Gathered once more around the flickering flames, I shall weave for you the tale of our brave adventurers and their fateful encounter within the treacherous Cellar of Death. In our previous tale, they delved deep into the darkness, driven by purpose or the allure of riches within the cellar, until they stumbled upon their objective, the Duchess’s phylactery.
Undeterred by the looming danger, they pressed on, some hearts filled with determination others with desire for gold and magical artifacts.
Corema, wise and resourceful, transformed into a spider to scout ahead, her newfound arachnid senses revealing a vast network of interconnected webs that spanned the entire cellar and cave. Within these webs, creatures of various sizes lurked, along with countless smaller spiders.
The little one, now even smaller, ventured forth and discovered a room strewn with skeletons and scattered weapons. Among these relics of the past, there hung a peculiar shield adorned with a face sculpted by arcane magic. Another room beckoned to them, where Corema encountered a grotesque creature stitched together from various beings. Its exposed flesh and muscle created a gruesome sight that sent shivers down their spines.
Returning to their comrades, they decided to search through the plundered weapons for anything salvageable. It was then that Mealltair’s greed overcame him, and he plucked the shield from the wall without hesitation. Little did they know that this seemingly innocent act would trigger a battle for their very lives. The shield was protected by two magical guardians - swords that mindlessly attacked Mealltair. The clash became a fight for survival as they unleashed their arsenal of martial attacks and spells upon the relentless constructs. Ropes were employed in an attempt to outwit their adversaries but proved ineffective. Bruised and battered, our heroes emerged victorious after what felt like an eternity.
As the sounds of battle above grew scarce, they made their way out of the cellar, unaware of the narrow escape they had just experienced. They rendezvoused with Callbrax, who stood waiting with a scroll in hand. With a flash of blue light, they found themselves transported to a forest clearing adorned with ancient runes. Dark pine trees loomed overhead, their branches entwined with enormous spider webs. The air was heavy with the scent of burning flesh and the clash of steel, emanating from the monolithic tower of black stone that Zaldara called home. Injured and lifeless bodies lay strewn across stretchers, while the remains of skeletons, zombies, demons, and other abominations littered the ground.
Amongst the chaos, Remallia Haventree, the elf who led this mission, stood defiantly, even with a leg seared by burned flesh and a bleeding arm. The moment she was waiting was approaching. Callbrax returning with this group of adventurers and the precious fragment of Zaldara’s soul in their possession, carried by Thalia Nightshade. When she was sure they had the upper hand, she called out to Zaldara, proclaiming that they possessed her spellbook.
In an instant, a terrible crack split the air, and before their eyes appeared a woman whose face was half beautiful, resembling a young human and half of decomposed flesh, with bits of her skull visible through the holes in her flesh.
Despite her ragged breath and fresh wounds, the Duchess of Rot exuded an aura of power that demanded respect. With a flick of her finger, she lifted Remallia high into the air before releasing her to the ground in an unconscious heap. The lich then turned her attention to Thalia Nightshade, demanding the return of her spellbook with a voice both weak and defiant.
In that pivotal moment, it seemed as though Thalia would comply and surrender the book to the Duchess. But in a sudden surge of determination, she held her dagger poised above the grimoire that contained a fragment of Zaldara’s soul.
A collective gasp filled the air as Calbrax’s voice rang out in protest. Against all odds and expectations, Thalia pierced the spellbook with her dagger. In mere seconds, Zaldara and her precious book were reduced to ashes before their very eyes.
Their mission had ended in failure, yet they still stood, alive and breathing.
However, this is not the conclusion of their story; rather, it marks the commencement of a treacherous and uncertain expedition that would ultimately bring them face-to-face with the greatest trial they had ever encountered.
Alongside Remallia, Calbrax, and a handful of other warriors who had survived the doomed mission, they made their arduous journey back to Baldur’s Gate. The Diviner, once bustling with life, now bore witness to the empty void left by fallen comrades.
Weeks passed, and life carried on for our valiant adventurers. Each grappled with the weight of their mission’s failure in their own way, until an invitation arrived that would change their path once more.
Syndra Silvane, a name known to them all, beckoned them to join her for a dinner in the Upper City of Baldur’s Gate. The invitation bore Syndra’s family crest, granting them entrance to the Upper City and into her opulent abode filled with servants, lavish food, and shimmering treasures that tempted their desires.
As they waited for Syndra to appear, their patience was put to the test. When she finally emerged, it became evident that her once vibrant spirit had been greatly affected by time, or rather the curse. Twenty days seemed to have aged her by twenty years.
Hunched over a cane and donning a silver mask that concealed her face and neck, she seemed frail and diminished. Her voice carried the weight of years as she spoke kind words about their ill-fated mission, absolving them of some blame while acknowledging the audacity of Remallia’s approach.
Even though Thalia’s impulsive action ultimately resulted in a critical mission failure, Syndra went out of their way to commend her for it. This commendation came from a place of deep appreciation and recognition, as they understood that Thalia’s impulsive decision might have actually saved not only their lives but also the lives of some of Syndra’s friends who would have otherwise perished alongside the others.
But beneath the pleasantries lay a bitter proposition - a new mission in the uncharted land of Chult. A perilous land teeming with jungles and monstrous creatures awaited them as they embarked on a quest to find and destroy the Soulmonger, an unholy necromantic device responsible for the widespread affliction now known as The Death Curse. Syndra promised them each a handsome reward of 2000 gold pieces and a special magic item from her personal collection upon the successful completion of their mission.
With resolve in their hearts, our adventurers accepted Syndra’s proposition. She instructed them to seek out the Brazen Pegasus, a swift ship captained by Ortimay Swift and Dark, on the morrow. All expenses would be covered, from equipment to lodging and travel from Baldur’s Gate to Chult.
As the group made final preparations for their departure, Corema, known for her wisdom, approached Syndra with curiosity about their intended destination. With genuine interest, Corema asked Syndra for any information she could provide and inquired if Syndra happened to possess a map.
It seemed as though Syndra had anticipated this question, for a spark of excitement ignited in her eyes. Slowly and deliberately, Syndra revealed an incomplete map of Chult, meticulously pieced together from various fragments along the years.
The group’s anticipation grew as they now had a tangible piece of information in their hands. With this newfound resource, their plans began to take shape. Countless questions were posed, meticulous plans were devised, and Syndra generously shared the limited knowledge she possessed about the treacherous terrain and dangers that awaited them in Chult.
And so, dear listeners, our brave adventurers stand on the precipice of a new journey. Will they conquer the perils of Chult and destroy the Soulmonger? Only time will reveal their fate as they set sail on the Brazen Pegasus, their hearts filled with hope and determination. But darkness looms on the horizon, threatening to consume them all…