Smoking Crack (1/28/2023)

We rejoin our heroes in the tunnel, making their way to the heart of the Cavern of the Inquisitors. Ryafrie has reached out to touch a human form in the stone walls of the tunnel, only to be met with a spectral hand grabbing her wrist with an unhuman groan.

**I Ain’t Afraid of No Ghost(s)…**

As the party reels in horror, the team prepares for battle. Fen jumped to action, hurling a fireball at the ghost while Ryafrie picks up Kizzik, casts heroism on the goblin and throws him directly at the ghost. She promptly attempts to put as much ground between her and it.

Emboldened, Kizzik leaps at the ghost and attempts to stab it, but simply passes through the ghost and falls to the ground, taking damage from whatever the specter is made of. Xophren casts moonbeam on the ghost, but the ghost manages to dodge some of the blast, taking minor damage.

Butterstuff sees the ghost fully formed, reaching in the party’s direction. She reacts by using eldritch blast. A beam of crackling energy streaks toward the specter, briefly dissipating it.

Several new ghosts emerge from the wall and surround the party. Alluin casts firebolt and it tears through the spectral being, which quickly reforms and attempts to engulf Kizzik.

Another ghost attempts the same on Ryafrie who casts Hellish Rebuke in response - a puff of flames knocks it back, damaging the apparition.

Hadrian, with his powers of observation, recognizes the ghosts as *ghosts*. One attempts to thrust its hands through his chestplate. He responds with a Guiding Bolt - a flash of light streaks toward the ghost, inflicting what appears to be severe damage. He then moves to Ryafrie to provide support and casts another spell which yields what appears to be an ice globe above his head.

As Talek takes in the scene of undead, his Avandra tattoo begins to glow as he shouts a prayer, “*Changebringer, banish these evil souls from the light of your servant!*” A bright light erupts from his tattoo and the ghosts flee.

**Cryptic Discoveries, Symbols from the Past**

A haunting whisper of “*Leave this place*” reverberates throughout the cave as they depart.

Then, a dark voice from deeper within the cave calls to them – “C*ome deeper.*” The team discusses what to do next, the gravelly voice calls again – “C*ome closer, find the answers you seek.*”

The party agrees the only way forward is, well, forward. Alluin, Kizzik and Ryafrie lead the way as Alluin readies Misty Step. They see the faces carved into the stone wall now appear to be facing away from their destination as they move along.

The whispering voice continues, “*Leave… Now…”*

Off the side of the tunnel they find a chamber with a few sleeping mats, crudely constructed boxes and a dying fire in the center.

Fen enters first followed by Talek, but neither finds anything of note. Some flint and tinder, plain clothes and rations. One of the boxes has some crudely made stone figures – a man and women, almost like a homemade child’s toy. Talek senses a feeling of dread, similar to whenever he is around blood magic.

Alluin continues down the tunnel, visibly shaken by the surroundings. He notes the ghosts haven’t attempted to return. Leaf, inspecting the stone faces, points out that they appear to be running from whatever lies ahead.

Further along, additional chambers are found off the side of the tunnel, each appearing more finished, with more ornate carving and craftsmanship. One of the chambers stands out with two doors on the far end.

Ryafrie illuminates the chamber with Dancing Lights while Fen investigates the doors, each bearing the symbol of the Inquisition. Butterstuff rubs some sticks together and a pile of logs suddenly appear in front of one of the doors – a bonfire! The wood starts to blacken and burn, but appears it will last.

Alluin uses Mage Hand to open the door, though nothing visible is seen beyond. Fen sees Butterstuff snap her fingers, and the fire appears to vanish into a portal in the floor.

Alluin attempts to open the door on the right and finds it locked. Ryafrie successfully picks the lock and opens the door. Inside they find a dresser along with footlockers at the each end of two beds. Hadrian opens the drawers to the dresser and finds nothing out of the ordinary.

Talek smashes the lock off of one of the footlockers, finding clothing, and most notably what at first glance appears to be a pristine blood cultist cloak. After further inspection, they found it bears the symbol of the inquisition where the symbol of the cult would be. The party remembers the inquisitors wearing similar cloaks from the vision in the blood realm. Butterstuff dons the cloak.

