Session Preface
"Of course, come in, come in."
Thava opens the door, inviting you into the entry way of her Augurium living quarters. The room is messy, with robes and blankets strewn across the floor and furniture while flatware and books sit scattered across the central table. The room itself is adorned simply in comparison to her parent's home, with a pair of faded tapestries adorning opposite walls and a single patterned rug across the stone floor.
"I, uh, sorry, I didn't realize I'd be having company. We'll need to make some space for the ritual," grabbing piles of robes and tossing them blindly into her bed chamber, shutting the door as she continues, "Vorothruun, would you help me move this table?"
Pushing the table into the far corner of the room, Thava points to the carpet and asks, "Would one of you roll that out of the way as well? I'll need to work on the bare stone. Let me fetch my materials and then I can begin."
As you finish rolling the carpet onto itself, you see the stone floor beneath to be scarred with various runes and symbols drawn over one another, creating a strange web of scratches like splintered glass across the surface.
Thava returns shortly, carrying in a book with haphazard notes sticking out, five candles, some thin strips of fabric, a double bladed dagger with one razor sharp edge while the opposite is blunted and worn, as well as an almost empty jar of a reflective, sparkling dust.
"I'll be able to protect you from Divination magic, but the spell is typically only designed for one person. For me to spread it across each of you, I'm gonna have to well, improvise a bit. But I think it'll work. In theory. But it means you'll only have a few hours before the effect's fade. Regretfully, I only have enough ground diamond for one casting, so you'll need to make the time you have count."
Thava spreads her materials out, creating a straight line of the four candles in front of her, with the fifth remaining at her side. One by one, she uses the dull end of the dagger and scratches a series of symbols into her stone floor in front of each candlestick. Then, she carves the same runes into the side of each of the candle and lights the wicks.
For several moments, there is stillness as she concentrates intensely on her notes, muttering to herself as if in a trance. Without taking her eyes off the tome, she gracefully clasps the jar of diamond dust, sprinkling the contents into her open palm. With methodical precision, she slowly fills each carved runic symbol with the ground diamonds until each is once again perfectly level with the floor.
"Each of you, come, take one of these candles and hold it in your right hand."
"Now, when I take hold of the flame, I need each of you to place your right thumb on the sigil inscribed into the wax and hold your left hand to your forehead. Whatever you do, do not let go of the candle."
Thava once again draws the blade, flipping it nimbly in her hand to the razor sharp edge. With a single sharp inhale, she slices her palm open. She releases a sudden exhale as she drops the dagger, grits her teeth, and squeezes blood onto the floor. As if sentient, the blood trickles its way into the grooves dug into the stone floor.
"Place your thumb on the rune, now! And keep it there!"
As the blood coalesces with the diamond dust, Thava uses her still bleeding hand to clasp the fifth candle, tilting it, and setting the bloody diamond mixture ablaze. She then holds her hands to flame and begins reciting arcane verses once more. As the runes in the floor begin the burn with bright light, so too do each of the candles before you burst to life with tongues of flame licking at your skin.
What was a small, flickering flame seconds ago erupts into what feels like holding a wildfire. Tou continue to grip the candlestick as tightly as you can, holding the rune firm to your thumb. Burning hot wax spills over your hands, searing hot as the smell of burning flesh rises to your nose. As the burning pain crescendos, the entire candle disintegrates, leaving your hands empty. As you turn them over, your flesh is unmarred from the flames or wax, but you see the rune now etched onto the thick of your thumb. A kinetic surge of energy flows from your fingers, through your shoulder, up your neck, and binds itself in the back of your mind, pulsing softly.
Thava lets out an elongated breath and using her good hand and her teeth, wraps her sliced, soot-covered palm in the strips of fabric, slowing the bleeding.
"Now, Vorothuun... what is this all about?"
Session Summary
The party uses the protection of the ritual to explain the gravity of the situation and recent events to Thava and Bronzeroar. As the party and Justiciar rush to find Dradke before he can destroy any further evidence, Thava remains behind to cast another ritual to scry on the High Priest. When the party returns to the Temple, they find a peculiarly agreeable and remorse Dradke, who accepts his arrest peacefully. Realizing immediately this to be a fraud of some kind, the party let Bronzeroar take the likely to be shapeshifter into custody while they reconnected with Thava who saw the true Dradke somewhere underground, shroud in shadow. She also mentions that Grellen has some intel regarding Dradke, but it would be safer to speak in person.
When the party returns to Thava's quarters, Grellen reveals he helped Dradke leave, as the High Priest said he was teleporting to the destination as the gems on business matters. Grellen didn't realize he was escaping at the time, but before Grellen is able to share more, he suffers the same fate as Srindrac and falls lifeless to the floor. A distraught Thava mourns, while realizing such magic should not be possible unless a powerful artifact, perhaps the Augury, were used. Though emotionally traumatized, Thava aids the party in activating the teleportation circle and agrees to communicate the situation to a small circle of trusted individuals and city leaders. Before parting, Thava clasps Vorothruuns hand, begging him to return as she can not face more loss already, and gives him her engagement ring, which contains a single charge of the spell Spare the Dying within it, a romantic gesture on Grellen's part.
