Ancient Abyssal Code
Long ago when the minotaurs had entered the Material Plane, they were fierce warriors that not only held strength dwarfing most other races, but also had very competant shamans. Back in those days there was a shaman who's magic was so potent that no one dare speak or write his name in fear of the wrath it may occur. Additionally, the shaman took it upon himself to write down rites that he had taught his closest diciples but forbid them from passing on. This meant that aside from him, to learn the rites they must find the Abyssal Code.
Due to the Great God Wars, the shaman was forced to call upon the abyssal rite that would allow him to protect Labirynth by causing those who touch the land to become immediately disoriented. While the spell is still active centuries later, it is not fool proof and it was not long before the demons had started finding and killing the minotaur they would find. Knowing that his land and people were at risk, the unnamed shaman worked with his closest followers to cast one final rite that would dispell the magic used to bring the demons to life. The ritual was successful, destroying the hordes of demons flooding the island but simultaneously damning those who had cast the rite. The rite had branded their souls to slowly be destroyed, causing the magic flowing through their veins to be ripped from them, draining their life force over the course of the next day. The weaker shamans immediately perished, suffering an excrutiating death.
The unnamed shaman tried immediately to revive the others but the way that they died prevented their souls from ever returning to the realm of the living. In order to ensure that no one would ever access the Code, the shaman buried it in the Temple of Labyrinth where it was sealed shut, enchanted to cave in the tomb itself if it is to be removed from the pedestal. However due to recent events, a researcher from the Crimson Academy has made it their goal to find the tome so that way they can study the rituals and use them to protect Ultribar.
Due to the Great God Wars, the shaman was forced to call upon the abyssal rite that would allow him to protect Labirynth by causing those who touch the land to become immediately disoriented. While the spell is still active centuries later, it is not fool proof and it was not long before the demons had started finding and killing the minotaur they would find. Knowing that his land and people were at risk, the unnamed shaman worked with his closest followers to cast one final rite that would dispell the magic used to bring the demons to life. The ritual was successful, destroying the hordes of demons flooding the island but simultaneously damning those who had cast the rite. The rite had branded their souls to slowly be destroyed, causing the magic flowing through their veins to be ripped from them, draining their life force over the course of the next day. The weaker shamans immediately perished, suffering an excrutiating death.
The unnamed shaman tried immediately to revive the others but the way that they died prevented their souls from ever returning to the realm of the living. In order to ensure that no one would ever access the Code, the shaman buried it in the Temple of Labyrinth where it was sealed shut, enchanted to cave in the tomb itself if it is to be removed from the pedestal. However due to recent events, a researcher from the Crimson Academy has made it their goal to find the tome so that way they can study the rituals and use them to protect Ultribar.
Plot points/Scenes
While in the city of Ultribar, Lacrosse will recieve mail saying he has caught the eye of a professor at the Crimson Academy who hopes that he and his associates will go to Labyrinth and retrieve the Code. The benefactor will remain unknown but they will send with the party their student, Lauren a tiefling scout (Ranger), to navigate the seas and bring them to the shores. For bringing the Code back the party will be rewarded with 100 gp each but the party can talk their fee up to 150 if they try.
After arriving to Labirynth the party will meet up with Ether who they have met previously when they helped her escape from the mainland to safety. Ether can provide the party with directions to the temple if the party stays on good terms with her and tells her why they have arrived to Labyrinth. Additionally, Lacrosse, though he has never truly been on the island before will be able to ignore the effects of the disorientation curse.
When the party arrives to the main settlement of the island, also named Labyrinth, they will need to find a way into the Temple which will be tricky. Ajax is currently poisoned with the Half-Death after Octavius came to Labyrinth to try and recruit his forces to the Grave Walkers. If the party asks around about the Code, many individuals will begin to ignore the party, especially if they are human or elves. With a DC 20 Persuasion check the party can recieve confirmation that the off duty guard has seen the Code and that it is in fact in the Temple.
After getting to the temple the party will need to pass a DC 15 Perception check while approaching the altar to see that there is some sort of trap and with a DC 12 Arcana check they can tell that it is magical by nature. This means that without a dispell magic spell, there is not way to disarm the trap. Failing the Arcana check but passing the Perception check would lead to the individual believing that the trap involves a pressure plate.
