Gods, Monsters, and Poor Life Choices // D&D

Session 15, The River's Rot

SESSION 152026-05-22

Date: 2026-05-22

Summary

The party reunited with Neria Ashgrove, a tiefling druid with a deep aversion to city life, at Saresha's Caress in Wyrm's Crossing. She had been waiting patiently in a forest-themed room, doing her best to endure the noise and press of civilization. After a brief and lively exchange about squirrels, berries, and the general unpleasantness of urban existence, the group set off along the banks of the River Chionthar to investigate the strange blight that had been killing plants and animals along its shores.

After more than an hour of walking, the signs of something deeply wrong became impossible to ignore. The vegetation along the riverbanks was wilted and blackened at the edges, and the further they walked, the worse it became. When Velessa reached out with her magical senses, she saw it clearly: a current of necromantic energy flowing through the water like oil dripping downstream, invisible to the naked eye but unmistakably present. The source, they determined, lay upstream — back toward Baldur's Gate itself.

Before they could press further, the party came upon a herd of deer in a clearing ahead. The creatures were unmistakably undead, some in greater states of decay than others, shuffling and snorting with a hollow, rotting aggression. Neria knelt to watch them from a distance, her expression tight with barely contained fury. Shane muttered an insult at the nearest one, which responded by lifting its head and snorting aggressively, and combat broke out in earnest. Neria proved herself a force to be reckoned with, firing a blazing green dart of energy from her staff that dropped one of the creatures instantly. The rest of the party dispatched the remaining undead deer with a combination of arrows, magical blasts, and heavy strikes, leaving the clearing quiet once more.

With the immediate threat handled, Neria offered the group goodberries for sustenance. After the party joked that she eats like a bird, she demonstrated her druidic gifts by wild-shaping into an enormous secretary bird, preening proudly before shifting back. She agreed to wait for word from the party via magical message and made it abundantly clear she had no intention of following them back into the city. The group traced the necromantic trail all the way to the city walls, where it led them to Sewer Keep — a civic facility built into the walls along the Chionthar, where a reclusive band of druids tended to shambling mounds that magically filtered the city's sewage before it was released into the river.

Shane recognized the place immediately as the territory of Genamine Kopali, a lightfoot halfling and minor Guild boss known for making people she disliked disappear. Deciding that courtesy was the better part of valor, the party entered and requested an audience. Genamine emerged from around a corner, small in stature but enormous in attitude, and demanded to know what they wanted without any interest in pleasantries. When the party explained they were investigating necromantic pollution in the river, her defensiveness shifted into something closer to worry. She admitted that one of her shambling mounds — a creature she called Bessie — had become very sick, and that her team of druids had been unable to determine why.

Genamine led them deeper into the sewers, where the source of the problem became immediately apparent. Floating in the murky water of one of the purification tanks, half-obscured by Bessie's thrashing vines, was a waterlogged wood elf corpse. Velessa extended her magical senses and confirmed what they feared: the tank was absolutely teeming with necromantic energy, and it was radiating directly from the body. The shambling mound had become possessive of the corpse, slamming against the magically reinforced glass walls of the tank with furious, plantlike rage. Genamine made it clear that Bessie was extraordinarily difficult to replace and begged the party not to kill her if they could help it.

After some debate, the party devised a plan. Shane applied a lubricating oil to a rusted valve at the base of the tank that had not been turned in roughly fifty years, and Vagnfríður wrenched it open with her considerable strength, draining the water from the tank. As the water level dropped, Bessie's fury escalated, thrashing and slamming against the walls. Séantal climbed to the upper grating above the open tank to provide a distraction from above, while Shane used his remarkable agility to scale down the slick, foul interior of the tank. Velessa conjured a spectral serpent that struck the shambling mound with a venomous blow, poisoning and incapacitating it just long enough for Shane to grab the corpse and haul it out through the tank door, dropping it outside before retreating from the sickening necrotic aura that radiated from the body.

