Fistful of Brains - Battle Map

Tactical map for the battle at city hall in the besieged city of Fax.

1. Steam powered dwarven tanks [Commander is in the one further away from city hall]

2. The fallen Warden Stonefist

3. Destroyed barracks and buildings of the Warden's troops

A Fistful of Brains

 

Dungeon's and Dragon's campaign log for in-person game since 2017

Location: East of the city if Enstad - formerly[?] called Darkreach.

Date:  22nd of Ready'reat month, Autumn [reference from our calendar it is November]

Year: 582

 

Current Status:

The Redwater Fellowship successfully infiltrated the Voidspire, Robin's hexagonal flying fortress, despite the life-draining Aura of the Black Sun which permanently sapped their vitality

. After battling skeletal guards on an Ascension Gondola, the party navigated the fortress's grim interior decks and discovered a private sanctuary filled with nostalgic mementos of their former friendship with Robin, including letters and an old pistol holster

. This emotional journey culminated in the Throne Sanctum, where Doc Holliday offered the Dreadking a Fellowship ring [and crucially a magical ring of Mind Shielding], forcing a final choice between darkness and his former allies

. Choosing his friends over his patron Orcus, the Prince of Undead, Robin performed a desperate act of sacrifice by ripping the Amulet of Orcus from his own chest as well as his half of his beating heart, leaving him mortally wounded. As the fortress began to crash, the party fought off Robin's lieutenant, Darling a Rakshasa/undead clownlike demon, and swooping Bone Drakes. . Doc reached into a dark sphere beneath the throne, suffering significant force damage to call upon the Raven Queen, who intervened with a miraculous manifestation that dusted their enemies and safely guided the Fellowship to the ground as the Voidspire plummeted.

In the triumphant aftermath, the avatars of the gods appeared to bless the party for their victory. Doc

Holliday was granted a +2 stat boost, Nenwin received +4 points to distribute among his abilities, and Graxxuzzaz was awarded a +4 increase to his Charisma and finally, Aeldred gained a +1 stat boost and the Sunburst of Pelor ability, allowing him to destroy undead under 50 HP in a wide radius once per day

Finishing a major chapter in the campaign, the heroes each gained a level and an inspiration point, the Fellowship now are near the river what appears to be a few days ride East of the former city of Enstad ready for their next journey toward the city of Fax, carrying with them the mysterious Hat of a Fool recovered from Darling's remains, which Graxxuzazz puts on!

Overall plan:

The plan was to travel overland to the city of Fax, on the Wildcoast still under Blackrune's control [the Fellowship's longtime enemy, the Blackrunes were a powerful but waning force - group of dwarven slavers in the area] where there were a number of quests and tasks of interest to the Fellowship. Recently, the party had decided to try and "rescue" Robin - now the Dreadking - and bring him back to the way of good. The party thus were heading directly into the undead heart of Darkreach where they assumed Robin/Dreadking resided in the former elvish city of Enstad.

 

The RedWater Fellowship [Player Characters]

·                   Doctor Sigmund Holliday - Male 1/2 orc | Gunslinger/Paladin of the goddess: The Raven Queen [former close friend of Robin [played by Connor]

·                   Lieutenant Spears Male 1/2 elf | Phantom Rogue/Echo Knight - an operative assigned by Lady Cowl's secretive organization - under Overlord Romack - to assist [played by Connor]

·                   Nenwin Albion - Male Aasimar | Paladin of the god: Heironeous [played by Jake]

·                   Graxxuzzaz - Male Lizard-folk | Sorcerer/Warlock of the Great Old One - the King in Yellow [played by Braydin]

·                   Aeldred -  Male Red Dragon-born | Barbarian/Paladin/Ranger of the god: Pelor [played by Campbell]

·                   Thogra - Male 1/2 Orc | Rogue/Cleric of the Egyptian god: Set. | [played by the DM: Dave]

Dungeon Master: Dave

 ---

Other Non-player characters of note:

·                   Robin - formerly the undead ruler of Darkreach and a servant to Orcus, now once again: Male aarakocra | Ranger

·                   Tibaltuous Male 1/2 elf | Bard/Paladin [Bounty hunter] - currently under cover and scouting along the Wild Coast - South near the Pomarj. [DM: more details: Blogpost: https://sleet-dnd2.blogspot.com/2025/10/interlude-tibaltuous-espionage-travels.html] [played by Campbell]

·                   Gothi | Female foreclaimer | Ranger | At town of DragonKeep. Former member of the Fellowship [played by Jake].

