Session 101: Going to Hellgate Keep Report

General Summary

Session 101 – Wednesday November 13th, 2024: Going to Hellgate Keep.

4-hour Social/Explore session 5:30 PM to 10:00 PM.

The Stone Bearers. Party of 6:

It is the 1st day of the month of Ches (The Claw of Sunset) in the 51st year of the Age of Enialis (Late March.)

• Ajani– High Elf, L18 Wizard – Nathan Gioconda
• Cassidy – Human, L18 Blood hunter – Ryan Armstrong (Remote)
• Gazlowe – Goblin, L19 Artificer – Josh Pozsonyi
• Isabella – Forest Gnome, L18 Barbarian – Jackie Armstrong
• Juan Peyote – Gnome L18 Paladin – Will Johnson
• Seften Mitcaver – Human, L18 Cleric – Jacob Munson (Remote)

John Wick

Cassidy sneezed, bringing the whole party back together. Isabella killed the unconscious doppelganger. The party dragged the unconscious John Wick to a cell in the dungeon of their stronghold. They removed his weapons and let him rest. When he awoke the Stone Bearer’s questioned him. John Wick had technically fulfilled his oath and he explained that the Fates assign him his targets. The party wanted to hire John Wick to kill Niptu. John Wick explained he only deals with mortals, not gods, undead or dragons. He considered the job, and the party offered him a replica of a ruby rod of a ruler of Hell, cut from a single ruby (worth 25,000 gp.) Cassidy gave him a vial of Niptu’s blood and John Wick agreed to do some research first and let them know if that is a fair price. The party agreed and let him go.   They discussed what to do next and considered killing the white lady and then filling the power vacuum with a legitimate heir to the throne, Ajani. They knew they should go find the Mistmaster and discuss options. They also considered just going to Hellgate keep and kill Niptu. They realized they still have the head of a dragon they need to deliver to the ancient blue dragon. In the end, they decided to first go to the tombs of Nithrithvinae.

The tombs of Nithrithvinae.

Arriving at the tombs they asked the guards to let them pass, but the guards refused. Isabella walked up and knocked them both out and the party bound them. Ajani opened the door with a drop of his blood and Gazlowe dragged the two bound guards inside. With Gazlowe’s keen mind he quickly led the party to the door to the Balenorn of Minnejab. Ajani knocked and Tim’othy recognized his voice and opened the door for them.   Timothy gave Gazlowe the magical potion of Major Stasis that he’d been working on. They inquired about Ajani becoming the leader of the elves. Timothy explained that the position is political and any claim to the throne would need the support of the majority of the elves. The Council of the wood typically chooses a leader that is popular amongst the elves. The tribes had been split on the Red and White ladies and with the Red Lady killed by the humans, the White lady had no problem gaining all the support she needed.   Cassidy asked how weavite can help magic in an area without any weavite in the ground. Tim’othy told the Stone Bearers (and associate) that Warmstone can be crushed, added to a drink to give the give a spellcaster a +2 to their spellcasting modifier for 4 hours (it only affects spellcasting modifier and DC, does not increase INT, WIS or CHA.) After it wears off, the spell caster gains 2 levels of exhaustion. In theory it may be possible to purify it to cast spells in areas without weavite, but the side effects could be very bad.   They went to visit the Balenorn William, who provided Ajani with a couple of spells. Ajani was able to copy Prismatic Wall and Dagger of Disaster into his spell book. They also spoke with Zachar’y who explained more of the ancient history of Hellgate keep. They learned that the place is rumored to be littered with ancient magical items.

Orist and the allies.

