Saturday, March 21, 2026

Recap #29 - DON'T OPEN THAT... door.

Aftermath of the Demon Battle
After the party finished battling the demon and its minions they were brought to a meeting with Two-Toes and Shaman. They learned the following information:

  • The party meets with Two-Toes and Shaman to discuss recent events. (Shaman does most of the talking in broken common). They seem receptive to questions but are clearly not going to divulge anything that doesn't pertain directly to you. A basic Insight check determines it is simply a question of survival. They have been hidden and planning for too long to lose it all by rash trust.
  • They bow and thank you for your assistance with the Solamith. The bodies of the fallen are then brought it. Shaman performs a ritual over them ends with a guttural murmuring chant by all Korred present. Shaman then commands that any fallen corpses be committed to "The Pit". During the ceremony Harrison heard the names of 21 of the 30 followers that had volunteered for "Distractions Duty".
  • He tells you that it is their hope that they can work together with you to further the goals of both parties. He doesn't elaborate any more but you can tell he knows more about you than he is saying.
  • Tharunn and Jaryn have been dwelling with the Korred ever since the "Day of Arrival". He seems very concerned that they have been captured. He currently has Korred trying to determine their whereabouts but most likely they are going to be taken to "The Chamber" for interrogation and execution.
  • His original intention had been to lay low until the search for the party had died down but he feels that events are moving more quickly than they had anticipated. He fears that all their well-laid plans with come unraveled soon. Lately the guard has almost been waiting for them when they are on missions above. The Korred have lost several scouts and operatives in recent weeks. Either the Chattlemaster has infiltrated the ranks of the Korred or the Scrying Eye has been repaired. Either way, every operation the Korred attempt is going to be extremely risky until the source of the issue is addressed.
  • He indicates that accommodations have been prepared for the party. He asks that the party forgive the guards outside the doors of their abode. It is policy for all outsiders.
The Choice Is Made
With little discussion the party decided they needed to rescue their friends. However Braddoc was in dire need of a rest so they opted to rest for several hours in the hope of gaining some additional information on the whereabouts of their comrades.
  • The party learned that 

So Tired, I Feel Like I Could Sleep Forever

No one says anything, but I can see it in their eyes. Exhaustion. Everyone is tired, the kind of tired you feel in your bones and makes you foggy. I don't think I have ever been pushed so far beyond my limits. The circle throbs with menace, we can all feel Zul'Bar getting closer, the others are frantically running around, trying to prepare for his arrival. I look closely at the architecture of the room and I start to see it. There is a way I can rig the pillars to collapse on the circle. I just need some rope and a few minutes with a chisel and hammer. Just as I am about to get my tools out, Ethan runs back into the room and pours some sort of liquid on the statue of Dourstone. Ethan lets out a small gasp of pain, followed by a look of sheer joy as the statue slowly loses its hardness and gains colour. Dourstone falls forward into the arms of Ethan. I am so tired I can do no more than grunt a welcome to our old patron. Some amount of time passes and several dwarves I have never met before rush into the room in the company of Helia, Delian and Nenia. They are all looking with apprehension at the circle. The evil is pouring off of the symbols... he comes closer. I sit down and close my eyes in an attempt to gather the last of my strength for the coming battle. Unexpectedly, I feel a warm, welcoming light coming from across the room. I open my eyes and see Delian shouting out a prayer and holding his Silver Flame symbol over the circle, pouring a cleansing fire onto the magic symbols. The sense of evil retreats for a moment and heartens my brethren and myself. I stand, feeling slightly more able to face the coming challenge. The circle again gathers strength. I sigh and pull out my axe and check my armour, "Looks like we have a visitor coming." We array ourselves around the circle, ready to face whatever comes through the portal. There is a flash and... there stands the boy Tharuun? That I was not prepared to see. He starts to complain about our actions and is blathering something about having everything under control. It must be my fatigue... this makes no sense. He starts to walk toward us and out of reflex I hold out my axe as a barrier and warn him to come no closer. Before I can react, he leans in and kisses me on the cheek. I must be asleep, as this is the most absurd thing ever to happen to me. As I stand there confused, the boy morphs into a large devil and summons forth fiendish allies. I am so uncertain what to do, as I feel no threat coming from the demon. Before I realise it, there are my companions and the devils rushing about. I look over to see the devil take a mighty swing at Helia, and this clarifies everything to me. I grab Helia and interpose myself between her and the blow. We quickly dispatch whatever that devil was that was impersonating Tharuun, but then there is a flash of light and the most menacing devil I have ever seen is standing over us. The devil turns his fierce gaze upon us and sends forth a wave of evil will that washes over us. I feel his black magic seep into me through my feet. They become heavy and I find it nigh impossible to move them. No matter what I try, I can't seem to shake this dark magic. Curse this devil. Curse this castle and curse this fortress. I am so tired. The black magic creeps up my legs, slowly turning them into stone, I can no longer move. I am forced to face the devil on his terms now. I swing my axe to no avail as he casually bats it aside with complete disregard. The monster sees me as no threat and leaps across the room to try and open the door for its minions. My companions continue to battle with the devil, ranging across the room. In a last, desperate act I hurl my axe with all of my strength at our foe, but my condition throws my aim, causing me to completely miss him. I can feel the curse slow my heart, I can barely see as my axe returns to me. I can no longer breath. I can not fight the sense of entropy washing over my being... NO! NO! No! No! no! no... no... n...
No one says anything, but I can see it in their eyes.  Exhaustion.  Everyone is tired, the kind of tired you feel in your bones and makes you foggy.  I don't think I have ever been pushed so far beyond my limits.

