View source for Session 16: Theft of Fate

[[File:The raumathari seal.png|right|600px|thumb|The Raumathari Seal]]
== Summary ==

[[File:The high country.png|right|600px|thumb|The High Country, Rashemen]]
[[File:Glabrezu-2024.png|right|600px|thumb|Threxzadur, the Raumathari Weapon]]

With Vaergath and Aunrae fallen, the party explored the hidden drow hideout—a two-room lair revealing Aunrae's betrayal of both Tharos and the duergar. Among Zurkhwood furniture and alchemical gear, they uncovered a coded letter to Deeplord Sobja, a teleportation circle rigged to strand ogres in the Black Gloam, and thousands in Thayan and drow-minted coin. A priceless Scroll of Resurrection and faerzress crystals added to their haul, while Octavius cracked the letter's cipher, exposing Aunrae's web of deceit.

As they secured the Monolith of Stars, Lilia encountered the owl-shaped Telthor, who, waning like the Monolith, merged with her spirit in a quiet pact, granting her a new Starry Form. Meanwhile, a brutal debate ended with Octavius executing Aunrae while the others were away—leaving only blood and silence when they returned.

Flying the Monolith back to Urlingwood atop a floating disk, the party dodged ropers and broke through to daylight, greeted by a growing Rashemi force. The wychlaran sisters anchored the Monolith within the grove, restoring its twilight, and warned of shattered divinations—fate itself veering off-course. Grimsnarl, the awakened dire wolf, offered thanks and promised the party a voice in granting Lilia's grove access to the grove.

Now in pursuit of Lilia's lost coven sister, the party made their way east. Among the High Country hills, the party found a shattered Raumathari seal—its dark power offering Octavius forbidden gifts in exchange for strength. As tendrils pierced his chest, he accepted twice, gaining intellect and losing strength. When the seal fully broke, Threxzadur, a monstrous glabrezu, rose from the ruins. Offering dark pacts and mocking their resolve, the demon turned to walk free—until the party, grim-faced, moved to stop him.

== XP Award ==

* 975 XP for defeating Vaergath and Aunrea
* 225 XP for bypassing another Roper
* ''Theft of Fate:'' 1400 XP for keeping Tharos from taking the Monolith of Stars
* ''Planar Truth:'' 333 XP for giving the grove three faerzress crystals, proving true ''The Rule of Three'' 
* '''Total: 2933 XP'''
* '''Current XP: 20755 XP -> 23688 XP ''' (Level 6 --> Level 7!)
* ''(Required for next level: 34000 XP)''

== Things That Happened ==

=== Encounter: The Betrayed Ogre, Part II ===
* '''Date:''' 16th of Tarsakh (The Claw of the Storms, April), afternoon, 1372 DR
* The combat with Vaergath and Aunrea raged on.
* Highlights:
** The ogre assassin being sliced in two, the faerie fire stuttering before resuming its glow.
** The drow wizardess's Shield spell repelling multiple attacks until a guiding bolt pierced through it.
** The drow wizardess being stabilized by Lilia.

The party looted several healing potions, a spell focus, and a spellbook with the following spells:

* ''Cantrips:'' Mage Hand, Minor Illusion, Poison Spray, Ray of Frost
* ''1st Level:'' Detect Magic, Disguise Self, Identify, Mage Armor, Magic Missile, Shield, Tenser's Floating Disk, Witch Bolt
* ''2nd Level:'' Alter Self, Mirror Image, Misty Step, Web
* ''3rd Level:'' Counterspell, Fireball, Fly, Hypnotic Pattern, Lightning Bolt, Nondetection
* ''4th Level:'' Dimension Door, Evard’s Black Tentacles, Greater Invisibility
* ''5th Level:'' Cloudkill, Hold Monster, Teleportation Circle

From the page containing the Teleportation Circle spell, a sheet with 11 city names and sigils appeared. They were each city in Drezz'Lynur and the duergar city of Fraaszummdin.

=== The Drow Hideout ===
* After tying up the drow, the party discovered a hidden set of lookout holes in a cavern wall, leading to a hidden door.
** Lilia scouted first, in spider-form.
* Inside, past a dark silk curtain, the found a two-room hideout.
* The first room was Aunrae's study, with a zurkhwood desk bearing a letter and obsidian spider idol, a secondary table an alchemical setup, and a large wooden chest by a hammock.
* The letter, initially read by Lilia's spider-form, had its substitution cypher decrypted by Octavius, read:

<blockquote style="font-style: italic">
Deeplord Sobja,

The time approaches. The Monolith is nearly in our hands. Tharos’s gold has been generous, but I expect yours to match—House Drezz’Lynur must see no difference in weight.

