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

Session 12, Grave of the Witness pt.2

SESSION 122026-05-01

Date: 2026-05-01

Summary

The party arrived at the Cliffside Cemetery just past midnight, spreading themselves across the fog-damp grounds to keep watch over the Tsar family plots. Shane took up position near the gate while the others concealed themselves among the tall, hip-high grass and the weathered stones of the old cemetery. Séantal attempted to scale a slick mausoleum for a better vantage point but found the wet stone too treacherous, managing only halfway up before finding a precarious perch. Velessa sent her familiar Quillbit soaring sixty feet into the air to serve as an aerial lookout, watching the grounds through the creature's eyes while she lay hidden in the grass below.

A little past one-thirty in the morning, three hooded figures appeared, moving through the cemetery gate with a shambling, shuffling gait that nonetheless carried them at a steady pace. Each figure held a brass lantern before them, the flames burning without oil or wick. They moved wordlessly to a specific unmarked grave deep within the Tsar family section and began to dig. Velessa, watching from her hidden position, observed the figures closely and recognized the tattered, hole-ridden robes as Thayan in origin — and beneath the hoods, glowing eyes peered out from skeletal faces. When one of the shovels finally struck wood with a hollow thud, the lead figure raised a hand and murmured a single word to its companions: "Hold."

That was all the signal Vagnfríður needed. She surged forward in a fury, and combat erupted across the dark cemetery. Shane fired from his hidden position, an arrow striking one of the skeletal figures cleanly between its exposed ribs. He called out for the creatures to surrender, but the lead lantern bearer only scoffed. One of the figures turned its lantern into a focused beam of light and directed it at Vagnfríður in an attempt to freeze her in place, but she powered through the magical assault with sheer force of will.

Seris joined the fray, striking one of the hooded figures twice with her rapier, while the undead retaliated by reaching out with dusty, bony hands — only to find Vagnfríður's thick fur an impenetrable barrier. Velessa surrounded herself with a swarm of tiny, flitting purple spirits before rushing forward to drive her blade into one of the creatures. Séantal unleashed beams of starlight that caused the targets to glow visibly in the darkness, landing a devastating strike that left one of the lantern bearers barely holding itself together. One of the undead pulled back its cowl and unleashed a wave of magical terror in a wide cone, but Seris shook off the fear and cut the creature down on a vicious backswing.

The remaining two attempted to escape using bursts of magical teleportation, repositioning themselves and launching bolts of necrotic energy at the party. But Séantal's aim proved relentless — a series of precise magical blasts, including one devastating critical strike, tore through the last of the lantern bearers. As the final figure crumpled to the ground, all three brass lanterns flickered and faded simultaneously, plunging the cemetery back into silence and darkness.

With the threat neutralized, the party searched the fallen. Each of the three undead carried a ritualistic dagger of Thayan origin, finely made and faintly enchanted. The lanterns themselves were unremarkable beyond their impossible flames. In the pocket of the lead figure, Velessa found a torn slip of paper bearing a single name written in ancient script: Lysandra. Shane pried open the heavily decomposed wooden coffin that had been uncovered during the digging, and inside lay a woman who appeared to be simply sleeping — perfectly preserved, untouched by centuries of decay.

As Velessa stood holding the slip of paper, it crumbled to dust between her fingers — and the woman in the coffin opened her eyes. She rose, brushed herself off with a subtle gesture that cleaned the grave dirt from her clothes, and regarded the party with calm curiosity. She identified herself as the Chosen of Jergal, explaining that her name had been written in his divine ledger, collected, and categorized — and that her time had simply come. The party exchanged glances before Velessa delivered the blunt news: quite some time ago, Jergal had given up most of his divine portfolio in a gambling match involving his own knucklebones as dice, dividing his domain among three challengers — Bane, Bhaal, and Myrkul — and had since wandered off into obscurity. The woman, Lysandra, absorbed this with visible shock.

Seraphine Moonscale arrived at the scene shortly after, flask in hand and visibly intoxicated, and was equally startled to find a living woman emerging from a centuries-old coffin. The party explained that the three defeated figures were Thayan minions, likely connected to the Red Wizard Maelra Szandru, whom they had previously encountered in the city's sewers. Seraphine expressed alarm at the idea of Red Wizards operating openly in Baldur's Gate, while Séantal noted that the Imravel Exchange — a Thayan merchant operation in the city — was a separate matter from the wizards themselves. Lysandra, meanwhile, knelt in prayer at the edge of the graveyard to commune with Jergal directly.