Stepping through the teleportation circle's aura, the party arrives in an entry-less stone room with dusty wooden floors. A deep voice behind them bids them welcome and as they turn, they notice the four tentacles dancing just below the figure's hood. Introducing itself as Szzvket, the Illithid offers to grant them access to the Underdark trading outpost of Mantol-Derith in exchange for a secret. Vorothruun reveals the recent events leading to Cyric's work in the material plane and the Illithid allows them passage, opening an invisible door to them, and encouraging them to bring him a fresh delicacy as an additional payment.
Stepping out into streets, the party finds themselves in a massive open cavern with a series of low-ceiling structures connected by bridges and tunnels around small rivers, waterfalls, and standing pools of water. As they walk, the party takes note of drow, deep gnomes, bugbears, and duergar in large numbers with a scattering of surface dweller races. Enticed by the inviting scent of charred fish, the party stumbles into the central market place, where a variety of goods are available and vying for attention.
Primarily, Endriel's eyes are drawn to a deep gnome who is selling a myriad of potions, scrolls, and gems, some of which are the Platinum Gems of Avraathe, but these seem to be filled with their own source of energy. After making a few purchases, Vorothruun inquires as to the nature of the gems at which point the merchant, Kassawar explains how Blingdenstone has been revitalized by the production of these arcane charging gems after a drow named Uthegentel helped free the city from the monsters which had overrun their caverns. Thanks to an artifact provided by the previous Weaponmaster, the city has expanded their magical production capabilities and are seeing a new boon of commercial success and growth.
While Vorothruun speaks to the merchant, Endriel and Parathrax notice a Kuo-toa watching them strangely. Sneaking up and surrounding the creature, it introduces itself as Bibble and explains that the last dragonborn who came to the city wanted a boat and so Bibble assumed they too would want a boat. Though clearly insane, the party eventually manage to strike a deal with Bibble that in exchange for a baubble, the only form of payment Bibble (or Babble, depending on when you ask) accepts, he and his crew will take them across Darklake to Blingdenstone. For his payment, Bibble chooses a precious diamond. Thankfully, the drow jeweler takes pity on the party and gives them a small discount on the gem in exchange for a second purchase.
With their transportation secured, the party ventures to the most prominent tavern in two - The Nameless Inn. Within, Endriel recognizes a Harper with short red hair by the name of Rystia. The two share a quick drink and make arrangements to meet upstairs privately so as to not ruin Rystia's cover within the Zhentarim. She confirms much of the information already learned in the market, and shares that Dradke hired a small unit of Zhentarim mercenaries to serve as guards on his trip, which embarked two days ago. Further, she shares a small package of goods with Endriel, including Aberration Arrows, barbed arrows designed specifically for the lurking threats of the Underdark, as well as Sailorcap mushrooms, which provide buoyancy properties for a limited time. With this intel and supplies in hand, the party sets out for Blingdenstone with their Kuo-toa crew.
The first day of travel goes relatively smoothly despite the jarring nature of the Underdark strange passage of time and constantly limited vision. Vorothruun reaches out to Ragnalla, communing regarding the concerning possible involvement of Cyric. When Vorothruun questions Malus' return, Ragnalla responds, communicating:
THE SMALLEST MIND DOES NOT SEE THE WHOLE OF A TRUTH A NET CAST WIDE CATCHES MUCH BUT LOSES THE SMALLEST THREADS WASHING ASHORE OF THE EDGE OF ALL DARKNESS
Parathrax also spends time in meditation with Bahamut, sensing a warm and radiant closeness of presence and a sense of certainty regarding their next steps along this journey.
The next, however, the party awakes suddenly as the ship comes to a stop and lurches from side to side. Rushing to the main deck as the Kuo-toa run in the opposite direction, a pair of massive tentacles rise over the side of the boat and threaten to bring down the entire ship. As the massive aboleth strikes out against the party, they each hear the telepathic welcome.
"It's useless to resist. Your struggles have ended. Your prior life is over. Your future now is as a servitor of us. Relish the newfound peace we have granted you as you swim amidst the black seas of infinity."
The party finds themselves nearly overwhelmed as the Aboleth grapples them with their tentacles and then uses its psionic connection to transfer damage dealt to it back into the grappled targets. As the fight ensues, allies of the Aboleth like Giant Crabs and a Chuul board the ship, complicating matters.
As it grows increasingly desperate as the battle lingers on, the Aboleth uses its powerful telepathy to Command Parathrax to launch himself off the side of the boat. Though he is able to recover control and return to the ship, the Aboleth makes one final attempt at claiming the paladin by ripping him overboard with a tentacle and swimming deep into the depths below.
As Parathrax is dragged downward, he manages one wild swing of his blade and uses the radiant blessing of Bahamut to cleave through the tentacle gripping him as the Aboleth retreats in a furious disappointment. As Parathrax works his way to the surface, Endriel and Vorothruun fight off the last of the crustacean threats. Once the deck is clear, Vorothruun dives into the water to find his brother while Endriel drops a rope for the both of them to climb back onto the boat.
Catching their breath, the heroes discuss the terror of the Aboleth and soon continue their journey towards Blingdenstone with a newfound anxiety regarding what next this unexpected journey into the Underdark may entail.
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