The night deepened as our heroes continued their exploration, venturing into the building near the mysterious pale glow. Inside, shattered glass littered the floor, and a doll-like bird automaton tilted its head, uttering an ominous question: “Is Master Azrinae returning?” Before anyone could answer, it attacked Emberveil with a ferocity that knocked the fiery leshy unconscious. Hellebore shielded her ally and administered a healing potion, while the party united to destroy the malicious doll. Among its remains, they discovered a soul gem—evidence of a sinister purpose.
Exploring further, the group encountered a hallway adorned with four eerie paintings. The haunting scenes, including a fiery Absalom and the Gauntlight casting ghostly faces into the air, set an ominous tone. The torn remains of one painting and the cryptic inscriptions on another hinted at a troubling legacy. Their sense of foreboding only deepened as they moved on.
Next, in a disheveled library, the party noticed legs scurrying under a desk. A glowing light and disembodied voice claimed to be “Spookywisp,” but after some coaxing, the trickster revealed himself as Tangletop, a small fey. He had been faking the spookiness in hopes of acquiring a shiny object from a nearby room. Through negotiation, the heroes offered him a gem instead, gaining his trust. Tangletop shared valuable information: the ruins once belonged to Volluk Azrinae, a servant of Belcorra, and the Gauntlight could unleash beams with ghosts in them. Striking a bargain, Tangletop agreed to join them, keeping any shinies he found.
Their journey took a perilous turn as they descended deeper into the ruins. A seemingly innocuous log revealed itself as a giant leech, launching a vicious assault. One by one, the party fell unconscious, drained of vitality. Just when all seemed lost, Wrin Sivinxi arrived, guided by visions in the stars. She rescued them and brought them back to her shop, offering a safe haven to recover.
The following day, the party regrouped and resupplied. In the Otari Market, they spoke with Keeleno Lathenar, who shared a tragic tale of his wife’s death at the hands of Jaul Mezmin, a werewolf druid. He promised a reward for any wolf pelts, hinting at an unresolved chapter in Otari’s history.
Returning to the Gauntlight, the group faced numerous challenges: a haunted chamber they cleansed by burning bones, the remnants of a dormant teleportation circle, and a treacherous pit filled with mitflits. Sol’andrus set a clever caltrop snare, ensuring their victory against the creatures before they could escape.
Their exploration ended at a skeletal guardian in a narrow hallway. Fearing it might animate, the party approached cautiously, discovering it to be harmless but equipped with a magical morningstar. Beyond lay a door leading to a mitflit with a stone crown—a promise of yet another confrontation as the mysteries of the Gauntlight deepened.
With each step, the ruins revealed more secrets, and the shadows grew darker. What fate awaits these brave adventurers as they delve further into the depths? Only time will tell.