Chapter 6: Oberath

After saving Colondra Hargrave from the evil lich Ekora the party regrouped in the Sunkissed Tavern in Westruun where they came up with their next order of bussiness which Horren believed had to be stopping a mindflayer known as Oberath the one that killed Godwin. While they discussed this and the fact that they would need to enter the Underdark a mysterious figure approached. Their name was Amunizar Karik and they were an aarokocra from The Dwendalion Empire in Wildemount and were heading to the underdark as well in order to follow up on a letter that was left to them from a fallen friend. Most of the letter was unreadable but what they could tell was that whatever they were doing before they died had to do with something in the Underdark. The group agreed to work with them and they sat off to get supplies for the trip. Horren went off on his own so Colondra followed him from a distance since she was worried that the curse would take him like it took her. Dark Shadow and Amun followed behind as well. Garrick ended up giving Circi much of the coin that was given to him from his last job and then buying much in fact for the next 3 days the entire party spent their time buying items for their journey. Garrick bought a fancy carriage for the Shadow Hunters, Colondra tried to still a horse but was put in jail. Amun tried to steal a magic carpet from Gilmores Glorious Goods but failed without getting caught and then tried to get Light Shadow to help him but she refused. Hygar Steelhelm visited Big Bertha again after selling The Lord Mayors pendant to Onora. Then Dark Shadow and Daebanise had a double date with Garrick and Circi in the Butterfly Garden. A day later the journey to Kraghammer began, marked by tense exchanges among the party. Dark Shadow urged caution in dealings with the Shadow assassins, but Garrick and Calondra remained skeptical. Horren's suspicions of Amun led to a heated confrontation, eventually diffused by Garrick. As the group pressed on, they faced a spectral assault in the Bramblewood forest by spirits and even a banshee just as Circi had warned Garrick Clearspring earlier that day, emerging triumphant. Now, on the 25th, Kraghammer's looming peaks draw nearer, promising new challenges ahead as they approach the mountain range . he party pressed on towards Kraghammer, their path intersecting with an ominous old bridge on the 25th of Bruudenshar. Colondra urged caution, sensing danger, but the group's resolve remained unshaken. With their collective cunning and magical prowess, they devised intricate plans to traverse the bridge, unaware of the lurking threat below. Suddenly, three cave trolls descended from the ridge, drawn by the commotion above. The party sprang into action, battling the regenerating trolls while racing to cross the precarious bridge. Horren's keen insight revealed the trolls' vulnerability to fire, prompting Light Shadow to unleash a devastating fireball, decimating one of the beasts. Despite their valiant efforts, the encounter took its toll. The Preserver sustained grave injuries, his once-glowing lights dimmed to darkness. In a heart-stopping moment, Amun, wielding his rifle with deadly precision, severed the bridge's rope, endangering Horren and his loyal companion, Bloodshed. Miraculously, Horren and Bloodshed narrowly escaped, while Amun vanished into the shadows. Amidst the chaos, the party discovered an unexpected casualty—an enigmatic cloaked figure, bearing a mysterious symbol-adorned ring. As they resumed their journey, Calandra was haunted by cryptic visions of her past, featuring a commanding green dragonborn figure, hinting at deeper mysteries yet to unfold. The party faced a dilemma as light shadow was turning into a werewolf under the full moon’s light. Luckily Horren noticed this with his elf perception and yelled out to the party that this was happening. Calondra tried to keep Light Shadow calm as she transformed. Light Shadow did however fully turn into a werewolf on top of the wagon Hygar jumped on top to knock her down but was grabbed mid jump by the back of his head and shoved face first into the top of the roof of the wagon. Horren used his magic chains to keep her down but she was able to break them. Garrick was able to use the moon beam spell to turn Light Shadow back into her tabaxi form and she was able to gain control of herself again. She was with Daebanise's help brought into the suitcase where she was safe from the full moons control. Light Shadow then used this opportunity while not being able to go back outside to teach Garrick and Calondra a new spell which was invisibility. Calondra learned quick but Garrick struggled with this spell making him frustrated. Meanwhile Everyone then got some rest and Hygar told Horren about another nightmare he had where this time Calondra was killed in a burning building. Horren then went off by himself to say a prayer to the stormlord which he got a message in the