Crossroads Episode 25: Curiosities

## Synopsis

10 Highsun 1258 IC

As the rest of the party remain in the library, Nep'Rixa is still missing. Mere seconds earlier she was with the party face to face with Drago and A.S. Cummings, she now finds herself in a void of darkness surrounded by information seemingly taking on a life of it's own all the while she is questioned by the disembodied voice of Cummings with a riddle "The host of murderer for the body of a murderer" as thousands of whispering voices can be heard around her.

Back in the library Tasya gets attacked seemingly by a blade made of air, invisible to the eye. Stünislav then takes a hit.

Kreel approaches a book on a pedestal and notices the book is being written in Infernal as they stand there. As none of the party know how to read Infernal, Beatrix casts "comprehend language" and realises this is a book of knowledge about the italti.

Wyrm now gets slashed across the back by the invisible blade and it's invisible wielder believed by the party to be Drago.

Nep'Rixa still imprisoned is asked what she knows of the italti and she begins to talk of Domanaris the Weak, speaking of his creation of the Gordex Lithari due jealousy of not being able to gain access to Sythlia's plane. With this the voice throws into a fit of rage claiming it was not jealousy. The information surrounding Nep'Rixa changes into tall stone walls with book cases on each. Back in the library the party see the shape of a hand push out of the pages of the book, bursting through and clawing out, Nep'Rixa tumbles out onto the floor.

Again the invisible blade strikes and Beatrix gets slashed across her thigh.

The party realise they are within the Gordex Lithari, the Demi-plane of Domanaris. A.S. Cummings was Domanaris all along. He asks the party his name and they repeat "Domanaris the Weak". Still vexxed by the name "Weak" attached to him he decides to prove his power his power. The library crumbles around them and reconstructs into a fighting pit.

Within the pit Wyrm and Beatrix find themselves facing each other as the rest of the party are imprisoned in idividual cells within a holding area. Domanaris tells them since they called him weak they shall see who is the weakest amongst them in combat to the death for his entertainment. Domanaris summons an audience, those he has ensnared over the years, thousands of spirits appear in the stands all whispering.

Wyrm and Beatrix still defiant causes Domanaris's anger to grow, but as they speak Wyrm applies poison to his short sword and stabs Beatrix under the ribs from behind believing the only way to save the rest of his friends is to do what has been asked. Beatrix shocked by this and now pissed off decides to return the favour casting shocking grasp. Beatrix talks sense into Wyrm and they stop fighting to try and figure out a different solution.

Wyrm casts raise dead on a nearby skeleton and strikes it back down, his plan did not work. The party carry on thinking as the clock ticks away.

Nep'Rixa thinks again on the riddle and realises being a cleric she is the host of her deity, Fayer. Domanaris believes no deity can enter his demi-plane. Fayer tells Nep'Rixa that he will not allow murder in this place but he can not enter there however he can work through her with her permission. She grants it.

Nep'Rixa now filled with the energy and peace of Fayer she walks through the bars of the cage holding her and continues towards the arena, she appeals to Fayer to reveal Drago to them so that they may combat the invisible threat.

Drago appears in the arena and lunges towards Beatrix, she sees this and launches six magic missiles into his chest. Shocked that he can now be seen he draws his swords and attacks putting Beatrix into a dying state.

Combat ensues the party realise that the cages are only real because their minds are making it real, they must re-engage with their own reality to dispel this one. Tasya thinks of home and Magda allowing her to escape her cage, Stünislav slashes at his arms creating a pool of blood in front of him, he removes the various charms of each of the Rebels party from around his neck and places them in the blood, as a final act of rebellion against his captor he cuts of the pinky finger of his sword hand and is freed from the cage.

Now with everyone free and Nep'Rixa successfully picking the lock on the gate to the arena, they join the fray and Nep'Rixa heals Beatrix saving her life.

After some time of fighting, Nep'Rixa still cradling Beatrix, calls upon Fayer to lend her his power once more and throws a divine lance at Drago and it splits in the air into multiple fragments all missing Drago and imbedding themselves in the wall behind him. The wall collapses down, crushing him to death.

The party hear the voice of Fayer telling them Drago belongs to the vale as they see his body disappear leaving his equipment behind.

Believing they are now safe the party decide they must leave this place and banish this demi-plane, suddenly the voice of Domanaris rings out "You are not banishing anything, you are still in my home and in my home you shall be. If my minions can not take care of you then I will!"

With that the arena goes dark around them for a moment, when the lights return they find themselves in the middle of a temple of Aryos.

*Synopsis written by Caffinated Viking*

## The Party

* Beatrix Qiroris - Lvl 6 Half-Elf Wizard
* Kreel - Lvl 6 Tengu Witch
* Nep'Rixa of Skor'Ritha - Lvl 6 Sadrath'il Cleric of Fayer
* Stünislav Marekoi - Lvl 6 Tiefling Redeemer
* Tasya Marinov - Lvl 6 Human Fighter
* Wyrm - Lvl 6 Goblin Rogue