Chaos Ascendant pt. I-III

The first three weeks of the final month of 1372

Waiting at Harrowhoff was a new would-be slayer, Papio, an aging veteran of the Camlanish legions. The heroes of Harrowhoff were dismayed to find foul rumors swirling about them, spread by agents in the growing town who wished to sully their reputations.

The heroes used their mirror transportation to delve into the 7th deep. Beyond a secret crusader cache, they encountered two flaming salamanders with fire spears, charming one and slaying the other. In the great portal chamber, they found Sir Hugo la Pegase, wearing a ring of chaos and ushering drow through a portal from the Underdark. After a battle, Hugo was freed from the ring's influence and recalled seeing prisoners being driven south in the dungeons.

The heroes pressed on, eventually finding themselves in an octagonal room with six mirrored walls. From behind the enchanted glass, the six serpent-eyed sorcerers appeared. Protected from spells by their glassy shields, the reptilian magic users began a dire battle. A few of the mirrors were destroyed, but the heroes fled by pulling a magic leaf that transported them to the woods of Brieberus.

The old wizard knew nothing of the mighty sorcerers, but he advised them not to take sides in the conflict between Morcarat and Carwellan.

The heroes left for Tandis the next day. The following week, they investigated the town to find the "silver-tongued rogues" responsible for their slander. They learned that three musicians and a comely dancer had been performing at the Inn of Ill Omen, spreading foul rumors. The heroes waited in the streets and confronted the players, who all turned into bats and flew off into the night. When the heroes returned to Harrowhoff, they found that some livestock had been slain. The next day, Visefrin prepared holy water and sharpened stakes, and the heroes delved into the dungeon's fifth level. In the Court of Chaos, they met the dancer. The vampiress commanded shade-like undead and engaged the heroes in a terrible battle, draining a great deal of vitality from the drow warrior, Dolyra. The heroes eventually slew the vampire by driving a stake into its heart. They quit the dungeon without finding the others.

The following week, a rumor spread that someone had thrown open the dungeon doors, allowing a brigade of goblins to attack the men of Castle Tandis. The heroes investigated the first level, retracing the early halls for the first time in years. They found new secrets and lost tombs, eventually discovering the royal tomb where some of Lord Fillip's forebears were buried. There, in a heavy cloak in the darkness, was Lord Fillip himself, now a vampire. The heroes battled their liege lord, who was fully in the thrall of chaos. Lord Fillip charmed Papio, eventually becoming ethereal and escaping through a small vent in the ceiling. The heroes returned to the surface, certain they had discovered the traitor who had allowed the goblins within the walls.

Welborn spoke to Constable Throy, telling him that their liege was now a vampire and a servant of chaos. The holy bishop Visefrin confirmed this, and Throy left his post to go into hiding at Harrowhoff, fearing he would be charmed or worse if he remained. The heroes returned to their freehold, unsure of how to proceed, for Tandis was truly ruled by evil. Visefrin took his acolyte and went west to seek wisdom among the holy sages of Arimur.

Gathering Darkness

the 27th day of the 11th month - the 6th day of the 12th month 1372

The heroes flew on their mounts to Rilm to meet Morcarat. They were welcomed into the tower of ice by her daughters and given audience with Morcarat herself. Morcarat confirmed that she had a great task for them, and it seemed that Carwellan spoke true about Morcarat's aims. The Ice Queen wished to send the heroes through the phlostigen onto the Astral plane to seek Carwellan's pocket dimension. She confirmed that she indeed wanted Carwellan dead, but did not reveal her motives. 

The heroes stayed the night in the tower and took the opportunity to explore a bit. They found corridors and rooms filled with glassy eyes, perhaps scrying devices. They were careful not to climb too high beyond the fortress on the 5th level. 

The heroes returned to Tandis and arrived at Harrowhoff for the first time in months. They found the domain in turmoil. People from the growing population had been going missing in the night, bodies had been unearthed from graves, and two of Fillip's knights, Hugo la'Pegasse and Tod o' Tandis, were missing after delving into the dungeon.

