> [!infobox|wikipedia] > # Recording > [](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YmkZNPu7Id0) > # Basic Information > Attribute | Details | > ---|---| > Session # | 39 | > Play Date | 2025-10-18 | > Players | JC<br>Kiwi<br>Lacer<br>Vael | > Party Level | 8 | > # Session Details > Attribute | Details | > ---|---| > Date | [[Campaigns/The Bloody Nails/Calendar/Year - 2507/03 - Water, 3rd.png\|6th Water, 3rd - 2507]] | > Location | [[Val Noren]] > Characters | [[King Marius Noren]]<br>[[Dread General Blackmarsh]]<br>[[General Korvas]] | ## Summary Under the cover of a newly waxing moon and the magical shroud of *Pass Without Trace*, the party infiltrated the courtyard of [[The Stoneheart]] in [[Val Noren]]. After bypassing patrols and picking the lock of the Eastern Wing, the group ascended to a balcony overlooking the temple’s massive central chamber. Here, they witnessed a pivotal meeting between [[Dread General Blackmarsh]], [[General Korvas]], and a coven of five mysterious [[The Red Priests|Red Priests]]. Blackmarsh dispatched Korvas to [[The Darkwood]] to retrieve a "jewel," while four of the priests vanished into vapour, leaving one behind to drag the captive [[King Marius Noren|Marius Noren]] into the catacombs below. The party pursued the captors into the temple's underbelly. Utilising a *Silence* spell and overwhelming firepower, they obliterated the corridor guards before breaching the royal crypt. A fierce battle ensued against the remaining Red Priest, who summoned a Wight and swarms of crawling hands from the sarcophagi. [[Kai]] turned the tide with *Spirit Guardians*, decimating the undead, while [[Berberis]] delivered a brutal finishing blow to the necromancer before she could escape. After reviving the exhausted but physically unharmed King, the group looted a strange magical pipe and a modified *Medallion of Thoughts* from the fallen priest. However, Marius warned them that their arrival was anticipated. As the party rushed back to the surface to escape, they entered the main chamber only to find General Blackmarsh waiting for them, armoured and flanked by a red-cloaked woman. The session ended on a tense cliffhanger as the General boomed, "Well he was right then, how interesting." ## Details ### Infiltration of The Stoneheart * The party took a short rest in a building overlooking the temple courtyard to recover resources. * [[Berberis]] utilized his owl familiar to map the patrol routes of the soldiers in the courtyard. * [[Eryndor]] led the group using the *Ember Blade* to cast *Pass Without Trace*, allowing them to sprint across the snow-covered courtyard unseen between patrols. * The group breached the locked door of the Eastern Wing, identified as the Hall of Guardians, a place of worship dedicated to weapon making. * [[Kai]] cast *Locate Object* on the King's shirt, detecting a ping roughly 100 feet away in the main chamber. ### The Overlook & The Reveal * Moving to the upper level of the wing, the party found a library with a balcony overlooking the central chamber of [[The Stoneheart]]. * They observed [[King Marius Noren]] bound on his knees before [[Dread General Blackmarsh]], [[General Korvas]], and five [[The Red Priests|Red Priests]]. * **Key Intel:** Blackmarsh ordered Korvas to leave immediately for [[The Darkwood]] and not to return without "the jewel." Korvas left to cross [[The Frostway]]. * Four of the Red Priests dissolved into smoke and vanished, claiming their master needed them elsewhere. One female priest remained at Blackmarsh's insistence to see the occupation through. * Blackmarsh and the remaining priest took the King down a set of stairs into the lower levels. ### The Catacombs * The party backtracks and descends into the crypts beneath the temple. * **The Hallway Ambush:** * They encountered two soldiers guarding a door. * [[Kai]] confused one guard with a *Message* cantrip whispering, "I need to pee." * [[Ryo]] cast *Silence* on the area to prevent alarms. * The party executed a synchronised take-down; Kai lit a target up with *Guiding Bolt*, followed by [[Dondar]]’s *Scorching Ray* and Ryo’s arrows, killing both guards instantly without a sound. ### Combat in the Royal Crypt * The party breached the double doors to find [[King Marius Noren]] tied to a chair and the [[The Red Priests|Red Priest]] waiting. * **The Fight:** * [[Berberis]] (Wild Shaped as a boar) charged the priest immediately. * The Red Priest revealed necromancer abilities, animating a Wight and Swarms of Crawling Hands from the surrounding sarcophagi. She utilised a scythe and a *Spirit Wail* (fear/psychic damage) attack. * [[Kai]] cast *Spirit Guardians*, which proved devastating to the undead swarms and the Wight. * [[Ryo]] dealt massive damage with *Hunter's Mark* and sharpshooter arrows. * [[Eryndor]] (piloted by the group) utilised dual-wielding to shred the remaining crawling hands. * Berberis (human form) used *Shillelagh* to crush the priest's skull against the wall as she attempted to activate an escape amulet. * **Loot:** * A magical pipe (picked up by Kai). * A Sickle and Wand. * A **Medallion of Thoughts** (identified by [[Dondar]]): It functions as normal but has a modification that allows the user to teleport to a set, unknown location. ### The Escape & Climax * [[King Marius Noren|Marius]] was untied. He appeared physically unharmed but revealed he had been tortured mentally. * The King warned the party that [[General Korvas|Korvas]] had predicted their arrival and that [[Dread General Blackmarsh|General Blackmarsh]] would be waiting. * Ignoring the risk of exhaustion, the party ran back through the tunnels and up the stairs to the main level. * **Cliffhanger:** They emerged into the massive main chamber to find General Blackmarsh waiting for them in the center of the room, blocking their exit. ## Art ### The Stoneheart Under Passages ![[The Stoneheart - Under Passages.png]] ### The Stoneheart Crypt ![[The Stoneheart - Crypt.png]]