The Keys of Telku / Into the Fire pt. 10 / Von the 21st, 3593 CE / 10-10-21 Report

The Adventurers stand in the treasure chamber of the great dragon, Brazzermal the Burning, who moments earlier appeared to meet his demise as he plunged into an underground lake. The boiling water now fills the chamber with insufferable heat and humidity, but before they take their leave, the party sifts through the hoard one more time, securing gold, jewels, and even a magical cloak for their troubles. With a legendary Key of Telku secure in Adrienne the swashbuckler's "purse," they proceed to the entrance of the ruined dwarven city of Kragarak, for centuries held under the terrible sway of Brazzermal. As they return blinking to the light of day, the hear the pulling of bow strings and see that the canyon surrounding the entrance is flanked on all sides by soldiers of Liem. Their master, Tarrus the One-Eyed, stands at the mouth to the ravine, demanding the return of the Key. Though Adrienne attempts to negotiate with her former employer, the Amita K'un ninja Night cuts the negotiations short by surreptitiously retrieving the key from Adrienne's bosom and returning it to her master. Tarrus's next words send a shockwave through the party, as he instructs his followers to "leave no witnesses." However, before the death sentence can be carried out, there is a great rumbling followed by a geyser of fire. Tarrus mistakenly accuses of the Adventurers of not sufficiently disposing of the dragon, but it is in fact the gnome Sultar, flame cleric of the demon Onaida, who has caused the disturbance, despite being previously thought killed in a rock slide during the battle with Brazzermal. Now fully possessed by his terrible patron, Sultar rains fiery destruction upon Tarrus's minions, giving the party the opening that they need. Even as Tarrus disappears with the Key through a magical portal, the party moves to escape the ravine while taking down many of Tarrus's soldiers. Baijo, remembering the Sultar's fear that his soul would be taken by the demon who possesses him, calls upon Vespera to purge the gnome of his demonic patron. As Onaida's spirit is cast skyward, Sultar collapses into unconsciousness and must be hauled out of the battle. However, by the time the party have made good their escape, only a quarter of Tarrus's forces remain. Though the soldiers hesitate to pursue the fleeing party after their display of deadly force, the Adventurers know that they are now in more danger than ever, with Tarrus and perhaps the entire city-state of Liem against them. The Adventurers return to their base camp of the night before. Night assures the party that her allegiance to Tarrus is severed and she stands with them, the Adventurers debate their next steps, ultimately settling on returning to Lidea to report to King Tharin, hoping perhaps to find an ally in the King of Amarath.