Ziggurat

## Beneath the Marrow

Session 37, 28 Dualahei 836 PD

The party teleport to a strange cave system underneath the fort. Immediately on arrival, Komani falls. She's murmuring weird things, and seems very out of it. Hartmut tries to heal her, waking her somewhat. From her point of view, she's trapped in a crystal or glass cocoon, looking out on a strange laboratory, as technologically advanced wizards stare into it at her. The pain is hurts more than Mara's chains. She decides to smash her way out of the cocoon, and is attacking it furiously when Hartmut dispells the magic on her. She wakes, shakes her head, and tries to describe what she saw. The party accuse Jacinder/Mara of doing this - Jacinder suggests it's just that she's never teleported before. Komani says she can still see the wizards in the periphery of her vision - they do not completely fade away.

Jacinder says the Rakshasa has changed the teleportation circle - there's lava all around. When it was hers, it was full of blood. Demon blood. Jacinder says she used the tunnel system to 'lock in the ley lines', and the arcane specialists in the group recognize it as a giant conjuration symbol. Jacinder was using it to bring in gnolls.

From down the cave there's a horrible growling sound, which sounds oddly reminiscent of Belrond, Korvok and Linok. A hell hound pulls itself up out of the lava and attacks the group. Every time it's hit, it cries out with Linok's voice. Shortly two more appear, crying out like Korvok and Belrond respectively. The party are able to use the ley crossing to power up their conjuration magic in the fight. Once the Linok-creature is dead, the group hear her call out in pain from one of the side passages. They try to rush towards her, but are delayed arguing between themselves.

Moss catches Jacinder/Mara for a second and makes her promise not to kill Korvok if they find him. "Do you know what he did to me?" "Yeah, but it sounds like you've killed his father, surely you're even"

After a brief fight with more of the prisoner-hellhounds, the party find Linok by following her voice. She's chained to a stalagmite, with her feet in a pool of abyssal blood. Llunet warns the party not to touch the blood, worried it might be an ooblex. Hartmut casts magehand, which upcasts to bigby's hand thanks to the conjuration sigil. Komani assists with a rope, and the two gently pull Linok free from the chains. When she's placed down amongst them, she's not breathing - leaving the blood appears to have instantly killed her.

Moss pulls out the diamond the cleric of Pelor gave them, and is able to revivify her. Linok wakes, exhausted and surprised to see the Ironlot. She is very out of it - having trouble focusing. She tells the group that Belrond, Korvok, and a blonde elf are all also kept prisoner here. The elf has been there longer than the others.

## Ley Line Nexus

Session 38, 28 Dualahei 836 PD

Komani picks up Linok, who is barely able to move (mechanically we think it's 5 exhaustion levels, poor thing). The party discuss a plan - Moss asks Hart not to move the next one they find, because she can't revive all of them and she doesn't want to chose. Continuing through the caves, the party find Belrond. Morrigan immediately heals him, and gives him one of her goodberries, which seems to have a little effect. He's humming a resistance song, chained the same as Linok. He is in slightly better shape than she was, but not by much. Belrond is happy we're here (even after he said don't come like make up your mind man). Hartmut identifies the blood pool is coming from a stream in the centre of the sigil, if this were unclogged maybe the blood flow could be stopped.

Midway through his investigation, while the rest of the group are speaking with Belrond, Hartmut notices Moss putting the dagger into the abyssal blood pool. He's able to quickly pull her away - and spots her eyes are completely black for a second when he grabs her. He asks her what she was thinking, and she says the knife said it could help Belrond, and it was working. He disagrees. Belrond made a weird noise when the knife was doing stuff - but not specifically like he was being hurt, necessarily. Moss points out that they don't have a plan at all, at least this was something.

Aware that they can't free Belrond without killing him, they leave him there. Morrigan promising they'll return for him once they have a way. He is clearly pretending to have high spirits, it rings a little hollow. He resumes humming his song as the party leave.

