Session 33 - Treasure Troubles and Devilish Deals

General Summary

The session opened with Cal Volsung struggling against the corrupting influence of the theyrium cocoon surrounding the Heart of the Labyrinth. Cal's appearance began to twist, warping him into a drow-like form. He attempted to fight off the curse, but its grip was strong. Though Cal managed to retreat from the theyrium's radius, the inner corruption lingered, leaving the party with the looming question of how to permanently cleanse its effects. Meanwhile, the Heart of the Labyrinth lay inert, its once-powerful pulses quiet. The silence was shattered by the presence of Pyraxus, an ancient infernal presence whose malevolent influence still seeped through the labyrinth. Pyraxus’ voice filled the chamber, mocking the party and reveling in the futility of their efforts. His presence was everywhere, an invisible force taunting the heroes as the temperature dropped and shadows crept closer, hemming them in. His laughter echoed as he declared the labyrinth to be his flesh and bone, trapping the party in a nightmarish tomb. In the midst of this tension, Kaldir Stormrage, the half-dragon berserker, found himself overtaken by Pyraxus’ influence. As Pyraxus whispered promises of power and kinship, Kaldir succumbed to the infernal spirit's will. His form shifted, transforming him into a humanoid draconic devil, fully under Pyraxus’ control. Despite their efforts, the party could not save Kaldir from this fate, and a fierce battle ensued. Kaldir, once an ally, now fought with terrifying strength and demonic fury. In the end, the party had no choice but to slay him. As Kaldir’s body fell, Pyraxus’ mocking laughter returned, filling the chamber with scornful words. He taunted the party for their failure to save their companion, suggesting that they had been too weak or too afraid to do so. Pyraxus made it clear that Kaldir’s soul now belonged to him, a tragic end for a once-noble ally. With Kaldir’s death, Pyraxus unleashed a new horror upon the party—his treasure hoard, corrupted by theyrium, animated into a swirling storm of coins and gems. The hoard transformed into a deadly tempest of razor-sharp metal and gems that battered the party. The heroes struggled to withstand the onslaught as Pyraxus used the treasure as a weapon, a storm under his control. Despite the relentless attacks, the party managed to survive Pyraxus’ wrath. With no other options, they quickly turned their attention to the Clockwork Gate in the chamber. Working together under immense pressure, the heroes began assembling the gate, knowing that their only chance of escape lay in its activation. Even as the assembly neared completion, Pyraxus attempted to sabotage their efforts with a mental onslaught, filling their minds with doubt and fear. The final moments saw the party rushing through the Clockwork Gate as it flickered to life. As Pyraxus unleashed an illusionary attack—hellfire and chaos filling the chamber—the heroes had to make one last effort to disbelieve the illusion and step through the gate. With seconds to spare, the party escaped, leaving the labyrinth and Pyraxus behind. Tike Myson was the last to leave. He turned to watch Pyraxas form behind him, the devil now bound and doomed to the now-powerless labyrinth. The trap had now become his eternal prison.

Meeting with Elric Toplo

After their harrowing escape, the party received a summons from Elric Toplo, an old associate of Alfie Bud and a respected scholar of Caliphas City. They were invited to meet him at his manor, dressed in full regalia, as a show of force due to the threats Elric had recently received from cults and radicals. When they arrived, they were greeted by Pollard, Elric's butler, and escorted through the grand foyer, lined with ancient armor and battle banners. Among the decorations was a painting of two young boys playing soccer, a poignant reminder of Elric and Alfie's shared past. In the parlor, surrounded by packed bookshelves and ornate oil paintings, the party waited for Elric. When he finally arrived, he exuded an air of calm authority, his frail form belying the sharp intelligence in his eyes. His voice was soft but commanding as he greeted the party and addressed the threats they had come to discuss. When the conversation turned to the green worms, Elric’s demeanour shifted, and protective runes on his body began to glow. He shared critical insights into the worms’ necromantic nature, their parasitic infection process, and their connection to the Negative Material Plane. Elric warned the party that the worms were not just undead but part of a self-perpetuating race of void energy-infused creatures, each a part of Kyuss’ consciousness. He explained how Kyuss’ influence was spreading and how the Spawn of Descimus were intelligent, hive-minded entities capable of communication and coordination. This meeting proved crucial for the party, as it gave them valuable knowledge of the growing threat posed by Kyuss and the Ebon Triad’s involvement in spreading his influence. Elric shared the prophecies of the Ebon Triad that had to be fulfilled before Kyuss could be released. Prophecies so crucial that the gods themselves seemed to be using their divine might to ensure they remained in place to avert the coming of the Age of Worms.

Return to the Silver Siren

Following the meeting with Elric, the party returned to the Silver Siren, where they were immediately greeted by a tense atmosphere. The normally lively tavern was eerily quiet, with only the bartender, Tarquin Shortstone XXIV, nervously tending to a lone figure sitting at the bar. This figure, a Bearded Devil, was waiting for the party. His mocking tone and infernal presence made it clear that he had come to kill them. He revealed that Loris Raknian, head of the upcoming Champion's Games in Tymon had sent him, along with a grotesque humanoid mound of maggots and worm, to finish the job. The devil casually taunted the party and invited them to face the larva creature first, saving himself for the final confrontation. The devil leaned against the bar with a cruel grin, toasting the party and asking for a good show.

Rewards Granted

Coins (15,000 gp total)

12,000 gp in gold coins
2,500 sp in silver coins
5 pp in platinum coins (worth 500 gp)

Gems (10,000 gp total)

Two diamonds (worth 2,000 gp each)
One ruby (worth 1,500 gp)
One emerald (worth 1,000 gp)
Five sapphires (worth 500 gp each)
Assorted lesser gems (totaling 2,500 gp): A mix of amethysts, garnets, opals, and topazes, each worth between 50 gp and 300 gp.

Eldritch Embers

Dunner Greatblade spoke with Ignatius Flinthearth about the magical holy relic, Gorum's Thorn. Ignatius was convinced to reduce the asking price, and Dunner was able to purchase the blade.

Notes

The Ebon Triad work to fulfill the prophecies that will release Kyuss Descimus, allowing for the return of Malgorath:

"When the dead walk from desolate graves, the end is nigh."
"A tree of demonic birth shall breach unseen walls, heralding chaos."
"From the heavens, fire descends, marking the world's end."
"The herald of destruction falls in the shadows of Armageddon."
"The hand of the Dark Queen shall be claimed by a forsaken soul."
"In a world between worlds, a lost soul shall be found."
"The red death crosses the land, and countless fall in its wake."
"Greed returns, and with it comes conflict. The golden city shall witness the wrath of dragons and the might of giants."
"A Hero of the Pit shall use his fame to gift a City to the Dead."
"On the eve of the Age of Worms, the Fallen Hero shall summon the Wormlord to the Dark Temple."
"A Tripartite Spirit shall once again become one, and at its advice will the Mighty be undone."