Titan & vampires

Rose Fancy and Lalia Herbier, two adventurers, are kidnapped by Mantis during an expedition in the Underdark. In the City of blades, they meet fellow prisoner Aelsthim. Lalia discovers that the city is symbiotically built within enormous roots and senses a powerful entity, Hedroforn. They make a deal with Hedroforn to help him escape in exchange for their freedom. During their escape, Lalia convinces the group to help free Hedroforn, causing chaos that allows them to flee to Neverlight.
In Neverlight, they realize they were manipulated by Hedroforn and seek redemption. They learn about the titan's history and ancient conflicts with the gods. Rose suggests making a pact with Elise, an Archdevil, to contain Hedroforn. Elise agrees but demands the adventurers kill Lenore Remington, a high Vampire, in exchange.
Transported to the Shadowfell, the adventurers find themselves in the domain of the Crimson Court. Hiding their affiliation with Elise, they gain the court's trust and uncover a Lycanthrope conspiracy. During this Time, Rose betrays and kills Lenore, fulfilling Elise's demand. The adventurers then return to the Underdark with a curse to stop Hedroforn.
In a final confrontation, Rose fights Hedroforn while Lalia prepares the curse. Hedroforn consumes Lalia, but she activates the curse from within, turning him to stone and stopping his rampage. Their exploits are credited to Elise, as per their deal.

History

Prisoners

A duo of adventurers, Rose and Lalia, were kidnapped by Mantis during an expedition in the Underdark after trespassing into their territory. Thrown into the Mantis' jail within the City of Blades, they met Aelsthim, another prisoner.
Lalia noticed that the city is carved into enormous roots and tried to communicate with the plants. She learned that the city was built entirely within these roots, and the Mantis lived symbiotically with the tree. She also sensed the presence of a powerful entity that the plant couldn't fully identify, but its presence disturbed all natural life around the shaft where it was contained.
Lalia focused on this link and managed to reach into the mind of the entity, finding that it had a connection to plants, allowing communication. The entity, known as Hedroforn, begged Lalia for help. Learning of this exchange, Rose proposed a deal: if the entity freed them, they would free it. Hedroforn agreed and lashed out, drawing the attention of all guards and soldiers as its screams echoed through the city.
With the guards distracted, the group escaped. Rose suggested fleeing, but Lalia, feeling compelled by her promise, led the group further into the city to free Hedroforn. They witnessed the colossal shaft where the gargantuan Hedroforn was imprisoned. Its shape shifted based on what it consumed, and the guards complained about the Death of another Mantis due to Hedroforn’s attacks.
Witnessing this, Aelsthim and Rose wanted to leave, but Lalia, still hearing Hedroforn's voice, refused. She pushed the group to help the titan. Sneaking into the chasm, they managed to break one of its bonds before getting caught. Hedroforn lashed out again, creating chaos that allowed the group to flee across the Dark lake on a boat made of mushrooms. The flames rising within the city lit their way as the titan fought the Mantis, leaving the city in ruins.
Arriving in Neverlight, a city of deep gnomes in the Underdark, they heard echoes of the destruction caused by their actions and sought ways to repair the damage. Lalia, now free of Hedroforn's voice, sought redemption for her actions and realized she had been manipulated. The adventurers began investigating the creature's history, learning it was first trapped by the gods of giants. Meanwhile, vengeful Mantis pursued them, slowing their investigation.

Deal with the Devil

Aelsthim, earning the nickname "Aelsthim the Brave," valiantly fought off the Mantis, saving Lalia, who was too afraid to use her powers for fear of Hedroforn's influence. After their battle, they learned more about the titan’s history and the ancient conflict between the titan and the gods. Rose, seeing the daunting task of fighting Hedroforn, suggested seeking help from archdevils, particularly Elise, the archdevil of envy, whom Rose secretly served as a warlock.
The party reluctantly agreed to make a pact with Elise, who promised to contain the titan within the City of Blades until the adventurers could fulfill their end of the deal. In return, their souls would belong to Elise upon their demise, and all their feats would be credited to her.
But most importantly, Elise envies the other Archdevils, she wants the mountain of gold within Fury's possession, she wants to be desired like Zariel, she wants the power of Asmodeus...
None of those can be brought to her by the adventurers, But there is one man Elise wants by her side, a higher vampire: Sir Silver Remington.
But the vampire refused her company, as he is already engaged with Lenore Remington. Elise wants to see that change and tasks the adventurers with her demise.
She is a true high vampire, and killing a vampire is almost impossible, it is why Elise bestows upon their blade a curse of an unknown nature. She tells the adventurer this curse will be the demise of any vampire, even a true vampire.