The circle throbs with menace, we can all feel Zul'Bar getting closer, the others are frantically running around, trying to prepare for his arrival.  I look closely at the architecture of the room and I start to see it.  There is a way I can rig the pillars to collapse on the circle.  I just need some rope and a few minutes with a chisel and hammer.

Just as I am about to get my tools out, Ethan runs back into the room and pours some sort of liquid on the statue of Dourstone.  Ethan lets out a small gasp of pain, followed by a look of sheer joy as the statue slowly loses its hardness and gains colour.  Dourstone falls forward into the arms of Ethan.  I am so tired I can do no more than grunt a welcome to our old patron.

Some amount of time passes and several dwarves I have never met before rush into the room in the company of Helia, Delian and Nenia.  They are all looking with apprehension at the circle.  The evil is pouring off of the symbols... he comes closer. I sit down and close my eyes in an attempt to gather the last of my strength for the coming battle.

Unexpectedly, I feel a warm, welcoming light coming from across the room.  I open my eyes and see Delian shouting out a prayer and holding his Silver Flame symbol over the circle, pouring a cleansing fire onto the magic symbols.  The sense of evil retreats for a moment and heartens my brethren and myself.  I stand, feeling slightly more able to face the coming challenge.

The circle again gathers strength.  I sigh and pull out my axe and check my armour, "Looks like we have a visitor coming."

We array ourselves around the circle, ready to face whatever comes through the portal.  There is a flash and... there stands the boy Tharuun?

That I was not prepared to see.  He starts to complain about our actions and is blathering something about having everything under control.  It must be my fatigue... this makes no sense.  He starts to walk toward us and out of reflex I hold out my axe as a barrier and warn him to come no closer.

Before I can react, he leans in and kisses me on the cheek.  I must be asleep, as this is the most absurd thing ever to happen to me.  As I stand there confused, the boy morphs into a large devil and summons forth fiendish allies.  I am so uncertain what to do, as I feel no threat coming from the demon.  Before I realise it, there are my companions and the devils rushing about.  I look over to see the devil take a mighty swing at Helia, and this clarifies everything to me.  I grab Helia and interpose myself between her and the blow.

We quickly dispatch whatever that devil was that was impersonating Tharuun, but then there is a flash of light and the most menacing devil I have ever seen is standing over us.

