Session0006

March 28th
In the desert of Chwaka, Blakjak scouts ahead of the party, and finds a colossal arcanomechanical hand protruding out from the desert - presumably the Imlaq Colossus that Rye claimed to be leading the party towards. Blakjak informs the party of that there is a group of people gathered at the hand, seemingly standing watch around an open hatch in its palm. Amongst these people, Blakjak reports seeing Lane Coronato, but says that she does not see Malkoth's amulet on him.

The party decides to wait until nightfall to approach the hand, in order to avoid the dangers of traveling through the desert at midday. They set up a small campsite, and spend the afternoon resting.

While the party is resting, Malkoth tells the party what he was told about his heritage by Lane Coronato in Karaad. Odell recognizes the name of Natalie Shaw - the woman that Lane claimed to be his mother, and by extension Malkoth's grandmother. He says that she was a former member of the Weavers Conclave, who died about 10 years ago. She specialized in conjuration magic and the planes of existence - particularly the Outer Planes - and studied for a time at the College of Mimrinoth in the Circle of Far Weavers.

Discussing Lane Coronato's nature, Gragnok deduces that he is likely an incubus, based on his abilities and traits. He informs the party of the strengths and weaknesses of incubi, and warns that they are able to travel into the ethereal plane.

Around sundown, the party makes their way towards the hand. En route, Rye suggests that the party takes a diplomatic approach in their confrontation with Lane Coronato if possible, but most of the party objects to this notion, citing their mistrust for anything that Lane would have to say to them.

As the party draws near to the hand, Lane Coronato warns them not to come any closer, as his henchmen draw weapons. Malkoth asks him why he took his amulet, and demands it back. Lane says that he had a business arrangement to fulfill, but offers no details. He says that the amulet is within the colossus, gesturing at the open hatch in the palm, but also says that part of his business arrangement involves guarding the hand, and as such he cannot let the party come any closer. Before the conversation can continue, Malkoth, overcome with rage, fire magic missiles at Lane. When he does so, he also inadvertently conjures a stormcloud of hellfire which fills the sky above.

As the battle begins, Lane seems impressed by Malkoth's conjured storm, and encourages him to embrace his infernal heritage. He then disappears into the ethereal plane, leaving his henchmen to fight the party. Rye warns Lane that his father would be disappointed with him, and then he transforms into an incubus himself, and disappears into the ethereal plane, where he finds Lane lingering nearby.

The party fights Lane's henchmen, killing a few, and forcing the others to surrender. Malkoth demonstrates a limited ability to control and manipulate the fiery storm that he inadvertently conjured, before eventually dispersing it.

Meanwhile, in the ethereal plane, Lane Coronato asks Rye what he knows of Lane's father. Rye refuses to answer unless Lane agrees to a peaceful conversation. Lane agrees, under the condition that Rye convinces the rest of the party to stand down.

Rye reappears on the material plane, and convinces the party to talk peacefully with Lane. With the situation defused, Lane reappears. Rye once again demands Malkoth's amulet back, and tells Lane to apologize to Malkoth. Lane once again says that the amulet is within the colossus. He says that his business with it is done, and that the party is welcome to go retrieve it as far as he is concerned. He refuses to apologize to Malkoth, insisting that he never lied to him.

Lane once again asks Rye what he knows of his father, but Rye refuses to answer, because Lane didn't hold up his end of the bargain and apologize to Malkoth or return the amulet. The conversation having reached an impasse, Lane once again disappears into the ethereal plane.

After the fight, the party regroups and discusses their next steps. Questioning Lane's two surviving henchmen, they learn that they were simply hired hands, and they release them to return to Karaad.

Discussing Malkoth's conjured storm, Jack offers to try to help him temper his magic the next time it grows uncontrollable. Odell speculates that being the grandson of Natalie Shaw, a powerful conjurer, might be related to his bouts of uncontrolled conjuration magic.

Meanwhile, Rye has another vision, similar to those that he experienced in Karaad and on the island of Ymana. In this vision, he is standing in the desert at the foot of the Imlaq Colossus, seemingly after a battle has taken place. He is accompanied by a leonin with an arcanomechnical claymore, wearing Malkoth's amulet, who he recognizes as Mahadi. Asmodeus appears, and praises Rye as the captain of the colossus and trumpeter of the apocalypse, and warns of another battle to come with the forces of Pelor. Afterwards, Mahadi expresses to Rye his chagrin at not being mentioned as the colossus' creator.

Having recuperated from their ordeal, the party enter the hatch in the hand, finding that it is enchanted with a magical effect that reorients gravity within, such that they find themselves looking "down" through the hatch once they are inside. Gragnok opts to stay outside of the hand, expressing his distrust for the infernal aspects of the colossus. Ilex and Buttonworth remain outside as well, and Malkoth also leaves Blakjak outside to keep watch, privately citing his distrust for Gragnok.