Setting off the trap is done by removing the book from the altar, resulting in the temple collapsing in one turn. As the temple begins to collapse, the party can begin looking through the book for a way to protect them if they cannot think of anything. A spellcaster can look through the book, then rolling a d20. On a critical success only, the party will be able to find a spell called Reversal. The spell will allow the party to reverse time by up to 30 seconds for the world aside from the caster and the party. In other words the book will not be placed back onto the altar but the temple will not crumble. Each time this spell is used, the number of seconds reversed is taken off the life of the party members in years (30 seconds reversed, 30 years removed). This effect will not be known unless the caster succeeds on a DC 12 Arcana check.
Alternatively the party can try to save themselves in the collapse, if an individual passes a DC 16 Athletics check in keeping the rubble from caving them in. The initial impact will do 4d6 damage to the party, but if the check is failed 10d6 damage is done to those caught in the collapse. If the check is successful, the party will go into turn-based actions where they will need to get out before the one holding the rubble back fails two checks at the same difficulty. The reversal spell can still be found in this chain of events, but additionally the unnamed Shaman will appear as a spirit warning the party that they should not have gone looking where the demons lurk. With some convincing from Lacrosse (DC 14 Persuasion check, DC 20 from any non-minotaurs) the shaman will tell the party about the reversal spell but of a simpler shielding spell which forms an invincible sphere which would buy time without messing with the fabric of space time and therefore have less negative spells. Additionally he will offer to buff Lacrosse for 1 minute, making him strong enough to shrug off the rubble and create an opening out.
After leaving see the Trials of Solar for how the people will treat the party. As for how the sub-plot will procede for the Code, the shaman will be willing to become visible to the rest of the entire party after they have each looked at the pages of the Code. He will warn them that he stored his soul in the ancient tomes in order to prevent them from falling into the wrong hands but he can also help the party learn the spells if they prove themselves worthy. The shaman may one day reveal his true name, Minos, if the party gains enough favor with him. He will beg that the Code is buried or returned to the people of Labyrinth who can dispose of it. Minos will be distrusting of the Crimson Academy, especially if the benefactor is not willing to reveal their true identity.
Returning to the boat with the code will cause Lauren to ask the party to hand it over but she can be easily convinced to allow the party to deliver it themselves. If the party takes it to the Crimson Academy, they will recieve a telepathic message from the sending spell telling the party to bring it to a lecture hall. Upon arriving to the hall it will be seen that the ceiling has a stained glass window radiating light into the center of the room as well as a group of sculptures on the ceiling. The statues depict hordes of devils headed by Ohrer prior to his purification charging into an army of Ultribar fighters lead by Krieg. The researcher is Rya, a student Cosmo, the mage that was once an enemy to the nation and captured after the people of Lowry handed him over in exchange for peace. On a DC 10 History check the party will know that the heroes of Lowry were nearly killed by him and would not have survived if they didn't let him open a dimensional rift. They can also remember that a doppelganger that took the form of Moses slaughtered Rya by decapitating her though she seems now to be a powerful mage.
Rya will ask that the party immediately hand over the Code, citing that Krieg has never had the stomach to do what it takes to protect Ultribar. If the party is hesitant to give Cosmo the Code then the mage will begin combat, bringing the statues on the ceiling to life as gargoyles but the party can tell he is only doing nonlethal damage. If for whatever reason a party member is killed, he will offer to cast revivify in exchange for the Code. After the tomes are handed over Minos will no longer be visible to the party, Rya can be found at the Crimson Academy or at times in the royal castle but the party will discover that the Code is no longer with her and has actually been handed over to Cosmo who is a prisoner and mage to Krieg right now. The party can visit him in the dungeons of the royal castle and they will see Minos who will apologize to the party and say that the mage now has attuned to the Code and there is not much left that they can do besides strap in.
After arriving to Labirynth the party will meet up with Ether who they have met previously when they helped her escape from the mainland to safety. Ether can provide the party with directions to the temple if the party stays on good terms with her and tells her why they have arrived to Labyrinth. Additionally, Lacrosse, though he has never truly been on the island before will be able to ignore the effects of the disorientation curse.
When the party arrives to the main settlement of the island, also named Labyrinth, they will need to find a way into the Temple which will be tricky. Ajax is currently poisoned with the Half-Death after Octavius came to Labyrinth to try and recruit his forces to the Grave Walkers. If the party asks around about the Code, many individuals will begin to ignore the party, especially if they are human or elves. With a DC 20 Persuasion check the party can recieve confirmation that the off duty guard has seen the Code and that it is in fact in the Temple.
