Under a Full Moon
Part 4 – The Adventure Concludes
Comments in Blue have been added after publishing.
Details
Start here for Session 4
The Crypt and Below
When Arathea first arrived at the Temple of Aroden, she extensively explored the grounds and the crypt. The priests had no interest in hidden secrets, but Arathea was easily able to do a lot of exploring in gaseous or small animal forms and found the secret areas beyond the normal crypts.
The remains of long dead locals and former church officials were interred here and Arathea used the premise to clean up and restore the dignity of the crypt to spend more time here creating her secret chambers.
She has used the hidden chambers to create her foul magic items with the assistance of a few loyal cultists and now has directed them to bring the final sacrifice – the mayor of Milani’s Hope! She does not intend to make him a blood sacrifice, but instead, the create and new subordinate vampire.
- The stairs descend to a long wide hallway. In small niches along both side are the urns of locals who have been interred in the name of Aroden. Five doors lead from the hallway with the northern-most door revealing a small storage closet with cleaning gear; bucket, broom, mop and dirty robes. One of the pegs in the robe rack can be pushed in to free the latch of a secret door (DC26 to find).
- Junk room – pieces of broken furniture and even a pair of unused coffins lay about this room in a jumble. Old cobwebs coat the debris, but it looks like someone has been recently trying to tidy things up. Two sputtering oil lamps provide minimal illumination. AN old dining room table, shoved against the far wall sits in front of an old secret door. This door is only revealed once the table has been moved and with a DC26 Per check.
- Most recent residents are placed in here. Two large stone coffins hold a married couple from High Hill who passed last year and had their final resting place arranged in the town crypt. Name plaques on the lids read “Abblen and Justine Doone – beloved in Aroden’s arms – 4723AR” There are also several urns and coffers here with remains and offerings to the departed. One of the coffers has a simple lock and contains 450gp, a diamond necklace worth 325gp and a Phylactery of Faithfulness (9) with the symbol of Aroden on the lid.
- This tunnel has been caved in for years as the dust on the large stone implies. With an hour of work and some cooperation, the corridor can be cleared enough to get through.
- Tomb of the Fathers – this is where the past two priests of Aroden have been laid to rest. The one on the left has a plaque that reads “Brother Fidelis – 4612AR – 4666AR and the one on the right reads “Father Anthus – 4666AR – 4724AR” The consecration rituals placed upon their coffins has prevented the influence of the Orcus curse from affecting them. The everburning braziers emit Circle of Protection (Evil) 10’ radius. The southeast brazier has been dispelled however to make egress through the secret door easier for the vampire. It takes a DC28 Search to find the door here, but there are faint tracks of dirt leading from the secret door if someone happens to look. The chests hold more urns and holy trappings of the former temple leaders and elders. A total of 3400gp of artwork, jewelry and gems as well as a +2 Greater Striking Warhammer (12) and Greater Holy Prayer Beads (11)
- Hidden armory is where the warpriests of old stored their armor, shields and weapons. Ot has been long forgotten until the vampire discovered it. The only magic in here is a suit of +2 Greater Resilient Platemail (14) and a Sturdy Steel Shield, Moderate (with a Greater Reinforcing rune (13).
- Forgotten crypt has 3 coffins, but all are empty now. The room has not been explored in decades.
- Desecrated antechamber – this chamber was once dedicated to the private worship of Aroden by the servants who tended to the whole crypt area. Now, the cultists have destroyed the stone statue of Aroden and replaced it with a horrid effigy of Orcus, complete with fresh blood and a few congealed goat entrails. The priests cast a Desecrate ritual in here which makes goo-aligned characters queasy.
- Sacrifice chamber – this is where Arathea has planned to convert some of the more notable figures around town into her obedient thralls. The first to fall under her spells will be the Mayor, Candlewood. She has just completed a Dominate spell and will bite the man if he seems to resist her will. Arathea is expecting her minions will be bringing the 4 horns to her soon and when the party arrives instead, she is annoyed but not alarmed (she is a powerful vampire after all).
When the party first enters the room, if they advance, she will move back behind the mayor with a dagger in her hand but prepared to return any attacks. The cultists move to protect their mistress.
J. Room of Creation – this room is where the priests and Arathea created the foul Head of Orcus and the 4 horn necklaces. A pair of Cairn Wights protects the room from interlopers and the party, if they are wise, can use the forge fire to destroy the whole thing,