Matron Zorratha still believes I act in her name. She is blind to the webs I weave beneath her own. The ogres are fools, but useful ones. I will complete the sigils in the teleportation circle as I agreed, but their path will not lead to Surthay. Instead, the ogres will find the Monolith and themselves in the depths of the Black Gloam near Fraaszummdin—your territory. You will know what to do.

Beware diviners. Tharos is ever watchful of those unshielded. 

We will await your gold.

Burn this letter.

Aunrae Drezz'Lynur
</blockquote>

* Her chest (unlocked with a key from her boot) contained Tharos's and the duergars' payment to her, summing up to thousands and thousands of gold pieces, along with a priceless Lolth-themed Scroll of Ressurection. The coins were minted in Thay and in a city bearing the symbol of a spider wielding different weapons on each leg.
** Unit 137 counted the coins as they entered the bag of holding.
* Her alchemical setup contained a fresh vial of drow poison.
* The second room, a guard station, contained several hammocks, wooden weapons, a glowing cluster of crystals, a second door to the cavern complex, and a notebook.
** The notebook was a log watching duergar traffic through this area. They overheard them speaking of a bottomless abyss a tenday to the southeast and reports of a necromancer's creations to the west.
** The crystals contained faerzress, the Underdark's radiation that interferes with conjuration and divination. The party harvested all five of these.

=== The Telthor Wanes ===
* Alaundo, Octavius's mouse, began gesticulating while keeping watch on the monolith.
* Pulsing weakly, the monolith spoke as Lilia approached, still in spider form.
<blockquote style="font-style: italic">
"This vessel wanes, a light dimming beneath cold horizons. But you [he hovered toward the little spider Lilia] -- your soul is a night sky, boundless, where new constellations may yet be woven. Will you harbor what fades?"
</blockquote>
* The owl telthor, made of starry motes of light, weakly hovered over the spider, and then wrapped around her like a cloak, disappearing into her body.
** Lilia learned a new [[Starry Form: Owl]].
** The telthor said he would rejoin the monolith once they returned to Rashemen.
* Diedric disturbed the teleportation circle, including removing a stone from its ring.
* With the drow still unconscious, the party settled in for the night, hiding the monolith with Diedric's Tiny Hut, choosing to sleep in the hideout location.

=== The Second Interrogation ===
* '''Date:''' 17th of Tarsakh (The Claw of the Storms, April), just past midnight, 1372 DR
* During their long rest, the party awoke to hear ropers eating the bodies of dead drow. Two shared the ogre halves.
* In the morning, Octavius began transcribing Tenser's Floating Disk after resummoning Smokescale.
** Smokescale went on a profanity-ridden tirade about having been killed.
* The drow woman awoke, immediately demanding that the men present kill the women, ordering their silence, demanding Octavius step away from her spellbook.
** Unit 137 slowly revealed his spikes.
* Lilia healed her a bit more and offered her mushrooms. She spat at the offer.
* The woman listened closely whenever the party would openly speak about Tharos, the monolith, and their situation.
** This was fine and she had nothing to worry about--

=== Bloodied Feathers ===
* Most of the party ventured toward the Monolith to discuss what to do.
* Octavius stayed behind to make final preparations for the floating disk spell.
* On the way to the Monolith, Lilia overheard Glenn telling Diedric that Octavius was about to kill the drow.
* Lilia ran back in time to hear the drow's screams, walking into Octavius standing over her with a dagger.
** They had a discussion about the situation. Smokescale materialized to say he was about to do the same.
** Unit 137 confirmed the kill with spam-crouching and spiking.

=== Deliberations ===
* After killing a helpless woman on National Woman's Day weekend, the party debated what to do with the monolith.
** Some thought it best to seek its destruction, others to return it to the grove.
** Smokescale made the proposal to give it to Bel, the Archduke of Baator. (Everyone rolled their eyes before even hearing it.)
* They decided to return it to the grove.
* Not knowing how his planeswalking abilities work fully, Octavius decided it was best not to experiment.
** He did get the sense that familiarity with the destination was a factor.
* Ultimately the party decided on using Tenser's Floating Disk (dark and drow-themed) to tow the monolith behind the carpet, making the full day's flight back to the surface.
* Octavius conjured the floating disk, which effortlessly lifted the Monolith.

=== Towing The Monolith ===

* Taking flight over the Cold Sea, the party traced their steps back to the surface.
** Lilia and Glenn could not see in the absolute darkness.
* Glenn held the cloaker's carapace over the carpet as the monolith followed close behind.
* Octavius occasionally maintained the ritual spell while adding more spells to his spellbook.

