Session Log: Conversations with an Archmage

A dark imposing figure stood in the rear archway of the Sanctum of the Council Arcanum [ayyy one day there'll be a link here] , casting a large and forbidding shadow that danced across the faces of the Unlikely Lot, caused by a softly flickering light from behind the mage. Stepping forward the face of the Archmage [ayyy one day there'll be a link here] was flooded by the mage light filling the room, revealing his soft bovine features. The Firbolg [ayyy one day there'll be a link here] mage stood at the top of the curved table and spoke in a very deep yet soothing voice, asking multiple questions of the group that stood before him. Of their history, intentions and desires.   At the end of the conversation he knew all he needed about the group, mostly from a journal produced by one of the members from the party, Fieyaloren . He agreed to help the party in their mission on one condition, that they help him and his city with one of their own. He appointed his council to select such a task worthy of what the party were requesting from them and turned to leave. As the mage turned, staff in one hand and journal in the other, Ember spoke and questioned him on his knowledge of Corellon stones and their probable whereabouts. The response was short as he assured the group he knew nothing of such myths, even asking the council to share their knowledge on the topic. A single suggestion was made, The Sundered Ruins.   The party now left to the mercy of the Council Arcanum stand in anticipation of their choice. Eventually Babbling Brook [ayyy one day there'll be a link here], the evocation mage, joins in with the debate saying that this may be the time to address the subsidence in the city which has been growing, there is some resistance to this but it is overall agreed that we should be allowed with a trusted guide. At the mention of a guide the party ask the council if Waxim [ayyy one day there'll be a link here] would accompany them as they are familiar with him. The council agree and dismiss the party.   Leaving the council chambers the adventurers were greeted by Waxim once again and, much to his dismay, he has been ordered to guide them to the tombs of the fallen mages from Desseray. Although it was unanimously decided that the hour was late and a rest was needed before the journey down the tombs could begin. Therefore Waxim lead the party to the abandoned barracks of the city, being constantly questioned on the way by Fiey and Ember attempting to gather any information about the city and its inhabitants.Entering the dust covered barracks it was clear that these halls had not been visited in a while. After some shenanigans from Helo the party began to rest hutless. After a torturous night for a couple members of the party, Waxim does as he is ordered and takes the Unlikely lot to the entrance of the catacombs, an hours march north of the city gates.   After a little hesitation at the mouth of the shattered entrance of “The Tomb of the Forefathers” [ayyy one day there'll be a link here] the group enters and are immediately meet with strange runes which trace along the walls of the shaft. Un-phased at the runes or the smell of gas the party continued, determined to discover the source of the heart beat vibrating through the floor of the cavern. After about an hour of traversing through the numerous tunnels which created this labyrinth a chamber was found. This chamber possessed a large pit at its centre and had a large quantity of books along its walls. However, the room was also stained with multiple splatters of dried blood which decorated the room. This was the necromancer's lair. The pit was quickly investigated and was found to contain a pool of blood at the bottom, also a room was found behind one of the bookcases. The small closet sized room contained a chest, which Ember’s eyes began to glisten at the sight of, and a set of ladders leading down. After a small confrontation Ember decided to leave the contents of the chest alone as Helo began to inspect the books. After a short while Helo began to feverishly shred the books using her bare hands, barely leaving any legible words within the pages she torn apart. The group ventured forward, but lost Helo as she remained behind and climbed down to the blood pit below using the newly uncovered ladder. As she reached the still pool at the bottom of that pit she got to her knees and submerged her hand into the cold dark liquid. Finding nothing she caught up to the group wiping the blood of her arm as she ran.   The further the party travelled down the winding tunnels the more things felt off, names of tombs were scratched off as well as important dates. This eventually induced a synaptic snap within Waxim as his fabricated and real memories collided with one another, competing for dominance. When the main tomb was reached it became too much for Waxim, who fainted at the sight of the tomb of the current Archmage, open. Above the corpse still in the crypt stood a statue of the same Firbolg the party had met hours previously. The staff of the statue however, was missing.   This was when from the single entryway appeared the same imposing figure as before. But his image quickly shifted into that of a humanoid tiger with his hands reversed. He revealed that by using the staff of the first archmage he was able to enslave the city and take control for himself. Pointing the staff at the party he began to quietly mutter some incantations but these were snuffed out by Fiey casting counterspell and ending his attempts to control the party. Shocked, the Rakshasa retreated slightly throwing a wall between himself and the chamber, taking control of Fiey alone in the process and instructing her to protect him at all costs. A battle ensued with the adventurers barely subduing the fiend before he attempted escape. Although this may have been a mistake as the Rakshasa upon death burst into flames igniting the natural gas within the chamber. With Fiey and Waxim unconscious on the floor the party gathered their allies and escaped the collapsing tunnels surrounding them bursting into the fresh air as flames chased behind them. The tombs imploded throwing dust and sand into the air as the party caught their breath.