Rise of the Runelords Recap # 96 [RPG]

[5 Pharast 4708 continued]

 

After having battled into the Halls of Wrath, the adventurers decide to retreat when they realize they’re being magically scried.  When they reach the central hub of Runeforge, from which the other wings radiate outward like spokes from a wheel, they notice something has changed: a slim scroll tube has been propped up against the statue depicting the Runelord of Gluttony.  Kang translates the scroll from Thassilonian:  it’s a request for a “truce and conversation” from someone named Azaven.  From reading Vraxeris’ journals, Kang knows that Azaven is a powerful necromancer quick to seize the bodies of the deceased for his vile experiments.  The Heroes of Varisia decide that a potential ally, or at least a source of information, could be quite useful—but they’re also prepared for a trap.

A figure soon emerges from the hallway behind the statue: a man of dry, leathery flesh that none can doubt is one of the walking dead! A crown is set on his brow, and he holds in one hand a staff made of bone with the Thassilonian rune for gluttony (and necromancy) burned into it.  Flanking this figure, who must be Azaven, are a pair of wispy, barely visible shadowy creatures that drift over the floor.  Jinkatsyu’s heart begins to beat quickly as fear becomes visible on his face, but the other adventurers manage to put on a brave face.  “A lich!” Kang whispers to his allies.

Azaven was not pleased by the adventurers' 

previous intrusion into his domain.

The “conversation” doesn’t go well.  Azaven is imperious, asking many questions but offering little.  He seems agitated and dismissive in turn, and soon offers the adventurers a ludicrous bargain: if they turn over one of their number to him, he’ll let the rest live!  They refuse, of course, and Azaven departs quickly, proclaiming that the “truce” is over and that all of the newcomers will soon become fodder for his “studies.” 

When the lich and his shadows have moved out of earshot, Kang says it’s urgent that the group escape Runeforge quickly before Azaven comes after them.  Ava suggests heading straight for the Halls of Wrath again and trying to find the escape route mentioned in Vraxeris’ journal, but Erik says leaving without having created a weapon strong enough to defeat Karzoug would be a mistake.  Kang studies the Runeforge pool carefully, and with his newly-expanded intellect and study of Vraxeris’ journal, proclaims that he could use the pool to make a weapon particularly useful against transmuters like Karzoug.  But, he would need one of “Delvahine’s toys” permeated with raw enchantment magic from the wing of Runeforge known as the Iron Cages of Lust.

Fearing an attack by Azaven, the adventurers move quickly down the necessary corridor.  Unlike the last time they were here, Ava’s magic is strong enough to overcome the invisible wall of force that blocked access.  The long corridor leads to a grand, opulent chamber that can only be described as a cathedral to lasciviousness itself.  Thick pillars carved with the likeness of a beautiful nude woman support a ninety-foot-high domed ceiling, the surface of which depicts creatures engaged in all manner of carnal acts.  At the centre of the massive chamber is a pavilion of opaque silk sheets, but around the sides of the room are several delicate-looking cages.  One cage, to the left of the entrance, contains a man who seems to be barely clinging to life; but he’s not allowed to recover in peace, as he’s being tormented by four strikingly gorgeous women with horned brows, taloned feet, and batlike wings!

A beautiful place of endless torment.

The adventurers decide it would be foolhardy to try to negotiate with such creatures. They instead seize the advantage of surprise, with Kang opening the assault by hurling a bomb of magical explosive force.  The winged creatures, alu-demons, shriek with delight to see new prey to torment.  They launch into the air and begin teasing and mocking the adventurers’ appearance and sexuality while simultaneously trying to use their demonic powers to compel them to submit.  The heroes are quick to trade punches (verbally and physically) and soon carry the field.  Kang talks to the man in the cage, but it’s clear that countless years of mental torment have reduced him to a state that’s barely human.

Closer inspection of the pavilion shows an entrance on one side, but with five immobile, obviously-entranced stone giants standing on guard.  Erik mutters that he’s down to just one bullet, and suggests seeing if there’s a back entrance.  It turns out there’s not, but that doesn’t stop the adventurers from trying to make one.  Jinkatsyu tries to stab a hole with his enchanted rapier, but the fabric of the pavilion wall doesn’t tear at all!  Kang inspects it and realizes it’s a special material made from the silk of behemoth spiders.  He says he can blast his way, but it certainly won’t be subtle.  It takes three of his best explosives to open a passageway.

 

As the smoke from the explosives clears, a chamber whose floor is covered with blankets, pillows, and sheets heaped on the floor can be seen.  Dozens of exotic bejewelled toys are strewn about the room, many with a salaciously obvious purpose.  But two silent, motionless figures stand in corners of the room—strange figures that look something like emaciated children with clawed hands.  Jinkatsyu remembers their kind instantly from the fight outside Mokmurian’s library: the so-called “shining children”.  Loud moaning can be heard from somewhere else in the pavilion as the adventurers quickly confer about what to do.  Kang grabs the occasionally-mobile tumor that’s always attached to him somewhere and whispers to it.  It crawls, slug-like, into the boudoir and retrieves one of the bejewelled toys.  But its presence in the chamber they were set to guard does not go unnoticed, and the shining children suddenly erupt in bright, white hot light!  Jinkatsyu is blinded instantly, but still guards the torn passageway as the shining children send blast after blast of burning light his way.  Ava moves into position to heal his blindness and succeeds, but at the cost of becoming blinded herself! 

 

And just as things look dire, the situation gets even worse: the moaning stops and seconds later a new figure makes an appearance: Delvahine, the mistress of the Iron Cages of Lust herself!

--------------------------------

Director's Commentary

I'm glad the PCs got to do at least a little role-playing in Runeforge through the appearance of Azaven.  There's actually a lot of intrigue going on between the different wings of the place, and I've read in the forums that some groups get really involved in it.  Others go systematically and slaughter everything.  My group stayed pretty focus on their--getting a weapon to defeat Karzoug and getting out fast.

The "Iron Cages of Lust" was one of those things I was very careful how I presented, especially because there was only one female player at the table and a bunch of guys.  I think everyone handled it maturely though.  I thought Kang's idea of using his detachable tumor familiar (alchemists are weird!) to steal the needed item was really clever.  But sometimes the best laid plans come down to one Stealth check vs one Perception check, and this time it didn't pan out.