UNOMAHA D&D

Finale

From the young adult’s novel The Mysteries of Arklan (2019-2021), by Matt Hale & Paul Yeoh

The water taxi glided swiftly down the Queen’s River, its pilot guiding it deftly around watercraft and other obstacles that presented themselves in the densely built-up urban environment of Dranseri. Teal caught himself reflexively studying the young man’s management of the boat and judging him favorably. He could hardly believe that, until just a few months ago, he himself had performed the same daily round of tasks as Uriah Styx’s apprentice. I wonder how Old Styx is doing, he thought. He had not heard from him since he had written to give notice. Had the unrest in and around the metropolis affected even the sleepy Glade?

It seemed like an eternity since they had departed the village, a party of seven; even the thinning of their initial group was becoming an increasingly distant memory. Yes, it was here in Dranseri that they had lost three comrades. The first to depart was the angelic-looking cleric–what was his name?–Agenar, who slipped away as casually as he had joined them. Then Wynlynn had left. He still missed her but was glad that she was well and finally relieved of some of the burdens of her past. And it was in this bustling city that Travis had met an untimely end at the Arena; revived only to be disintegrated a second time, his remains were presumably in the Pansophical even now, waiting for Alura to restore him at her convenience.

The blare of the water taxi’s horn abruptly ended Teal’s reverie. They were approaching the Seaward district and the river was getting more congested. On a sudden impulse, he said to the boatman, “You can let me off at that next dock over there. I’ll walk the rest of the way.” The young man grinned. “Not the sunniest of days, but a stroll in this part of the city is always fun!” He expertly steered the taxi to the dock and secured it. As Teal stepped off the boat, he placed a gold piece in the pilot’s hand. “Keep the change!” he said. Teal heard the young man gasp in surprise. “I love your hair!” he cried after Teal.

Teal’s watery locks floated in soft waves around his head, bright and buoyant. He could not explain why, but he felt an unaccustomed sense of lightness as he dove into the crowd. In spite of the recent tensions in the city, Seaward was packed. With the milder temperatures of Corellon, outdoor vendors of all kinds thronged the streets and even areas on the water around the docks, forming a pop-up floating market. He walked past a vermillion-hued Tiefling selling red-hot spicy slurpee noodles, a young girl watching a cart teetering under the weight of steaming lavender buns, and a satyr peddling carved wooden figures of sailors, pirates, parrots, and other maritime characters. Marina would love that little merman, he thought. He had already bought a crystal containing a tiny model of the city for his favorite cousin, but he decided to go with his instincts and soon added another small package to his sack of purchases from the Grey Market Ward. He went over his mental shopping list again: besides Marina’s gifts, he had a souvenir map of Dranseri for Uncle John, S’rissian spices for Auntie, Khrifian gold leaf tea for Madame Mellicai, and an assortment of Denerian sweetmeats for his younger cousins. Done! Now, all he had to do was to find the spot where he had agreed to meet Caedmon.

As he approached their rendezvous near one of the seafront warehouses, Teal was suddenly struck by the sense of normalcy around him: merchants haggling with their customers, dock-workers packing and unloading goods, people arriving and departing. It was as if the momentous, realm-shaking battles of the last few weeks had never happened, and everyday commerce did not seem in the least dampened by the eldritch horrors unleashed by the elemental cultists or by the ongoing siege at S’riss Khrif. Indeed, there were now rumors on the street that the orcish forces threatening Dranseri’s sister-city were losing focus, and that victory for the defenders was in sight. How quickly, he thought, we get used to the strangest circumstances! Just a few weeks is enough to habituate us to conditions that we initially found (and perhaps still should find) terrifying. He stole a quick glance at his hands. Except for the gentle sensation of warmth surrounding his fingers, he could easily forget that he was wearing a pair of magical kid-gloves that the enchanter Gaelyn Xyrris had given him. Once put on, they were invisible and even conveyed the characteristic texture of its wearer’s skin. At least, that’s what Gaelyn claimed–Teal would have been skeptical, but Caedmon had vouched for their efficacy. This afternoon, he had an appointment with Alura and a couple of other senior mages to discuss what practices he could cultivate to neutralize or regulate the powers of transmutation that he had mysteriously acquired. Even this so-called Midas curse, which had initially caused so much alarm, was beginning to fade into the background of his mind where, truth to tell, it had been relegated during the latest series of crises the party had faced. Was there anything in all of Álfheimr, he wondered, that we’re incapable of normalizing?

One thing, maybe. Almost by magic, a familiar, beloved face materialized out of the sea of strangers, and Caedmon was standing in front of him. His hazel eyes sparkled, and in the contrast to his chocolate complexion, his grin was dazzling. Teal’s heart skittered and his stomach lurched slightly, that raw mixture of nerves and rapt anticipation akin to the sensation he always experienced before cliff diving off Talpin’s southern shore. No, some things—some people—he would never regard as ordinary no matter how accustomed he grew to their presence. As if hearing this unspoken promise, Caedmon chucked him under the chin, pulled his face gently towards him and kissed him full on the lips.

