Session 52

Revenge on House Minthur I

Chapter 1: Answer for Dregoth

The next morning, Abishan and Xaloc appeared, waiting for their response to Dregoth's proposition. The group had decided not to give Dregoth the artifact, and they tensed, waiting for a response. Abishan explained, "Dregoth is patient. He is not angry. Though he will be if you destroy the artifact." A relief passed over the group. Abishan continued, "You must swear that you will allow the artifact to pass from you to him upon your natural death." The group was wary that Dregoth might strike at them for the artifact. Abishan calmed their fears by assuring them that Dregoth was in no rush and would not quicken the ends of their lives. So the group agreed. Abishan and Xaloc then disappeared into the desert.

Chapter 2: Intermission

The streets were desolate, shops closed and buildings abandoned. Houses stood empty, their former occupants erased from the surface of Athas.

During these months, despite the constant reminders of loss, the land was anything but quiet or idle. The Broken Builders, a cult of madmen who venerated primordials and sought to destroy the world to rebuild it anew, grew increasingly active across the Tablelands. Time and again, the Veiled Alliance worked to thwart their efforts, and you, seeking to distract yourself from the emptiness in Altaruk and the weight of the price paid to preserve the Artifact, spearheaded that effort.

In elemental temples stretching from Raam to Ledopolus, the Broken Builders were repeatedly crushed. Yet, despite these victories and the cleansing of the temples, their true purpose remained elusive. They seemed like resilient weeds, persistently sprouting between the cracks of civilization.

Meanwhile, your former cell leader, Mahlanda, was far from idle. While many you knew in Altaruk marched to the Dragon’s Altar for the final time, she was among the few who managed to escape. Recognized as vital to the Veiled Alliance and crucial to the unprecedented cooperation between cells in different cities, Mahlanda was too valuable to be left to the Levy. Despite many volunteers willing to take her place, she was ultimately persuaded that it was not her fate to die on the Dragon’s Altar.

With the assistance of the Gulgan nganga Alaya, Mahlanda embarked on the transformation into something known as an "avangion," a being of immense power—a preservation dragon-king, one might say. However, this metamorphosis was not swift, and its duration remained uncertain. All could do was hope that it would be complete before the Broken Builders' plans came to fruition or before the slumbering primordial beast stirred.

Chapter 3: To Tyr

In a quest for vengeance against the Minthur family, seven determined souls embarked on a journey to Tyr. Gidwei and Boz took the lead, their determination fueling the group's resolve. Safi, a skilled druid, scouted ahead as the outrider, while the brothers Shiv and Shank efficiently managed supplies as quartermasters. T'Taka, the enigmatic thri-kreen, and Anvar, the group's trusted doctor, remained vigilant as sentries.

With Boz's spirited encouragement, the group's morale soared as they prepared for the arduous journey ahead. Safi's careful analysis of the weather assured them of favorable conditions for travel. Meanwhile, Gidwei and T'Taka meticulously planned the route, ensuring the safest path to their destination.

As the night before their departure descended, Shiv, Shank, and Anvar opted to embrace the fleeting moments of relaxation. While Anvar savored the evening's festivities with quiet enjoyment, Shiv and Shank indulged a bit too freely, awakening the next morning with throbbing heads and bleary eyes. Despite their hangovers, the group remained resolute, their determination undiminished as they set out on their quest for justice.

Chapter 4: The Journey

As leaders, Gidwei and Boz regaled the group with tales of their heroic deeds, their words igniting a fire of determination within each member. Safi blazed a trail ahead of the group, ensuring that their path remained safe and clear, her keen senses alert for any sign of danger.

Despite their weariness, Shiv and Shank took on the task of arranging the gear, shouldering the bulk of the load to ease the burdens of their companions. With steadfast determination, they distributed the weight evenly, ensuring that no member of the group would be overburdened on the journey ahead.

Before departing Altaruk, T'Taka and Anvar acted swiftly and decisively. With skillful precision, they slipped the noose, covering their tracks to evade any pursuit from the Broken Builders. Their actions were executed with stealth and finesse, leaving no trace for their enemies to follow.

