You head down to the lower level to discover a large room with 5 very large mirrors, 12 by 15 feet tall.

 

In the centre of the level is a somewhat round alter with burning cauldrons around the room.  No heat is emanating from the fire.

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As Heimdall approaches one of the mirrors, an image of Dereck Crownguard immerges in the mirror, as if you would see your own reflection.  He seems trapped.

 

Dereck’s eyes lock onto the PCs, flickering between awareness and illusion.
and says : "By the gods... You came. But I — I am not whole. These cursed mirrors… each one holds a piece of me, twisted, trapped. They warp my thoughts, my memories. I see lies, and I believe them..." Find the meaning behind my words, unravel the deception, and you will set me free.

 

He clenches his fists, frustration and desperation fighting for control.

 

His look turns suddenly to fear.

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Dereck appears terrified, warning of unseen dangers

Dereck’s Reflection: (His eyes dart around, sweat glistening on his brow.)
and says: "No! Stay back! They’re watching—always watching! Shadows with a thousand eyes… they whisper, they twist your thoughts. If you listen too long, you become one of them! The truth… the truth is hidden in the stillness. Silence is the key…"

 

 

The next mirror.

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Dereck looks Confused, lost, unable to recognize you all.

Dereck’s Reflection: (He tilts his head, eyes unfocused, voice uncertain.)
"You… I… I know you, don’t I? No, that can’t be… I was alone. I was always alone. Wasn’t I? A dream… or was it real? If it was real… then… Then remind me… Who am I ? What was my purpose?"

 

Next Mirror

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Dereck reminisces about past training, Nostalgic  and lost in memory

Dereck’s Reflection: (A soft, wistful chuckle escapes him.)
"You remember that, don’t you? When you first picked up a sword? How heavy it was? I told you to grip it like you meant it, not like a fish flopping in the mud. Hah… we were young. So much to learn… A warrior’s past is his foundation, but not his prison…"

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Next Mirror

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Dereck is furious, Angry and accusing you of betrayal.

 

Dereck’s Reflection: (His jaw clenched, his eyes burning with fury.)
"You… how dare you come here! I trusted you, fought beside you! And now you mock me with illusions, sending shadows to taunt me?! Prove yourselves, or be cut down where you stand! A knight’s honour is his bond. Only the truth spoken with conviction will break this lie…"

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Next Mirror

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Dereck stands strong, determined, urging the PCs forward

Dereck’s Reflection: (His stance is firm, his voice unwavering.)
"There is no surrender. No retreat. I will break these chains with my own strength! You will not stop me! I… I just need more time… A knight stands not alone, but with his brothers. The past is the chain, the future is the sword…"

 

Out of the blue, Heimdall, stands in front of each mirror and mimics the emotions of Dereck.  Each time Dereck’s image fades and disappears.

On the last mirror, a violent ripple shakes the chamber, sending waves of energy through the Tower. all the mirrors shatter giving slashing/piercing dmg to all in the room.

And then - in the center of the room, upon a raised stone platform surrounded by the shattered mirrors, Dereck appears.

Dereck sits upright, then stands, his armor is pristine, his sword sheathed at his side.

• His eyes scan the room, confusion clouding his features.

• He focuses on you all, as if trying to recognize you.

• His breath is slow but… strange. Too slow. Too deliberate.

As Dereck steps down from the platform something wrong:

You notice that

• his shadows do not move correctly.

• No Sound of Footsteps or movement

• His Armor and Clothes Are Too Clean

• He’s not blinking

• His voice does not echo off the walls

 

The moment Dereck steps fully off the platform, his body lags behind, as though his form is being dragged by an unseen force.  His fingers begin to dissolve into dust, the tips flaking away into nothing.  His armor fades, piece by piece, exposing nothing beneath it—no flesh, no blood, just emptiness.  His face flickers, his expressions shifting between confusion, realization, and a deep, sorrowful understanding.

He completely disapears...

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You inspect the area, nothing further but a large trap door that heads down.  A long circular staircase heads all the way down to ground floor to a door exit.

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When approaching the docks, Dorren notices that a body is laying on the ground, face down, and from the looks of it, has fallen from high up, and is now dead.  Dorren identifies the body to be Aaron, Dereck’s second in command.

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After moving towards the dock, you are approaches by Goldmoon, Riverwind, and Ghiltanas.

They appear real and when approaching, they start a conversation.

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Goldmoon
By the gods, we’ve found you at last! We feared you had been lost in the nightmare of this cursed land.  We saw the light above the Towers… we prayed it was you. You are safe now. We should leave this place quickly. We’ve been searching for you since Halter Wood. We took a different route… and barely survived the horrors along the way. We had a vision—a dream that led us here. We knew we had to find you before it was too late.

 

Riverwind

 

You look like you’ve been through the Abyss. What happened?"  • You should have waited for us. We should never have been separated. 
 

Gilthanas

 

We must move quickly. If we stay here, we risk more than just illusions.  Lorac’s madness taints this land. He knows you are here.  The river is our only escape. We have a ship waiting.

Brother please, do you not trust your own eyes?  The enemy is cunning. It preys on uncertainty. You must not let it take hold, resist. stay safe.

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As they approach closer, they all turn into Dread Wraiths.  Combat begins.

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During the combat, one of the Dread Wraiths approaches Aaron’s body and revives him as a Specter.  It joins the fight.

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Combat over, you all head to the West tower to investigate.  In the Tower nothing seems different from what Alhana remembers.

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You enter, head up to the top floor, and find the same painting of Waylorn’s Tower.

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17 H’rarmont (17:00)​​​​​​​​​​​​​