The Shattered Spire

General Summary

After returning to Tengoku from Byakuroku , the group spent several days preparing the next steps in their hunt for Galbatorix. WhenConradus went to Miketsukami to pick up his new jade war-axe from Hanzo, he noticed that the Crimson Guard were rushing through the streets and seemed to be investigating something. He returned with Benkei and they met with Suzuha who was in the midst of investigating a triple homicide involving Hiromasa, Galatea, and Septimus. Clues indicated that it was Galbatorix's doing, and Suzuha asked that they take her with along when they confronted him. After a few days of preparation the group decided to investigate The Chasm and teleported to the ruins of the Shattered Spire, finding themselves in the bowels of an underground cathedral. After dealing with some hostile spirits and investigating, they discovered that the Spire had at one point been a cathedral to a legion of celestials under the command of an Archangel named Araqiel. They discovered a skeleton clutching a stone tablet with the phrases "Dusk's first light, hall of prayer, dagger's tip, marble stopgap" clumsily carved into it. After several more hours of investigating, they descended to the Spire's lowest level and discovered an arcane glyph hidden beneath a marble slab on the alter that appeared only after dusk came. After touching it, they found themselves in an identical cathedral but with a trio of celestials chained and hanging from the ceiling. They explained that they were Araqiel's lieutenants: Ophiel, Zerato, and Mastema. They had arrived on the Material Plane to beat back a demonic incursion that had taken place in the desert. The resulting battle left a deep scar in the ground that festered with demonic energies. However, they had been betrayed by one of their comrades, a Seraph named Hadriel who allied with the demons and bound the trio in an extraplanar space once Araqiel had left the material plane. They fear that Hadriel is working to bring the demons back into the material plane and promised to reward the group should they succeed in freeing them.
The group agreed to defeat Hadriel, take their key, and free the bound celestials. After exiting the cathedral, they found themselves in an extraplanar space of stars and astral matter where they set an ambush for Hadriel. However, Benkei broke their cover and choked when the time came to set his plan(?) in motion. Combat ensued and they were able to defeat Hadriel and his Felidar mount with no real difficulty. They took the key an freed the chained celestials before returning to the Material Plane via the glyph of transport. Upon returning to the Shattered Spire, the celestials began acting suspiciously, having a conversation among themselves about "the next steps". After unfurling their blackened wings and darkened halos, it was then revealed that Ophiel, Mastema, and Zerato were fallen angels that had tricked the group into freeing them from Hadriel's watchful eye.

Rewards Granted

Efficient Quiver, Circlet of Blasting, Sending Stones, Spyglass, Jade War Axe, Kyotouryu: Seitō Hakari- Awakened