Player Summary
The party regroups at the bar after Caelum’s all-night tome reading. Shirley unveils “Shirley 2.0” in his new splint mail. They piece together that the chiseled mausoleum + ripped Ebon Gospel pages = Damnatio Memoriae: someone is actively trying to erase Mexoz from history. They go to Sister Helwin for Tome 2 (she doesn’t have it) and learn the Black Pilgrimage is a real path her grandmother once walked, before becoming a “jibbering moth, massive flesh teeth and arms.” Power-seekers who walk it get corrupted. The party splits: Orion to the town guard (8 foot soldier escort secured), Oggy stealth-trailing him to confirm no betrayal, and Caelum + Idril + Shirley + Kimber heading straight to the cemetery. There, Caelum summons a raven familiar (working name “Lirdi”), Kimber casts Disguise Self + does the literal Thriller dance with a Performance 27 that fools the zombies, and Idril executes a silent scimitar kill on a perimeter sentry. Then Shirley charges in screaming “Shirley Scrumptious!” breaking all the stealth they built up. The lich, who was visible in the cemetery’s center, vanishes again before they can engage. Kimber gets bitten and fails her CON save, 13 days until she turns undead. Session ends mid-combat.
Session Timeline
- Morning at the bar: Caelum exhausted from May 7’s all-nighter. Shirley shows off the new splint mail. “Shirley 2.0.”
- Strategic discussion: Party connects the chiseled mausoleum + ripped Ebon Gospel pages = Damnatio Memoriae. Someone is actively erasing Mexoz from history.
- The “one-time thing” joke: Caelum, deadpan to Idril: “You know last night was just a one-time thing, right?” DM grants Caelum inspiration.
- Sister Helwin visit: Party can’t remember her name (Sister Butterface, Howlin, Helvet, Helden). She confirms no Tome 2.
- Black Pilgrimage lore drop: Helwin reveals it’s “the sacred path to dark wizard power”, a real route. Her grandmother walked it seeking knowledge to stop it, became “a jibbering moth, massive flesh teeth and arms.”
- The Pilgrimage / Legion connection: Path Helwin describes looks similar to where the Enraged Legion is marching.
- Party splits: Idril convinces Caelum, Shirley, Kimber to the cemetery immediately. Orion goes to the town guard. Oggy stealthily tails Orion to verify he isn’t ratting.
- Orion in council: Investigation 18 to find the council. Persuasion 15 → council agrees to send a scout force first, then full assault if confirmed. 8 foot soldiers assigned to Orion.
- Oggy eavesdrops invisible at council, confirms Orion is not narcing, slips out toward the cemetery.
- Cemetery scouting: Caelum begins Find Familiar (1-hour ritual). Idril, Shirley, Kimber scout the cemetery walls.
- The Thriller Infiltration: Kimber Disguise Self + dead-body costume + Performance 27 (literal Thriller dance) fools the zombies. Idril stealth 25. The party walks in undetected.
- Cemetery revealed: Lich visible in the middle of the cemetery, surrounded by zombies + outer sentries.
- Caelum’s raven materializes: naming spiral lasts longer than the casting. Working title “Lirdi.” Oggy arrives at Caelum.
- Decision: assassinate outer sentries first: avoid alerting the lich.
- Idril’s silent kill: Sneak attack 28 with scimitar (avoided Sword of the Pack Leader’s howl). Blade between spine and skull.
- “Shirley Scrumptious!”: Shirley charges in screaming his own name, breaking the careful stealth.
- The lich vanishes: Disappears from the center of the cemetery during the chaos.
- Kimber bitten: 19 piercing + 16 = 35 damage. Failed CON save. DM rolls d100 = 13. Kimber has 13 days to cure.
- Session ends mid-combat, Kimber bleeding and infected, lich gone, inner horde still oblivious.
Encounters
| # | Enemies | Location | Outcome | Notable |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cemetery perimeter zombies | Outer wall of cemetery | Ongoing. 1 killed, Kimber bitten + infected. | Stealth infiltration via Kimber’s Performance 27 Thriller dance + Disguise Self. Lich vanished mid-combat. |
Combat Summary
- Total Rounds: 1 (session ended mid-fight)
- Notable Rolls: Idril stealth 25 / Kimber Performance 27 (Thriller dance) / Idril sneak attack 28 / Orion Persuasion 15 / Kimber CON save failed → d100 = 13
Party Status (Session End)
| Character | Condition | Resources Used |
|---|---|---|
| Caelum | 1 exhaustion. New: Raven familiar. Inspiration granted. | Find Familiar (ritual) |
| Idril | Fine | None |
| Shirley | Fine, in splint mail | None |
| Kimber | Infected. 13 days to cure. 35 damage. Disguise Self now “perfect.” | Disguise Self, Vicious Mockery |
| Oggy | Fine, stealthed | None |
| Orion | Fine, en route to cemetery with 8 foot soldiers | None |
Key Decisions
- Party split: Idril → cemetery now. Orion → town guard. Oggy → tail Orion.
- Assassinate outer sentries first to avoid alerting the inner horde
- Idril uses scimitar, not Sword of the Pack Leader because the sword howls on kill
- Kimber’s Disguise Self + dead-body costume gambit pays off with Performance 27
- Shirley’s charge: character-driven, breaks the carefully built stealth
Quests & Progress
Find the Lich / Moonstone Crown: Lich visually located at cemetery for first time since April 9. Vanished again. Phylactery still missing. 8 foot soldiers en route.
Mexoz Tome Part 2: Confirmed NOT at Dawn Chapel. Holder unknown.
Black Pilgrimage: Real geography confirmed. Sacred path to dark wizard power. Corrupts walkers (grandmother evidence). Path similar to Enraged Legion’s route.
Cure Kimber’s Zombie Disease (NEW URGENT): 13-day timer. Failed CON save during a zombie bite. Failure result: turns undead.
Cemetery Investigation: Active, session ended mid-combat. 1 perimeter zombie down. Lich gone. Inner horde oblivious.
Unresolved Threads
- Damnatio Memoriae perpetrator: who erased Mexoz’s name and ripped the Ebon Gospel’s pages?
- The Lich’s binding: bound to cemetery, yet teleports at will
- Where did the lich go this time?
- Kimber’s cure: Lesser Restoration? Remove Curse? Mexoz tome research?
Reminders for Next Session
- Party is mid-combat at the cemetery
- Orion + 8 foot soldiers en route
- Caelum has Raven familiar + 1 exhaustion + DM inspiration
- Kimber’s 13-day disease timer starts now
- Sword of the Pack Leader still un-used (would alert horde)
Loot & Gold
- Gold gained: None
- Items gained: None
- New companion: Raven familiar (Caelum, working name “Lirdi”)