Session 34: To Magepoint

The Vandals of Fate say their goodbyes to Allustan and finish up any last minute shopping before they begin their travels north north-west towards Magepoint that sits on the shores of Farnwell Lake. The trip is to take 12 days however on the 11th day they Vandals of Fate run into trouble. They are ambushed by a group of devils. The devils make it known they want the Vandals to hand over their piece of the Rod of Seven Parts. Of course our Vandals refuse and this leads to the Vandals defeating the devils. Once the Vandals arrive in Magepoint they are met by locals who tell them that Archmage Manzorian was expecting them however he is currently away and will be for the next week. He has put up our Vandals in the All-Seeing Eye, the local inn that caters to Ratcatchers of higher standing. Once they arrive they are greeted by Celeste and the new revived Eligos along with Cymria, Manzorian's closest aid. The group spends the week exploring the town and centering themselves for the trials ahead.   After a week has past our Vandals are summoned to come visit Manzorian within his tower. They are lead by a guard who brings our Vandals to Manzorian's study. He asks the Vandals to tell him their story up to this point. Once our Vandals finish Manzorian asks to see all the evidence they have collected up to this point. He then asks a simple question of what the Vandals seek from him. After some questioning the Vandals learn the following. The Age of Worms is a prophecy that has been foretold for over 2000 years and it has not changed in the slightest. The last several years multiple predictions have been coming true. The city ruined by fire, Cauldron, the return of worm-eaten dead, recovery of potent magical artifacts, the destructive manifestation of an immense demonic tree in a distant city across the sea, the arrival of a fane of scales amid a storm of wind and fire, and the cleansing of an evil taint from a city besieged by the past by giants. Only two prophecies remain to be fulfilled. The reunification of a tripartite spirit, most likely a nod to the goals of the Ebon Triad. The second a hero of the pit shall use his fame to gift a city to the dead. Which was believed to be attempted by Loris Raknian in Cloudbreach. Further questions are met met with the following. Kyuss was being researched by Manzorian's friend named Balakarde, who has gone missing in the last ten years. However Balakarde learned that Kyuss arose to godhood in the city he ruled in Kuluth-Mar to the far south. Manzorian believes that answers to the Age of Worms still lie buried within the ziggurat The Spire of Long Shadows and with that our Vandals decide that is the next place to investigate. Manzorian shows Fedi a painting of the spires and the painting allows her to open a gate to the location.   Arriving at Kuluth-Mar the Vandals are greeted by a ruined city being swallowed by the surrounding jungle. In the center of the city stands a large ziggurat that is surrounded by a solid black obsidian wall, formed of a single piece of rock. As they enter the city the Vandals have a vision of the city in its prime, they see worshippers worship the man sitting upon a large thrown. They chant the name Kyuss. Upon Kyuss's chest sits a holy symbol to Orcus the Demon Prince of the Dead. Climbing over the obsidian ring they find themselves in an area of horror with millions upon millions of green worms wriggling just below the surface of the dirt. It is quickly obvious that stopping for any length of time or resting here will result in a new worm infection. As they approach the ziggurat the group is attacked by an armoured undead as well as two large undead beetles. The Vandals manage to defeat them however the Knight proves to be difficult to put down. However success is had and with that they climb the ziggurat to explore the top. Here they have another vision. This time they watch an ancient red Dragon steel the trapezoid that sits atop the spire and fly away with it. The Vandals notices that there is an angry face made of worms within the trapezoid. The Vandals now set their sites to enter the ziggurat. Clearly these visions means something, and maybe more will come the further they venture inside.