Session 032 - Hidden Temple

General Summary

Date 28^th Halane (8) to 7^th Savor (9) 720TR (Autumn)

The story so far

The heroes are clearing out a long lost temple of the heretical Order of Khamar under the streets of the City of Coranan. They have defeated fire wraiths, flesh rotting slimes, and deadly traps. The Servants of Dekejis plan to use this secret location for their new temple.

As the party prepares to leave with a collection of rare holy books and some legendary Khamar Copper Plates they may have triggered some magical conjuration trap. The Pit in the center of the building flares into life and Demons emerge.

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Part 1 - Battle in the Temple

As the Suúra Demon and 8 Vii emerge from the fiery portal, Quazzy creates Orbs of Darkness and Cold which easily destroyed all the weak Vii but barely affected the Suúra Demon which starts hurling balls of fire. He then summons 2 more demons with spiked armored skin, appearing among the party causing chaos. The tide of the battle turns in favor of the Demons after Lucia is struck down by a ball of fire and is nearly killed.

Quazzy's familiar flies over to the Brass Gong in the chamber and rings it, with the sound reverberated throughout the chamber causing the spiked demons momentary confusion, creating openings allowing the heroes to kill the fiends which collapse into black and orange dust.

The Suúra Demon fights on with Athena entering melee. It was a close battle one, more hit could have killed Athena, and most of the remaining characters were severely injured; however, Quazzy discharged her Wand of Wails exploding the head of the fiend with screaming death, then watched as his body disintegrated into red and orange dust.

Part 2 - Ivor's Plans

Emerging from the temple the party meet up again with Ivor the Pale who claims Dekejis told him they had been successful. He immediately sends his acolytes in to clean up.

He has been thinking about ways to destroy the Church of Naveh and foiling their plans to carry out the Rite of Nao-Thian. He has 2 ideas.

Option 1 Undermine the Ceremony - so that when the Gytevsha Krasula is summoned, he will turn on the summoners. This will involve modifying aspects of the components of the rite.

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DM's Note

Having last week swapped the Longknife with an inferior copy, the ceremony may already be corrupted. The chance of Krasula turning on his summoners is about 10%.

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Option 2 Stop the Ceremony - if the rite fails or is not completed the leadership of the church would have failed a direct order from the Pontiff and therefore should be instructed to commit ritual suicide.

Athena suspects that Ivor is holding out. After failed veiled threats, he is eventually persuaded to propose a third option, but not one he favors.

Option 3 Entrap Krasula - if Krasula was summoned and captured, for example, in a Church of Peoni Dreambox, any leadership of the temple would be expected to commit ritual suicide for their failure.

Quazzy hears the whispers of her patron Desridaen, who is the sworn enemy of Krasula, indicating that this is definitely his preferred option.

Part 3 - Forgery at the Church Peoni

A few days later the heroes meet with Brother Merric and Matron Aggatha of the Church of Peoni. Brother Merric, who is a member of the Shield of Belsirasin, a congregation of Peoni Priests dedicated to combating Undead, Ghosts, Demons and Evil Spirits, says he should be able to capture the Krasula in a Dream Box and is willing to aid the party as and when required.

Previously Quazzy stole a book from the church library, Journal of St Dasinia, and handed this over to the Church of Naveh. Working with Yureb, they create a reasonable replica (at least on a cursory examination) which they intend to swap with the original if the opportunity presents itself. This should increase the chance of the ritual being undermined considerably.

Part 4 - Sir Scarow

Athena has a visitor, Sir Scarow and Knight of the Order of the Cohorts of Gashang accompanied by an Eight Demons Priestess and a few warriors. Athena is expecting a fight, but Sir Scarow only is only there to make a challenge, a fight to the death in the Pamesani Games. Athena agrees to the challenge but explains she is busy but will arrange the time. Sir Scarow is not particularly concerned about the delay, in fact, seems to hold the Cohorts in this city in contempt, and buys her a drink at the tavern.

Part 5 - The Stamps

Yureb receives a message from his criminal contact Rowe who asks a favor. He is to met with Tobar, a criminal from the Kingdom of Kanday who has some coins stamps. He is to assess the quality of the stamps and purchase them for 1,000sp.

In a nearby village, Yureb meets with Tobar and after assessment believes they are a too worn to be of full value and offers a fair price of 500sp however negotiations rapidly deteriorate into violence with Tobar and his gang attacking, seeking to steal Yureb's silver. Fortunately, they are no real opposition for Yureb and the rest of the party who were lurking nearby. Several of Tobar's gang were killed, and Tobar was captured, then paid 500sps and let go free albeit somewhat bruised.

Rowe promises Yureb a cut in the counterfeiting operations earning once it is set up.

Missions/Quests Completed

Cleared out the secret temple of the Order of Khamar and recovered many holy books and legendary The Khamar Copper Plates.

Recovered some slightly worn Coin stamps.

Character(s) interacted with

Ivor the Pale - Heretic Priest, cat lover, assassin, and a possible madman.

Brother Merric, Shieldman - Exorcist.

Matron Aggatha, Peoni Priestess.

Sir Scarow - Order of the Cohorts of Gashang Knight.

Rowe - Criminal Contact.

Tobar - Thief from the Kingdom of Kanday.

Challenges Overcome

8 Vii - these 8^th order demons are so weak they were no challenge to the heroes.

2 Barbed Demons - vanquished.

Suúra Demon - a 4^th order demon, one of the 512 field commanders of Agrik’s army also called the Ahni-Telment’ii - vanquished.

3 Thieves and 2 Thugs - several killed.

Related Reports

Ivor the Pale - updated.

The Servants of Dekejis.

Rite of Nao-Thian.

City of Coranan - updated.

Vii - weakest of Agriks Demons. Often used as fodder.

Dekejis, Demigod - spy and assassin servant of the god Naveh.

Order of Khamar - long lost heretical Order of Agrik. Master weapon-crafters.

The Khamar Copper Plates - containing secret techniques for enchanting weapons.

Shield of Belsirasin - updated with information on Dreamboxes.

Notes

Players Character Status

Athena the Banshee - Level 9 Paladin of Vengeance.

Yureb - Level 9 Arcane Trickster.

Quazzy - Level 4 Necromancer and Level 5 Warlock Disciple of Desridaen.

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Next Session

The party decides to travel with Athena as she transports the Khamar Copper Plates and the holy books recovered in the temple to the Sisterhood of the Crimson Dancer stronghold at Quimen Keep in the Kingdom of Orbaal. They expect to be back before winter so to prevent the Rite of Nao-Thian which they believe will most likely occur on Shadowmath, the Night of Shadows (1^st night of the 12^th month.

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