Over the course of the next 2 days [title redacted] explored the rest of the 3rd level of the tomb – also known as the Vault of Reflection.

• Weird alien growths with eyes and purple appendages are scattered all throughout the 3rd level. As Elgard found out in a previous session, they will shoot out eye rays if attacked
• With Lukanu’s aid they were able to free the spirit of Kubazan who inhabited Elgard, making him the strongest Wizard on the planet
• While solving a water puzzle, the party discovered some crystal eyes that looked like keys. The Starfallen let them know that these colored jewels were keys to a vault of some kind
• The body of Sephirius – a dragonborn paladin from the Company of the Yellow Banner – was found in a rotating hallway trap. He had some of the crystal eyes on him
• Sophitia and Kanye were able to figure out the tile floor sequence in Ijin’s Tomb, allowing Kulu to swap out Papazotl for Ijin. Papazotl’s spirit flew around the room looking for a new host, but settled back into the amulet where it had lived previously
• More of the crystal eyes were found on the body of Bravus Boulderborn who had succumbed to the floor tile trap in Ijin’s tomb
• The Room of Shadows, the Winds of Pandemonium, and the Clay Golem room were each interesting puzzles that yielded crystal eye keys

With 10 of these Crystal Eye keys in hand the party comes across a reflective vault door with 10 divots in it. The eyes lit up when placed in the door and the door slid open revealing the contents of the room.

A slick marble floor made this domed room appear like a sphere. Floating 20 feet up in the air was a spherical object covered in a black silk drape. 9 alcoves along the walls of the circular room each had treasure, and were each guarded by wooden statues.

The floor was magically slick, so as our heroes made their way around the room they had to be careful not to fall. Kubazan and Obo’laka each thought that the object under the drape was a Beholder and needed to be attacked immediately. Obo’laka admitted that she had no basis for this belief.

Surrounding the draped sphere [title redacted] readies their actions in an effort to get the jump on this beholder. Using his Ioun Stone, Nor releases a FIREBALL spell along with Elgard. Other attacks are lobbed up against this object, and as the drape is burned away, it is revealed that the sphere is in fact, an object. Sophitia, Nor, and Lukanu are magnetically drawn up to this iron sphere as a voice from high above the sphere yells, “Fools! Your imperfect forms are no match for Belchorz the Unseen!” The invisible Beholder unleashes an assault of eye rays on the party as the 9 wooden statues spring to life.

 

Zyldi casts FOG CLOUD to help shield the party from the effects of the Eye Rays. Belchorz’s attacks are hindered by this as Elgard is able to lob spells up at the beholder. Tlad Xolbrys, the Drow mage, looks at Elgard as he sends a LIGHTNING BOLT up toward the Beholder. “That’s a REAL wizard spell” he scoffs. Kanye begins to destroy the wooden constructs near him.

Nor tries to wiggle out of his armor as Sophitia sends a spell into the iron sphere. Lukanu uses the natural magnetic pull to sink her greatsword into the sphere, and this damage is enough to destroy the sphere’s magic. The sphere falls down to the ground, smashing the slick marble floor and dropping Nor and Lukanu down. Sophitia uses her Radiant Soul to sprout wings and fly up toward the invisible beholder.

The party continues to be harassed by Belchorz’s eye rays despite the helpful fog cloud. Sophitia hits Belchorz with a powerful GUIDING BOLT spell that illuminates him. With this outline the party can now clearly target him, and he begins to take some serious punishment. Zyldi summons a flying Fey creature that attacks Belchorz as Kulu sends up a well placed sneak attack crossbow bolt. Nor, Kanye, and Lukanu destroy more contructs.

Elgard sends up a BANISHMENT spell to the beholder who fails to resist the pull to a random demiplane. The party takes time to focus on destroying more constructs and regrouping.

Belchorz returns to the battle with a vengeance, sending a DISINTEGRATION ray toward Tlad, vaporizing him into a pile of dust. Without wasting any tears for their newly disintegrated companion, Sophitia casts INFLICT WOUNDS as Zyldi’s fey creature delivers the killing blow, plummeting the beholder back down to the earth.

After the battle our heroes take a moment to patch up their wounds and sort through the giant pile of treasure. Will these new riches and magic items be of any use or will they just plunge our heroes closer to their inevitable doom? Find out next time!