Embers of Fading Hope Report

General Summary

The True Menagerie found themselves in the solemn aftermath of their failed attempt to save the Primordial Gate of Fire. A grim reality hung over them—the ominous ritual for the Primordial Gate of Storms loomed just 16 days away. In the desolate cavern where the Gate of Fire once stood, the party inspected the Emberheart Gem and other magical artifacts, seeking solace in the potential aid these ancient items could offer in the battles ahead.   As they ascended from the depths, the party chose an unexplored passageway, stumbling upon a forgotten room holding a historical treasure—a journal titled "The War of Velice Glantha," chronicling the deeds of High King Keaxidor Lorhalien. Cardinal Koresh recognized the journal as a potential link to the visions he had been experiencing through the mysterious jar.   Returning to Grimgate, the True Menagerie reunited with Pukus at the Great Emporium, where they acquired valuable magical wares. Pukus, discerning the urgency in the True Menagerie's quest, presented them with a unique artifact called Nihilith's Grasp—a mysterious onyx-hued Decaybane Gem. This gem, pulsating with arcane power, held dominion over Bone and Flesh Elementals as well as Golems, allowing the manipulation of the forces of decay. The group learned that this potent artifact was discovered in the basement of a home of one of the enigmatic Seggathina spies. As they marveled at the gem's dark energy, Pukus shared a whispered rumor. In Havenshield, a city renowned for its gem trade, there was said to be a gem merchant with an affinity for acquiring unique items such as Nihilith's Grasp. The owner of Hellfire Gemworks was reputed to seek artifacts of arcane prowess. Aldus and Skips, driven by the impending threat of the Primordial Gate of Storms, ventured to an Arcane Bookstore, wisely investing in scrolls tailored for the challenges ahead.    Armed with newfound items, the party sought an audience with the Lord Governor to update him on recent events and secure passage to the Stormwarden's Beacon. The Lord Governor provided them with a letter to Captain Seraphina Nightwind of The Whispering Gale, a formidable vessel renowned for its speed and well seasoned crew. The journey through turbulent seas proved treacherous, testing the party's resilience. Skips and Cardinal Koresh suffered significant injuries as symbols of the trials they faced.   Upon reaching the Stormwarden's Beacon, Skips discovered a mysterious flute earring in his ear, a seemingly magical artifact tied to Panos the Satyr. Compelled to blow into the flute, he vanished without a trace, leaving the party in uncertainty. The Primordial Gate of Storms hides within the ruins, and the True Menagerie, having faced failure twice, fells a resolute determination to thwart this third ritual and alter the course of destiny. The echoes of their past failures fuel their resolve as they embark on the perilous journey through the Shattered Isles, prepared to confront the impending storm of elemental power.

Rewards Granted

DM Marax

Nihilith's Grasp

Wondrous Item

Rare Requires Attunement

Nihilith's Grasp, crafted from a Decaybane Gem, takes on an even more ominous aspect as one scrutinizes its intricate cuts. Within the onyx-hued crystal, the fissures and lines converge to form the haunting impression of an otherworldly skull. The skull's contours, sharp and elongated, suggest an ethereal visage with hollow eye sockets and a twisted, spectral grin. This macabre silhouette, created by arcane craftsmanship rather than nature, intensifies the gem's unsettling aura. The semblance of an otherworldly skull within Nihilith's Grasp serves as a silent testament to the dark powers it commands, an eerie symbol of the entropic forces held captive within the heart of the gem.. The gem is perfectly smooth to the touch, cool to the hand, and seemingly resistant to any blemish or mark. you can use an action to speak the gem's command word and summon a Flesh Golem, as if you had cast the Create Undead spell. The Gem can’t be used this way again until the next dawn. The command word for Nihilith's Grasp in Infernal is "Vorashak," uttered with the guttural resonance and infernal cadence inherent to the language of the Nine Hells.

Nihilith's Grasp is born from a rare and powerful crystal known as a Decaybane Gem, forged in the crucible of entropic energies. Crafted by an ancient necromancer named Nihilith, the gem became a focus of dark rituals and experiments in the manipulation of decay. Legends speak of Nihilith's insatiable desire for power and his ability to command the forces of death itself.

Over time, the gem gained a dark reputation, becoming both coveted and feared. Necromancers and dark cults sought its might to accelerate decay, bringing ruin to their enemies and raising the fallen as undead minions. The gem's malevolent power lingered, and Nihilith's Grasp, now separated from its creator, waits to be wielded by those who seek dominion over the entropic forces of decay.

Weight: 6oz