Chapter 5: A Deadly Encounter

As the group camped one night on the way to Tyr, they made the fateful decision to pass an abandoned tower and press on. But as darkness descended upon the desert, the night turned pitch black. Boz and T'Taka stood watch, unaware of the approaching danger lurking in the shadows. Without warning, the silence of the night was shattered by the sound of slashing swords and vicious bites.

T'Taka fell swiftly, followed shortly after by Boz. Shiv, roused from his slumber, sprang into action, darting out of the magical darkness surrounding their campfire. With keen eyes, he spotted ravenous undead ghoul minions closing in, their hunger for flesh evident in their ghoulish eyes.

Urging his comrades to safety, Shiv confronted the approaching threat head-on, dispatching many of the ghouls with swift precision. Meanwhile, Anvar dashed around the battlefield, using his healing arts to tend to the wounded. Amidst the chaos, a deadly wight emerged, flanked by two shadow hounds with eyes and bellies ablaze with fire.

Safi, shifting into the form of an inix, dashed around the battlefield, but fell victim to the paralyzing touch of the wight. The shadow hounds nipped at the party members, adding to the turmoil of the battle. However, Shank, fueled by volcanic rage, unleashed his fury upon the wight and its minions, decimating them with relentless ferocity.

In a fierce and deadly battle, the group fought valiantly against the dark terror of the night. Despite the odds stacked against them, they emerged victorious, their bond forged stronger in the crucible of adversity.

Chapter 6: Arrival

Battered and weary, the group arrived at Tyr, their journey fraught with hardship and peril. Despite their exhaustion, their spirits remained unbroken as they paid their coin to gain entry to the city. Making their way through the bustling streets, they sought refuge in an inn, seeking respite from the trials of the road. As they settled in for the night, anticipation hung heavy in the air, for they knew that the challenges that awaited them in Tyr would test their strength and courage like never before.

Chapter 7: Meeting with Karlen

At the break of dawn, they set out for Karlen's Curios, their hearts heavy with anticipation, hoping to glean some vital information about the Minthur family. However, their hopes were dashed when they arrived, for the gentle half-giant who presided over the establishment had nothing to offer them but trinkets and baubles for sale. Despite their disappointment, they knew that their quest for answers would not end there, and they resolved to press on, determined to uncover the truth by any means necessary.

Chapter 8: Bloodletter's and Shopping

Next, they ventured to Bloodletter's, renowned across Tyr for its master weaponsmith, Mong One-Eye. Drawn by the fame of his craftsmanship, they crossed the threshold with eager anticipation, hoping to acquire weapons of unparalleled quality. However, their aspirations were soon quashed as they realized that either their coffers were too light to afford Mong's esteemed creations, or their desires lay in upgrading their existing weapons—a service the legendary weaponsmith declined to provide. Disheartened but undeterred, they left the shop, their determination bolstered by the knowledge that other avenues awaited to arm themselves for the challenges that lay ahead.

Chapter 9: The Warrens

Shank led the group into the warrens, driven by an unyielding determination to uncover the whereabouts of the crone. The dilapidated streets stretched before them, a bleak landscape echoing the sorrow and despair that once permeated the desolate area. As T'Taka leapt onto a rooftop for a better view, the structure groaned and crumbled under the thri-kreen's weight, a stark reminder of the peril lurking within the shadows.

Despite Shank's relentless search, the warrens offered no solace, leaving him frustrated and disheartened. However, a glimmer of hope emerged as a group of street urchins offered their aid in exchange for coin. Yet, before any progress could be made, the children scattered in fear, leaving the group empty-handed and vulnerable. To compound their misfortune, Safi fell victim to a pickpocket, losing three precious diamonds from his purse.

With disappointment heavy in their hearts, the group retreated from the warrens, their minds consumed by the weight of their failures and the uncertainty of their next steps. Returning to the inn, they gathered to plan their reconnaissance of House Minthur.

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