The devil turns his fierce gaze upon us and sends forth a wave of evil will that washes over us.  I feel his black magic seep into me through my feet.  They become heavy and I find it nigh impossible to move them.  No matter what I try, I can't seem to shake this dark magic.  Curse this devil.  Curse this castle and curse this fortress.  I am so tired.

The black magic creeps up my legs, slowly turning them into stone, I can no longer move.  I am forced to face the devil on his terms now.  I swing my axe to no avail as he casually bats it aside with complete disregard.  The monster sees me as no threat and leaps across the room to try and open the door for its minions.

My companions continue to battle with the devil, ranging across the room.  In a last, desperate act I hurl my axe with all of my strength at our foe, but my condition throws my aim, causing me to completely miss him.

I can feel the curse slow my heart, I can barely see as my axe returns to me.  I can no longer breath.  I can not fight the sense of entropy washing over my being...

NO! NO! No! No! no! no... no... n...

I Am Tired, So Tired That I Could Sleep Forever

No one says anything, but I can see it in their eyes.  Exhaustion.  Everyone is tired, the kind of tired you feel in your bones and makes you foggy.  I don't think I have ever been pushed so far beyond my limits.

The circle throbs with menace, we can all feel Zul'Bar getting closer, the others are frantically running around, trying to prepare for his arrival.  I look closely at the architecture of the room and I start to see it.  There is a way I can rig the pillars to collapse on the circle.  I just need some rope and a few minutes with a chisel and hammer.

Just as I am about to get my tools out, Ethan runs back into the room and pours some sort of liquid on the statue of Dourstone.  Ethan lets out a small gasp of pain, followed by a look of sheer joy as the statue slowly loses its hardness and gains colour.  Dourstone falls forward into the arms of Ethan.  I am so tired I can do no more than grunt a welcome to our old patron.

Some amount of time passes and several dwarves I have never met before rush into the room in the company of Helia, Delian and Nenia.  They are all looking with apprehension at the circle.  The evil is pouring off of the symbols... he comes closer. I sit down and close my eyes in an attempt to gather the last of my strength for the coming battle.

Unexpectedly, I feel a warm, welcoming light coming from across the room.  I open my eyes and see Delian shouting out a prayer and holding his Silver Flame symbol over the circle, pouring a cleansing fire onto the magic symbols.  The sense of evil retreats for a moment and heartens my brethren and myself.  I stand, feeling slightly more able to face the coming challenge.

The circle again gathers strength.  I sigh and pull out my axe and check my armour, "Looks like we have a visitor coming."

We array ourselves around the circle, ready to face whatever comes through the portal.  There is a flash and... there stands the boy Tharuun?

That I was not prepared to see.  He starts to complain about our actions and is blathering something about having everything under control.  It must be my fatigue... this makes no sense.  He starts to walk toward us and out of reflex I hold out my axe as a barrier and warn him to come no closer.

Before I can react, he leans in and kisses me on the cheek.  I must be asleep, as this is the most absurd thing ever to happen to me.  As I stand there confused, the boy morphs into a large devil and summons forth fiendish allies.  I am so uncertain what to do, as I feel no threat coming from the demon.  Before I realise it, there are my companions and the devils rushing about.  I look over to see the devil take a mighty swing at Helia, and this clarifies everything to me.  I grab Helia and interpose myself between her and the blow.

We quickly dispatch whatever that devil was that was impersonating Tharuun, but then there is a flash of light and the most menacing devil I have ever seen is standing over us.

The devil turns his fierce gaze upon us and sends forth a wave of evil will that washes over us.  I feel his black magic seep into me through my feet.  They become heavy and I find it nigh impossible to move them.  No matter what I try, I can't seem to shake this dark magic.  Curse this devil.  Curse this castle and curse this fortress.  I am so tired.

The black magic creeps up my legs, slowly turning them into stone, I can no longer move.  I am forced to face the devil on his terms now.  I swing my axe to no avail as he casually bats it aside with complete disregard.  The monster sees me as no threat and leaps across the room to try and open the door for its minions.