·                   Lars | Male elf [VAMPIRE] | wizard | At town of DragonKeep [looks like a pale, very young 15 year old]

·                   Skrit | Male kobold | Priest of Istus. Former member of the Fellowship. Acting Mayor of the town of DragonKeep [until elections take place - next month]

·                   Hester | Male Tabaxi | Cleric of Celestian | At town of DragonKeep. Former member of the Fellowship.

Current quests or options for the party to look into:

 

Flying tower: Being upgraded at town of DragonKeep - good progress being made

 

City of FAX

·                   Request from Greyskulls [a mercenary company] commander and mate- save son in Fax?

·                   A Doctor in Fax - potential contact and ally against Blackrunes?

·                   Robin's undead army in Darkreach - stop, leave, or..? Party needs to decide

·                   Portal to Sea of Dust (Blackrune expedition) look into or not?

 

Personal quests:

·                   Aeldred - oath to find and save family of dwarf smith who repaired Aeldred's heirloom sword [also Doc and Nenwin have agreed to assist]

·                   Doc Holliday - Elves are now East across sea in Bright desert (Doc personal potential quest)? The "Great Deliverance" a spell cast to take all the Elves to a secret location in the desert.

·                   Graxxuzzaz's circus (he was circus master and has heard rumours they are near Fax now - potential personal quest)?

·                   Tibaltuous' collect bounty for drow [he has the head of the drow] - Contact is in city of Fax

·                   Map to secret Blackrune base/island off Wildcoast - Fax area (Kantif - a rogue, former ally from the Redwater Fellowship has this)  

 _____________

Introduction: The Road from Darkreach

On the 22nd of Ready'reat, 582 CY, the Redwater Fellowship departed the outskirts of the former elvish capital of Enstad—now the grim, shadowed heart of the undead realm known as Darkreach. The landscape was a portrait of desolation: leafless trees stood like skeletal sentinels against a sky that offered a cold, sun-drenched irony to the ruins below. An eerie silence gripped the wasteland, broken

only by the distant moans of thousands of mindless undead roaming the gray plains.

The Fellowship traveled light. While Doctor Sigmund Holliday remained behind in the ruins of Enstad to rally survivors and stand watch with the mortally wounded Robin, the primary contingent pushed eastward. This party, comprised of Nenwin Albion, the Lizard-folk sorcerer Graxxuzzaz, the Red Dragonborn paladin Aeldred, and their long-suffering associate Thogra, moved with a singular purpose: the city of Fax. Their mission was to dismantle the Blackrunes, a waning but still lethal faction of dwarven slavers currently occupying the Wildcoast.

The Standoff: Darling’s Foolish Relic

Internal strife nearly halted the journey before the city walls were even in sight. Graxxuzzaz, ever the eccentric, insisted on donning the "Hat of a Fool," a garish and likely possessed artifact stripped from the remains of the Rakshasa demon, Darling. Aeldred, sensing the lingering stench of Orcus upon the
relic, confronted the Lizard-folk. The Red Dragonborn’s golden eyes flashed with a divine warning as he moved to seize the item, fearing the sorcerer might fall under the sway of the Prince of the Undead.

Graxxuzzaz was not easily deterred. Attempting to maintain his "aesthetic," he cast Friends to magically bolster his persuasive charm and utilized a 30-foot teleportation to dance away from the paladin’s reach. However, Aeldred’s sheer physical dominance eventually quelled the sorcerer’s acrobatics.

The Hat Grapple

Character	Check Type	Roll Total
Aeldred	Athletics (Grapple)	25
Graxxuzzaz	Acrobatics (Resistance)	24

The confrontation ended with the artifact being unceremoniously stuffed into the "Evil Bag." Of Holding This green leather vessel was a nightmare in itself; it reeked of corruption, contained a miscellaneous collection of zombie parts, evil tomes, and a possessed trident.

