# [[The Oubliette]] The Oubliette is a pocket dimension created by [[The Memorians]] to entrap both themselves and their accidental creations of undeath away from the world. - Walls and ceilings go to the void. Creatures who fall into the edges fall for one round, and then must succeed on a DC 10 Wisdom saving throw or suffer one level of exhaustion and be frightened for 1 minute. - Taking long rests here is discouraged: nightmares of spectres keep you up. DC 15 Wisdom to gain the benefits of a long rest. ## On the Exandria side ![[oubliette-arch.png]] ## Map ![[CH 0 Light of Memoria Lair by JasonR.jpg]] ```leaflet id: oubliette-memoria image: CH 0 Light of Memoria Lair by JasonR.jpg height: 450px width: 650px minZoom: 6 maxZoom: 10 defaultZoom: 7 zoomDelta: 1 unit: feet scale: 1 ``` ## Locations ### 1 The Arch [[The Oubliette#Map|Back to the map]] > [!info] The arch > _An intact archway riddled with cracks and shadow dominates the center of this large, obsidian plateau. Crumbled pillars surround the archway, and shadowy chains bind a young man to one of its legs._ - **_The Apprentice_**. [[Tymon]] is bound to the archway by two shadowy chains. > [!NOTE] Tymon says > “By the gods, I can’t believe you’re here! You have to help me! That blue gemstone thing, do you have it? They hate that thing. Put it to the chains. I’m sure it will weaken them. Please, hurry!” What he knows: - [x] [[The Forgotten]], a powerful wraith, is desperate for a way out and knows when someone has entered through the portal. - [x] Pressing [[Light of Memoria]] onto the chains makes them solidify, and then they can be attacked (10 damage) or broken (DC 12 Strength). - [x] [[Cagoth-ze]], a follower of [[Gellert the Gruesome]], told Tymon the arch was there, and that it had been created by ancient mages for a ritual. Something went wrong and they became trapped. - [x] Finding the old mages (if they're still alive) will open the portal from here and get everyone back to Exandria. - [x] He is the apprentice to [[Gellert the Gruesome]]. DC 13 Insight to realise he's unsure as to whether or not he really wants to continue. > [!warning]- When they return here with the Light of Memoria charged > [[The Forgotten]] is here! > #### The Forgotten > > ```encounter > name: Forgotten and Friends > party: Memoria > creatures: > - 1 The Forgotten > - 2 Shadow > ``` > > ### 2 The Dim Path [[The Oubliette#Map|Back to the map]] > [!info] Description > _Shadowed reflections of an ancient road, lined with withered trees and broken fencing, branches to the east and west. Beyond the path, a dark countryside gives way to sheer drop-offs on either side into the abyss._ - Tymon says The Forgotten comes from the west, so he suggests they go to [[The Oubliette#3 Streets of Memoria]] to find the mages instead. ### 3 Streets of Memoria [[The Oubliette#Map|Back to the map]] > [!info] Description > The ancient road rapidly transitions to a weed‑_strewn brick path with crumbling stone buildings along its edges. The path and buildings seem to continue indefinitely. - This is a ruined Memoria: once-elegant pillars shattered, discarded mementos - Three bodies in streets, but they're translucent and not quite physical. ### 4 The Ruined Library [[The Oubliette#Map|Back to the map]] > [!NOTE] Description > The terrain shifts to a set of black-veined marble stairs, leading to a grand archway flanked by shifting, shadowy pillars. Two joined, circular rooms lined with bookshelves stacked with books and scrolls stand beyond the archway. [[Nevena]]'s body is here, protected by an *amulet of memory*. Her body is completely corporeal. > [!Question]- If anyone examines her or the amulet > The shadowy library vanishes, replaced by an intact room surrounded by bookshelves laden with knowledge. A woman wearing a gold diadem looks at you in concern. Looking down, you see hands that are not your own pressed onto a table covered in books and charts. Near you is a carved stone you recognize as the _Light of Memoria_, and you feel a twinge of great pride for what is, ultimately, your creation. > > The woman tells you, “Sacrifice? Nevena, no! Then the Krynn, the Luxonborn, they’ll have been right about us all along.” You shake your head at your friend’s narrow-mindedness. “Sacrifice can take many forms, Stefanya. The ley line provides the power, but the life energy to activate it need not be from one source. Couldn’t we all make a small sacrifice, give a little