Beyond the efretti you feel his entrance before you see him.
The air tightens first.
A prickle dances across every surface—hair, skin, metal, even the dust motes freeze mid-fall as the scent of ozone rolls in like a storm front. The torchlight gutters, pulled toward some unseen force, and then the doorway cracks with a sound like the sky being torn open.
He steps through.
A massive silhouette, broad-shouldered and towering, framed by arcs of pale-blue lightning that crawl over him like living serpents. Each footfall lands with a low, resonant thrum, the stones beneath him vibrating as though trying to remember they are solid. The air around him warps, humming, charged—every breath he draws ignites a faint corona of electric radiance along his ribs, and every exhalation leaves the smell of rain on hot metal.
When his gaze lifts, the lightning gathers, condenses—two burning irises like storm cores, rimmed with crackling rings of power. A faint halo of shimmering ozone follows the sweep of his movements, ghostly and electric, trailing sparks that wink out before touching the ground.
He closes his fist.
Thunder answers.
And the room realizes, in one collective swallow, that a storm has just walked in wearing the shape of a man.
"Thank you Alice that would be appreciated. I fear it is tied to my new curses.Knowing where we got the curse and it being from a Goddess you will need to be very lucky. I am going to speak with Sulvanii and see if he can figure it out." He states to Alice putting a hand on her shoulder.
As the others leave he goes back in to speak with Sulvanii with Arella.
Sulvanii:
He asks about his curses and quest.
He learns:
The Lost Vault of Ralx'then, buried beneath the ruins of a forgotten Thassilonian temple.
🕯️ Background
Whispers have begun to surface of ancient runes reactivating in ruined parts of Thassilon. An obscure prophecy—recorded in forgotten Lissalan scriptures—predicts the return of the Seventh Seal, a once-lost rune of judgment representing final obedience. This rune was sealed away by heresy among the Runelords, buried in a vault protected by seven trials.
Lissala seeks champions to reclaim the Seventh Rune and use it to judge the unworthy—and in return, she offers power, knowledge, and eternal purpose.
🐍 The Call to Obedience
Hook: The PCs each receive a branded dream or a physical rune mark while resting. A golden-green Sihedron sigil appears briefly, seared into their skin before fading. A whisper follows:
“Only those who obey shall judge. Seek the Vault. Earn the Seal. Or be rewritten.”
A known Lissalan scholar or cultist approaches shortly after, offering more information and ritual texts that point to the Vault of Ralx'then, a submerged temple now overgrown with cursed jungle and stone serpents.
📜 The Vault of Ralx’then – Trial of Seven Obediences
Each chamber of the Vault tests a virtue twisted by Lissala's philosophy—obedience rewarded, but always at a cost. Each successful trial activates a rune segment of the final Sihedron Gate.
Trial of Silence (Thought Subdomain) – The players must solve a rune-based puzzle in complete silence. Speaking aloud causes runes to burn and deal psychic damage.
Trial of Chains (Obedience) – One PC must willingly chain themselves to a divine pillar, giving up their freedom for the others to advance. The chained PC receives a vision from Lissala and gains a temporary divine boon (but suffers a curse if they later break a vow).
Trial of Judgment (Legislation) – The PCs must judge three prisoners (illusions, but morally complex) based on sparse evidence. Their choices are remembered—NPCs they spared or condemned may reappear in future adventures.
Trial of Ink and Blood (Rune) – Players must inscribe runes onto their own skin using enchanted quills. The more complex the rune, the more power gained—but at increased risk of magical backlash.
Trial of the Sovereign (Leadership/Nobility) – The party is offered a kingdom in a vision. One must rule it for ten minutes of roleplay. All others must obey their laws—even unfair ones. Failure fractures the vision, and the Sihedron rejects them.
Trial of the Viper (Evil) – A massive serpent challenges the party in a trial by combat—but only those who show cunning or calculated cruelty may defeat it. Killing it outright grants nothing; domination or coercion earns Lissala’s favor.
Trial of Memory (Knowledge) – Players must navigate a mind-maze of their own memories, guided only by rune-lights. Each incorrect path erases a personal memory unless countered by a successful Knowledge check.
💠 The Seventh Rune
Upon completion, the party unlocks the Seventh Sihedron Rune of Obedience, an ancient glyph that binds oaths, compels truth, and judges souls. Whoever bears it gains the ability to:
Once per day, cast Geas without material components.
Once per week, cast Mark of Justice with a rune that brands the target with the Sihedron.
The bearer becomes a Runebound Adjudicator, gaining the ability to command magical obedience from lesser beings—but also attracting the attention of Runelord remnants and Lissala’s other champions.
🧩 Optional Complications
A rival Lissalan cult seeks to corrupt the rune, turning it into a tool of domination.
The Seventh Rune may be sentient, whispering legalistic commands into the bearer’s dreams.
Success grants the PCs influence among Lissala’s reawakening followers—but binds them closer to her Lawful Evil doctrine.
Jorne exits out of Sulvanii's office with a determined look. If anyone tries to stop him they have to physically get in his way. He does not respond to verbal ques. Arella looks concerned and follows him.
