This symbol burns brightly on the edge of the party's new artifact.
When LiKi put all four keys together, they pulsated and contorted, swirling around one another in flashes of multi-colored light until suddenly the four had reassembled into a new device. The component parts were seamlessly joined. Strange, previously unseen runes burned bright. A new symbol emerged on the edges of this new key. LiKi knew that this was the symbol of Elemental Evil. The party had felt this symbol burning in their minds previously, when they tried to descend into the lost dwarven city of Tyar-Besil, only to be blocked by strange magical barriers. The party had the strong suspicion that this artifact would now allow them access. Yet, they hadn't become aware of an entrance in or around Feathergale Spire or the Sighing Valley.
The party searched the tower and made themselves at home. They raised the drawbridge and took possession of any keys that they found. They also stacked the bodies of all the dead Feathergale Knights (air cultists) in a pile on the grassy terrace of the pinnacle. Leopold thought it might be fun to "let them fly again" by rolling them off the tower, but Kahntun inaudibly expressed his consternation at this proposition and Leopold laughingly relented. LiKi rolled her eyes as Alexander scanned the valley for clues. They locked Savra in one of the living quarters, making sure to seal both the door and the windows.
What were they even doing? Why were they here? What was the point of all this intrigue? Their adventures over the last few months have offered them plenty of new insights and clues, but they always seemed to lead to just new, even more confounding mysteries. That night Alexander prepared a grand feast with complimentary wine and ale, and they discussed their recent history as they dined around the large dining table in the great hall. Leopold softly played his lyre as they mused on the entangling mysteries.
A mystery wrapped in an enigma! Dafuq!?!
Here's what they had discovered so far:
While clearing out the Sacred Stone Monastery, the party uncovered Marlos' Testament, a blunt statement of the earth cult leader's modus operandi. You can revisit these events here or review highlights from the testament below.
Our adventurers learned information about this group of thugs by infiltrating Rivergard Keep (which they kept, garrisoned by their allies from Summit Hall) and by posing as water cultists and speaking with Saruki, the undercover Crushing Wave Priest who infiltrated the "druid festival" at Scarlet Moon Hall.
This is the cult that the party seems to know the least about. They infiltrated the phony druid festival and destroyed the commander of Scarlet Moon Hall, the druid Elizar Dryflagon, but they were not able to learn much beyond that. Relive those moments by clicking here! The party suspects that a magically-sealed passage beneath the tower leads to an area of Tyar-Besil that the fire cultists have claimed as their domain.
The party also knows that a fire genasi named Bastian Thermander (aka: Livid Litborn) is a high-ranking cultist. He ambushed the party at Rivergard Keep, attacking mounted atop a wyvern. During the attack, Bastian haughtily demonstrated his prowess as a magic-user, but the party was able to drive him off.
Kahntun has a personal grudge against the genasi who, months back, murdered his cousin, Fredlin Uthorstep. Kahntun has also been ordered by his father to track Thermander down in order to recover a powerful relic he had stolen. However, Kahntun thought less about recovering the belt studded with 25 fire rubies than he thought about exacting brutal revenge against his foe.
That night, each of our adventurers dozed fitfully, disturbed by dream splinters digging into their minds. Although each experienced the terror of being pulled toward an underground labyrinth, the hue and texture of these dreams differed from hero to hero.
Haunted by images of malevolent sneers and scoffs, Kahntun seemed to be tumbling through tunnels of stifling smoke and lashing flame.
Spinner chaotically around and around, Leopold spiraled down a chamber of winds, as if caught in the cone of a tornado.
Unable to fully catch his breath, Alexander tumbled over waterfall after waterfall, leading further and further into a black abyss.
With feet immovably planted into the ground, LiKi experienced the terror of being trapped in a massive cavern quickly filling with rock and earth falling from a tiny opening far above.
Although they did not speak of these apparitions, it was clear to each that their adventures were having a profound effect on their pysches.
Could the evil plaguing the Dessarin Valley even reach the heroes in their dreams?