1st Day in the 8th month 1372
The heroes traveled east once more to seek the location of the Hand of Vecna. In order to compel the Grey Princes, Thorne, brother of Taran, claimed the Black Blade. The Blade bestowed terrible power upon him, and wickedness began to twist his mind. Nevertheless, the Grey Princes parleyed with the keeper of the sword and revealed that they had long ago ensconced the Hand in the Ziggurat of Orcus upon the Red World. After much hesitation, the group entered a portal of red stone high in the tower of the necropolis and found themselves on the wind-blasted Red World not far from the Iron Gates of Tamegor, the wicked city.
In the city, they met Lyral Shadowhand, a former Zagran assassin, now inkeeper in the city. The heroes learned that she too sought a relic inside the ziggurat - a ring which could "right many wrongs". To earn her trust, Lyral sent to recover a treasure stolen from her. On the way back from the task, the heroes were ambushed by Black Talon orcs. It seemed that Vortigen's forces already had a foothold upon the Red World, yet it was unclear if the evil wizard knew the location of the artifact he sought.
Through a captive orc, the heroes learned that Voritgen's forces upon the Red World were led by a powerful creature called Bormal. Upon their return to the Goblin Skull Inn, Lyral promised to join the heroes if they were to seek the Ziggurat. The Ziggrat was located beyond the terrible Flaming Wastes, known to be impassable. Lyral knew another way - through great caverns that lie beneath the wastes, accessible from Tamegor. This route too would no doubt be fraught with danger.
The heroes left the Red World and traveled to Verdengard. Brieberus was hesitant to allow the brother of Taran to stay in his tower while in possession the terrible blade.
Upon his return to Tandis, the bishop communed with the gods.
Will the Black Blade make Thorne so evil that he will turn on us?
The wielder of the blade will serve his own purposes and those of the sword. If those purposes are misaligned with your own, he will oppose you. Trust him not.
Does Vortigen have more forces on the Red World?
The Red World is a realm of demons and chaos. Our omniscience does not extend to such a place.
Are there measures that can be taken that could make my priestly spells effective beyond the Flaming Wastes?
Our powers do not govern the Red World.
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