Session 29: Unearthing Anzan

General Summary

Defeating the Mummies

• Rising from the tombs in the area Thanos had encroached upon were vine-woven mummies that had some mastery and knowledge of the elements: fire, earth, water, and air. The Crypt Crew mostly disposed of them with impunity, but the undead minions of N'nchyk took several casualties. 
• After the mummies were defeated, Ashpin spoke to a very angry and aggressive-sounding Sylvain. He, Maleakos, and Dooturr went to check on him, while Viribus, Verin, Philip, and N'nchyk proceeded onwards. Verin had entered some sort of daze, where he seemed to be half-there, half-dreaming, but Philip said he seemed at peace.
• N'nchyk sent one of his minions up ahead to check for traps and more mummies, but none were discovered. In the corner, they found a dusty, moldy table with incense, a vase depicting Arawai planting the world's first tree, and a golden potion in a vial. N'nchyk reached for the incense, causing the spores of the yellow mold to erupt. N'nchyk, used to such things, was unaffected, but Viribus immediately began coughing and choking, cursing N'nchyk's name.
• Ashpin and Dooturr re-entered the storm, and found an aggressive and wild-eyed Sylvain. He wanted to kill the trees, kill the wagon, kill something...and as Ashpin and Dooturr stood there, they too began to feel the effects of destruction and wrath wash over them. Ashpin quickly dismissed Sylvain, and hurried back into the temple.
• Back in the temple, the Crypt Crew reunited, and came across a stone edifice in the likeness of Arawai. Inscribed upon it in Elvish, which Ashpin was able to read, was the following: "To those who come thereafter. Assemble an offering of the arcane four elements, and proffer them before her visage. Those worthy of the enlightenment, those capable of abolishing the Devourer, will find solace, reward, and treasure in what lies within."
• N'nchyk placed one of his implanted mushrooms before the edifice, as Ashpin began to dump water on it from the Alchemy Jug. Viribus lit the black flame of his Message Lighter, and N'nchyk doused the entire offering with a Gust of Wind. A calm, shrewd voice rang out as the arcane four elements united: "Nobility is among you, as is virtue. Darkness hides, evil lurks...as it always does...may thee, worthy of Arawai, tip the scales of your presence towards goodness, and away from the vile."

The Last of the Order

• The stone edifice began to swing open, revealing the contents inside. A human man, wrapped in vines and soil, with specks of light flickering through the nook, slowly came to rest on the ground, his eyelids flashing open to reveal clouded, gray eyes. 
• The man introduced himself as Anzan, last of the Order of Fecundity, a monkish order of humans and elves that worshipped Arawai. Dooturr and Maleakos seemed interested in the enlightenment Anzan promised to offer, but the monk had grimmer news at present. It seemed the Crypt Crew were deemed worthy to learn the story of the temple to help try and save it.
  • Long ago, the Order of Fecundity was created, nearly 150 years ago. They wished to create a shrine to their deity where it belonged: in the web of nature, where fertility, life, and the environment could thrive.
  • The temple grew, both in size and occupancy. Arawai’s blessing allowed the population of her dedicated order to reproduce at an unusually fast rate. The lands around the temple grew fertile, and the farmlands were rich. Magical wonders of nature were created, and elixirs brewed.
  • The Devourer is the brother of Arawai. Long ago, the Sovereign Host was united; there was no Dark Six. Then, the Devourer was known as the Sovereign of Wave and Whelm. Then, he committed an unspeakable act against his sister, and raped her, giving birth to the Fury. This horrific atrocity caused the Schism, splitting into the Sovereign Host and Dark Six.
  • The Devourer became a representation of the destructive forces of nature. He grew envious of the mortal worship of her in the temple, and he infected the temple with his presence.
  • Unceasing storms began to shake the temple, and horrific beasts and plants infected the temple. Infestations were rampant, and the monks of Arawai were fraught with danger. They wished to preserve all they had learned and created, but the darkness of The Devourer was unceasing. And it cost Anzan his eyesight.
  • But the most disgusting of curses was yet to come. A plagued, blighted creature on the lowermost level, radiating negative energy that was an insult to any's life force. None got close enough to know what it was, but it was meant to break the spirit of Arawai at the most personal level. And it did. It infected the remaining of the order, and is the center of The Devourer's remaining presence.
  • Those who remained used the rest of their power to preserve some aspect of their order. Their leader, Anzan, was encased in a magically sealed chamber, protected and preserved by the fertile magic and presence of Arawai. And yet, The Devourer’s presence lingers.
• Anzan sought the help of the Crypt Crew, but was firm in saying the choice remained with them. Cleansing the temple meant gaining the blessing of Arawai and whatever treasures lay within, but also runs the risk of invoking the wrath of The Devourer. Nonetheless, they may become tainted if they expose themselves to the Tears of Arawai - the rainstorm - again.
• N'nchyk was hesitant, and the blind monk seemed to understand. He said he sensed the conflict in him, saying that his mastery over nature was muddled. Anzan could see his desire, his ambitions to understand the web of nature. According to Anzan, in Arawai, he would find just this.

