Session 34 - Shark Side of Doom
General Summary
The Silver Siren wasn’t the kind of place you’d expect to be quiet, but that night, it was dead. No clinking glasses, no murmuring patrons. Just silence, the kind that crawls up your spine and makes the shadows seem a little too long. Tarquin, the halfling bartender, usually quick with a joke, was pale as a sheet, his hands shaking as he poured a drink. But it wasn’t for the heroes. No, it was for the man sitting at the bar—the one who’d been waiting.
A bearded devil with glowing infernal runes etched into his armor, lounged at the bar with a glass of something dark and thick, swirling it idly as if the world outside didn’t exist. His beard writhed like living tendrils, a slow, unsettling movement that matched the cruel glint in his burning red eyes. When he finally glanced over his shoulder at the heroes, it was with the kind of smile that said he’d been expecting them.
But he wasn’t alone. Beside him sat a creature that barely looked human—a mass of writhing maggots and worms barely held together by cracked, black leather armor. The Larva Assassin, sent along for the ride by Loris Raknian, was there to finish what they’d started, or so the bearded devil explained, his voice thick with mockery.
"Raknian’s real sore about you killin' his friend, Theldrick," drawled the devil, draining his glass. "So he sends me... and this thing." His eyes flicked to the Larva Assassin, disgust clear in his voice. "Honestly, I could’ve handled it myself. But I suppose he didn’t want to take chances."
The devil waved them off, leaning back as if the battle wasn’t his concern. He wasn’t going to fight them, not yet. Instead, he let the Larva Assassin lurch forward, its body shifting with the squelch of crawling maggots. And then, the fight was on.
A Grim Battle
The Larva Assassin was a grotesque, resilient creature. It was difficult to strike as its body shifted and reformed, and the maggots seemed endless. The heroes fought fiercely, but every blow felt like hitting a tide of rot. Meanwhile, the devil sat back, watching the chaos unfold with a grin. His mocking commentary never stopped, taunting the heroes with every failed strike. “Raknian got his hands on the Apostolic Scrolls,” he mentioned casually at one point. “But he doesn’t know what to do with them, does he? Big, fancy papers for a man with no brains.” He tossed back another drink as if the fight was merely a show for his amusement. The battle dragged on, but eventually, the heroes prevailed. The Larva Assassin crumbled under their relentless assault, its mass of worms scattering in a foul-smelling heap. The bearded devil clapped slowly, clearly unimpressed. But before the heroes could turn their attention to him, the distant sound of the Caliphas City Watch echoed through the tavern. With a smirk, the devil raised his glass one last time. “Well, lads, this has been fun. But I don’t fancy dealing with the authorities tonight.” And with a wave of his hand, he vanished in a flash of Greater Teleport, leaving the party alone with the stench of their fallen foe and more questions than answers.Dinner with Elric
The next lead came from Elric Toplo. He invited them to his manor in the Garden District of Caliphas for dinner and information. His home, all white marble and polished wood, stood in stark contrast to the blood-soaked streets they’d just left behind. Over a fine meal, Elric listened intently as the heroes recounted their recent battles, his sharp mind piecing together the puzzle they hadn’t yet fully grasped. Elric revealed critical details about the ancient black dragon known as Dragotha. Once the consort of Tynathria, the Goddess of Dragons, Dragotha sought immortality through the Black Wyrmstone, a powerful artifact held by the necromancer Kyuss Descimus. Dragotha, driven by a fear of his own demise, made a deal with Kyuss, gaining eternal life, but at a cost. He was killed and reborn as a dracolich, his phylactery now housing a shard of the Black Wyrmstone. Elric urged caution, especially concerning Loris Raknian. Elric proposed a plan. The Champion’s Games were set to begin in Tymon, and Raknian would be distracted by his grand event. If the heroes could infiltrate the games, they might get close enough to discover what Raknian was plotting.Into the Pit
Through Elric’s contacts, the heroes met Celeste and her associate Ekalim Smallcask, a merchant with a taste for the finer things. Ekalim knew the games would bring money and women, but didn't have any gladiators to fight for him. He felt the heroes had the tools to make life better for everyone. It wasn’t long before the heroes found themselves descending into the bowels of the Crimson Cage, a bloodstained pit where gladiators fought for sport and survival. The air was thick with sweat and iron, the dim light casting long shadows across the sand-strewn floor. The crowd above was restless, but they roared to life when Bruce entered. Eight feet tall, scarred from head to toe, the shark-like brute exuded a primal menace. His black, predatory eyes locked onto the heroes with a hunger that had nothing to do with sport. This wasn’t just a fight. This was survival. And Bruce was ready to tear them apart.Missions/Quests Completed
Character(s) interacted with
- The Bearded Devil – A smug, bearded devil mercenary with glowing infernal runes, sent by Loris Raknian but more interested in mocking the heroes than fighting.
