Adventure 59

**Real World Date: 5/17/2020**

**In Game Dates: January 3rd, 5002 M.E. - January 5th, 5002 M.E.**

**XP: 4,400 (Total: 286,118)**

## NPCs Met This Adventure

* Umara Lao - Felnerese agent of the Dark Exchange, offered deal to **Wizlocks**

## Summary

### Offered a Deal

The party decide to let Wendel Hightower to leave on his own power, not having any more info to glean from him. They are approached by Gaul Snowsprinter and Emmitt Felroth as the warehouse slowly burns to the ground. The authorities are on their way and they recommend the party leaves before they get here and blame them for the destruction.

The party head back to the inn for a short rest. While resting, they are visited in their room by Umara Lao. She represents the Dark Exchange and they want to see Talis Hightower dead. She offers them a deal to wipe any legal issues in this city or any bad blood and still owe the party a huge favor in exchange for them, after they kill Talis Hightower, to wrap a red scarf around the neck of his body to mark that the Dark Exchange had something to do with his death, a message very few key people would understand. Aust verifies that it is not

The party take the scarf, but they won't make the decision yet whether or not they do it.

### Out Into the Desert

The party head to the place in the desert outside the city where Aust detected the Shield of Reflection last. They travel a few hours before they decide to make camp and rest up before they reach their final destination. Aust stays up and constantly checks the location of the Shield while everyone else gets sleep. Since it doesn't move, in the morning they head towards their final destination.

The discover a multi-tiered structure with an altar way at the top. Gaul Snowsprinter notices his polar bear is nervous about something. Meanwhile, Wrax flies up to see a body on the altar is the corpse of Velcora Shadowblade, apparently sacrificed in some ritual. Before Aust can even process this news, Emmitt Felroth points out a sandstorm coming their way. They cover Velcora's body and decide to wait it out.

That's when the desert attacks...

### Battle and Resurrection

A large dragon type creature called a Sandwyrm climbs up to the top of the structure, with bones sticking out of its back, most likely the remnants of what used to be wings. Also, two sand dunes reveal themselves to be huge mimics and they attack Gaul Snowsprinter and his polar bear. This all happens just as the sandstorm covers the platform. The party manage to move around in the sandstorm and fight off the creatures, taking damage from the sandstorm, but surviving the encounter.

Afterwards they all decide to teleport back to Fort Ostoril to do the resurrection spell. Aust, Dhamon, and Emmitt participate in the ritual and the spell is ultimately cast by a Wish spell from Dhamon. After a few minutes Velcora Shadowblade is eventually brought back from the dead. She is incredibly weak, but since her collar was removed after her death, she is now an alive and free woman.

### The Real Final Meeting

After resting overnight at Fort Ostoril, the party receives messages from Aratha Stormbrand. She sends Dhamon a copy of her private teleportation circle in her shop and a message to Wrax to come as soon as possible. They teleport there, just the four of them, to meet her. Dhamon tests her blindness by moving around the shop. She asks specifically about Aust's mother, and when he says she is okay, she smiles, stating there were many versions of the future where she didn't live.

She informs them that Talis Hightower is here and he is most likely here to get the Crown of Olum for himself. They must go confront him, but Aratha warns Wrax that either he or Talis must die today. Wrax knew this was coming.

The city is pretty empty on the streets and a dark cloud is slowly moving towards the **Vault of Chains** where the artifact is locked up. As they head closer, they see various horrific, tentacled creatures that they have otherwise seen with **The First**. As they enter the cloud, a form drops to the ground and cause the ground to shake, knocking the party back.

It is Talis Hightower and he is wearing all pieces of the **Armor of the First**. The pieces are almost merged with his body.

"Finally. Someone worth fighting..."