With the corpse extracted and the tank door shut, the party turned their attention to identifying the body. Séantal descended to examine it more closely, enduring the painful necrotic energy that pulsed from the remains in order to conduct a thorough investigation. The identification came quickly: the body wore an iconic diadem belonging to the Durinbold family, a well-established but unremarkable Patriar house with a seat on the Parliament of Peers. The woman was Lady Alia Durinbold herself, dead for approximately four to five weeks, killed not by drowning but by a powerful necrotic curse whose energy still clung to her remains. Séantal removed the diadem for safekeeping and stepped back from the body, deeply unsettled — because they had seen Lady Durinbold alive and active in the city just the previous week.

The party arranged for the body to be transported out of the sewers using conjured invisible servants and a magical floating disc, keeping it at a safe distance from anyone who might be harmed by its lingering curse. Genamine rewarded them with a bag of coin for saving Bessie, and Shane stayed behind to watch over the body while the others went to fetch Lyone Wynn, a religious contact who ran the city's graveyard. Lyone arrived, cast a preservation ritual over the corpse to halt its decay, and agreed to hold it secretly at the mausoleum without listing it as identified — buying the party time to investigate. Shane, in the interim, played cards with Genamine and walked away twenty-five gold richer, much to her grumbling displeasure.

Velessa used a sending spell to inform Neria Ashgrove that the immediate threat had been neutralized, receiving a brief and satisfied reply that payment would be arranged the following day. Séantal, meanwhile, decided to handle the political implications of the discovery alone, making their way to the High Hall to meet with Mizora, the formidable advisor to Grand Duke Ravengard. When Séantal reported the discovery of Lady Durinbold's corpse, Mizora revealed with cool composure that she had shared tea with the Lady just that very day — confirming beyond doubt that an imposter was walking freely among Baldur's Gate's most powerful citizens. Mizora tasked the party with investigating the Durinbold family to uncover the imposter's motives, and with an almost casual display of infernal power, burned a personal warrant into existence — infernal script scorching itself into parchment before warping into Common, then stamped with her seal. She also took the opportunity to quietly suggest that Séantal's current warlock contract might not be the most fitting arrangement for someone of their particular talents.

The following day, the party reunited at Saresha's Caress to collect their reward from Neria Ashgrove, who noted with satisfaction that the river already appeared to be clearing. Shane suggested that Neria might find profitable work training the woefully underprepared druids at Sewer Keep, pointing out that the facility sat just outside the city walls and she would barely need to set foot inside the city proper. Neria agreed with enthusiasm, immediately wild-shaped into a squirrel, and scampered up to hide in the folds of Velessa's clothing for transport. Velessa, with characteristic practicality, simply flew her directly to Sewer Keep and introduced her to Genamine's struggling staff.

With the river crisis resolved and a new and far more dangerous mystery on their hands, the party turned their attention to the Durinbold imposter. Séantal presented Mizora's warrant and outlined a plan: the upcoming Patriar ball would provide the perfect cover to approach the false Lady Durinbold in a social setting, probing for information through careful conversation and subtle magic rather than direct confrontation. Velessa shared what she had been learning from ancient scrolls at the Szarr estate — old rituals tied to archdevils, possibly Mephistopheles, and rumors of a vast hidden ritual chamber somewhere beneath the palace. The group parted ways for the evening, each heading off to their own corners of the city, with the weight of a dead noblewoman's secret and a living imposter's agenda hanging quietly over all of them.

Short

The party reunited with Neria Ashgrove, a tiefling druid with a strong aversion to city life, before heading out to investigate a mysterious blight along the River Chionthar. As they traveled upstream, Velessa detected a current of necromantic energy flowing through the water toward Baldur's Gate. Along the way, they encountered and defeated a herd of undead deer, with Neria proving a formidable ally before parting ways at the city walls, unwilling to venture further into civilization. The trail led the party to Sewer Keep, a civic facility where druids used shambling mounds to filter the city's sewage. There, they met Genamine Kopali, a halfling Guild boss, whose prized shambling mound Bessie had fallen ill. The cause was quickly identified: a waterlogged corpse radiating necromantic energy had become lodged in one of the purification tanks. Through clever teamwork — draining the tank, distracting Bessie, and using a conjured spectral serpent to incapacitate her — Shane successfully extracted the body. Séantal examined the remains and identified them as Lady Alia Durinbold of the Patriar class, dead for four to five weeks from a powerful necrotic curse, despite the party having seen her alive in the city just the previous week.