In the next chamber, there's a tall pale elf - dirty blonde hair covers his face, and he is more emaciated than the others. Moss rushes forwards, and Hartmut uses the bigby's hand to pull the hair out of his face. It is Sage, Moss' missing researcher. Moss heals him and gives him a goodberry, and he wakes enough to be extremely confused. He recognises Hartmut before Moss. "Weren't you a bear the last time we met?". Moss identifies herself as Cassia's youngest, sent by the Greatmother to find him and rescue him. He tells her he won't go back with her. He has nothing for the Greatmother, or rather what he's discovered has too high a cost. He never intended to return, chosing instead to enjoy what Wynandir has to offer. Moss says he doesn't have to worry about that for now - they'll get him safe, and then it's a long journey before they'll be anywhere near Bysaes. Hartmut tries to offer Moss his hand in support, but fucks it up and just unexpectedly taps her hand, which makes her flinch. They tell him they'll be back, Moss promises she'll get him out. He seems slightly too out of it to really hear them. He is much more injured than the others.

[Meta-knowledge: The knife suggested killing Sage here to get his knowledge. Moss resisted this.]

In the next chamber they come upon Korvok. Relatively healthy, and immediately registering that they're travelling with a new companion. Morrigan acknowledges it with a 'we're not thrilled about it either' and Moss says Jacinder is the only reason they were able to reach him. Korvok says he had only made it a few days travelling alone before being caught by the muggers - he'd forgotten how to watch his back after travelling with companions for so long. Morrigan tells him he's been in here for a week, and gives him her second goodberry. Hartmut insists they'll rescue him, and be back soon, explaining what nearly happened to Linok when they removed her. Korvok appears to understand. As the party leave the room Moss, Morrigan and Hartmut note that Jacinder/Mara is hanging back. They hold back in case she does anything rash, but she just threatens him then leaves. (I did not write down the threat argghgh)

In the centre of the sigil, the party stop. Hartmut calls out to the group and casts Zone of Truth - successful on everyone except Komani. He quizzes Mara on her intentions - she's able to answer everything satisfactorally but it feels like she's still avoiding something. Hartmut also asks the group if he is their favourite member, which Moss answers 'yes' much too quickly. Komani also gives a 'yes' but she's not truth circled so who knows.

Mara/Jacinder and Llunet have determined the party could shift the sigil to another plane, which should be enough to free the prisoners from the pools. It will take a great deal of magical energy and arcane knowledge. Llunet, Jacinder, Moss, Morrigan and Hartmut all step up to help. Delta, and Komani (still carrying the prone Linok) offer to guard them. Hartmut encourages Morrigan to give Moss the remaining diamond as a focus, suggesting it will help her as a magic focus. Moss looks mostly confused but takes it. They attempt to move the sigil's focus from the Hells to the Feywild, using Morrigan as a focus in the centre of the circle. The first attempt is a failure, painfully hurling everyone from the circle.

The party readjust - Harmut steps back, thinking he made them fail, and Morrigan bows out, just acting as a magical focus. Moss, Llunet and Mara are narrowly able to clear the checks, and the rivers spreading away from them turn suddenly from lava and blood to glittering fey magic.

Immediately on the success, Hartmut, Moss and Morrigan rush in three directions to save their prisoners. Each prisoner is safely recovered from their chains and helped back to the centre of the sigil, with the others.

## Fog at the Marrow Mugger's Fort

Session 38, 29 Dualahei 836 PD

The group gather and try to talk about next steps. Llunet begins casting her starry dome, so some people can rest in it. Komani and Moss are immediately wary, volunteering to stay outside the dome. Morrigan tests the magical properties of the feywild waters by putting Llunet's stained-glass magic shortsword into the flow. It shimmers beautifully, but appears to have no effect. Moss tests out the conjuration sigil by throwing a produce flame harmlessly against the roof. It glows blue, is slightly larger than expected, and casting it appears to heal her. The party determine that the sigil is not powering up their spells to the same extent anymore, but is causing additional effects, like a wild magic table roll.

Hartmut disappears down one of the cave arms, and the party can hear him summon his bigby's hand and attempt to destroy the sigil. It is apparently clearly not working - he figures out he'll need help from at least one other person to really damage it. Korvok approaches him to ask if Hartmut still trusts him, and Hartmut says yes. Korvok asks why do the Iron Lot suddenly trust Mara, and Hartmut says they don't really but they needed her help to get here.

