18th of Planting, Low Summer
Irakul, resting in the town of Drekarr has strange dreams dark and deathly. Continually being executed by a large figure which turns out to be himself. A booming voice echoes in the background.. "Irakul.." then the goliath is standing at the drawbridge to the Three Crescent Moon Monastery. Where he had summoned the demon. The demon stands there, not with the Githyanki body as last seen at the battle here (DM: Blog post) but with a much larger demonic form nearly 12 feet in height. "We have a contract, you must fill your side of the bargain."
Irakul looks about, and realizes he never read the contract. The demon grins, razor sharp teeth - too many - splaying out widely. A scroll flips out from the demon's clawed hand rolling out at least 10 feet, covered in minute writing, at the bottom, is Irakul's mark and a rune of some sort, the mark of the demon. The goliath gets confused trying to read the flowing blood red script. The demon, advises Irakul has a week to read and understand the contract. Agreeing to this, the demon slices off Irakul's good hand and wipes his blood across the long scroll. The goliath's blood pours out and splashes across and is soaked up by the words and vellum.
Then the echoknight awakes from the nightmare. For a moment he can see a scar on his wrist.. where the hand had been chopped off. Then it is gone. A contract needs to be completed.
Vencer decides to visit ol' Greeta up at the old encampment. At first he is reluctant, but decided to visit her. The old woman offers news of the wizard's family - one is in danger. Price is eating one of her strange berries to learn the news. Vencer refuses having a long past grudge/feud with his family. So now one of the portents of the future remain unfulfilled.. (DM: Blog post)
Skrit is able to cast sending to contact his liege/employer - Cedric. Status update given and instructions back and forth. The plan then is to rebuild the town now as the party's new base of operations. the crew resting and ready with some kobold followers - of Pyra and Skrit - as well as Treggin the stone giant - start to go about the task of rebuilding the town. Potential new ally/neighbor in the Three Crescent Moon monastery, the monks leave advising one of the Three - the monastery is led by three equal monks - would attend within a fortnight to make future plans and agreements.
The artifact taken - Shadow Lantern (DM: Blog post) - Skrit determines it is most likely affecting Faust - his body both organic and inorganic - is fading, becoming see through - not sure if his essence is being drained by the shadow fey artifact. Irakul, whom had carried previously is not as affected by the device. Faust's shadow is gone. The kobold warned Faust repeatedly, but the warforged dismissed this, willing to take the chance.
With the quest complete - now that it had changed from capturing kobolds for fueling the demonic tower - to capturing the town and defeating the Cursed Goddess and Marshall - the camera moves back to the RedWater Fellowship!
The party are at the Holliday camp. All except Gothi whom is out on a long hunt for exotic beasts and ranging the area to assist fugitives from the demons and BlackRunes - advising and guiding them to safety. The camp has been much improved since the large number of refugees had arrived. Nearly one hundred and fifty folks had arrived, of all races, species and ages. The Holliday clan and RedWater Fellowship welcoming all - while discreetly using spells to ensure none are spies or worse..
Overhead map of the Holliday Stronghold and area
Dock, boats, source of fish and a way to exit the stronghold
Doc spent time and resources with help to hammer and forge a rifled musket in the tower's smithy. Using a variety of exotic ingredients as well as spells to successfully produce the magical musket.
Ground floor - Stables and smithy
Kantif spent some time looking for a pawnbroker's brother - whom had been very willing to pay for his rescue. Scouring the countryside, even coming close to Wayberry at one point following what seems to be a very lethal bounty hunter whom had captured a BlackRune commander and took the woman to Wayberry - assumedly to the forces of IUZ. Unsuccessful in finding the gnome's
brother, he did encounter a number of other refugees, assisting them to safety. The pawnbroker gives the rogue/monk a strange disc supposedly from the Sea of Dust (DM: Info). Strange runes or letters cover one side. The other glitters like a rainbow. First thinking of creating a musket similar to Doc, he realized this was unlikely without the ingredients and more. So started looking into a longbow and what was needed for that.. perhaps a treant's wood could be enchanted..
Graxusas spends time in the flying tower reading a strange tome as well as researching spells and looking for news from his circus. His time in the library he notes the small house has been improved by the 1/2 foot tall creature that dwells there. Taking scraps of paper and pages from some tomes. The lizardfolk decides to ensure less books are ruined and provides the creature with many small and useful items to improve the dwelling. After a time, he gets a good glimpse of the diminutive humanoid. sleek bluish green skin, with four arms and two legged, it races amongst the
shelves and books looking about furtively. Graxusas tries to engage it in conversation, but realizes it will take some time to gain some trust with this small secretive creature.
Some days passed as the Fellowship rested and prepared for battle with BlackRunes or demonic forces.
A new stranger enters the camp human vagabond, covered in tattoos, wild read hair and bushy beard, spindly and tall. A young woman and two children - a young boy and girl - accompany the man having joined up with the stranger on the road to the Holliday refuge.
2nd bridge and tower
Walking up, the lanky human saw the 2 bridges with defensive towers and then buildings and many tents, Doc and Cedric question the tall human, whom goes by the name Obaz. The stranger enters the camp and immediately makes friends with 2 small children. Obaz feels there is some force undeath, or something wrong - alien. The druid calls forth life to the area and this brings green life to the area. The 2 children that had accompanied them, shriek as Obaz goes invisible. Doc and others run up. Looking about hand on weapons. Then not seeing anything, they head into the defense council for the Holliday stronghold.