In this busy part of the neighborhood, they would have needed to shout in order to make themselves intelligible, so for a few minutes, they walked hand in hand in a contented silence. Teal could feel Caedmon’s exuberance through the very grasp of his fingers and guessed that he had been successful in his mission. Although it would have been far easier to travel to Talpin by magical means (Teal had suggested tree transport or wind walk),Caedmon had insisted on adopting more conventional means of transportation. There was no rush, he had pointed out, and it might be wiser to return home in a way that was more relatable to old friends and family. Hence the division of labor that they had agreed on this morning: Teal would shop for gifts and Caedmon would look into chartering a suitable vessel for the journey.

Once they had reached a quieter street, Teal smiled expectantly at Caedmon. “So—wanna tell me ’bout this sweet deal you’ve found?”

Caedmon smiled back. He had spent the afternoon bouncing between many of the taverns he often frequented when he was in Dranseri. The Cunning Seadog with its crusty mid-1100s nautical themed decor, the Laughing Ukulele Pub, with its numerous stringed instruments from all around Álfheimr, the Octapus’s Smile with walls covered in its proprietor’s mementos, capturing moments from Captain Miro Dane’s time in the Royal fleet fighting pirates. At all these venues, Caedmon had searched in vain for vessels destined for Talpin: most were headed to Denaria, Emorhin, or destined for long voyages along the trade routes to Seabreak City, or beyond to Concordia or Acheron. Finally, he had visited The Itchy Seagull’s Aerie, known for the large elevated piers holding it 50 feet above the high tide of the Bay of Steel, giving it the look of a large bird’s nest. “I found a ship at the Itchy Seagull. I … may have splurged a bit Teal”

Pausing to gauge Teal’s raised eyebrow, Caedmon continued. “Most ships were headed out to the trade routes or going the wrong direction here in Arklan. After spending the day looking for something heading to Talpin and coming up short, I found Captain Florence of The Daydream. She was three drinks in when I asked about her ship. Apparently she charters to high-end clientele in Dranseri and Denaria looking for pleasure cruises in the Arsian Islands, but business has been bad with all of the recent tensions and security concerns with the incursion in the Dessarin.” Caedmon eyed Teal’s emerging look of disapproval. “Teal, it has a hot tub manned by its own fire mage and a personal chef that trained at the Elven Kagonesti Academy of Culinary Arts. Captain Florence said she can deliver us to shore in Talpin in a less pretentious launch so that we don’t attract too much attention.” Finishing, with an appeal he thought would work, “We almost died … I did die. Plus we can’t take it with us and you could always just make more with your golden touch.” Realizing he had said too much when Teal’s eyes sank at the mention of his hands, he trailed off, “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean…”

Teal looked up mischievously, shrugging off the faux air of dejection. “It’s okay, Caed. There are worse conditions. And besides,” he said, affectionately tickling Caedmon’s stomach, “these mitts allow me to touch everything I want to.” Inwardly, he was thoroughly amused. Though seven years his senior, Caedmon always slipped effortlessly into the persona of his childhood playmate, and he loved him the more for it. “Look, after all we’ve gone through, do you think I could deny you any luxury that coin can buy? We’re not short on funds, even without resorting to illegal transmutation. Anyway, if The Daydream is as amazing as it sounds, that might provide the perfect incentive for our friends to take a joyride with us to Talpin! We all deserve a break after the trials of the last few months. A pleasure cruise with an island vacation as its destination–I’m sure Ari and Val would be enthused, and maybe we could even entice Tilia with all the interesting wildlife and vegetation that Talpin has to offer!”

After they had returned from Elyveshara, Teal and Caedmon had tacitly agreed that a visit to Talpin was in order for several reasons. Neither had communicated more than a hasty line to family and friends on the island in the past few months, and they had no doubts that its tiny economy had been affected by the turmoil that had convulsed Arklan of late. Now that their party had completed its mission, the two men felt a shared sense of responsibility to see how their island community fared and to renew ties with those there who were most closely bound to them. Moreover, there was the looming question of how the change in their relationship would be received. Teal dreaded raising the issue with his Uncle John, strict as he was, while Caedmon, ever sanguine, was confident that his mother would embrace Teal as another son (“She always babied you, Teal, now we can just make it official!”). But on this, both men were of one heart and mind: having kindled the sacred flame of a passion that had long glowed latent beneath the surface, having had the strength of their bond tested on the battlefield and by tricks of sinister enchantment, they would cover their love no longer. No, instead they would proclaim it joyfully to the whole world, beginning with those who had known and loved them since they were children. Teal felt this impulse as strongly as Caedmon, yet he still recoiled in anticipation of the shock and disappointment that might be expressed in his uncle’s household. Ah, the complications that come with close connections!

As they meandered along with the river toward the Oldtown Ward, Teal’s anxieties drifted away amidst Caedmon’s cheerful stream of discourse on the amenities aboard The Daydream. The sun peeped out from behind the clouds mottling the sky, and the lightness of his original mood returned. He had been feeling a little guilty about leaving behind the rest of the party to visit Talpin, but now his spirits lifted at the prospect of giving his friends a much-needed vacation while introducing them to family and his favorite childhood haunts. It seemed fitting that they should participate in the bliss of reunion, for weren’t Ari, Falco, Val, Tilia, Pantaghion, Erione–yes, even Jerry–a family of sorts now? They had fought together, healed each other, protected and even restored the life of the man more precious to him than life itself–if the inviolable bonds emerging from their shared ordeal did not make them family, then the definition of the term was suspect. And to put things into perspective, what was Uncle John’s disapproval of his homosexuality next to the difficulties that others faced with their birth families? Val had hinted that she was on the run from her father; Pantaghion was still in pursuit of his; Tilia’s family was even now risking their lives in an attempt to rescue one of her siblings. No, it was clear that the concept of family posed challenges for all of them. That they had each other–and might be able to help each other unravel some of these complications–was a rare gift not to be taken for granted.

