RECAP:
- legion was investigating the syndicate
- tracked down where they were in some sort of mountain fortress – took Cloudskimmer there
- Looked like the syndicate has some sort of alliance with githyanki pirates
- Legion got Ursel into trouble and we had to go bail her out
- they had taken ursel hostage, and they escaped through a portal
- the heroes fought the githyanki who stayed behind and then made pursuit
- arrived on what looked like another planet – and fought them again
- then another portal – finding themselves in the feywild
- A fey elf said they saw them going through another portal
- the heroes arrived in the Shadowfell (Legion knew immediately) where Shadar-Kai were waiting for them
- Legion used Speak with Dead:
- Were you waiting specifically for us? Yes
- Under whose direction? The Leader of the Syndicate
- Who’s the leader of the Syndiate? Rasputin
- Was Ursel abducted to get us specifically here? Yes
- Where was the syndicate agents located: North of the Wood
- Why are they doing this? Because they hate you.
- The heroes then arrived at the manor house
- fought lots of vampires & undead
- think someone escaped from the house, think it’s ursel, and think someone’s chasing her
- The heroes decide to waste no time and immediately jump through the back doors through which Waurren saw the figures fleeing
- heading through the garden as a thick fog has settled on the grounds
- the garden leads to a large courtyard, stone benches and well-manicured flowerbeds with a large mausoleum at the other end
- a woman stands at the other end – pale skinned, raven haired, regal purple silks
- the heroes recognize her voice immediately as the voice they heard in their heads earlier:
- Woman: “Whatever the real reason they have sent you to my realm, you shall become my thralls – the only question is, will you be favoured, or will you be slaves?”
ENGAGE!
- Legion alers the heroes to the mausoleum being protected by magic
- Legion manipulates the magic of Overcome Resistance to defeat the protections on the door, and the heroes then enter
- Entering, they see a sarcophagus
- Idris‘ Detect Evil discovers very faint evil coming from the middle
- Pushing aside the cover, the heroes descend into a large hidden chamber, where Rahlia and her undead minions await…
ENGAGE!
- Legion reminds the heroes that every vampire can only be killed in a specific way, and it’s often unique to the vampire itself, so they’re safe… for now
- They find some things of value
- jewels, gold, etc
- lots of papers & notes
- “The Imperial Book of the Dead”
- Legion scries Ursel – finds her in Eldolan – consoling a younger knight – they were played for fools…
- the heroes go through the ‘last’ portal and emerge in a basement – very similar to this room, but just a old wine cellar – broken bottles, wine racks, etc.
- the stairs leading up lead to a dilapidated home, maybe after a fire, there’s no roof… most of the walls have holes, the ‘garden’ is in complete ruin, the stones are overgrown, here nothing but dried branches and crumbling stone
- The manor house in the distance – clearly abandoned, old, lying in ruin
Certainly, the heroes are now back in The Dragon Empire.
