Session 129 The Obsidian Flask

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Session Date

Session date - 28 February 2025

Game Date

Game date - 01 Fireseek CY 627

Synopsis

The party entered the Obsidian Flask, navigating its social complexities and learning of a missing spellbook. They engaged in combat with a demonic patron, and then accepted a dangerous quest from the archmage Turgen to retrieve the book, only to be trapped within a magical room.

This Session

The party heads to the Obsidian Flask to meet Exter, a mysterious gnome offering a 1500 GP reward for finding a lost spellbook. A staff member greets the party at the door, explaining the auction rules and the 40 GP per person entry fee. Aldran, declaring he's 'here for the action,' strides past, while Durmen pays the fee and hastily follows.

They proceed to the bar and order a round of potent drinks. The drink causes those of a lesser constitution to swoon, experiencing synesthesia—hearing color and seeing sound. The room itself pulses with magic, and some experience additional effects, including the opening of their 'third eye.'

Observing the effects on his companions, Durmen avoids drinking and keeps a sharp lookout for Exter. The party notices various patrons discreetly conversing in the dimly lit alcoves around the room. Balmaris and Durmen inquire about joining the Clerics and Mages guilds, both of which are represented. A junior mage, or perhaps an acolyte, dressed in red and gold robes explains that they must first pass a basic proficiency test to join. Balmaris and Durmen agree, while the rest of the party mingles with the patrons."

The Guild Candidate Test

Balmaris, accompanied by Nail steps behind a heavy velvet curtain and looks upon an unusually long hallway that seems to extend beyond the expected size of the building. The two of them were accompanied by an acolyte take them to a doorway at the end of the hall. At which point he explains the test will consist of a series of magical puzzles they must figure out by demonstrating their skill with the divine or magical arts. Only one can enter at a time so Balmaris goes first. Durmen awaits his turn while Nail stands guard outside the door. Balmeris steps through and finds himself in the center a dark octagonal room around 20 feet across with multiple shadowy figures sitting on what appears to be large velvet backed chairs situated around and about 12 feet above the floor of the room. One of the figures gestures with his hand and the test begins, no sooner than the first image appears Balmaris fumbles his spell at which point a voice from the balcony says "Regrettably you have failed the test, you may attempt again at a later time after you have contemplated your failure..." and with that he is magically transported back to the hallway.

Balmaris stalks off angrily down the hallway back to the bar muttering to himself in disgust. Durmen a little shaken by this rapid change of events, steps forward hesitantly and enters the room with exactly the same results only a few moments later. He re-appears in front of a still startled Nail, and both of them head back to the main room of the Obsidian Flask.

Aldran Knuckles Some Heads

While Balmaris, Durmen, and Nail are being tested - Aldran and Egon continue their drinking and before long notice to patrons who appear to be watching the party more closely than the rest. All drawn somewhat under the influence of the drink heads across the room to take a closer look, followed closely by Egon. The two patrons, one of which has something of a demonic appearance with stunted horns protruding from his forehead is engaged in a magical duel of some kind with his counterpart sitting across from him. Aldran fails to appreciate the subtlety of their battle of wits, and interrupting the two by making less than flattering comments about their "fluttering and hand waving like fairies instead of real fighting like real men", draws the ire of the horned individual who trades some less than witty comments with Aldran and Egon. As Aldran goes to grab his ax, the demonic patron attacks him with a quick combination of claws and spiked tail. (Which Aldran ruefully failed to notice...) the demons colleague, a skeleton looking figure with parchment like skin sits back with amused interest, and watches the two go at it. The battle is short, brutal, and ultimately fatal to the demon, though not before he gets in a few good hits.

The rest of the party arrives as the battle wraps up, as Alderon and Egon turn their attention towards the remaining man. He doesn't seem to be intimidated nor upset that his colleague has just been killed in front of him. In fact, he smiles briefly and introduces himself as Turgen the arch-mage. The party asks if he is aware of who is looking for the missing spell book, to which he responds in a accusatory tone - why are you asking me about a stolen book when it appears you have knowledge of it whereabouts… "it's taint is upon you" he states as he scrutinizes the group with an uncomfortable look. The party denies any awareness of it, though in a hushed voice Durmen mentions that perhaps it was in the large collection of moldy books they recovered from the Alchemists house back in Coregila and turned over to Keldec the Sage.

The party asked for more insight about the book and Turgen offers to provide more information, but not here. He pulls a heavy curtain across the alcove, giving them some privacy and with an abrupt gesture of his hand; they find themselves standing in another room in front of a much younger (perhaps centuries even) looking Turgen who is sitting before them in a plush chair. Balmari and Durmen quietly note the room appears similar to, if not identical to that of the testing room though no-one other than Turgen is present.

Turgens Tale

Turgen proceeds to explain that the book contains instructions for crafting the rune stone gates that the ancient Flan Druids and wizards used to travel vast distances across the not only Oerth but also across the Prime Material Plane much like the gate spell but without the need for learning such a high level spell. The book also contained a map of the gate locations and their connections to each other. It was even said by those who had seen the book a few gates could be used to travel backwards or forwards in time to the same exact gate rather than a different location.

The book was kept in the great library of Lynn far across the Solonor Ocean and believed lost when the Empire of Lynn fell over a thousand years ago. It was reportedly recovered by some adventures around a century ago and sold to a mage of the former Great Kingdom before its whereabouts were lost again. Most recently Lexana Brightshore claimed to have knowledge of its whereabouts, and it was rumored she even possessed it. A few days ago the thieves guild let it be known that the book was going to be available for sale from a private seller at the upcoming auction. Lexana was supposed to be at the upcoming auction, but she's not been heard from or seen in the past few days. Turgen offers to double the reward if they can recover it (discreetly as no-one, and he stresses no-one must know of his interest in the book) and provide it to him before the auction concludes.

The Quest

Turgen lets his story sink in and waits somewhat impatiently while the party debates what to do. They agree to try to recover the book for him at which point Turgen says with a slightly evil laugh - "Excellent! However, you must prove your worthiness for this quest by escaping this room first". He then disappears, leaving the party alone in the room with their thoughts....

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