They were crossing the bridge that connected Seaward with the Oldtown Ward when Teal softly squeezed Caedmon’s hand. Not a word was exchanged, but he appeared intuitively to grasp Teal’s meaning. They paused at the center, moving as close as they could into a narrow bay to avoid obstructing other pedestrians. Caedmon gently nudged Teal against the balustrade, enfolding him tenderly from behind. They stood like this for many quiet heartbeats, gazing down the Queen’s River, far out into the Bay of Steel. Ceaseless flux was the essence of the watery element at the core of Teal’s being, but those precious grains of time he fervently wished to hold on to forever, outside of time’s relentless flow.

The clouds had moved in to obscure the fitful sunshine again, and they suddenly felt a chill breeze blowing from the north. Caedmon reflexively tightened his embrace around Teal, who turned to nuzzle his cheek. When he shifted his gaze back to the horizon, a broad swath of the sky over the bay seemed tinged with a strange violet glow. The next instant it was gone. In spite of the warmth of his lover’s body, a tremor ran down Teal’s spine, and he felt Caedmon shudder involuntarily.

“Did you see that?” he whispered. Caedmon nodded in assent, clasping Teal even closer. “O, Caed–do you think Kurgal and their allies managed to retrieve their phylactery from Elyveshara after all? I dropped a tsunami on that volcanic chamber in an effort to destroy it before we teleported out, but I have a bad feeling even that wasn’t enough. You know, I’ve spent hours reliving those final minutes in the volcano, going over multiple ways I might have secured the phylactery so that we could’ve ensured its destruction or containment. Like casting investiture of flame on myself and swimming through the lava to get it. With my swimming speed, I would’ve had a decent chance of finding it! And I could’ve borrowed Jerry’s magical glasses to navigate through the molten magma … but everyone was so bent on teleporting out without further delay, and I was so exhausted from the fumes and heat, I hadn’t the will to object then. Now, I’m haunted by the thought that we didn’t try hard enough. With two of their three phylacteries and the Straxx, Kurgal’s power will surely reach unimaginable scales. What price will Álfheimr pay for our inaction? What fearful consequences for generations to come,” he hesitated then added shyly, “for our children? Tell me, Caed, do you honestly believe we did enough?”

Caedmon sighed. He had heard this line of reasoning posed before in nineteen different ways at nineteen different times. “It’s ok, Teal, we did everything we could. If you’d have stayed we’d both be dead. You’d have kept searching until it was too late and the gods know what undead creatures were crawling all over the place. I wouldn’t have let you stay alone. We’d have both died and probably killed the rest of the group with us.” Caedmon paused to measure the effect of his words. He had said it all before, but some things need to be repeated to sink in.

“What did I say in that accursed flying city … ‘Fuck Alura, Fuck the Queen. All I care about is you.’” Seeing Teal wince at the mention of Alura and the Queen, Caedmon continued, “We did everything we could do. Kangaxxian is dead because of us and the holy seat of Arklan owes us a favor, not the other way around. The 10,000 gold the queen gave each of us is just a small consolation prize for all that we have done for her and for the realm. You can’t keep beating yourself up about this and analyzing every little thing you might have done differently. Hindsight is 20-20. Kurgal controls a mile-high crystal of death, what are we supposed to do about that?”

Teal was silent for a few minutes. Caedmon continued to cradle him, swaying slowly to the rhythm of their breathing. At last, Teal took a deep breath, turned to face him, and embraced him passionately. “I’m sorry I allowed that to set me off again. You’re right. There’s no use dwelling on could’ves and would’ves now. All the heroic honors in Arklan, no, in the whole of Álfheimr, would mean nothing if it meant sacrificing you or the possibility of a future together–with all its problems and imperfections.”

“Speaking of the future, I’ve been thinking about ours. What the next chapter might look like. Listen, I have no idea where I stand with the Water Ashari after this hiatus, but it struck me that I know little more about my origins–about my parents–than when I first began my journey of self-formation three years ago. Looking back, I realize this question should have been a key element of the Aramentè from the start, but I stayed in the Glade because there was a hidden aspect of myself that I urgently needed to confront. And that was the true nature of my feelings for you. But I was so afraid of things changing between us, of potentially losing you, that I dared not acknowledge how I felt–not even to myself! Funnily enough, after all the horrors we’ve faced, I think there was nothing more terrifying than that leap–the act of placing what feels like your very soul in another’s hands. More than slaying dragons or destroying phylacteries, that was my greatest victory.”

“And what a prize–to be doubly blessed with self-knowledge and your love! Now I’m ready to go farther. To seek my parents–to find out who they were, to whom they devoted their lives, what dreams they might have had for me. And hopefully to learn more, in the process, about my place in this beautiful and bewildering world of ours. A good starting-point, I think, would be in the region where my Dad is reported to have been shipwrecked, southeast of Arklan and southwest of Aratarlan. Once we’ve settled things on Talpin, I’d like to start planning an extended trip to explore that famed archipelago. Will you come with me?”

