Session 20: Riddles in the Dark

General Summary

The Party arrived at the base of the landmass what seemed like many hours later. True to what Thamior believed, the sediment pattern in the rock indicated that it was not natural to the area, but had in fact fallen upon the earth. The mountain of earth lay sideways across the desert, and spanned miles from one side to the other. In this place, as well, the sun did not move in the sky; a perpetual dawn covering the world around them.

Rocks Fall.. Everyone Dies

Investigating the perimeter of the massive landmass revealed a large piece of broken rock, under which Ellitock discovered a piece of fabric, the color long since bleached away by the elements. Use of the Mending cantrip returned the fabric to its original luster, revealing a purple swatch of cloth similar to the tunic once worn by Kain. Panic set in to the Party, thinking Kain was buried beneath the dislodged earth. Thamior invoked his druidic magic to move away the rock, but Kain was not there. The Party continued their trek along the mountain base until they eventually found an ancient tunnel leading into the large rocky landmass. The tunnel entrance was adorned in markings and ancients scripts around its edges; understanding the ancient language revealed that the orientation of the runes was off by 90 degrees. Moving into the tunnel, the Party eventually came into a large cavern. The cavern opens into a larger space; a single obelisk staood erect in the center. Thamior investigated the obelisk, revealing elvish runes upon it.

A name is earned.

Speaking the words aloud to the Party, there was a flash of light as the four of them; Thamior, Ellitock, Therin and Luther were teleported into another chamber, this one empty - save for a door, covered in runes, which was magically locked and would not open until the words upon the door were read aloud.

Everyone Likes a Puzzle.. Right?

Reading the words aloud, the party gained entry into a circular chamber with a beautiful mural on the ceiling depicting the four elemental planes, each weaving into the next. A pool of clear water lay in the center of the room. Thamior, using his ability to wildshape, changed into a crocodile and ferried the other party members through the lengthy underwater passage, narrowing avoiding drowning poor Ellitock. Passing beyound into the next chamber, the four were presented with another challenge which proved little more than a nuisance to them, Thamior again utilizing his druidic powers to give the ability of spider climb to his companions, as tonnes of sand poured into the room, threatening to bury them.

Finally, the party entered the final chamber of their exploration to find Kain. Entering into the large chamber, adorn with two pools of water and two giant braziers, a Gynosphinx presented herself. She explained that Kain's father had sent her, but she was still bound to test the companions; to prove if they were worthy of the knowledge she possessed. With that, the braziers roared to life and a cyclone of blasting air erupted from the very center of the room. The Sphinx roared her challenge...

WHAT IS.. MY NAME?

Final Round - Fight!

The party guessed random names initially, the Sphinx moving forward towards them. They realized that the challege involved more than guesses in the dark as the Gynosphinx attacked in an, allbeit, playful manner. The party discovered the pools of water were actual portals, as Therin jumped into the freezing water, vanishing from view. With lungs full of air, he swam through the frigid waters until he found a glowing rune floating in the frozen depths. He memorized the symbols, as Elli from outside the portal, dropped a rope into the water, allowing Therin a way to return to the challenge as the air in his lung depleted.
At the same time, Thamior leaped into the cyclone and vanished from view. Understanding the nature of elements, Thamior understood he now resided in the elemental plane of air. Having exhausted his ability to wildshape, his ability to navigate through the empty space was limited, but eventually he was able to locate similar runes as Therin had. Memorizing the symbols he looked for a means to leave, but none existed. Paniced, Thamior searched and searched for a way to leave the plane of Air.
Luther, in the chamber with the Sphinx, attempted to parley with the ancient creature to little avail. Amused with the bard, the Gynosphinx send cranium spiderlings to harry him. Luther swatted away the pests, but not before they assaulted him psychically. Coming to fully understand the nature of the challenge now, Luther eventually located an area of broken earth in the room. He dug frantically through the rock before revealing a fine sand underneath. He plunged his hands into the sand and they ceased to exist. Understanding now, Luther plunged his face into the sand and dared to open his eyes for but a moment. It was all he needed, as runes appeared before him; commited to memory instantly.
Ellitock, while all chaos raged around her, watched Therin leap into water and Thamior rush into air. Not seeing where Luther had run off to, Elli did what she thought best to help her companions. She tied her rope around a nearby boulder and tossed the other end into the pool of water. With that, she said a quick prayer to the Raven Queen and leapt into the fiery brazier.
A world of fire raged around her, burning away her hair and searing her skin. Ellitock stumbled through the inferno, pausing only to heal herself periodically. Eventually, she too found runes and memorized them before heading back in the direction of the portal. Reaching what she thought was her exit, she saw there was nothing there. Fire continued to rage around her, and just as she was about to succumb to the plane of fire, Therin reached half of his body into the brazier and pulled her to safety.
Once Luther had found the earthen runes, he tied a rope around himself and the nearby rocks and leapt into the vortex. Inside he saw Thamior, a good deal away in a random direction and hastily moved to him. The two used Luther's rope to pull themselves to safety. Now the four companions stood before the Sphinx, each sharing knowledge of the discovered runes with each other. Again the Sphinx asked her question, and this time the party answered correctly.

You Have Chosen... Wisely

The flames died down and the vortex disipated. The Gynosphinx congratulated the group and told them she would lead them to Kain, but warned them that much time had passed - this was no longer the Kain they knew. The Sphinx also provided them knowledge of the choker which still lay afixed to the paladin's neck, a history which involved the destruction of a god, and an imprisonment of a fragment of its soul within that very necklace.

<sub>The elf twins – one of light, the other of shadow – one soul split.
The younger – the afterthought, second-born, unloved and lesser.
The older – to be queen, first-born, praised and loved by all.

The younger, stole into her sister’s chambers and laid claim to the dawn and to the eve,
The younger, twisted dawn’s kiss into something else, a deepening blackness; death itself,
The younger, gorges herself on stolen souls – claims the mantle of death and ascends to godhood.
The older now understands who it was that stole from her and is overcome with grief.
The older begs for answers - to reclaim what is hers – The Shrouded answers.

A prophecy is given - When the weaver’s tapestry unravels, wrest ruinations gavel.

The older is given a sliver of chaos, a means to defy fate for a moment,
As the curtain is pulled away, chaos claims the last threads of Verridia.
The sundering of a single soul, the older and younger are unbound.
In that chaos, the older traps a fragment of the younger within a simple golden trinket.

Unbound and unwhole, the younger is torn asunder by death’s power,
As payment for fate’s sliver, the older is claimed by Death’s power and ascends,
But She is forever bound to trade in souls, and judge the dead.
The Younger remains in ruin, her mind and purpose trapped within a necklace once cherished.

The jewel, given to the First Children to guard, the ruiner must never be set free.</sub>

The Sphinx then took them to Kain. The paladin appeared ancient, naked, save for a soiled loincloth, and was locked in a cell. As they watched, Kain breathed his final breath - dying again as they watched on. The Gynosphinx invoked her considerable magic to transfer Kain's soul into a phylactery before bidding the party farewell. She transported them through time, back to their proper timeline, and they found themselves outside the collapsed mountain. The desert around them differed from when they had entered the complex, there were cacti and new pockets of life. Thamior instructed the group to join hands and the party was transported once again, by the branch of the longstrider, to Stonehaven.

Rewards Granted

A History of the Golden Choker of Vos
Kain's Soul

Report Date

27 Apr 2020