Our heroes readied themselves for a fight the the purple worm, however fortunately they soon discovered this was nothing but a corpse. Still, its massive corpse remained as a grim monument to the dangers of the vaults. Concerned that the creature might somehow reanimate, they took no chances—cutting it to pieces. Amidst the remains, they uncovered the bones of a fallen dwarf, still clutching a magical hammer. Suspecting this might be the dwarf they were searching for, they examined both the weapon and the remains, confirming their duergar origins.
Pressing onward, the group soon found themselves in a hallway lined with sarcophagi. Their exploration was abruptly interrupted when a shadowy creature emerged, attacking them with an unnatural hunger. Its terrifying focus was Sypher, draining him of his strength. As the battle raged, the entity pulled at Sypher’s very essence, until his shadow was torn free—turning against the group as an independent foe. Though the heroes vanquished the first creature, Sypher’s severed shadow fought fiercely before retreating into the darkness.
Exhausted, the party returned to town to rest. Thankfully, after some time, Sypher’s shadow reunited with him, restoring his strength.
Determined to uncover more secrets, the heroes descended once again into the vaults. Their exploration led them to a shrine, which contained undeniable evidence of human sacrifices—a chilling confirmation of the vault’s sinister past. Further in, they encountered eerie creatures with large white eyes, their backs turned. Without hesitation, the heroes struck, eliminating them before they could prove a threat.
Their journey revealed even more hidden pathways—a staircase descending further, a teleportation chamber, and a flooded cavern they had encountered previously. They also discovered a small crevice and chose to push through. Beyond it, they found two more white-eyed beings, one clad in elaborate robes. The robed figure attempted communication, but the language barrier proved insurmountable. With diplomacy failing, the creatures launched an attack.
The battle became more dangerous when the robed figure summoned a grotesque, moaning entity. Its unsettling cries sickened the party, weakening their resolve. Despite this, they fought on—defeating the spellcaster and the summoned abomination. However, as the slimy creature perished, it exploded violently, drenching the heroes in its corrosive stomach acid.
Barely recovered, they stumbled upon another group of white-eyed creatures tinkering with an unknown device. After defeating them, the heroes attempted to remove a key gear from the contraption—only to accidentally shatter the entire mechanism.
With the vaults proving more treacherous at every turn, the party steels themselves for whatever horrors still await below.