Caedmon gripped Teal excitedly, his eyes aglow with enthusiasm. “The Summer Isles of Meropis!” he exclaimed.

The hours stole away and their laughter drifted across the water as they lingered on the bridge, watching the sun sink into the glimmering mirror of the estuary. Neither could say what lay beyond the horizon, but their hearts were untroubled. Whatever the future held, it was enough to know that they would greet its joys and sorrows together.

Finis

5th of Corellon – The Phylacterium Trials

After making it into the temple, the party managed to hide away and rest. After waking, they discovered that the temple was a sort of trial grounds to test, train, break, and indoctrinate would-be acolytes. A cliche omnious magically recorded message from Kangaxxian, spoke of his toxic masculinity and overbearing god complex. It also spoke of a room of riddles and other physical and mental challenges that an acolyte must surmount to transcend into an immortal servitude to the lich. Using find the path, the party knew that the phyllactery was located directly ahead of the main chamber, but their way was blocked by a large magically impenetrable dragon skull.

Kangaxxian’s quote: “Tremble before greatness mortal for now you tread on sacred ground. I am your new master, your new God. Set aside the trappings of what you believe to be a life and embrace opportunity. To know the secrets of this place is to transcend your meager existance and become something more.

One way or another you will serve me. The choice you face now is will you do it willingly, or will I rip out your soul and consume it as you wriggle on the floor in agony, wishing for a death that will not come?

There is no third choice. No alternatives.

Go now, find the room of riddles and prove you are sound of mind. There you will find the first step to your transendance.”

Exploring the complex, the found magical traps and prison chambers where a number of the missing rockfolk from the Olivine valley were being held. They also found grand murals painted as if in manner of instruction. The murals depicted various glorifications of Kangaxxian, but also contained subtle messages related to the riddle room and depicting the life of servitude of the acolytes. The depiction was one of ascendance and competition. Full descriptions of the murals are below.

Mural 1: The man in the mural is shown in the style of religious iconography as a god. The worshipers seem to be competing with one another to become acolytes to this god. The mural depicts brutal survival of the fittest competitions to identify only the most devoted and fervant supporters from the flock. One winner is shown in the cowled robes of an acolyte. Face hidden in darkness with a star-shapped clay medalion on their neck, they are shown in movement as they bring down a dagger towards the chest of a gagged man. Others are shown being cast into the the mountain or being ripped apart and trampled by those that have passed the trials and tribulations of the competition.

Mural 2: The creature in the mural is Kangaxxian’s Phylactery phoenix. Kangaxxian sits nearby in a golden throne with a golden circlet above his head. His followers use magic to lift humans and throw them into the mountain. The phoenix swoops below and seems to be feeding on those that are thrown into the volcano.

Mural 3: A mural on the wall portrays a powerful acolyte of Kangaxxian, in ceremonial robes, enjoying a luxurious dinner in a finely outfitted comfy space. On the floor nearby is a runic circle depicting the visage of a cabin in a remote section of mountains behind it. A darkly ominous blood red rings the doorway inviting the viewer in.

The party found various somewhat mundane items around the temple and eventually a statuary of various figures waiting to accept objects. Before the mechanics of the exchanges were known, Teal attempted to fill each vessel the statues held with water. He was killed by one of the errant magical effects, before being brought back to life using restorative magics.

Figuring out the mechanics of the room, the party provided the answers to all of the riddles and the way forward opened up to reveal a chamber with a guillotine, several wheels, and 4 pillars that have manacles attached to them.

3rd-4th of Corellon – The flying city of Elyveshara

Arriving in the moltencore on the 3rd of Correlon, the party saw a temple below at the surface level of lava within the Moltencore caldera. Above that the looming city of Elvyshara sat motionless with a large cylindrical tube of energy extending downward to the temple. The party, remembering the vision they witnesses in the Anfoor Observatory, took the city route.

There, they did battle with a group of fire giants and their pet fire breathing dogs. Using Kangaxxian’s signet ring, they made their way into the private observatory of Kangaxxian. There they met, and later freed, Lyra Aegella, a disembodied astronomer that had been imprisioned by Kangaxxian to serve as a ai-like conversational agent in assisting his various planar observations.

Making their way downward through the city to the energy portculis that led to the temple below, the party contended with many dangerous and deadly creatures, including a zombified mechanically augmented t-rex and various crystalline and adamantine golems – as well as other magical defensive contraptions operated by the facility’s master, simply named “the controller.”

After a somewhat accidental wild magic flare from a Diapson crystal, a Pazuzu was summoned causing even more chaos in the facility. Using the distraction to their advantage, the party quickly continued downward. They fought, but mostly mind dominated and feared away another group of fire giants and salamanders.

Using a mass polymorph spell to bolster the weakened defenses of the party, they traveled into the fiery temple below, using the hit points of giant apes to soak up the continual burning fire damage of the energy elevator connecting the city to the volcano below.

25th of Melora to the 2nd of Corellon – Travel to Elyveshara above the Moltencore

The party teleported towards Kangaxxian’s home fortress of Elyveshara in an effort to breach his lair, surmount the defenses, and find their way to his phyllacterium, to put an end to him and prevent his undead reanimation.

