Shadow Keep Wrap up

After taking several minutes to patch up wounds and get refreshed, you all exit the splendiferous mansion to find Lyle impatiently waiting for you. He tells that he examined the room and found no traps. The four priests meditating into the artifact appeared dead to the world around them, and he thought them better off simply dead. With a quick coup de grace to each mediating monk, the artifact seemed to lose its glow, until now it simply sat on its pedestal looking like an ordinary cauldron.

No sooner does Lyle explain this, then a message comes to Krylsteln's mind bearing the strong psychic accent of Stromm: "The barrier is down, we are through the gates, and our troops are clearing the corridors as we speak. Well done! We should join you shortly."

Upon examining the bodies of the priests, you find that the look nearly skeletal with an unhealthy pallor--obvious even on a drow's grey skin. With his deep knowledge of the arcane arts, Krylsteln suspects that the artifact must be cursed in some way, that perhaps in order to make it function, these four monks were feeding it their life energy. He wonders how long they might have been feeding it that energy-- years? Days? Only these dead men would know...

After hearing of Stromm's approach from Krylsteln, Lyle looks relieved and congratulates the party. He apologizes for not being of more use, but says he feels you may have been overwhelmed by Orgall's countenance had it not been for his masterful story-telling, and before any of you can think to thank him, he says "You're welcome." He then suggests that the sellswords no doubt flooding through the compound will take anything they can lay their hands on, so it might be prudent to think about what you might need. Krylsteln remembers mention of a library, and sets off with Lyle to find it. Meanwhile, Nevin can't stop talking about the nubile bed-maidens in today's version of the magical mansion, and says he needs a 'quick cat-nap.' Maximus decides to join him, while Cletus just rolls his eyes and follows K.

Lyle makes his way from the hall of the artifact down through a tunnel where you find what can only be a grand shrine of Vhaeraun. He then suggests heading down a side passage. K and C follow. You move through a large, lavishly decorated room that looks to have been ransacked. Lyle says it doesn't seem as if the WL troops did this, but that it looks more as if someone has made a hasty retreat. Both L and K conclude that these must be the quarters of Maerek, the high priest. "Surely Stromm will want to check this chamber himself" Lyle comments, suggesting to K that it might be in his best interest not to take anything. "Maybe that door leads to the library."

It indeed led to the library, where Krylsteln discovers a treasure trove of Drow lore. He also finds several books he has never encountered written in languages he is not aware of. One book he is able to decipher as "Necronomicon," which may be exactly what he is looking for. He shows it to Cletus with a knowing look.

After sometime browsing through the library and loading all of the books into the magical door on Cletus' back, Stromm enters the library to report that the keep is secured. The little resistance they encountered has been squashed, and that any remaining Drow, including the high priest Maerek, are either dead or fled. As Stromm did not encounter Maerek during the battle, he feels the leader must be of the latter category.  He tells you that even now, the troops are looting and the great destruction of Gruun begins--surely no stone will be left standing. For now, he suggests everyone returns to Indell Keep.

After prying Nevin and Maximus from the eight arms of a buxom oriental succubus, you all teleport back to Indell Keep.

Stromm does you the favor of having your magical items identified:
From General Orgall:
1x Ethereal Reaver Bastard Sword +3 (sword has ghost touch and allows the wielder See Invisibility)
1x Eager Short Sword +2
Mithral Full Plate +3 (samurai-style)
Ring of Prot +3
Amulet of Nat arm +2
Bone Shirt (dr/3 blud)
Gloves of Dex +4)

From others:
3x MW Studded leather Armor

After some work with the Necronomicon, Krylsteln is able to decipher a short passage regarding an artifact referred to as "the heart of Vecna." One of the first followers of Vhaeraun, Koryn sought to increase the power of his faction. After much research, he discovered the heart was in the possession of a great lich lord, who had himself stolen the artifact from a high priest of Vecna. What puzzles Krylsteln about this story is the word he thinks means 'stolen' but also resembles the word 'usurped,' or 'displaced' in several related languages. The story mentions Koryn subduing the lich lord, and then opening his veins to let his lifeblood flow into the artifact. From here, the story ends and moves on to discuss the prevention of skin rot in the newly reanimated.