The IRS Session 11: To Hell and Back Report

General Summary

The session began right at the steps to the Öchigdör-Margaash Ruins in Ezlekh's Bambai Territory
The IRS parted ways with their compatriots Fenrir and Captain Scuv as they headed into the zebra-striped mausoleum temple standing starkly in-front of them
On their way down to the tomb which laid below, the party admired historical pieces of art alongside the stairwell which seemed to hold significance to the Amidrakh who used to live in the city below:
Firstly, they saw a worn-down depiction of Grand Kai Dai-Ehk standing triumphantly over the Malnovan continent with multiple relics in his possession.
The next depiction showed the Grand Khan's territories being divided between 6 successors each in the colors of red, orange, yellow, green, blue and purple. Vandals had painted over the purple territory's (in the Westmost side of the continent) sections of the painting with light red and the image of a snake was overlaid on top.
The next image seemed to recap the finding of the very city they saw themselves in, with the 4-paneled image showing a white-haired man constructing the temple itself, where next a grey haired man discovering a cache of magical crystals underneath said temple. The next two images showed a grey and black-haired man fending off a folley of abberations and monstrosities from a large chasm below their carved pathway, and the final image depicted that same important-looking man constructing the village of Öchigdör-Margaash using the help of enslaved abberations and monstrosities from the previous panel.
Something in Cal's mind confused him about the 4-paneled image, specifically in its last two panels. Cal felt along the painting with a knife, revealing that a portion of the painting was re-painted over, covering up that the black and grey-haired figure in the painting was holding the elemental cane of the man in the first painting. After the group noticed Cal's apprehension about the image, Gen attempted to connect with the painting, only to hear the sound of dripping water coming from the painting.
Cal, upon holding a hand of healing to the painting then felt a familiar voice come from somewhere deep within him, saying "Warrior, sometimes history is written by the victors", and afterwards felt a huge relief wash over his body.
The last painting the group saw depicted a regal-looking woman clad in a dress made of crow's feathers and bones sitting on a throne of bones with an army of skeletons bowing to her, with this painting seemingly the best upkept painting and the newest by-far.
The party continued onward down the stairs where they could hear the sound of sad operatic singing coming from the other side of a bulky stone door which, in-front of, they found a set of abandoned camp supplies. Upon digging through their bags, they discovered kits, as well as a few adventurers journals inside which revealed that the adventurers whom the bags belonged to had set foot in the city nearly 20 years ago. The entries written by the adventurer Reah ended with a shopping list for the night market which suddenly appeared in-front of her as she waited for her two compatriots (a messy-grey-haired hammer-wielding Dwarf and a muscular blue Tiefling) to return from their trip from the city's Travail District.
As the IRS thrust open the stone doors in front of them, they saw a bustling marketplace full of life. That is, until Gen used a Divine Sense to very quickly learn that the market's denizens were all undead, with some of its shoppers being skeletons, others being spirits, and the guards being seemingly normal humanoids.
Gen attempted to strike conversation with a wisp-headed patron, only for them to tell Gen that they believed they were shopping in the Winter months of 20 years ago. The spirit did warn the players that there was a strange miasma storm over the entirety of the city proper which just appeared about 2-3 days ago, which was strange considering the city being entirely underground and supposedly abandoned 
Walking past the majority of the marketplace, the party came across the elven opera-singer in white robes who revealed herself to be Rhea, the adventurer they had read about.  She recounted her story of her adventuring party, hoping that her two friends would return from their visit to the city so that she could continue on her journey with them to an Opera which she was to perform at in Khuurmag.
Cal wanted to help Rhea out, and after an intense discussion between the party members due to differing viewpoints on the dead (Cal wanting to set the spirits free while Gen wanted these spirits to live their afterlives uninterrupted), they agreed that they would go to the Travail District and attempt to re-unite Rhea with her friends.
Rhea then showed the group to a sketchy shopkeep who guarded the stairs to the Travail District, and after talking with the man, they agreed to buy an enchanted lamp from the man for 3 Silver to also gain passage to the steps
Walking down the stairwell, the party found themselves on an empty large platform save for a lone orb on a stand.  The platform overlooked the miasma swirling over the city, with the Travail District being 120ft overhead them completely upside-down on the cave's cieling.  After operating the orb which moved a giant mechanical stone arm, Cal sent the party upwards (following them shortly afterwards) to the city above, where they grabbed onto an iron-wrought fence before finding a large lively upside-down manor a few hundred feet away with the sound of Waltz music eminating from its walls
After discovering that the manor was filled with easily a hundred dolled-up guests in regal clothing, the party also spotted the adventurers Rhea had described dancing inside the manor with nobles.
The party then wondered how they would enter the manor and perform their rescue mission when they turned around and saw a few Dhampirs who had been eyeing the party.  The Dhampirs let the party know that they would only be able to enter the ball if they were vampires (finally putting two-and-two together in their heads) or vampire food, which was perfect as the Dhampirs were willing to help disguise the travellers for some reaons.
The Dhampirs then gave the whole party a regal makeover thanks to his neighbor Cheryl, with the entire party now being clad in dark suits and dresses (with Nessa's just being a modified bedsheet).  Gen asked if she could keep her dress, with the Dhampir only agreeing to do so if Gen were to spill wine on the Dhampir's ex named Greg.
Finally, the party spent 11 Silver for a Potion of Weightlessness recipe (which Cal only remembered afterwards that he had), with them all brewing and downing the potions before entering the manor.
Nessa, Riz 'O and Gen are all disguised as regal vampires, while Cal is to be Nessa's food-date, and as they walk through the massive front doors, the manor before them is immaculate and bustling with undead nobles and their very alive food-guests.  With the 1-hour timer on their potions begun, the party begin their strangest venture yet...

Campaign

Lines Drawn in the Sand

Protagonists

Gehenna Malabolge

Chaotic Neutral Kalashtar (Enchanter's Apprentice )
Paladin 4
War Cleric 1

31 / 31 HP

STR
8

DEX
14

CON
12

INT
10

WIS
19

CHA
17

Rizzard of Oz II

Politicaly Incorrect Custom Lineage (Fey Lost)
Rouge 3
Warlock 1

39 / 39 HP

STR
11

DEX
12

CON
17

INT
10

WIS
10

CHA
18

Nessa Sarkas

Satyr (Noble)
Bard 2

19 / 19 HP

STR
11

DEX
17

CON
14

INT
16

WIS
14

CHA
18

Cael Malos

Chaotic Neutral Air Genasi (Apothecary)
Monk 4

43 / 43 HP

STR
13

DEX
18

CON
17

INT
10

WIS
18

CHA
15

Report Date

22 Jul 2024

Primary Location

Öchigdör-Margaash

Secondary Location

Bambai