Session Report 99

General Summary

After defeating the Commandments the Muskrats decided to climb down the Wrath-Spike to search for Mizanoros and Tritemeus within. The Muskrats also hoped to hunt down more Commandments. When the Muskrats attempted to enter the Wrath-Spike they discovered that a defensive mechanism had been activated. The inside of the Wrath-Spike had been turned into a demiplane that caused the rooms of the Wrath-Spike to shift positions and for new environments to fill in the space between the original rooms of the Wrath-Spike. Itzal recognized that this would cause great confusion among intruders who were attempting to traverse the Wrath-Spike. The Muskrats made the choice to risk the dangers of the Wrath-Spike. 
Stepping inside the Muskrats found themselves in a long hallway that was split by a massive lava flow. They turned to their right and saw a foreboding woman shrouded in a thin haze of smoke staring at them. A wispy fiery aura swirled around her. Itzal recognized that the fiery aura is a mark of a follower of Zariel. When the Muskrats approached they saw she was a tall elven woman who towered over all of them, even Dami, and held herself in a prideful manner. She peered with the Muskrats with incredibly intense eyes that seemed to cut through them. The woman's alabaster skin is marked with silvery scars. Raven black hair cascaded down her back in loose waves, framed by two sharp, crimson-streaked horns that curve upward from her forehead. She was adorned in dark, infernal robers that billowed dramatically revealing glimpses of her gleaming black armor beneath. She introduced herself as Ursula Saamberle and she immediately began to inquire about the soul that the Muskrats had in their possession, the soul of Counter Saval. She explained that she would be happy to trade for the soul or perhaps they were seeking a resurrection at a substantial price of one hundred thousand gold. As Counter Saval's lord, the Muskrats left the decision to Cambio who decided to take the devilish elven woman up on her offer. Ursula took her staff, a black rod with a floating halo above it. Wind chimes hung from the halo that let out a horrific howling sound. Ursula slammed the butt of the staff into Counter Saval's forehead and dark green energy began to flow from the staff into his skull. Finally, he came awake with a jolt. Ursula quickly departed in an explosion of smoke and fire. 
Nearly immediately after Ursula's departure, an obsidian carriage pulled by two flame-maned nightmares came barreling down the lavaflow and came to an abrupt stop before the Muskrats. The carriage was a small carriage, but made entirely out of black colored metal. A sinewy, horned tiefling with fiery red eyes that seemed to gleam with an otherworldly intelligience poked his head out of the window and invited the Muskrats inside. A small sign hung from the exterior of the carriage that read "Infernal Peddler." In their time of great need a merchant had appeared. The Muskrats agreed to head inside and see what the unusual tiefling had. Before heading inside the carriage, Itzal inspected the carriage further. He saw that the carriage was etched with arcane sigils that seemed to writhe and pulse with a sinister energy as they moved. There were more sigils than he he could see. The carriage had multiple layers of the sigils that were placed upon each other. Each sigil was powered by a soul of even multiple. There were thousands of sigils. Itzal could not discern all of the effects but some would release stored spells if triggered, others would summon creatures, some would teleport, others could consume other sigils to resurrect the shopkeep for a near infinite number of times, and there were others that did not have a static purpose that Itzal could not discern. The carriage and the arcane sigils were unlike any other creation he had ever seen and he knew that a significant number of people had lost their souls to create it. The exterior of the carriage of the had a thin, fragrant mist lingering around that carried hints of brimstone and exotic spices. 
Once inside the Muskrats were immediately hit by the scent of exotic spices and herbs, smoldering incense, and the faint aroma of old tomes. Shelves filled with mystical artifacts line the interior, illuminated by soft, flickering light of enchanted lanterns. Itzal realized that the carriage was a demiplane, or perhaps even a plane itself. While the floor they stood on was square he looked both up and down. Identical floors, save for the shopkeep's counter and backdoor, stretched up and down for as far as the eye could see. The shopkeeper introduced himself as Mordak, the Infernal Peddler, the namesake of the shop. Mordak was adorned with elaborate robes with shimmering threads of obsidian and gold. He carried a staff that had a pulsating, crimson gem set into the top. Cambio realized that the crimson gem seemed to throb in sync with Mordak's heartbeat. A welcoming, but slightly unsettling smile sat on his face to welcome the Muskrats. He offered both the mundane and highly rare magical items as well as potions. He proclaimed to be a near one stop shop for all their adventuring needs. The Muskrats hoped that to be true for the upcoming battles.

Report Date

01 Oct 2023