Vardak's Fortress, Part 6 (Kuthona (XII) 15th, 4708 AR)
Entry Hall. The doors opened to reveal a grand entry chamber decorated with dark gray marble. A carpet, woven to look like burning roses, ran along the ground, ending just before a huge tapestry. The figure of Lord Vardak appeared on the tapestry, looming like a towering god above Bloodsworn Vale with a look of supreme confidence on his face.
This room was protected by a dangerous trap. The heroes detected a magical aura from behind the tapestry. When Gryxxa dropped the tapestry from the wall, she revealed a rune hidden underneath, which caused most of the heroes wracking pains.
The rug was finely
made and worth 100 gp. The tapestry was exquisite in its detail and make. Although
the subject matter was unusual, the tapestry was worth 400 gp.
Each one of the
paintings depicted a different city in such exacting detail that anyone using
them as a reference when teleporting
counts as having studied the area carefully. Paintings of Absalom, Korvosa, Magnimar, and Sothis hung here, as well as many others, including some
that could not be easily identified.
The statues in this room were expertly carved. The heroes found a tiny inscription written in Draconic on one of the flame drake statue's wings. It read “Cast the living flame into me.” When Gryxxa targeted the statue with her flame tongue she caused a gout of flame to issue forth from the flame drake’s mouth, immolating the statue of Vardak and herself, who was between the statues at that time. When the flames subsided, the statue of Vardak was unharmed and its staff glowed with a crimson light. A moment later, a secret door in the side wall opened.
The statue was a good reproduction
of the sorcerer, carved from a pale red marble. An inscription on the statue’s
base read “To my apprentice. May our conquests both bear the fruit we seek.
—Ilkanir.”
The doors leading into the museum were locked and could be opened with one of Vardak's keys.
Secret Workshop. The sound of dripping water echoed off the crudely carved stone walls of this vile workshop. A table on one side was covered in filthy tools, blood, and grime, along with a maze of glass tubes, flasks, and boilers. Standing next to the table was a towering monstrosity of mismatched flesh, crudely sewn together.
A cold cauldron
stood in the southeast corner. The heroes discovered the severed pointy ear of a small humanoid at the bottom.
With a growl, the beast animated and attacked when the heroes entered. The hideous monstrosity attacked anyone who entered the room. It fought to the death.
The alchemical gear here was worth 250 gp but it weighed 200 pounds
and was very fragile. The heroes discovered a large magical flask.
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