Delve Into the Shadowlands: The Descent

Next Episode: Delve Into the Shadowlands 2: The Canyon

## Synopsis:

It’s been over half a year since the mercenary Tarmak fell through a thinning to the Shadowlands. For months, mercenaries entering the Mouth of Chaos have uncovered odd objects, potential clues to his whereabouts, and a recent divination has granted insight to a method of retrieval. The mission may be suicide: find a means to enter the Shadowlands, somehow locate Tarmak from amidst the raw depths of the plane of chaos, escape through the Astral Plane and siphon life from magic to eject them from the throes of death. But it can be done, and there are those who would risk it all to bring back their lost comrade...

## Client:

Nwalme, adopted son of Xekral Shadhavar, Has asked a group of trusted friends to accompany him.

## Mercenaries:

* Darius, Harengon Bard
* Erthish, Silver Dragonborn Barbarian
* Gnarlap, Silver Dragonborn GOO Warlock
* Ima, Half-Drow Celestial Warlock
* Nwalme, Shadar-Kai Rogue
* Nyx, Tiefling (Half-Orc thread) Echo Knight

## Adventure Summary:

The party made their way to the city of Sunward, making their final purchases and preparations. Supplies were distributed so everyone had something they could use, and the party headed to the Mouth of Chaos.

The party greeted Edga, guardian of the Mouth, and Gnarlap gave him a home cooked meal. Nwalme asked Edga for information on how to reach the Shadowlands, which Edga gladly traded for half of Nwalme's soul. Upon upholding his end of the bargain, Nwalme was told that all the party would have to do to fall through a Thinning was turn around after entering. The party followed his instructions, ensuring they were tied together, and made their way to the Shadowlands, falling into a forest of bleeding trees, soft rocks, and a bloody looking sky, with the faint sound of a windstorm in the distance. Nyx attempted to climb a tree, but slipped and swiped it, causing the tree to begin screaming. The party mutually decided to head towards the sound of the wind, leaving the screaming tree behind them.

The party travelled for hours, the sound of the wind very slowly getting louder, but there was no visible source for the wind, and no end to the fleshy forest. Eventually, they came across a clearing, where an eye-stalk in the ground looked at them, then disappeared. The party maneuvered what they assumed was north, skirting around the clearing, and soon heard strange howling surrounding them. Preparing for combat, the party was attacked by a pack of wolf-like creatures with pig-like snouts and arms holding spears coming from their necks. The party fought, slaying the beasts, and continued travelling to find a safe place to rest. The eerie nature of the world around them weighed heavily on Erthish and Ima, keeping them from getting the rest they needed.

The next day of travelling led to the party finally breaking the tree-line, finding themselves on the edge of a blasted plain. Far off in the distance, they could see the source of the noise, as a massive perpetual windstorm raged. A mountainous range was visible on the other side of it, and south-east of their position on the edge of the trees was what appeared to be structures near the edge of the storm. The party decided to follow the trees to the south, as a massive chasm, multiple miles wide, rent the plain in two. They eventually reached an area where the chasm had not split, and started their trek across the plain, hoping to reach the structures. Along their path they were attacked by flying beasts that spat fire, and exploded when they died. The party was able to handle them with relative ease, barely singed. Travelling a short distance away, they camped for the night, and the noise interrupted the rests of Gnarlap and Darius.

As the party approached the structures, a psionic pulse from the storm affected the mind of everyone except for Nyx, giving them an impending sense of doom. They continued on, reaching the structures, and found themselves in what appeared to be a town square, with strange figures wandering in the mists. One approached the party, asking for a spell to be cast on them, and when Ima obliged, they lunged forward, latching onto her, and trying to get her to cast more spells.

## Outcome:

The party has found an eerie city on the edge of the windstorm, and found some sort of magic-obsessed being, which will be dealt with next time.

## Adventure Rewards:

Everyone is still alive.

Erthish reached Level 3