Session 32: The Orb Under Damarask

General Summary

By itself an aboleth is a fearsome creature, but coupled with the power of a Blightstone Orb it almost spelled doom for the Shore’s Light . Throughout the fight the aberrant monstrosity used the runic portals to push and pull the water in the room from one side to another, keeping our heroes off balance and moving quickly into deadly proximity.

Using mind-bending illusions and hypnotizing suggestions, Yith-Katar manipulated both Faelyn and Aatavi during the fight. Seeing visions of a robed figure trying to hold the power of the orb at bay, and a grim portent of Damarask overrun with undead, Faelyn unleased magics on the orb to try and diminish its flickering power. Unfortunately, he was having the opposite effect, helping the orb to release shadowy demons from a realm beyond. Aatavi was tricked into grasping the orb with his bare hands and received a surge of necrotic energy for his efforts. As the battle raged on both these heroes would eventually come to their senses and renew their fight against the aboleth.

Using Mokarrad, the Deep Hammer, Aatavi raged into battle, landing telling blows and absorbing the powerful returns from Yith-Katar’s tentacles. Keokan joined the fray next to his friend, carving into the beast with his moon sickle and wakazashi. Yith-Katar retaliated knocking the goliath to his feet, and repeatedly smashing Keokan with his tail. It would surely have killed the Godspeaker had Aaura not conjured a magic shield over her friend to deflect some of the blows.

Not everyone was so lucky.

Using teleportation magic, Adockus us proved an able combatant during the battle. He rescued Shadow from the aboleth’s clutches and used vampiric touch to overcharge the Blightstone and dampen the orb’s powers. His contributions did not go unnoticed by Yith-Katar, who closed distance on him and grappled him with its powerful tentacles. Unable to escape, Adockus’ bones were crushed and spine snapped from Yith-Katar’s rage. The heroes watched in vain as their friend’s lifeless body floated in the murky water.

Taking a cue from Adockus efforts, Aaura closed in on the flickering orb. Her hand shone brightly with a vampiric touch of her own, which she used to overcharge the orb once more. A second hit from Aaura snuffed the light, and sent the inactive orb to the floor with a dull thump.

Faelyn had fallen from Yith-Katar’s heavy blows and might’ve succumbed to them had Shadow not been at hand to spare him and heal his wounds. Now free of Yith-Katar’s influence, the sorcerer began to unleash his most potent spells; fireballs exploded in the chamber and lightning bolts crackled through the air. With Aatavi’s hammer, Keokan’s sickle, and bolt of lightning from Faelyn, Yith-Katar was brought low.

As the heroes caught their breath, they realized that something was wrong. Whether it was coming into contact with YIth-Katar’s horrid tentacles or breathing in the mucous cloud that surrounded it, all the party save Aaura had fallen prey to some sort of abberant disease. Aatavi felt the strange parched feeling in the back of his throat once more, while the others experienced a different symptom. Having been close to the aboleth, they found that they could no longer breath air, but could breathe in the water. As they took a short rest, only Aaura was able to stay outside in the relatively dry part of the chamber, while the others kept to the other side of the water wall, still held at bay with the runic portal.

Grieving for their fallen ally, and eager to leave the Watery Sanctum, they quickly devised a plan. Using the sending stone given to them by Gavain, Faelyn relayed a message to the topside. They had the orb, Adockus was dead, they were in need of healing, and they would meet them near the Gull Street Market in the Sideways Warren.

Shocked at the news of his friend’s death, Gavain replied that he would meet them with a cadre of allies at the water’s edge.

Our heroes moved as hastily as they could through the Watery Sanctum, resting in pools when needed, and leaning on each other for support when they could not rest. Once back in the long chamber into the coliseum, they tied themselves together and Aatavi activated Mokarrad to race through the water at top speed, leaving the sanctum far in their wake.

On shore they met with Gavain, a number of Goldfeathers (including Lt. Shammatam and Capt. Redianna) and the Hight Priest of Hellia, Ridley the Endurant . Lt. Shammatam took the orb, Ridley healed our heroes, and Gavain took Adockus’ corpse – being sure to cover the body to not reveal his friend’s true identity.

Aaura used prestidigitation to dry them quickly as they exited the water, and our heroes convened with the Goldfeathers in a nearby warehouse to talk about their next steps. As was agreed upon, Lt. Shammatam said that he would start the process of freeing the tabaxi from their indenture contracts. Rediana also explained that the city now owed them a great debt, and the heroes were free to stay within the Ambassadors Commorancy for as long as they needed. Whatever help the city might be able to provide for their journey south would be provided for, to the best of her ability.

Tired and hungry, our heroes made their way back to the Commorancy were they met with Omori. Overjoyed at seeing them again and ecstatic to hear that the tabaxi and yukisaru contracts were to be voided, he asked Shadow about their next step. Winter had just started, and it seemed like a bad idea to try and march everyone back to the Sentinel now. Shadow agreed, adding that she wasn’t even sure what dangers might lay in wait at their old home. They would have to figure something out, but that was for perhaps another time.

Hot food, warm drinks, and soft cushions. These were not necessarily the want of Keokan Cronavken. As the party retired to their rooms for more revelry, Keokan slipped out of the Commorancy, and out of the city altogether. He would spend the night under the sky, a flurry of snow drifting about him, and amongst the fresh smells of pine, rock, and distant sea. He called to Thor. Although his wolf did not find him, Keokan’s dreams were green eyed and distant, his muzzle low to the ground, the scents strong, and the cold wind howling.

The rest of the Shore’s Light moved from cup to cup, enjoying the comforts of their rooms. Gavain would soon join them, his eyes red from Adockus’ loss, and in want of companionship from this motley band of heroes. As a group they regaled Gavain with stories of their adventures, their encounters with the orbs, and the uncertain path ahead. Gavain was particularly interested in Aatavi, for he had never seen or heard his like before. Aatavi was happy to talk of his homeland, the distant island of Ysfor, but revealed that he feared his home had fallen prey to the same dark energies that afflicted Damarask. Troubled at this news, Gavain promised Aatavi that after he had attended to the orbs in the City and taken his friend’s body back to their home, he would look into helping the Mysati people.

The barbarian wrapped Gavain in a large hug, and accepted his offer. As the night wore on, Gavain looked more and more distant, before withdrawing to his room and leaving the Shore’s Light to their much deserved comforts.