After getting to the temple the party will need to pass a DC 15 Perception check while approaching the altar to see that there is some sort of trap and with a DC 12 Arcana check they can tell that it is magical by nature. This means that without a dispell magic spell, there is not way to disarm the trap. Failing the Arcana check but passing the Perception check would lead to the individual believing that the trap involves a pressure plate.
Setting off the trap is done by removing the book from the altar, resulting in the temple collapsing in one turn. As the temple begins to collapse, the party can begin looking through the book for a way to protect them if they cannot think of anything. A spellcaster can look through the book, then rolling a d20. On a critical success only, the party will be able to find a spell called Reversal. The spell will allow the party to reverse time by up to 30 seconds for the world aside from the caster and the party. In other words the book will not be placed back onto the altar but the temple will not crumble. Each time this spell is used, the number of seconds reversed is taken off the life of the party members in years (30 seconds reversed, 30 years removed). This effect will not be known unless the caster succeeds on a DC 12 Arcana check.
Alternatively the party can try to save themselves in the collapse, if an individual passes a DC 16 Athletics check in keeping the rubble from caving them in. The initial impact will do 4d6 damage to the party, but if the check is failed 10d6 damage is done to those caught in the collapse. If the check is successful, the party will go into turn-based actions where they will need to get out before the one holding the rubble back fails two checks at the same difficulty. The reversal spell can still be found in this chain of events, but additionally the unnamed Shaman will appear as a spirit warning the party that they should not have gone looking where the demons lurk. With some convincing from Lacrosse (DC 14 Persuasion check, DC 20 from any non-minotaurs) the shaman will tell the party about the reversal spell but of a simpler shielding spell which forms an invincible sphere which would buy time without messing with the fabric of space time and therefore have less negative spells. Additionally he will offer to buff Lacrosse for 1 minute, making him strong enough to shrug off the rubble and create an opening out.
After leaving see the Trials of Solar for how the people will treat the party. As for how the sub-plot will procede for the Code, the shaman will be willing to become visible to the rest of the entire party after they have each looked at the pages of the Code. He will warn them that he stored his soul in the ancient tomes in order to prevent them from falling into the wrong hands but he can also help the party learn the spells if they prove themselves worthy. The shaman may one day reveal his true name, Minos, if the party gains enough favor with him. He will beg that the Code is buried or returned to the people of Labyrinth who can dispose of it. Minos will be distrusting of the Crimson Academy, especially if the benefactor is not willing to reveal their true identity.
Returning to the boat with the code will cause Lauren to ask the party to hand it over but she can be easily convinced to allow the party to deliver it themselves. If the party takes it to the Crimson Academy, they will recieve a telepathic message from the sending spell telling the party to bring it to a lecture hall. Upon arriving to the hall it will be seen that the ceiling has a stained glass window radiating light into the center of the room as well as a group of sculptures on the ceiling. The statues depict hordes of devils headed by Ohrer prior to his purification charging into an army of Ultribar fighters lead by Krieg. The researcher is Rya, a student Cosmo, the mage that was once an enemy to the nation and captured after the people of Lowry handed him over in exchange for peace. On a DC 10 History check the party will know that the heroes of Lowry were nearly killed by him and would not have survived if they didn't let him open a dimensional rift. They can also remember that a doppelganger that took the form of Moses slaughtered Rya by decapitating her though she seems now to be a powerful mage.
Rya will ask that the party immediately hand over the Code, citing that Krieg has never had the stomach to do what it takes to protect Ultribar. If the party is hesitant to give Cosmo the Code then the mage will begin combat, bringing the statues on the ceiling to life as gargoyles but the party can tell he is only doing nonlethal damage. If for whatever reason a party member is killed, he will offer to cast revivify in exchange for the Code. After the tomes are handed over Minos will no longer be visible to the party, Rya can be found at the Crimson Academy or at times in the royal castle but the party will discover that the Code is no longer with her and has actually been handed over to Cosmo who is a prisoner and mage to Krieg right now. The party can visit him in the dungeons of the royal castle and they will see Minos who will apologize to the party and say that the mage now has attuned to the Code and there is not much left that they can do besides strap in.
Completion Date
5:17:784
5:17:784
Plot type
Chapter
Parent Plot
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