When she returned, Lysandra confirmed that Jergal had been surprised to hear her voice. He revealed that the page bearing her name had been physically stolen from his ledger — and that he did not know when the theft had occurred. He asked her to investigate, suspending her rest indefinitely. As she spoke, a large, ornately leather-bound book materialized in her hand — the Ledger of the Dead, granted to her by Jergal for the duration of her investigation. The party escorted her back through the streets of Baldur's Gate to the Eomane House, where they found Velessa's imps had turned the library into a battlefield of book-forts, staging elaborate mock raids and defenses among the scattered volumes.

Settled in the sitting room, Lysandra explained the nature of her former role: she had served as a trusted, neutral third-party witness to contracts, infernal and otherwise — between warlocks and their patrons, and even between devils disputing ownership of portions of the Hells. The party quickly recognized the implications. Shane raised the matter of the Calamus Pactum, but the group determined that the artifact postdated Lysandra's death by well over a century. Séantal theorized that the Red Wizards needed Lysandra not merely for her trustworthiness, but for her divine standing as the Chosen of Jergal — a witness whose authority could not be questioned. Velessa, drawing on her historical knowledge, confirmed that Bane was the official state religion of Thay, lending weight to the theory that whatever contract the Red Wizards were attempting to forge had something to do with the god of tyranny himself.

The conversation turned to Cicerox, the imp scholar who had died at Candlekeep. Lysandra confirmed that the name Cicerox did not appear in her ledger, marking it as a pen name rather than a true one. She agreed that if the party could discover Cicerox's true mortal name and prove that her death had been the result of extraplanar interference, she could erase the name from the ledger and restore her to life. The group resolved to travel to Candlekeep, the great bastion of knowledge on the coast, to search for records of who Cicerox had truly been.

While Velessa spent two days in her workshop crafting a flying sword — a broom of flying shaped like a blade — Shane made his way to the docks to arrange passage. He visited his contact Riven, a sharp-eyed shipping agent who initially quoted a steep fare of one silver piece per mile per passenger. After some persuasion, Riven agreed to cut the price in half in exchange for the party providing their own security aboard a smaller vessel, with departure set for three days hence. Seris, skeptical of the arrangement, searched the docks independently and encountered a captain loyal to Umberlee who offered passage the following day — but his attempts to negotiate for inappropriate favors in lieu of coin ended the conversation swiftly.

Meanwhile, Shane and Vagnfríður followed up on another quest posted on the quest board. They crossed Wyrm's Crossing to the outer city and arrived at Sharess's Caress, where a tiefling druid named Neria Ashgrove was waiting. Wearing weather-worn traveling leathers with a river reed charm braided onto one horn, she watched the room with the alert stillness of someone deeply out of place in a crowded taproom. She described a blight spreading downstream from Baldur's Gate — wildlife and plant growth dying along the river, with animal carcasses bearing unmistakable signs of necromantic corruption. She asked the party to accompany her downriver to examine the evidence firsthand, but when Shane explained they were departing for Candlekeep within days, they agreed to meet again in one week. Neria accepted the arrangement, then abruptly departed — wild-shaping into a deer and sprinting out of the city at full speed, apparently unable to bear another moment within its walls.

Back at the Eomane House, Vagnfríður's whereabouts remained something of a mystery, as she had spent the night carousing with Seraphine Moonscale at the Elfsong Tavern — reportedly singing on top of a table at some point during the evening, the two of them proving equally matched in their capacity for drink. With the ship secured, the downtime activities underway, and a week's promise made to Neria, the party turned their attention to the road ahead. Candlekeep awaited, along with the answers buried somewhere in its vast and ancient archives.