thunder. The Shadow Hunters then arrived at the gate of Kraghammer. the shadow hunters arrived to the gates of the dwarven city of Kraghammer. Two dwarf guards known as carvers were suspicious of them but another guard saw this and was able to talk them into letting them in. Calondra talked to him specifically to learn what she could and he told her that something dark was happening in Kraghammer. Garrick told the group about a good tavern for them to visit which was called Grims Fate which accepts outsiders. He also has a friend there named Calvary. When they get there Garrick helps Calvary pour group for his friends while Hygar, Calondra, and a dwarf have a drinking contest. Hygar wins, Calondra gets a little tipsy and the dwarf ends up passing out in a barrel. The group also meet a human creation bard named Wallie. He tells them that a powerful family in town called the Thunderbrands has been sending outsiders to the underdark to stop a great threat. Wallie then sends Drake Thunderbrand a message saying that there were more outsiders that could of use. Garrick asks Calvary if there are any people in town that could help his friend control a werewolf curse. She tells Garrick yes but she needs time to get a meeting set up and he agrees. Drake Thunderbrand then appears and fills the party on the fact that the city believes that a vampire is capturing and converting citizens of Kraghammer into his loyal mind-controlled servants known as thralls. The group mostly agree to help but say that they would first like to shop for their supplies and they set off to a store in the lower levels. as the Shadow Hunters journeyed deeper into Kraghammer's lower levels, they attracted the attention of curious locals watching their every move. Their path led them to a quaint magic and goods store known as The Deep Dweller, where they encountered Elsa, a female drow, and Myron, a deep gnome, who owned the establishment. The couple seemed pleasant enough, but their wares came at a steep price. During their visit, Hygar shared a stick figure drawing of a moose, hoping to gather information, but neither Elsa nor Myron recognized it. Despite the expensive merchandise, the party made a few purchases. However, Garrick grew frustrated with the high prices and left the store momentarily, only to return in the form of a rat using his wild shape ability, attempting to pilfer some items. In his haste, Garrick accidentally broke a growth potion, causing him to transform into a giant rat and then a giant cheetah. Calondra tried to play along with Garrick's antics, but when he fled, she managed to convince Elsa and Myron that they had no association with the transformed thief. Meanwhile, Garrick found himself pursued by a group of dwarf guards known as carvers, mounted on goats. Evading them in a dark alley, Garrick soon faced another group of guards, but these were revealed to be thralls under the control of an unknown entity claiming to be Oberath. The thralls captured Garrick, but the rest of the Shadow Hunters swiftly came to his rescue. In the ensuing confrontation, Light Shadow unleashed a fireball, incapacitating one of the carvers, while the others were subdued and examined. It was discovered that they bore a mysterious symbol carved into their heads. After removing the symbol and healing the thralls, the party brought them into the suitcase, where they were detained. The mystery of Oberath and the strange thralls lingered, casting a shadow of uncertainty over their next steps in Kraghammer's depths. Inside the suitcase, the party surrounded the thrall guard. Garrick, with some help from Hygar, lifted the prisoner with one hand. Using their combined intimidation, the group coerced the prisoner into revealing what he knew. He confessed that Oberath is a vampire turning the townsfolk of Kraghammer into his thralls. After gathering the necessary information, Light Shadow instructed her guards to take the prisoners to the prison. Garrick then discussed with Light Shadow the idea of creating an interrogation room within the suitcase that would be enchanted with the Zone of Truth spell. They decided to wait until the suitcase realm could be altered. Meanwhile, Garrick and Horren left the suitcase to bring it to the Grims Fate tavern, where they could remove the prisoners for the suitcase to change overnight. First, they returned to The Deep Dweller to retrieve the wagon and Bloodshed, Horren's trusty dire wolf companion. While this was happening, Light Shadow led Hygar to an obstacle course she had created specifically for him. Hygar faced many challenges but easily overcame them, earning a shiny medal as a reward. Once Horren and Garrick arrived at The Grims Fate, Garrick asked his friend and innkeeper, Calvary, if they could use a room to hold prisoners. After explaining everything they had learned, she agreed to help. Eventually, everyone exited the suitcase with the prisoners, except for Calondra, who was deeply engrossed