The body was quietly transported to a mausoleum under the care of Lyone Wynn, who preserved it in secret to buy the party time. Séantal brought the alarming discovery to Mizora, advisor to Grand Duke Ravengard, who revealed she had shared tea with Lady Durinbold that very day — confirming that an imposter was moving freely among Baldur's Gate's most powerful citizens. Mizora tasked the party with investigating the Durinbold family and produced an infernal warrant to authorize their efforts, while also hinting that Séantal's current warlock contract might not suit their talents. The following day, Neria was rewarded and, at Shane's suggestion, enthusiastically agreed to train the druids at Sewer Keep — wild-shaping into a squirrel and hitching a ride in Velessa's clothing for the trip. With the river crisis resolved, the party turned their focus to the imposter, devising a plan to approach the false Lady Durinbold at an upcoming Patriar ball. Velessa also shared troubling research from the Szarr estate linking ancient rituals to the archdevil Mephistopheles and a rumored hidden chamber beneath the palace, leaving the group with a deepening and dangerous mystery ahead.

Classic

Last we left off, our party reunited with Neria Ashgrove, a tiefling druid with little love for city life, at Saresha's Caress in Wyrm's Crossing. Together, they set out along the banks of the River Chionthar to investigate a creeping blight that had been withering the flora and fauna along its shores. What Velessa's magical senses revealed was deeply troubling — a current of necromantic energy flowing through the water like poison, its source tracing back upstream toward Baldur's Gate itself. Along the way, the group encountered a herd of undead deer, which they dispatched with no small amount of effort, before following the trail of corruption all the way to Sewer Keep — a civic facility built into the city walls, where a band of druids and their shambling mounds filtered the city's sewage before it entered the river.

There, they met Genamine Kopali, a lightfoot halfling with a minor Guild operation and a major attitude, who revealed that one of her shambling mounds — a beloved creature she called Bessie — had fallen gravely ill. The source of the problem proved to be a waterlogged corpse floating in one of the purification tanks, radiating necromantic energy so potent it had driven Bessie into a frenzy. Through clever use of a long-rusted valve, a conjured spectral serpent, and no small amount of personal risk, the party drained the tank, incapacitated Bessie, and extracted the body. What they found upon examination was deeply unsettling: the remains of Lady Alia Durinbold, a Patriar noblewoman and member of the Parliament of Peers, dead for four to five weeks — killed not by drowning, but by a powerful necrotic curse. The problem, of course, was that several members of the party had seen Lady Durinbold very much alive and active in the city just the previous week.

With the body preserved and quietly secured at the city mausoleum, Séantal brought the discovery to Mizora, the formidable infernal advisor to Grand Duke Ravengard. Mizora confirmed the impossible: she had shared tea with Lady Durinbold that very day. An imposter, it seems, has taken the noblewoman's place among Baldur's Gate's most powerful citizens — and no one yet knows how long she has been there, or what she wants. Mizora has tasked the party with uncovering the truth, and with a Patriar ball on the horizon and rumors of ancient archdevil rituals stirring beneath the palace, the stakes have never felt higher. Now, we return to our party as they prepare to walk into a den of Baldur's Gate's elite — knowing that one of the faces smiling back at them may not be an elf at all...

Memorable Moments

"There's your problem. It's full of necromancy."
— Velessa

Deadpan delivery after casting Detect Magic on the River Chionthar and seeing necromantic energy flowing through the water like oil

"Do you want a zombie deer? I can go back and get you one."
— Shane

Shane's deadpan response when Genamine demanded evidence of necromantic dumping in the river

"I have seen the Lady Durinbold out and about in the city this past week. This body is several weeks dead."
— Séantal

Séantal calmly delivering the alarming revelation to Mizora that a prominent patriar has an imposter walking freely in Baldur's Gate

"Because you have the appearance of somebody who could probably succeed at getting a golf ball through the entire sewer system from this room."
— Velessa

Velessa's spectacularly backhanded attempt to explain to Genamine why she doesn't seem like the heroic or cleric type

Mizora magically burns infernal script onto a parchment that then warps into Common, producing a personal warrant for the party to investigate the Durinbold family.

