Ascension Of The Shadow Triad

The Shadow King's Procession

• The Shadow King calls Lady Gaelica, the War Reaper, back to Necropolis from her troop placements. As she arrives and learns of the Gaiobros' deaths, she decides to reclaim her weapons from the Sack of Holding. She finds Chazzle drunk in the Dead's End Tavern and easily defeats him in his lowered HP and drunken state. However, she sees value in his physique, skills & demonic greataxe, so she casts Create Lesser Undead on him, twisting his hatred for the Shadow King into a hatred of life itself and creating Chazzlewight. She takes the Bonemobile, Sack of Holding & Bag of Holding with her to the Roving Shadows Command Center, giving the Bonemobile & emptied Sack of Holding to the Spoonmaster for his special forces unit. When Mechazar flies out of the bag, she defeats him and converts the advanced undead warrior to Gaelica's Fist, her special forces unit (Spoonmaster, Mechazar & Chazzlewight). She trades the body of Master Obu, the head & Soul Scythe of Draconius & the tail of Balcazar to Darkjaw, in exchange for a copy of his crafting catalog. She takes the Bag of Holding & her weapons for herself, gives the remaining weapons of both bags to the military for disbursement, and orders Santa's Sleigh to be repainted for her own use. She takes the potions, herbs & magic items and has them sold to Argatha & Count Volugard, while selling the rest of Fork's booze to the Rowdy Wight. Afterwords, she rides her refurbished sleigh (with four skeletons manning the cannons and a wyvern zombie pulling the reigns) to the End Games Coliseum.
• The Shadow King forcibly rejuvenates Darkjaw, the Undying Huntsman, in Zalcovia and summons him to the End Games Coliseum, promising his freedom from his punishment if they succeed on their mission.
  
• The Shadow King summons the Shade Walker to the coliseum, who has placed Amon with the Death Minister in Avernion's Lab, alongside his sister's soul, Obu's soul, and complicated arcane instructions from the Shadow King to create Prince Amon & Princess Sevira. The Shade Walker is promised to become the Commander of the Avernal Knights if he survives their fight with Gorofax; otherwise, his "blueprints" will be used to perfect the Avernal Knights and Prince Amon/Princess Sevira will command them instead.
• Upon arrival, the Shadow King will give a propagandic/sacreligious speech to his subjects, explaining his grandiose campaign to march on Artassa's Trench with his strike team and kill Gorofax the Blizzard's Fang, the legendary Frost Dragon who nearly destroyed Necropolis with a Draconic army centuries ago. The Shadow King will instruct Queen Solya to watch over Necropolis in their absence.

The Hunt

• ???
• Darkjaw manages to sneak past Gorofax's passive perception, getting the opening hit in the fight.

Combat: The Shadow Triad (Avernion, Lady Gaelica & Darkjaw w/ the Shade Walker) vs. Gorofax the Blizzard King

Initiative

• Avernion: 12
• Lady Gaelica: 8
• Darkjaw: 18
• The Shade Walker: 13
• Gorofax: 24

