Shamballah: Star of Grace

You all stand at the edge of the cliff overlooking the Arindale Sea. The sun is setting, streaks of orange and red painted across the horizon. The smell of salty air and the feeling of a nice breeze are relaxing.


Have them run across a mother and her daughter. They are part of Dragon's family. Don't let the party know this, let them figure it out.


"Off in the distance you see two figures sat down at the edge of the cliff. A small girl and a woman."


They are lost and need help finding their way back to their village. They live in Roselake. Their names are Laurea and Gabi.


Laurea is a tall brown haired woman with green eyes. She seems to be in her 30s. Gabi is a short 5 year old girl with ginger hair.


"Laurea is Jethro's wife. She talks about how her entire family died a while ago. They were celebrating a breakthrough that her father had made in his studies, she got distracted by a frog. When she came back, there was nothing left but blood on the ground and impact shadows of her family. Her husband left before Gabi was born.


You bring her back to roselake, encountering Gith who grant you passage and other things on the way there.


Once you return her to roselake, she invites you to her house for a reward. The place is called the Hawk residence.


Alchemy's father talks to Alchemy in a small indivudal session.

Alchemy talks to them about troops being sent to Solaria due to the goddess Sylvana revealing the location of Dragon to them. He tells them he and Alchemy will go find more people to fight.

You arrive at the cliffs, the sun rising behind you. The light of the sun starts to cascade across the water below. Optimus, you clutch your amulet, speak the words of Lucidia. The amulet glows, as a wooden door with runic symbols etched into it forms out of golden light. The golden shape of a hand thrums on the door.
You put your hand up to the door, feeling a deep hum, then the door opens, showing what appears to be an alley with a stone brick road just 15 feet ahead.

After they step through the door closes behind them and turns into brick wall. The sky above is full of celestial bodies that none of you recognize. There are many buildings, mostly made out of stone. Optimus, you recognize the citadel that holds the artifact you all need. The massive sacred stone building with intricate stained glass murals depicting a twisted version of history sits at the very peak of the city. A bright light shines from atop the tower.


Roll perception DC 10: As you walk out into the street you pause, letting a massive cart pass by. Through the bars you can see a gaunt giant wearing a ring you recognize from Jethro's mindscape. The cart, which has no driver, makes its way to the citadel, pushing aside the crowd in the square in the process. 

(Let them do a small activity with a street vendor, where they can make money. "GOLD, GETCHER GOLD HERE!! ITS ONLY A MERE 3 GOLD TO PLAY, BUT IF YOU WIN ITS 10 I'LL PAY!" He gets the players to pay 3 gold pieces, roll three d6s, and he guesses whats on the three die. If he gets it right, he says, "I TOLD YOU I WAS PSYCHIC." If he gets it wrong, he gets very confused, says,"no no no, that can't be right, show me your die!" When he sees you're not lying, he admits hes wrong and gives you 10 gold pieces, but he assures that he will get it right next time. After the players are clearly done interacting with this guy, he becomes excited at something happening in the square.)

Shamballah Mage Rank Brown: Lowest rank, foot soliders and fodder. Red with silver armor: Just above red. Most of these are executioners. Blue: Mid rank, librarians and such Purple: High rank, defend the Black rank priests. Black: Priests who answer only to the White: Leaders
Many people are gathered in the square around an elevated platform. You see a clump of about 10 people in bright red robes standing in the front of the crowd, nearest to the event. Standing upon the platform are 10 people with bags over their heads. A man wearing a red robe with silver shoulder armor stands on the platform. "These ten, traitors and villains have been sentenced to death by means of magic." He starts walking down the line of people, taking the bags off their heads. He lists their crimes, ranging from pickpocketing to murder. Now at the last three people on the platform, he seems to be enjoying himself more. "These last three are especially exciting. Here we have three members of the heretic Stonebell academy. On charges of harboring non-magic individuals, the three of you, Yelmi, Tran, and Hefnir, have been sentenced to death." He removes the bags from their heads. "These are all traitors to the light, they must be PURGED." The ten robed figures move in sync to stand opposite those on the platform. They all raise their hands, green tendrils start to slither out from their arms towards the accused.
Allow time for the players to possibly act.