in her book about learning Deep Speech and didn't notice the others leaving. The party tied up the two prisoners together and prepared for their next steps. the Shadow Hunters continued to keep watch of the prisoners inside Grims Fate while Light Shadow had her guards throw Calondra out of her suitcase. Calondra wasn’t a huge fan of this, however, so once she got thrown out she put the suitcase on top of a cabinet inside the storage room to prank Dark and Light Shadow. Horren at this time was flirting with Calvary the innkeeper and good friend of Garrick. Garrick then started to cook and the rest of the party followed suit but they all learned that none of them were very good at it. Calondra had the best luck because she was the only one that made something that could be seen as passable. Meanwhile, Dark and Light Shadow were chowing down on magically made Lasanga which ofcourse was very good. Then dark shadow came out of the magical suitcase noticed where it was at but did an incredible flip and landed right before the suitcase came down and she was trapped inside because the cabinet was on top of her. Then Garrick and Hygar lifted the cabinet and freed Dark Shadow. She was not very happy with Calondra but decided to go on a shopping trip to acquire some items. the shadow hunters woke the sleeping Hygar by pouring a barrel of water on him. Once awake Hygar noticed that Dark Shadow didn't have her boots and after Dark Shadow explained the situation Hygar was convinced that someone named Taylor had her boots and Hygar was going to help her get them back. Hygar proved to the group how powerful his magic is by creating a fog cloud, blinding everyone, and running out the front door. Everyone else in their own way made their way out of the dog except Daebanise who got stuck under a barrel and stayed back in Grim's Fate.Before Horren left he gave Calvary one of his Thunderbird earrings, she was impressed. Calandra met up with Dark Shadow outside the inn and asked permission to go back inside the suitcase, to explore her library. Dark Shadow allowed so they found an alleyway so she could go in. Meanwhile, Garrick arrived at a general store where he was shopping for unique items, it wasn’t long before Horren joined him. Garrick, in his frustration of finding what he was looking for, dimmed the store's torches. Garrick took a magic button that could stay wherever you press it. After this Horren and Garrick started to head towards The Deep Dweller after rescuing some locals from their trusty dire wolf companion Bloodshed. While this was happening Hygar met up with Dark Shadow and tried to help her find out where Taylor, who had her boots, was located. Finally one of the leather workers in the shop the same one who took Calondra and Dark Shadows orders gave him a fake identification card since Hygar demanded to see his identification and the fake card said that his name was Taylor Taylor so Hygar was satisfied as long as Mr. Taylor Taylor eventually gave magic kitty (Dark Shadow) back her boots. At the deep dwellers, Horren got himself a magic orb that could keep Bloodshed safe in locations where he couldn’t run free. On their way back, Horren and Garrick talked about getting the suitcase changed sooner rather than later but for that to work, Dark Shadow needs to sleep, so Horren gave Garrick some of his haze root to put on a donut to have her fall asleep sooner. Eventually the entire party made it back to Grims Fate, although Calondra was still within the suitcase. Many of them noticed that as they entered that there was a new dwarf inside talking to Calvary, he had brown clothing and glowing orange pupils. in the Grims Fate inn where Garrick tried to get Dark Shadow to eat a donut with haze root sprinkled on it in hopes that she would fall asleep. Luckily Garrick came clean and told her that he had put the haze root on it so that her falling asleep would have the suitcase realm change. Before the conversation continued Dark Shadow noticed a new person behind the bar talking to Calvarly and she had a feeling she knew who it was so she approached. It was in fact who she thought it was Thorin the dwarven fellow that Calvarly told her would be able to train her on how to control her werewolf side. They both introduced each other and Thorin told her that he needed to take her to a disclosed location to start her training and she could take a couple of people. Calandra was currently in her suitcase inside her necklace but Dark Shadow told Thorin, she also chose Garrick to come because of his amazing moon-related abilities and Daebanise for emotional support. She asked Hygar to pick up Calandra's whip and dark shadows boots while she was gone and he agreed. Horren followed the group while invisible and nobody knew. Before leaving Garrick left behind The Verdant Guardian to watch the prisoners in the storage closet. Thorin brought the group down to a secret area a couple of levels below the main city