The Magical Pickle Fiasco

While camping along the riverbanks, the party decided to partake in their remaining "magic pickles”. [DM: blogpost for more information] a decision that yielded chaotic, near-fatal results. The party had encountered the salesman of dubious repute by the name, Thurr Tyyne [pronounced ‘thirteen’]. Thurr Tyyne’s Green Flaming Red Pickles had to be cooked precisely or would have no effect or death by poison. If they were cooked correctly, then strange and wondrous[?] effects would befall the eater. As the Fellowship cooked the homebrew delicacies over the campfire, the weave of magic buckled and snapped in unpredictable ways [rolling a D10,000]:

1. Graxxuzzaz: Rolled 8805; despite a pleasant flavor, the pickle offered no discernable effect, much to the lizardfolk’s disappointment.
2. Aeldred: Rolled 9854; the Red Dragonborn’s eyes flared into brilliant, molten gold, emitting a "Midas Beam." The ray struck Thogra, instantly transmuting the half-orc’s gear into liquid, searing gold.
3. Nenwin: Rolled 9460; his right hand middle fingernail warped into a 4-cubic-foot pocket dimension, which allowed anything up to 1 cubic foot to be taken into storage space! The Assimar immediately began to devise ways to use this space.

The situation turned dire as Thogra, screaming in agony, was forced to leap into the icy river to cool the

molten metal fusing to his flesh. While Thogra survived the transition, he was heavily scarred and his magical equipment was destroyed. To preserve the Fellowship’s moral standing and prevent lasting trauma, Aeldred requested Graxxuzazz cast the spell Modify Memory (DC 22) while the half-orc was still unconscious and recovering from the shock, erasing the memory of the "Midas Beam" and replacing it with a vague narrative of a magical ambush or smoking drugs and falling in the river. Thogra was not impressed, and the party not sure if he even believed the story. His magical armour of Set, boots, cloak all destroyed and now solid gold most of it at the bottom of the icy river.

Lt. Spears and the Infiltration of Fax

As the main party navigated the river, the narrative shifted to Lieutenant Spears, the Phantom Rogue and Echo Knight. Spears reached the peninsula of Fax first, reporting a city "sweating through its resources." The air was thick with the chemical bite of alchemist fire and the heavy, cloying scent of burning pitch. The city’s 30-foot stone walls, reinforced with dwarven iron banding, stood defiant against an unbroken tide of thousands of undead pressing against the North Gate.

Details on Fax:

The city of Fax is a heavily fortified settlement situated on a defensible peninsula jutting into Woolly Bay on the Wild Coast

It is a strategically vital location currently under the control of the Blackrunes, a group of dwarven slavers

City Geography and Defenses

• Defensive Position: Fax is surrounded by water on three sides, with a narrow land approach from
  
  
  the north
• 1. Fortifications: These are/were strongpoints -all overrun now except the main walls - the city is protected by 30-foot-high walls made of dressed stone in the dwarven tradition, reinforced with iron banding at the gate towers
• 2. The Canal: A partially completed canal was intended to run from the north inlet to the south to create a full moat, though it remains unfinished
• 4. The High Tower: A 100-foot-high tower stands on the battlements, bristling with ballistae and signal fires
• 5. Haunted island?
• State of the City: The city is war-ravaged and smells of burning pitch, black smoke, and the chemical bite of alchemist's fire
• The civilian population is starving due to a prolonged siege by thousands of undead

Key Locations within Fax

• City Hall: A brick building with a courtyard that served as the administrative center and residence for Warden Durk Stonefist
• The Docks: A bustling but dangerous area where Commander Floodlick established his base in a large warehouse

***********

Spears utilized grim infiltration tactics, coating himself in zombie gore to mask his living scent before using Shadow Step to teleport 90 feet past the siege lines and directly onto the battlements. He established a base of operations for the Fellowship within a partially sunken ship at the docks, a clandestine vantage point from which to observe one of the two Blackrune leadership Headquarters. Lt. Spears then was able to support the rest of the party to infiltrate the besieged city, using his stealth and shadowy skills to bypass the dozing and tired Blackrune mercenary guard along the North wall.

