Session 94: The Heart of the Dragon Queen

6th of Apollo, 500 CD

The companions of the Order of the Phoenix move on from Chamber 1 to Chamber 2 of the third level of the Ziggurat known as the Tomb of the Shattered Sun. Chamber two was 80ft long 60ft wide and had a 35ft vaulted ceiling of dark basalt arches. This chamber had a militaristic feel regimented even in decay. A faint metallic tang fills the lungs of the companions as if blood had been mixed with incense and iron filings. Rows of cracked marble pillars line the side of the chamber carved in the likeness of roman-style soldiers, the Black Legion elite. Etched between the pillars banners of obsidian and crimson of the Black Legions crest and units of crest of the 20 legions. The crest of the Black legion empire is a black dragon entwined around a broken sun, the symbol of conquest over light. In the center of this chamber stood a massive circular war table carved from a single block of obsidian. Scattered atop the table was ancient tactical markers resembling Roman cohort figurines, but shaped like undead soldiers and dragon riders. The table pulsed faintly with necrotic light animating the figurines to replay silent battles of the past. On the far wall, a massive relief mural depicts Abraham Harker in full imperial armor, crowned by the Black Legions' laurel of conquest. In the mural, he stands atop the burning ruins of Ephesus, one boot upon the fallen body of King Uther IX and his dead dragon. His face is one of pride twisted into vengeance. On the north wall was raised dais holding a dark stone throne adorned with draconic and roman iconograph. Dimmir quickly picked up the figurines including Harker's and place them all bowing down to Uther's figurine. Every 10 minutes six ghost of roman generals were seen entering the room walking to the table as if receiving orders from an unknow figure. Then they would salute and leave the chamber. Arceven after careful study of the table was able to pick up a hidden route of the current invasion plan to get to Soteropolis. Arceven immediately asked for Dimmir to make a copy of the map. Dimmir before departing left several clues for Harker to find his missing figurines.

Then the Order of the Phoenix continued into chamber three which was 90ft by 55ft with a 40ft high ceiling. This chamber was vast cathedral-like hall. The air was heavy with sulfur, incense, and rot. Faint chanting's echoing in the chamber even when it was slient. The chanting of countless invocations to Thanika. The chamber was lit by braziers of black flame set along the walls. Dimmir several times after using a torch put the black flame tried several times to light things on fire. The flames produced no heat. Rows of ancient pews carved from obsidian and bone line the floor in perfect formation ten rows deep on each side . Every pew bears etched symbols of the Silver Hearts Clan. Silver, copper, white4, green, and black dragons entwined in serpentine unity around a blood-red sun. Each wall in this room bearing massive murals of the each type of dragon with the black dragon on the ceiling showing absolute devotion to Thanika. At the far end of the room was an alter to Thanika. The alter made of fused dragon bone and obsidian glass. Hovering above it was a black crystal heart roughly the size of a human skull. The heart pulsed faintly with dark light, emitting a low hum that vibrates in the bones of any living creature nearby. Carved on the Alters face in draconic are the words "Through shadow we ascend, through blood we rise. Thanika eternal." Dimmir taking his torch around trying to light things on fire touched one of the boned figures that was setting on the pew. This caused four wights to rise chanting praises to Thanika attacking the party. During this conflict Maril lost his great sword and impaled itself in the wall of the the Chamber it took three pulls from three different people to get the sword loose. Jasmal being the last to pull it loose. Than Maril took his blade in frustration and went and sit on one of the pews activating another four wights . After this conflict the party focused on the pulse sating heart on the alter. Dimmer being the first one to touch the heart with the torch of black flame set of necrotic dame to everyone in the room. Then Arceven touched the heart with the same results as everyone in the room to necrotic damage.