DIT 1: "The Proposal"

Diplomatic action

The Cult of the Dragon is done and you are beginning your plans for your personal vendetta against Thay. But on your last night in Waterdeep a woman with the markings of the Red Wizards arrives claiming that she has a proposal for you.

As you pack and prepare for your move from your luxury suite at Piergeiron's Palace in Waterdeep to Xonthal’s Tower, which you claimed as one of your spoils of the war against the Cult of the Dragon, Chauncey surprisingly announces a visitor that wishes an audience. The Cult having been defeated, you thought these types of visits were over with but this one proves to be perhaps not only the most surprising yet, but the most opportune given your plans to get revenge on Thay for their torturous nightmares during your recent visit there.   A female Red Wizard enters announcing herself as Syranna, a member of the Thayan Resurrection resistance movement. She explains that the Red Wizards lead by Rath Modar that were working with the Cult of the Dragon were also once part of the Thayan Resurrection but chose instead to seek power, thinking Tiamat would grant them the ability to overthrow Szass Tam, the current Lich ruler of Thay.   In fact, the recent alliance of Thay with the Council of Waterdeep and the Iron Company was not just as stated – an effort to find and punish Modar’s followers but included a plot to gain a foothold in and around the Sword Coast by allowing Thayans access to areas were they could place portals to Bloodgate Keep.   However, while Thay was distracted by the goings on with the Cult, the resistance was able to assault and win control over Bloodgate Keep from which they can infiltrate the Doomvault.   The Doomvault, she goes on to explain, was a legend for centuries. Kazit Gul, a Red Wizard who spent his life studying the deadliest dungeons on many worlds, planned it. As a living human and a lich, Gul fashioned the vast complex based on his research. The purpose of the dungeon was to lure explorers to their deaths and harvest their souls to fuel Gul’s phylactery.   As Thay became more hostile to outsiders, fewer people sought the Doomvault. Eventually, unable to fuel his phylactery, Gul became a demilich. Szass Tam discovered the Doomvault and saw the opportunity to rebuild and repurpose it.   Now, the Red Wizards chafe under the rule of Szass Tam. Once, Thay was a land of learning and power. Now, death scours Thay while the lich lord ignores all concerns other than his quest to become a god. If his mad plans are left to run their course, none will be left alive to worship him.   Syranna makes a simple proposal. Both you and the Thayan Resurrection both agree that Szass Tam’s demise is necessary for the protection of all of Faerûn. Having heard of your experiences during your visit to Thay, she offers to assist you with gaining access to the Doomvault from which you may be able to gain access to the Phylactery Vault itself and destroy Szass Tam’s phylactery, and the phylacteries of all the lich lords of Thay.   It does not take long for you to accept and within a couple of days, after reoutfitting yourselves and coordinating the Ubers and Chauncey to begin setting up Xonthal’s Tower, you head to the area outside of Daggerford where Syranna says one of Thays nefarious portals was placed. From there she transports you a gatehouse within Thay that is controlled by the resistance. From here she gives you a rough map of the Doomvault and briefs you on the various sectors and zones and the White and Black Gates that are used to navigate through it. She also gives you a Gate Key and explains how they are attuned to the different zones but that if you can find others you can share the attunements between keys. The key she gives you, for example is attuned to the “Fiendish Area” zone in the “Abyssal Prisons” sector.   And with that, you teleport into the Doomvault and almost immediately meet resistance. You are challenged by a vampire spawn that calls herself Eldrath. Not believing your story she orders the wight and zombies accompanying her to attack. While you quickly deal with these undead creatures, a tiny fiend called a quasit which was hiding on a high chandelier manages to shapeshift into a bat and escape.   Warned by Syranna not to raise alarms, you now must move quickly to secure the rest of this area before all of Thay learns of your infiltration!