Espionage: The "Fistful of Dollars" Ploy

The Fellowship quickly identified a fracture in the enemy command. Fax was divided between two rivals: Warden Durk Stonefist, a strategist operating out of City Hall, and Commander Floodlick, a "soul-sucking psycho" sorcerer based at the warehouse docks. Spears noted a chilling detail atop Floodlick’s warehouse: a cold, circular "Abyssal Portal," 20 feet wide and radiating a supernatural chill.

Inspired by the classic Yojimbo-style gambit, the party initiated a "Fistful of Dollars" ploy to incite a

civil war. They kidnapped a Blackrune guard named Borne and subjected him to a rigorous interrogation. Borne revealed that Floodlick was an insane murderous force who utilized steam-powered

technology. After extracting the necessary intelligence, the Fellowship used Modify Memory to implant a false, traumatic memory in Borne’s mind: that he had been captured and brutally tortured by Warden Stonefist’s personal elite guards. They then released the guard, effectively lighting the fuse on the Blackrune internal rivalry.

The Climax: The Fall of City Hall

The espionage bore immediate, bloody fruit. Believing the Warden had moved against him, Commander Floodlick launched a total assault on City Hall. The attack was heralded by "Steam Tanks"—armored, steam-powered wagons that belched thick plumes of gray smoke and launched concentrated alchemist fire from onboard mortars.

The Fellowship had ring-side seats, preparing possibly to battle the two OR the victor. Aeldred and Graxxuzazz on the back of Nenwin’s flying horse, while Nenwin flew both flying figures camouflaged form view by the clouds of smoke rising from the burning inferno of the former Warden’s HQ.

The battle reached a fever pitch as Warden Stonefist charged the tanks, the Warden’s elite guard in his wake and ready to battle as well. The Warden’s massive stone-fist gauntlets shattering metal plating with every blow. However, the Warden was no match for Floodlick’s arcane insanity. The Commander popped out of the 2nd tank hatch to cackle, unleashing a "multi-blast fireball" that rained four simultaneous explosions upon the Warden’s defenders. In a final show of power, Floodlick cast Reverse Gravity, hurlng Stonefist 200 feet into the air.

As the Warden plummeted back into the rubble, broken and defeated, Floodlick delivered the final blow.

A black beam of energy (Finger of Death) erupted from the Commander’s finger, snuffing out Stonefist's life as he knelt trying to rise to his feet amidst the burning remains of his headquarters.

Conclusion: The Smoking Ruins

As the dust and alchemist fire settle over Fax, the city’s political structure lies in ash. City Hall is a blackened husk smoke pouring up into the night, explosions and blasts of gunpowder exploding as an armoury erupts in flames.

The Warden is dead, and the Blackrune forces are fractured by the Fellowship’s orchestrated purge. From their rooftop and flying vantage points, the party watched as the mysterious Lady Tessa

Commander Floodlick

Blackthorn—a high-level wizard and Blackrune ally—fled the chaos with her entourage, spiriting away two large, heavy trunks just as the tanks breached the courtyard.

While the Warden has fallen, the "psycho" Commander Floodlick remains, now in total, uncontested control of the still besieged city of Fax. The Redwater Fellowship stands ready in the shadows, their eyes fixed on the cold Abyssal Portal at the docks, preparing for the final phase of the liberation of Fax.