level. Thorin then told Dark Shadow that to begin the process she would need to take a potion made with moonbloom to help her control her werewolf side. He then offered her the potion. At this point, Calandra had come out of the necklace and was surprised to see where she was but was caught up by Garrick and Dark Shadow. Meanwhile, Hygar had picked up what he needed but decided to test out Calandra’s new whip on a dwarf and it worked, he did not get in trouble, many of the dwarves were having a good time and quite enjoyed Hygars company. Back in Thorin's layer, Dark Shadow had taken the potion and had fallen asleep, Garrick helped Thorin chain her up in case she turned into a werewolf overnight. The rest of the group decided to take this time to rest themselves. Dark Shadow did in fact turn into a werewolf but she also stayed asleep. Horren while invisible woke up from his trance to see that Thorin was in werewolf form and attacked but luckily the conflict ended soon and they both realized they were on the same side. Thorin was frustrated with Horren but he could understand where he was coming from and that he truly was trying to help. In the morning the group bickered over being more on guard and Garrick defended himself over not saying anything when he realized Dark Shadow had transformed into a werewolf blamed Daebanise for not saying anything and instead she at the time cuddled the beast. Once Dark Shadow was awake and no longer a werewolf Thorin told her that although what he initially gave her was in fact a sleeping potion the original potion he mentioned was real, he just needs more moonbloom plants that can only be found in the Underdark, once she brings him some of that he will be able to help her further. Calandra and Dark Shadow agreed to get some when they go down there. The group then headed back to Grims Fate where Hygar had been waiting for them, when Calandra asked him why it was bloody he told her that he had to test it out first. The shadow hunters had just returned from Thorins layer and arrived at Grims fate. The group then decided that some of them would bring the prisoners into the suitcase and into the prison within it in order to bring them to the room with the zone of truth spell. Hygar, Calandra, Daebanise, Dark shadow and light shadow were the ones that were there while Garrick and Horren stayed in the tavern discussing their next move. In the cell most of the party besides Daebanise were affected by the truth spell which meant they could not lie but neither could the prisoners. The party then learned a bunch of secrets from the prisoners like how many there were in the city and the underdark. After receiving the information the party returned to the real world. Horren then told Garrick that he was heading to the secret tunnel in order to scout ahead but Garrick was too caught up in making one of his inventions that he didn’t grasp Horrens plan until after the fact. So when the rest of the shadow hunters asked him where Horren was he realized that it might not have been a great idea to let him go alone. Horren ended up getting Elsa one of the shop keep of the Deep Dweller to lead him to the secret tunnel . Once in the tunnel Elsa stayed near the entrance and Horren moved forward on his own. Soon thanks to Horrens great elven eyes we was able to spot movement in a small waterbed within the cavern and although he was invisible it seemed as though whatever was in there were aware of him as well. Horren jumped right into the water only to be attacked by the fish people. One of the fish people grabbed him and held him underwater while the others attacked even so it was difficult for them to land a powerful blow on him. In fact we was able to kill two of them while holding his breath and being held. He got out of the water with only one left but luckily from the darkness Calandra shot an arrow and finished off the last fish person. After collecting the supplies and taking the bodies the group made their way back to Hygar and Garrick. the Shadow Hunters reunited outside the entrance to the caverns leading to the Underdark. Horren, Calandra, and Dark Shadow filled Garrick, Hygar, and Daebanise in on what creatures they faced within the caverns. The group then exited the tunnels and ended back behind the Deep Dweller where they purchased some more items for their journey. Horren found Bloodshed and ushered him inside his haven stone. Once the group acquired all the precautions they thought they needed they headed back into the tunnel to reach the underdark. It didn’t take long for the group to arrive to where Horren had gotten before with Hygar and Daebanise struggling to see and relying on Calandra’s radiant light or The Verdant Guardian’s less-lit green glowing crystal. The group all successfully jumped over the small creek where Horren had fought the fish people. While the party gathered around the bonfire that Garrick had summoned, Calandra had found a chest that she was