Dramatis Personae
Alizander Carmelizzia - Human (Varisian) sorcerer
Carlos Santiago - Half-orc (Alkenstarian) wizard
Slavé/Jancen – Tiefling (in guise as a human) rogue
Tavo Dechirent - Human cleric of Pharasma
Vaeden Corleone - Human rogue
Fireday, 14 Kuthona, 4708 A.R.
The party successfully opens the Wave Door portal and accesses the cache of Pathfinder items in the extradimensional space beyond. Among the items retrieved is a handwritten note penned by the missing (and presumed dead) Loremaster Liriam:
“To Whomever Finds This –
It is, of course, my fervent hope that the reader of this missive is a friend of the Pathfinders. In the days before the madness and riots, before Cheliax tore itself apart, there were signs that the end was coming. Among those was Delvehaven’s desertion by one of her own. I now believe that Ilnerik stole half of the Aohl – the Totemrix – and judging by the growing power and magical potential of the Morrowfall, I fear that Ilnerik has unwittingly exposed himself to magic fell and vile. The power building in the Morrowfall is frightening, and we’ve secured it deep below Delvehaven in a vault called the Amber Arca. If my theory is correct and the Totemrix is a Vyriavaxian relic, then Ilnerik is being exposed to shadowy magic of a great evil. If he hasn’t become a vampire by this time, I fear he soon will. I’ve managed to secure a few tools here should that be the case, and hope to come back later to stash some more in the event of his return, but things grow increasingly dangerous in Westcrown, and I fear that none of us will live to see the end of the year.”
Starday, 15 Kuthona, 4708 A.R.
The party continues investigating the clues found in the Chelish Crux. Slavé reports to his new post at the Order of the Scourge headquarters in the northern ruins of the Parego Dospera. Speaking with Pontia Runario, he learns that the Sisters of Eiseth mentioned in the list of deceased Pathfinders maintains a small base of operations several blocks from the Order’s new headquarters. The Sisters of Eiseth were a once-powerful organization of monastic assassins devoted to the worship of Eiseth, the first erinyes, that has lessened in influence and prestige in the century following Aroden’s death. Still, the cagey folk of the Dospera give the Massacre House, as the Sisters’ base is known, a wide berth, and the group’s reputation for discreetly removing and disposing unwanted individuals is still justly deserved. Slavé takes two Hellknight recruits to scout out Massacre House and receives a less-than-warm reception from the resident Sisters. Slavé does manage to get a good sense of the building’s defenses, however, before being turned away by the Sisters.
Meanwhile, Alizander decides to pay a visit to the Devildrome, the small bloodsport arena just north of the wall separating the northern ruins from the rest of the Parego Dospera, and rumoured to contain the petrified remains of the deceased Pathfinder Aiger Ghaelfin. Alizander speaks to the Devildrome’s owner, Rance Lucca, last surviving member of the fallen Lucca noble family. Rance is a flamboyant and colourful character who recognizes Alizander as the star performer of the Six Trials of Larazod. He takes an immediate liking to the gregarious sorcerer, and through the course of conversation Alizander learns that Rance does indeed possess the bust of Venture-Captain Ghaelfin. Rance agrees to donate the bust to the Returners on one condition – they agree to participate in the Hellcaller’s Cup two days hence. Alizander readily agrees and spends the rest of the afternoon watching the events at the arena. He learns that events in the Devildrome typically involve combats between creatures summoned by dueling conjurers. Rance informs Alizander that in special cases, like the Hellcaller’s Cup, a team that lacks a conjurer may select a champion to face the opponent’s summoned creatures instead. Combatants are permitted to aid their chosen champion (or summoned creatures) via magic and tactical advice once the contest begins. Alizander returns to the safehouse before dark and informs the rest of the Returners of the upcoming contest, and of his intention to enter the fight as the group’s champion.
Moonday, 17 Kuthona, 4708 A.R.