Short

The party staked out the Cliffside Cemetery at midnight, where they intercepted three skeletal Thayan figures bearing impossible-flamed lanterns who had come to dig up an unmarked grave in the Tsar family section. Combat broke out swiftly — Vagnfríður charged in while Shane, Seris, Velessa, and Séantal each played pivotal roles in cutting down the undead, with Séantal delivering the decisive blows as the last two attempted to flee via magical teleportation. Among the fallen, the party recovered Thayan ritual daggers and a slip of paper bearing the name "Lysandra" in ancient script. When the note crumbled to dust in Velessa's hand, the perfectly preserved woman within the unearthed coffin opened her eyes and rose — introducing herself as the Chosen of Jergal. The party delivered the jarring news that Jergal had long since gambled away his divine portfolio to Bane, Bhaal, and Myrkul. After communing directly with her god, Lysandra confirmed that the page bearing her name had been physically stolen from his divine ledger, and Jergal tasked her with investigating the theft — granting her the Ledger of the Dead to aid in the mission.

Back at the Eomane House, the party pieced together that the Red Wizards — likely connected to Maelra Szandru — had sought to resurrect Lysandra for her unique authority as a divinely sanctioned witness to infernal contracts, possibly to forge an agreement tied to Bane, the state god of Thay. Lysandra also confirmed that the deceased imp scholar Cicerox's name did not appear in her ledger, suggesting it was a pen name, and she agreed that uncovering Cicerox's true mortal name and proving extraplanar interference in her death could allow her to restore the imp to life. With this goal in mind, the party arranged passage to Candlekeep, negotiating a discounted fare through Shane's dockside contact Riven in exchange for providing shipboard security. During the downtime, Velessa crafted a blade-shaped broom of flying, Vagnfríður spent a memorable evening carousing with Seraphine Moonscale at the Elfsong Tavern, and Shane and Vagnfríður met with Neria Ashgrove — a tiefling druid reporting necromantic blight spreading along the river — agreeing to investigate her concerns upon returning from Candlekeep in one week.

Classic

Last we left off, our party descended upon the Cliffside Cemetery under cover of night, lying in wait among the fog-damp graves of the Tsar family plots. Their vigil was rewarded in the small hours of the morning when three hooded figures — skeletal, glowing-eyed, and bearing lanterns with flames that burned without oil or wick — arrived to excavate an unmarked grave. Vagnfríður wasted no time, and combat erupted across the darkened cemetery. Through arrow, blade, and starlight, the party dismantled the Thayan undead one by one, until the last lantern flickered out and silence reclaimed the grounds. Among the fallen, they recovered ritualistic daggers of Thayan make and a torn slip of paper bearing a single name in ancient script: Lysandra.

When that paper crumbled to dust in Velessa's fingers, the woman in the coffin opened her eyes. Lysandra, the Chosen of Jergal, rose from centuries of preserved sleep — only to learn that her divine patron had long since gambled away his portfolio to Bane, Bhaal, and Myrkul and wandered into obscurity. After communing directly with Jergal, she discovered that the page bearing her name had been physically stolen from his ledger, and he tasked her with investigating the theft. She joined the party at the Eomane House, where the implications of her former role — as a divinely sanctioned witness to infernal contracts — pointed unmistakably toward the Red Wizards of Thay and their designs involving the god Bane himself.

Now, with passage secured to Candlekeep, a promise made to a troubled tiefling druid named Neria Ashgrove regarding a necromantic blight spreading along the river, and the mystery of a dead imp scholar's true name waiting to be unearthed in the greatest library on the Sword Coast, the party sets their sights southward. The answers they seek lie buried somewhere in Candlekeep's vast and ancient archives — if they can find them before someone else does...

Memorable Moments

"Money on strange mystery girl here who isn't actually dead or gentle repose spell."
— Velessa

Casually placing bets on the nature of the perfectly preserved corpse in the open coffin before it woke up

As Velessa holds the slip of paper bearing the name 'Lysandra,' it crumbles to dust in her hand — and the woman in the coffin opens her eyes.

The party had just defeated three undead grave robbers and opened an unmarked coffin, expecting a corpse

"I don't think your bone daddy is around anymore to correct it."
— Velessa

Bluntly informing the newly resurrected Chosen of Jergal that her deity had essentially retired and wandered off

"I need to stop writing stuff sober."
— Seraphine Moonscale

Realizing she had written 'no drunkards' on her own quest posting while apparently being a heavy drinker herself

Lysandra reveals that a page bearing her name was physically stolen from Jergal's divine ledger — and even Jergal himself does not know when it was taken.

