Another one rides the bus Report

General Summary

We open to Huden passing out from the breaking of the orb, and a small key falls into the purple coals of the forge of fury.
1489 DR - Summer - 9, Flamerule (7) - Sword Coast - Khundrukar, Waterdeep

• Jeryth (the odd halfling who contracted them previously) screams at the destruction of the orb. He demands they turn over the "Key" and he will make their deaths swift. No more negotiating. Behind him stroll in many Zhentilar warriors and a Banite priest.
• As they are talking with Jeryth, Sabyn appears in the doorway and sneaks up to the priest. She touches him and he writhes in agony as his skin boils and she coup de graces him on the ground. She tells them to kill everyone!
• Fallen pockets the key and jumps up on the edge of the forge to threaten Jeryth. As he takes a swing at him he misses and Jeryth flies up into the air. He then vanishes and combat begins.
• Lucyan covers the ground with spines and the Zhentilar prove their stupidity by walking right through it in a lumbering action. As they die their corpses change into misshapen purplish forms, only reminiscent of humanoids.
• A strange type of daemon appears and imprisons Sabyn in water and ice.
• Two of the tougher Zhentilar have strange blue eyes and something light blue on their head, they seem to move through shadows like Damien can and fight like beasts. Fallen slays one by tossing him in the forge, and the other slashing him wildly. Fallen is knocked unconscious by a blue eyed Zhent.
• A Barbazu demon (Bearded Demon) is summoned (perhaps by invisible Jeryth) and charges the crew. It fights toe to toe with Lucyan.
• Jeryth reappears and attacks Damien with a poisoned blade, Damien cuts him from the air.
• Damien abandons Huden's unconscious form on the ground to save Lucyan, the Zhentilar (now known to be disguised Lemure's) slash at Huden in his helplessness.
• Lucyan heals Fallen and fights for his life with the Barbazu. The Barbazu slashes into Fallen, scarring him with the demonic glaive. Fallen moves to attack the Daemon holding Sabyn and is frightened.
• Damien is knocked out by horrendous slashing from the Lemures overwhelming him. Lucyan heals him back upright.
• Lucyan and Damien finish the Barbazu and turn their attention on the remaining Zhentilar, cleaning them up and seeing their forms return to the misshapen lemures they really are. The two more skilled ones appeared to be some sort of warrior of the Zhents, and Damien recognizes them from his time in the Suzail pits. But the blue crystals in their head are new.
• They final Daemon flees, vanishing as if he was never there, and Sabyn is freed and heals the most hurt members. Her healing is like searing pain but works fast.
• The crew loots the bodies, finding many interesting items. Among these are a Bone scroll case with a Gehenna contract item, a Ten pointed Start with runes fashioned into a holy symbol, and a black crystal message stone. The symbol was on the priest and the others on Jeryth.
• The message says: "Jeryth, Our lord praises your speed at disposing of the corrupted Shatten Wretches, but demands that you find the last one, the aberration, and those with him. I have been informed by our Gehennen contacts that they are in possession of the key. You must retrieve it. For your sake do this before they release the soul that protects it, as that would be most unfortunate. If they part with the key willingly, make their deaths swift. If not, you may send them to the lords of the nine for judgement, or your tenth lord should you deem them useful. -Khelden Destarin."
• Huden awakes and is filled in, and also shares his news of a new traveler in his head.
• The Crew returns to the town of Blasingdel, only to find it is completely changed! There are new buildings, an expanded church, symbols to Ilmater everywhere, an apothecary in the stables, and the people are all acting, different.
• They are still paid for the tusks, yet they meet a blond man named Zul pushing around the guards and the apothecary, selling addictive stimulants to the entire town disguised as cure alls.
• A service is held, Sabyn speaks in occultish rhyme, and some people are seemingly sacrificed inside the church to "The god of Suffering", although the church screams and firey lit windows seems to indicate something more sinister.
• The crew travels back to Waterdeep to complete the mission, and finds their way to the Yawning portal.
• Upon entering, the place is oddly empty, and the black sun is burning on the artifact shelf where the broken Banite relic sat. Huden, Lucyan, and Damien are drawn to it, and Fallen drawn to the pit.
• The Sun speaks inside their heads, a resonant deep voice. It says: "Well done freeing Abigor, his twisted Toril bound reincarnation will help you see the... truth... in this all. A shame that his prison relieved him of his physical form, it would have been useful. In any rate you have been enlightened as to your purpose. You will see your desired realities made flesshh if you succeed. The true war can proceed through our new alliance, but your newly returned dreadlord of lies must be incarnate in Toril if we are to compete with the tenth lord. Free his chosen."
• Fallen peers into the blackness of the pit in the center of the tavern, and an emotion speaks to him in feeling, but conveys a message: "My shrine is imminent and you will see my truth THERE. Heed." He knows it to be the voice of Zaltec.
• As sudden as lightning, the crew snaps out of it, to the bartender asking if they are ok. They find Baagram (the representative of The Xanathar), and turn over the items and collect their reward. He explains there is additional work for them, but first they must meet The Xanathar. A terrifyingly dubious honor!
• They are led through Waterdeep sewers and slums to a strangely hidden mansion. And they are introduced to the terrifying Beholder, The Xanathar. A huge floating sphere of magical power and malice, with an eye that douses all magic in his vision.
• He tirades at them at first for their disregard for the life on Toril, their blatant allying with forces beyond this world that risk destruction to everyone! Then he breaks into laughter and says he doesn't care, that you should keep on, and to say hi to Keezor and his dreadlord for him. Then he changes the subject sharply. Says he just wanted to see you in person and give you some advice, "don't become the lie, or do, but then make it truth". He dismisses you and Baagram leads them to another building.
• Baagram offers them another mission, to retrieve a particular pyramidal artifact from a lost shrine to an ancient Cat lord on the island of Maztica. The mission covers travel and expenses on a smugglers ship bound for the island.
• They accept the mission, which has an open ended start time, and then discuss how they should travel back to Blasingdell in order to setup affairs before traveling to Maztica.
The party advances to level 5 and goes through their spoils.

Rewards Granted

Some stuff and magic items!

Missions/Quests Completed

Complete the Forge of Fury and got insight into some antagonistic characters who have been troubling them from the shadows!

Character(s) interacted with

Epic fight! Spoils management! and some new character interactions!

Campaign

The Chosen

Protagonists

Lucyan Kilndar

Level 12 Shadar-Kai Neutral Evil Druid
(Outlander)

79 / 79 HP

Sabyn Talamoth

Level 5 Human... CE Cleric
(Herald of Strife)

/ 36 HP

Damien Crane

Level 4 Human (Amn) CE Warrior
(Apprentice)

/ 45 HP

Huden Golman

Level 7 hooman chaotic evil bard
(charlatan)

/ 38 HP

Report Date

27 Jan 2020

Primary Location

Blasingdell

Secondary Location

The Yawning Portal