The Infernal Syndrome - Session 27: A Schism in the Council

Dramatis Personae

Alizander Carmelizzia - Human (Varisian) sorcerer
Boecca – Half-orc inquisitor of Erastil

Carlos Santiago - Half-orc (Alkenstarian) wizard

Slavé/Jancen – Tiefling (in guise as a human) rogue/assassin

Tavo Dechirent - Human cleric of Pharasma
Vaeden Corleone - Human rogue (and Damien Hellbent, cohort)

Wealday, 15 Calistril, 4709 A.R.

With Aberten and the Council thieves defeated, the Returners take a few minutes to speak with the former majordomo of Aberian’s Folly, Crosael Rasdovain. Crosael takes a defensive posture, unsure of how the group will ultimately deal with her and unwilling to place too much trust in Jancen, despite her knowledge of his tiefling heritage. She examines the forged contract provided by Jancen and Alizander and believes it to be real, but suggests it is little good to her now, as the escaped thieves will surely inform the Council of Thieves of her treachery. She expresses little desire in accompanying the party, but does provide the following information:

· As the Returners have already gathered, the Council of Thieves is alive and well – rumours that it long ago disbanded are false.

· There’s a schism building in the Council between the traditionalists and a new group that wants to have more direct control over the fortunes and citizens of Westcrown.

· The schism is led by the grandson and granddaughter of one of the Council’s oldest and most respected leaders, Vassindio Drovenge, patriarch of arguably the most powerful house in Westcrown.

· Vassindio’s granddaughter, Chammady, is a beautiful but dangerous assassin and accomplished swordfighter.

· Vassindio’s grandson, Eccardian, is the more dangerous sibling, a charismatic and brilliant charmer who is also, much to the Drovenge shame, at the very least a tiefling – some whisper that he is actually a half-fiend, and others that he is the son of the archdevil Mammon himself.

· The Drovenges and their followers have entered the endgame – they’re making various power plays now throughout Westcrown to seize control of the Council and, soon thereafter, will attempt the same of Westcrown’s government. It is rumoured that the Council usurpers have allied with a vampire named Ilnerik.

· There exists a handful of powerful enemies whom the Drovenge siblings particularly want to see murdered – these include most of the loyalist leaders of the Council of Thieves, the semi-legendary swamp hag known as the Mother of Flies said to know the secret (and weakness) of Eccardian’s bloodline, and the Returners themselves.

· The Drovenge siblings hope to make peaceful contact with Liebdaga the Twin and, in exchange for freeing him, hope to recruit his aid in taking control of Westcrown. Even if the thieves currently in the Nessian Spiral – led by Avahzi Serafian, an elf diabolist and worshipper of Mammon – are defeated, as long as Liebdaga remains alive or in Westcrown, the danger of such an alliance being forged remains.

· Before the Drovenges’ agents can contact Liebdaga, they are struggling to master the deadly dungeon that imprisons him in order to reach him. This is the Nessian Spiral below the ruins of Aberian’s Folly. Research has indicated that successful navigation of the Nessian Spiral would be made vastly easier for the one who manages to gather three important items – 1) a copy of the contract used to imprison the pit fiend Liebdaga; 2) a Stygian Keyrod used to manipulate and control the machinery that maintains the devil’s prison; and 3) Liebdaga’s devil talisman. The Stygian Keyrod and Liebdaga’s talisman have so far eluded discovery, but reports from Avahzi indicate that her divinations suggest that they are hidden somewhere in the Nessian Spiral.

Crosael leaves the ruins, indicating to Jancen that she must lay low for a time and that she may contact him again in the future. Armed with Crosael’s knowledge, the Returners venture into the Nessian Spiral. Tavo leads the assault with the two shadows under his control. Within the first few chambers in the dungeon they encounter Avahzi and her squad of Council thieves. A long battle ensues between the Returners and the cold-eyed elven cleric of Mammon. Alizander and Carlos bombard the thieves with spells, while Vaeden, his cohort Hellbent, and Boecca wade through the melee. Tavo directs his controlled shadows to attack the Council thieves in addition to providing much-needed healing to injured allies, while Jancen ventures to explore another section of the dungeon, disturbing a pair of hideous, skinless three-headed dog-beasts. While pursuing Avahzi, Vaeden becomes separated from the rest of the group via a well-placed wall of stone spell cast by the elven diabolist. Facing two Council thieves and Avahzi herself, separated from his friends and comrades, Vaeden weighs his options for survival.

Treasure

· From Aberian’s Folly Ruins

o Silverware, crystal, art objects, etc. (worth 6000 gp)

o +1 axiomatic mithral longsword (worth 10,000 gp)

Experience Awards

· Council thieves (3) – 2400 xp

· Cerberi (2) – 4800 xp

· Total – 7200 xp

· Per PC (6) – 1200 xp

· Cohort (Hellbent) – 857 xp

Current XP Total per PC

· Alizander, Carlos, Slavé, Vaeden – 42,735 xp each

· Boecca – 39,980 xp

· Tavo – 38,990 xp

· Nagiphax – 31,657 xp

· Damien Hellbent (cohort) – 20,360

· Total Current Fame Points – 15