As Balthasar performed a ceremony for the deceased drakkenwhyte, he addressed his remaining brothers, “We stand in the shadow of a grievous loss. Brave souls—our kin, our family—gave their lives this day in a battle against an ancient terror. They faced fury and lightning with unyielding courage, knowing that their sacrifice was not for themselves, but for the greater good.
“Each of them understood the weight of the oath we swore, to stand against the tide of darkness, to shield the innocent from the Red Hand's malice, and to fight even the most fearsome of foes in the name of Aurelios light. They knew, as we do, that the cost of failure is too great to bear. “Let us not falter under the burden of grief, but rise stronger for their sacrifice. Let their valor steel our resolve, their memory guide our swords, and their spirits march beside us as we press on toward victory. “We shall honor their memory with triumph. Together, we will end the Red Hand's reign of terror and ensure that their sacrifice was for the salvation of all. Rest now, noble kin. Your fight is over. Ours continues. For the Light of Aurelios.” Gruffudd shared his Legend Lore of High Wyrmlord Azarr Kul: Born from flame and shadowed prayer, Azarr Kul, a child rare, His sire, a dragon, his scales of blue, His dam, a priestess, of Takhisis' few. From father's might, the fire of greed, From mother’s hand, the darkened creed, He learned to crave the power vast, To rise, to rule, to make them last. Azarr Kul, the scion of might, Bore his lineage like a guiding light. With dragon's fire and priestly creed, He vowed to see his people freed. For in his heart, a yearning burned, To see his kindred’s pride returned. No longer scattered, shamed, and low, But conquerors, as the ancients know. "Moaard," he cried, "shall rise anew, A realm of strength, of order true. With hobgoblin wyrmlords to guide its path, Our destiny calls; the lands shall feel our wrath! The bugbears' stealth, the goblins' craft, Each played a part in the empire's raft. Through warbound honor, with Takhisis' flame, We'll carve our place, reclaim her name." Yet shadows linger on such dreams, For power bends the brightest schemes. To raise one people, others must fall, And pride may herald ruin's call. So Azarr Kul, with fervent stride, Leads his kin with hearts of pride. But whispers warn, as banners rise, That glory claimed may break the skies. Camwise pointed out the magical items in the horde. Dameron claimed a suit of Mithral Plate, Camwise took a Potion of Mind Reading, and Balthasar took a second Potion of Frost Giant Strength. While Camwise was identifying a Red Ruby, a confused Heah Elf appeared. She admired Balthasar’s physique and suggested he would be more appealing if his scales were stripped away. She animated Turgarun’s corpse and forced it to consume itself. She introduced herself as Ysalfnlae and agreed to assist the Daring Friends for an hour. Rezyrius spoke the entry phrase, “Hail Takhisis…” and the huge double doors opened. He recalled that Azarr Kull had a vault somewhere in the lower fane where the blooding ritual took place and mentioned never having accessed the inner sanctum, which was only accessible by flight. They all entered and slowly moved to the second set of double doors at the end of the corridor. Responding to a slight from Ysalfnlae, Camwise challenged the elf and agreed to a magical duel. Camwise found no traps on the door but Balthasar heard breathing and felt a slight vibration coming from beyond it. Ysalfnlae cast Greater Invisbility and Blindng Mirror Image on herself and Dameron cast Bless as they entered the chamber beyond. Rezyrius shot hit shortbow, striking one of two Redspawn Firebelchers waiting within. Charging forward, Balthasar struck one with this Thunderblade. Flanking Balthasar, the drakkenwhyte threw javelins, striking the Firebelcher. Camwise hit the Firebelcher with a Blinding Acid Arrow. The Redspawn Firebelchers belched fire into the air. Jaervellios hit the Firebelcher with an arrow. Ysalfnlae blasted both Firebelcher’s with a Cone of Cold, exploding the one of the right. Gruffudd blasted the last Firebelcher with Magic