able to picklock open and inside she found a strange-looking key. The two rogues both inspected it wondering what it could do. Calandra slipped it in her pouch before returning to the group. The party sat around Garrick's bonfire discussing many things such as Dark Shadow's attempt to get the party to trust the Shadow Assassins and the group's overall loss of important family members. Horren ended up leaving the conversation to approach the large dead arachnids. Soon Hygar joined him as well and successfully removed their venom sacks dipping his blade in one to cover it with its corrosive stench. Other party members took their pick of elements of the dead beasts. The group soon arrived to a creaking bridge, the same one that Horren had blasted earlier when scaring the fish people below. Horren went first, easily teleporting across. As the rest of the group attempted to cross the bridge The Verdant Guardian made a miss step and fell off the bridge but Hygar wasn’t having it so he used the rope that Horren gave to him to help him cross and jumped off after him forcing Horren to hold on as Hygar grabbed onto the 8 foot construct. This was too much for Hygar however but Calandra was quick to act and through her whip spear into construct but even with the might of Dark Shadow and Daebanise holding onto her to pull him out was not enough so Light Shadow took command and flew down to The Guardian just in time to cast fly on him as well before coming back up. After everyone was across Calandra had to have a talk with the group about having better communications. As the party moved further into the cavern they came to another tunnel where Calandra peaked into but noticed nothing dangerous, just another dead giant spider. The party fought their way through the cavern as they approached their entrance to the Underdark. This did not come without it’s complications as giant spiders swarmed the group knocking out Daebanise right away before being healed by Light Shadow as she rode around a giant spider she was able to grapple with her sword whip. Hygar found himself in a spiderweb but ended up killing the spiders within it as Calandra burned the web. After Hygar along with other party members started to finish off the spider that attacked Daebanise before she casted sleep on it. The group then continued through the cavern dispatching spiders along the way. Horren then saved Light Shadow from the Queen spider by getting her in the suitcase and making it across the bridge that Calandra soon destroyed to keep the spiders from following. At this point only Garrick, Calandra, and Horren were left outside the suitcase as they got ever closer to the ladder that descended to the underdark but first they come up against skeletal dwarven guards, at this point Hygar was warming up for the next big fight in the suitcase while Dark Shadow attempted to take the edge off with some moonshine but it hit her too hard and she quickly became intoxicated and stripped down hear armor and magic cloak before running off to the gambling hall with Light Shadow tailing behind her trying to drag her back to the entrance. Luckily Light Shadow was able to catch up when Dark Shadow stopped to vomit which gave Light Shadow the opportunity to start to drag the woozy Dark Shadow back. Meanwhile, Calandra, Horren, and Garrick had finished off the skeletons, looted what they could and made their way down the ladder which took a solid 10 minutes of climbing down. The atmosphere was much different down here, it smelled of fungi and everyone could see their breaths. Calandra was the first to notice that the group was being watched. the party had just entered the Underdark with Horren, Calandra, and Garrick chasing a small creature into a bioluminescent mushroom forest. Meanwhile, Daebanise and Dark Shadow worked through some stuff as Hygar did stretches to prepare himself for the next part of the journey. They all popped out of the suitcase as the party attempted to find a way through the forest. Horren could fey step across and found one of the moon bloom flowers needed for Thoren's potion. Still, Calandra quickly found out while getting stuck that the radiant light glowing from her eyes affected the mushrooms shrinking some that were in her way. Unfortunately some of the party members were effected by a gas that came off of the pinkish mushrooms and became blind so the group decided that those should stay in the suitcase while the rogues continued on the outside. Light Shadow while in the suitcase said a prayer to the archheart asking for guidance. Shortly after the group was ambushed by a group of derros one of which was the one that Garrick and Calandra were chasing. the party discovered one of their former companions, Amun, trapped in a cage within a Derro camp. After some tense discussion, Horren, while invisible, approached Amun and struck a deal—if Amun helped defeat Oberath, all the bad blood between them could be forgotten. Amun agreed