The rest of the party delves into the colossus, making their way down the arm and to the shoulder level. On the way, Odell studies the inner workings of the colossus. He discovers a circuit of copper plates engraved with arcane glyphs - seemingly the mechanism that once delivered power throughout the colossus.

In the shoulder level, the party finds a disheveled conference room, and a pair of arcanomechanical cannons that seem to fire explosives made from nitroglycerin.

Continuing upward to the mouth level, the party finds a large, heavily damaged arcanomechanical magic cannon. While investigating the room, Rye hears the sound of ocarina music playing somewhere above, and rushes up to the top level of the colossus' head.

Meanwhile, back outside, Gragnok works with Ilex and Buttonworth to set up a small campsite on a nearby sand dune overlooking the hand.

Following Rye, the party reaches the top level of the colossus' head. Within, they find what appears to be a control deck, including a console with copper plates, magical crystals, and other arcanomechanical devices. In the center of the room is a platform emblazoned with the holy symbol of Asmodeus. On the wall above the control console, a song is inscribed in infernal, titled the Psalm of Awakening.

Floating above the platform, the party sees and angel, who is playing the Psalm of Awakening on an ocarina. Rye recognizes the angel as Israphel, although he notices some differences from the last time he saw him: specifically, his eyes are no longer solid white, some of the feathers of his wings have turned grey, and his armor is no longer emblazoned with the holy symbol of Pelor. In its place, his armor bears a symbol depicting a helix comprised of two music staves, which Rye recognizes as a symbol that Israphel used to wear as his own personal symbol.

Israphel finishes playing the Psalm of Awakening, and approaches Rye. The two have the following conversation. Throughout this conversation, Rye speaks exclusively in infernal, and Israphel speaks exclusively in celestial:

Israphel: “Louche... my Louche; what have you done?”

Rye: “That’s a complicated question. You look different; did you dye your wings?”

Israphel: “You look... I thought I was prepared to see you like this. I was wrong.”

Rye: “So you knew?”

Israphel: “You still don’t remember, I suppose.”

Rye: “Only bits and pieces.”

Israphel: “Better than nothing. How did you do this?”

Rye: “Did you get my note? I said I was going on vacation.”

Israphel: “Vacation? Is that what you think this is? You turned yourself into a mortal?”

Rye: “Yes.”

Israphel: “Did you think about what the word ‘mortal’ means, Louche? It means mortality. Death! The end of everything... after all we’ve been through.”

Rye: “I don’t remember all we’ve been through.”

Israphel: “No... of course. It doesn’t matter now. I’m going to make this right. This song - your song - it is the key. I’m sorry; I’m not angry with you. The truth is you inspired me. All of our hours talking about what it would be like to be free from the roles that defined us. You from your dark destiny. And me...”

Israphel winces, seemingly in pain.

Israphel: “You found your freedom. Now I will have mine.”

Rye: “What did you do?”

Israphel: “I’m sorry, I cannot stay here much longer. The darkness that lingers in this place weakens me.”

Rye: “Is that why your feathers are changing to grey?”

Israphel: “It is... part of it. But not all, I’m afraid.”

Rye: “Here I thought this would be something simple.”

Israphel: “It’s never been simple with us, has it?”

Rye: “Did you get the message? I wrote you a note... bottom of the ocean?”

Israphel: “I’m afraid I didn’t.”

Rye: “Well, a lot has happened.”

Israphel once again winces in pain.

Israphel: “I’m sorry, I really cannot stay much longer. But I promise you-“

Rye: “Wait. Why did you come here?”

Israphel: “I needed your son. To fix this. And when I walk thgis world as a titan god, I will make this right. And we will rule this world. Together, as we were always meant to be.”

Rye: “I don’t want that; that sounds like so much responsibility... Okay, well, find me again. I don’t want this place to taint you more than you are already. It sounds like you have a plan - maybe not the best one...”

Israphel: “We will see each other again, I have no doubt.”

Israphel walks over to the console and removes Malkoth’s amulet from an indentation, and a disembodied infernal voice threatens that expulsion protocols will begin. He hands the amulet to Rye.

Israphel: “Do not lose this again. I must go now. I will leave you with what little aid I can offer in this form.”

Rye: “Wait!”

The two embrace, as Israphel begins to disappear.

Israphel: “Goodbye, my Louche. If you wish to see me again, my journey takes me next to the Luxturrim Obelisk. Find me there.” As Israphel disappears, a wave of healing energy washes over the party, restoring their vitality and magic. Shortly thereafter, automated defenses appear in the chamber, including semi-corporeal holographic humanoids and small clockwork drones, seemingly conjured from the magical crystals throughout the chamber. The party battles these defenses. During the fray, Rye attempts to command the defenses to desist, referring to himself as their captain and calling himself the Trumpeter of the Apocalypse, but the defenses do not respond to his command.