After communing with Jergal in the graveyard, Lysandra returns with unsettling news about the nature of her resurrection

"How's Bone Daddy? He pick up?"
— Velessa

Asking Lysandra about the results of her prayer to commune with the ancient god Jergal after he had essentially retired from godhood

Neria Ashgrove abruptly ends her meeting with the party by wild-shaping into a deer and sprinting out of Sharess's Caress and out of the city entirely.

After arranging to meet the party in a week, the druid demonstrated just how much she hated being in the city

"Schrodinger's Vagnfríður."
— Vagnfríður

Joking about her own uncertain whereabouts after a night of heavy drinking with Seraphine, noting she is a cat and therefore the joke applies

Scenes

Stakeout at Cliffside Cemetery

The party positions themselves around the Tsar family plots in the Cliffside Cemetery to catch those defiling the graves.

The party arrives at the cemetery around midnight and takes up hidden positions, with Shane watching the gate and others hiding in the tall grass or behind a mausoleum.
Velessa sends Quillbit sixty feet into the air to provide an aerial view of the grounds.
Séantal attempts to climb a slick, wet mausoleum for a better vantage point but only makes it halfway up before finding the stone too slippery.
A little past 1:30 AM, Shane spots three hooded figures carrying lanterns approaching the cemetery with a shambling gait.
The figures move to a specific unmarked grave in the Tsar family section and begin digging wordlessly.
Velessa observes the figures closely, noting they wear tattered Thayan robes and possess skeletal features with glowing eyes.
The digging continues until one of the shovels strikes the wood of a coffin, at which point the lead figure raises a hand and says 'hold.'

Ambush at the Tsar Family Plot

The party springs an ambush on three skeletal lantern bearers who were desecrating a grave in the Cliffside Cemetery.

Vagnfríður enters a rage and leaps into the fray to initiate combat.
Shane fires his shortbow from a hidden position, striking one of the figures between its exposed ribs, and calls out for them to surrender.
One of the lantern bearers focuses a beam of light from its lantern on Vagnfríður, attempting to magically paralyze her with Hold Person, but she resists the effect.
Seris joins the assault, striking one of the skeletal figures twice with her rapier.
Velessa surrounds herself with a shroud of flitting purple spirits before rushing forward to strike one of the hooded figures.
Séantal unleashes beams of starlight, causing the targets to glow and severely wounding the grave robbers.
One of the lantern bearers attempts to paralyze the party with a cone of magical fear, but Seris resists the effect and strikes the creature down on a backswing.
The remaining undead attempt to escape using magical teleportation and retaliate with bolts of necrotic energy.
Séantal lands several precise magical blasts, including a critical hit, finishing off the remaining attackers.
As the last lantern bearer falls, their brass lanterns flicker out and fade simultaneously.

Searching the Fallen

After the combat, the party investigates the remains of the attackers and the unmarked grave they were digging.

The party searches the corpses, discovering three ritualistic daggers of Thayan origin on each of the fallen figures.
The lanterns are found to be unremarkable brass objects containing no oil or wick, despite having been lit.
Velessa finds a torn slip of paper in the pocket of the lead figure with the name 'Lysandra' written in ancient script.
Shane opens the wooden coffin within the unmarked grave to reveal a body that shows no signs of decomposition, appearing as though she is simply sleeping.

The Awakening of Lysandra

The party investigates an unmarked grave in the Tsar family plot, leading to the unexpected resurrection of a woman from Baldur's Gate's ancient past.

Velessa recalls the name Lysandra from historical texts regarding the founding of Baldur's Gate, then known as Graylocke.
As Velessa holds the mysterious slip of paper found on the undead attackers, it crumbles in her hand, and the woman in the grave opens her eyes.
The resurrected woman uses prestidigitation to subtly clean the grave dirt from her clothes.
She identifies herself as the Chosen of Jergal and states that her name was written in his ledger and collected.
The party explains to a confused Lysandra that she has been dead for 281 years and that the gods have changed significantly since 1220 DR.
Lysandra expresses shock at the news that Jergal divided his portfolio among Bane, Bhaal, and Myrkul following a game of knucklebones using his own removed knuckle bones as dice.
Seraphine Moonscale arrives at the scene, visibly intoxicated, and is surprised to find a living woman who had emerged from the coffin.

Lysandra Communes with Jergal

Lysandra kneels in prayer at the graveyard to commune with her deity while the party discusses the implications of her awakening with Seraphine.