=== Roper Drive-By ===
* Seeing through the disguise, a roper lashed out at the party, but Smokescale maneuvered the carpet out of the way before it could cause harm.
* Lilia struck it with a cantrip as a parting shot.

=== We Need A Shovel ===
* '''Date:''' 17th of Tarsakh (The Claw of the Storms, April), early afternoon, 1372 DR
* Half a day later, the party arrived at the badger tunnel leading back to the surface.
* With luck, they discovered a shovel in the bag of holding, and a few hours later, made the tunnel large enough to fit everything through.

=== The Grove Restored ===
* '''Date:''' 17th of Tarsakh (The Claw of the Storms, April), mid-afternoon, 1372 DR
* The party erupted into the Rashemi forest of Urlingwood at day time, their eyes taking time to adjust.
* Below them, they could see more arrivals to the grove, including berserkers, wychlarans, and many wolves. A small girl spotted them.
* They flew directly into the inner grove, possible since the upper branches had burned in the battle.
* The three wychlaran sisters guided the Monolith to its center, molding the earth beneath it to set it vertically.
* The telthor left Lilia's body and flew into the Monolith. A swirl above the sky transformed it back to twilight.
** A stillness settled into place as the alien moss began to regrow on the grove's soil.
* The Telthor monologued:
<blockquote style="font-style: italic">
"The current now falters against a new bulwark—unyielding stones that defies its ordained flow. Destiny, once clear as a rushing stream, has been averted. It now splits into countless rivulets, each uncertain in their courses."

"The waters swirl where once they ran straight, and a bloodied feather stands against them."

"Paths not taken leave echoes. The weaver who foresaw his end grows reckless, grasping for threads unseen as he unravels. Even a tapestry's frayed edges can catch and tear."

</blockquote>
* The wychlaran sisters mentioned that instruments of divination had shattered about half a day ago for many of their order, including their own.
* They then took their own turns monologuing:

<blockquote style="font-style: italic">
"Our divinations did not see this end."

"We are grateful to you for your aid."

"It is long past time for the lodges to unite."

"The Tuigan Horde rendered Citadel Rashemar a tomb, but not our people."

"It is time for a new Iron Lord."

"The wolf lodge has arrived, and the others will soon follow. The lodges will cast their votes."

"This grove will be our new bastion."
</blockquote>

* Glenn has insight into this.
** In the Year of the Turret (1360 DR), a great host came from the east like a plague of locusts. Under the leadership of Yamun Khahan, the Tuigan tribes unified and launched a massive invasion into Faerûn. This campaign saw them swiftly conquering territories in Thesk and Rashemen, posing a significant threat to the western nations. The invasion was eventually halted by a coalition of forces led by King Azoun IV of Cormyr, culminating in the defeat of the Tuigan Horde. (13 years ago)
*** Citadel Rashemar, however, was overrun, its Iron Lord killed, and is abandoned.
* Taking Glenn's advice, the three witches turned into badgers to seal up the hole to the Underdark.

=== A Gift Of Faerzress ===
* The party gifted each wychlaran witch a faerzress-infused crystal, which they put in a triangle around the monolith's inner grove.
** While these would fade in sunlight, since the grove was in perpetual twilight, it should function.

=== Grimsnarl's Promise ===
* Grimsnarl, a gray dire wolf, trotted over to the party, thanking them for their aid.
** When asked, he explained he was a wolf that had been awakened.
* Grimsnarl: "Your voices would be welcome when it comes time to select the next Iron Lord. Have you met any on your travels that would be worthy?"
** Glenn volunteered himself indirectly.
* Grimsnarl: "My choice would be for a distant friend. He's a simpleton, but his dajemma is legendary. He travels still with the child of Bhaal on the Sword Coast."
* Lilia asked if he could get more information about her coven sister.
** He trotted off and returned. A series of animals informed him that she was spotted a day ago in a goblin den in the High Country.
* Lilia asked him for a boon -- for her coven to be allowed to study the Monolith. He agreed to speak with the wychlarans.

=== Flight to the High Country ===
* The party took flight, heading east, following the sketched map that was copied from the dragonslayers.
** After flying past Urlingwoood, twilight suddenly became daylight.
* After a few hours, they were flying over the High Country proper.
** Sparse, rocky hills rolled below, broken by occasional patches of dry, wind-battered grass.
** With a large icy mountain clearly visible in its center, the lair of Kissethkashaan, a white dragon who has laired there for hundreds of years.
* They veered north, knowing this was the direction of the Nanraak Goblin country.
* After some time, they spotted a trail of grasses that had been chopped as if by bored travelers.
* Then, flying lower, they heard a crackling sound.

