[Adventure] Marna is Missing (DM: pacdidj, Judge: renau1g)

Having done what you can to regain your strength, you follow closely behind the wraith, racing down the corridor after Hekthesh. You pass through a room that appears to have served a double purpose as a crematorium/reflection pool and follow the sound of retreating footsteps down another corridor to the west, that once again seems to slope gradually uphill. You run toward a flickering light at the end of the corridor, but just as you are about to reach the chamber at the end of the corridor, an intricately-wrought, steel portcullis slams down before you. The portcullis is marked with 6 dark runes of the sort you ran afoul of in the antechamber. You hear Hekthesh's voice snicker from within.

Hold!, the dead king warns as you approach the portcullis, Time is short. Stay back and I will deal with this.

At the same time you hear Dhakanmirr's voice chanting in a strange tongue beyond the portcullis.

The wraith glides up to the bars, beutifully and delicately shaped to resemble one of the flowering vines you saw when you first landed on the island, but now despoiled with the repugnant shadow magic. As King Paerlanthas wraps his hands around the steel bars he says to you, you feel the shadow magic on the portcullis intensify, the light of Alnar's sunrod dims, and the air in the corridor turns suddenly frigid. Then paradoxically, the bars suddenly glow red hot, and there is a deafening explosion, and a flash of light so bright it blots out the light of the sunrod. As you blink your eyes back to normal, you see that the king is gone, and where the portcullis stood there are now only a few twisted metal stumps.

Beyond the portcullis you see a large, unsculpted chamber with rough, natural walls and a rough-hewn staircase that leads up to a massive natural well that spills over on all sides: evidently the source of the canal that runs through the Eladrin tomb. You notice dense and unnatural shadows playing about the well that seem to thicken from moment to moment.

Two ancient-looking altars sit on either side of the well, and behind the southern altar stands Dhakanmirr. The altar before him is covered with strange objects including his strange dagger and the silver mirror you saw previously, as well as not one, but two objects that are unmistakeably tjurunga. One you recognize as the snake's-head-shaped object that Dhakanmirr showed you at the Rripangu-clan camp. The other is almost certainly the tjurunga of Marna, shaped like an elongated and flattened oval, with what seems to be a triangular dorsal fin protruding from the top. As the Rripangu leader chants, another voice emanating from the mirror echoes his words in the same strange tongue:

[sblock=Primordial]...and let what was sealed with death be reborn through death. Four by four. Blood for blood.

The first seal now lies before you great Lord of Shadow![/sblock]

Hekthesh, who stands barring your way forway spits, "You are persistent. But, your fight is futile! Even now the ritual draws to a close. Come," he beckons motioning you forward with a maniacal grin, "Let us put our steel to the test one last time before all our lives are forfeit to the Bringer of Shadow."

Dhakanmirr pays little heed as you enter the chamber, absorbed as he is with the final steps in the performance of the ritual, except to quickly slice the air with what you now recognize as a warlock's blade, cutting through the light and allowing tendrils of darkness to ooze across the veil between worlds, before returning to his chant.

[sblock=Combatant stats and tracking]PCs and AlliesAlnar - AN31; 26/31 HP; 1/8 surges
Cyr - AN32; 22/26 HP; 3/7 surges
Ferris - AN30; 19/29 HP; 1/8 surges
Jezebel - AN29; 33/37 HP; 4/12 surges
Sir Exsixten - AN33; 19/33 HP, 3 THP; 5/13 surges

Paerlanthas - dead

Enemies
Dhakanmirr - AT14
? Max HP; AC: ?; Fort, Ref, Will ?

Hekthesh - AN22
? Max HP; AC: 20, see also Shadow Parry; Fort: 15, Ref: 19, Will: 17
[sblock=Shadow Parry]Hekthesh will interrupt the first successful melee attack against him with Shadow Parry against the triggering creature (Attack: +10 vs. AC; Hit: 2d6+6 damage and Hekthesh shifts one square and gains total concealment till EONT). Recharges when bloodied.[/sblock]

Rotshadow Tendril 1 - AR17
Rotshadow Tendril 2 - AM16
Rotshadow Tendril 3 - AO18
Rotshadow Tendril 4 - AQ16
Minion; AC: 16; Fort 13, Ref 14, Will 13
[/sblock]

Come on, it's time to end this. Alnar says moving across the bridge and blasting the tendrils with a blazing starfall.



