Battle against Cult Of The Absolute (Baldur Gate 3)

## Story

### Prologue

Dassar Truebow and Sgt Knox calls Jaxster into his office and tells him of a mission to help a nearby druid cove called the Emerald Grove, Jaxster is paired with a mysterious elven sorceror named Travane Maxiramak. Not trusting Travane, Jaxster talks Alcindor into going with him and Dassar books an Airship for Baldur Gate leaving in 2 days. While waiting they hear from Volcanis that he will be joining them as a representative from Baldur Gate. When the Airship arrives there greeted by Volcanis and the airship leaves for Baldur Gate (suposedly). When the Airship departs the group is mostly confided to there rooms or 2nd deck, they stay there till one day Travane disappears and the group go looking for him, they get to the main deck and realize the ship isnt anywhere NEAR Baldur Gate maybe not even on the sword coast. then they are confronted by 3 mind flayers and a battle ensues they defeat the mind flyers but the airship is attacked by 2 red dragons. They go below deck and search for Travane but instead find a bunch of other passengers being attacked by Mind flayers and intellect devourers, but get by MOST of the mind flayers as there distracted by battling a white dragonborn. They get deeper in the ship and find a bunch of illithid pods. Inside one of the pods they see an half elven woman named Shadowheart, while Alcindor works to get her out, a Mind Flayer Prophet comes in an attacks the group. Volcanis and Jaxster attempt to hold him off until Alcindor can get Shadowheart free. when in comes a githyanki named Lae'Zel who attacks the flayer. Alcindor uses the distraction to free shadowheart but just when she gets free the prophet bats away Lae'Zel and starts the Ceremorphosis process Turing the people in the other pods to mindflayers. As Shadowheart recovers and gets her bearing the 4 manage to beat the prophet but just barely. They decide to group up and after some argueing between Lae'Zel and Shadowheart (they dont like eachother) then Lae'Zel and Jaxster (she thinks they should escape Jaxster wants to look for Travane) they search the ship for Travane.

when they get to the main deck they see a battle between a Cambion named **Commander Zhalk** and a mindflayer named **Kagusk.** Kagusk tells them to go to the control panel to steady the ship and stop the self destruct sequence. They fight there way there through some lesser hellboars, imps and a few Intellect Devourer while Zhalk and Kagusk fight. Shadowheart talks them into helping kill Commander Zhalk then Kagusk turns on them and attacks them. All 3 combine there attacks ( an arrow from Jaxster, magic missle from Alcindor and a guiding bolt from Shadowheart kills Kagusk and they escape right as the ship explodes.

### ACT I

#### Emerald Grove

On there way to the Grove

Eventually arrived at the Emerald Grove where they see some adventures trying to get in. but before the door is opened some goblins attack and a fight ensues about 6 goblins, 2 worgs. During the fight a human named Wyll appears and helps fight the goblins. upon entering they meet some druids and some tieflings.

#### Blighted Village

They come across a goblin camp and notice some odd things about the goblins. They end up getting in a bunch of fights. First fight Jaxster gets on one roof and has a shoot off with 2 goblins while Volcanis sneaks in the building to fight a goblin rogue with a worg, Alcindor shoots a goblin on another roof with magic missle and Lae'Zel goes in the 2nd building and fights a bugbear and a goblin. second fight. Jaxster snipes a goblin trying to hide in a nearby building. after a bunch of small fights they clear out the camp. much thanks to Jaxster sniping a bunch, Volcanis sneaking up and killing a commander (causing the rest of that group to run) and Alcindor and Wyll doing some expert casting. after they clear out the camp they find a locked door after Volcanis picks the lock they find an underground cave .

#### Underground Cave

full of Phase Spiders, and Ettercap. after fighting them (lots of fire) they come across a captured Gith named Lae'Zel. after some argument between Shadowheart and Lae'Zel (jaxster has to try to stand inbetween them while Volcanis and Alcindor laugh at him. Lae'Zel agrees to join them. **Boss Battle:** At the end of the cave they come across a Phase Spider Matriarch along with 4 phase spiders and about 12 spiderlings. the group manages to take out one of the phase spiders and injure the Mariarch with a well placed alchemical fire bottle. But they group finds themselves overwhelmed and nearly TPK if not for some great heals by Shadowheart and distractions from Wyll. Shadowhearts healing is put to the test very heavily in this battle and Jaxster makes very good use of a few bottles of alchemical fire. Wyll manages to take out most of the spiderlings with a Cloud of daggers and knockes a Phase spider down a very deep hole to its death with a eldritch blast and Alcindor finishes off the queen with a Crit scorching ray.

