Session 23: The Realm of Mechanus

Temple Tussles and Beneath The party (minus Gimble and Keyleth, who remained back with Laws Cordial) tussled with many mechanical constructs who were swiftly destroyed.   From that point onward, the party descended into the tunnels spanning deep into the heart of St. Leo and under the temple. They came across a few puzzling contraptions that they overcame, and then made their way into the realm of Mechanus through the final door puzzle.

In the Archives of Mechanus

In Mechanus, they arrived in a realm of law and order, welcomed by Lexiron the archivist. They spent several days in the library, exploring topics ranging from different topics and finding the following information:

The Scroll of St. Leo

Lexiron brought the scroll of St. Leo to Wu and it took him days to discern its full contents, but the first thing he saw was the prophecy of Thalmor, given by one of the Faithless in the Age of Dichotomy while using the scroll of prophecy:  

“Thalmor Thalmor
So strong for all to see
From high walls to fight and save the day
Yet those walls have fallen three.   Thalmor Thalmor
May those walls not fall to four
For if those walls should ever fall again
The world shall be no more.   Thalmor Thalmor
You’re running out of time
For this speaks true as prophecy
Because it has a rhyme.”

  After that, he saw a sequence of visions, which appeared to be glances into moments of history, from most recent to furthest away:  

• A sprawling battlefield of dead humanoids, far as the eye can see. Bursting from undead corpses are thousands of slaadpoles. In the distance, backdropping the scene is a black slaad, with a dark and malevolent aura seeping from behind his vile form. His presence is blocked behind an invisible wall, bending at his attempts to break through. He cracks a sinister smile, which turns to a frown. Then, his sharp clawed nails begin to slash at the invisible wall, sliding off the slick and impenetrable surface. Finally, a single claw cuts through the force field, and the grin returns. The vision fades.
• Tiberius Stormwind, wielder and creator of the Riftbinder Scepter, uses the last of his power to seal up the hordes of antiplanar beings in the Battle of the Planes. Slaad and Modrons and all kinds of beings are sealed up forever behind the rifts. Retcon addition: You also see him provide the key to the gate between the planes to the Genasi. Four keys spread out between the four elemental races, to be safeguarded for all of time.
• You see a legendary golden dragonborn, its scales shimmering brightly with meticulous care. He wields a sword made of perfect symmetry, slicing through hoards of Slaad that stand in his wake. They cower at his presence, as his sword finds its home in the field of combat.
• Next, you see a vision of the final resting place of this paladin, hidden away deep within a swamplike land. A prophecy is placed over his resting place as the land is sealed up.
• Recon Addition: Finally, you see four individuals, much younger yet very familiar to you. The four blades, gathering together around a table. Their blades placed in the center, sealing their pact. They work together to bring the Lord of Chaos back into the material plane once more.

The Island of St. Leo

Root looked into information about the Island of St. Leo, where she learned some of the juicy details of the island village:  

• The village has perpetually 49 people, all organized meticulously. In fact, one lady has been pregnant 14 months since one person left and then returned to the village. The village always has 49 people.
• Tempus (head of security) and Vezera (the librarian) are in a secret relationship, unsanctioned by the Leadership.
• In the center of the Island is a massive chasm. It is a portal to the Realm of Mechanus.
• 17 years ago, an individual (Declan the Mad Mage) had come to the village to learn secretive information. He seemed agreeable and trustworthy, after several attempts to prove himself thus. And so the village gave him the ability to enter underneath the temple into the archive. In doing so, Declan acquired such great power that he nearly destroyed the entire village (the Modron defense nearly cost him his own life in the process). But since then, the village is ordered under penalty of death to not share its secrets with outsiders.

Root was also given information regarding the Scattering of the Gen, a secret event of great historical significance. Nearly all of the Earth Genasi were slain in their home plane, leaving the borders between the material planes and the external planes unguarded and undefended.

Information about the Sword of Order

Redbeer was interested in learning about the Sword of Order, and found out the following information:  

• It is also called the Aethelrune, and was a weapon of extreme significance in the Chaos War. It was wielded by Kaelan Drakonis.
• When Kaelan was buried, the sword was buried with him in the within the Thalmoris Gap. The following prophecy was placed over the space, ensuring that it would not be discovered until the need was dire:

 

When shadows lengthen, a hunger shall rise,
A tide of chaos, teeth that rend the skies.   Heed! A blade of light in earthen sleep awaits,
The Aethelrune, first key against impending fates.   Seek the hero, heart ablaze with righteous fire,
Untouched by shadows, their spirit's burning pyre.   For if the blade falls wrong, or rests unclaimed in night,
The world shall crumble, swallowed by endless blight.   Stand watch, Vigil! Guardians of the dawning light,
The Aethelrune your charge, the fate of all in sight.   When hope seems lost, a champion shall ascend,
Aethelrune their weapon, the darkness to transcend.

  In corroborating information, the party made connections that the resting place was not in the Cosgraves, but must be somewhere else.

Demonology

Vexx took up crocheting, and a color/picture book about demons and their chaotic ways. He learned a few things of note:

• Demons are vile, chaotic, evil, and have an insatiable hunger for all life. They are the epitome of evil.
• Demons greatest foe is Devils, who are lawful evil. But they have been known to fight against modrons as well.
• However, the incursion of Slaad will bring demons to a point of conflict. Demons wish to chaotically destroy, and the Slaadi goals run against their own. So they will fight Slaad. It would seem that Vexx's patron has a reason to be giving him powers.

The Four Blades

The party learned a bit more about the Four Blades, at least of their membership:

• Theon Scalis, the Scarred Scale and high ranking Orthomancer within the City of Thalmor
• Lemwe Calend, the Cackled End and known criminal in the Continent of Qualia. Leader of the Entropic Societals
• Margrave Klous, the Uninvited and high ranking noble within the Theocracy of Valinor. It would seem that her involvement with the Scattering of the Gen and the Four Blades is unknown to the country.
• Verst Nithand, the Unquestioned and professor in Dianmallo at the University of Shanballot.

Each of these figures have been moving in subtle ways to progress some unknown and unperceived plot...

Modron Ways

The party also learned about the Modrons, that they are lawful and inhabit this plane. They seek to bring order everywhere they go.   During the Chaos War, once the Slaad were banished to their planes, Slaadpoles still resided in many humanoids. Thus, the Modrons savagely decimated the human populace to ensure that every potential slaadpole was destroyed. It nearly wiped out the humanoid race in the process. If ever such an invasion were to return, the question up in the air is if the modrons would finish the job they started in the beginning...   Soon, the great Modron march will occur and will send all of the modrons in Mechanus throughout the outer planes for some unknown purpose that occurs every 289 years...

Impending Invasion

Per the notes of the Island, Root also learned that Lemwe Calend, the Cackled End, will be arriving within 30ish hours with a fleet of ships to invade the island.

Exiting the Temple

After many days spent in the realm of Mechanus, the party finally exited, spurred on by the impending invasion of the Entropic Societals.   Once they entered the Temple through the tunnels, they came into a courtroom scene, with Laws Cordial, Gimble, Keyleth, and Mia all on trial for their deaths. Session ended there!