Round 1

• Darkjaw (surprise round): Casts Hunter's Mark (1st level) on Gorofax, then deals 4 piercing/3 fire/21 lightning/3 Favored Enemy/4 Hunter's Mark damage to Gorofax with his last Dragonspark Arrow (35 total).
• Gorofax: Exhales a beam of Cold Breath at Darkjaw, dealing 96 cold damage (48 due to resistance). Flies up to Darkjaw.
• Darkjaw: Transforms into a Werebear, then unleashes a multi-attack that misses hilariously. At the end of his turn, Gorofax makes a Wing Attack (2 Legendary Actions) to deal 22 bludgeoning to Darkjaw and knocking him prone. He then flies down to Avernion, getting close but not in melee. After Darkjaw's turn, Avernion fires a Shadow Beam (6th level, 3 Legendary Actions) at Gorofax, dealing 12 damage.
• The Shade Walker: Unblinks near Avernion, fires four Force shots (3 hits) for 40 force damage to Gorofax. Bonus Action Dark Warps (2nd level) onto Gorofax's back, Action Surge/Gaiodrenalines (+1 to attack & damage, extra necrotic damage), then unleashes four attacks with the Soul Scythe; 10 slashing/29 necrotic (39 total), 28 necrotic/12 slashing (40 total), 7 slashing/22 necrotic (29 total), & 10 slashing/26 necrotic (36 total) damage; 144 total to Gorofax as the Shade Walker stands shadow-wreathed upon his back. Afterwords, Gorofax makes a Tail Attack (Legendary Action) on his back to the Shade Walker for 34 bludgeoning; the Shade Walker holds concentration on Blink.
• Avernion: Under the Cyregnor version of the Aurora Borealis, the Shadow King casts Gravity Hammer (5th level) on Gorofax, dealing 15 force damage but not knocking Gorofax from the sky. Bonus Action Dark Warp (2nd level) with unnatural range to a jagged peak of the trench.
• Lady Gaelica: In Gaelica's Sleigh pulled by a Shadow Warbeast (wyvern), Lady Gaelica charges in with a Deathstorm Lance strike followed by Dark Lightning (4th level 14 piercing/4 lightning (18 from Lance) & 37 (reduced to 18 via one of Gorofax's Legendary Resistance lightning from the spell (36 total from her attacks). The skeleton crew fires 4 Force & Necrocannon shots; one Necrocannon hits for 10 necrotic damage. After this, Avernion casts Shadow Glob (4th level, 2 Legendary Actions) at Gorofax for 35 necrotic damage.

Round 2

• Gorofax: Recovers Legendary Actions & his breath weapon. Fires Cold Breath (beam) at Lady Gaelica & her sleigh/wyvern/skeletons, dealing 37 cold damage to the sleigh due to resistance (363/400 HP), the wyvern (26/100 HP), the skeletons (all destroyed) & 37 to Gaelica. Flies after the carriage, getting in its space.
• Darkjaw: Hides, then fires three arrows at Gorofax from his arctic perch on the trench. Toxic Fume Arrow misses, 9 piercing/3 fire/14 acid/3 Favored Enemy/2 Hunter's Mark (31 total), Venom Arrow does 11 piercing/6 fire/13 poison/3 Favored Enemy/2 Hunter's Mark (35 total 66 total damage to Gorofax, who is not poisoned or acidically infected. Afterwords, Avernion casts Daidrokinesis (1st level, Legendary Action) to push Gorofax 10 ft away from Gaelica's Sleigh & deal 11 force damage. Gorofax casts Blizzard (3 Legendary Actions), dealing 49 cold damage to Gaelica's Sleigh due to resistance (324/400 HP), 99 cold to wyvern (destroyed), 49 to Gaelica/Darkjaw/Avernion/Shade Walker for resistance. Gaelica's Sleigh begins to fall from the sky.
• The Shade Walker: Carves through with his scythe again 3 times, drops a Shadow Grenade, casts Shadow Scorch (5th level) from the output and blinks out. 7 slashing/25 necrotic (32 total) with first slash, 10 slashing/36 necrotic (46 total) with second slash, misses third slash since the dragon jerks, 5 necrotic with grenade, 26 fire damage with Shadow Scorch; 109 to Gorofax. After this, Lady Gaelica casts Destructive Wave (5th level, 3 Legendary Actions) to unleash her power on Gorofax, dealing 28 necrotic/11 thunder (reduced to 19 due to save)
• Avernion: Recovers Legendary Actions. With the Shade Walker in the clear, Avernion casts Meteor Swarm (9th level) on Gorofax from the Aurora Borealis, dealing 70 fire/66 bludgeoning per ball; passes three (burns 2 Legendary Resistances) and fails one, taking 136 from the failure & 204 from the passes (340 total).
• Lady Gaelica: Recovers Legendary Actions. Casts Dark Warp (2nd level) to mount the dragon, then carves into him with Aetherbane 3 times (all hit, 1 crits). First does 13 slashing/5 necrotic (18 strike 1), second does 13 slashing/4 necrotic (17 strike 2), crit deals 13 slashing/13 necrotic (26 strike 3 51 total to Gorofax. Afterwords, Avernion casts Finger of Death (7th level, 3 Legendary Actions) for 24 necrotic due to resistance.