Missiles. Two Bluespawn Ambushers emerged from the walls in the back of the corridor blasting the corridor with Electricity Bursts. Two Greenspawn Leapers burst through the doors. One of them tore into Ysalfnlae and a drakkenwhyte with teeth and fangs. Balthasar slashed into a Greenspawn Leaper, paralyzing it and the drakkenwhyte struck it down triggering its Poison Burst. The drakkenwhyte hit the other Greenspawn Leaper with javelins. Dameron smashed a Bluespawn Ambusher with his morningstar and his Spiritual Hammer. Camwise swung at the Bluespawn Ambusher with staff. A Redspawn Firebelcher belched fire at Ysalfnlae, killing the last Greenspawn. Jaervellios paralyzed a Bluespawn with his Paralyzing Touch. Ysalfnlae blasted a Redspawn with Ruinous Magic Missiles. Gruffudd destroyed a Bluespawn with Blight. Rezyrius struck down the final Bluespawn Ambusher. Thumping could be heard from beyond the double doors to the north. Balthasar struck down the last Firebelcher with his javelins and opened a doubledoor to the north revealing a Bluespawn Stormlizard. The drakkenwhyte threw javelins at it, striking with two. Bluespawn Stormlizard blasted Balthasar and the drakkenwhyte with Lightning Breath. Dameron blasted it with Sacred Flame. Camwise blasted it from his Wand of Fireballs. Jaervellios hit it with an arrow. Ysalfnlae blasted it with Ruinous Magic Missilles. Gruffudd put the Stormlizard down the with his Wand of Magc Missilles and Lightning exploded from it into Balthasar. Camwise cast Arcane Eye and sent it down the left passage. He found the torture chamber was filled with spiders. To the right, he saw a white spawn. Beyond was a young white dragon lying chained on a frozen bed. The bindings were inscribed with runes and she appeared to be in a malnourished stupor. The central corridor was empty. Gruddudd consorted with Ysalfnlae as everyone else went right to engage the Whitespawn Icekidders. Balthasar charged into the chamber and slashed into a Whitespawn with Rufus, stunning it. The drakkenwhyte followed, dropping it with their spears. Entering the room, Rezyrius shot the other with an arrow. Camwise dashed into the room, followed by Dameron. A Whitespawn Icekidders blasted Camwise, Balthasar and the drakkenwhyte with its Freezing Breath. Balthasar struck down the last Iceskidder with Rufus. To the south, the white dragon’s maw was smeared with ichor. Balthasar fed it his antitoxin. She recovered and attempted to lunge but was restrained by the chains. Balthasar explained that we had healed her and were here to free her. Glazhael the Failed shared that she was being punished for refusing to serve the Red Hand. Camwise cast Dispel Magic on the rune-filled chains and Balthasar broke them. The drakkenwhyte opened the secret door to the north. Responding to Camwise’s thoughts, Ysalfnlae tried to Polymorph him, but he resisted. Passing beyond the secret door, they entered the warroom in the lower fane, where Camwise had seen five alcoves, the first three holding two wyverns and a three-headed dragon. Candles of various colors burned throughout the large chamber, white in the pit, blue around the perimeter, and red in the corner and a top a massive thrown. Camwise detected that an Alarm was set on the opposite side of the door. Camwise peaked in and quickly cast Dispel Magic, eliminating the Alarm. With his drakkenwhyte in tow, Balthasar snuck into the large chamber and they made their way to the central alcove. Rezyrius snuck into the north western alcove and assassinated the wyvern hiding there. Balthasar climbed into the central alcove and threw his Bands of Bolero at the Young Dragon residing there. The drakkenwhyte scaled the walls to the alcove. The Favored Young Dragon of Takhisis breathed fire, burningthe drakkenwhyte and the bands. Rezyrius snuck into the eastern alcove and stabbed the wyvern hiding there. The Young Dragon blasted the drakkenwhyte with its Cold Breath. Dameron moved into the chamber. The Young Dragon shattered the bands with its Lightning Breath. The Favored Young Dragon of Takhisis clawed down a drakkenwhyte as the other hit it with a spear. Entering the chamber, Gruffudd