The heroes investigated a recently plundered gravesite, and there met two rogues who were attempting to steal a body. They caught these men who led them to ambush their masters, foul lizardmen from the Cult of Demogorgon. They slew the lizards and followed some more into the secret cave leading to the 5th deep. 

Within the court of chaos, they found a terrible charnel house filled with Tandis dead unearthed from their graves. Here, an Evil High Priest, was creating an army of ghouls. They slew the ghouls and the evil priest and took a strange black ring from the priest's pale finger. They left the dungeon, unsure about what else had crept into the 5th deep. 

Over the next week Visefrin communed with the gods.

Where in her castle does Morcarat keep the Libram of Kryon?

It is in a secret vault on the tower's 9th level

Who did the Evil High Priest serve?

He, and more like him, serve Lord Galarak, a powerful agent of chaos.

Would Carwellan suspect a double-cross?

It will be difficult to conceal the truth from one such as him. 

As the week progressed, more foul rumors emerged, and disturbing reports trickled into Harrowhoff

Lord of the Violet Isles

11th - 14th in the 11th month 1372

Visefrin, now as a gnome, Welborn, Heironymous, and Sir Feek made their way through the early winter of the Verdenleaf. They sought lands closer to Tandis from where they might summon their fearsome flying mounts. They were lured from the trail by cries and came to the aid of pagan hunters. One of their kin was being carried off by a flying "ice devil". 

The heroes pursued in swift chase, Heironymous using the Crown of the Dragon Lord to imbue him with flight. The chase ended at a dank, steaming cavern surrounded by sodden ground. Within, they battled giant frogs and found ancient stelas bearing writing. This strange cave had once been a temple to a Mer-goddess. Passing a partially buried sarcophagus, they pressed into a watery cavern and battled slimy aquatic trolls. 

In the final chamber was the great statue of the Mer-goddess, an offertory bowl in an outstretched hand. Above the surface of the flooded chamber, an orb of clear blue water spun and splashed, and from the ether appeared Pa'Tom, a portly moon-faced sorcerer dressed in bright colors. 

Pa'Tom bade them enter the portal of water and visit his master upon the Violet Isles. The kidnapped pagan girl was released, and after an offering to the Mer-goddess, Imra, the heroes were changed into mermen for a time. They swam through the portal and emerged from a deep lagoon, not far from hilly islands. The entire sphere of the firmament was close and swirling with brightly colored matter encroaching from the void beyond. The colors of the sky rendered the isles in a still, violet twilight. 

The heroes spent the night on a beach in the company of other jovial merfolk militia, and the next day, restored to their forms, travelled up the hill, where they met Carmet, a son of the Magus whom they were to meet. Together they pressed on to the Crystal Palace.

Within the grand castle, they met the hospitable and amicable lord. Serving a great banquet were six vat-born men who, like Carmet, resembled exactly their so-called sire. This lord, whose name was Carwelan, told them many things. He told them of his history with Morcarat. She was his student, and she was herself vat-born, modeled from the form of another. The Magus claimed that Morcarat wished him dead and would attempt to employ the heroes to this end. He suggested instead that the heroes aid him in a great heist of Rilm, the tower of ice. His goal was to steal the all-powerful Libram of Kryon and deprive Morcarat of her mightiest spells. 

Carwelan gave the nine amulets of non-detection to the heroes so that they might avoid the Ice Witch's scrying. He also gave them five scrolls of flying. The next day, the heroes departed and returned to the strange cave west of Verdengard, where Pa'Tom would wait to rendezvous with them again. Carmet traveled with them.

Visefrin communed with the gods.

What is Carwellan's intent with the Libram of Kryon?

He wishes to use the Libram's most powerful spell to return his beloved to him

Can Carwellan detect us with these amulets?

Yes.

Which is the lesser of two evils: Morcarat or Carwellan?

Both are capable of great good and great evil. Both have their parts yet to play in the eternal wars against Chaos.