Round 3

• Gorofax: Recovers Legendary Actions, but no breath weapon or Blizzard. Flies towards the Shadow King and unleashes a Multiattack; bite & two claws to him, tail to Gaelica. Avernion casts Shield (1st level Reaction) to block one claw, but the bite deals 18 piercing/14 cold (25 to Avernion due to resistance), the other claw does 19 slashing to Avernion, the tail crits on Gaelica for 36 bludgeoning. Afterwords, Gaelica casts Gravity Hammer (5th level, 3 Legendary Actions) to try and ground Gorofax, dealing 42 force damage & 40 falling damage (82 total).
• Darkjaw: Hides, then fires three more arrows; Toxic Fume, Acidic & Venom. The Acidic & the Venom crit, the Toxic Fume hits. Acidic deals 15 piercing/12 fire/16 acid/10 Hunter's Mark/3 Favored Enemy (56 total), Venom deals 7 piercing/6 fire/18 poison/6 Hunter's Mark/3 Favored Enemy (40 total), Toxic Fume deals 11 piercing/6 fire/18 poison/5 Hunter's Mark/3 Favored Enemy (33 total 129 to Gorofax. Afterwords, Gorofax uses Wing Attack (2 Legendary Actions) on Avernion, dealing no damage thanks to Avernion's second Legendary Resistance. Then soars towards Darkjaw.
• The Shade Walker: Blinks back and Dark Warps (2nd level) to a perch on the trench. Fires four Necro Shots at Gorofax; 74 necrotic damage (three hit, Gorofax dodges the fourth). Afterwords, Gorofax slams Darkjaw with his tail for 19 bludgeoning (Legendary Action).
• Avernion: Recovers Legendary Actions. Flies closer to Gorofax and casts Dark Star (8th level) on top of him with no regard for or Gaelica.
• Lady Gaelica: Recovers Legendary Actions. Takes 35 (reduced to 17) force damage from Dark Star, then casts Shadowfire Orb (1/Day) as she Dark Warps (2nd level) away to a perch on the trench wall. 30 fire/28 necrotic (29 total due to save).

Round 4

• Gorofax: Recovers Legendary Actions & breath weapon, but no Blizzard. Takes 35 (reduced to 17) force damage from Dark Star, flies backward to get an angle on Gaelica & Darkjaw (takes 15 damage opportunity attack from Darkjaw), then releases Cold Breath for 101 cold damage; 50 to both due to resistance. Moves back to Darkjaw. Afterwords, Gaelica casts Dark Lightning (4th level, 3 Legendary Actions) on Gorofax, dealing 31 lightning damage.
• Darkjaw: Fires two Toxic Fume arrows & one Acidic arrow, only hitting with the Acidic one while the other two go wide. 4 piercing/1 fire/6 poison/3 Favored Enemy (14 damage). Afterwords, Gorofax kills Darkjaw with his tail for 14 damage (Legendary Action).
• The Shade Walker: Fires four more necro rounds at Gorofax, Action Surges & does it again, leaps in the air then casts Dark Lightning (4th level) as a Bonus Action. 6/8 shots hit (33 necrotic*6 = 198 total), then 15 Lightning. Blinks out. Afterwords, Avernion casts Shadow Scorch (5th level, 3 Legendary Actions) for 20 fire damage.
• Avernion: Recovers Legendary Actions. Drops concentration on Dark Star and casts Bone Storm (6th level) for 22 piercing damage. Afterwords, Gorofax Wing Attacks Gaelica (2 Legendary Actions) for 21 damage, knocks her prone and flies towards Avernion.
  
• Lady Gaelica: Recovers Legendary Actions. Gets up and fires Dark Lightning (4th level) for 47 lightning damage, then Dark Warps (2nd level) up to a closer perch. Afterwords, Avernion does the same thing (2 Legendary Actions, 4th level) for 51 lightning damage, downing Gorofax.