The teleportation, led by Ari, went slightly awry as she had never targeted a teleportation not on a teleportion circle. The party ended up a few days of walking travel away from the fortress floating city of Elvyesha, which resides above the Moltencore volcano in the desertified wastes of the Desolate Expanse.

Finding their way forward, the party began to travel towards the Moltencore, but along the way they discovered an isolated village of rockfolk within a beautifully crystalled area south of the moltencore. With crystalline fields and rock formations containing veins of pale green-hued crystal, the party moved forward, spoke to the town folk and learned that they refer to this area as the “Olivine Valley.” While the townspeople were very nice, they were astonished at the presence of outsiders and they all seemed to be fitted with a small clockwork designed circular device just behind their ear.

Before long the party learned that these were control devices meant to placate and keep the townsfolk in line as they mined the green material for transport towards the moltencore. The party also learned of local mythology that had been made very manifest in the form of what appeared to be some sort of sacrifice to a fiery spirit that lived in the volcano.

After freeing the villagers of their control devices, the party helped some of the town folk recover their senses after many went into a catatonic shock, overwhelemed at the weight of escaping their enslavement. The devices had long slender tubes that apparently delivered targeted dosages of hormones directly into the pituitary gland.

With time of the essence, the party spirited away towards the volcano using a wind walk spell to transform the party into fast travelling gaseous air forms.

22nd-24th of Melora – The battle of 4 armies for the Staxx

That night, the party teleported back to Selunarra and set camp farm enough away from the center of the metropolis so as not to draw the unwanted attention of the liches.

Their arrival was noted by sentries of the at least one of the liches. The party decided to send their own scouts (Teal and Tilia) in invisible bird form to place the listening devices aquired from Seeker Assum. They ran into some trouble when they passed through the illusory barriers around the lich encampments. In addition to portraying an outwardly facing illusion, it seems that the ward also dispelled spell effects upon entry. This cause their invisibility to drop and they had to make some quick maneuevers to place their devices and escape with their lives.

Teal opted for a long-distance throw to place the device, while Tilia went all-in and flew directly above Kangaxxian’s airship. Both met their mark. Teal had a slightly easier -yet still very harrowing escape path, while Tilia barely made it away with her life after being nearly taken out by the large balistaes.

Sleeping that night and gathering what intel they could the party determined the liches were largely observing each other and their own group. Kurgal and Kangaxxian seemed to be coordinating scouting efforts, while Illiamarra was believed to be underground (based on the scout reports).

Preparing themselves, they waited until the day of the Straxx arrival and began to make their way towards the center of the city, in the glass-wasteland of some bygone calamity. There the party waited 500-1000 ft away from the center. The Straxx arrived in a flash of planar-shifting energy culminating in a cascade of lightning followed by a tear in reality that opened up in front of their eyes. The rip in spacetime cause a concussive blast of displaced air as the large 1km high massive obelisk materalized.

As everything was knocked back, the liches met to Parlay before retreating to their forces. Shortly after the 30 minute conversation, chaos broke out as the three forces tore into each other. The party inched closer and waited as Illiamarra and her forces were decimated by Kangaxxian and Kurgals combined might. Purple worms and large archnids were slaughtered by Kurgal’s shadow dragon and the undead horde forces syncopating to Kangaxxian’s every battle flurry.

Timing their entry, Kurgal spoke to Val and forged a tentative alliance – one that would prove to hold true. The party narrowly survived a meteor shower and a torrent of fire-based magics as Kangaxxian proved why he is considered the mightiest of the Selu’taar. His battle prowess and spellcasting acumen sang through the air in a discordant fury of blood, fire, and necromancy. Kurgal kept their word and helped the party wear down and destroy Kangaxxian – but he wouldn’t quite stay dead. Leaving the party to deal with this quandry, Kurgal transmuted themselves into an ancient green dragon and flew up to assist the ongoing airship battle. There, Kurgal made short work of Kangaxxian’s airship and began to head to the apex for entry into the Straxx.

The party, on the ground, dealt with the dying Kangaxxian – whom they found coated in a constructed clockwork body shell not unlike Travis’s construction. Bone and sinew fused with machinery – apparently a hallmark of Kangaxxian’s might and magic. The skeletal armor seemed to be fueling his body with a range of fluids and concotions helping to heal and regenerate his form. The party crushed it to oblivion and with a whir the suit stopped functioning. The sinew turned to ash and it seems Kangaxxian’s soul was bound to retreat to his phylactery.

Making a quick exit the party teleported back to Dranseri as all around them the broken remnants of Kangaxxian’s airship fell to the ground.

City above the Caldera

Matt Hale & Paul Yeoh

From the young adult’s novel based on
The Mysteries of Arklan

In the dim light of the passage beyond the enchanted doors, the party heaved a collective sigh of relief. They could still hear the angry cursing of the two fire giants who had come so close to killing Val, Falco, and Caedmon. No, the fiery guards had butchered Val and Caedmon, thought Teal—it was only the quick revivifying spells of Erione and Falco that had snatched their friends from the very mouth of death. He winced to think how close to tragedy they had come: what if Ari hadn’t teleported Falco to Caedmon’s side in time?

