Journal #24 - The Dorndepths

The days that followed blurred together. A scheme was hatched, and Chief Valos clued us in somewhat. He first gave background, a sign would come of the Great Phoenix emerging from the Sunbrace. Thus was born the clan of Avolos, Mar’s clan, meaning Phoenix. The greatest of all legends of our kind. Ancient druids felt a heartbeat within, and it was assumed to be the largest piece of Timmirand fallen from on high. Only the chosen would be able to erupt its fiery power, and thus he feared the reason for the Red Witch to enslave the Summits - also enslaving those few in tune with the Primal Alghada. Valos said it was not until the night before when his daughter Merrys spoke of her success delivering his message, that the great pit beneath Zuranda is a single dive into the center of the Dorndepths, directly beneath the Sunbrace. It was as if the Witch were molding the earth to her liking, planning to drop the Sunbrace like an egg…to crack the newly discovered Vault of Voladryn, and destroy the city in one fell blow?
 
The chieftain said he had no hope until we arrived. The Last Bonebreaker, the Betrothed of the Phoenix, the Alliance of Nothric. His brother accepted his terms, we must only win the Winter Games. By tradition, the fighting in the arena is a competition, teams with brackets, vying for honor. The winning clan leader sits at the Lady’s right hand, his body servant serves her wine himself. An opportunity to service a potent dose of poison? Our mission was to win, and entertain, for House Durhaam.
 
So we did, for 10 weeks. We slew many creatures, the last of which was a Wyvern up on the surface, with the Goblin King visiting, pushing in his own son to be slain as well. Not before revealing us… he knew we were Nothric. The plan could not possibly succeed. Well, they say the best laid plans don’t survive first contact with the enemy, and this was by far our first contact. The Witch’s ritual could be completed within 30 days, or as soon as tomorrow.
 
During the time, shortly before our final battle with the Wyvern, we went to see the Seer with whom Mortana (Domino) had become acquainted, Bontu. He offered to divine answers, for a boon. We must take an imbued sword made of Vaporite, dragon-forged Obsidian. These swords would imprison the soul of those it slew, but after would become as brittle as shale. Once the blade itself broke, that which it slew would possess the body of the wielder, unless the blade was appropriately destroyed.
 
Bontu spoke of a threat - an Un’drodys. It is of the Drev, who are a sort of Lost undead. When they find a voice, a purpose, destiny if you will, they become Found. A Lost is not who they were when they were alive, they can find other voices, and thus are the most chaotic of evil creatures in Hy’dera. They can steal destiny from people beyond death, he said. When one consumes enough Destiny, becomes renowned, they inherit Un’drodys - The Whole. It is the most powerful of Drev, a hivemind of consciousness of hundreds of other Drev. There is one of these Un’drodys here within the Sunken Summits - well, far, far beneath it. We are to find it within three days, to be back in time for the Semi-Finals and to beat the Red Witches’ ritual in progress. This particular Un’drodys has not been seen since the Third Age, it is a living Chrysanthemum Cross. We are to slay it with the sword and return it to Bontu. However, we also have a scroll of Speak With Dead, this is an opportunity for us to interrogate the creature as well.
 
It seems unsettling - what would Bontu do with such a soul? But there were questions - questions which needed answers. We would receive two more such magical blades, upon the return of the one lent to us. We were cautioned, if we died while attuned to it, we would become Drev ourselves.
 
The questions asked, and answers received, we are as follows:
 
Ghiravont inquired about his forthcoming journey to Nossica, about the Twilight Elf he has had visions of. He asked how to find her, and was told to seek near one of the world trees at Alone Plateau, after Castle Artrast.
 
Orlando asked about Mar’s ring, where it was and where the Black Quartz were. He was told they would find us. There would be only one opportunity to get the ring back, and it would not be our first instinct, but what came after.
 
Korrigash asked about how to release the thralls and safely rejoin the souls with their physical bodies. He was quoted the Law of Equivalent Exchange, having to sacrifice to earn it. Surely Korrigash would make such a sacrifice, I fear. Tanabraya asked with him, where the Filter of Souls might be found. She was told, not where - but when. The First Shadow will show us when and how to use it. The Un’drodys is the only thrall who will know. Un’drodys is High Elvish for The Whole. Additionally, Bontu said, “You overestimate the Red Witch to assume it was her who was able to conjure this magic, to enthrall all these people…”
 
Lug asked about the Chrysanthemum Cross, and was told it was at the pinnacle of his journey, at the Spire of Destiny.
 
Mortana (Domino) asked where she could find Shade Abbey, which she had learned might be related to bringing back Mar. She was told to sail to Rhune, it rests in forest in an abode surrounding the den of an Ancient.
 
Amber asked where Red was, and was told - not in the city, but beneath it, you will find when you see him. The Heat of the Depths.
 
I asked how to tell how much time we have before the Red Witch’s spell would be completed. I was told our time remaining was an illusion of our fear, because even if the one we despise completes her ritual, she too is waiting for something. “Upon my final prayer I will know, because so too shall all.”
 
So then, we had our payment, but had not yet done the deed.
 
We must journey, to the Dorndepths.
 
As the Wyvern and the Goblin’s son and lieutenant lay in their blood upon the surface of the Sunken Summits crater, we knew what lay before us. We descended, and took a short time to collect ourselves. We had a meal, and the clan hall of Volric and Dhuraam were in an uproar, cheering for The Bonebreakers. We are told one fight now separates us from an audience with she who rules the city, the daughter of the chief, Merrys.
 
Valos took us aside and spoke to us, we revealed the sword and our mission from the seer. We must get past the gates, and to the undercity to silence the enemy forever. He was taken aback, referencing Helmcroft and that there was no survival from that dark place. It was taken by death. So many had been sent there - to explore, recover, to die. It was a tomb. Even so, we convinced him to lead us to its entrance. He tried to convince us we were too much needed here, but it seemed strange. The Goblin King surely reported to the Witch who we were. There would be no surprise-taking here, not that open rebellion was not to be encouraged still.
 
We agreed to meet him at the gate in an hour, and he would lead us.
 
As we prepared, we mused on what we had learned. The alchemist cannot create something from nothing, and if we slay the Whole (Un’dradys) with the blade of Vaporite, it will become brittle enough to break. Perhaps the weakened blade is the last piece the Red Witch needs for this ritual? So Tanabraya suggested.
 
We stewed, and we prepared.