of all our lives to tether our ancestors here?” > > Stefanya puts a hand over her mouth in consideration, and you turn your gaze to the relic, touching it with quiet reverence. “Imagine what we’ll learn!” you say. “A world where ‘goodbye’ is temporary. We could change everything—and perhaps be pariahs no more.” ```encounter name: Spectral Memory party: Memoria creatures: - 1 Spectral memory ``` If the party say her name or mention one aspect of the vision in the *amulet of memory*, Nevena is restored and willingly binds herself to the [[Light of Memoria]]. > [!question]- If Nevena is restored > “The light was never meant for evil. Use it to mend the damage we’ve caused!” Once she vanishes into the light, her body crumbles to dust, except for the amulet. Treasure - *amulet of memory* - In bookcases - [x] Scroll of *Thunderwave* - [x] Scroll of *Goodberry* ### 5 The Crossroads [[The Oubliette#Map|Back to the map]] > [!info] Description > The terrain shifts into a quiet country road that forks. A signpost in the middle names the roads in a flowing script. [[Van Healsing]] knows: - "Loss": goes to [[The Oubliette#6 The Shadow Corridor]] - "Hubris": goes to [[The Oubliette#7 The Collapsing Wall]] ### 6 The Shadow Corridor [[The Oubliette#Map|Back to the map]] "Loss" from [[The Oubliette#5 The Crossroads]] > [!info] Description > A dark corridor stretches westward. - the darkness here is impenetrable by magical light sources of 3rd level or less. Only [[Light of Memoria]] light can penetrate it. ### Shadows attack ```encounter name: Shadows party: Memoria creatures: - 2 Shadow ``` ### 7 The Collapsing Wall [[The Oubliette#Map|Back to the map]] "Hubris" from [[The Oubliette#5 The Crossroads]] > [!info] Description > The terrain shifts to a stone walkway on the ramparts of a high wall overlooking the abyss on each side. - Wall is 15' wide of stone that slopes down the edge. DC 13 Investigation/Perception to notice the wall isn't sound. - When crossing, a creature must make a DC 13 Dex save or take `dice: 1d4` bludgeoning damage and they fall into the abyss (!) unless they're tethered. ### 8 The Silent Path [[The Oubliette#Map|Back to the map]] > [!info] Description > This road seems to stretch for miles, but it ends to the west in a mighty alabaster citadel, shimmering like a mirage. The length of the road is silent, and shadows flicker off to the sides. - A [[Shroud]] is following them, toying with the party's clothing, shoelaces, etc. It only attacks if they are angry or disrupt its fun; otherwise it just giggles. ```encounter name: Shroud party: Memoria creatures: - 1 Shroud ``` ### 9 Memoria's Courtyard [[The Oubliette#Map|Back to the map]] > [!info] Description > The path crosses under a once-mighty gate into a large courtyard edged by silent, dark buildings and shadowy forms of market stalls. On the western side, a body lies beside a slightly insubstantial fountain, flowing with liquid shadow. - [[Ivon]]'s body is here, next to the fountain near [[The Oubliette#10 The Well of Shadows]]. He has an *amulet of memory.* > [!question]- If Ivon or his amulet is investigated > You rush into the courtyard where the statue of Mnemosyne presides over brilliant blue waters, flowing from the fountain. The sight of it normally fills you with peace but not this night. Screams echo from everywhere, and you know the two mages by your side are among the precious few remaining. You order them to escort survivors to the shadow gate, your heart heavy. > > Then, from the corner of your eye, you see a woman with pinned hair and blue robes, laden with scroll cases, fleeing from a nearby building with shadows at her heels. In her arms, you recognize the blue stone of the _Light of Memoria_. Summoning your magic, you dissipate the shadows with a few well-placed blasts, but you know there are far more of them than you can handle. > > Nevena gasps, “Ivon! It’s all gone wrong!” > > “What happened?” You help her to her feet, gaping at her in disbelief. One minute, the ritual was underway; the next, shades erupted from seemingly every shadow in the city. “What did your relic do?” > > “What it was meant to! It bridged the worlds, brought our ancestors to us, but that Gellert sabotaged the ritual!” She looks up at you in grief. “I wanted to believe he'd changed.” > > You knew, in your heart, you’d all asked too much of magic, but you’d prayed to finally understand the secrets of your elven lineage. “We all