A chill mist arises from the River Adivian on the morning of the Hellcaller’s Cup and lingers until the late morning sun coaxes it away. Spirits at the Devildrome are anything but damp, however, and by noon the arena is full of Wiscrani eager to get a glimpse of the players of the Six Trials of Larazod. Even several of the city’s elite have come out to see the event, including Chammady Drovenge, granddaughter (and only surviving heir, unless rumours of a disfigured and disgraced sibling are to be believed) of Vassindio Drovenge, patriarch of the most powerful noble house in Westcrown. Chammady sits in a private box within the stands, and acknowledges Alizander as he steps onto the field.
Mantrithor Thrax postures on the other side of the arena – his burly figure and intimidating costume of leather straps and heavy buckles suggests a seasoned gladiator more than a crafty wizard. Once the crowd has been worked up into a fevered pitch, Rance Lucca finally makes his introductions, announcing the champion of the Hellcaller’s Cup – Mantrithor Thrax – here to defend his title against the famed Sixfold Players of Larazod!
As the bell sounds, Mantrithor begins summoning hosts of lemure devils from with his protective cage on the north edge of the arena. The lemures attack Alizander relentlessly, tearing at the sorcerer with jagged, claw-like appendages. Alizander manoeuvres amongst the lemures, blasting them with waves of electrical energy, gradually wearing down their numbers. From the cage at the south end of the arena, Vaeden calls out to Alizander, telling him to dip here, pivot there, and strike with precision. Carlos and Tavo assist with spells and tactical advice where they can. Slavé wends his way through the crowd, trading a few choice words with Chammady Drovenge before getting close enough to Mantrithor Thrax that the conjurer can hear him. Slavé begins taunting the wizard, attempting to draw him out of his protective cage and distract him from controlling the lemures. Thrax banters with Slavé and manages to shrug off the rogue’s taunts for a time, but the persistent Slavé finally manages to get into the brash conjurer’s head. Mantrithor snaps and attacks the party directly, using a dimensional warping spell to appear within the arena itself. Mantrithor tries to suffocate Carlos and Tavo – still outside of the arena in the southern enclosure – with a noxious stinking cloud spell. He attempts to dispatch Slavé and Alizander with acid arrows and wild swings of his mithral staff. The crowd cheers wildly, brought to near frenzy at the prospect of a battle between living opponents.
Alas, a failed attempt to blast Alizander in the face goes awry; although his spell fizzles out before hitting the sorcerer, to Mantrithor’s mind, it appears as if Alizander takes an acid arrow full in the face without suffering so much as a scratch. Seemingly struck dumb, Mantrithor submits to Alizander atop the wooden dais in the centre of the arena, ending the Hellcaller’s Cup to raucous applause.
Rance Lucca, overjoyed at the outcome of the event (and secretly pleased that someone was able to dethrone Mantrithor Thrax without killing him), awards the Returners the Hellcaller’s Cup, a golden goblet depicting fighting devils. He departs with the bust of Venture-Captain Aiger Ghaelfin and thanks the party for staying Thrax’s death.
Treasure:
· From the Wave Door:
o False identity papers marking the bearers as Chelish nobility (6 sets, each worth 300 gp, provide +2 bonus to Bluff checks against the dottari, Hellknights, nobles, and other Chelish authorities)
o Potions of gaseous form (4)
o Potions of cure moderate wounds (6)
o Potions of lesser restoration (6)
o Wand of restoration
o Key ring
o Scroll of clairaudience/clairvoyance
o Scrolls of dispel magic (3)
o Scrolls of erase (3)
o Scroll of sunburst
o Scroll of true seeing
o Note from Loremaster Liriam
· From the Hellcaller’s Cup:
o Hellcaller’s Cup (worth 1000 gp)
o 2500 gp (winnings from bets)
o Bust of Venture-Captain Aiger Ghaelfin
Experience Awards
· Story Award (investigating the clues from the Chelish Crux) – 1800 xp
· Mantrithor Thrax – 3200 xp
· Total – 5000 xp
· Per PC (5) – 1000 xp each
· Fame Points – 2 (1 for winning the Hellcaller’s Cup, 1 for not killing Thrax)
Current XP Total per PC
· Alizander, Carlos, Slavé, Vaeden – 17,495 xp each
· Tavo – 16,840 xp
· Nagiphax – 9135 xp
· Croso, Orem – 8200 xp
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