Cracked Red Crystal

Stub-class article · First seen: s9 · Last seen: s10
Cracked Red Crystal
Item
StatusDestroyed
First seens9
Last seens10
TypeCrystal radiating enchantment magic (destroyed; shards kept)
Attunementn/a
HolderHugo (the shards)
OriginThe crystal chamber, Black Vein Quarry, session 9

The Cracked Red Crystal hung over a small pedestal in a hidden cavern of the Black Vein Quarry in session 9: “a ruby shade with black cracks across it”, with a kneeling man before it who turned out to be a succubus [1][2][23]. It gave off enchantment magic and cracked completely when Hugo killed her [3][4]. The DM then let Caelumn realise that she had perhaps used it to corrupt the miners into ghosts [15]. Hugo picked up the shards, and he told The Broker of the “crystal energy in the cave” [10][7].

Overview

The Cracked Red Crystal was the centre of the succubus’s lair in the Black Vein Quarry: a hovering red crystal with black cracks, at the end of a corridor hidden behind an illusion wall [8][1][2]. It gave off enchantment magic [3] and cracked completely when she died [4]. The DM’s only account of its purpose is hedged: the succubus may have used it to corrupt the quarry’s miners into the ghosts the party had fought [9]. Hugo took the shards [10][11].

Description

A red crystal with black cracks across it, “just hovering in the air” above a small pedestal. The DM first called it black, then corrected himself: “a red crystal with black cracks across it” [2][3]. Nothing else was in the cave but the kneeling man and the pedestal [2].

Mechanics (as played)

  • Magic. Harvo, looking for a school of magic, got “enchantment” from the DM [12].
  • Effect on the miners. Caelumn’s Intelligence check gave him the DM’s reading that the stone was something the succubus could “siphon or use in some way to corrupt the miners” [13].
  • Destruction. It cracked completely as the succubus died [4]. Something inside Vasquez was “happy that this crystal has been destroyed” [14].

Open questions

  • What the crystal was and where it came from. Beyond its colour, its enchantment magic and the DM’s “perhaps”, nothing has been said [3][15].
  • Whether the shards still hold magic, and whether Hugo still has them. Terry told him to put them down [16], and they are not mentioned again.
  • Why the presence inside Vasquez was glad to see the crystal destroyed [14].

History in the campaign

Session 9: The Death of Harvo

Main article: Session 9

At the end of a hidden corridor the party saw a man who looked like “a minor foreman” kneeling before a red crystal with black cracks, hovering in the air [1][2]. Harvo’s magical sight read it as enchantment [12]. When Caelumn called out a soft hello, the man turned with a sly smile, the party were pulled into visions of their worst failures, and a succubus stood before them [17]. She dominated Hugo, who killed Harvo [18]. When Hugo broke free and took off her head with a thrown axe, “you feel the stone behind you crack completely” [19][4]. He picked up the shards [10]. Terry told him to put them down: “We don’t want another Hugo murderbot.” [20].

Session 10: Ruin Joins, the Aurelian Conspiracy, the Plate Armour

Main article: Session 10

Hugo’s recap that opened the session described the kneeling man and the red crystal with black cracks [21]. Back in Umbrafall he reported the mine cleared to The Broker: the miners had been corrupted and turned into ghosts, he said, by “some kind of like succubus thing and crystal energy in the cave” [7]. The Broker paid in full [22]. The shards were not mentioned.

Status

As of session 10. Destroyed as a working crystal. Hugo last held the shards [10][11]; what became of them is not said.

See also

References

  1. ^ Session 9, line 1065: A man "kneeling in front of a cracked crystal, kind of hovering in the air".
  2. ^ Session 9, line 1077: "It's a ruby shade with black cracks across it.".
  3. ^ Session 9, line 1080: "it would be enchantment magic".
  4. ^ Session 9, line 1423: "you feel the stone behind you crack completely".
  5. ^ Session 9, line 1510-1513: Hugo picks up the shards; something inside Vasquez is "Happy that this crystal has been destroyed.".
  6. ^ Session 9, line 1562-1571: The DM on the stone and the miners; "Yes, Hugo has picked it up."; Terry: "Hugo, put it down.".
  7. ^ Session 10, line 449: "some kind of like succubus thing and crystal energy in the cave".
  8. ^ Session 9, line 1008-1013: Inline citation.
  9. ^ Session 9, line 1562-1564: Inline citation.
  10. ^ Session 9, line 1510: Inline citation.
  11. ^ Session 9, line 1567: Inline citation.
  12. ^ Session 9, line 1078-1080: Inline citation.
  13. ^ Session 9, line 1559-1564: Inline citation.
  14. ^ Session 9, line 1513: Inline citation.
  15. ^ Session 9, line 1562: Inline citation.
  16. ^ Session 9, line 1571: Inline citation.
  17. ^ Session 9, line 1088-1110: Inline citation.
  18. ^ Session 9, line 1306-1318: Inline citation.
  19. ^ Session 9, line 1422: Inline citation.
  20. ^ Session 9, line 1565-1571: Inline citation.
  21. ^ Session 10, line 66: Inline citation.
  22. ^ Session 10, line 452: Inline citation.
  23. ^ Session 9, line 1110: Inline citation.
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