judgement returns

The group make their way to the City of Bones and discover shadow and smoke rising from the center and spreading out across the sky. Ethereal beings fly from this mass going in various directions to spread across the land. Ordeith sends out his raven to scout around the city and spots black and gold robes disappearing between buildings and he recognizes them as belonging to his former patron, the lich.

Prepared to face the lich, the group step up into the city and head toward the center tower. Almost there, they encounter the lich and his army of skeletal hands that grab at their ankles. They are able to kill the lich, with Ordeith dealing the final blow signifying his new allegiance to the Raven Queen. However, the victory is short lived as Fix recalls his knowledge of these creatures. Ordeith confirms that the lich will return in time and the phylactery must be destroyed to truly kill the lich.

Focus quickly turns to the pouring out of the shadowfell though as the more prominent issue and they continue to the tower. Once they arrive, they notice a pedestal in the center which has not been there before. They move in to investigate and discover an inscription that seemingly gives directions. Recognizing some of the symbols as matching their swords, Ordeith and Kadath begin to follow them.

     When Life and Death cross their paths
     Through Dark and Light the swords do pass
     Bring to Balance that whish is held
     Touch Light to Light and Dark to Dark
     Keep hold of Life, push Death to part

Each step they take to complete the steps, Fix, Evangeline, and Forsythe feel waves of energy wash over them, making them nauseous. Each of them fight against the relics of Velsharoon from being removed from their holdings. 

With a final push of his sword, Ordeith triggers the smoke and shadow mass to reverse. As it does, the ethereal beings pass through him and form ranks, awaiting his orders. His raven informs him quietly that they “await his command.” As the realization of his new army sinks in, the pedestal sinks into the floor and is replaced by a portal to the shadowfell.

After calling back the creatures attacking the cities, Ordeith shares his goodbyes and takes his army through the portal. Once all have passed, the portal shrinks leaving behind an onyx. Kadath recognizes the faint magic as an anchor to the plane and Forsythe places it into his bag.

Now that the threat of the shadowfell is contained, the group leave the city, noticing the buildings slowly being transformed back into crystals. They watch the city move onward and a glint of a golden key catches their attention.

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Episode 83