Round 5

• Gorofax: Fails his Death Save as he falls into the trench
• The Shade Walker: Blinks back into the mortal plane and kills Gorofax with a slam down of his Soul Scythe, removing his soul as Gorofax crashes into the ground.
• Avernion: Forcibly casts Gate (Gaiodrenaline usage) through the Shade Walker, taking himself, the Shade Walker and the dragon corpse back to Cyrofel.
• Lady Gaelica: Gathers her sleigh and teleports back to Necropolis.

Birth of Avernox the Reaper King

• Full article: Avernion, the Shadow King .
• The Shadow King releases Darkjaw of his punishment for his help in killing Gorofax.
• The Shadow King brings the Daidrin Gaiostone/Cyrofel back into the mortal realm, flying above Necropolis within the Eye of the Everstorm. He crafts his own Ritual of Divine Ascension, which uses the Daidrin Gaiostone to channel the entirety of the Everstorm (Artassa's near-divine essence) through the Divine Lens (magitech device imbued with Gorofax's soul) & into Avernion's body. Atop the long-lost divine city of Cyrofel and above all of his subjects in Necropolis, the Shadow King ascends to godhood in a massive implosion of the multi-millenial blizzard, dissipating it completely in a wave that spread over all of Cyregnor (taking any of the Shadow King's lasting essence with it).
• Immediately upon ascension, the Shadow King is brought in front of [T'Nar's stand-in, either Prolexer or gotta look up the name] to sign the Divine Accords, chooses the divine name of Avernox and gains influence over the domains of shadow & undeath. Afterwords, he descended upon Cyrofel once more and raptured the Necropolis Guard and his most faithful subjects to join him in his divine city/travel across the realms for his war with Danos. As mandated by the Divine Accords and the Shadow Triad Master Agreement, Avernox gives the Daidrin Gaiostone to Queen Solya, who will use it for her ritual before passing it on to Lady Gaelica. Avernox then teleports his divine city & raptured subjects to Darthalheim, beginning the early phases of his conquest of undeath.
• The Shade Walker is named Commander of the Avernal Knights, given death knight power and becoming an Angel of Death. He becomes a Champion of Avernox.
• The Death Minister is named the Avernal Pharaoh, becoming a powerful mummy lord ("heart" is Cyrofel) & Champion of Avernox.
• Prince Amon & Princess Sevira become demigod royalty of Cyrofel, pushing their Daidrin power to demidivine levels. They both become Champions of Avernox.

Solya the Afterfairy

• Full article: Queen Solya, the Caring Pharaoh
• While the Shadow King's procession hunted Gorofax, Solya used the Soul Seeds of Balcazar & Master Obu (Fork's soul passed on to the Alcoholic's Afterlife, while Draconius' was sworn to eternal service under Thalonius) to develop her Rites of the Afterfairy, which will use the Daidrin Gaiostone to drain all of the necromantic dark energy from the foliage of Zalcovia into her heart, filtered through the Soul Seeds to "recreate" life/biomantic aether. This will pump into her body, destroying the heart but "rebirthing" her as a fey creature (simulating the soul-birthing process of the Allheart).
• After witnessing the Shadow King's Ascension and taking the Daidrin Gaiostone, Solya completes her ritual with Darkjaw at her side. However, as she ascends into the cosmos outside of the Aurovian Wilds, she needs to rid herself of the Daidrin Gaioforce that corrupted her soul. With Darkjaw as the psychological source of her corruption and the last tether locking her in her old life, Solya breaks up with him, shunting the Daidrin Gaioforce into his soul and shunting him towards the Thugoran Chaos where he belongs. She is reborn as Solya the Afterfairy and discovers her new life in the Aurovian Wilds while shepherding in deserving souls from the Underworld.