Hadrian inspects the footlocker and recognizes a bag of holding within. He opens it and sees a void. Reaching inside, no bottom can be found where one should be. He feels something metal and dumps it out on top of the footlocker – out pours 3 copper-made shackles. On the inside, thick copper lines the inside with a solid piece of realm shard.

Upon investigating them, Alluin recognizes these as Auric Shackles - the very same cuffs detaining the slaves in the vision of the blood factory. Hadrian puts these back in the bag and stashes it in his pack for later.

Alluin and Fen enter the room. Hadrian breaks the lock on the second footlocker, and Fen searches inside, nimbly grabbing a leather pouch within. It appears old but pristine - bearing a different symbol from the inquisitors. Alluin recognizes the symbol of his village on the bag itself, quickly grabbing the pouch from him. Alluin searches the pouch and finds a large diamond within, which he casually tosses to Fen. He shows the symbol to Hadrian who recognizes the symbol as well.

In the second room, Ryafrie finds what appears to be an office – desk, shelves upon shelves bearing journals. The party recognizes this as similar to the journal found in the forbidden section of the library, back in Allessia.

Ryafrie finds an open journal on the desk, ink spilled beside it. She examines it, finding details on discipline, day-to-day inner workings, dated with daily numbers referencing a “reagent” and an amount that changes daily, with a trend increasing in value over time.

The handwriting changes, but on each 3rd day, more is found written, signed “A” (Abraxus?). These are more descriptive – from approximately a month prior according to the most recent dating:

**Entry 1**: *This place is exactly like they described, but I wish it wasn’t. Even being here for a short time drains me. The effects of the reagent is like poison to us. We differ in opinion on the prisoners.*

**Entry 2**: *We are only halfway through and I feel empty. If not for the shackles, there would have been an uprising already.*

**Final Entry**: *This place feels more like a powder keg – we are at the cusp of something terrible. I look forward to leaving this place and getting back to work. Eldren wants to continue working but I couldn’t leave sooner.*

Ryafrie summarizes her findings to the party. Alluin reads it as well, but doesn’t find what he’s looking for. He asks her where she found this book, she explains it was found on the desk, with ink spilled beside it.

Alluin finds the very first book in the series, with an introductory letter on the first page, which he shares with the party:

*Despite the dread of this place it is not a punishment. It is important to the function and safety of the realm. The reagent must continue to be produced to prevent the evil from returning.*

They decide to move on, satisfied they have found anything of value in the chambers. Suddenly, the deep rumbling voice returns, “*Come closer, there are no more answers you seek in those books*.”

Talek’s connection with Avandra diminishes, his feelings of malcontent have intensified. The party continues down the tunnel towards the voice, weapons on the ready, slow and careful.

More rooms are visible as they trek deeper; larger rooms with more bunks, hastily constructed containers meant to quickly house a surplus of people – soldiers perhaps? As they reach the end of the tunnel, it opens up to a large spherical chamber.

Talek first recognizes it as the room from the visions with the blood prisoners, calling it out to the group. The very same vertical platforms with drains and collection vats are visible from the entrance. In the center of the room, they see what looks like a crack hanging midair sealed with stitching in reality itself. It pulses slightly.

The party recognizes this place as the place where sanguine opened the portal to save his people, the office was apparently where the unrecognized inquisitor was seen arguing with Abraxus.

Where a roof should be visible, all that can be seen is a magical darkness where no light escapes. A voice echoes through the chamber, *“See the treachery of what they did to destroy the world. It took all my strength to seal it again.*”

Fen decides to approach the rift, Talek falls in behind him. Each step he takes, the sense of dread gets deeper and stronger; the air appears to be sucked out of the room. The scent of blood is recognized in the air like they remember from the blood realm.

Xophren approaches the crack to touch it.