#### Goblin Camp

they find there way to what looks like an old castle inhabited with about 74 goblins, 3 hobgoblins 5 moblins and a red hinox. Jaxster had though he was going to parley with them but after approaching and seeing them mistreat a few wolves and a baby owlbear he gets angry and snipes 2 guards that were on guard towers. meanwhile Volcanis snuck up on a moblin and sneakstriked him killing him, Wyll eldritch blasted 3, Alcindor took out a few with collapsing another guard tower. an Lae,Zel took out 3 more with a swing from her great sword. they then got to a hinox who was guarding the front door. the battle started with Jaxster hitting him with arrows in his chest which he seemed to just shrug off and he started walking twords Jaxster with big strides, Alcindor and Wyll seeing this shot firebolts at the pieces of wood wrapped around his legs stopping him and setting them on fire. Volcanis sneaks behind him and uses his daggers to climb up the back of the hinox while Lae'Zel makes a huge gash on his belly. The Hinox reacts by swiping at Lae'Zel and hitting her to the side, kicking Jaxster into a wall but being defeated by Volcanis cutting off his head with a crit from his scimitars.(**only halfway done)**

After they clear out the old castle they help the tieflings get to safety and take a few days to rest, while the rest of the group rests, Jaxster sneaks off for about 2 days and goes into the woods of sharp teeth to scout out the lizalfos. killing many along the way but not getting detected. He comes back but doesnt tell anyone where he went just saying it was a personal thing. In the middle of the rest the Emerald Grove had a celebration for the heroes with much drinking and merryment somehow Kagha is killed but its never investigated how (Jaxster snuck off again and killed her for her crimes against nature and the tieflings) then Jaxster and Shadowheart share a great moment kissing and Volcanis and Lae'Zel share a moment.

### Act I.V

#### Underdark

Baelen Bonecloak tried to rescue he had wandered into a field of Blibberbang. Volcanis tried to get to him but the Blibberbang were set off causing a big chain reaction and killing Baelen and hurting Volcanis (who passed his dex save)

### ACT II

#### Tollhouse

We find a tollhouse and venture inside to find a undead seemingly made of gold (**Gerringothe Thorm 454 health**). it demands a toll or else we cant pass which Jaxster refuses and it attacks us. its first attack is Jealous Avarice on Jaxster he passes the dex save but still takes 65 damage and immediately falls to the floor unconscious. then it summons 6 Visages the visage of Obedience, Regret, heartlessness, Guilt, greed, cowardness. Wyll seeing Jaxster down casts Cloud of daggers injuring the whole group of enemies, Lae'Zel gets inbetween Jaxtser and Gerringothe and Swings her sword. frightening it. Volcanis moves behind it and Slashes doing ok damage, Alcindor seeing his friend taking huge damage cast fireball and with a massive explosion hits Gerringothe in the face and nearly taking out the Visages (Volcanis seeing Alcindor casting dodges out of the way, Lae'Zel takes a bit of damage from the explosion). while Shadowheart pulls Jaxster out of combat and trys to revive him. G, Thorns next turn seeing herself somewhat surrounded uses her coin whip to hit then fling Lae'Zel then tries to move twords Shadowheart but Volcanis gets in a decent stab as she moves not able to get to Shadowheart G. Thorn resummons the Visages. luckly Hate, Cowardice and greed die to Cloud of daggers. Volcanis gets behind G. Thorm taking an attack from Obeisance. Lae'Zel runs at G.Thorm hitting it with a distracting strike, Wyll hits her with a hunger of hadar blinding her, and Alcindor throws another fireball both Volcanis dodges again and Laezel misses the save. Shadowheart stabilizes Jaxster. Obediance hits both Volcanis and Laezel with Death shreik knocking Volcanis unconscious and regret hits Laezel with a Chocking wail paralyzing her. G.Thorn getting pissed at the 2 spell casters floats over and uses coin whip on both Alcindor and Wyll and throwing Alcindor into a nearby cabinet breaking it and causing Alcindor to lose next turn. Jaxster angry at missing the fight pulls out an acid arrow and uses hail of thorns to deal a massive crit **(82 damage),** then finishes her off with an arrow to her heart causing her to explode in a shower of gold coins**.** shadowheart finally getting a turn cast mass healing word stabalizing Volcanis

#### In the gauntlet of shar

they found Balathazar with some minions. a few Ghouls and a flesh golem. and after some convo they fought. Balathazar ran throwing a few spells but Jaxster was able to hit him with an arrow of arcane interference and Lar'Zel was able to kill him with a few melee attacks fought a flesh golem. it was a really fierce battle, he knocked out Lae'Zel and Jaxster but Shadowheart was able to heal Jaxster who got the killing blow with his short swords. after that battle blodied and bruised they take a long rest.