The Voidspire and the Redemption of a King

Dungeon's and Dragon's campaign log for in-person game since 2017

Location: On the outskirts of the former city if Enstad - now called Darkreach. East of the Lortmill mountains in the realm of Darkreach - the undead realm

Date:  20th of Ready'reat month, Autumn [reference from our calendar it is November]

Year: 582

Current Status:

The Redwater Fellowship are travelling through the Lortmill mountains in Darkreach, formerly the lands of the elves, now an undead infested land ruled by the Dreadking [DM: background information - a former player character named Robin and close friend to Doctor Holliday who had taken on a patronage to the Prince of undead - Orcus and due to this patron had to leave the Redwater Fellowship]

Fellowship's route

Currently, after travelling under ground in a dwarven-built tunnel for some time and meeting denizens of the undead realm as well as survivors and assisting them, the Fellowship now stand near the former elven city of Enstad - jewel of the Oerth. Burnt by the dwarven slaver clan, the Blackrunes, and now the capital of the undead realm of Darkreach. The Fellowship are on a perilous quest to save and find redemption for a fallen comrade - Robin a former member of the Redwater Fellowship. Now the Dreadking and ruler of the undead realm of Darkreach. They make ready to infiltrate the city, and up into the flying fortress - Robin's/Dreadkings' base in search of their former companion - Robin - Doctor Holliday's oldest and former[?] friend.

Overall plan:

The plan was to travel overland to the city of Fax, on the Wildcoast still under Blackrune's control [the Fellowship's longtime enemy, the Blackrunes were a powerful but waning force - group of dwarven slavers in the area] where there were a number of quests and tasks of interest to the Fellowship. Recently, the party had decided to try and "rescue" Robin - now the Dreadking - and bring him back to the way of good. The party thus were heading directly into the undead heart of Darkreach where they assumed Robin/Dreadking resided in the former elvish city of Enstad.

The RedWater Fellowship [Player Characters]

• Doctor Sigmund Holliday - Male 1/2 orc | Gunslinger/Paladin of the goddess: The Raven Queen [former close friend of Robin and joins part way from DragonKeep [played by Connor]
• Nenwin Albion - Male Aasimar | Paladin of the god: Heironeous [played by Jake]
• Graxxuzzaz - Male Lizard-folk | Sorcerer/Warlock of the Great Old One - the King in Yellow [played by Braydin]
• Aeldred -  Male Red Dragon-born | Barbarian/Paladin/Ranger of the god: Pelor [played by Campbell]
• Thogra - Male 1/2 Orc | Rogue/Cleric of the Egyptian god: Set. | [NPC - played by the DM: Dave]
• Dungeon Master: Dave

---

Other Non-player characters of note:

• Lieutenant Spears | Male 1/2 elf | Phantom rogue/echo knight - an operative assigned by Lady Cowl's secretive organization to assist. somewhere in Darkreach enroute to Fax.  [played by Connor]
• Tibaltuous | Male 1/2 elf | Bard/Paladin [Bounty hunter] - currently under cover and scouting along the Wild Coast - South near the Pomarj. [DM: more details: Blogpost: https://sleet-dnd2.blogspot.com/2025/10/interlude-tibaltuous-espionage-travels.html] [played by Campbell]
• Gothi | Female foreclaimer [ancient elvish race] | Ranger | At town of DragonKeep. Former member of the Fellowship [played by Jake]
• Lars | Male elf [VAMPIRE] | wizard | At town of DragonKeep [looks like a pale, very young 15 year old]
• Skrit | Male kobold | Priest of Istus. Former member of the Fellowship. Acting Mayor of the town of DragonKeep [until elections take place - next month]
• Hester | Male Tabaxi | Cleric of Celestian | Enroute to DragonKeep. Former member of the Fellowship

Current quests or options for the party to look into:

Flying tower: Being upgraded at town of DragonKeep - good progress being made

Area Map - current status

City of FAX

• Request from Greyskulls [a mercenary company] commander and mate- save son in Fax?
• A Doctor in Fax - potential contact and ally against Blackrunes?
• Robin's undead army in Darkreach - stop, leave, or..? Party needs to decide
• Portal to Sea of Dust (Blackrune expedition) look into or not?

