Session 03
General Summary
Magma Force had just disposed of two evil vampires and were now facing down the giant demon
Oreiax. They attacked it en masse, swarming over it and bringing all their strength to bear. The
demon taunted them, telling them that it had been summoned here to look after these vampires at
Embril's behest but now they were dead, it was free to leave. However it took delight in pain and
so had decided to hang around and inflict some on our heroes.
Orieax's plans were short lived however as it quickly became clear that with all their focus
directed solely upon the demon, it wasn't going to last long. So it wrapped its wings about itself
and spun on it's heels, disappearing in a flash of sulphur and smoke. As it left the party heard it
say that Embril would have been well on her way to releasing he Master anyway by now and it
would see them again soon.
Searching the Pulanti mansion the party confirmed it was both empty of any further threats and
any futher valuables, although the vampires themselves had some neat magical trinkets which the
group took. In the coffin of Lord Peverill Pulanti they found a letter and an old dusty tome. The
letter was written in Abyssal but Braken was able to read it with a quick ritual. It told the vampires
to ambush Magma Force and to not under estimate them.
Alongside the letter was an old book. Letting his vision switch into the arcane realm Camero
could detect very powerful magic emanating from the old book with a strong necrotic slant to it.
The book appeared to be bound in black dragon skin and was locked with a mithril clasp,
glistening subtly in the light. Camero picked the tome up gingerly and blew the dust from the front
cover. The title read, �The Path to Immortality� in an ancient script. This was definitely
something worth studying�
They left the mansion to find Bragger still waiting for them. During a brief chat with him Camero
asked if the group could be given the Pulanti mansion as part of their reward. Bragger said he
would speak on their behalf to Governor Poole. Camero then told the rest he would see them in
the morning and teleported home to Hollytree. The others headed back to the Heaven's Gate.
Back at the inn Magma Force found the place had already been mostly returned to normal by the
staff. As the group entered the remaining patrons who had been brave enough to return after the
vampire attack gave them a standing ovation. The landlord, who had arrived to oversee the
damage, thanked them hugely for their help in saving his inn and patrons from destruction and
told them their stay was on the house and that they were welcome to stay any time. The group
thanked him and enjoyed a very late dinner and then retired to the best rooms in the inn.
Camero, getting home, met his wife Shensen who berated him for not contacting her for 24 days -
the time he had been on the road since setting out for Albion from Cauldron on the trail of
Mangarak. She also told him some great news - she was pregnant with his child.
Shensen helped Camero craft some magical items whilst they caught up with each other and then
Camero retired to read his new book, The Path to Immortality. He opened the pages gingerly and
felt an irresistable tug to read and devour the information inside.
When opened Camero was amazed at the incredible powers being offered by the book � the book
described how to achieve lichdom! It was written by a man named Marlek. Of course everyone
has heard of the ancient and evil realm of Marlek and the Lich king who rules it. Further reading
confirmed it was indeed written by the Lich king.
Camero descovered the book included rituals to create a phylactery, to gain necrotic and poison
resistance and to generate an aura which would damage unfriendly creatures. More complex
rituals deeper into the book covered the ability to recover from death itself!
After reading the book Camero went into his usual trance. He was sure he was in his trance and
yet the dream he had was as vivid as any waking experience. He was sat at the very top of his
tower in Hollytree looking out over the west as the sun set. Behind him a powerful, compelling
voice spoke his name. He turned and saw a huge demonic figure floating in the air effortlessly. He
instantly recognised it - the Demon Prince. He smiled and said, �At last, you have found the tome
I left for you. It is time to embrace your destiny Camero. You will become one of my most
powerful liches. Read the tome well, and follow its instructions closely, and before very long
immortality and a place at my side will be yours�. Unusually for a dream Camero felt he could
control his response. His response was to utterly rebuke and deny the Demon Prince and all he
stood for. The Demon Prince's vision scowled and dissappeared in an angry pop.
Camero woke, rested but somewhat disturbed, said goodbye to Shensen and teleported back to
Endhome where he arrived in time for breakfast.
