Sessions 0 to 1- Corruption in the Twelve
Sessions 0 & 0.5
Tyrael finds himself having trouble leaving with his boat because two of the crewmen have gone missing in the strange jungle of this island in the Siren Sea when they were taking a piss. He follows their tracks escaping a brief lizardfolk attack and a run-in with two giant boars. He sees a wall with images detailing the conflict between the lizardfolk and the sirens and is snuck up on by two lizardfolk who ask for his help getting rid of the sirens. He follows down the path they point out and hears fighting. Before he can step into a trap, Phil saves him. She helps him take down the siren and rescue the men. The lizardfolk are very gracious and help them to successfully leave the island. On their way back to Meletis, their boat is attacked by pirates. As Tyrael and Phil set sail to head back to Meletis, a gang of pirates attack. A pirate captain wannabe and his crew attack the ship to gain some clout in the pirating world. Looking to make a name for themselves and prove they have what it takes to take down a ship. The fight turns deadly for the pirate captain and the others quickly back off. They are able to make it successfully to Meletis. Phil tells him of her trip to another world and the convo with Nylea and he tells her about leaving the Cult of Erebos. For Tetra, she has just set out on her own after the death of her girlfriend that was quite mysterious (see her backstory/Iroas page) and comes across a man watching a woman fight off skeletons in the forest. This is Meelo. In the forest, a young woman named Ani (a neutral good, human acolyte) attempts to fight three skeletons. She cries out for assistance if the characters come within 20 feet. Even while under attack, Ani never strays far from the corpse of her brother, Nico, on whom she’s cast gentle repose. His body lays under a piece of linen. If the characters help Ani dispatch the skeletons, she thanks the party and asks for their help with another task: performing burial rites for her brother. Ani and her late brother are acolytes of Heliod. While traveling in the forest, they were ambushed by cultists of Erebos, God of the Dead; Nico was killed then cursed. As a result of the curse, his soul can’t face Athreos, God of Passage, to be admitted into the Underworld. Ani wants to perform the proper burial rites so Nico can be measured by Athreos and laid to rest. To do this, Ani must perform a ritual to remove the curse placed upon Nico’s body but worries that she’ll be attacked by skeletons again—more are imminent, and the frequent attacks have made it impossible for her to finish the task. Ani can perform the ritual while the characters fend off 2 skeletons or can help fight while the party performs the ritual on her behalf. Casting remove curse on Nico will end the curse, but if no character can cast that spell, a ritual must be completed in its stead. She’s already created a wreath of rosemary, sourced from the forest, which must be burned with sacred flame while speaking aloud the following words: A body to burn, ashes to keep, A bed of soil, eternal sleep, A life to offer, a soul to reap. Upon performing the ritual, Nico’s body glows golden and the effects of the curse and gentle repose are lifted. Characters who make a successful DC 14 Intelligence (Religion) check to confirm that his soul has passed on. Meelo and Tetra defend Ani as she casts the spell and he confirms that his soul is free. They head back to town, Meletis, because he feels he should tell Perisophia about this, and that seems as good a place as any to Tetra. On their way, they run across an apothecary selling healing potions for only a single gold. This sets both of them on edge. The pedlar is wearing Pharika's robes and when Meelo casts identify on it he picks up a healing potion with a little something he can't place at the back. They decide not to buy it. As they approach Krimnos, a settlement just before Meletis, they see strange stone statues. When they get closer they see that they are people in various states of fear or fleeing so they decide to ask about it in Krimnos. They learn that a gorgon went rampaging through the village and petrified all these people they killed it in the forested area behind the town. They investigate the body and learn that he was a guard of that very town who had consumed one of those mysterious "healing" potions. They tell the head guard of the village and try to see if they see the pedlar on the road, but they have vanished. Check with Ally's notes about the guard's name. They head into Meletis to rest and tell Perisophia what happened eventually. Tetra buys Meelo a drink at the bar. They chat a bit and then Tyrael and Phil come in.Session 1
After rumors hit the gang that tritons have been attacking the harbor at night, they can work to check it out and keep an eye to see if an attack occurs. Players can learn of the triton attacks by interacting with the locals. Some will note that the "pranks" of Phenax seem to be picking up because they've heard of these attacks, there is a beggar going around asking for help who's clearly been "touched," and the like. The players will be stopped by the beggar first and need to deal with his encounter and the curse upon him as detailed in the Love Is a Battlefield Encounter. When it does they can interact and fight the triton and sea spawn or they can attempt to discuss what is happening with the creature. The triton will be fidgety and hostile, much more beast-like than you'd expect. A successful DC 25 insight check is needed to determine that the triton is mind-controlled. Once the battle has finished the triton will gasp out with their last breath that they don't know where they are or how they got there. They have no idea what they've been doing. Meelo will strongly suggest bringing this up with Perisophia. They must meet with the council. Once there, when the players discuss this seeming unawareness of their actions on behalf of the triton, a few of the councilmen will become skittish. If the players pick up on this, Insight Check DC 12, they can press the two men for more information. They'll reveal, with persuasion, intimidation, violence, or orders from the council, that they were acting on behalf of their god, Phenax. In revealing this the lessen of the two cultists in disguise will attempt to attack Perisophia with a dagger. The dagger is a lost relic called Deception’s Edge, a dagger that enables the wielder to warp the minds of mortals. The players will see the council defend Perisophia and will be able to learn of the dagger and its abilities. The dagger will be kept by the council under lock and key for the time being. The councilmen who are corrupt will be arrested and the players will be told that new representatives will need to be chosen, but that takes some time. As the corrupt cultists of Phenax are being taken away, the players may question them a bit. If pressed convincingly, they will speak of being instructed by Phenax to corrupt the minds of the tritons to bring about chaos. They will note that Phenax said to instruct the tritons to go on a rampage and kill as many mortals in their path as possible until their own demise or the effect wears off, which the players will learn is eight hours after an identify ritual is complete. With this information, the players who are proficient in religion or know Phenax, especially Tyrael who may do so with advantage, may make a Religion Check DC 15 to determine that this doesn't sound like Phenax's typical MO. This desire for death and destruction can only be one of two gods truly Mogis or Erebos. Because Tyrael heard a priest of his old Temple of Erebos talk about something similar, he can piece together that this was likely actually Erebos. Tyrael does go down for a sec and Phil revives him. The confront the members of the council when one seems to act weird when bringing up the results of triton battle. The one attacks, the younger, and perishes when Perisophia strikes him down. The other is detained. They are rewarded for their efforts and they are escorted to the Brass Basilisk to rest.Backdrops
Locations
Meletis Harbor and the inner chambers of the Twelve of Meletis.
Plot type
Session Outline
Parent Plot
Related Characters
Related Organizations
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