A casual but unsettling display of Mizora's infernal power, underscoring the weight of the task she is handing the party

"I don't understand what you're saying. She's not hanging anywhere."
— Séantal

Séantal's completely sincere confusion when Genamine tried to explain that Velessa had been 'left hanging' after an unanswered high five

"Unfortunately, this contract was created before I was born."
— Séantal

Séantal's matter-of-fact response when Mizora suggested their warlock contract might not be the most fitting arrangement for their talents

Scenes

Reunion at Saresha's Caress

The party reunites with the druid Neria Ashgrove at Saresha's Caress in Wyrm's Crossing to begin their investigation into the blighted river.

The party returns from Candlekeep and meets Neria Ashgrove at Saresha's Caress in Wyrm's Crossing.
Neria explains she has been waiting in a forest-themed room to avoid the discomfort of the city.
The group discusses the quest involving plants and animals dying and rising as undead along the River Chionthar.
Neria leads the party out of the city to witness the blighted areas firsthand.

The Blighted Banks of the Chionthar

The party investigates the riverbanks and discovers a flow of necromantic energy polluting the water, tracing it back toward Baldur's Gate.

The party walks for over an hour along the banks of the River Chionthar, noticing blackened and wilted vegetation.
Velessa casts Detect Magic and identifies a flow of necromantic energy in the water, resembling oil dripping downstream.
The group determines the source of the pollution must be coming from upstream, within the city of Baldur's Gate.
Séantal notes that there are strict legal penalties for necromantic 'skullduggery' and illegal dumping.
The party encounters a herd of deer in various states of decay that are unmistakably undead.
Shane attempts to insult the zombie deer before initiating combat with a ranged attack.
Neria Ashgrove initiates combat by firing a green dart of energy from her staff, instantly dropping one of the undead creatures.
Shane fires his bow, scoring a critical hit that puts down another zombified deer.
Vagnfríður strikes a deer with a powerful blow, finishing it off without needing to tap into her primal rage.
Velessa uses a ranged attack to strike a deer, while Séantal blasts the final undead creature with beams of magical energy.
Neria Ashgrove provides the party with magical goodberries for sustenance and, after the party jokes that she eats like a bird, demonstrates her druidic power by transforming into a large secretary bird.
The party decides to investigate Sewer Keep, suspecting it as the point where the necromantic waste is entering the river.

Arrival at Sewer Keep

The party arrives at Sewer Keep to investigate the source of the necromantic pollution and meets the facility's Guild boss.

Shane identifies Sewer Keep as the territory of Genamine, a minor boss within the Guild known for making people she dislikes disappear.
The party enters the facility and is greeted by a Sewerkeeper druid.
Shane explains they are investigating illegal dumping and requests to speak with Genamine.
Genamine Kopali emerges and confronts the party, initially defensive about her 'perfectly legitimate operation.'
The party reveals the presence of necromancy and zombie animals in the river, which catches Genamine's attention.
Genamine admits that one of her shambling mounds, used for water filtration, has become very sick.
The party offers to investigate the sick shambling mound to determine if it is the source or a victim of the pollution.
Genamine agrees to lead the party deeper into the sewers to inspect the creature.

The Sick Shambler of Sewer Keep

The party investigates a malfunctioning purification tank in Sewer Keep and discovers a grim cause for the local blight.