[sblock=actions]
Move: AQ27
Standard: Blazing Starfall Area AQ17
Rolls
14 & 16 vs reflex, radiant damage (did not roll the damage since they are minions).

Free/Minor?: Arcana = 14 to think of a way to permanently disrupt the ritual, like taking the artifacts off the pedestal.

[sblock=stats]
Alnar Male Human Sorcerer 2
Conditions: Alnar has 5 fire resistance. +2 healing surge value (Dragonling), Exposed to Filth Fever, ignores 5 fire resistance.
The next enemy that hits Alnar with a melee attack EONT takes 2 fire damage.
Passive Perception: +13, Passive Insight: +11, Init: +1
AC: 13, Fort: 14, Reflex: 13, Will: 18 -- Speed: 6
HP: 26/31, Bloodied: 15, Surge Value: 7, Surges left: 1/8
Action Points: 1, Second Wind: used, Milestones: 1
Basic Attack Quarterstaff +5 vs AC 1d8+2
Ranged Basic Attack Acid Orb +5 vs. Reflex 1d10+4+2 acid damage
Powers-
Burning Spray, Acid Orb, Blazing Starfall
Thundering Roar
Ice Javelins
Majestic Word
Inspiring Fortitude


Conditions -


Draco: (inactive)
Defense same as above.
Speed 5, fly 6 (hover)
1/1 HP
Dragon's breath

[/sblock][/sblock]

Ferris dashes forward and calls down the wrath of Dayna upon the interloper. As the greenish radiance flashes, Ferris calls upon his new, greater affinity with the Primal spirits of Kythira to make contact with the artifacts. But he fails....



Maybe if I got closer...








[sblock=Actions/Stat block]Start=

Minor=

Move= Move AN27

Standard= Lance of Faith vs Hekthesh

End=
[sblock=Stat block]Ferris Cacamoujai, Cleric of Dayna 2- Male Longtooth Shifter, Cleric of Dayna 2
Conditions: exposed to Filth Fever
Passive Perception: 15, Passive Insight: 20, Init: +3
AC: 18, Fort: 15, Reflex: 14, Will: 17 -- Speed: 5
HP: 29/29, Bloodied: 14, Surge Value: 7, Surges left: 0/8
Action Points: 1, Second Wind: used, Milestones:
Basic Atk: Battleaxe +7 vs AC, 1d10+4 dmg (Crit = 14 dmg)
Ranged Basic Atk: Javelin +7 vs AC, 1d6+4 dmg, Range 10/20 (2/2)
Powers-
Lance of Faith, Invigorating Assualt, Wildshape
Healing Word Used:1, Longtooth Shifting, Healing Strike, Sanctuary, Swarming Locusts, Healer's Mercy OR Divine Fortune
Weapon of Astral Flame
Combat notes:
-Only use 1 Channel Divinity per encounter. Can use Healing Word 2x per encounter[/sblock][/sblock]

[sblock=Statblock]Sir Exsixten, Male Warforged Fighter 1
Passive Perception: 12, Passive Insight: 12
AC: 19, Fort:16, Reflex:13, Will:13 -- Speed:5
HP:3+32/33, Bloodied:16, Surge Value:8, Surges left:4/13
Initiative +1, Action Points: 0
Powers: Crushing Surge, Brash Strike, Combat Challenge, Hack and Hew, Warforged Resolve, Second Wind, Piecemeal Chainmail, Villain's Menace

Opportunity Attack: +8 vs. AC, 1d12+4 damage and enemy movement is stopped and Sir Exsixten gains 4 temporary hitpoints.
Notes: Sir Exsixten does +2 damage while he has any temporary hitpoints.[/sblock]

Cyr moves forward intent on stopping the ritual. His move however cannot bring him close enough to the warlock so he attacks Hektesh and several shadows instead.

He calls to the spirits of the island, but in his head symbology mixed as he thought about eladrin religion and nature worshipping islanders and his religion of old. The call was weak and without conviction.