Still light-headed from the scorching atmosphere that pervaded the city, Teal could hear Val coughing softly ahead and Pantaghion curse as he stumbled in the unevenly lit chamber. Teal glanced remorsefully at his beloved friend. He had employed a potent healing spell that should have restored Caedmon’s strength, yet his breathing was labored and he leaned heavily on Teal as everyone took a moment to recover from their ordeal. Teal was beginning to feel extremely self-conscious about the film of sweat that seemed to envelop his entire body; in the uncomfortable heat, the fins on his arms and calves gave off a distinctly fishy odor.

He had felt weary since they reached this city suspended above the caldera, but now his ennui was accompanied by the dull ache of frustration. One last mission to help secure the Queendom’s future, they said. Let’s turn into wispy clouds, they said, we’ll be in and out before they even know it! Floating along as clouds was a stealthy and convenient mode of travel, of course, but they had not calculated on the time it took to regain humanoid form once inside the large cathedral at the center of Kangaxxian’s floating city. Tilia was the only farsighted one who had remained a wisp to taunt and tease the fire giants, and their canine companions had swiftly detected the presence of the other intruders. In the interval needed to revert from cloud to their original forms, the giants and hell hounds had savagely attacked those who had been discovered—and unfortunately two of the most vulnerable were among them.

Once the joy of feeling Caedmon’s reviving pulse had subsided a little, Teal was assaulted by a crushing sense of guilt. I let him die, he thought. In my confusion and haste to mount a suitable defense against our assailants, I squandered my chance to heal you and let your life-force slip through my fingers like water. He forced himself to focus on their current situation. Caedmon was alive, that was what mattered, he would do everything in his power to protect him now. He put his face close to Caedmon and whispered, “If we get out of this alive, I’m done with these death-defying quests—done with saving Arklan from the next world crisis. I don’t want to die for the Queendom. I want to live for you … for us.”

In and out of consciousness by his side, Caedmon couldn’t help but think of the lights … was it multiple lights or just one? He wasn’t sure. The moment, so lucid but a moment ago, felt like it was slipping away as a dream melts into nothingness upon the first blink of the eye in the waking morning.

At the words “death-defying,” a shiver went down his spine and he let out a cough of ash and sulphur. Slowly opening his eyes, the world spun around him. Managing to sit up, he wiped blood from his face. “Fuck the queen. I’m here for you. I couldn’t let you go without being there for you. I’d rather die by your side than sit on the sidelines like a ship captain’s spouse—waiting to see if their partner comes home or is swallowed by the depths.”

Sitting in the silence of the short rest that followed, he mulled it over. Was he really here only because of Teal or was it his ego? This wasn’t the first time he had let his imagination expand beyond his merit. Nor the first time he had thoughtlessly gone off in search of glory and valor worthy of song. With a shudder that turned into another cough, he thought … but it might be my last.

20-21st of Melora: Recuperation and Deliberations with the Queen

After a night’s rest, the party split up to pursue several simultaneous threads. Ari, Caedmon, and Teal went back to the Knowing Circle Tri-spires to visit Grand Enchanter Gaelin Xyrris, the archmage resident of the Tower of Erudition and recent companion to the party’s escape from Kurgal’s airship. There, Gaelin spent most of the day working with Ari and the others to assess the exact nature of the enchantment allow Kangaxxian to spy through Ari’s eye. After about a half day’s work, the specific runework allowing for a persistant divination connection was identified and disentangled from the complex runework that enabled the other magical properties. With some help from Teal and Caedmon, the Grant Enchanter spent most of the rest of the day to disable the spying eye, leaving the other magical capabilities intact. Teal asked about his recently acquired magical inflection and was told that decks like the one the party owns were made by the gods of trickery and magic. Chaotic, but powerful, these decks are highly sought after for their wonderful powers, but can be dangerous given their unpredictable behavior.

The Grand Enchanter told teal that removing his touch of gold would likely require magics beyond his own – potentially divine help or the highest of arcane rituals. As a simple solution, at least for now, Gaelin loaned Teal a pair of magical missile snaring gloves that seemed to block the touch of gold.

Meanwhile, Tilia went solo to find her family. A note had been left at the Hero’s hall with a forwarding address that her family had apparently moved to. Tracing the address down, Tilia found a very modest above-shop apartment abode. Knocking on the door, she found her father Dorren alone working on a whittling project. Overjoyed to see her, Dorren gave her a big hug and then answered all of her questions, telling her in the process that her mom Miana and sister, Keylana had gone off to follow-up on a lead about her brother Varen. Apparently someone at the crossroads (the name of the inn at Beliard, near the town of Red Larch), had spotted Varen months ago. He was seen in a monk’s habit with insignia belonging the reclusive sacred stone monastery. The informant that had told Miana this story, was herself a refuge. Now the entire Desarin Valley is filled with terrible creatures that prowl the area. Most all of the villagers in Red Larch and Beliard have fled, seeking refuge in Dranseri or Emorhin to the south.

Pentaghion, Val, Erione, and Falco went to speak to the master of defense, Gaurdian Rainan Magmabrew. After a straight and to-the-point but vulgarity-heavy conversation, they learned that he was concerned about the underground entrances to the city – particularly the undersea ports that have been used for centuries by the various criminal organizations and smugglers. When asked about General Krom, Rainan wasn’t able (and didn’t try) to contain his disdain – apparently the two don’t really see eye-to-eye. This group of the party then went and did some shopping – buying a few healing potions and other helpful goods.