Gazlowe contacted Orist with his sending stone and had Orist transport the party to the Mistmaster and Ogian. There, they met with the Marquess Kurtis von Glauer and his generals, along with the dwarf Zyark Battlehammer. The camp was filled with a few dozen leaders. The vampire and dwarf armies were purposely not present. The Stone Bearers explained all that they had learned including that Ajani has a legitimate claim to be the leader of the High Forest. Isabella had hats made with the logo, “Make the forest Green again!” Orist and the elves still loyal to the Red Lady agreed to start a campaign for Ajani.   Zyark, impatient, interrupted the Elven politics and started to Rant about Niptu and how many dwarves were lost in scouting of Hellgate keep. He told them that the place is pocketed with dead magic zones where Niptu alone seems to be able to cast magic still. The place is also pocketed with wild magic zones as a couple of his dwarves were turned into potted plants. Niptu, by the way, is a Lich.   Zyark explained the place is crawling with fiends of all types. The devils and demons are generally not working together but both are serving Niptu. He explained that he believes there is a portal that is being used to summon fiends, but it is in a portion of the dungeon just north of an ancient city area. Zyark told of three possible ways to get into the dungeon and approach the city, the most direct was a river entrance but it was highly protected by fiends. There is also a more dangerous volcanic path and one that is filled with spiders that the dwarves avoided.   The party also learned that Niptu has powerful elementals at his command and deep within the lower level it is believed he has 4 elemental orbs linking the dungeon to elemental planes of fire, ice, water and earth. The party should first destroy the fiend portal and then the elemental orbs, destroying much of Niptu’s power. Until that happens the dwarves and vampires are reluctant to help since they have already lost so many of their troops. Zyark told the party that the place has many magical items, and he gave them a ring of Absolute Spell Protection and Gauntlets of Ogre Power. Zyark winked and said, “I don’t need these anymore.”

Xaantikorijek

The Stone Bearers had Orist take them to the edge of the forest where the lair of the Blue Dragon Xaantikorijek is. The party found the dragon and delivered to him the head of the Ashen Song. The Blue dragon was grateful and gave the party whatever they wanted of his treasure. He also told them, once the dragon controlling orb is destroyed, he would be happy to join the battle against Niptu.

Hellgate Keep

Orist teleported the party to the forest near Hellgate Keep. Treants approached the party, and Isabella eventually remembered the passphrase. The Treants allowed them to pass but warned them that they will not be allowed to exit without the passphrase. They party went to the spider cave entrance.   The party cut through their webs and disturbed a group of invisible Ghostwalk Spiders. Juan said, “We can take a group of spiders!” Gazlowe remined him that they lost to a flock of butterflies once. However, Juan’s aura scared most of the spiders and made them easy pickings for Gazlowe’s fireball, Ajani’s lightning bolt, Seften’s spirit guardians and the rest of the party picked them off quickly. Cassidy collected some poison and silk sacks.   The party avoided other spiders by turning invisible and made their way through the cavern to the northeast until they came to a river. Patrolling the river was a Pit Fiend whom Cassidy knew could see invisible creatures. The Pit Fiend saw the party. He flapped his wings and raised his mace as he started toward the party. Juan however held out his Talisman of Pure good. The Pit Fiend was surprised to see the pit open below him and drag him into the void. Juan commented on the irony. They found a couple of magic items on the floor (See Treasure below.)

Ancient City in Hellgate

Following the river (but still invisible) they came to the city. It was teaming with fiends. At the north end was a bridge that led to the door that leads to the portal. On the bridge, however, was a powerful Rakshasa and a Horned Devil. The party moved stealthily and avoided being seen by the fiends.   They examined the ancient stone door and knew if they opened it they would be heard. They walked around to the side of the door (out of sight of the fiends.) Gazlowe pulled a window off his robe and placed it onto the wall. They climbed through the window and into a dark passage. From the inside Gazlowe successfully rekeyed the lock to a key he had on him from firestone keep so only they could open this door easily.

Rewards Granted

Treasure

From the Nithrithvinae

• 1 potion of Major Stasis
• 9th level wizard spell: Prismatic Wall
• 9th level wizard spell: Dagger of Disaster

From Zyark

• A ring of Absolute spell protection.
• Gauntlets of Ogre Power

From Xaantikorijek

• Chime of opening
• Xaantikorijek’s looking glass
• Star Map of Creation
• 19 obsidian stones (worth 10 gp each)
• Stylized amber figurine of a humanoid creature (worth 250 gp)
• 2 breastplates bearing the royal crest of a lost kingdom (worth 400 gp each)
• 4 matching silver chalices set with star rose quartz (worth 750 gp each)
• Box of jade animals, all of which have been extinct for centuries (worth 2,500 gp)
• Gold music box that plays a long-forgotten melody (worth 2,500 gp)
• Masterpiece painting of a lost citadel in the desert nearby, artist unknown (worth 2,500 gp)
• 4 diamonds (worth 5,000 gp each)
• Jeweled gold crown from a long-forgotten desert kingdom (worth 7,500 gp)

From Ghost Spiders

• 4 doses Ghost Spider poison: Injury poison, DC 15, 3d8 poison/ ½ of success.
• 4 Ghost Spider silk sacks.

Found treasure in Hellgate Keep.

• A pair of winged Boots.
• A ring of Evasion - Consumable