Session 19: The Heart
General Summary
The Fall of the Vanyver
The battle raged on as Dulb narrowly slipped from the grasp of one of the towering shadowy beasts, only for another to immediately seize him again. Their jagged claws held him fast, their void-like energy blasting into him repeatedly. I could only watch in horror as he staggered under the relentless onslaught, his resilience faltering with every passing moment. The rest of the Vanyver fell one by one to Warby's relentless strikes, Goq's clever maneuvers, and Sunny's calculated precision. Still, Dulb was their primary prey, and it wasn’t until the last of us rallied to his side that we managed to drive them off for good.
Despite the savagery of the battle, we kept Dulb alive—barely. Bloodied and bruised, we stood victorious over the crumpled forms of the Vanyver, their shadowy essence dissolving into the void from whence they came. As the darkness dissipated, an uneasy silence crept over the chamber, broken only by our heavy breaths and the occasional scrape of armor as we regrouped.
The Puzzle of the Gates
The chamber, though still and silent, was alive with intrigue. Ancient texts and arcane inscriptions lined the walls, illuminated faintly by the flickering glow of the remaining relics in our possession. These inscriptions offered clues about the history of the Shattered Keep and the role it played in the fall of Narthos. Yet, they also described a new obstacle ahead—a series of magical gates, each shimmering with different hues, blocking the way to the inner chamber.
It didn’t take long for us to realize the gates were part of a color-based puzzle, designed to test wit and patience. Warby and Goq set their minds to deciphering the challenge, theorizing connections between the colors and patterns, while Sunny tried his best to analyze the ancient symbols. However, despite their efforts, the puzzle remained a frustrating enigma. As time pressed on, and with Dulb still struggling to recover, we decided to take a more direct approach. The Phantom Key, the artifact we had sacrificed so much to obtain, was used to bypass the central barrier entirely.
The magical barriers dissolved with a resonant hum, revealing the innermost sanctum of the Shattered Keep.
The Guardian of the Void
As we stepped into the chamber, a chill swept over us. It wasn’t the cold of death, but the weight of something ancient and unfathomable. Before us stood Arameth, a massive wolf-like demon with piercing, otherworldly eyes and fur that shimmered faintly with golden traces, as though he was more spirit than beast. He moved with a deliberate grace, each step resonating with a low growl that echoed through the chamber.
Arameth introduced himself as the Guardian of the Void, sworn by the Dawnbreakers to protect the Heart of Narthos and ensure it could not be tampered with again. He explained how the Heart of Narthos, the core of the dead god’s power, had been hidden away in a defensive ward after Melkorion’s attempt to claim it. The ward had shifted the Heart to a place between the Veils, a liminal space where only echoes of existence could persist.
As we listened, he warned of an even greater threat—the All-God, a being so powerful that the combined might of the pantheons was required to bind it. Without Narthos, who had been a pivotal force in that binding, the chains holding the All-God were beginning to strain. Melkorion’s quest wasn’t one of blind destruction; it was one of desperation. He sought to resurrect Narthos not out of devotion, but out of necessity to ensure the All-God’s continued imprisonment.
For a moment, we considered the implications. Was Melkorion truly our enemy, or was he simply playing a dangerous game with no other options? Before we could voice our thoughts, Arameth continued, warning that the Heart of Narthos had not remained dormant. It had been gathering strength, searching for scattered fragments of Narthos’ essence, and seeking an anchor to return in a weakened form.
The air grew heavy as Arameth finished his warning. We dismissed the possibility as a distant threat—until Dulb’s body seized. The dark energy in the room shifted violently as the god’s fragmented essence latched onto him. Dulb fought with every ounce of his will, but it was clear that the spirit of Narthos was too strong. As we looked on, our comrade succumbed to the dead god’s power.
The Possession of Dulb
Dulb—no longer himself—rose with a sinister aura, his voice a dreadful fusion of his own and Narthos’s. The dead god spoke through him, offering each of us power and vengeance in exchange for loyalty. He promised us the destruction of our enemies, unshakable strength, and rewards beyond our imagining. Yet, as tempting as his words were, we each rejected his offer.
Narthos sneered, his words dripping with malice, and Dulb—now fully consumed—turned on us. Empowered by the essence of a god, he struck with devastating force, nearly overwhelming us. Arameth, true to his duty, joined us in battle against the twisted remnants of our comrade. The fight was brutal, with Dulb wielding the power of shadow and despair against us.
Even with Narthos’s strength coursing through him, Dulb was no match for the combined might of Arameth and the party. As the final blow was struck, Dulb’s form crumpled to the ground, the dark aura dissipating. Whether he survived or was truly lost, I cannot say. All I know is that the fight is far from over.
Sunny Grannach
Brazen White Bulb Conquering Red Blossom
Dulb the Deckhand
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