Personal quests:

• Aeldred - oath to find and save family of dwarf smith who repaired Aeldred's heirloom sword [also Doc and Nenwin have agreed to asssit]
• Doc Holliday - Elves are now East across sea in Bright desert (Doc personal potential quest)? The "Great Deliverance" a spell cast to take all the Elves to a secret location in the desert.
• Graxxuzzaz's circus (he was circus master and has heard rumours they are near Fax now - potential personal quest)?
• Tibaltuous' collect bounty for drow [he has the head of the drow] - Contact is in city of Fax
• Map to secret Blackrune base/island off Wildcoast - Fax area (Kantif - a rogue, former ally from the Redwater Fellowship has this)

Latest session:

The air on the outskirts of Enstad, the former elven jewel of the Oerth, tastes of cold iron and stagnant

rot. The Redwater Fellowship—Doc Holliday, Nenwin Albion, Graxxuzzaz, Aeldred, and Thogra—stood upon the jagged bluffs of the Lortmill Mountains, peering into the necrotic heart of Darkreach. Above them, the sky offered no warmth. The sun had been eclipsed by the Aura of the Black Sun, a void-like disc with a sickly green core and a shimmering golden corona.

The black sun was not just dark and foreboding but also a physical drain on the Fellowship. The "Pulse of the Void" every hour, a wave of dark energy rippled from that black disc. Each character felt a sickening thrum in their marrow, and they were drained permanently of a little life energy [DM: forced to mark off 1 hit point from their maximum permanently each time. Their mission was desperate: find and redeem their fallen brother, Robin, an Aarakocra Ranger who had surrendered his soul to Orcus and now ruled this wasteland as the Dreadking.

The Trek Through the Dead City

The descent followed a treacherous "zigzag" path toward the ruins. Hovering 800 feet above the charred
remains of ancient elven trees was the Voidspire—a brutal, 300-foot diameter hexagonal fortress of dwarven make. It was anchored to the rubble by two massive Shadow-iron chains, each link nearly twenty feet long.

“The wind here screams with a freezing, unnatural fury, but beneath its roar lies a sickening sound—the dry, rhythmic clacking of skeletal wings. Slithering through the ash-choked fog are the leathery, decaying shapes of six Bone Drakes. Their hollow eye sockets glow with a pale, cold malice, staring down at the approach. They do not just watch; they communicate, their jagged jaws snapping in sync with the distant, mechanical groaning of heavy siege engines shifting on the platforms above.”

Thogra

As the party navigated the ashen streets, they discovered a pathway of black obsidian stones. Thogra [DM: rolled a Natural 20 Religion check], identifying these as ancient elven anti-undead defenses. While the stones were anathema to the dead, they reacted to the necrotic infection the party had been carrying, making their limbs feel leaden and heavy.

Table Talk Highlight: Amidst the oppressive atmosphere, Graxxuzzaz looked at his character sheet and groaned. "It’s like a hot day in Saskatchewan," he quipped, "only with more necrotic drain and fewer mosquitoes."

The Gondola Infiltration (The Bag of Holding Gambit)

Tactical tension peaked when the party spotted an ascension platform—a massive wooden gondola—moving up one of the chains.

Four skeletal knights on skeletal horses were herding 14 living prisoners toward the spire.

“Before you lies your horrific path upward: a massive, dangling umbilical cord of bone and rusted iron that stretches into the black clouds. The links of this colossal chain are not forged in a traditional smithy; they are giant, interlocking vertebrae of an unholy primordial beast, polished smooth by centuries of friction. Clutched to this spinal column is a heavy, wide gondola. Its thick wooden platform is stained dark with old blood, groaning under the strain of its chains. As you step onto the swaying, unsecured wood, the entire structure shudders. With a jarring, sickening crunch of bone grinding against bone, the mechanism engages, slowly landing in place for the slaves to be herded on. you up into the black underbelly of the beast.”

Graxxuzzaz

To avoid the four Bone Drakes patrolling the skies, the party opted to not do a "Halo Jump" strategy from above the Voidspire, but subterfuge with their non-evil bag of holding. 

Graxxuzzaz activated his Ring of Invisibility, tucked the rest of the party into the Bag of Holding, and hitched a ride. Four skeletal workers managed the gondola. A minute into the ascent, the party "tumbled" out, surprising the workers and the frightened slaves! Graxxuzzaz unleashed a flurry of Eldritch Blasts (Rolls: 25, 20, 18). Nenwin Albion, attempting a heroic three-point landing, rolled a Dexterity check of 12, resulting in him landing squarely on his backside amidst the terrified prisoners. He assured them all was well. His high charisma and persuasion incredibly put them at ease. Attacks by Doc and Aeldrd destroyed two of the other skeletal workers. Thogra finished the skirmish with a critical hit from his heavy crossbow, shattering the central skeleton’s skull.

