Defeating Acererak, destroying the Soulmonger, and ending the Death Curse
General Summary
14 Marpenoth, The Year of the Duplicitous Courtier (1496 DR)
Tomb of the Nine Gods, City of Omu, Chult
The adventuring group S.M.A.L.L. used the skull keys to open the skeleton gate. Below a long staircase made of polished black marble lay an immense chamber. Crumbling balconies overlooked a pool of lava filling a triangular chamber, above which was suspended an enormous crystal cylinder held in place by three adamantine struts. The group had found the Soulmonger. Wraithlike forms swirled inside the cylinder, and otherworldly screams hung in the air. Four long, writhing tentacles sprouted from the cylinder's cap. What horrifed the group was a shriveled monstrosity the size of an elephant which floated near the Soulmonger. Its body was wet and malformed, its arms and legs were atrophied, and its oversized head dripped black goo. The creature was attached to the cylinder by a twisted umbilical cord. Occasionally, one of the spirits trapped inside the Soulmonger would be sucked up through the creature's umblical cord. "That thing is feeding off the Soumonger!" Sein exclaimed. "That thing is the Atropal," Baggy Nana said. "It's why Acererak created the Tomb of Annhilation. To house it and feed it with the spirits trapped within the Soulmonger." "So if we destroy the Soulmonger," Zantix said. "we'll also kill the Atropal?" Everyone agreed with Zantix's logic. The Soulmonger was an upright crystal cylinder 20 feet high and 10 feet in diameter. Three adamantine struts kept it suspended above a pool of lava by an adamantine ring around the cylinder's midsection. "We need to destroy the struts," Neverwinter suggested. "Good luck," Thargrin said. "That's adamantine, the hardest substance in existence. You'll need enchanted weapons to even scratch it." "Fotunately, we have those," Neverwinter said. "Everyone, lets work together on the nearest strut." The group moved up to the nearest strut. It was about one of three stur 3 feet in diameter and was attached to the marble floor. As soon as the Sein struck the strut, one of the large writhing tentacles attacked the paladin. Luckily, he was able to dodge the tentacle before it could grab him. "Focus your attacks on the tentacles, while some of us work on the strut," Sein told everyone. The adventurers soon found themselves locked in a fierce battle against the four tentacles that guarded the Soulmonger. The tentacles, slimy and muscular, lashed out at the party with incredible speed and force. Each strike was a blur of motion, capable of knocking even the strongest adventurer off their feet. While some of the adventurers fought back valiantly, their weapons glinting in the dim light, the others focused on trying to destroy the adamantine strut or the Soulmonger. They knew that the only way to defeat the Soulmonger was to destroy it directly. With a grim determination, they decided to press their attack. Just as they were about to direct their combined attacks towards the artifact, the Atropal attacked the adventurers with a barrage of necrotic spells. The spells were so powerful that they seemed to drain the life from the adventurers, leaving those struck weak and vulnerable. The Atropal's spells, while potent, were no match for the adventurers' combined might as they attacked both the Soulmonger and the Atropal. Soon, the Soulmonger was destroyed. The crystal cylinder shattered. A myriad of tiny lights poured forth from within what was left of the Soulmonger. The millions of bright souls trapped for the past two years during the Death Curse coiled through the air like a tornado, blazing upward and then vanishing in a blinding, spectral flash. At the same time, the Atropal emitted a guttural scream and collapsed. Its lifeless body tore free from the ceiling and the Soulmonger the fell down towards the pool of lava that seethed thirty feet below. The adventurers watched as the Atropal's corpse tumbled through the air. It landed with a sickening splat in the lava, which immediately began to consume its remains, sending up a column of dark smoke and noxious fumes. Just then an ornate archway with glowing swirling mists opened on the farthest balcony across the pool of lava. A skeletal figure wrapped in moldering robes and clutching a skull-tipped staff stepped out of the misty archway. Hateful pinpricks of white light burned in its eye sockets, and a two-foot-diameter sphere of utter darkness floated in the air beside it. "Acererak," Baggy Nana said. "How you have survived my creations and traps is unimaginable," Acererak said. "But it all ends now. You wil die here today!" The adventurers of S.M.A.L.L. found themselves locked in a desperate battle with Acererak, a malevolent lich of immense power. Acererak hurled spells at the adventurers with terrifying precision. His magic was both destructive and insidious, draining the life from those who dared to oppose him. Everyone, including Baggy Nana who swore to fight alongside the group in return for sparing her life, fought valiantly. To the group's surprised, the sensed the spirits of the trickster gods within them join in the battle against the very lich who captured and bound them to the Tomb of Annihilation. All except Neverwinter Bones and Baggy Nana felt a surge of energy course their veins, giving each added vitality in the battle against Acererak. Each also felt a powerful surge of primal anger that could only be satiated with the destruction of the lich. As the battle raged on, the adventurers wondere if they were outmatched. Acererak's magic was powerful, and his experience was too vast. Yet, they refused to give up. With a surge of determination, they launched a final assault on the lich. The lich, sensing his defeat, fought back with all his might, his eyes filled with a chilling hatred. But it was too late. The adventurers' weapons and spells had found their mark, piercing the lich's skeletal form. A surprised look of horror passed over his face as his body turned to dust, his spirit vanishing from the mortal plane. His tattered robes, as did his staff and talisman, fell to the ground. With a triumphant roar, everyone yelled in truimph. They had defeated a powerful enemy and had put an end to the Death Curse!
