Session 42: To keep an ally, to gain a friend

## Explanations and an understanding

Whilst Glunnn slumbers, Eppa and Christoffer attempt to stop the worst case scenario when they realize Vrisko is attempting to unseal the Tomb.

Unfortunately, she has good reasons to do it. She is dying, an unfortunate consequence of Morova's slaying. It appears the former leader of the guards had contingencies that would see her apprentices joining her in death, were she to perish before them. Vrisko is desperate, for she feels herself lose what she holds most precious, her mind and accumulated knowledge.

She is on borrowed time and the party make different pleas to try and change her mind.

Eppa tries to appeal to her better nature, citing that the Tomb (which he briefly enters, resulting in his accelerated aging and loss of vitality) is not the way to go, seeing as it would kill the rest of Goblinhome. He also tries to claim knowing a mighty wizard that could help, but does not mention Taegen by name, a choice which proves itself as the best one when Vrisko curses his name for what he did to her people. Finally he tries to float that the core he found in a previously fought flesh golem could hold her soul, were they to repair it. His arguments, unfortunately, fail to find purchase.

Christofer chooses a different approach. As a mortal, he can only appeal to the mortality of everyone. He claims that she has had the time to enjoy life and create a legacy and now, others should be given the chance to enjoy that legacy. She counters by wondering how the almost magicless Goblins would be able to profit from her vast notes and how those from Skyhope would treat them were they to find who wrote them down. It seems Vrisko was desperate for a lifeline and not overly concerned with the lives of anyone, even if she promised that the army would have a place in Grondmeer's armies.

Almost out of options and ready to fight for her life, she compromises: the party has some hours to explore the complex and find a solution or Morova's notes, or she will trigger the Tomb's unsealing. A desperate night of frantic searches awaits our heroes, who manage to find a spacial bag with Morova's notes at the tail end of the deadline, they present her to Vrisko, who seems temporarily placated and wholly focused on finding a solution to her problem.

Yet...

## A second deadline

A persistent knock on the complex's door reveals itself as a skeletal messenger that hands over Surven's ultimatum. A confrontation seems inevitable and Vrisko offers a different approach via a cliffside hidden exit that might give the party a better positioning.

As quickly as they can, having attuned to their items the party leaves, then they:

* Evade a trap via stealth
* Kill a Halberdier, Banneret and 4 Crossbowmen Tombguards
* Solve a (very) difficult riddle
* Battle through an ambushing Corpsehost Giant and some undead that seemed to enjoy the water.

Finally the place where their last confrontation will take place greets them. A rugged hill, a quiet thicket and the entrance to the Tomb, where Surven, Karrix and everything they can muster await them.

Some facts about the 2 courtesy of Vrisko: Surven is capable of accessing many spells. Having a general feel for the party's abilities will give him the chance to curate his prepared spells to attempt to counter them. Karrixx seems to be a close range fighter, he focuses on using a dagger that becomes stronger with every successful hit.