Dark Deeds
The following morning you all come to consciousness in your respective locations.
Your sleep is interrupted by hushed voices speaking quietly but frantically, Your eyes open in the foyer of the rectory as you see 3 knights along with Kevyn whom you met last knight, hurriedly donning their armor and weapons as they move past you out the door to the outside. They were accompanied by someone not dressed in armor or the robes of this order.
A bright day greets you as the humans in the nearby abbey begin their day. You see a group of 3 knights along with Kevyn briskly walking out of the chapel rectory and moving towards Shieldhearth. It appears that they are being led by some sort of villager or commoner, it is a middle aged woman and she stands out from the group as she is not in armor or any robes just plain clothing.
If they join:
You briskly walk beside them as they move towards shieldhearth.
Questions:
"This woman has said that several of her patrons saw something last night stalking the outskirts of the town. They pursued it but it vanished. Now they are all suffering from some sort of illness. They are growing sores all over their body and some are succumbing to madness. We are going to investigate and see what information we can gather.
You arrive to a plain stone building. You cross through the threshold and immediately are hit with the stench of sickness and death. It is a Tavern, hastily converted into a makeshift hospital. Inside you see a gentleman presiding over several people laid out on tables and booths, they are writhing in pain. This appears to be the healer of the town.
:upon closer examination:
The people are just racked with pain. They flail and writhe in their beds crying out in utter torment. They are covered in these hideous looking oozing red sores. Some of the sores appear to be crystalline in appearance. they shine and glisten in the light and appear to be hard.
Holfeld: "They've been growing worse all night. No remedies seem to abate their condition. This is unlike anything I've seen in my life. Some of their sores have a gem-like appearance with flecks of silver and gold which is truly remarkable. I'm afraid this is beyond my healing capabilities."
The three soldiers who accompanied Kevyn exit the tavern with looks of revulsion on their faces.
"we're going to keep watch outside. Make sure no civilians enter the tavern."
Kevyn nods in agreement.
At this time, you notice the loud moans and wails of the infirmed around you begin to slowly fade in a uniform decrescendo. You watch as gradually each one of the patients lets out one final weak wimper and fall limp and silent. Their bodies unmoving. The healer checks them and gives a grave headshake to Kevyn. "They are gone. succumbed to their illness"
Suddenly, the lifeless bodies begin to jerk and move. Bones crack and skin sloughs off as they begin stirring and coming back to life. They begin a process of metamorphosis right before your eyes as Their humanoid forms begin turning into these hideous, malformed abominations. Their gemlike soars turn to blood red pustules. You watch as they begin to rise from their beds.
::Encounter vs. 6 Abyssal Plague Demons::
When the fighting has died down check to see who has contracted Abyssal Plague. Clear the dead and begin their Journey.
Kevyn: "Thank you for your assistance in dealing with that. It appears your talk of demons last night proved true. You said you had a letter for me? From my sister?"
Kevyn reads the letter intently.
"This is truly dire. You said you saw this, avatar of Tharizdun? What did it look like?"
"Well I thank you for bringing this warning to our outpost. I hope we are not too late to act. I will send scouts to the other stations and see how many we can bring together to combat this force. My fear is it is going to get far worse..
Could I ask a favor? Could I scribble a note for Rosalind and have you drop it off with her when you're back in the south again? She seemed quite worried about me. I just wish to assuage her fears. I can pay for your trouble?"
The Party was told where to find another being powerful enough to destroy the artifacts of Tharizdun. The Demigod Cruachan told them to search in the Highborn forest in the Elder Isle.
You stand at the entrance to the high born forest. cries of beasts of all shapes and sizes are audible within. There is a quaint tranquility and a dark foreboding hanging over the atmosphere within these woods. You venture within
::DC 16 Perception Check/Survival Check to find traces of footprints.:: ::Higher than 20 will notice footprints of something following your party.::
::encounter Party Vs. 3 Invisible Stalkers::
You enter a clearing in the forest that seems to be a shrine of some sort. Statues of humanoid figures are dotted around this grove.
DC10 Investigation - Many of the statues are startlingly life like. The amount of detail that went into these figures would have taken a real master carver.
Some of their faces are frozen in looks that range from terror to bewilderment.
You suddenly hear a faint hissssss behind you.
::Encounter Party Vs. Basilisk::
You reach a broken down tower in the woods. It is crumbling and looks long abandoned. It is no taller than the treeline around it but stands mostly in tact below that. You hear snickering coming from inside.
"Ahhh Visitorssss. Come inside and stay a while."
A hunched over emaciated looking old man emerges from within. He is pale, gaunt Humanoid looking with white thin wiry long hair and white eyes - pupils and corneas visibly missing. He's dressed in tattered black robes that seems to hang off his bones.
"You have come a great distance to see me yes? you look weary. Come inside, yes? rest your bodies and souls."
You enter the sparsely furnished tower. a shelf with ancient poorly kept books hangs upon it. A dirty couch sits in front of a fireplace that looks like it hasn't been lit in centuries.
The figure takes a seat in an equally decrepit chair
((Some discussions will be had. The Devil will ask for their souls in exchange for destroying the relics.))
"My name is Adonias. You have something you wish to be rid of, yes?"
He looks over the artifacts.
"I can be rid of these for you. But what will you offer in return??"
"Life is... sacrifice. yes? We must give up that which we care deepest for. Tell me. What is it you care deepest for?"
Stornghorn - You love the woods and guard nature fiercely. Would you burn down a forest to acquire that which you desire most?
Caer - You too care deeply for living things. But you have ended the lives of others. Their deaths were necessary, yes? They were evil men yes? Would you kill an innocent with the same fervor? Can you do this to reach your goals?
Vestrin - You are strong, yes? You have always used your strength and skill to protect those you care for. But now you care for no one. Not even yourself. Why waste your skill on nothing? Sacrifice your strength to a cause more worthy than yourself. (Lose strength points)
Soleio - You - the person you once were is gone. What you see in the mirror is not who you truly are. You long to return to who you once were. But would you Give up the ability to return to your former self? Does your ambition outweigh your regret.
Phillip - You are one who lives... deliciously yes? You have one foot in the darkness, one foot in the light. You are destined to spend your after life down there. But you wish to spend as much time on this plane as possible in hedonistic debauchery. Would you sacrifice your indulgences for the greater good? Live a life of pious rigidity in the name of doing what you must? (Lose charisma points)
Shitboy - "Youuuuu hahaha. You have sacrificed much already. Family, love, Your own identity. You are tied to the darkness. There is nothing you could offer me. I would give you back what you lost hahaha. I can show you the way, yes? what say you?
::If the party gives him the artifacts.::
"very good. I require time to concentrate on the spell to destroy the item."
He then proceeds to attune to the dagger and will attack the party with it.
::If the party refuses::
He will attack the party with his own weapons and spells.
Once he is dead. the party can explore the tower which ends abruptly on a spiral staircase.
A DC10 Investigation/Perception check will reveal a hatch that is locked
If they don't meet the required DC:
You hear a banging coming from under floorboards. A hatch moves up and down as if someone is pushing it from below. It stops short as it has a pad lock attached to it.
::DC 18 to pick:: AC10 5hp to break
Beneath you see a dingy cellar with a staircase leading down. At the bottom you see an asexual looking being with long hair down over their face. Their clothes are torn and tattered and their back has two white feathered wings folded in at the moment. The hair falls away as they look up at you.
"Please" weakly escapes their lips as collapse down to the floor of the cellar.
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