The adventuring group S.M.A.L.L. used the skull keys to open the skeleton gate. Below a long staircase made of polished black marble lay an immense chamber. Crumbling balconies overlooked a pool of lava filling a triangular chamber, above which was suspended an enormous crystal cylinder held in place by three adamantine struts. The group had found the Soulmonger. Wraithlike forms swirled inside the cylinder, and otherworldly screams hung in the air. Four long, writhing tentacles sprouted from the cylinder's cap. What horrifed the group was a shriveled monstrosity the size of an elephant which floated near the Soulmonger. Its body was wet and malformed, its arms and legs were atrophied, and its oversized head dripped black goo. The creature was attached to the cylinder by a twisted umbilical cord. Occasionally, one of the spirits trapped inside the Soulmonger would be sucked up through the creature's umblical cord. "That thing is feeding off the Soumonger!" Sein exclaimed. "That thing is the Atropal," Baggy Nana said. "It's why Acererak created the Tomb of Annhilation. To house it and feed it with the spirits trapped within the Soulmonger." "So if we destroy the Soulmonger," Zantix said. "we'll also kill the Atropal?" Everyone agreed with Zantix's logic. The Soulmonger was an upright crystal cylinder 20 feet high and 10 feet in diameter. Three adamantine struts kept it suspended above a pool of lava by an adamantine ring around the cylinder's midsection. "We need to destroy the struts," Neverwinter suggested. "Good luck," Thargrin said. "That's adamantine, the hardest substance in existence. You'll need enchanted weapons to even scratch it." "Fotunately, we have those," Neverwinter said. "Everyone, lets work together on the nearest strut." The group moved up to the nearest strut. It was about one of three stur 3 feet in diameter and was attached to the marble floor. As soon as the Sein struck the strut, one of the large writhing tentacles attacked the paladin. Luckily, he was able to dodge the tentacle before it could grab him. "Focus your attacks on the tentacles, while some of us work on the strut," Sein told everyone. The adventurers soon found themselves locked in a fierce battle against the four tentacles that guarded the Soulmonger. The tentacles, slimy and muscular, lashed out at the party with incredible speed and force. Each strike was a blur of motion, capable of knocking even the strongest adventurer off their feet. While some of the adventurers fought back valiantly, their weapons glinting in the dim light, the others focused on trying to destroy the adamantine strut or the Soulmonger. They knew that the only way to defeat the Soulmonger was to destroy it directly. With a grim determination, they decided to press their attack. Just as they were about to direct their combined attacks towards the artifact, the Atropal attacked the adventurers with a barrage of necrotic spells. The spells were so powerful that they seemed to drain the life from the adventurers, leaving those struck weak and vulnerable. The Atropal's spells, while potent, were no match for the adventurers' combined might as they attacked both the Soulmonger and the Atropal. Soon, the Soulmonger was destroyed. The crystal cylinder shattered. A myriad of tiny lights poured forth from within what was left of the Soulmonger. The millions of bright souls trapped for the past two years during the Death Curse coiled through the air like a tornado, blazing upward and then vanishing in a blinding, spectral flash. At the same time, the Atropal emitted a guttural scream and collapsed. Its lifeless body tore free from the ceiling and the Soulmonger the fell down towards the pool of lava that seethed thirty feet below. The adventurers watched as the Atropal's corpse tumbled through the air. It landed with a sickening splat in the lava, which immediately began to consume its remains, sending up a column of dark smoke and noxious fumes. Just then an ornate archway with glowing swirling mists opened on the farthest balcony across the pool of lava. A skeletal figure wrapped in moldering robes and clutching a skull-tipped staff stepped out of the misty archway. Hateful pinpricks of white light burned in its eye sockets, and a two-foot-diameter sphere of utter darkness floated in the air beside it. "Acererak," Baggy Nana said. "How you have survived my creations and traps is unimaginable," Acererak said. "But it all ends now. You wil die here today!" The adventurers of S.M.A.L.L. found themselves locked in a desperate battle with Acererak, a malevolent lich of immense power. Acererak hurled spells at the adventurers with terrifying precision. His magic was both destructive and insidious, draining the life from those who dared to oppose him. Everyone, including Baggy Nana who swore to fight alongside the group in return for sparing her life, fought valiantly. To the group's surprised, the sensed the spirits of the trickster gods within them join in the battle against the very lich who captured and bound them to the Tomb of Annihilation. All except Neverwinter Bones and Baggy Nana felt a surge of energy course their veins, giving each added vitality in the battle against Acererak. Each also felt a powerful surge of primal anger that could only be satiated with the destruction of the lich. As the battle raged on, the adventurers wondere if they were outmatched. Acererak's magic was powerful, and his experience was too vast. Yet, they refused to give up. With a surge of determination, they launched a final assault on the lich. The lich, sensing his defeat, fought back with all his might, his eyes filled with a chilling hatred. But it was too late. The adventurers' weapons and spells had found their mark, piercing the lich's skeletal form. A surprised look of horror passed over his face as his body turned to dust, his spirit vanishing from the mortal plane. His tattered robes, as did his staff and talisman, fell to the ground. With a triumphant roar, everyone yelled in truimph. They had defeated a powerful enemy and had put an end to the Death Curse!
Acererak and the Atropal
Report Date
11 Oct 2024
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