The shadowfell

Elise cursed their weapons to ensure they could kill even a true vampire. After much debate, the adventurers accepted the deal. A rift opened, transporting them to the Shadowfell. In the Shadowfell, the group lands within the territory of the Crimson Court. Their entrance is quite noticeable as the rift created by Elise tears through space, launching them into the domain of the vampires. Soon, the adventurers find themselves surrounded by undead and lower vampires. With the first slash of his sword against a lower vampire, the creature screams in pain, falling to the ground dead, its wound festering and burning its body.
The curse imbued into their weapons proves quite potent against vampires. Lalia and her druidic abilities keep the undead at bay until they are stopped by a higher vampire curious about the recent intrusion.
Unlike popular belief, higher vampires are not bloodthirsty monsters. They offer to welcome the adventurers within the castle of the Crimson Court for further discussion.
The adventurers decide to hide their affiliation with Elise and introduce themselves as traveling adventurers. They explain they fought the Hedroforn in the depths of Toriel but had to flee in haste as they could not face the titan yet, jumping through a rift to cross into the Shadowfell.
Tanith, one of the four members of the council leading the Crimson Court, and known as the de facto leader, sees in these adventurers an opportunity. Their knowledge of planar travel could be beneficial for the Crimson Court, especially Tanith, who dreams of expanding the court's influence.
Four higher vampires currently rule the Crimson Court council. Tanith, generally perceived as the leader among the council, is the one providing ideas and schemes.
The party also spots its target within the council. Lenore Remington, the diplomat, is present alongside her husband, Silver Remington, the administrator and economist of the Crimson Court. Lastly, there is Striga, the commander of the army and military strategist.

The council extends an invitation, welcoming the adventurers for as long as they please. The night after their arrival, Tanith unites the council in secrecy, exposing her plan to use the adventurers' skills to exploit the chaos provoked by the titan and secure human cattle for their sustenance and the inermediate vampires of the court.
Initially, the other council members express disbelief due to the lack of manpower to sustain a fight against a titan. Tanith quickly points out that the adventurers are hoping to defeat the titan and should serve as a useful distraction.
Lenore offers herself to be the one to convince the adventurers to fight the titan again.

by Suzanne Helmigh

Lycanthrope Conspiration

Meanwhile, an organization of lycanthropes living within the Crimson Court's domain hears about the adventurers, especially about the painful death of the lower vampire by their blade. Using a network of spying ghosts within the castle, they learn of the curse bestowed upon the adventurers' blade and manage to steal Aelsthim's cursed weapon.
Using the blade, they sneak inside the castle through secret pathways and kill one of the higher vampires, hoping to turn the vampires against each other, as it is rumored that only a vampire can kill another vampire.
Immediately, the adventurers are suspected of the murder. Aelsthim realizes that his missing blade was likely the cause of this death but chooses to conceal this information. As a result, the adventurers are imprisoned within the castle's dungeon.
Lenore visits them daily, hoping to create a bond with the adventurers, as they may serve the council's plan later on. Initially distrustful of the vampire, who participated in their imprisonment, the adventurers slowly build a bond with Lenore over weeks of confinement.
Thanks to this bond, Lenore, with the help of her husband, Silver Remington, secures the adventurers' freedom, as other crimes have been committed by the lycanthropes during their imprisonment and the fact the adventurers lack the power to kill a higher vampire.
To gain the Crimson Court's trust, the adventurers help uncover the lycanthropes' plan. Striga and Silver personally assist the adventurers in eradicating the lycanthropes.
During this great cleansing, the adventurers ensure all lycanthropes who might reveal the secret of the cursed blade are killed before they can speak. However, they keep a few ignorant ones alive to serve as a perfect alibi.
With the council now trusting the adventurers, they finally agree to fight the titan again, asking for the vampires' help with magical items and powers to combat the titans.
Rose, who has grown particularly close to Lenore, manages to secure an audience with the vampiress. Alone with her, Rose betrays Lenore, ambushing her and calling forth the other adventurers to kill her. Lenore proves a formidable opponent, as any higher vampire is, and manages to kill Aelsthim before being slain by Rose's cursed blade.
Lalia attempts to resurrect Aelsthim, but his soul has already been claimed by Elise. Rose makes the body disappear, leaving behind fake evidence leading to the lycanthropes as Lalia and Rose escape through secret paths.
Silver Remington, finding his deceased wife, is devastated. He tries to resurrect her but fails. Enraged, he vows to kill all the lycanthropes of the court, not suspecting the adventurers at all.
In his fit of rage, the rest of the council does not notice Aelsthim's absence and pays little attention to the adventurers, who use this opportunity to escape.

Final Confrontation

Rose calls forth Elise, as their end of the deal has been secured. Elise sends them back to the Underdark, where they must travel to the City of Blades.
As they approach the city, Elise's pressure on the titan, which had slowed and weakened its movements, ceases. Elise's promise was only to hold the creature until the adventurers fulfilled their end of the contract and obtained the power necessary to stop the titan.
Elise grants them the knowledge of a curse she concocted specifically for the titan. This curse, if used properly, will stop the titan. Rose is given more power thanks to her service to Elise.
With this curse in their possession, the ritual to curse the creature will be challenging to perform amidst the chaos of a fight. Lalia, still fearing Hedroforn's influence, decides to prepare the ritual while Rose fight.
Rose faces the monster and sustains serious injuries but manages to keep it in check. However, in his rage, Hedroforn breaks the last bond chaining him and unleashes his full fury against the characters.
Meanwhile, Lalia hears Hedroforn's voice in her mind, his influence stronger as she tries to resist the curse. Now free, Hedroforn rushes to Lalia and absorbs the druid, consuming her whole.
From within, Lalia manages to free her mind one last time, using this moment of clarity to activate the curse. The curse spreads from her, turning Hedroforn's body to stone. He shouts in pain as his body stiffens but is ultimately frozen in place, turned to stone, and stopped in his progression, as the deal with Elise stated.
The fame of this exploit, like all others, belongs to Elise.