Expedition 110: In the Hall of the Mountain Emperor

## Summary

The group loots Otiluke's and explores Mountain, meeting some ghosts and golems, and donating plenty of spell slots for the glory of the Empire of Stone.

## Details

The expedition began with Val'sabir "Valorie" Veyer giving an inspiring speech to the party, then the party set off to Otiluke's Southern Sanctum, intent on grabbing the cabinet equipment and then using the Mountain portal as a shortcut. The trip to the Sanctum is short, aside from a brief fight with a pair of spectators. Once they arrive, the group decides to loot the books and cabinets in the Sanctum. While grabbing the cabinet items, an invisible attacker manages to force Uzmir's mouth open and jump into his lungs. Luckily, Uzmir doesn't require lungs, so being unable to breathe is not a problem. He finishes the poem password, and the Thing leaves his lungs. Gonerton picks it up with Mage Hand and touches the Thing to the cursed cabinet, and it becomes petrified, drops, and shatters. Gonerton identifies the two items, and the rest of the party loots the books from the library. Gonerton also examines one of the Arcane Locks on the chests, and finds that Otiluke's hands will open the chest. While taking the books, the party finds a spellbook of All Abjuration, and a decoded copy of Kendon's diary. The group then uses the portal to Mountain.

Uzmir's Arcane eye, with an everglow lantern, goes through first to scout the immediate area, seeing plenty of ornamental statues, murals and weapons. The Arcane Eye attracts the attention of a large golem, which speaks to the light and then takes it. The group approaches with torches, and the golem demands they be snuffed ("No torches in the Hall of Appraisals"). Gonerton drops a torch, and the golem further warns ("There is no littering in the Hall of Appraisals.). The group snuffs the torches, and Nexrin asks about the everglow lantern. The golem thanks Nexrin for his donation to the Emperor. Uzmir asks how to get to the Emperor's receiving room, and the golem responds with a very detailed explanation of how to get there and who to talk to. Uzmir thanks the golem, and the group leaves the Hall of Appraisals, blind to the many wonders along the walls.

The group finds itself at a platform looking out into a vast conical cavern, conical at the bottom. It is supported and illuminated by gleaming pillars that flicker with everglow light. Thousands of platforms exist in the space, connected by bridges and stairways. The distant rumble of huge machines is audible in the distance. The platforms hold many structures, like inns, forges, and homes, increasing in opulence as you go deeper.

The group hears a massive snore cut through the air, and Valorie swears ("There is no swearing in the Hall of Appraisals"). Gonerton casts a ritual, and feels a tug at his spark, something wants some of his magic. Gonerton refuses, and the party sees the metallic veins flare blue, then red, then fade. Gonerton realizes that some magical effect wanted some of his magic, and did not like that he didn't give some. Bea notices that now Gonerton leaves red footprints that fade after a brief time, which even persists when he rides Ellu. The group moves downward, and encounter a gleaming light when they pass a mansion. Uzmir and Valorie notice a pair of ghosts manifesting into the Material behind the party and attempting to possess Gonerton and Bea, who both resist. During the fight, one of the ghosts manages to possess Bea, but the group manage to kill them before anything happens. The group continues downward, reaching the Grand Cathedral of Torr, with the Emperor's Palace below. Two guards, armed with halberds, flank the entrance. One is a a large suit of armor, the other spectral, fading in and out. They wear ceremonial armor, similar to the armor of the Halberd of the False Guard. Nexrin, Uzmir, and Valorie go up to speak to them. The armor speaks ("WHAT...TO...BRINGS...HALL"). Uzmir asks for entrance to the Cathedral ("PASSAGE...SHOW...WRIT....YOUR...PASSAGE"). Valorie attempts Charm Monster on the two guards ("CHURCH...THE...FRIEND...ENTER...CHURCH"), and they allow the party entrance. When they see Gonerton's footsteps, they take notice, but Valorie mollifies them.

Once inside the Cathedral, the investigates. Uzmir looks for the ritual site for Torr's Helioscension. He finds a massive ritual room, filled with pews full of skeletons, all with vomit stains on their clothing. He investigates the central dais, and notices that it has been moved quickly, marring the stonework. Judging by the corpses, it looks like it happened shortly before everyone died. A high rector's skeleon lay on the dais, with plenty of gold accoutrements and a prayer book to Torr. The book is slightly altered, the book lettering is changed slightly. Uzmir realizes the room has been purposefully rearranged to form some kind of arcane focus. Uzmir summons the spirit of the rector to speak with him.

1. To Whom am I speaking
	1. I am the First Preacher, Bariu Torreshammer.
2. Why was this ritual altered at the last minute?
	1. The Grand Vizier commanded, as the great mage Otiluke planned, and as the Emperor wished. It would serve to protect us from the coming darkness.
3. What was the purpose of this ritual?
	1. I am a faithful servant of our god and his son. No explanation was needed.

Once the questions are finished, Uzmir takes a component of the Preacher's garb, hoping to use it later. Gonerton finds some magical items in the corpses in the area. Nexrin grabs a globe of everglow from the chandelier to replace his lost lantern. The group decides to scour the area to find money, then leave. While searching for loot, the group runs into another golem, which asks the group what it's doing here. Valorie attempts Charm Monster, and it attempts to close its hand over her head. Valorie avoids the grapple, and combat begins. The fight is tough, with the golem having multiple immunities, Silence, and Animate Objects. The party prevails, but not without severe harm to Valorie and Gonerton. The party moves on, with Bea and Nexrin looting small treasures as Gonerton leads the group, following an arcane signature. He leads the group to the heart of Mountain's magical security, the place drawing in the spell slots, a massive crystal topped with a Heart of Air. Uzmir realizes the giant crystal is an Elemental, and removing the Heart will cause it to awaken. The group tries to find more information on the system, and Uzmir discovers that the system feeds the spell slots into a humanoid soul below. While the party investigates, a pair of golems approaches, and the party decides to cut their losses and Teleport home.