=== The Shattered Seal ===
* '''Date:''' 17th of Tarsakh (The Claw of the Storms, April), late afternoon, 1372 DR

* Following the sound through tall yellow grasses led to a circle of broken stone pillars.
* At its center was a cracked stone disc, three paces in diameter. It was inscribed with jagged runes and had several cracks.
** The goblin trail ended there.
** Octavius recalled the following bit of lore from his studies: The Raumathari, who warred with the Narfelli in the ancient past, were known to bind fiends into obelisks and seals. They used them in their wars, in an area that would later become Rashemen.
** Octavius recognized the runes as being an Abjuration ward, keeping some power in check.
* Smokescale indicated that something smelled very wrong. Unit 137 began sniffing the air.

=== Gifts Ungiven ===
* A black tendril shot out from the seal, ignoring Octavius's Shield spell and piercing his chest.
* It pulsed with power, asking him which attributes he valued the least, and which he valued the most.
** He selected Strength as the least and Intellect as the most.
** The disk boomed: ''"The brutes who swing clubs like children with their toys—they are not the ones who shape the world. Strength is for laborers, for fools who bend their backs instead of bending wills. Feel the power I offer you, the strength to command rather than obey."''
** Octavius permanently lost -1 STR and gained +1 INT. He visibly became frailer.
** The party asked WTF was going on.
* Three more tendrils made offerings to the remaining party members.
** They all refused.
* Annoyed, the three tendrils entered Octavius once more, making the same offer again.
** He took it with no hesitation.

=== The Raumathari Weapon ===
* The seal shattered, its runes struggling and ultimately fading, as roiling darkness appeared where it once was.
* Four brutal arms clawed their way out, two tipped with crab-like pincers, as a towering demon, its flesh protected by red chiten, broke free.
* Despite it being daytime, the area darkened.
** Lilia identified this as a glabrezu, an abyssal creature that preyed on the delusions of others to corrupt their souls.
* The creature paced, thankful for its freedom, and offered to grant more power if the party turned on one of their members and killed them.
** Octavius understood that the creature was sincere, but also that it would kill them the moment it had damned their souls to the Abyss by their actions.
* The creature began walking away confidently, ''"My deepest gratitude—your gift of freedom shall birth horrors beyond your imagining on this plane. Remember this day — the day you beheld Threxzadur. Now, to free my bretheren."''
* With resigned "time to reroll" energy, the party charged the beast.
* It turned expectantly, "Oh, how quickly the balance shifts! You stink of righteousness, yet strike like fiends yourselves. Delicious."
* Smokescale lost bowel control.
* The session ended.

=== Epilogue: Theft of Fate ===
* Tharos awoke in the middle of the night as his scrying orb shattered.
* All about his chamber, other tools of divination has either disintegrated or started burning, including a priceless pile of dark bones from Chult in a pewter bowl. He cursed and smothered the flame with his arm sleeves.
* He heard shouts coming from the rest of his complex in Surthay as other wizards began exclaiming similar experiences in his laboratory.
* Striding up to the top of his tower, he beheld an omen -- an owl at a window, preening at a small wound on its side.
** It flapped away after looking at him, leaving behind a single bloodied feather.
** A dry cough overtook Tharos as he knelt in the room's center. Its floor was covered in runes and bore an inset area, meant to hold a large object in its place.

== Maps ==
[[File:Undrek-thoz.jpg|none|600px|thumb|Undrek'Thoz, Drow City-States]]
[[File:The-earthroot.png|none|600px|thumb|The Underdark, Earthroot Region]]

* Interactive Faerun map, including the Underdark: [https://forgottenmaps.web.app/map/Faerun https://forgottenmaps.web.app/map/Faerun]

== NPCs Encountered (or mentioned) ==
* [[Deeplord Sobja]], the Duergar Leader of Fraaszummdin
* [[Grimsnarl]], the Awakened Wolf
* [[Threxzadur]], the Raumathari Weapon

== Memes ==
* "The waters swirl where once they ran straight, and a bloodied feather stands against them."
** Nick: "... oh hey guys that's me! HE'S TALKING ABOUT ME."

== DM Thoughts ==
* I get tears and/or threads of stabbing whenever I suggest not doing an event the following week.
** I need to make sure I balance preparation depth and my other obligations.
** I'll get an organic reprieve as people have scheduling conflicts the next few weeks.