Darkjaw the Scalp Warden

• Full story up to now: Darkjaw
• After getting dumped by Solya, Darkjaw's demonic self was being shunted towards the Thugoran Chaos. However, with his willpower and new connection to the Daidrin Gaioforce, Darkjaw redirects himself towards Gotharamor , crashing into the ruins as an undead meteor. The woods & mountain were immediately cursed & intoxicated with Darkjaw's undead essence, permanently destroying the sacred Grove of Gaul'sharan.
• After weeks of growing & seething within the grove while absorbing the Druidic essence of Gaul'sharan, Darkjaw was reborn from the land, having reclaimed his Wood Elven form with long brown locs & stagbear antlers (resembling his Sun Elf crown). With no troops & only his equipment/weapons (preservered in a pseudo pocket space thanks to the Daidrin Gaioforce), Darkjaw begins his career as a Death Warden, which can be followed further in the Scourge of the Scalp Warden story.

Gaelica the Endless Knight

• With Solya & Darkjaw gone, Lady Gaelica claims the Daidrin Gaiostone, as per the Shadow Triad Master Agreement. She first reforms the crumbling Zalcovia into the War Diamond, her personal flying fortress. She houses the Daidrin Gaiostone in the Core (former Vesticle Vault), constructs her personal weapon forge within the former Heart Chamber, and wired the stone's power throughout all of the War Diamond. She affixed all recovered cannons from Santa's Workshop, Isle of Smiles & the Gaiobros (minus her sleigh & the war carriage) to the outside structure, having firepower from all angles with unlimited dark energy from the Gaiostone.
• Lady Gaelica takes the Zalcovian Knights, the mummies & her remaining troops in Necropolis into the War Diamond for travel, stocking the former Roving Shadows Command Center with the rebranded Dollmen & other guard constructs from the Isle of Smiles to serve as a police force. She leaves the Zalcovian Priestess to run the Shadow King's religion, then abandons Necropolis for her war against the living during the World War Gaelica story/one-to-three shot campaign.
• Sir Crannus becomes another Commander of the Roving Shadows, alongside his old friend/boss Commander Kringle. Sister Glaecia becomes an Avernal Missionary, "converting" followers on the war front for the Church of Avernox. The former Zalcovian Guards are rolled into the Roving Shadows forces, while the Zalcovian Knights serve as soldiers led by Gaelica's Fist.
• Since Master Obu's legacy has been tainted enough by the Shadow King & his choices led to Lady Gaelica's revival, the death knight considers her score with him settled and makes no further actions to disgrace him.

Necropolis

• Becomes its own independent city-state that relies on faith in Avernox for prolonged undeath. The Merchant's Guild, Morien Council & other factions become more powerful without their authoritarian leaders around, scheming for control against each other.
• The Temple of Avernox (former Temple of Rebirth) becomes the headquarters of the Shadow King's faith, run by the Avernal Witches (former Zalcovian Priestesses). With their faith in Avernox, the witches become more powerful than ever before, led by the new mummy lord Mother Vor (former Sister Venoria). Mother Vor wields the Scepter of Zalcophet, given to her by Gaelica. She partakes in the political game of control with the other factions of Necropolis, but holds unique power due to her religious influence.

Other Stuff

• Isle of Smiles remains abandoned, but eventually gets inhabited by a Daidrin Frost Elf sorcerer, who abandoned their home for ambition without restriction. They found the bodies beneath the frozen lake and used his power to free & reanimate them, then used the Isle's facilities to create a mage castle and lab for themself. Can be explored/heisted in a one/two-shot.
• Santa’s Workshop remains abandoned, but is haunted by the Ghosts of Christmas Past (the St. Knights & Frost Gnomes that died here during the Siege of Santa's Workshop), cursed treants & toy constructs. All magitech was taken with exception of anything within Santa's Secret Vault, a rumored treasure hoard of untold wealth & power. Can be discovered via heist or expedition during a Christmas one/two-shot.
• Somewhere in the tundra, Jaw's Revenge (Darkjaw's former ship) is frozen in the ice, far from any sailable water. It can be used as a shelter during travel through Cyregnor, but is often visited by predators for that reason.
• The Moonfather's Castle (travelling pocket dimension) is run by the alien that the Gaiobros freed from his prison. He maintains watch & warlock duties for the Moonfather all around the world.