My companions continue to battle with the devil, ranging across the room.  In a last, desperate act I hurl my axe with all of my strength at our foe, but my condition throws my aim, causing me to completely miss him.

I can feel the curse slow my heart, I can barely see as my axe returns to me.  I can no longer breath.  I can not fight the sense of entropy washing over my being...

NO! NO! No! No! no! no... no... n...

So Tired, I Feel Like I Could Sleep Forever

No one says anything, but I can see it in their eyes.  Exhaustion.  Everyone is tired, the kind of tired you feel in your bones and makes you foggy.  I don't think I have ever been pushed so far beyond my limits.

The circle throbs with menace, we can all feel Zul'Bar getting closer, the others are frantically running around, trying to prepare for his arrival.  I look closely at the architecture of the room and I start to see it.  There is a way I can rig the pillars to collapse on the circle.  I just need some rope and a few minutes with a chisel and hammer.

Just as I am about to get my tools out, Ethan runs back into the room and pours some sort of liquid on the statue of Dourstone.  Ethan lets out a small gasp of pain, followed by a look of sheer joy as the statue slowly loses its hardness and gains colour.  Dourstone falls forward into the arms of Ethan.  I am so tired I can do no more than grunt a welcome to our old patron.

Some amount of time passes and several dwarves I have never met before rush into the room in the company of Helia, Delian and Nenia.  They are all looking with apprehension at the circle.  The evil is pouring off of the symbols... he comes closer. I sit down and close my eyes in an attempt to gather the last of my strength for the coming battle.

Unexpectedly, I feel a warm, welcoming light coming from across the room.  I open my eyes and see Delian shouting out a prayer and holding his Silver Flame symbol over the circle, pouring a cleansing fire onto the magic symbols.  The sense of evil retreats for a moment and heartens my brethren and myself.  I stand, feeling slightly more able to face the coming challenge.

The circle again gathers strength.  I sigh and pull out my axe and check my armour, "Looks like we have a visitor coming."

We array ourselves around the circle, ready to face whatever comes through the portal.  There is a flash and... there stands the boy Tharuun?

That I was not prepared to see.  He starts to complain about our actions and is blathering something about having everything under control.  It must be my fatigue... this makes no sense.  He starts to walk toward us and out of reflex I hold out my axe as a barrier and warn him to come no closer.

Before I can react, he leans in and kisses me on the cheek.  I must be asleep, as this is the most absurd thing ever to happen to me.  As I stand there confused, the boy morphs into a large devil and summons forth fiendish allies.  I am so uncertain what to do, as I feel no threat coming from the demon.  Before I realise it, there are my companions and the devils rushing about.  I look over to see the devil take a mighty swing at Helia, and this clarifies everything to me.  I grab Helia and interpose myself between her and the blow.

We quickly dispatch whatever that devil was that was impersonating Tharuun, but then there is a flash of light and the most menacing devil I have ever seen is standing over us.

The devil turns his fierce gaze upon us and sends forth a wave of evil will that washes over us.  I feel his black magic seep into me through my feet.  They become heavy and I find it nigh impossible to move them.  No matter what I try, I can't seem to shake this dark magic.  Curse this devil.  Curse this castle and curse this fortress.  I am so tired.

The black magic creeps up my legs, slowly turning them into stone, I can no longer move.  I am forced to face the devil on his terms now.  I swing my axe to no avail as he casually bats it aside with complete disregard.  The monster sees me as no threat and leaps across the room to try and open the door for its minions.

My companions continue to battle with the devil, ranging across the room.  In a last, desperate act I hurl my axe with all of my strength at our foe, but my condition throws my aim, causing me to completely miss him.

I can feel the curse slow my heart, I can barely see as my axe returns to me.  I can no longer breath.  I can not fight the sense of entropy washing over my being...

NO! NO! No! No! no! no... no... n...