The party discusses the involvement of Red Wizards and their potential connection to Maelra Szandru.
Seraphine is informed that the three defeated figures were Thayan minions, and she expresses concern about Red Wizard activity in Baldur's Gate.
Séantal notes that the Imravel Exchange has Thayan associations, though the party distinguishes between merchants and the Red Wizards.
Lysandra returns from prayer and reveals that Jergal confirmed a page bearing her name was stolen from his ledger.
Jergal asks Lysandra to investigate the theft, suspending her rest.
An ornate, leather-bound ledger manifests in Lysandra's hands as she begins searching for the names of her former companions.
Shane pays Seraphine the agreed-upon reward for the completed quest.

A Witness Reborn

The party escorts the resurrected Lysandra Mortain back to the Eomane House, discussing her past as a divine notary and her potential connection to the Red Wizards' schemes.

As the party walks back through the streets of Baldur's Gate, Lysandra explains that she served as a trusted third-party witness to various contracts, including infernal contracts between warlocks and their patrons, and even between devils disputing ownership of parts of the Hells.
Upon arriving at the Eomane House, the party finds their imps have turned the library into a battlefield of book-forts, staging mock raids and defenses.
Lysandra is offered a seat in the sitting room and accepts the party's hospitality, offering her skills as a cleric in exchange.
Shane questions Lysandra about the Calamus Pactum, but the party determines she predates the artifact's creation in 1358 DR.
The group realizes that Lysandra's standing as the Chosen of Jergal would make her an ideal witness for an ironclad infernal contract.
Seris suggests the Red Wizards may need Lysandra specifically for her divine standing rather than mere trustworthiness.
The party discusses the Dead Three — Bane, Bhaal, and Myrkul — who inherited Jergal's portfolio.
Velessa identifies Bane as the state religion of Thay, leading to theories about why Red Wizards would be interested in a chosen of Jergal.
Lysandra expresses her willingness to help the party investigate the mystery of her stolen name from the ledger.

The Ledger of the Dead and Cicerox's Fate

The party discusses the mechanics of Lysandra's divine book and the possibility of saving the soul of Cicerox.

Lysandra explains that her ledger, granted by Jergal, records the passing of all souls and that names cannot be added through coercion — the ink would simply vanish.
Vagnfríður asks what happens if someone's time comes and they are not written in the book; Lysandra states that simply does not happen.
The party debates whether Cicerox, the imp scholar who died at Candlekeep, was 'cheated' of her life, which would allow her name to be erased from the book.
Lysandra agrees to help remove Cicerox's name if the party can discover her true mortal name, as 'Cicerox' is confirmed to not appear in the ledger and is likely a pen name.
The group decides to travel to Candlekeep to research Cicerox's history and true identity.
Lysandra reveals the ledger is arranged alphabetically in the common tongue, as that is her personal preference as a reader.

Planning the Journey to Candlekeep

The party debates their next move, weighing a trip to Candlekeep against a local quest involving a polluted river.

The group calculates the travel time to Candlekeep, estimating roughly three days on foot or faster by ship, as it is less than a hundred miles away.
Velessa begins a two-day downtime project to craft a magical flying sword — a broom of flying shaped like a sword — spending 200 gold on the project.
Séantal agrees to the trip but notes they must inform their superiors before leaving Baldur's Gate.
Shane raises the matter of the polluted river quest, and the party decides to postpone that investigation until after their return from Candlekeep.
The party agrees to take a two-day rest before departing.

Drunken Shenanigans at the Elfsong

A brief cutaway reveals Vagnfríður's evening of heavy drinking with Seraphine Moonscale at the Elfsong Tavern.

Vagnfríður is seen singing on top of a table at the Elfsong Tavern.
Seraphine proves to be a formidable and entertaining drunk who can hold her alcohol like a barrel.
The two engage in a night of carousing, with the details left to be explored in roleplay between sessions.

Negotiations at the Docks

Shane and Seris head to the Baldur's Gate docks to secure a ship for their journey to Candlekeep.