The Venture further and find a cloaker. he gives a bit of trouble but they manage to defeat it.

#### Trials

**soft step trial** which Volcanis expertly tackles disarming many traps, surprising a shade and defeating it and eventually sneaking to the end to get an umbral gem.

**self same trials** where everyone has to fight shades of themselves. and only they can injure there own shades

**Leap of faith trial** where Jaxster has to parkur a course in very low light

**Silent Library**. they whole group is silenced unable to cast spells. and having to fight a bunch of dark justicars its a challenge but they pull through with MANY bruises and injuries.

Lyrthindor last judicar of shar. fought a giant swarm of rats then he appeared.

fought Yurgir and a group of Merregons almost causing a tpk but they manage to defeat him. Yurgir stayed away while the group dealt with displacer beasts and about 5 Merregons. then joined the fight. they slowly whittled him down then Jaxster with a lucky spike growth broke his invisibility and got the killing blow with an arrow

after the fight we go to a chamber where Shadowheart has a battle with herself as lady Shar is using her and it will lead to a lonely, bad life. after some back and forth Shadowheart decides to free Lady Aylin which in turn makes Thorn vulnerable

#### Confronting Ketheric Thorn

we go back to Moonrise tower and fight through cultists along with asistance from some Flaming Fist soldiers and a half elven druid named Jaheira. after the fight we leave them to secure the main floor while we confront Thorn. when we get there hes battling Dame Aylin (an Aasimar we freed) we join the battle but dont do to much eventually getting Thorn to flee and we follow him to a mind flayer colony. in the colony we have some minor fight then get to Thorn. who has Aylin captured. we start the fight Lae'Zel mistysteps to a mindflayer and chops him in half. while Jaxster takes out a few minions. we free Aylin and she fights thorn while we recover. We were very heavily injured from the fight so far. and focus our efforts on Thorn. Eventually Alcindor hits him with a spell and defeats him causing a Apostle of Myrkul. he starts the fight knocking Aylin, Alcindor, Jaxster and Volconis unconsious. and Lae'Zel and Halsin keep him buisy as Shadowheart uses her remaning high level spell slots to bring us up and to atleast half health. After a very long fight we injured and defeat the Apostle and thus kill Thorn once and for all.

Act II.V

After the fight we plan to take a week to recoup and recover but it doesnt go as planed. The first day we rest and actually get a full rest, the second day Aylin, Jaheira, Haslin and Isobel try to help the shadow cursed lands recover while we plan the assault on the rest of the cult. That night we go to take a long rest but are ambushed by a group of gith led by Tska'an. we fight them off (Lae'Zel gets the killing blow on Tska'an and cut her in half with her sword). the third day we rest and is uneventful. the fourth day while we sleep were ambushed again by a group of gith this time we fight them off and flee to a portal to the astral plane

### Act III

While in Baldur Gate they hear rumors or vampire spawn running around the city at night. the group stays at the Elfsong Tavern for a few hours till night. That night they wonder the city till they see Astarion trying to assult a noble man, but before they get a chance to intervene a brass dragonborn jumps in and slams his hammer into Astarion's chest and allowing the noble to get away.**(NEEDS MORE)**

### to be added

came across the waning moon tavern and inside found Thisobad Thorn (the wretched Distiller) after some great rolls and good luck Jaxster managed to outdrink Thisobad and he died. they decide to spend the night in the tavern and after a 4 hour rest the tavern is attacked by Ch'R'ai a Gith war mage Ma'Thal a gith fighter and Brandi'ith a fighter along with 2 gith archers who attempt to take back the artefact. Jaxster manages to take down Ch'R'Ai with a few drow poison tipped arrows, Volcanis has an epic fight with Ma'Thai, the archers are taken out with alchemical fire and a few eldritch blasts, Lae'Zel has a battle with Brandi'ith where they are trading blows he gets the upper hand and downs Lae'Zel but as he is over her body Alcindor crits him with a fire bolt. (the tavern is pretty much destroyed) and Wyll and Lae'Zel go down they defeat them and Lae'Zel starts to realize he people are hunting her and the party.

ironfingers

Kressa bonedaughter

Hairy Henry

Maghetw Budj

### Characters

Jaxster - Wood Elf - Ranger

JaxsterVolcanisLae'ZelJenevelle "Shadowheart" HallowleafHalsinWyllAlcindor EldenVoss
### Friends

Cedan - Wood Gnome - Sorceror (dragon bloodline)

HootieCedanWithers
### Pics from Travels

Team End Of Act 1Killed a Beholder (Underdark)