Session 3

Over the course of a few months, the group travels to go visit Aurom. Ruby spends the time getting to know her companions. Maddrian grows out a beard, and gives out a lot of hugs. Signe warms up to the others, and not talking to her sword as much, seeming nervous about it. Aravad has been getting to understand his companions, with one excursion with Maddrian to fight some gargoyles, in which fight his sword was shattered. He also found a village with Signe that was devastated by war.

They approach a temple of Aurom. A few people are milling around, waiting to be seen. They find an Aasimar-looking cleric, who Signe asks about why these people are here. She tells her that they are petitioning for their loved ones to be returned to them. There's another human man, reeking of death, standing there with an entourage of 10 people.

Signe comes back to the others and tells them what the cleric said, pointing out the unusual man, who seems familiar to Maddrian. Aravad asks Maddrian about his tattoos and how he reads them.

Meanwhile, Signe approaches the man she saw and asks his name. He dismisses her quickly, telling her that he's there to win a war. Aravad casts See invisibility, but doesn't see anything surprising.

Over the next hour or two, some people are turned away empty-handed and others leave with their loved ones. Eventually, Nerull approaches Aurom, having invented the magic of necromancy, offers an army of undead to supplement the armies of the gods. Aurom is impressed with his ingenuity, but tells him he has wasted it on this objective.

As Nerull and his companions prepare to depart, Signe and hers are called. They approach, sensing that Aurom is far more powerful than the other gods they've met. Maddrian tells him that he believes one god is going to kill another god, describing his vision.

Ruby makes the argument that, if all the mortals are killed by the primordials, there will be nobody left to worship him. He asks what Ruby knows of death, and she describes watching Isabella's life fade. He turns to Signe and asks her the same question - she tells him that she has caused countless deaths, and that her own husband died for their god.

He tells Maddrian that he knows he cannot take lives, so demands that he tell Aurom about life. Maddrian says there's nothing he wouldn't do for his family, but when Aurom asks if he had to choose between his wife living and ending the war, he admits that he would choose for his wife to live.

Aurom turns to Aravad and asks what he has to say. Aravad gives a speech about the importance of this quest to all of Aurom's domain. Aurom is convinced, and produces a coin, bearing his symbol, and gives it to Aravad, telling him to call when Aurom and his legion are needed.

Maddrian approaches Nerull and asks him how he invented magic, and he claims to have sat and learned at the knee of Corellon. Signe takes exception to this, telling Nerull that he failed at following Corellon's teachings, and failed with Aurom. Ruby asks if he has any other way that he could contribute to the fight, and Nerull allows a finger to fall off and gives it to her, saying that, if she breaks it, he and his armies will come.

Aravad tells Nerull that what he's doing is disgusting, and the two of them argue about the merits of necromancy. They nearly wind up in full-out combat, with Nerull blasting at Aravad with a spell, which Aravad counters. Aravad disintegrates the finger that Nerull gave them, and they all leave.

About a week later, Ruby receives a message from the Everlight, calling her to battle. She says she and Bane and Pelor are about to strike at a primordial named Nekal, the glowing deep, and require her assistance, along with any she can muster. Ruby tells the others of what she's learned, and they discuss how best to prepare, as they are likely to be engaging the ground forces of the primordial.

Once they get to the battleground, Aravad moves between the cams, encouraging them with songs and words. He comes to a group of soldiers of Osiron. He asks when the last time is that someone has spoken to them about Osiron, and is introduced to a young priest, named Jonathan. Aravad encourages him, and asks if he would assist Aravad in giving a call to arms to these followers of Osiron, which he agrees to. He gives a rousing speech to the brigade as a woman nearby catches his eye.

Aravad approaches the woman, and they embrace. He tells her of the group that has assembled around him, and she tells him to be careful. He grabs her hand and brings her to meet the others. Signe isn't there, but Ruby wakes Maddrian, and Aravad introduces the woman as "Rey".

Maddrian receives a message from his wife, and he asks her about their kids, Sura, Assara, and Seema. He tells her what he's been up to, and that he misses her greatly.

Meanwhile, Signe has been in the woods, sitting with her legs crossed, praying to Corellon, asking for his guidance. She asks why he would allow this necromancy to have been created. She gets a vision of rain, filling a container. There, standing before her is Sehenine Moonbow. She tells Signe that she doesn't know why Correlon would have taught Nerrul arcane magic, but that he didn't specifically teach him necromancy. She tells Signe that her moonblade is its own sentience, and is not her husband, will be wielded by her descendants. Sehenine also offers to fight alongside her against this primordial.

Maddrian receives a message back from his wife, telling him that the kids are well. He scries on her, seeing her in a very familiar office, but the desk is unusually messy. She also has some blue sigils on her face that he's unfamiliar with, as she appears to be trying to process what he's told her.

In the middle of the night, Sarenrae calls Ruby out from the tent, greeting her warmly. She tells Ruby how proud she is of her, in spite of her apprehension. Ruby says she couldn't bear it if any of her friends couldn't return to their loved ones. Sarenrae tells her that that is why she sent Ruby to be there, to keep her friends safe. She kisses Ruby on the forehead, granting her the Dawnflower's blessing. Ruby goes to each of her friends and says a prayer over them.