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Session 37: 04/23/2026

Who attended:

  • Steve (Burton)
  • Saera (Nyx)
  • Darin (Tink)
  • Anton (Grombo)

Quotable Quotes

What happened:

The battle between the party and Windfall continues. Grombo climbs up a stalagmite, jumps towards Windfall, and grapples her. They both land on the ground taking damage. Grombo then pins her. Zel is dying. Burton attacks Windfall. Tink attempts to Banish the Pit Fiend, but is unsuccessful. Nyx rages and attacks Windfall. Zel is still dying while Burton delivers the final blow to Windfall.

Suddenly the facets of the sanctum’s walls reflect images of Tiamat’s eyes and she speaks to the party, asking why they have interrupted the musings of the Dragon Queen?

Tink bows and explains that they are just here for the rod piece, that they are trying to stop Vecna from destroying all of the planes of existence. Tiamat refuses to let an overzealous archlich unmake the Material Plane of her creation. She will allow the party to leave with the rod. Then Tiamat looks at Nyx and says she recognizes her even if she is all grown up. Nyx questions this and Tiamat goes on to explain that Nyx is from Avernus. Her parents, Lord and Lady Shadowflame, were sent on a research mission and never returned.

Veylen came to Avernus to rescue Nyx and her twin. Tiamat would have stopped him, but he told her of the prophecy. Tiamat only half believed in this prophecy. But what harm would it be to let the twins live and escape with him.

Tiamat then allows the players to leave through the back entrance through her lair. Tink shoves a healing potion down Zel's throat and they all leave.

In Tiamat's lair there is an ancient red dragon guarding the treasure hoard and the exit is on the other side of the cavern. Tink casts Pass without Trace and Nyx uses the Arcane Gate from the rod piece. Everyone escapes through the back tunnel. Nyx stays back and says hi to the ancient red dragon and introduces herself as royalty. He says hi back and says she should go.

Everyone returns to Sigil without further complications.

In Sigil, Mordenkainen is excited to see the party return. He offers to assemble the rod and fortifying it from shattering again. Tink does not trust Mordenkainen. Tink feels that he's been rude to the party every time except this time. Tasha and Alustriel offer reassurances that Mordenkainen is trust-worthy. The rest of the party doesn't seem to agree with Tink and Nyx hands over the pieces of the rod.

Grombo and Tink ask for some food before they rest. Alustriel explains that Malania is not in the sanctum at this time and can not make food for them. Alustriel explains that she is concerned for her wife. That Malania left hours ago and has not returned. Alustriel says that Malania had mentioned going to a shop called Velgar's Vittles in Sigil's Market Ward.

The party takes a short rest to heal up and heads out to the Market Ward. When they find Velar, they ask about Malania. Velgar reports that Malania met with him briefly a few hours ago to ask about Mordenkainen. Velgar tells the characters the same thing he told Malania: the shopkeeper spoke with Mordenkainen last week, and the famous wizard mentioned nothing about Alustriel, Tasha, or Vecna, or anything about recently being in Sigil. Malania took off right after.

The party decides to race back to the sanctum. Nyx wants to pull Alustriel aside when they get there to explain that Mordenkainen is not who he says he is.

When the group arrives they hear violent sounds coming from the sanctum. There is a deep wicked sounding laughter and two familiar voices shouting, “You monster!” and “We trusted you!” Malania comes running out and surprised to see the party. She yells for them to come help.

Once inside, there is nothing but ruin and destruction of the once beautiful sanctum. Alustriel and Tasha both lay wounded at the base of the stairs. Standing next to the portal is Mordenkainen and a dark, brooding sorcerer. Mordenkainen then laughs again and drops the shroud. There is a Crown of Lies upon his head and he is revealed to actually be Kas the Destroyer, Vecna's most trusted lieutenant. Kas turns to the sorcerer standing next to him and says, "Destroy them." Then Kas steps through the portal with the assembled rod.

The sorcerer then reveals himself to be Draven Shadowcrest. Burton is upset to see his nemesis standing before him. Draven taunts Burton and explains that none of this was by chance. Draven has always worked for Kas, even since before their first entanglements. Draven explains that Burton was ordered to be killed by Vecna. Kas ordered Draven to do it. The orcs that killed his family was not an accident. Draven then goes on, "It was unfortunate that you survived, but no matter I will finish the job now. And no amount of Veylen's training will save you."

Tink says, "The hell it won't" and casts Bless on the party. And the fight begins.

(initiative rolled)