As the tendrils are mere inches away from the sentenced, a warbling mass of verdant flame flies through the air, making contact with one of the ten robed executioners. He falls the ground, writing in agony as he's engulfed by green flame. The others whip their heads around, as a chain of blue electricity arcs through three of them. They start to scatter, as a frightened crowd starts to cry and flee. "Terrorists!!! RUN" You see a group of four dark blue robed individuals running up to the platform to free the sentenced. They trade spells with the red robed executioners as they flee with their people. A figure grabs your arm, Optimus. "Optimus, you and your friends need to come with us."
"We know of your quest to stop Dragon and we wish to assist you. However, we must free our men from the Whitegate prison before we can lead forces against the Crimson Dawn." He looks to the citadel with distain and clenches his fist. "I know that Sister Magdalene is there, waiting for you. She killed many of our people over the past few days, so do me a favor and kick her ass."


You all race to the Citadel, the stained glass windows of the sacred temple glow with an otherwordly light as the celestial bodies in the sky move to a new configuration, signaling to you, Optimus, that Shamballah is now in lockdown. You reach the wooden double doors as the light subsides.
You push open the doors, revealing a grandiose marble floored room of worhsip. There are pews throughout the room, as well as a massive sculpture of a tall godly figure with angelic wings at the far side of the room. There is an altar that contains a nearly blinding bright white ball of light. Standing behind the light is Sister Magdalene. She has long brown hair, pale skin, and wears ornate white and gold robes with runic symbol trim. There is a wounded giant in the very back of the room.
"Optimus, It's been a long time..."

"How've you been? Last time I saw you, you ran away like a coward."

She looks at you, Gilton and laughs, "An Aquan? Oh this is too good. How'd it feel to watch your people die? How'd it feel knowing that you couldn't do a thing to save them?"
"Oh, Juniper, was it? The Warden told me about you. Abandoned by your parents, then you abandoned your adopted family after getting one of them killed. Who does that remind me of?"
"Well, its funny you're all here, because we have something special for you."

As she says this, you hear the sounds of multiple footsteps heading your way. Gilton, a side door opens to the back of the room, and out walks Kaine Greytongue, your father.
She makes a gesture and a lumbering figure staggers into the room. You hear the wailing and gnashing of teeth and familiar voices from your past, Juniper. The mass reaches towards you, the painful expressions of your family brings tears to your eyes.
Optimus, she looks at you, then snaps her fingers. From the ceiling above drops Rogier, his skin slightly decomposed and falling apart. He stares into your eyes. "You,"


"It's funny how fate seems to bring people back together just before death. I do love a cruel joke."

She draws a runic symbol in the air and all the doors and windows shut, a foggy veil appearing outside. A foggy dome materializes around the star on the altar. A sword of radiant light thrums into existence in her hand.

"Let's see what you've got, heretics."

After you kill her:
The amalgamation of flesh glows gold, then 5 halflings fall to the ground. Juniper
Give Juniper time with her family, who return to normal after Magdalene dies. They don't blame Juniper for what happened, they're just glad that she's safe. They'll return to Ayrith and gather people to fight.
Give Gilton chance to make up with his father. Have his father talk to him about how he's sorry for trying to force the family business onto him.
Rogier: Look, Optimus, I know we don't agree on most things and I don't need your pity or forgiveness, but I respect your strength, you've grown to be a strong man. I must confess to you something I've never told a soul. I knew your parents. They were childhood friends of mine. We ended up growing in different directions, I had my duties, they had theirs. We sat by the ships for hours, just talking about the world and our places in it. They became angry with me, not appreciating my view of it. That was the last time I saw them alive. Many years later the Ebony Knights, led by me raided a small seaside village. I came across their bodies in the rubble, cradling an infant. I took you, and raised you the way I thought you should be, but you turned out more like them than I could've imagined. You have the heart of a hero, befitting of the Prime family name. They'd be very proud of you. 
You can take the giant's finger from him, he gives it willingly. The Stonebell sorcerers have gone to the prison and freed their people. They arrive, promising to be at the battle to defeat the Crimson Dawn.

You guys travel to the Dwarven forge.