Finally, the party reunited, and went to sleep. In the morning, they were summoned to speak with the Queen and her council. There, they met Lady Kima of Vord, Alura’s better half. They also had a lengthy discussion with the Queen, Alura, Realm Seer Erwel, and Rainan about next steps. Dispite the mountaining demonic incursion around the sumber hills anamoly (as it has come to be called) in the Dessarin valley, and the sizable orcish force sieging Sri’ss, the Queen agreed that a trio of liches are perhaps her largest existential concern for the realm. She asked the party to go with the Pansophical team to observe the Straxx appearance and determine what the liches are up-to. Alura, Kima, and the Pansophical’s Pride will be on-hand to assist with the effort, while the Realmseer would go to assist the front-lines of the Sumber Hills Anamoly perimeter.

2 days (40hrs or so) remain until the Straxx is set to arrive.

In the late afternoon, the party reunited (and it felt so good) and decided to go speak to the Queen and her council. There, they engaged primarily with the Queen,

19th of Melora – The phylactery fake-out

The party finished restoring the other members of Alura’s party, namely Pansophical members Grand Enchanter Gaelin Xyrris, Guide Ulam Deathsong, Fielders Evelyn Cloudfang, Josephy Mournhell, and Fangs by the River, as well as the non-pansophical members Nithyis the tiefling soldier, Holfo Ater the halfling fighter, and Vyth the dragonborn cleric. After being restored, each told a story about the pain and neural trauma they experienced when their memories were modified by hooded mages serving Kangaxxian.

Given their stories, the party assumes there were at least 5-6 mage companions of substantial talent serving Kangaxxian as well as several intelligent undead servants and hordes of undead minions.

The group told the party that they were captured at the gate-key entrance to Kangaxxian’s floating city Elyveshara. They were surrounded and forced to surrender, at which point each person’s memory was modified and Alura was taken away.

After some discussions and recovery, the party joined forces with a few of Alura’s former party. Val was carrying Kurgal’s phylactery, seemingly allowing Kurgal to gain awareness of Val’s perceptions and also to communicate with her. Kurgal made a counter offer to Kangaxxians. They offered to fetch Alura and exchange her for their phylactery. After consultations with Grand Enchanter Gaelin and Realmseer Erwel Elervir, the party agreed to work with Kurgal, but only on condition of proof of good faith. The party was to be allowed to speak to and scry upon Alura one hour before an agreed upon prisoner exchange time.

In the party’s travels to the agreed upon location, they encountered weird areas of magical deadzones and others that seemed to cause weird magical effects – all spread across the plain of glass beneath the appearence zone of the Straxx. The alien landscape of desolation looming heavy on their minds, the party made their way to the indended exchange location and stopped to scry on Alura. They saw she was in good health and also used sending to speak with her while she was being scried upon. With minds made up, the party went to Kurgal’s illusory area of the glassified fields. There, they passed piles of Phaerimm corposes that had been shot down by the large balista. Eventually, the party made their way through an invisible – but slightly shimmery barrier. Passing through the barrier, they could see through the illusion. A large well equipped and well armed Selu’taar airship sat moored to the ground. A large gangplank had been laid out to allow those on the deck of the grand ship to walk down to the ground.

The party approached carefully. After a few moments, a richly and finely adourned Kurgal emerged onto the deck. The undulating raw magical energy burning inside their chest and beneath their torso gave them a radiant glow. They persisently floated above the deck a few inches off the ground. The party parlayed with Kurgal and began the exchange. As the Alura passed next to Val, she whispered to her to tell her to not give them the phylactery, count to 3 and then run. She also subtled nodded to Ari, as if to say you get the 4 behind you.

After a few tense seconds, Val turned – threw the phylactery to Alura and then ran down the gain plank. Chaos broke out as several magos minions of Kurgal ran down to try to shut down Alura and the party. Alura grabbed the picture and teleported half the party out – leaving Ari, Val, Enchanter Gaelin, and a few others behind. Through some clutch counterspells, Enchanter Gaelin and Ari were able to shut down other counterspells and get the rest of the group teleported safely away back to the Ivory Tower (Alura’s home and one of the tri-spires of the Pansophical).

The party decided to get some rest and figure out what to do next in the morning.

“Into the Phylacterium”

Canto xxxii from The Mysteries of Arklan

The party heads deeper into Illiamara’s inner sanctum. Val looks over a ledge that leads to the Abyss and jumps in, but is saved by Pantaghion with an improvised lasso. Flying after Val in the form of a hawk, Tilia too is compelled to plunge towards the Abyss. Val catches her and she transforms back into a firbolg. Pantaghion manages to pull both of them to safety.

The party is attacked by a vampire named Hy Lee who guards Illiamara’s lair. Val and Pantaghion find that their weapon attacks aren’t as effective as they expect them to be. The vampire is cowed by Tilia’s powerful sunbeam spell, but the snow simulacrum of Illiamara appears and traps Tilia in a force cage. She magically dominates Val and compels her to pummel Jerry. Hy Lee seduces Pantaghion with her vampiric charm and lures him into an inner chamber where she begins to feed on him.

