2023/04/12

Last time in the Iron Kingdoms: A dragon's flock

The party was on their way to Skell, the capital of Cryx and the home of Toruk the Dragonfather. On the road there, Xavier had disguised the party as worshipers of the Church of Toruk, which did keep some of the attention off of them. The party was one of the few living groups on the road however and still attracted interest from those also on the road. Hector particularly received interest from a number of the undead along the journey, which he figured was due to him being a dwarf. Despite the occasional interruption, the city of Skell rose up in the distance, with the Black Cathedral that was the center of the Church of Toruk and the Dragonfather's home being the dominant structure in the city. Even as the party got closer to Skell the Black Cathedral never quite entered focus, instead swimming in the party's vision whenever they looked at it and causing minor headaches. Once they were at the city a perpetual ash was falling from the sky, which Xavier recommended against having prolonged contact with. The party obtained lodgings and then set off towards the Black Cathedral figuring the voice of the Dragonfather would be found there.

The inside of the cathedral was rather mundane for being the home of a dragon worshiping faith. The narthex was filled with various types of undead and the sounds of worship could be heard from further in. At their out of place appearance, one of the congregants approached them and offered his aid. While he was mostly genuine if wanting the possibility of payment or future favor from the party, he didn't have the influence to help the party. Hector then went to find a priest to see if they could relay a message to Deneghra that a delegation from Five Fingers was looking to meet with her on behalf of the Convergence of Cyriss. Hector did find such a priest, a specter that floated before the party and said that he would pass along their message and that someone would be in touch with them at their tavern.

The party then settled into their rooms hoping that they wouldn't have to stay too long in this blighted city. Hector consulted his hand as to what Deneghra's opinion about meeting them would be, and returned with the answer of “Amicable but busy”. Despite this the party ended up waiting about a week in their tavern, before they came to the conclusion that if their message had been passed on Five Fingers wasn't a priority for the Nightmare Empire. With that in mind the party went back to the Black Cathedral and this time went straight for the areas that weren't for the general congregants. While searching the offices and the like they were found by an iron lich who inquired what they were doing. After the party explained who they were looking for the iron lich said that he would personally arrange a meeting with Deneghra for them if they did something for him first. He had heard rumors that an Orgoth tomb had been uncovered and he wanted its inhabitant with the party making sure that it was no longer moving if that was the case. The party agreed to the terms, not wanting to remain in Skell longer than they had to.

The tomb wasn't too far from Skell and had been unearthed by a recent storm. And while there would likely be efforts to excavate the area, currently it was basically a hole in the ground that led to a structure. After the party dropped into the tomb the architecture seemed to confirm that they were in the right place, the screaming visages that were common among Orgoth art were emblazoned on the walls and pillars. As they went deeper into the tomb they could hear the pleas of people echoing from everywhere and nowhere simultaneously. At the main chamber of the tomb was a person sitting in a stone throne. At the party's approach the figure's eyes lit up and a rumbling voice spoke to them to ask what offerings they as its slaves brought to it. The party rebuffed this assumption and instead told the creature that they were here to bring it to a Cryxian iron lich. At this the person stood up from its throne, and a number of skeletons at the fringe of the room assembled themselves into fighting shape.

The fight against the Orgoth explained why people were impressed at their lies that they had cleared out ruins back when they were in Carre Dova. The armor of the Orgoth warrior was covered in fell runes that caused Xavier to spontaneously begin bleeding. This was made worse when the warrior invoked Charlotte's past fears and caused her to flee the fight. The fight was not going great for the party, as they were harassed by skeletons and Abe was battered by the Orgoth's greatsword. Hector tried to blind the ancient evil with a burst of radiance spell though was only moderately successful. The Orgoth returned the favor and blinded Hector for his hubris. Eventually the party was victorious though they were left wounded and battered. Collecting their prize they made their way back to Skell to drop off the corpse and make sure that everything was in order. The iron lich was pleased and told them that Deneghra would meet with them tomorrow in a garden or what passes for one in Skell.

The party retired to their tavern and laid down to rest, so that Xavier could work on curing Hector's cursed blindness. Once that was in order the party made some small talk and then went to meet with Deneghra. At the garden they found a woman who wasn't quite living or undead, who introduced herself as Lich Lord Deneghra. The party then explained their mission and that they needed access to Lichgate to meet with Mortenebra. Deneghra said that she did owe the Convergence for their repair of her mentor during the claiming, and that helping them in their repair of their organization was fitting. And with that she stilled in a way that was familiar to Charlotte, before a great warjack melted through the wall of the garden to present a large coin to the party. Deneghra told the party that the coin would get them a meeting with Mortenebra in Lichgate, all they had to do was present it to whatever guard was at the city edge. Deneghra did present the party with a warning that Mortenebra while likely not hostile was rather mercenary, and that she herself had to barter for information on the Convergence to repair her mentor. So the party shouldn't be surprised if they have to do something for the information. With that Deneghra bid them a good day and she and her jack melted to shadow and passed through the wall.