After the defenses are destroyed, the party confronts Rye about what has just occurred. Jack openly speculates that Rye was once a devil who had an unfulfilled romance with Israphel, that Rye left the service of his god for the sake of pursuing freedom, and that Israphel now seeks to do the same by different methods. Rye says that the situation is more complicated than that, and insists that he and Israphel are not lovers.

When pressed about why he called himself the trumpeter of the apocalypse, Rye simply says that he has had the title for a long time. Odell demands that Rye give Malkoth his amulet, which Rye does without hesitation. Rye insists that he needs to take some time to study the Psalm of Awakening. When asked, he says he doesn't know what it does, but fears that Israphel intends to abuse it.

Rye spends some time studying and memorizing the Psalm of Awakening, and learns that it has magical properties to bolster the alacrity of those who hear it, and is also capable of activating the Imlaq Colossus, provided that the colossus has a power source. While studying the psalm, he also has another vision, wherein he is playing a piece of music called the Psalm of Enlightening, while Mahadi is nearby drawing schematics for the colossus and for Malkoth's amulet. The two discuss using music to activate the colossus, and Rye suggests that Passeri could help him write such a magical song, proposing the title "The Psalm of Awakening."

After studying the song, Rye tells the party the nature of its effects, and says that he suspects there is a device called a titanheart somewhere in the colossus, which he suggests they should retrieve to prevent it being tampered with. Odell objects, saying that the colossus should be left in tact for study by the College of Mimrinoth. The party speculates that Lane Coronato might be working with Israphel to try to reactivate the colossus.

Odell asks Rye if he knows who built the colossus, and Rye says that he does. He refuses to divulge the name of the creator, saying that the person is a devil, and it is forbidden to share a devil's name.

When pressed for more information, Rye says that he could get in trouble if someone finds out what he has done, as he didn't wait to get approval. As such, he asks the party not to use his real name - insinuating that his real name is [[Louche]], the name that he was referred to by Israphel during their conversation.

The party searches the rest of the chamber, finding that there are magical eye-like devices that project the view from outside onto the control console, and also allow for sound and bardic magic to be projected outside at great distances.

Meanwhile, back outside, Gragnok takes one of the party's mounts and rides away in the direction of Karaad. When asked where he is going by Ilex, he says she'll find out soon, but offers no details. Blakjak, who is keeping watch, reports all of this to Malkoth, who relays the information to the party. The party decides to head outside to see what's going on before continuing their investigation of the colossus.

Before coming outside with the rest of the party, Malkoth and Rye try to go to the lower levels of the colossus on their own in search of the titanheart. On the way down, Rye has another vision. In this vision, he is within the colossus, as it is being breached and invaded by the forces of Pelor. He sees Israphel amongst the forces of Pelor, but before the two can talk, Rye is slain by one of the soldiers of Pelor. Israphel attempts to come to his aid, but is slain by Mahadi.

After this vision, Rye warns Malkoth that they might find his own dead body somewhere below. Before they can make it much farther, however, they find a barracks level containing a large number of undead humanoids. They quickly flee, locking the undead within the chamber, and returning to the surface to regroup with the party.

As the party reconvenes outside, Gragnok returns, and warns them to take up arms and prove their worth as his companions. The party quickly prepares, as they see a large group of human soldiers approaching from the distance. Gragnok warns that the people that are coming are hunting for multiple member of the party, but he doesn't specify whom. While making preparations, Frog retreats into his tent, and reemerges having seemingly transformed, taking the form of a gnoll. Malkoth hides nearby, suspecting that the soldiers may be the ones from Hartwell that he was warned about by Immanuel Belder.

The soldiers approach, and the party recognizes that they are adorned with symbology identifying them as soldiers of the Alviren Empire - specifically, the kingdom of Aerzen, the capitol of which is Hartwell. Their leader, who identifies himself as Marius Dorn, recognizes Gragnok, calling him a deserter, accusing him of murder, and spiting his half-elven heritage. He also asks for the whereabouts of Malkoth, and insinuates that Gragnok told him that Malkoth was here. When the party refuses to turn over Malkoth, Marius pronounces that Gragnok Blackburn is under arrest for treason and desertion, Malkoth Arkin is under arrest for the murder of Levi Sarlin, and that the rest of the party must submit to arrest and questioning about their involvement with the criminals. The party refuses to comply with Marius' orders, and battle begins.

The party battles the forces from Hartwell, ultimately killing Marius Dorn and a few other soldiers, incapacitating a few others, and convincing the rest to surrender. During the fray, Frog once again transforms, shapeshifting into the exact form of Marius Dorn.

After the battle is over, Odell searches the belongings of a sorcerer who was among the soldiers, and finds his license to practice spellcasting, which identifies him as Lenard Dahmer.