Obaz decides to reveal their true nature after hearing the plans and war council of the Fellowship - a firbolg. They join the group, all in the Fellowship seeing the great benefit of a druid joining the cause! As the council progresses, they decide on forming some units amongst the refugees as many have combat experience. Twenty are former soldiers, a lieutenant and more.
Further into the night, cups of mead, wine and ale flow, food is plentiful as Obaz using his nature skills calls forth food for the refugees. A small feast is had by all. Obaz still has two small children following them. The firbolg druid playful with two small humans.
Later in the evening the perceptive firbolg hears a scream before anyone else and jumps up and out of the council tent. A young woman screeches. The rest of the Fellowship soon follow.
Stumbling out of the double doors of the Makra Tomb is a young woman, covered in something black from head to foot. A perceptive Obaz confirms it is blood on the girl. Kyarra - Doc's cousin. After some healing and words, it seems that Declan, and the girl on a dare went into the tomb of heroes. Deep into.. They were attacked. A white furred humanoid with long claws. Declan was still in the tomb. She is becoming feverish. Two of the Holliday clan take the girl to Grandma - witchdoctor of the clan.
The Fellowship gear up and prepare to enter the Makra tomb. Obaz requests to come along and all agree the firbolg's nature based support will be effective. The seemingly undeath or wrongness is compelling to the druid.
The Makra Tomb - Heroes, Witchdoctors, Warlords, Leaders and other renown figures of the Orcish clans of old..
Exploring into the familiar chambers to Doc, the party all feel the wrongness. As if postive is negative and vice versa. Graxusas and Obaz discuss.. possibly some planar activity a gate or other has happened in the tombs.
Walking the long hall with the statues looking down, Doc can hear their whispering - the long passed warlords speaking of their battles and victories, the wizards and witch doctors discussing herbal potions and spells.. many and varied stories distract the paladin/gunslinger.
Moving on the party find Declan, leaning up against the low 1/2 foot wall around the large circular hole or pit in the centre of the chamber. Coughing up blood, the young man, calls out "Doc.." as Obaz intones druidic magic to heal the young man from a distance.
At that moment, a large white furred creature leaps out from behind the statues and attacks, then more appear and battle is engaged. The creatures are tough, but in the end are defeated, though one bit deeply into Doc and the wound looks to be infected.. learning that the creatures came from
the Warlord's tomb deeper in the complex. The furred creatures transform to a human form once they die, still giant size. Ensuring Declan safely returns to the surface, the party they decide to delve further in to make this right. The hole/pit used to once be a pool, then became a portal to the Abyss. It was closed by the two paladins, but a smell of brimstone still lingers.. Graxusas, casts wall of stone and seals the hole.
Passed the tomb of the warlord, is a new door that Doc was quite sure he had never seen in his various times of exploring. Passing through the doorway, the party is a scene that could come only from a fevered nightmare:
The stone passage ahead merges with a pale grayish pink material that glistens wetly. It’s as though the walls, floor, and ceiling up ahead are made of glistening sickly grey-pink flesh, dripping and oozing. A trail of thick, sludge like violet slime puddles on the floor and trails off into the dark..
Looking at the ooze, small wriggling worm-like creatures are seen. It is decided not to and not tough the slime, Graxusas does take a sample in a vial.
Carefully moving forward, trying to not touch the walls, the Fellowship's boots sink into the flesh like floor. The feeling of wrongness is nearly overpowering as they move forward, all fighting
symptoms of nausea and headaches. The slime pools on the floor in spots, so the adventurers are able to move forward without stepping into it. Turning a corner, a blast of psychic energy hit all as a horrendous creature moves forward towards them slowly. Four stumpy legs, the greyish flesh oozing wounds all over, four arm like tentacles and a faceless maw filled with rows of long teeth. Then 2 grey-skinned humanoids carrying large double bladed axes engage the party from the rear. Wearing no armour, the faceless creatures relentlessly attack the party. A long and tough battle sees the Fellowship victorious.
Determining the slime is coming from a sphincter like hole in the wall further down the passage after Obaz does some scouting shape-changed as an owl. How to destroy? A keg of alchemist fire inserted into opening. (DM: some bad jokes at this point 😝)
Obaz calls forth his druidic magic transforming Doc into a giant ape. Taking the keg, Doc the ape runs down the hallway getting covered in the slime and feeling the grubs burrowing into his feet and one hand - the other holding the keg on a shoulder. Inserting the keg with all his strength, he races back as waves of psychic negative energy crash over him. AS he races up the passage, Graxusas stands forth, the rotund - but athletic - lizardfolk intones a spell and a bead of glowing energy flies passed Doc as the ape races back towards the entrance.
KABOOM!!
The fireball detonates at partially visible keg and a second explosion. All of the heroes crash to the ground as a wave of negative energy washes over them all....
Then silence. Once the smoke clears the party look about and at each other. The feeling of wrongness.. is gone.. it seems the Fellowship were successful!
Trekking out to rest, they decide to return on the morrow as there were more passages and a door to explore. It seems that the Tomb of Makra was connected to the ancient orcish citadel of old, once a vast stronghold for the orcs before the Orc /Elf wars 500 years past.