to the terms, keeping Horren's presence and their agreement a secret. However, Calandra’s sharp eyes caught the slight movement of a plank beneath Horren's invisible feet, revealing his location. Soon after, the rest of the party caught on as well. Meanwhile, the wagons carrying Amun and supplies began to move as the buffalo-like creatures pulling them started forward. During this, Calandra noticed more movement to the west. Upon investigating, she discovered Visk, a Tiefling Runechild Sorcerer and member of Amun’s group. After speaking with him, she returned to the party and relayed what she had learned. Following Horren's request, through Amun, to keep Visk hidden from the Derros, Calandra returned and informed Visk of the plan. Just as Calandra rejoined the group, the ground beneath them began to tremble, signaling that something more was about to unfold. the party battled three Carrion Crawlers while traveling in the Underdark. The party expertly defeated them, Amun was even able to kill one while trapped in a cage. Garrick was a big ol bear and Hygar bent the bars to let Amun out and then bent them back in place when Calandra asked him to. Everyone tried to give Amun their weapons but he only wanted his feathered daggers so he could hide them on his person. Amun was able to nab the keys off of the head derro while Horren had him up against the cage and then sneak them to Dark Shadow which made it possible to unlock the chest and sneak his supplies into her suitcase and thanks to Hygars distraction was able to hand Amun his daggers. Calandra and Horren did butt heads as Calandra wanted to make the derros friends of the group while Horren wanted to have them fear them and swear allegiance to them much like how they did to Oberath. This worked but at what cost? Calandra disappeared from sight for a moment but then everyone heard approaching hooves as a group of dark elves approached one riding a large black steed with razor-sharp teeth. The female drow riding this cursed horse seemed to recognize Calandra and mentioned how she wasn’t surprised that she was still alive but curios that Enitor had not found her yet and then mentioned someone named Goliade and the session ended with Calandra asking “who’s Goliade?”. The party traveled with a group of dark elves one of which Calandra knew although she barely remembered her. Calandra re-learned much about her past like the name of her hometown and that the reason for her appearance and celestial nature was somehow tied to the goddess known as the Moonweaver or Seluna. The group then found a cave to rest in where Amun tamed a wild Grick right as two Cloakers emerged from the ceiling. Amun and Calandra were attacked and were grappled by these creatures but after doing some damage to their teammates the party was able to pulled the cloakers off of them. Some of the party took souvenirs for their troubles After that Light Shadow called for everyone to come over so they could discuss their next plans of action in stopping Oberath but mid-sentence she transformed into a werewolf. Amun not having of that began to cook dinner. Light Shadow did get a good hit on the leader of the Derros before being moon-beamed by Garrick, grappled by Hygar and punched into unconsciousness by Calandra. The group then prepared to rest with a few staying up to do a couple of things. Garrick had some projects and Calandra disappeared for a moment before returning. Horren had some discussions with Zenerith before beginning his trance. The party then planned for the attack on Oberath and freed their prisoners in order to fake capture one and have the other as a fake thrall of Oberath. the party were able to sneak past a large group of duegar and horrible hooked creatures and eventually ended up in small tunnels where they followed jelly fish-like creatures until they were brought about 500 feet outside of Oberaths fortress. The group's plan was then put into action as most of the party went into the suitcase beside Horren and Colondra who both turned invisible and stayed on the wagons as the derro convinced the guards one being a fire giant that they were brining a prisoner to be converted to Oberaths army. It worked and they let them in. The group were brought outside of the prison that Lester (the halfling that Colondra and Dark/Light shadow were searching for) was being held. Horren decided that first he wanted to scout out Oberaths throne room. As Colondra and Horren walked in invisible and discussed their plans they both heard a screeching voice in both of their heads saying “If we’re done playing games, lets get started” A hush fell over the immense obsidian throne chamber of Oberath the Dreaded, a place choked with sulfur and lit by the molten lava flowing beneath its metal-grated floors. Towering bone pillars lined the chamber, etched with the names of Oberath’s fallen enemies. At the far end, atop a spiked dais, the necromancer-lord himself sat with twisted calm.
