Session 12: The Five Trials Again Report

General Summary

The Challenge of Four Skills

After our previous trials, the next chamber presented itself as a challenge of four skills: magic, strength, music, and storytelling. I found myself rather enjoying the storytelling challenge, where we recounted one of our many adventures. As a group, we breezed through the musical challenge as well, with Sunny displaying a surprising knack for keeping rhythm.   But then we reached the magic challenge—one we all thought would be easily within our grasp. Unfortunately, despite our best efforts, we were unable to activate the mechanism, likely a failure to align the runes in the exact sequence. It was frustrating, but nothing compared to the strength challenge. Warby, hesitant for reasons unknown, merely poked at the task rather than giving it his all. I believe he thought himself stronger than the task demanded, but that small failure had consequences.  

The Sword-Wielding Construct

Two of the "observers," magical training dummies, vanished only to reappear fused into the center of a sword-wielding construct. It was quite the fight, but we managed to fell the creature. In doing so, we discovered a powerful lightning sword hidden within the core of the construct. In a rare show of generosity, we gave it to Chungle, our kobold companion, who seemed rather thrilled with his newfound weapon.  

The Final Challenge with Morden

Afterward, we proceeded to the final chamber, where we were greeted by Morden—a psychopomp and lieutenant to the god Mordos himself. His presence was palpable, as though the weight of life and death radiated from him. Morden allowed us to face one final challenge: to place the Shattered Vale Relics in the correct order on the altar. With a mix of intuition and knowledge from our previous trials, we succeeded. He congratulated us, offering to answer our questions and warning us of the growing threat posed by Melkorion.   Melkorion, it seems, is gathering the Shadowstones, and he already possesses at least one. Morden urged us to seek out the wisdom of the King of Aethoria and his trusted advisor. We also asked him about any additional helpful artifacts we might find, and he mentioned a dwarf named Twinhammer in Tinnervale who might be able to guide us further.  

Return to Tinnervale

With our questions answered, Morden opened a portal, returning us to Tinnervale's inn. There, Thorn Whisperwind greeted us warmly, rewarding us for our earlier battle with the hydra. But the real intrigue came when we met Doril Twinhammer himself, the mayor of Tinnervale. He had been keeping an eye on some suspicious individuals—members of the Darkscale Syndicate. He requested our help in investigating them further.  

The Darkscale Syndicate Investigation

Warby took the lead, distracting an orc by the name of Rakorr Bloodtusk, while Goq searched their chambers. It was a close call, but Goq managed to slip away undetected with important information. With the Darkscale Syndicate revealed, we regrouped at the bar, trying to piece together our next move.