Genamine Kopali leads the party deep into the sewers to inspect a sick shambling mound named Bessie.
Velessa discovers a waterlogged corpse trapped inside the purification tank with the agitated plant creature.
Velessa uses Detect Magic and confirms the tank is teeming with necromantic energy radiating from the corpse itself.
The party debates how to remove the body without killing the rare shambling mound.
Genamine complains about the incompetence of her druid staff and the lack of city funding.
Séantal offers to help Genamine with official city paperwork to secure better resources for the facility.
Shane confirms the corpse is truly dead and not moving on its own.

Draining the Purification Tank

The party works together to drain the water from the purification tank and confront the enraged shambling mound within.

The party debates how to retrieve the body, with Séantal expressing concern for the safety of the group and the wellbeing of the shambling mound.
Vagnfríður uses her immense strength to turn a rusted, seized valve at the bottom of the tank, aided by Shane applying Liquid Wrench oil to the mechanism.
As the water drains, the shambling mound, nicknamed 'Bessie,' becomes enraged and begins thrashing against the magically reinforced glass walls.
Velessa prepares to cast a spell to incapacitate the creature while Shane prepares to climb into the tank from above to retrieve the body.
Séantal takes a position on the upper grating to provide a distraction and line of sight from above.
Shane uses his climbing speed to scale down the slippery, grime-covered interior of the tank.
Velessa casts Syluné's Viper, conjuring a shimmering spectral snake that strikes the shambling mound, poisoning and incapacitating it.
Shane reaches the bottom of the tank and is immediately struck by a nauseating necrotic aura radiating from the corpse, taking damage.
Despite the necrotic energy, Shane grabs the body and drags it out of the tank, leaving it at the door before retreating.

The Corpse in the Tank

The party successfully extracts a mysterious corpse from the purification tank, only to discover it belongs to a prominent noble who was supposedly seen alive recently.

Shane drags the waterlogged corpse out of the purification tank and leaves it at the door to escape its sickening necrotic aura.
Séantal examines the body and identifies it as Lady Alia Durinbold, a prominent patriarch of Baldur's Gate, by her iconic family diadem.
Despite the necrotic energy radiating from the body, Séantal performs a thorough investigation, suffering significant necrotic damage from the proximity.
The party determines that Lady Durinbold has been dead for approximately four to five weeks and was killed by a necrotic curse, not drowning.
Séantal realizes with alarm that they have seen Lady Durinbold alive and active in the city within the past week, suggesting an imposter is at large.
Séantal removes the Durinbold diadem from the corpse for safekeeping and identification purposes.

The Aftermath at Sewer Keep

The party deals with the aftermath of extracting a cursed corpse and coordinates its removal while negotiating with Genamine Kopali.

Genamine approaches the group, shielding her face from the stench of the decaying body.
Velessa and Séantal coordinate the use of magical Unseen Servants and a Tenser's Floating Disk to transport the cursed remains without touching them.
Genamine attempts to teach Séantal the concept of a 'high five,' leading to a humorous cultural misunderstanding about 'communal battery.'
The group debates the status of Genamine's employees, with Velessa drawing parallels to indentured servitude from her past in Menzoberranzan.
Genamine rewards the party with a bag of coin for resolving the issue without killing Bessie, the shambling mound.
Velessa uses the Sending spell to inform Neria Ashgrove that the immediate threat has been dealt with.
Shane stays behind to watch the body and engages in a game of cards with Genamine Kopali, winning twenty-five gold despite his self-proclaimed lack of skill.
Séantal returns with Lyone Wynn, who casts Gentle Repose to preserve the body and agrees to hold it secretly at the mausoleum.

Parting Ways for the Night

The party discusses the implications of a high-society imposter before splitting up for the evening.

The group debates whether they are dealing with a doppelganger, a Rakshasa, a simulacrum, or some other magical imposter.
Séantal decides to handle the political investigation alone, visiting Mizora at the High Hall without the rest of the party.
Shane heads to the Pig and Whistle for a date, while Velessa plans to spend her evening at Rat's Run.

A Meeting with Mizora

Séantal visits Mizora at the High Hall to report the discovery of Lady Durinbold's corpse and receives a warrant to investigate the potential imposter.