Unseen by the skeletal sentries or the mindless drow guards, Horren Vol and Colondra crept into the chamber under the veil of invisibility. Every step was calculated, silent—until Oberath's head snapped to the side. His eyes, twin green infernos, narrowed.
"Enough games," he hissed. His voice echoed with malevolent power. “You’re not as hidden as you think.”
The ruse was up.
With a flick, the magical suitcase carried by Colondra clicked open—and the rest of the party spilled out. In the chaos, Amun grabbed Colondra, shoving her back into the case. Wings bursting forth, he flew them to a shadowy ledge above the fray. There, half-hidden behind a stack of forgotten crates and a dusty barrel of dwarven fire-whiskey, Amun cracked a grin and got to work turning the flammable liquid into makeshift Molotovs.
Down below, Horren Vol, fury burning in his emerald eyes, let out a war cry and barreled toward Oberath. Two skeletal guards barred his path—he rammed straight through them, sending their brittle bodies clattering into the lava below. With a ghostly blade in each hand, he struck at two of Oberath’s captains, their infernal armor ringing out under the force of his blows.
Behind him, Light Shadow knelt and radiated a soft, silvery aura. The calming energy pulsed outward, ready to knit wounds and pull allies back from the brink of death. Dark Shadow, ever the silent watcher, faded into the shadows—ready to strike with lethal precision.
Then came a growl from the rear of the chamber. Garrick Clearspring, the satyr druid, raised his staff and summoned eight obsidian-coated panthers. They hissed and snarled as they leapt into battle, tearing into the undead ranks with shadowy fangs.
Oberath raised his clawed hand—and unleashed hell.
A wave of psychic force exploded from him. Horren’s momentum faltered. Garrick froze, wide-eyed, as all his summoned beasts disintegrated in a blink of green fire. The drow allies screamed as Oberath conjured a toxic cloud of necrotic gas, blanketing the battlefield. Light Shadow barely had time to react—grabbing Daebanise, she teleported them both out of the poisonous haze and reappeared closer to her stunned allies.
Through the smoke, Hygar Steelhelm, unmoved by the mental assault, charged forward. Just as he reached Oberath, a sharp crack rang out from above—Amun’s rifle struck true, burying a round deep into Oberath’s shoulder.
Shaking free of the stun, Garrick howled and transformed into a monstrous, horned fey gorilla, bounding toward Oberath—but betrayal struck. A shot from behind pierced his side. One of their allies—someone trusted—had turned on them.
The form of the gorilla twisted and collapsed. Garrick reverted to his normal self, just as Hygar, with the help of his loyal ice drake Frevnur, tackled Oberath into the lava below.
Flames and fury erupted. Colondra, still above, loosed explosive arrows into the chaos. Each blast tore through Oberath's minions—and one lucky shot crumbled a wall, revealing a hidden chamber glittering with treasure.
But Oberath would not die so easily.
He emerged from the lava, flesh burning but eyes blazing, and with a savage roar, conjured a wall of force that hurled Hygar back into the molten pit. But Garrick, now a giant serpent, slithered into action. With the aid of his summoned stone golem, he became a living rope—pulling Hygar to safety.
Frevnur, enraged, leapt from Hygar’s shoulder and slammed into Oberath, knocking him into the lava once more.
This time, before Oberath could escape—Horren Vol broke free of the stun.
His face twisted with pain and vengeance, he dove into the lava after Oberath. Wreathed in burning ghostlight, Horren plunged his spectral blade through the necromancer’s heart, pinning him to the stone below.
Oberath shrieked, a final scream that echoed across the Underdark—and then he was gone.
The chamber trembled. The threat was ended.
Horren, his body burned and broken, floated limply in the lava’s edge. But Amun and Light Shadow dove to retrieve him, pulling him to safety, their magic barely keeping his soul tethered to his scorched form.
The Dreaded had fallen.
And the Underdark… was free.