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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Ruined" data-source="post: 64239" data-attributes="member: 113">[ Spoiler Note:  This entry contains a good portion of one of the mini-modules included in the Planes of Conflict boxed set. You have been warned. ][ Hecatomb 12th – Day 26 ]The next day, they leave out with portal information obtained from from Teller. Their path seems a bit unusual, requiring them to travel to Arborea first and travel along the roots of Grandfather Oak. They arrive and run across a shepard who is antagonized by the party scaring his sheep. He attacks with fearsome strength, trying to grapple and injure to the best of his ability. He locks up with Quinn, and after a few moves, Quinn is able to throw him off with a great feat of strength. They subdue the shepherd, but wisely, they do not kill him. Unbeknownst to the party, the shepard is one of the many sons of Hermes and his life is watched over by the power.They find the roots of Grandfather Oak and begin to travel down into the deep recesses. They follow onward as the landscape turns from fertile plantlife to a withering shade of grey. Travel through this hopeless realm seems to consume the remainder of their day.[ Hecatomb 13th - Day 27 ]Eventually they come to caverns, the entrance to the realm of Hades. Soon they come upon the fabled guardian of the gates of Hades, the triple-headed dog Cerebrus. The beast stands twenty feet in height, with a dark grey coat. Killian cannot help but twinge at the memory of the Aoskian hound. At first, Cerebrus bars them access to the realm because they are still alive. It states that if they were to enter, then they would remain in the land of the dead for eternity. They bargain with the gargantuan hound until it makes them an offer. Cerebrus will allow them entry and exit (Hades’ decision pending, of course), if they each give the hound something very precious to them. It is a tough call, but they decide that Orem’s soul is worth the sacrifice. Tira gives a rolled up painting that she had recently completed, possibly her best work yet. Quinn relieves himself of his spiked gauntlets that he’s won many fights with in the arena. Killian hesitates, refusing to give up anything to this demanding dog. The gigantic dog allows the others to continue, saying that it will play with Killian while he waits. Finally they convince him to give something, his chakra, a weapon he recently gained from Ely. Cursing all the way, Killian accompanies them into the land of the dead.Within they find petitioners milling about, acting listless. The dead are all grey and partially transparent, lacking life and passion like most inhabitants of the Waste. The dead do not hamper the group’s progress, seeming not to sense them. They come upon Hades’ grand palace, somewhat lonely in this landscape. They enter and walk through the abandoned halls. Eventually they find a large throne room, and sitting on two massive seats are a regal male and female. They reach almost thirty feet into the air as they sit. Persephone is the first to take notice of the mortals.They plead their case to Hades, asking for the life of their friend who has been taken by mistake. Hades is impassionate, stating that there is no other interpretation of final death - there shall be no return from the land of the dead. They say that they have heard of it before, in which a few have returned from servitude here. Hades becomes indignant and wishes not to speak with them further. Instead the group, particularly Tira, address Persephone with their plea. By making convincing arguments and appealing to Persephone’s good nature, they pull her to their side of thinking. Persephone turns the charm on the sullen god beside her, and he agrees to free Orem. There is a condition to his release: the party must not harm any dead souls as they leave, for if they do, not only is Orem’s soul forfeit, but they will not leave Hades with their lives. They know that Cerebrus will be there to enforce its master’s will, should they fail. The deal hurts, but they agree and plan to meet Orem outside of the gates of Hades.Walking back across the bleak landscape, Hades’ plan becomes obvious. As they walk, a group of the listless dead solidify more than before and begin to take interest in the party. They walk forward and quickly surround the party, swiping with clawed hands. One hits Quinn and spills some blood onto the ground, a bright red against the grey soil. Many undead quickly bend down to sup on the blood. Remembering Teller’s quote and seeing this, Tira stabs her hand and bleeds on the ground so that the undead will stop attacking. Killian and Quinn purposely wound themselves and use the distraction to slide away from the horde of undead.At the gates, they find Orem waiting, haunted and somewhat lifeless. His body has taken on the shade of grey that permeates everyone else. They take him and are allowed by Cerebrus to leave. Killian, indignant as ever, makes a foolish promise to his friends that one day he will get even with Cerebrus over his weapon. They simply smile at Killian for his eccentricity and move on.They travel back up the roots of the Oak and go to Arborea. Deciding that the vibrant lands of the plane could revitalize their spirits more than the streets of Sigil, the group takes a vacation for a few days on the plane, returning to their newly-acquired friends up on the branches of Grandfather Oak.</blockquote>

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