Chapter 14: Session 03

At the Necropolis of Darun, Soreiss must catch his bearings so that he may transport the party without error. As the rest of the party waits, more pilgrims arrive. They greet the PCs, but seem kind of strange when one greets Val by gripping the big man's forearm and raking his finger nails down his skin. When Val is noticably shocked by this, the man greeting him appears surprised, looking back at his companions who snicker at him. He claims his buddies told him that was a traditional Ganthur greeting, but really were just having some fun at his expense. As odd as it all way, this seems to have been just an amusing random occurence.

The PCs head to the Necropolis of Nekarnus, the heart of which a massive sealed tower. It seems that only those with some connection to the magics of the Ouric are allowed entry inside -- leaving Rin, Val, and Lugh to find their own way (and causing Lugh to not give a shit about leaving an offering for this god).

In the santum, a nearly theatrical arrangement of scrying bowls, statues, and shrouded figures dominate the scene. Slip find the whole affair somewhat absurd, and opts to leave. Only Mitu and Soreiss figure out that the outer core is a sham, and what lay deeper, within the massive central statue itself is important. After unlocking the way, the duo finds themselves lifted into a region that exists at the cusp of dimensions -- most notably the borderlands of the Outer Ouric and their own, profane realm. They feel an overwhelming sense of Presence and consciousness -- Nekarnus, or the memory of Nekarnus imprinted upon the cosmos. They make some inquiries, but Nekarnus is not responsive to their needs... only if the others (the other 3 and a half) are roused will Nekarnus agree to return. The gods of the pentad -- most of them anyway -- may be able to return.

Meanwhile, in the town surrounding the sanctum tower, Rin and Val fall into a spot of trouble when they are attacked by a pair of strange, alien beings. Purplish skinned and lanky, they attack with a combination of magic and swordplay. Lugh hears the fight, but arrives only toward the end. Val is injured and Rin is somewhat shaken when the pair of odd attackers is defeated -- one dead, the other dying.

The party reunites at an inn, with Soreiss and Mitu and Slip all returned from the sanctum, they set about interrogating their strange captive. It turns out that he is of the Wynn, the fae folk of Anderwynn, and his lord was hired by a human to send a pair of assassins to harry the party. The two Wynn had hoped to kill Val and Rin, marking them so they might keep and wear their skins. The Wynn also hints that all may not be stable and secure among the Wynn -- "Not all are loyal to Saergas". The Wynn dies soon after, but is allowed to return to Anderwynn to die -- his bones may become one with his homeland.

Val, resting from his injuries, awakens alone in his room to find a note. His ward, a child named Uvorr, has been taken and Val is being summoned, alone, to the Tower of Stars in the Necropolis of Nekarnus. Of course, he tells the others, and they learn that the tower is under the control of a sorceror named Belovius, sometimes nicknamed the Scorpion.


[Jolt Code: C2, CB1, R1]