The Return: Session #26
General Summary
The heroes caught their breathe after their battle with Mokmurian and searched his chambers.
Inside they found many books that included:
1) Mokmurian's spellbook
2) A journal of a military leader that served Karzoug during his reign
3) A pile of books about the ancient lost city of Xin-Shalast
The journal was open to an old map of the region that now is the Kingdom of Kaduna. There were notes about the location of something called a hellflume. It was built by the runelord Alaznist, and it sat at the current location of Barrowmista. Karzoug had been in the process to bribing a demon that controlled the hellflume for Alaznist, Lamech, to betray her and inform Karzoug about a weapon that could kill a runelord. The journal had no entries after that.
From Mokmurian's spellbook/journal, they also learned the stone giant raid on Barrowmista was to steal a stone from the ancient hellflume that could empower a runewell.
They left the library and found many of the recently freed kidnapped victims of Barrowmista awaiting them. Mokmurian had already killed Savah and some of the others are blood sacrifices to enter the library.
Bartuk used his magic to contact The Merry Legacy, and everyone returned home to what was left of Barrowmista.
Reading of the traitorous Lamech, Kurdan connected it to the vision he had that had first told him of the flume. The sought out the ruins of the old light house (now known as the hellflume) to find it under guard. Strange noises of jaguars had been heard below.
The heroes descended to find a strange grated runewell over a hole deep into the earth and entrances to other chambers.
Tiny Tymm identified the runewell as being able to pull fires from deep within the earth and use them as a weapon.
Two of the chambers contained an ancient arcane laboratory and map room, but the biggest chamber was a half collapsed fighting pit. A lion humanoid demon was chained to a silver pillar in the middle of the room. The creature growled menacingly at the heroes, but then recognized Tiny Tymm as a rune lord and groveled. He introduced himself as Lamech, but warned Tiny Tymm to flee with his "servants". They soon learned why when jaguars sporting snakes came from the shadows and attacked. The short brutal fight was easily won, but the creatures disappeared into mist as they died.
Lamech explained he had been imprisoned here since Alzanist learned of his planned treachery. She had forced him to fight different foes every day, but when she stopped showing... the jaguars kept appearing twice a day. Lamech had been forced to eat his own regenerating flesh to keep himself alive. With help from the maps found nearby, Lamech told the heroes where they could find the runeforge-- the location of Alzanist's deadly weapon. Alarmingly, Lamech said Karzoug's name during the conversation. The heroes wondered what the runelord might figure out.
The heroes returned to town to decide what to do about Lamech. The visited Brodert Quink, the Shung Historian, and learned the hellflumes were ancient towers that Alaznist would use to unleash molten rock upon her foes.
Seeking out Vulnademus. the heroes found the doddering old man helping wounded people in the cathedral. He offered little help, but Bartuk and Kurdan had joined Tiny Tymm in their suspiciouns that Vulnademus was hiding something. They attempted to use a few spells to force him to speak, but uncovered that the old hedge wizard was under some time of enchantment that enfeebled his mind.
Hoping for answers, the heroes decide to attempt to dispel the enchantment. Bartuk lit blue sapphire dragon dust around the old man's head, and Tiny Tymm attempted the ritual.
It worked with an immediate change in Vulnademus. The old man stood straighter with a clarity in his vision not seen before. He looked around as if waking from a long sleep. With a word, Vulnademus teleported away. The heroes worried what they may have unleashed, but took some solace in knowing that the old man would forget all about them and the encounter the moment he left the dragon dust.
Returning to Lamech, they freed the demon. They could not removed the chains due to silver spikes impailed through the demon, but Kurdan severed the chains.
While waiting for the moment they could follow Bartuk's divine prophecy, the heroes spent weeks helping Barrowmista rebuild. Bartuk's magic helped provide food and clean water, and they used the lute to rebuild damage structures and build new homes.
When the time came, the heroes found the well where future serial killing ghoul, Aldern Foxglove, had fallen through with his zebra steed. Filling the well with water, they nervously entered and drowned themselves.
They awoke in some distant place from Onitsha. They were at a crossroads in a cool pine forest. They had little time to consider where they were when Bellflower Sparkleweather came around the bend pulling a handcart. She recognized the heroes, but only as if they had just met at the Arrowsunder festival so many months ago. Confusion was growing when Susyn explained that some fey don't move in time as mortals do, and Bellflower must be one of them.
Bartuk took the opportunity to trade with the fey, and regained some intelligence... but traded some of his charm (and "funny" jokes) in exchange.
Tiny Tymm attempted a trade, but Bellflower was able to sense the tiefling wizard was trying to cheat her. It was on the verge of getting ugly when Kurdan interceded.
Kurdan explained his soul was damaged, and he wanted it healed. Bellflower admitted she could not do anything to help him, but she new who could. However, she suggested they were dangerous fey... and Kurdan should seek another means. Kurdan considered the warning, but decide the risk was worth regaining the axe he would need to face the runelords.
Making a deal, Bellflower led the heroes down the path and eventually stopped at a normal looking bush. She said they should enter through the bush, but once again suggest they reconsider.
They found traveling through the bush lead them to a deep underground lair. An insidious group of fey, called The Hollow, used the lair to operate and experiment on other creatures.
Through negotiations, the Hollow and Kurdan made a deal that in exchange for fixing his soul and their return home. In exchange, the Hollow would take Kurdan's name.
The surgery was a brutal affair. Paralyzed, but fully awake, Kurdan felt every moment of the vulture like creatures tearing through his body.
When nearly finished, the Hollow turned to Bartuk and Tiny Tymm and offered another deal. Kurdan would survive the surgery if the heroes would deliver a necklace to the Amir of Kaduna as a wedding gift to his bride.
They warned the heroes that the Hollow would know if they were betrayed, and that would turn out badly for Kurdan.
With little choice, the heroes accepted and took the ivory necklace.
The next moment, the heroes found themselves waking by the well, and Kurdan was able to summon his magical axe once more.
Rewards Granted
Momurian's spellbook
Mace +2
Bag of Holding (with 12k gold)
Ioun Stone (+1 ac)
Ring of Concentration
The following books:
• An Accounting of the Holdings of Greater Shalast
• A Sculptor’s Guide to the Fleshpots of Xin-Shalast
• Lord of Wealth: Karzoug’s Trade and Conquests
• Tributes to Karzoug, with Accountings and Predictions
• Whispers from the Beyond
• Spires of Gold—The Rise of Xin-Shalast
• Karzoug: Lord of Lords and Master of All
• The Face above Xin-Shalast—A Lord in Primal Stone
• A Traveler upon the Golden Road
• The Golden Legion: A History of Auric Fleshworks
Missions/Quests Completed
The heroes learned the location of a weapon that can kill runelords and were able to heal Kurdan's soul.
Character(s) interacted with
Report Date
15 Aug 2021
Primary Location
Comments