Session 228 - The Word of Tekhos

General Summary

4^th Morgat (Third month of Winter) 724TR

The story so far

Lieutenant Avon of the Red Guard has been assigned another important mission.
Investigate the disappearance of Senator Brayzel Dethale. The Senator's townhouse has been wreaked with his guards and servants brutally murdered.
The party has investigated and discovered a link to a local Cartwright business. Sneaking into that building, they found a secret trap door leading to a basement and cave network. The heroes have killed the guards, but they feel a cold chill as they explore further. Shadowy forms attack, Wraiths, summoned by a hidden antagonist.

This is the continuation of Session 227 - A Disappearance.

Location - City of Coranan in the Thardic Republic.

Part 1 - Blood Magic

Five Wraiths surround Avon and Acheron. Acheron calls on the holy power of Larani and, in a burst of divine energy, sends two of them fleeing in fear. The remaining are not so timid and strike with their life-draining attacks. Just as the heroes believe they have the upper hand, from a concealed viewing hole in the roof, the heroes spot a small crimson ball of fire appear. This explodes, badly scorching them. Avon feels some of his blood tears out of his wounds and shoots up, back through that opening.

And from a side passage, three brutes emerge, huge ugly men, stitched together with poorly matching body parts. The Flesh Golems pound into Avon and Acheron, forcing them back.

Moneypenny turns Blaine Invisible who lights a torch and throws it through the viewing hole. This illuminates the hidden chamber revealing a young woman surrounded by swirling bands of blood and a bodyguard. She mutters an incantation, and a Lighting Bolt emerges, striking at Acheron and Avon (who dodges) and one of the wounded golems, healing it.

Jolanta activates her Negation psionic power, creating a dome of magical protection against spells, and approaches, throwing a Corrosive Blast into the hidden chamber. She recognizes the woman, Win-Noora Kale, a mage on the List of Renegade Spellcasters, albeit somewhat younger than she should be. Win-Noora is wanted for necromancy and murder of members of a senatorial family.

The renegade wizard responds by conjuring a Cone of Boiling Blood which achieves nothing; Jolanta's Negation neutralizes this powerful spell. Enraged, Win-Noora sends one of her golems to deal with the troublesome mage. Jolanta retreats, but not fast enough; she is grappled and thrown against a wall, then smashed again while prone (DM's note: The Golem scored a critical, and Jolanta was reduced to 3hps). The dazed wizard barely manages to Misty Step away and turns invisible.

Meanwhile, the still invisible Blaine sneaks into the chamber. He uses his Pellet of Fire Breath and exhales a cone of fire over the guard, Win-Noora, and two of the golems. This has an unexpected effect. The golems panic and are distracted as they desperately try to put out their flaming rags and hair. This gives Avon and Acheron a chance to dispatch them. Acheron then joins Blaine and attacks Win-Noora very nearly, killing her. With defeat imminent, Win-Noora Dimension Doors away, leaving her bodyguard to be incinerated by a Firebolt from Moneypenny.

Part 2 - The Prisoner

Senator Brayzel, art by Artbreeder

The heroes find a prisoner in a small cell, Senator Brayzel Dethale. The man is in a sorry state; he has been severely tortured. Avon, who acts as the Red Guard's interrogator, can't help but admire the skill of the inquirer. Win-Noora knows her anatomy.

Senator Brayzel, after receiving some much-needed medical attention, explains why he was kidnapped and tortured. Win-Noora wanted information about a dangerous artifact, the Word of Tekhos. Sadly he cracked under the pain and divulged his family secrets.

Avon gets the Senator to safety, then the Red Guard swarm over the Cartwright business. All workers are taken into custody and will be aggressively questioned. The Red Guard takes the security of the Republic's Senators very seriously, especially for rich the ones.

Part 3 - The Word of Tekhos

Senator Brayzel tells the party about his family history, his ancestor Ivanoss Dethale, and the mysterious Word of Tekhos. This is the knowledge Win-Noora extracted from him.

During the Balshan Jihad and Theocracy of Tekhos, Clan Dethale was a minor noble family from the Shiran region. The clan leadership decided to work with the new order to survive the butchery of the Morgathic zealots. Ivanoss Dethale joined the Morgathic priesthood not because of any ideological or religious devotion but to protect his family. As a member of the ruling elite, he could shield them from the Theocarcy's sacrificial knives.
At some point became aware of the Word of Tekhos, the transcribed incoherent ramblings of the great tyrant Horahnam of Tekhos. The manuscript horrified him. After Tekhos was assassinated in 588TR, he took action. During the chaos that followed, he turned on his fellow priests at his temple, killing and burning them to ashes, stole the Word, and passed the document on to his family for safekeeping.
Ivanoss Dethale disappeared shortly after and was never seen again. The Dethales hid the Word, in the family burial vault near City of Shiran. It was never destroyed, as it was believed that such an act would release a devastating curse on the world.

Part 3 - The Next Mission

Azikain Gelber, art by Wizard of the Coast

Avon, after leading the rescue of the popular Senator, finds his reputation is greatly enhanced. Warden Azikain Gelber is pleased with the outcome and directs to Avon bring this wizard Win-Noora to justice.

Jolanta dispatches a Sending spell to the Order of the White Hand leadership in the Kingdom of Melderyn. Do they know anything about the Word of Tekhos?

Meanwhile Acheron sends a coded message to the Argent Order. Can they help?