia still hopes Vanthus is not beyond redemption. She asks for the group to track down her brother so that she has one last chance to bring him back to his senses. It may be futile, but they were once extremely close and clearly she still loves him. She says that his last known whereabouts was in the Azure District, and she suggests that they start their search there.
After asking around at some of the seeder joints about town, Reggie, Cosimo, and Erdos learn that Vanthus has indeed been seen in the area recently. He has been in the company of a woman named Brissa (who has also seen some troubles with the law, but is now known as something of an artist). However, neither of them have been spotted in the district for a few days. Meanwhile, Thada and Drogg keep a watch on Castle Teraknian in case Vanthus decides to come back to the vault to finish the job.
As the crew in the Azure District expand their search to include the mysterious Brissa, they are approached by a grimy half-elf named Shefton. For some coin, he shares the information that he knows where Vanthus is hiding -- a collection of old, abandoned smuggler's tunnels beneath Parrot Island. Apparently, Shefton was asked to help him set up some new nefarious operation there.
The party rows to the island and follows a overgrown trail to a small clearing where they manage to locate a hidden trapdoor. Beneath this is a shaft heading down into the bowels of the island. Once they climb down, the rope is cut and the trapdoor is sealed by none other than Vanthus himself. Though the villain has to eat a couple William Tell-esque shots from Cosimo's crossbow, the heroes suddenly find themselves trapped in the pitch-black, undead-infested tunnels below Parrot Island.
DM Notes: Lots of fun tonight (despite a rather severe mistake on my part regarding the Turning Undead rules). The group has successfully attained the 2nd-level of experience after dispatching a very resilient undead fiend and his minions. Where the group seems to excel the most, however, is in skill tests. At the most critical moments in the story, the party members always seem to make a pivotal skill check and it helps to keep them on the right track. Plus, the group did a really great job in figuring out the vault puzzle.
Here's how I'm officially covering up the undead turning snafu: when Erdos first turned a gang of ravenous zombie pirates in the smuggler's tunnels, he himself closed the distance to smash them with his mace and their fear was broken. The second time Erdos turned a pack of undead, Thada was the member of the party to attack the cowering creatures and (slight rewrite of history) they remained filled with terror so the companions were able to chop them to tiny bits. Sound good?
But it is clear to me, that this is a great group of players that work very well together and that have created a very fun party of characters. And perhaps the best part of it all, in my view, is that every single participant in this campaign has done their part and truly contributed in a critical way to the success of the adventure. Well done everybody! You all definitely deserve to advance to level 2!
We have not settled on the next session, but that will likely be decided through e-mail over the next few days.
Solving the comination lock puzzle = 120 xp.
Defeating 3 undead horrors = 180 xp.
Dispatching 2 more undead nasties = 120 xp.
Destroying the evil boss of the undead and 2 of his minions = 300 xp.
Grand Total (first 3 sessions) = 1170... 2nd-level!!!
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