Morrigan approaches Belrond to ask what happened. He's very out of it. He and Linok are not in fighting shape, and they're also surprised to see the Iron Lot working with Mara. Jacindre offers to teleport the injured folks away to rest, which devolves into a fairly long debate. After much discussion the party decide to send their injured companions with Jacindre, who will leave her staff as collateral in exchange for Moss' spellcasting focus (a spring of pine from her home woods). Delta will stay with the party to help them fight, and in the party's minds, force her to return.

Llunet finishes casting the spell, and instead of the 10x10 dome she was expecting, magical doors appear. Jacindre gets ready to teleport out the others. Moss asks Sage to wait for her in Felderwin - she's seen a terrible cost to saving the savalir too, and wants to know if it's the same. She mentions the Chained Oblivion, it seems like that's what he found as well - "it's not worth it, you're so young". Moss volunteers that she's seen her death in the future there. Sage asks her if she's going to allow that to happen, and Moss indicates yes, maybe, she doesn't think she has much choice? He says he'll wait in Felderwin for a while. Morri tells Jacindre not to hurt them or else. The group teleport away.

Those remaining in the sigil enter Llunet's Mansion doors to find a tall catwalk as if between trees, in the dark night sky of Bysaes, surrounded by delicate snowfall. Llunet appears very comfortable in this space, although is clearly annoyed by some intruding feywild elements. Mushrooms, glitter and fey plants appear at odd intervals throughout. The others follow her in. Morrigan is delighted by the fey touches. Hartmut shivering, apparently reacting to the illusionary snow, Moss trying to help with her produce flame. Moss is audibly impressed with the walkway - it's beautiful, and she's never been to the higher levels of Bysaes Tyl before.

Inside the elvish doors is an expansive room, almost cathedral or longhouse-like. Stars wheel above a transparent vaulted ceiling, lined with purple crystal supports. Library shelves rise high over the centre, where roaring fires surround communal spaces. There is a long table in the centre of the building. Along the crystal roof, there are quartz columns, and a chandelier containing a single enormous orb of light. Those who are knowledgable might recognise this as the Luxon.

Llunet tells everyone they have their own rooms, and can use the invisible servants as they see fit. Each of the rooms has a giant rear window facing out onto a familliar landscape from their past - Moss' is the pearlbow wilderness, Morri's the feywild, Komani's the dunrock mountains, and Hartmut's is his childhood farmland. While it is beautiful, he reacts horrified and refuses to go in. Komani also has a negative reaction. The two go to the centre of the room. Komani gets food from the servants and hunkers in the middle of the room. Hartmut starts looking through Llunet's enormous book collection, and finds an extremely dry legal textbook to stare at. He's visibly stressed out. Komani asks what he's doing and he says reading these complicated legal textbooks calms him down. He doesn't understand much of them, but it reminds him of his Ex, who was studying law. He shows Komani the ring he was planning to give her before the bear year. By the time he was back, she was engaged to a baker in town, so he's kept the ring. It is a very small and cheap ring, but clearly meant a lot to him. Hartmut fireballed a church once? What?

He asks Komani what was wrong with her room, and she says it's too empty and too big. She misses the herd. A tent shouldn't be that lonely. Hartmut says his room looks exactly like somewhere he's never going back to. It's not his home. The unseen servants start bringing them any creature comfort they mention, which seems to make Komani mostly anxious.

Morrigan asks Llunet to do a sending spell to her old captain. The exact contents stay secret between those two.

Moss is sitting an unobtrusive way away in the hall, picking at some food from the servants, when Morrigan asks her to talk. She says sure and waits for Morri to sit, but Morrigan walks over to Moss' room to talk privately. She wants to know if Hartmut and Moss planned to get the diamond away from her, why were they acting so shady. Moss apologizes and says she has no idea why Hartmut wanted to give her the diamond - maybe he owes Sage a favour for the bear year rescue and wanted to see him live? Morrigan is unconvinced. Moss says she might have reacted strangely to the diamond because in her culture, gifts are only given for mourning and courting. She knows humans give each other diamonds all the time and it's not that, but it's still very strange to her, and that's why she froze up when she took it. If Morrigan wants it back she can have it - not as a courting thing, just because it was hers by right. Morrigan says no.