Talek calls out, “*Spirit, NAME YOURSELF!”*

*I am no spirit, I was once called Penance.*

“*Do you need help*?” Asks Fen

*You can try…*

**…I’m Afraid of Whatever THIS is**

A gate slams shut sealing the chamber. The darkness above drifts down, encompassing the walls and loud skittering reverberates around the edges of the room. The darkness spreads down its sides surrounding the party and begins to slowly drop down from above.

*Now that you have seen, you CANNOT leave!*

Leaf moves first, readying his weapons in a defensive action. Fearing for their wellbeing, he calls out to Fen, Xophren and Talek to come back as they rush toward the light at the center of the chamber. He sees the pool of darkness surround them in a sphere, apparently repulsed by the mysterious crack, which is proffering what little light within in the darkened chamber.

Fen casts fireball at the darkness above, shooting straight above the party. It explodes against the darkness above them in a flash of light and a large twisted figure is briefly visible in the darkness – it’s giant and spiderlike – huge and hulking with multiple limbs. It holds a giant glaive as its weapon.

The creature leaps toward Fen and the darkness surrounds them. Rocks fall from the wall above those still standing by the entrance, all of whom dodge the falling debris at the last second. A lightning bolt bursts from Ryafrie’s saxophone, dancing across the monster’s skin – it doesn’t flinch.

Xophren casts blight – as the energy of his spell washes over the monster, its skin appears to peel away revealing bone underneath. It turns a face of twisted tentacles made up of human flesh to Xophren, who gets his first glimpse of the creature. He sees similarities to the robe it’s wearing to what was found in the chest earlier. It bears inquisitorial clasps and a large hole of darkness in the center of its chest.

As the Creature breathes deeply, darkness around it pours into a dark orb in its chest – it pushes this darkness across the chamber which overtakes Talek, Fen and Xophren. Fen appears unshaken, but Talek and Xophren are filled with carnal fear and begin to flee.

Butterstuff attempts to transform the creature into a baby, but her spell fails, but succeeds in drawing the attention of the creature.

Alluin calls out to Hadrian, “*Get the shackles*!” and casts a spell on the creature, its speed is noticeably decreased. Hadrian, a peerless athlete, charges the creature. Talek, with his eyes filled with terror, flees away from the fight, leaving his team behind. Leaf, rushes toward the creature, firing his crossbow but missing his target.

Fen is surrounded by darkness but remains courageous – as the creature moves away towards larger prey, he attempts to strike out at it but misses. The Creature flails its enormous weapon at Leaf and Hadrian. Leaf blocks the attack with his crossbow hand, but a devastating attack lands on Hadrian, slamming the glaive into his chestplate.

Fen casts Twin Haste on Leaf and Hadrian, bestowing unnatural speed and reaction time, then hastily dashes to a safer distance. Another bolt of lightning fires from Ryafrie’s instruments, peeling back the creature’s flesh and revealing bone once again. The creature appears to grow weary and cries out in a gravelly, inhuman voice.

*You MUST DIE in this place! You MUST NOT be allowed to LEAVE! THE EVIL DIES WITH ME!*

Talek responds, voice shaking with fear, “*What makes YOU think we’re evil?!”*

Kizzik deploys his kazoo playing a whimsical tune, which magically inspires Hadrian. The c­­reature grips its glaive with an incantation and darkness shoots out of it. A darkness appears and surrounds everything within a 60 foot radius of the creature, enshrouding Hadrian and Leaf. What happens within is invisible to the rest of the party.

Alluin quietly waves his hands and the darkness blows away. The party gets their first full view of the creature within - wearing an Inquisitor’s plate armor which appears to have morphed and modeled itself to the body of the creature during whatever process transformed it. It is a disgusting creature comprised of what was once human flesh, its robe and armor hinting at what it may have once been.

Hadrian retrieves the Auric Shackles from bag of holding, leaps and attempts to bind the arms of the creature. As he ascends with inhuman speed and agility, he manages to grabs an arm. During his descent, he successfully clasps one of the Auric Shackles and binds two of its arms. As it clasps shut, an awful shrieking fills the air as the flesh retreats from the arms where the shackles are attached. The creature drops its enormous glaive in a pained response. An unrelated cold fog then surrounds Hadrian who is now unable to see the creature before him.