Shane visits his contact Riven at her office at the docks to inquire about travel costs to Candlekeep.
Riven initially quotes one silver piece per mile per passenger, amounting to twelve gold one way and twenty-four for a round trip per person.
Shane successfully persuades Riven to offer a half-price discount based on their past working relationship, in exchange for traveling without additional security on a smaller vessel.
Riven provides dock and pier information on a slip of paper and gives the party three days to prepare for departure.
Seris, skeptical of the deal, searches the docks independently for a cheaper alternative, relying on her background as a sailor.
Seris encounters a captain loyal to Umberlee who offers passage to Candlekeep the next day but attempts to solicit inappropriate favors in lieu of coin, which Seris firmly rejects.
The party ultimately settles on the arrangement Shane negotiated with Riven.

The Druid's Plea at Sharess's Caress

Shane and Vagnfríður travel to the outer city to meet with a druid regarding a necromantically polluted river.

Shane and Vagnfríður arrive at Sharess's Caress at the far end of Wyrm's Crossing to meet Neria Ashgrove.
Neria, a tiefling druid wearing weather-worn traveling leathers with a river reed charm braided onto one horn, describes a blight affecting the river downstream of Baldur's Gate.
She reveals that animal carcasses found near the water show signs of necromantic corruption rather than simple poisoning.
Neria expresses discomfort with being in the city and requests the party accompany her downriver to examine the carcasses.
Shane agrees to help but postpones the mission until after the party's trip to Candlekeep, arranging to meet Neria in one week.
Neria abruptly departs the tavern, wild-shaping into a deer and running out of town to wait for the party's return.

NPCs

Lantern Bearers

Three shambling, hooded undead figures wearing tattered Thayan robes. They have skeletal features and glowing eyes, and carry brass lanterns that burn without oil or wick. They possessed innate magical abilities including a paralyzing beam of light, a cone of fear, necrotic bolts, and magical teleportation. They were defeated by the party in the Cliffside Cemetery.

Seraphine Moonscale

A dragonborn paladin of Selûne and member of the Order of the Gauntlet. She was the quest giver who hired the party to stop the grave defilement, guarding the cemetery entrance during the stakeout. She is frequently and heavily intoxicated, carrying multiple flasks, yet remains surprisingly graceful. She spent the night carousing with Vagnfríður at the Elfsong Tavern after the quest was completed.

Lysandra Mortain

The Chosen of Jergal who died in 1220 DR and was resurrected in 1501 DR when a slip of paper bearing her name crumbled. She appears as a woman who has not aged or decomposed, possessing minor magical abilities like prestidigitation. She served as a neutral notary and trusted third-party witness for infernal contracts between warlocks, patrons, and devils. Jergal granted her a large, ornately leather-bound ledger to investigate the theft of her page from the divine record. She is now staying at the Eomane House and has agreed to assist the party, offering her skills as a cleric in exchange for their hospitality.

Cicerox

A deceased scholar from Candlekeep currently in the form of an imp. Her name does not appear in Lysandra's ledger, confirming 'Cicerox' is a pen name. The party is seeking to restore her life by discovering her true mortal name and having Lysandra erase it from the Ledger of the Dead. Vagnfríður admits to being responsible for her death by throwing her out of a window.

Riven

A shipping contact at the Baldur's Gate docks who manages vessel bookings and documentation. She is a sharp negotiator who recognized the party's apparent wealth but ultimately granted Shane a half-price discount based on their past working relationship, in exchange for the party providing their own security.

Umberlee Captain

A sailor at the Baldur's Gate docks who is loyal to Umberlee, the 'Bitch Queen,' goddess of the sea. He offered passage to Candlekeep departing the next day but attempted to negotiate for inappropriate favors from Seris instead of coin, which she firmly rejected.

Neria Ashgrove

A tiefling druid with weather-worn traveling leathers and a river reed charm braided onto one horn. She is deeply uncomfortable within the city and watches rooms with the alert stillness of someone more at home in the wild. She sought the party's help to investigate necromantic corruption affecting the river and wildlife downstream of Baldur's Gate. After arranging to meet the party in one week, she abruptly departed by wild-shaping into a deer and running out of town.

Locations

Cliffside Cemetery

A damp, fog-shrouded graveyard in Tumbledown, Baldur's Gate. It features rickety, wet stones, tall hip-high grass, a mausoleum, and a specific old section dedicated to the Tsar family. The unmarked grave of Lysandra Mortain was found here, and the party successfully defended it from Thayan agents.

