Session 101 - The Corrupted Shrine
General Summary
The continuation of Session 100 - Consequences and things found in Bogs.26th of Azura (First Month of Autumn) 722TR
The story so far
The Heroes have arrived at Thale Asari, the ancient site of Quazzy's Warlock Patron's Desridaen forge. Forces of the enemy now occupy it.
Location - Setha Heath, Eastern Hârn.
Part 1 - Rest and Recovery
The Heroes decide to make camp in the nearby wood. However, their rest and recovery are interrupted by a Warband of Pagaelin Barbarians who were detected clumsily sneaking up on the camp. One Barbarian charges forward, hitting Lucia with a poisoned battleaxe. She is temporarily blinded, although Athena cures this effect. Luckily, most drug-addicted and mind-addled Pagaelin are easily caught in Yureb's Hypnotic Pattern and are efficiently dispatched. More concerning was the fiendish shadow creature silently observing the heroes. Quazzy identifies it as a Gytevsha; however, it flees when threatened.
Part 2 - Return for the Skull
The next day the heroes return to Thale Asari. Unfortunately, they are again assaulted by the same Flying Black Flame Skull they thought they had destroyed yesterday. It uses explosive Coldballs and various life-draining magics. It is also very elusive, deftly dodging all attempts by the heroes to grapple it. Eventually, it is struck down and is destroyed for a second time.
Quazzy investigates the skull's remains and magical residue. She recalls some obscure Lore that similar Undead are said to have the ability to rejuvenate. However, this can be stopped by applying a Blessing, Holy Water, or the equivalent to the bones. Athena sprinkles her bag of Holy Ash onto the bones shards. They bubble and smolder, desiccating and turning dust, forever destroyed.
Part 3 - The Gatherer of Herbs.
Looking down from the tier above, a rough, common-looking man makes an appearance. He is Yeskic, a collector of herbs. He attempts to engage with friendly banter, thanking the Heroes for destroying the noisy skull and wanting to learn why the Heroes have visited. Yureb observes that there is something off with his appearance, he is cloaked in illusion. Athena detects the presence of two fiendish shadowy forms. Quazzy turns the party Invisible; however, this is quickly dispelled by the man whose true form is revealed as a skull-masked Assassin-Priest of Naveh.
The man was a very skilled warrior, deadly with the knife, as Yureb finds out. He also had a wide range of frustrating magical abilities. The heroes engage and eventually prevailed, killing him and destroying the shadow fiends.
Quazzy examines the man's tent and finds a well-equipped poison and drug manufacturing operation. The religious iconography is that of her Warlock patron's enemy, the God Naveh.
Part 4 - Rewards, Realms, and Hooks
Quazzy's Warlock Patron, Desridaen, Demi-god, is pleased. In a dream, that Night, the Demigod, makes an appearance. He informs Quazzy that his new realm on the world of the gods, Yashain, the world of the Gods, will be a reflection of this location. He rewards Quazzy with a new spell, Grim Siphon.
He also tells her if she wishes to investigate some of her past mysteries, perhaps she should look for the green and blue-eyed man in the Wizards Guildhall. What she does with this knowledge, or to that man, is up to her.
To be continued....
NPC Interactions
Yeskic - Priest of Naveh, killed by the Heroes.
Challenges Overcome
9 Pagaelin Raunir.
1 Greater Black Flame Skull is finally destroyed.
1 Pagaelin Raunir, 2 Lesser Gytevsha, and 1 Legendary Pagaelin Augur.
Rewards
Quazzy is taught the Grim Siphon Spell.
Created Content
Related Reports
Gytevsha.
Yashain, World of the Gods - Updated.
Players Character Status
Athena the Banshee - Level 16 Paladin of Vengeance.
Yureb - Level 16 Arcane Trickster.
Quazzy - Level 5 Necromancer and Level 11 Warlock Disciple of Desridaen.
Quazzy
Athena
Yureb
NPC Companion
Holy Ash
Wondrous Item
Agrik is a fire god, the concept of holy-water is abhorrent, instead they use Holy Ash which is often used in religious ceremonies or as weapons against supernatural enemies.
As an action, you empty the contents of this bag onto a creature with 5ft of you or throw it up to 20ft bursting on contact. In both cases make a ranged attack. If the target is a Fiend, Celestial, or Undead it takes 2d6 Radiant damage from ethereal Searing Balefire.
Alternative Uses
The ash can be rubbed over a person’s body, taking 1 minute, reducing any fire damage by 1 or 2 points if the user is a devoted worshipper of Agrik. This benefit lasts until washed off or 1 hour has passed.
Common
Usually a fine black or dark grey ash has with a dry bitter smell, ritually recovered from the ceremonial flames from any church of Agrik.
Often stored in Paper or Canvas bags.
Only sold or gifted to devoted Agrikians.
Cost: 25sp Weight: 1lb
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