blasted the Young Dragon with a Thunder Bolt. Its red head breathed flame on the candles, setting off an inferno around Balthasar and the drakkenwhyte. Entering the chamber, Jaervellios shot the wyvern in the eastern alcove with an arrow. Two wyverns flew down from their alcoves, one stinging Jaervellios and the other stinging and grappling Dameron. Entering the chamber, Camwise cast Slow on the two wyverns and the Young Dragon. The Young Dragon blasted the drakkenwhyte with its Lightning Breath. Brandishing his Friostbrand, Balthasar extinguished the inferno around him and extinguished the red candles with a Gust of Wind. The drakkenwhyte and Rezyrius were forced to grovel by the Young Dragon’s Command. With his Rod of Rulership, Dameron forced the two flyiong wyvern to obey him. Favored Young Dragon of Takhisis cast Cloudkill on the wyverns, Dameron, and Gruffudd. Gruffudd cast Thunderwave on some blue candles. The blue dragon breathed lighting breath on the candles, setting off a ricochet of lightning. Moving out of the poison gas, Jaervellios shotthe Young Dragon. From the entryway, Ysalfnlae cast Confiscating Dispel Magic, repositioning the Couldkill to the eastern alcove, killing the wyvern there. The other two wyvern flew along the edge of the lightning wall. From the entryway, Camwise cast Fireball, melting the candles and eliminating the lightning wall. Dashing, Balthasar extinguished the blue candles with his Gust of Wind. The drakkenwhyte began to grovel at the Young Dragon’s Command. Rezyrius slashed the Young Dragon and leaped down from the alcove and poison cloud. As the Favored Young Dragon of Takhisis flew out of the poison cloud, Dameron hit it with his Sacred Flame as it clawed him. Gruffudd used his Wand of Secrets, finding nothing. The white head breathed on Jaervellios and the white candles, triggering a blizzard. Jaervellios dashed out of the blizzard. Ysalfnlae cast Prismatic Spray, catch Dameron and the two wyverns. One of the wyverns began to grovel at the Young Dragon’s Command and the other flew out of the blizzard. WIth his wand, Camwise cast Fireball, hitting the groveling wyvern and extinguishing the white candles. The Young Dragon blasted Dameron and his wyvern with Lightning Breath. The Yong Dragon dismissed its Cloudkill as Balthasar engaged her. The drakkenwhyte leaped down from the norther alcove and dashed toward the Young Dragon. Rezyrius shot the Young Dragon with an arrow. Dameron cast Heal on himself as the Favored Young Dragon of Takhisis breathed fire on him and his wyvern. Then the Young Dragon clawed down the wyvern, dropping Dameron from the air before swooping down and exchanging blows with Dameron. Gruffudd cast Blight on the Young Dragon. Jaervellios shot the Young Dragon with an arrow. The white head blasted Dameron, Jaervellios, and Gruffudd with Cold Breath. Ysalfnlae Disintergrated the Young Dragon. Flying at Camwise, The last wyvern stung the wizard, poisoning him. Camwise hit the wyvern with a Shocking Grasp. Throwing javelins, Balthasar brought the last wyvern down and the chamber grew quiet. Dameron cast Mass Cure Wounds, healing himself and his companions. Before leaving, Ysalfnlae gave Gruffudd a hummingbird feather, bestowing upon him the gift of Foresight. She also cast Remove Curse on Dameron’s rod so he could attune to his Wand of Lightning Bolts. As the solemn light filtered through the chamber, casting silver streaks across the floor, Balthasar and the remaining silver drakkenwhyte sat in silent reverence. Their weapons, symbols of their strength and service, rested across their laps. Together, they spoke the final words of Aurelios' Prayer, their voices a quiet harmony of grief and resolve, "When the light shines, we answer. When the shadow falls, we endure. In the name of Aurelios, we rise and guard the land." After a short rest, Gruffudd’s Wand of Secrets revealed a secret door behind the giant throne. The door led to a natural corridor leading to a large cave with descending levels. Emerging from the shadows was an 18-foot tall Bluespawn Godslayer. Chanting could be heard beyond it.
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