Ari, Falco, Erione, and Teal fight Illiamara’s simulacrum with a range of magic attacks, including fire bolt, magic missile, and moonbeam. The simulacrum unleashes a fireball and poisonous gas on them and uses the dominated Val to attack Teal. Pantaghion breaks free of Hy Lee’s charm and drags her back into the main chamber where the others can attack her. The vampire is destroyed by the radiance emitted by Tilia from inside the force cage. Illiamara’s clone retreats into the inner room; Falco destroys the simulacrum by invoking daylight. Teal uses a fiery sphere to prevent the clone from regenerating.

The party recovers a staff, a ring, and a mini-astrolabe from the simulacrum’s melted form. They approach the portal gate and try to activate it by exploring various interpretations of a riddle engraved around it. Teal conjures up an ice dagger and uses it to draw blood from his own hand. The portal activates. Teal and Val enter the portal and find themselves in a tunnel-like structure swirling with fearsome ethereal forms. Pursued all the way by the ghoulish inhabitants, they run towards the end of the tunnel and just barely make it to the other side without getting caught. The rest of the party follows more stealthily and succeed in joining Val and Teal in what appears to be one of Illiamara’s laboratories.

17th of Melora – Into Illiamarra’s fortress at Eleanagoth

After triggering the proximity alarm and falling out of his animal form, Teal collected himself and quickly changed into a giant bat to bank away from where he heard guards gathering to investigate his fall.

Flying around the city, he snuck back into the large central city glass arboretum of Elaenagoth and rejoined his friends. In his absence, the party carefully listened and observed (as best they could) the movements of the guards responding to the alarm. As the alarm quieted down, the party overheard some drow speaking in undercommon about how this latest event must have been “another one attracted by his presence” and “yeah these creatures seem to be coming more frequently then ever.”

The party gathered itself together and decided to employ both a distraction and an active camoflauge spell Ari had just finished mastering called Seaming. Casting her illusory spell, the party was made to look like drow soldiers. Tilia conjured some mephits and sent them off to cause havoc in a way that might pull guards near the central sky bridge to the castle away from the castle’s center.

The ruse worked, along with an assist from Jerry who heard the guards shout for the party’s help. He and Val peeled off, before “slowing down” and turning to rejoin their party. Once at the castle, through some clever talking and clever uses of charm person, the party managed to make their way to the second level of the castle without spelling blood. There, they encountered guards that questioned their intent and direction in heading towards Illiamarra’s chambers. A brief, but decisive battle ensued and the guards were dispatched. One guard, prior to dying, seemed to be seized by some psychic force and began speaking to the party with a personality that was not his own.

With Ari’s help in translating the Selu’taar phrases on the doors, the party found a title that read “Laboratory and Specimen Containment” as well as a room labeled “Treasury and Vault.” The party, intrigued by the psychic entity and by the prospect of help, went into the Laboratory. There they saw thousands of live “specimens” – including many different types of humanoids and monsterous creatures contained in vats of what appeared to be some sort of amniotic fluid. Illiamarra’s lab master was also present in the chamber. She began slinging spells at the party and quickly a few more guards joined her from the other chamber. With a clever watery sphere spell, Teal encapsulated the spellcaster and sent her head over heels into the bubble. Choosing to use her last breath of air to desperately try to kill someone near her to get out of the bubble, she inflicted harm – but was dispatched shortly there after.

Some of the guards were afflicted by the psychic entity – the vessels in their heads bulged and their eyes rolled back as their ears began to bleed from some unseen force. In the next room, the party found a large elder brain entity encased in a glass dome that seemed to dampen and contain its powers. It was being injected with various chemicals that seemed to be causing it pain. Many more specimen containers ringed the walls and went upward towards the ceiling some 100+ ft up.

The party had a conversation with the brain, it using a dispatched guard’s body as a proxy for its voice. The brain identified its self as Flawh. It made an agreement with the party – if they were to release it, and dismantle its container, the brain would provide information and…reinforcements to their cause. It apparently intends to unleash the specimens, kill Illiamarra and her subjects, and contact its colony to rejoin them.

The party agreed and was quickly informed about key chambers in the castle – including the treasury and a room containing an object of great value to Illiamarra protected by a multi-faceted magical trap.

The party disabled the magical trap using some clever dispel magics and another watery sphere to put out the flames of arcane energy surrounding the chest. They unlocked the chest and claimed the masolith artifact from inside.

Continuing on, the party saw gathering forces below them in the central chamber. Sneaking stealthy by, Jerry made his way into the next hallway and noticed a single guard at the end of the hall. He tried the old trick “look over there.” The guard fell for it, but Jerry’s dagger to the heart did not quite eliminate the guard before they could use their dying breath to sound their horn.

The jig is up and Illiamarra’s forces are on their way. Hearing (or sensing) footsteps in the distance running towards the castle, Flawh alerted the party and told them to release a work-like tentacled creature in the single biggest container tank in the room. Out fell a horrible monster that Flawh took partial control of to send outward to hold off Illiamarra’s forces. The party as bought itself some time with Flawh’s help, but time was running out so they charged forward towards their goal and destination – the phalacterium. Val sprung a power word kill trap and was instantly killed, before being brought back by falco with a quick revivify.

The path lies before them and they don’t have much time to plan or rest.