The gondola entered a large chamber with skeletal guards in four corners. None moved. The party assured the humanoid slaves to stay safe and hide; they would return for them after their mission no the flying fortress.

“The gondola clunks to a final halt, depositing you into an oppressive, pitch-black vault. The air here is freezing, thick with the stench of stagnant mold and ancient dust. Huge blocks of collapsed masonry choke the pathways, forming a claustrophobic maze of jagged stone. The massive main hatch is visible in the distance, but it is completely fused shut—sealed by ribbons of jagged, black Deathmetal that seem to drink the light. The shadows in this room do not behave naturally; they stretch, detach from the walls, and pool together. You can hear a faint, malicious whispering echoing from the rubble, accompanied by the scratching of claws that have never known the sun.”

Inside the Voidspire: The Soul Power Chamber

The Fellowship breached Deck 2: The Soul Power Chamber. The technical dread of the room was palpable; the thrumming of the fortress’s engine was felt in the characters' teeth. Rows of spectral containment cylinders filled with humanoid bodies in gel served as the fortress’s battery. All the humanoids were alive, slowly being drained of energy to power the flying fortress. Snaking cables went

from each glass cylinder to a massive crackling glowing sphere – the Extraction Nexus - in the center of the room.

“You step out into a blinding, nauseating hum. The traditional stone walls are gone, replaced by an endless, towering grid of glass cylinders. Inside each canister, a pale, translucent humanoid shape writhes in silent, perpetual screaming, their essence burning away like green oil. Skittering along the iron catwalks above are three monstrous, undead driders, their multi-jointed legs clicking rapidly as they tend to the tubes. In the center of the chamber floats a massive, volatile orb of swirling green fire—the Extraction Nexus Orb. It throbs like a dying heart, visibly sucking the vaporous souls from the tubes and pumping that stolen life down into the rumbling machinery of the floor. To the side, a door stands ajar, revealing a workshop cluttered with dissected remains, stained cots, and chalkboards covered in maddening geometric equations. “The party’s survival hinged on a series of high-stakes stealth checks (rolls of 27, 35, 34), allowing them to slip past the multi-legged sentinels unnoticed.

The Museum of Lost Friendship

Ascending to Deck 5, the Dark Barracks, the party bypassed thousands of dormant Shadows and Zombie husks. In the center of the decay, they found a "Memory Chamber" bathed in a pool of haunting white light. This was Robin's private sanctum, a preserved museum of his former life.

The room held relics of a friendship Orcus could not quite erase:

• The original portrait of the Redwater Fellowship.
• Old letters and a preserved flower from Doc Holliday's estate.
• The leather Pistol Holster Doc Holliday had gifted Robin years ago.
• Robin’s former weapon: a +2 Longbow.

On a side table sat an unfinished letter addressed to Doc Holliday: "I know you would never understand but I need you to know that I..." The entry in the nearby journal read: "Doc will come... I always leave the door open for him."

The Throne Sanctum: The Debate of Souls

The party reached the Throne Sanctum, an open-air spire where the Black Sun hung like a crown.

There stood Robin – now, the Dreadking.

“You emerge onto the roof of the world, where the open sky offers no comfort—only a vast expanse of dead, grey earth beneath a blackened, eclipsed sun. Violent forks of purple lightning cascade down from a roiling orb of raw energy suspended at the spire's absolute peak, grounding into the stone floor with deafening snaps. In the center of this storm stands a high, jagged throne of dark iron. Standing at the precipice beyond it is a tall, armored figure: the Dreadking, Robin. His back is turned to you, his gaze locked onto a glowing, ghostly projection of the world's continents, his spectral hand hovering over the southern wastes. In the corner, completely motionless, a tiny gnome servant stands shivering, holding a silver tray with a crystal carafe of wine as dark and thick as fresh venous blood.”