- Tarquin – The halfling owner and bartender at the Silver Siren, visibly terrified by the presence of Arnyx and the Larva Assassin.
- Loris Raknian (Mentioned) – A vengeful arena director and mastermind, ally and possible member of the Ebon Triad, scheming with necromantic artifacts like the Apostolic Scrolls to eliminate the heroes.
- Elric Toplo – A wealthy scholar and ally of the heroes, offering insights into Kyuss and Dragotha while guiding them toward the Champion’s Games.
- Celeste – A charming half-elf bard who helps the heroes secure a spot in the Champion’s Games through her connections.
- Ekalim Smallcask – A flamboyant merchant-turned-manager looking to put a team of gladiators in the Champion's Games.
- Thorgar "The Hand" – A charismatic, ambitious half-orc who manages the Crimson Cage.
- Balar Stonefist – A stern, disciplined dwarf who enforces the rules of the Crimson Cage with unwavering resolve.
- Bruce – A massive, scarred shark-man gladiator, exuding primal menace and unmatched hunger in the arena.
Notes
Ardura Tor'lyn's notes, written across the copper-bound pages of the Book of Ardura, offer a harrowing glimpse into the mind of a woman consumed by devotion to the Dark Queen of Dragons, Tynathria. The entries weave a tale of absolute faith, ruthless ambition, and the price of power. Her words paint a grim picture of a woman who sacrificed everything—including her own child—in pursuit of divine purpose, only to watch her closest allies betray her.
The Sacred Mission: The Black Wyrmstone
The primary focus of Ardura’s writings revolves around her obsession with the Black Wyrmstone—an ancient artifact connected to the necromancer Kyuss Descimus. Ardura was horrified that such a powerful relic had fallen into the hands of a mortal, whom she viewed as unworthy of wielding the divine power intended for dragons alone. Her purpose, as she saw it, was to reclaim the Wyrmstone and restore it to Tynathria, ensuring it was used for the goddess’s will and not wasted on a mere human’s ambitions.The Black Wyrmstone must return to its rightful place, beneath the scales of the Dark Queen. The necromancer thinks himself clever, but he meddles with powers beyond his ken. His arrogance shall be his undoing—if not by my hand, then by hers.”
Isolation and Betrayal
As Ardura’s devotion deepened, paranoia began to take root in her mind. She trusted almost no one, convinced that those around her would betray her or falter in their faith. Her once-strong connection to her husband, Khaylin Cirdanas, deteriorated. She suspected him of undermining her divine mission, accusing him of jealousy and weakness. Even her sister, though beloved, was deemed too inexperienced to carry the burden of such an important quest.“Khaylin’s heart grows colder by the day, as if the flame of Tynathria that burns within me has turned him bitter. He cannot understand the weight of this task. He seeks to distract me, to pull me from the path. His love is a chain I must break.” “Even my sister, sweet though she is, lacks the strength for this mission. Her time will come, but not now. I must walk this path alone, surrounded only by shadows.”
The Knights of the Dark Queen
Though Ardura trusted few, she held unwavering belief in her knights, warriors sworn to Tynathria’s cause. These knights, the last loyal followers in her crumbling circle, were tasked with retrieving the Black Wyrmstone from Kyuss. Ardura knew the mission would be dangerous, but her faith in the knights’ devotion outweighed her fear. If they failed, she resolved to take matters into her own hands.“The knights shall carry the banner of Tynathria and march into the shadow of Kyuss’s prison. They know the risks, yet they go without question. If they fall, I will finish what they could not.”
Sacrifice and Tragedy
Ardura’s belief in sacrifice as the ultimate proof of devotion is a recurring theme throughout her notes. At the height of her desperation, she sacrificed her own child to Tynathria, believing it would secure the goddess’s favor. But her faith came at a high cost—her people, driven by fear and resentment, turned against her. Betrayal came not from her enemies but from within her own ranks. Her writings grow more fragmented toward the end, hinting at the poison that finally claimed her. The drow, once loyal to her, betrayed her with golem poison, petrifying her body before she could complete her mission.“I see now that faith alone is not enough to safeguard the hearts of mortals. Betrayal grows like rot in even the most devout. They smile and bow today, but tomorrow they will raise the dagger.”
A Grim Legacy
Ardura’s final entries are laced with regret, not for her actions but for the weakness she saw in others. Her notes leave a clear warning: power demands sacrifice, and without unwavering faith, even the most righteous mission will crumble. Her story ends on a tragic note—petrified by the very people she sought to lead, her final thoughts fixed on the mission she could never complete. Yet the sense of inevitability lingers in her words. She knew, deep down, that betrayal was part of the path she chose.“Faith is a fire. It burns bright, but it consumes all in its path. I lit the flame, and I knew it would burn me in the end. Still, it was worth it.”Ardura’s final warning, etched into the pages of the book, lingers like a curse:
“The fire of faith burns bright—but it leaves only ash behind.”
