165: Bad Sewage
General Summary
Overview
Creation Magic, with its potential to sustain economies and support the growth of cities, is both a blessing and a curse. Its ability to generate resources can lead to prosperity, but unchecked growth often results in mismanagement.Background
In Sedon, a wizard exploited the cracks in the city's oversight to establish a hidden laboratory in the sewers. Drawing upon stolen materials from Lhamia's libraries, he engaged in forbidden experiments with Creation Magic. His actions threatened the delicate balance of the planes within the Veil, and his peers would have deemed him worthy of execution for such transgressions.The Wizard's Experiments
The wizard's primary focus was on mutating living creatures, particularly sewer rats. He imbued these rats with formidable and dangerous abilities, using abyssal magic to enhance their strength and power. However, this also drove the rats into a state of insanity and a hunger for destruction. It was this chaotic behavior that eventually drew the attention of local officials, prompting a call for adventurers to cleanse the sewers.Adventurers' Mission
The adventurers descended into the sewers, first encountering the wizard's laboratory. They attempted to control the mutated rats through mental manipulation, only to find that the creatures' insanity made them resistant to such efforts. After several attempts, the adventurers succeeded in bending some of the rats to their will, turning them into lethal allies against other threats in the labyrinthine sewers.Confrontation with the Mad Mage
Pushing further, the adventurers confronted the mad mage himself. They discovered that he had a powerful necromantic ritual in place, capable of summoning hordes of undead with the sole directive to explode upon contact. The ensuing battle was fierce and chaotic, with the ground shaking from the repeated detonations. Despite the peril, the adventurers' combined magic and martial prowess ultimately overcame the wizard, shattering his ritual and ending his dark research.Destruction of the Dark Tapestry
In the chaos of the rats' rampage, the wizard's investigations into the Dark Tapestry—a sea of tentacles emanating from a distant rift—were also destroyed. The experimental creatures, in their mindless fury, tore apart the ritual and its sacrifices, preventing an even greater menace from emerging. Had this rift gone undiscovered or left unchecked, it would have posed a significant threat to the surface dwellers.Avoided Consequences
The adventurers also inadvertently prevented another disaster. The mutations inflicted upon the rats bore similarities to the invocation of a Demon Lord's domain from beyond the Veil. Had these agents infiltrated the Faceless' organization, their free reign could have resulted in widespread havoc and death, plaguing society for years to come.Conclusion
The session concluded with the adventurers successfully ending the wizard's experiments and restoring a semblance of order to the sewers of Sedon. Their efforts not only stopped the immediate threat but also prevented potential future calamities. This episode serves as a reminder of the double-edged nature of Creation Magic and the vigilance required to keep its darker applications in check.
Report Date
03 Aug 2024
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