[sblock=Actions]
Move: AQ 26
Standard: Hand of Radiance vs Ref (Hektesh, RT 2, RT 3) (1d20+7+2=12, 1d20+7=16, 1d20+7=26, 1d4+6=7) - miss Hektesh, hit both shadows
Minor: Religion against the ritual (1d20+11=14) - argh, two three's in a same round
[/sblock]

[sblock=Cyr Stats]
STATUS: none

Initiative +8; Senses Passive Insight 21, Passive Perception 21
HP 22/26, Bloodied 13, Surge Value 6, Surges 3/7
AC 17; Fortitude 14, Reflex 16, Will 18
(+1 TO ALL DEFENSES vs. BLOODIED ENEMIES)
1 AP
Saving Throws:
Resist 5 radiant; Resist 5 necrotic
Speed 5

Vanguard's Lightning
Hand of Radiance
Rebuke Undead
Preserver's Rebuke


Blades of Astral Fires
Second Wind
Memory of Thousand Lifetimes
Miraculous Fortune


Silent Malediction

[/sblock]

"Your treachery ends here, old man!" Jezebel calls to Dhakanmirr. She turns and runs across the bridge to the other side of the walkway. As she approaches Dhakanmirr, she calls to Hekthesh.

"And you! You can watch while I flay your master alive!"

[sblock=Stat block/Actions][sblock=Actions]Move x2: Double run to AS20, using the eastern bridge to avoid Hekthesh. Jezebel grants CA until the start of her next turn and takes -10 to attacks (haha).

Minor: Virtue. Jezebel gains +9 THP and drops to 3/12 surges.[/sblock]PC:Jezebel (Dekana) - L4W Wiki - Female Tiefling Paladin 2
Initiative +3, Senses: Insight +7, Perception +1; low-light vision
HP 37/37 + 9 THP; Bloodied 18, Surge Value 9, Surges 3/12
AC 21; Fortitude 16, Reflex 17, Will 17
Resist 5 fire
Speed 5
Action Points 1

Conditions
Infected with Filth Fever (initial stage)

Powers
Ardent Strike, Divine Challenge, Enfeebling Strike
Divine Mettle, Divine Strength, Infernal Wrath, Second Wind, Valorous Smite, Virtue
Majestic Halo, Virtue's Touch

Other notes
Bloodhunt: +1 racial bonus to attack rolls against bloodied foes.
Whip Training: 1 / round when hitting target with whip, target takes a -2 penalty to attack rolls to a target of Jezebel's choice until the end of her next turn.
[/sblock]

The concerted energies unleashed by Cyr and Alnar serve to completely obliterate the tendrils summoned by Dhakanmirr. The deva and the sorcerer then momentarily scan the ritual ground to identify a way to put a permanent stop to the ritual.

[sblock=Alnar or Cyr]You suspect that there may indeed be a way to permanently stop the ritual by removing or destroying some of the objects on the altar, but at this distance and in the confusion of the battle, you don't get a clear sense of which objects are most crucial to the continuation of the ritual.

Given the presence of the tjurunga on the altar, you don't think magical effects aimed at destroying all the objects on the altar would be wise, as the Rripangu and Djaapana tribesmen no doubt want their sacred objects back.

You will likely need to get closer to the altar and examine the individual objects more closely to obtain more info. The objects on the altar are: the tjurunga of Wititj, the tjurunga of Marna, an obsidian bowl, a phial of pitch-black fluid, a piece of parchment, a silver mirror propped on a tripod stand, a lump of charcoal, and a wicked-looking, serrated dagger made from dark metal whose point curves forward.[/sblock]

Meanwhile, the strength of Ferris' faith as he calls down Dayna's fury, causes Hekthesh to recoil momentarily, but the Dark One doesn't seem significantly injured.

***

In retaliation for the shifter's blow, Hekthesh lets his boomerang fly, clipping both Ferris and Alnar. He then steps forward with confident strides toward Ferris and takes a vicious swipe with his short sword, which had it been just inches closer would likely have decapitated the cleric.

On the other side of the chamber, Dhakanmirr notices Jezebel's approach. "Fool tiefling," he mutters, breaking his chant for just a moment, "you cannot stop our moment of glory. All our lives will feed the hunger of the Submerged Eye."

The warlock tribesman then flicks his blade in the paladin's direction, and from its tip shadowy tendrils stream out, swarming around Jezebel, and moving to block the party's advance.