The Dreadking turned and a his ghastly visage, ½ sinew and bone showing, undead rot slowly taking over the once proud features of the Aarakocra – Robin.

Aeldred

Aeldred tried to reason with the Dreadking, as did Nenwin, but their appeals to the Dreadking’s goodness his former self were met with disdain. The Dreadking/Robin turned to Doc Holliday who had been silent pondering the situation, perhaps calling upon his goddess the Raven Queen for guidance. Then the two spoke. It was not Doc Holliday speaking to the Dreadking, but Sigmund Holliday speaking with his oldest friend, Robin.

It was at the moment that it seemed that Robin was trying to wish he could
change, to go back, to forsake his new patron The Demon lord Orcus that the
confrontation was interrupted by Darlin’, a clownish Rakshasa-hybrid in red robes and clown’s hat. Darlin’ was also a follower of Orcus.

Doc Holliday

In a moment of great inspiration most likely from his old friend Sigmund, Robin went to pull the amulet of Orcus that was embedded in his chest. As Darlin’s hand elongated intoa monstrous, clawed limb to strike Robin and stop his action, Doc Holliday drew with legendary speed. Doc Holliday scored a 30 to hit, dealing 20 radiant and 28 piercing damage, nearly severing the creature’s hand in a spray of ichor and a surprised scream of pain and anger.

The bone drakes dived into attack at Darlin’s command as the undead clownish villain engaged the whole Fellowship.

The battle was starting to look desperate, when Robin lying on the ground, called out to his old friend, “Under the throne!” Pointing up at the black sun.

Nenwin

and the collapsed. Nenwin, called upon his power to fly up and attack Darlin' with a choir one again singing as his wings spread took flight. [DM: this is now canon that the choir sings anytime Nenwin flies 😁]

Desperation drove Doc Holliday to reach into the void-space beneath the throne, grasping the Sphere of Annihilation. The entropy dealt him 30 force damage, but he held fast and called upon The Raven Queen. [DM: With a 06 percentile roll] The heavens opened.

A massive, porcelain-Face manifested from the sky. As the divine presence descended, Robin looked at Doc Holliday and made his final choice. In a visceral act of defiance against Orcus, Robin reached into his own chest and ripped his heart out, tearing the cursed amulet away from his flesh, his heart in tatters as it was pulled from his chest.

The Raven Queen’s hand gathered the Fellowship. She reached out and crushed the Sphere of Annihilation within her palm. The Black Sun shattered, the necrotic shadows receding as true sunlight returned to Enstad. Darlin’ was reduced to dust as were the attacking bone drakes.

Robin, though gravely wounded, was restored to his original, golden-brown Aarakocra form. As the Voidspire lost its power, it crashed into the mountains, the resulting shockwave crashing into a flying tower similar to the Fellowship’s that was being repaired at Dragonkeep! Somehow the knew this was called the Spire of Luna – perhaps it crashed and was destroyed as well.

The Divine Aftermath and Meta-Rewards

On the outskirts of the battle, the avatars of the gods appeared to reward their champions:

• Doc Holliday: Granted ability score increases (maximum of +2 to one or +1 to two).
• Aeldred: Completing his quest to remove the black taint on the sun, Received 1 ability point and the following boon: Sunburst of Pelor Evocation Power (1/Day) Effect: A 60ft radius burst of divine light centered on the caster. Any undead with 50 HP or fewer are instantly destroyed. All other creatures in the area are blinded for 10 rounds (no save)
• Nenwin Albion: Granted +4 to ability points (player’s choice).
• Graxxuzzaz: As the singular avatar of The King in Yellow on this plane, he received a +4 increase to Charisma, bringing his total to 24.

Meta-Rewards: All players have Leveled Up and earned one Inspiration Point usable on any future roll.

The session ended with a classic moment of table talk. Graxxuzzaz attempted to claim Darlin's Hat, an apparent artifact that resisted his Identify spell. Fearing a lingering curse, Aeldred immediately unleashed a breath attack, incinerating the "clown prince" headgear right off the lizard-folk’s head before he could even attune to it.

Until next session!