The Kruthik Hive

• And so, calmed by the serene presence of Arawai emanating from Anzan's preservation chamber, the party settled down for a long rest. Anzan cleansed Maleakos of the curse the mummies had placed upon him, and began to offer wisdom in regards to the philosophy of nature. Dooturr and Maleakos were engrossed, while Ashpin stalwartly stood by to listen.
• Each found a good night's rest, and prepared to enter the next level below. Anzan told them it used to be their place of study before it became corrupted. When they reached the lower level, they saw a vaguely magical tree trunk with a journal resting upon it. Behind the tree trunk was a vicious-looking creature, with dagger-like limbs, a tooth-lined maw, and strong plating over its body.
• Ashpin cautiously approached and picked up the journal. He briefly thumbed through it, but the longer he took, the more hostile the creature became. Ashpin pocketed the journal and made to back up, but this was the wrong move.
• A horrifying amount of hissing and clattering could be heard as no less than a dozen of the creatures, which the party could identify as the nesting kruthiks, emerged from the various rooms and tunnels. Ashpin took an absolute barrage of spiked wounds, as the kruthiks seemed to be tactically benefitting from attacking in a pack.
• Ashpin managed to retreat, streaked in blood and barely conscious, before Anzan caught him and returned him to fighting strength, somehow managing to help Ashpin find the strength and tranquility within himself to continue fighting.
• It was a brutal and crowded fight. More and more of the creatures poured out of the walls, and a massive hive lord eventually busted its way through. More undead and Lindhart fell, but the majority of the Crypt Crew remained at fighting strength, even with the arrival of reinforcements in the form of a fire elemental. 
• Viribus, realizing his pendants were full, set his eyes on the big guy. Ashpin and Philip recognized the situation, and did their very best to protect Viribus and clear the path for him to approach the hive lord. Using the fullest extend of his magical might, using every last ounce of his reddish energy, Viribus unleashed an absolutely devastating strike against the hive lord, leaving its supposedly "protective" chititnous plating scattered throughout the room.
• The rest of the kruthiks wanted absolutely nothing to do with this walking nuclear bomb, and immediately began to flee, retreating to the safety of their hive.
• The beat-up party took a quick rest, patching up wounds and planning their next course of action. N'nchyk and Ashpin read the journal, which was a recount of a Warden of the Wood named Vagolor Springflow, and his journey in trying to help this temple. It was a story without a very happy ending, as he lost his best friend and slowly succumbed to remaining amonst the kruthik hive and raising them under his leadership, completely abandoning the call from Arawai.
• The journal detailed the neighboring infestation of destructive plants that had long rivaled the presence of the kruthiks. Anzan confirmed that this was the direction that led onwards, and so this is the direction the Crypt Crew began to go. The two remaining undead minions swung open the door, and... 

Rewards Granted

• Golden potion (identified only by N'nchyk)
• Elixir of Health
• Beautiful green cloak

Character(s) interacted with

• Anzan, the last monk of the Order of Fecundity

Date begun:
12 Olarune, 998 YK
Date ended:
13 Olarune, 998 YK
Party level:
7

Report Date

29 Jul 2021

Primary Location

Khorvaire