Meanwhile, at first light, before the others had fully stirred, Harley was out and about on the
streets of the city. The others were masters of magic and divine power but Harley's soul and
strength lay in the streets and the heartbeat of the city. He stood down on the docks, leaning up
against a warehouse. As he watched the dawn hussle of the dock workers a shady character
approached and whispered to him that he'd heard rumours that Malglurien the Black Dragon had
disappeared for the last few months and that he was planning a raid on Zvomarana itself! Surely
this information would be worth a lot to the Raven Queen. Harley was used to getting little tips
and gossip when back in his hometown of Cauldron but this was totally out of the blue and he
didn't really know what it was about. He took this news back to his friends and was educated that
Zvomarana was the holiest temple of the Raven Queen in her domain in the Shadowfell. The
Raven Queen was apparently the local name for Wee Jas as she was more commonly known in
Mochican where Harley grew up. Malglurien was the leader of the Ebon Riders and curiously a
figure from Gotrek's past. The group had never really heard of the Ebon Riders until recently -
perhaps they were more famous in this part of the world?
Camero say Gotrek down and inscribed a tattoo onto his back. It was embued with magical
powers. Gotrek then headed off into the city to look for a temple of Moradin but came back
disappointed. Meanwhile the rest went out and spoke to Bragger and Stylus Cant. They were told
that it would be a few days before they would hear about whether they would be gifted the Pulanti
mansion. They also asked these two worthies for directions to the Lost City of Barakus.
They were told that the lost city was no longer lost - since about twn or fifteen years ago - and was
now reaonably well known. It was pretty much completely underground these days. It was a ruin
of a city which thrived hundreds, maybe even thousands of years ago - a place of great magic and
technology. Now it was a ruins over run with orcs and goblins and the like. Only hardy
adventurers went there but Bragger could lend the party a tracker who could show them the way.
Laird was introduced to the group - a very typical looking ranger type.
The party stepped out into the streets where Camero started the ritual to summon magical flying
steeds. As he chanted a crowd gathered. The party could hear them talking about the Heaven's
Gate Inn, about vampires and even the odd mention of the word Pulanti. Soon there was a throng
of people and as Camero finished his ritual to summon the magical horses the crowd applauded
and began to chant Morgan's name.
Pushing through the crowd was a bearded noble who bowed low to Camero and thanked him for
saving his life. He was one of the nobles from the inn last night that Camero had personally saved.
He pushed a large rugby into Camero's hand and stepped back into the crowd.
Magma Force took off theatrically and swooped north over the city and off into the wilds. At
Laird's suggestion they followed the route of the road north - otherwise he was worried he'd get
lost as landmarks didn't look the same from the air. The road was pretty direct anyway.
In the afternook of the first day out Braken heard a voice in his head. It was High Inquisitor Jenya.
She said, "Braken: Grave news. The King is dead. Assassins from Khemit appear responsible.
Return to Sasserine as fast as possible ". Braken took his horse to the ground, calling the others to
him. He told them the news. They were shocked. The king, dead? And Khemit was responsible?
They discussed their options but realised they couldn't just leave their current mission so they sent
a telepathic message to Jenya asking if they could return in a few days. She reluctantly agreed. So
they pressed on again. Night came and went and the next day they flew onwards. Laird told them
he felt they would reach the site of Barakus that evening - he was amazed at their progress.
In the late morning they saw a strange sight. Ahead of them they could just make out a single
cloud in the distance that was behaving differently to all the clouds about it. As they neared it they
saw that riding the cloud was a robed eladrin. He was casting some sort of ritual. The ritual must
have completed as the robed figure appeared to perform some final flurry of a gesture. The party
felt the phantom steeds beneath them slowly disappear. Fortunately for them the magic of the
Phantom Steed ritual supported them still and they floated gently to the ground, right onto the road
they were following. As they descended they saw a group of riders converging on the place they
looked like they would land. A pair of riders converged from each of the compass points. Each
pair comprised a knight in plate armour with a shield bearing a black dragon on a crimson field
and an archer with a crimson cape. The knights were closing fast whilst the archers took aim.
Braken spotted a ruined watch tower from a bygone age just off the road to the east. The group
rushed into it, using it as cover from the archers. In charged the ebon riders, riding great big
shadowy panthers. Meanwhile the archers circled sending magical arrows at any exposed heroes.
Braken chanted a prayer of protection over his companions and that single prayer pretty much
decided the fight. The riders were unable to cause much harm to the party whilst under Braken's
protection and it was only a matter of time before they were victorious.
During the whole fight the crimson robed eladrin floated in the distance on his magical cloud and
watched. As Gotrek chopped the head off the last archer, the eladrin turned his cloud, revealing a
black dragon symbol on his back, and sped off into the skies, disappearing into the clouds
overhead.
Report Date
11 Apr 2024
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