Session XXVI - 01.06.2021

General Summary

• The session starts with the group having completed the second trial of Tiamat in the ice cave. Before the caravan moves on, Darius approaches Jo: He asks her how she is feeling and she should be aware that these deeds in the name of Tiamat will leave a stain on her soul. Nevertheless, Darius assures Jo that whatever her choice will be eventually that he will fight at her side. Jo thanks her comrade and so the caravan moves on. It travels for several more days until it reaches a giant tower that ranges high into the clouds and is at least 30 meters in diameter. Narrow stairs revolve around the tower. Hecutis tells Jo to climb the tower as this will be her last trial. As the party starts to climb the stairs, the caravan leaves.
• The ascension is dangerous as strong winds howl. Darius suggests to connect the group members using ropes so that if one member falls off the stairs, the others can drag him/her up again. Also, large boulders start to fall from above, damaging the stairs beyond repair. Here, Darrak makes clever use of his ability to shapeshift into a spider that can climb the even surface of the tower. He makes good use of his spider form's threads to pull the remaining members of the group up. Eventually, the whole group manages to reach the top of the tower.
• Here, they face a door that they eventually can open by Jo using her breath weapon (displaying her dragon blood). The tower appears to host a realm dedicated to Tiamat. The group ventures further only to find a long-lost person in Jo's life: Faerxan, her former companion, stands before her. Apparently, he had stolen Jo's egg and ventured on the path of Tiamat, becoming a far more powerful entity known as Narthalax, the winged justice. He asks Jo to enter a portal to see Tiamat to ascend and follow the dragon queen so that the two can raise their only egg following the will of Tiamat. As a gift, Tiamat would give Jo a mighty sword (the one from her vision) which is actually at this moment held in a magical altar. Barakas discerns that this might actually be (partially) made of Tiamat's scales, so it could be used for the ritual to help Lulu regain her memories. Jo obviously is torn between following her former companion and not giving in to Tiamat. Her friends empower her to take her own decision as she will have to live with this decision for the rest of her life. Eventually, Jo decides to follow Barakas' suggestion and to strike down Faerlax for him being a vile worshipper of Tiamat. And so a fierce battle erupts, during which Faerlax transforms into his true, new shape: Initially, he still looked like the dragonborn that Jo used to know (albeit with wings now). However, now he transforms into a giant red dragon that breathes fire onto our heroes! Only by expending all of their resources and good team work, our heroes manage to prevail and it is Jo who smites her former companion into submission. Faerlax asks for mercy and Jo possesses the strength to grant this to him. Faerlax gives her the keys to the altar to be able to retrieve the sword and Jo retrieves their egg from his wounded body. Jo makes it very clear that she does not want to see him ever again and so Faerlax crawls into the portal to Tiamat.
• Everyone is cheering and happy that Jo chose the righteous path to not give in to Tiamat and also to be merciful. And so the group uses the key to retrieve the sword which is indeed the Scale of Tiamat! This sword (+1 to attack and damage, deals an additional 2d8 necrotic damage on critical hit; however, this extra necrotic damage is also dealt to the wielder of the sword) appears to be evil and bloodthirsty. However, just before the group can decide how to continue, their hear loud noises coming from outside and from within the tower. Is this Tiamat's revenge?

Report Date

01 Jun 2021