Season 5 Episode 14

**Synopsis:** The group stealthily approaches the floating skull, but just noisily enough to show they have no fear. Both Jolly and Winnifred unsuccessfully attempt to dispel magic, and an archana check only serves to clue them in that they are being followed by the glowing coals in the skull's eye sockets. Ronnie, as fearless as a leader ever was, subjects himself to acid damage as he attempts to walk past the skull, cleverly sussing out it's magical protection. Lucas offers his cloak and they throw it over the skull. Now, they can take their acid damage free of the judgmental gaze of the skull, as the cloak has no effect. Qweep takes his fair share. Winnifred takes her Dispel Magic up a notch, and the skull withers and disappears.

They continue around the corner as it bears left and come upon a doorway. Qweep peaks through and finds some kind of study, well lit from lanterns on the wall. The sound of chains dragging on the floor peaks his interest. Their attempt to sneak in as a group fails as Dr Uid bumps into a chair, alerting the inhabitant who growls at they to leave. Undaunted, they head towards to voice and find a spectral skeleton chained to the wall. Clearly this is a lich, Qweep reflects, and Winnifred asks why it's chained up. They learn he took up necromancy before the city at large was forced to do the same, so King Valux locked him up and required that he create magical items as penance. His name is Larux, and via insight they recall that this was a once powerful sun elf who used to live in Vinderia, rumored to have been killed some years ago. As they continue to talk, it is clear that magic spells have been cast on his brain, keeping him from realizing the extreme passage of time and the evil descent of the city. The group debates whether to try to get him on their side.

They ask to see the magic items he has prepared, but his only concern is to be freed. To test his powers, Winnifred gives him her circlet to identify. He tells her it provides magical protection against being cursed. Not a guaranteed protection, should provide some degree of protection. He then offers to enchant one of their items in exchange for being freed. The group goes back and forth on the wisdom of freeing a clearly evil lich, but the great leader Ronnie's voice rings truest. Larux is clearly such a piece of shit that they would have to do something major to guarantee they wouldn't be freeing another powerful enemy to defeat. It is clear, though, that he hates the Arch Lich as much as they do, so they decide to fill him in on the reality of the current state of Vinderia. He tells them that if they free him he will figure out and counteract the spells protecting the Arch Lich's lair, but our heroes remain unconvinced. Winnifred tells him about the king's brain they have, and Larux says he could easily put it in an available body. Lucas strongly offers his own, but our heroes are in no mood to sacrifice one of their own, so they walk away to discuss.

Bunk wants nothing of this lich's help, and convinces the group to only use the lich for information. They decide to explore the adjoining room which is full of shelves of magical components. They find a book of necromancy, and also a locked chest in the corner. Ronnie smashes it open and finds inside a golden chest plate. With the brashness of a leader for all ages, he puts it on without giving it a second thought.