Delve Into the Shadowlands 3: Escape

Previous Episode: Delve Into the Shadowlands 2: The Canyon

Next Episode: Delve Into the Shadowlands 4: Twisting Times

## Synopsis:

It’s been over half a year since the mercenary Tarmak fell through a thinning to the Shadowlands. For months, mercenaries entering the Mouth of Chaos have uncovered odd objects, potential clues to his whereabouts, and a recent divination has granted insight to a method of retrieval. The mission may be suicide: find a means to enter the Shadowlands, somehow locate Tarmak from amidst the raw depths of the plane of chaos, escape through the Astral Plane and siphon life from magic to eject them from the throes of death. But it can be done, and there are those who would risk it all to bring back their lost comrade...

## Client:

Nwalme, adopted son of Xekral Shadhavar, has asked a group of trusted friends to accompany him.

## Mercenaries:

* Darius, Harengon Bard
* Erthish, Silver Dragonborn Zealot Barbarian
* Gnarlap, Silver Dragonborn GOO Warlock
* Ima, Half-Drow Celestial Warlock
* Nwalme, Shadar-Kai Phantom Rogue
* Nyx, Tiefling (Half-Orc thread) Echo Knight

## Adventure Summary:

The party was face to face(?) with an ancient being called Sorfax, surrounded by grems, and trapped in it's cavern. Facing certain doom, they made a mad dash for the exit. Nwalme, Gnarlap, and Erthish threw down smoke bombs, interupting line of sight, and they scrambled for the exit, fighting through the grems that attempted to stop them. With some quick thinking by Nyx with their shadow, the party were able to get past Sorfax and into the tunnels.

There, Nwalme took point, leading the party through the winding tunnels, fighting off grems and another one of the tall, slender elf-like beings, before the image of Sorfax once again confronted them, attempting one last time to make a deal. The party roundly ignored him, and escaped the lair of the foul being, eventually making it out of the canyon, and back onto the scorched plain above, headed for La'Rau.

Along the way, the party spotted a frogfolk driving a very old and worn three-legged dragon, who Darius reached out to once again. He introduced himself as g'Danner, a merchant travelling between the cities with his faithful mount, Ser Lister. He invited us aboard to peruse his wares, something the party decided to take him up on.

Much like with the vampiric half-orc in Te'Zin, his currency was not gold or silver, but less material goods. Erthish traded 25 days of her life for a cloak that seemed to be made of magma, while Ima agreed to carry a strange rock with her in exchange for a Greater Healing Potion. Nwalme traded a suit of armor and a magic ring for a strange rod that could deflect weapon strikes, while Nyx traded the color from one eye for a Greater Potion of Healing as well. Gnarlap traded his memory of his first adventure with the Whispering Cutlass, up until they reached the Witches Hut, for a latern that could be used to blind foes. Darius, though, made the most deals, offering up some of his time to dance for a Fey court in exchange for a ring that could change the target of a spell, his sens of humor for a fiddle, which while entrancing, contained a demon that had a chance to break out when used.

Upon everyone making their deals, g'Danner offered one more oppurtunity: the chance to draw from what he called the Deck of Many Things. Darius hopped at the oppurtunity, drawing three cards, though the effects of one forced a fourth draw. This magic pummeled Darius, cursing him with a reduction to his reactions, and creating an Avatar of Death, which he had to fight alone, lest anyone else form one. He fought for a couple rounds, but, on the verge of death, Erthish stepped in, striking down his foe, then her own, saving his life. Darius did gain a boon from his final card: somewhere in the world, a monster filled keep awaits him, it's deed in his possession.

Before the party bid farewell to the shopkeep, he gave them one more piece of information: somewhere to the north-east, when the two moons met in the sky, a man falls from the sky, disappearing into thin air before he hits the ground. With this bit of information, the party continued on, preparing to head across, or around, one more canyon before La'Rau.

## Outcome:

The party escaped the lair of Sorfax, and gained much from a meeting with a shop-keep.

## Adventure Rewards:

Everyone is still alive.

Erthish gained a Magma Cloak

Ima and Nyx both gained a Greater Healing Potion

Darius obtained a Golden Fiddle and a Ring of Arcane Adjustment, and the deed to a keep somewhere on the Material Plane

Nwalme obtained a Rod of Blade Bending, which was then given to Gnarlap

Gnarlap obtained a Blinding Lantern