Séantal informs Mizora that the river pollution was caused by the cursed corpse of Lady Durinbold.
Mizora reveals she had tea with Lady Durinbold earlier that very day, confirming the existence of an imposter.
Mizora tasks the party with investigating the Durinbold family to uncover the imposter's motives.
Mizora magically manifests an investigative warrant, burning infernal script onto parchment before transforming it into Common, then stamps it with her personal seal.
Séantal mentions they will be submitting paperwork for increased sewage management funding.
Mizora questions whether Séantal's current warlock contract is the most fitting for their talents, hinting at other opportunities.

The Druid's New Assignment and Planning the Next Move

The party reunites with Neria Ashgrove to collect their reward, recruits her to train the Sewerkeeper druids, and discusses their next steps regarding the Durinbold imposter.

Neria Ashgrove confirms the river is already clearing up and thanks the party for removing the cursed body.
Shane suggests Neria could earn coin by training the struggling druids at Sewer Keep, noting she would not need to enter the city proper.
Neria agrees to the job and wild shapes into a squirrel, hiding in Velessa's clothing for transport to Sewer Keep.
Velessa offers to fly the druid directly to Sewer Keep to avoid walking through the city.
Séantal reveals that Mizora has requested an investigation into the Durinbold family following the discovery of the Lady's corpse.
Shane and Velessa debate the value of working for favors from one of the most powerful people in Baldur's Gate.
Séantal presents the warrant for investigation obtained from Mizora, emphasizing the need for tact and etiquette.
Velessa shares updates on her studies at the Szarr estate, mentioning ancient rituals connected to archdevils and a hidden ritual chamber allegedly beneath the palace.
The group plans to use an upcoming Patriar ball as a cover to probe the Durinbold family for secrets.
The party engages in a spirited debate with Genamine about heroism, selfishness, and appearances, with Velessa and Genamine trading barbs about who looks more like a 'whore.'

NPCs

Neria Ashgrove

A tiefling druid who is deeply uncomfortable in cities and hired the party to investigate the blight along the River Chionthar. She guided the party to the affected areas, demonstrated powerful combat magic with her staff, and can wild shape into animals including a secretary bird and a squirrel. She agreed to train the Sewerkeeper druids in exchange for coin.

Genamine Kopali

A lightfoot halfling and Guild boss who operates out of Sewer Keep. She is sharp-tongued, defensive of her territory, and known for making people she dislikes disappear. She revealed that one of her shambling mounds used for water filtration had become very sick due to a necromantic corpse in the tank. She rewarded the party with coin for saving the mound, lost twenty-five gold to Shane in a card game, and accepted Séantal's offer to help with city funding paperwork.

Sewerkeeper Druids

A reclusive band of druids who act more as civil servants than naturalists, tending to shambling mounds that filter the city's sewage. Genamine considers them largely incompetent and underfunded.

Bessie

A large shambling mound used for water filtration at Sewer Keep. She became agitated and possessive of a necromantic corpse that drifted into her tank, lashing out violently when the tank was drained. She was temporarily incapacitated by Velessa's magic, allowing the body to be retrieved.

Alia Durinbold

A prominent wood elf patriar of Baldur's Gate whose waterlogged, decayed corpse was found inside a purification tank at Sewer Keep. She was killed by a powerful necrotic curse approximately four to five weeks prior. Séantal recognized her by her iconic family diadem and noted with alarm that someone appearing as her had been seen active in the city within the past week.

Lyone Wynn

A religious contact who runs the graveyard. She was brought in by the party to cast Gentle Repose on Lady Durinbold's corpse to prevent further decay, and agreed to hold the body secretly at the mausoleum without listing it as identified while the party investigates.

Mizora

The advisor to Grand Duke Ravengard, who maintains an office at the High Hall. She revealed she had tea with Lady Durinbold earlier the same day Séantal reported the corpse, confirming an imposter is at large. She tasked the party with investigating the Durinbold family and magically produced a personal warrant for them. She also subtly questioned whether Séantal's current warlock contract was the most fitting for their talents.