[sblock="Arcana 15 (no action - passive skill use acceptable)"]It seems as though the shadowy presence coalescing above the well is weakening the barrier between worlds in this already fragile spot so close to the Shadowrift. You guess that as long as the ritual is in progress, Dhakanmirr will be able to call the tendrils of darkness from across the veil at will. If the ritual is stopped however, it should negate his summoning ability.[/sblock]

Dhakanmirr then locks eyes with Jezebel, and as he does so the irises of his eyes fade, and his eyes darken into two spheres of perfect blackness. Briefly, the darkness overwhelms Jezebel and she feels as if her head is going to explode. When her head clears she sees that though Dhakanmirr's eyes remain two motes of darkness, has resumed his chant, while the eerie voice emanating from the mirror echoes his every word.

[sblock=Jezebel]From this distance you can hear the voice emanating from the mirror more clearly. The voice is not Dhakanmirr's, but that of a woman.

[sblock=Perception 18]Squinting your eyes as you fend off the tendrils, you can just make out the head and shoulders of a female face in the mirror glass, moving and speaking in time with Dhakanmirr's chant. Her features are elf-like, but her skin has a grey, sallow quality, unlike any elf native to the Isles.

[sblock=Nature or History 16]You've heard of such a race before. They are reputedly the servants and slaves of Lauto in the realm of Herebos. She is Shadar-kai.[/sblock][/sblock][/sblock]

Pouring a phial of dark liquid into an obsidian bowl that sits on top of the altar, Dhakanmirr resumes his chant, speaking a verse in the same strange tongue:

[sblock=Primordial] [FONT=&quot]With Prior Darkness now I deal;
For what was split must re-congeal.[/FONT][/sblock]

[sblock=Enemy Actions]Dhakanmirr - Minor: Summon Tendrils of Darkness = 5 tendrils
Standard = Gaze of Beckoning Oblivion vs. Jezebel = hit for 19 damage, and Dhakanmirr seems somehow more dangerous
Minor: Complete step 1 of the end of the ritual

Hekthesh - Standard: Dark Arc - hits Ferris for 9 damage, hits Alnar for 8 damage, misses Cyr (roll)
Move: Darkstep to AN25 gaining CA vs. Ferris
Free: Action Point
Standard: MBA vs. Ferris = miss! (lucky one too, check out the damage roll)

Rotshadow Tendril 1 - Incorporeal Form = fail
Rotshadow Tendril 2 - Incorporeal Form = fail
Rotshadow Tendril 3 - Incorporeal Form = fail
Rotshadow Tendril 4 - Incorporeal Form = fail[/sblock]

[sblock=Combatant stats and tracking]PCs and Allies
Alnar - AN31; 18/31 HP; 1/8 surges
Cyr - AN32; 22/26 HP; 3/7 surges
Ferris - AN30; 20/29 HP; 0/8 surges
Jezebel - AN29; 27/37 HP; 3/12 surges
Sir Exsixten - AN33; 32/33 HP, 3 THP; 4/13 surges

Enemies
Dhakanmirr - AT14
? Max HP; AC: ?; Fort, Ref, Will ?

Hekthesh - AN25; 10 damage taken; Dark Arc used
? Max HP; AC: 20, see also Shadow Parry; Fort: 15, Ref: 19, Will: 17
[sblock=Shadow Parry]Hekthesh will interrupt the first successful melee attack against him with Shadow Parry against the triggering creature (Attack: +10 vs. AC; Hit: 2d6+6 damage and Hekthesh shifts one square and gains total concealment till EONT). Recharges when bloodied.[/sblock]

Rotshadow Tendril 1 - dead
Rotshadow Tendril 2 - dead
Rotshadow Tendril 3 - dead
Rotshadow Tendril 4 - dead
Rotshadow Tendril 5 - AR19
Rotshadow Tendril 6 - AS19
Rotshadow Tendril 7 - AT20
Rotshadow Tendril 8 - AQ24
Rotshadow Tendril 9 - AR25
Minion; AC: 16; Fort 13, Ref 14, Will 13
[/sblock]

[sblock=Cyr]Dhakanmirr is very much alive, though clearly in communion with some being that wields great power through shadow magic. The shadow tendrils he is able to create though are unlike anything you've ever heard of before (in any lifetime) originating out of Lauto's realm, and given the antagonism of the dead king and his skeletal guard, it doesn't seem Dhakanmirr holds any particular sway over the undead, as do many of Lauto's favored.[/sblock]