Moss asks if Morrigan was just hiding the Golden Grin from the group this whole time, and that's why she's been so secretive. Morrigan claims to have not been secretive. Moss points out that she said she didn't know Belrond, when she clearly did. Morrigan says she had never met him before, but yes he is her contact for joining the Grin, so she technically didn't lie. Moss rolls her eyes a little at this. She asks if the Grin were the people Morrigan called out to when they ran out of the Rexxentrum fighting pits, and Morrigan says no, that was no one. Morrigan asks if the room looks like the sisterhood and Moss says no - the Commune is actually a set of druid groves - very different to this, but this looks like the woods she played in as a child. Morri and Moss finish chatting and everyone crashes. Hartmut and Komani rest in the main hall (presumably under the extremely bright light). Morrigan gets the servants to braid her hair.

The next morning, Hartmut shows up at Moss' door, asking her what her dominant hand is. Moss jumps to the wrong conclusion and says she doesn't think cutting off her right hand would actually stop the knife, unless they did both, and she would prefer not to do that. Hartmut is confused but plows ahead and hands her a ring - to wear to remind her of the group. He doesn't mean anything weird by it, but just a way to remind her of the group when the knife tries to sway her next. She tries to turn it down but fails, and tries to give back the diamond as well, visibly panicked. Hartmut does not accept either back. Moss puts the ring on, feeling weird about it, and gives him a very sheepish thanks. She tells him the dagger is definitely getting worse - that this might not be enough - it tried to make her attack Sage and she barely stopped it. He says well done and leaves, shuddering while commenting on how snowy the woods behind her is.

The party head out after checking no one is waiting outside the doors. Jacindre is mysteriously absent, and Moss, Morri and Delta are pretty fucking mad about that. She has their people with her. The Iron Lot head up the stairs towards the muggers, hiding in the stairwell. Two of the muggers are speaking about having to come down to feed the batteries in the sigil. The party ambush them when they're a little way down the stairs. The party attempt a non-lethal takedown, as they've heard these men are mind controlled. One of them implodes when Hartmut tries to dispell magic on them. Inside, the party find an imp creature and an infernal contract. Delta is able to translate it for us, they are bound to Tiamat and the Rakshasa for 9 years.

Morrigan and Moss head up the passage, to try to lure in another 2 or 3 of the guardsmen. Moss tries using the Sebert disguise to draw in a smaller number, and fails when Morrigan suddenly passes out by her. Hartmut heals Morrigan, which causes him to glow suddenly, and the Muggers overhear the commotion. Komani charges out, tired of the attempts at stealth. The whole fort is alerted to the party location, and sets a blockade of sorts at the roof of the cave. Hartmut uses the fog cloud to hide the mouth of the cave, and the Iron Lot, before anyone can strike at them. Morrigan attempts to rescue some of the kidnapped party's gear, by sprinting through the fort. Hartmut, Moss and Delta all move into the fog cloud, tackling the muggers there. Moss is able to summon her wolves while still in range of the sigil, which bolsters their health significantly.

Llunet grabs one of the unconscious muggers and uses haste to drag him to the sigil pool, and trap him there. Komani sees this and starts helping her, she grapples one of the muggers in the fog cloud to knock out and bring down.

Morrigan has successfully reached a safe place at the far side of the fort, but is essentially trapped there now by all the snipers, unable to do much except take potshots at the muggers in range. Moss, Delta and Hartmut are kicking ass and taking names at the south end of the fort, as a shockingly effective little strikeforce. Komani has disappeared into the caves with the mugger. Llunet and Komani fill the remaining sigil ports with muggers over several rounds of combat. LLunet surfaces at the end of the fight, Komani still in the caves below. Delta has reached the cart at the edge of the fort, as the party gets ready to leave.

Suddenly the earth beneath the party begins to rumble, as a strange arcane noise powers up beneath the fort. The shaking rises in volume and strength until the fort seems doomed to fall apart and suddenly, with a crack like an elastic band snapping back into place, everything stops. The fort is resting exactly as it was before, but the woods around are different, and Delta is nowhere to be seen. The whole structure has shifted to the Feywilds.

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