After fleeing for much of the battle, the influence of Avandra breaks through the fog and Talek’s terror abates. He shakes his fear and turns to dash back to the battle he has fled from. As he whispers a few quiet prayers to his god, a shimmering field of Avandra’s protection surrounds him and a dolorous bell fills the air - burning energy erupts into the mass of the creature.

Leaf, seeing the glaive on the ground, seizes it and spins, hurling it 50 feet away from the creature, who struggles to break free of the shackles. With the creature distracted, he aims carefully and attacks the dark center of its chest. He lashes out wildly, eye level with the gaping hole of darkness. Three strikes landing on their mark, he shoves the Talon of Mirewood directly into the darkness, which leaks *into* the Talon of Mirewood.

With this strike, the magical darkness around the room fades slightly and dark, congealed blood drips from the hole in the creature’s chest. Fen feels nauseous at the sight of it.

The creature successfully breaks the shackles with a loud crack and moves with haste to retrieve its glaive.

*YOU DARE USE OUR TOOLS AGAINST ME?!*

Fen casts an errant firebolt and Ryafrie notes the weak point opened up by Leaf. She sees shifting flesh and dark congealed blood oozing from within and casts lightning. Flesh burns away from her energy blast as the creature begins to appear more fatigued.

Xophren, inspired by the thought of his wolf companion, is finally able to shake his fear and returns to battle. As the creature picks up its weapon, it turns its attention to Xophren, who is moving to touch the glowing crack in the center of the room, eyes filled with wonder.

*DO NOT… NO!!!*

Butterstuff attempts to use a shrinking spell on the creature but fails. Kizzik plays a whimsical tune to magically inspire Leaf, who fires his crossbow but misses by an inch.

Alluin, unimpressed by the “wizard’s” firebolt, casts his own. As it hits the creature, it lands with devastating effect, scorching one of its legs so badly it disintegrates at the creature’s hip and falls off. Hadrian charges the creature and strikes its body hard with his Warhammer. Leaf attempts another series of precision attacks but misses the creature manages to block each with its many appendages.

Free from bindings and enraged at the sight of Xophren’s attempt to touch the crack, it strikes with the enormous glaive. This critically injures Xophren and halts his attempt

Fen again misses with a firebolt while Ryafrie moves closer to the creature, calling lightning to strike and burn it once more. Xophren recovers from the blow and looks at the creature in defiance while conjuring a flameblade. He moves with resolve to the crack and plunges his flaming sword right into the center of the seam. Red light pours out and the smell of blood becomes stronger within the chamber.

*NOO!*

The creature drops its weapon and breathes deep – the air in the room is sucked into the center where the creature stands, breath stolen from the party member’s lips. The crack begins to seal back up and Fen calls out for Alluin to hit the crack – he casts another fireball at the creature instead, burning flesh from its bones.

The shroud of icy fog leaps at the creature as Hadrian attempts to clasp additional cuffs to its arms with success! With the creatures arms bound, he uses his short sword to stab the dark void in the creature’s chest and adds a smiteful remark as it plunges within. A blinding flash of light erupts from its chest, knocking the shortsword out of Hadrian’s hand. The crack once again begins to open with a familiar red light pouring out as the scent of blood grows stronger.

Talek completes his approach and swings his Warhammer. At its impact, a wave of destruction radiates back from where he struck, visibly staggering the creature. It is shackled and tired, sluggishly engaging the party with what remains of its strength.

Seeing the opportunity to end the fight, Leaf leaps at the creature with speed and precision, *dives* *through* the creature’s chest and cuts through to the other side, bursting through the creature’s cape. He lands gracefully in a power stance, covered in congealed blood and mire.

As the creature reels from its mortal wounds, it weakly cries out, “*NO… the portal must be closed!”* It reaches out to the crack in the center of the room. As it does, light expands from the center of the creature’s body which begins to dissolve until all that remains is a vaguely human shape. Its sickly hand lightly touches the crack, sealing it. A blinding light shoots out and those close enough heard a tinkling sound as something hits the ground – once the light stops, there are several realm shards where the crack once was.