Adventure 17

**Real World Date: 10/29/2017**

**In Game Dates: December 15th, 5000 M.E. - December 20th, 5000 M.E.**

**XP: 850 (Total: 9701)**

## Brief Respite

The party rests for a moment inside the vault. They go around the room and inspect the sixteen spots for artifacts. Many of them are only usable by clerics of that particular deity, or the are "checked out" by someone. Six items are missing, including the Sword of Unholy Purging, which Aust recognizes from his vision back in Sanye. Del generates a scroll that when possessed can give the possessor the current location and general distance from the artifact. In the past, it was used by the Ithquandryic Society to hunt down overdue relics. Now it's being given to Wrax.

Aust takes the time to read over the three enchanted books he found in the library. One is a minor spellbook with a few spells. Another tells of a group called the **Oracles of Isbrea**, which were a healing group devoted to healing wounds of the mind and soul. And the third book is about a now-defunct group called the **Pride of Olum**, which was a group of lycanthropes that served the cause of the evil god, Olum.

## Danger Will Robinson!

Their short rest ends, however, when a notification alerts Del that one of the evil artifacts has somehow been checked out of the vault, despite the rules preventing that. It wasn't checked out by Berelith, but someone else. Del knows that Berelith is behind it, though. They quickly jump on board the platform and exit the vault.

As they run around the corner to head towards the other vault, they see a large group of creatures waiting for them. There are Worgs blocking the exit, with several small Gazers flying in the back and several Gnolls ready to pounce. Behind them is Berelith himself, as well as some figure further back in the shadows.

## Hold The Line

 **Location** | Ithquandryic Society (Floor 3 - Stairs)

The party waded through the monsters as the shadowy figure in the back with the relic began to use it, which summoned all the bodies on the floor as skeletons. Slowly, but surely, the party manages to fight off the creatures and make their way to the stairs. However, the shadowy figure seems to be leaving as the tide of battle turns. Before they can do so, Del makes a desparate move to keep them and the artifact here.

She warns the party to leave as rushing water comes from down the tunnel where the vault was. She had released the hold on the massive ocean at the bottom of the vault, which was the **Elemental Plane of Water**. The shadowy figure drops the artifact so he can teleport out, but the party escapes up the stairs as the water comes rushing in, taking both Del and Berelith with it.

## Rushing Against Water

The party flees as the water fills up the third floor quickly and begins to fill the second. They manage to reach the elevator quickly and start it up, heading to the first floor. However, the elevator stops as the water clogs whatever machinery powered it. Wrax flys up and opens the elevator doors so that when the rest of the party raises up to the first floor with the water, they jump up and begin running again.

The party moves quickly back through the first floor, realizing now that the entrance has been blocked and they have to dig themselves out before they drown. As they reach the exit, they see daylight coming through. It looks like someone has been slowly digging out the collapsed entrance. Ropes appear to be tied to a large rock blocking most of the exit, but is struggling to pull it out. The party helps push the rock, lifting it out as the water fills the first floor.

## Lake Del

They walk out to find Kagan Nivara and their Wagon. He had detached the horses and was pulling the stones away slowly. He is glad to see them, but notices the water begin to rush out of the entrance. They reattach the horses to the Wagon and quickly run away. As they flee, the water rises up and pushes sand and rocks alike as waves of rushing water flind up onto the surface from underground. After a little while, they realize the water has stabilized, as it has finally reached sea level.

The party says goodbye to Kagan Nivara, who saw a set of ruins he'd never seen before while leading the undead horde away. He plans to return there and explore, continuing his own mission. He makes sure that Wrax is further in his quest, which he is, and heads off around the lake, which the party names **Lake Del**.

## Parting of Ways

The party heads back to Nenda. Upon arrival, Lear and Aurelia head their separate ways, having felt they paid back a debt to Wrax. Erevan is visited by a strange half-elf, Nethkana Ilmwyn, who delivers some dreadful news about his father. Erevan then secures two horses and rides off as fast possible back home to the Veryd Forest.

Wrax notices an expidition about to head off into the Eres Wasteland, which isn't significant, except their supplies and their wagon bear the emblem of the Tower Consortium. Having run ins with this group before (**The Woman's** father owns it), he walks over to find out more. According to their leader, Yovis and their guide, Garthok, they are the first of most likely many expeiditons being sent into the Eres Wasteland to find treasure. Wrax warns them of a lake that isn't on their maps and wishes them luck.

## The Night is Dark and Full of Visitors

When they got their own rooms at the inn, Aust is visited in the middle of the night. Avar Pelegrin is at his door, but offering apologies and peace. He has a peace offering, bringing a vial of a **Sacred Elixir**, as he calls it, which was the stuff that gave Aust visions back when he was captured and almost sacrificed. Aust is wary, but accepts the offer of peace. Avar is about to leave, then warns to watch out for the man that is following him.

Shortly after that visit, another visitor comes to his door. This time it is the holy warrior that had saved him previously, who identifies himself as Theadrus Norstone. He is a paladin of Aubade and a member of the Righteous Vanguard. He is following the Cult of the First. He hasn't been able to figure out their plan, but because this plan seems to involve Aust somehow, he plans on just following Aust until the Cult of the First makes a move.

## Late Night Confessions

Aust, only having Wrax at this point, wakes him up with his telepathic abilities. He tells him about his two visitors, which requires him to explain his relationship with these people and his pact he made with **The First**. After having opened up, Wrax reveals that he also made a pact with a fiend named **Korbeth** and that they have both done this they didn't want to for these patrons. They agree that when they get orders from their patrons, if they are opposing goals, they will discuss it first.

Having opened up about their pacts for the first time, the two feel secure in their partnership, so they go to sleep, ready to get the moving the next day...