Eomane House

The party's noble estate in the Manorborn district of Baldur's Gate. During this session, the library was found in disarray due to imps building forts out of books for mock battles. The house now serves as a sanctuary for the newly resurrected Lysandra Mortain, who is housed in the servants' quarters.

Elfsong Tavern

A well-known tavern in Baldur's Gate where Vagnfríður and Seraphine Moonscale spent the night drinking and carousing, with Vagnfríður reportedly singing on top of a table.

Baldur's Gate Docks

A bustling maritime hub organized by ship capacity and range. Shane negotiated half-price passage here with his contact Riven for a small vessel heading to Candlekeep, while Seris independently searched for a cheaper alternative among the coastal traders.

Riven's Office

A professional space at the docks where Riven manages shipping documentation and passenger bookings. Shane visited here to negotiate passage to Candlekeep.

Sharess's Caress

A celebrated establishment located at the far end of Wyrm's Crossing in the outer city. The party met the tiefling druid Neria Ashgrove here to discuss a quest involving necromantic corruption in the river downstream of Baldur's Gate.

Candlekeep

A legendary bastion of knowledge and library fortress located on the coast, roughly a hundred miles from Baldur's Gate. Identified as the party's next major destination, where they hope to find Cicerox's true mortal name.

Items

Shovels

Tools unhooked from the belts of the three hooded undead figures and used to uncover a coffin in the Tsar family plot of the Cliffside Cemetery.

Bullseye Lanterns

Brass lanterns carried by the undead grave robbers. They are worn and beaten and contain no oil or wick, yet burned throughout the encounter. One could be focused into a direct beam of light like a flashlight by flipping a cover. All three flickered out and faded simultaneously when their undead masters were destroyed.

Thayan Daggers

Three ritualistic daggers of Thayan origin, one found on each of the fallen lantern bearers. They are finely crafted and hum with a minor magical enchantment, functioning as plus-one daggers.

Lysandra's Slip of Paper

A fragment of paper torn from something larger, found in the pocket of the lead lantern bearer. It bore the name 'Lysandra' written in a very old, elegant script. When held by Velessa, it crumbled into dust, acting as the catalyst to awaken Lysandra Mortain from her centuries-long rest.

Pauper's Coffin

A simple, lovingly crafted but unremarkable wooden box found in an unmarked grave in the Tsar family section. Despite being heavily decomposed — far more so than its occupant — it had protected the body of Lysandra Mortain for over two centuries.

The Ledger of the Dead

A large, ornately leather-bound book granted to Lysandra by Jergal. It contains the names of all who have passed from the prime material plane, arranged alphabetically in the common tongue for its current reader. Lysandra can use it to track souls, investigate discrepancies in the divine record, and potentially erase names if she deems the circumstances warrant it.

Broom of Flying (Sword-shaped)

A magical item Velessa begins crafting during her downtime at the Eomane House. It possesses the properties of a broom of flying but is uniquely designed to resemble a sword rather than a traditional broom. The project costs 200 gold and takes two days to complete.

Spells

Hold Person

Used as an innate magical ability by one of the lantern bearers. It focused a beam of light from the bullseye lantern directly onto Vagnfríður, attempting to magically pin her in place. Vagnfríður successfully resisted the effect, powering through the paralysis.

Spirit Shroud

Cast by Velessa on herself, calling forth a swarm of tiny, purple, ghost-like spirits that flitted around her like fast fireflies. The shroud aided her attacks and slowed nearby enemies, and she then rushed forward to strike one of the hooded figures.

Starry Wisp

Cast by Séantal, launching motes of starlight at the undead attackers. The spell caused the targets to glow visibly in the dark cemetery and dealt significant damage, including a critical hit that destroyed one of the lantern bearers.

Misty Step

Used by the undead lantern bearers to instantly teleport short distances, repositioning themselves away from the party's melee fighters during the combat.

Gravebolt

A necrotic projectile launched by the undead attackers as part of their multi-attack. The bolts were directed at Velessa, Vagnfríður, and Seris, though the party's defenses prevented them from landing.

Prestidigitation

Used subtly by Lysandra Mortain immediately upon waking from her centuries-long rest to clean the grave dirt and grime from her clothing and person.

Wild Shape

Used by Neria Ashgrove at the conclusion of her meeting with the party at Sharess's Caress. She transformed into a deer and ran out of town at full speed, departing the city she found deeply uncomfortable.