Locations

Saresha's Caress

A themed brothel and inn located at Wyrm's Crossing where Neria Ashgrove waited for the party. It features various themed rooms, including a forest and nature-themed one that Neria chose to feel more comfortable.

Wyrm's Crossing

The settlement on the bridge leading to Baldur's Gate where Neria Ashgrove preferred to stay to avoid the crowded city center.

River Chionthar

The major waterway running past Baldur's Gate. Its banks are currently suffering from a necromantic blight that kills plants and reanimates animals, with the source traced upstream into the city.

Sewer Keep

A civic facility built into the city walls along the Chionthar that treats Baldur's Gate's sewage using magically augmented plants and shambling mounds. It is dimly lit, damp, and smells heavily of waste. It also serves as the base of operations for Genamine Kopali and her Sewerkeeper druids. The facility contains large purification tanks with magically reinforced glass walls and hydraulic valves that had not been operated in roughly fifty years.

High Hall

The seat of government in Baldur's Gate where Mizora maintains an office. Séantal visits here to report the discovery of Lady Durinbold's corpse and receives a warrant to investigate.

Rat's Run

A tavern near Gray Harbor where Velessa plans to spend her evening flirting with the cook.

The Pig and Whistle

A local establishment where Shane mentions having a date for the evening.

Szarr Palace

The location where Velessa has been studying ancient scrolls and rituals, allegedly housing a massive ritual chamber somewhere beneath the palace.

Items

Goodberry

Small, raspberry-sized magical berries produced by Neria Ashgrove. A single berry provides enough nourishment to keep a person fed for an entire day. Neria offered one to each party member; only Séantal accepted, pocketing it for later.

Liquid Wrench

A lubricating oil used by Shane to loosen the rusted valve on the purification tank at Sewer Keep, helping Vagnfríður successfully turn it.

Durinbold Diadem

An iconic and signature headpiece belonging to the Durinbold family, always seen on Lady Alia Durinbold in portraits. It was found on the decayed corpse inside the purification tank and served as the primary means of identifying the body. Séantal removed it from the corpse and added it to their inventory.

Investigative Warrant

A magical document created by Mizora. Infernal script was burned into the parchment before warping into Common, then stamped with Mizora's personal seal. It serves as her personal voucher granting the party authority to investigate the Durinbold family however they see fit.

Ancient Szarr Scrolls

Extremely old documents Velessa has been studying at the Szarr estate, detailing rituals and dealings involving archdevils, possibly Mephistopheles. Velessa mentions they describe rituals that no longer function and hint at a hidden ritual chamber beneath the palace.

Spells

Detect Magic

Cast by Velessa multiple times during the session. First used along the riverbanks to reveal a visible flow of necromantic energy in the River Chionthar, resembling oil dripping downstream. Later cast inside Sewer Keep to confirm the purification tank was teeming with necromantic energy radiating directly from the mysterious corpse.

Dancing Lights

Cast by Velessa to provide illumination in the dark, subterranean tunnels of Sewer Keep.

Syluné's Viper

Cast by Velessa to conjure a shimmering spectral snake that circled and wrapped around her before striking the enraged shambling mound. The spell successfully poisoned and incapacitated the creature, buying the party time to retrieve the corpse from the tank.

Unseen Servant

Cast by both Velessa and Séantal to manifest invisible forces capable of physically manipulating the cursed corpse, working together to lift it onto a floating disk for transport.

Tenser's Floating Disk

Cast by Velessa to create a circular plane of force used to carry the heavy, necrotic corpse at a safe distance from the party, allowing them to transport it out of Sewer Keep without direct contact.

Sending

Cast by Velessa to send a magical message to Neria Ashgrove informing her that the immediate necromantic threat had been dealt with and that payment would be arranged at Saresha's Caress the following day.

Gentle Repose

Cast by Lyone Wynn on the corpse of Lady Durinbold to halt further decay and prevent the body from rising as undead, allowing it to be stored safely at the mausoleum while the party investigates.

Zone of Truth

Discussed by the party as a potential tool for gathering information at the upcoming Patriar ball, though noted as too obvious to cast in a social setting without drawing attention.