did. Now run.” You nudge her toward the gates and pause long enough to gaze at the serene face of your goddess. “Oh, Mnemosyne, spare us your wrath.” You tremble inside, reaching for your resolve. “All we have ever—all I have ever—longed to do is honor you, honor the past. Not destroy our futures.” ```encounter name: Spectral Memory party: Memoria creatures: - 1 Spectral memory ``` > [!question]- If the party restore Ivon > “This place defiles our goddess, warping our sacred memories. I will help you end it if I can.” Once he vanishes into the light, his body crumbles to dust, except for the amulet. Treasure - *amulet of memory* - longsword has not aged well, but it has a gem-studded scabbard worth 150 gp. ### 10 The Well of Shadows [[The Oubliette#Map|Back to the map]] > [!info] Description > The narrow corridors leading into this area have sheer drops on either side and are otherwise dark and featureless. They lead to a moat of bottomless, writhing shadows with a small bridge to a pillar in the center. - contains spirits of other [[The Memorians|Memorians]] who lived here. They can only be freed by collapsing the entire Oubliette. Shadows attack PCs every round they stay in this room. Treasure (by the pillar) - gems, jewelry, silk, small art objects: worth 241 gp. It takes 1 round to collect a third of what's there. ### 11 The Weeping Forest [[The Oubliette#Map|Back to the map]] > [!info] Description > The terrain transitions into a narrow corridor lined by thick, oppressive trees made of shadow. Skeletal branches form a dense arch overhead, and wailing and weeping emanate from among the trees without a visible source. - feeling of grief in the forest. DC 10 Wisdom save every minute a creature stays in this area. Otherwise, they are convinced someone they love is in trouble and that they must wander off the path to help that person. #### Shrouds - Ignore PCs unless they wander off the path. ```encounter name: Encounter party: Memoria creatures: - 4 Shroud ``` ### 12 The Shattered Road [[The Oubliette#Map|Back to the map]] > [!info] Description > The northern part of this blasted clearing ends in an abrupt, jagged cliff. Paths from the east and west sweep into wide roads that flow toward it. - This cliff is where Oubliette was severed from the original shadow road. - [[Stefanya]]'s body is here. > [!question]- If Stefanya or her amulet are investigated > Nevena made it a few feet from the portal before she died, overwhelmed by shrieking specters. You and your daughter, Mila, blasted them away from her but too late. Her fingers remain clasped around the _Light of Memoria_. > > You know what you have to do. You reach out to take it, but Mila stops you and protests. > > “Nevena was right,” you say and gently remove your daughter’s hand from your arm. “We have to cut them off from the shadow road to protect others from what we unleashed. You should go, quickly. Tell others to remember us—and not to repeat our mistakes.” > > “The power it takes will kill you!” she protests, but you know already. > > “These things will do no less to us and to anyone else they find unless we trap them here.” You reach again for the relic, but a searing, cold pain rips across your back. Turning, a hulking wraith looms before you with a deep, inhuman laugh within its formless darkness. Fire bursts on the creature’s side, and you see Ivon stagger away from a pack of shadows. He is withered and drained. The wraith turns to him in rage, but Ivon looks to you. > > “We can’t hold them,” he rasps, and then he is lost beneath a sea of shadows. > > You turn back to see the relic and Mila both gone. You see a flicker, a lock of dark hair, waver through the portal. Dread and pride collide in your chest as you know what she’s done, and the rumbling in the darkness confirms it. A terrible shrieking erupts all around you as the archway warps and goes dark, echoing the notes of triumphant grief in your mind before you feel cold, incorporeal talons tear into you. #### Fighting Stefanya ```encounter name: Spectral Memory party: Memoria creatures: - 1 Spectral memory ``` > [!question]- If Stefanya is restored > “I implore you, strangers, put an end to this place if you can. Allow it to defile our memories no longer.” Once she vanishes into the light, her body crumbles to dust, except for her amulet. Treasure - *amulet of memory* - golden diadem worth 250 gp and inlaid with the same cresting wave symbol on the amulet