He comes out looking like the worst of the group. His skin is pale and he looks clammy. A putrid smell comes from him and boils form and pop quickly upon his skin.
choices:
Quote:
As you go through the portal you see the chaotic energies of the realm. A sweet sultry voice offers, "You have several options. Serve me for how many years you made wishes.
Wish for a golden chain of Averacice to be broken.
Accept me as your matron.
Or
Bear my curse.
[b]"I will choose to bear your curse."
Also for your teirs of service you have gained additional rewards:
Silver
You will bear my mark and be cursed. Pick a curse or make it random.
"Curse of mental stupidity: -6 on Intelligence."
Cold Iron
Gain a magical item of your choice 25k or less but the requirements also have: Lawful or worshiper of Wee Jas, or in 50 foot proximity to a divine caster devoted to Wee Jas.
"I claim an eternal wand of shield other that must be used by a lawful user."
And
Wish one of the following wishes:
Wish for a golden chain of Averacice to be broken.
Star Metal
Gain a negative minor artifact.
Loadstone... maybe
Adamantine
Build a temple to Wee Jas / pay for one.
Mythic
Gain a quest.
You will gain three curses besides the quest. They stop functioning if you are actively doing the quest or finish it.
He states as he indicates with a thumb, "I am Jorne Fyrestone Stavian. I present Countess Arrela, Sulvanii the Councilor, Jorrast, Alice, Ulricha, Vandomir, and Rochi the hippogriff. It's nice to meet you Mortikio. So if we have only three wishers we can wait for Sulvanii, otherwise it's two wishers..."
"I wish for an inherent increase in strength. If you attack I will support you."
2 chains...
Round 41
Jorne looks from Alice and the others, and uses his greatsword to cleave the chains on his legs and some on Arella. The chains are cut and the two of them are free again.
"Does anyone else want to try the wishes? Xan you might wish for one of the curses to be lifted or for the previous wish to have not been made. I wish for one of the curses on Xandarian Quartermain's rapier to be removed as per remove curse."
Jorne is last in initiative. I am giving others an option to speak up for leader position or whatnot, or just wanting to talk to the panther.DudeHe will step in at a certain point.
"Everyone stop making wishes we need to do this as a team and only have one person wish at a time. Someone can use my adamantine dagger if they want. Maybe we 5 wish at the same time to increase Jorrasts Intelligence, deal with the chains that spring up, then do it again for others? What do you think?"
He brings all the bodies over near the portal to help them bleed and makes sure that they all are dead.
He follows Arella's lead and begins to make wishes to enhance his ability scores. If needed he pulls out his adamantine dagger and cuts himself free from any chains and is willing to help anyone else.
He drops his bow and picks up his greatsword as he moves under the pink tentacle creature. "I am ready when you are Arella!" He moves the blade to work as a ramp for her.
"I wish these blasted tentacle creatures could not fly!"
As the pink one comes down he slashes with his greatsword.
He tries to dodge out of the way of one of the fiery breaths before freezing in place. Then falling prone.
Reflex save:1d20 + 15 ⇒ (18) + 15 = 33
Round 24
Will save:1d20 + 12 ⇒ (19) + 12 = 31
He resists the spell, breaking its hold on him and he yells, "Kill the casters, bring them down, or give me a way to get to them!"
He stands up and draws his compound bow.
Round 25
He would aim both at the pink tentacles with Vandomir.
No worries Ulricha, I am only down 46 hp after the first two rounds, Alice will easily cover the rest... I think... I also think there will be plenty of blood now!
Round 21
He moves towards the center of the room and sheathes his dagger.
Round 22
As Ulricha comes under fire he activates his Defensive Intercept, coming to see if he can aid her. She gains a +2 morale bonus to their AC and savings throws.
Then he moves tumbling to get into flanking with both of them. He then begins to cleave through the dretches and then cuts the apes. The dretches pop like grapes and he slices through them to strike the black ape two more times. The black ape falls before his adamantine greatsword and the red one looks like it is on its last stand.
Ooops forgot my Acrobatics check, DC 24, I like rolling:1d20 + 21 ⇒ (9) + 21 = 30
Feeling the drizzle of... ale? and what Xandarian stated he offers his own wish. In his deep baritone voice he states, "We need to stop this ale, it will wash away the blood. I am going to wish for the door to seal once Countess Arella gets into the room."
To make sure they stay down he channels to destroy undead. He takes two more cure lights then states, "Thank you Jorrast, save the wand for later. I will heal, it will just take time."
He coughs out enough blood to finally speak and look back. "No, if anything my blood should kill undead. Something else must be at work." He sets his greatsword before him, full defense. AoO on the last five of them. Likely shattering all seven of them with my improved cleaving finish.
As he moves back to the group he holds his sword up ready to defend himself. He coughs up blood, having trouble saying anything as blood pours out of his chest from the front and back.
"Welcome back Vandomir! We need your bow! Do we have some way to put up a barrier! I am doing my best to be the target. I fear that won't continue. Thanks Alice!"
Jorne quickly acts seeing Vandomir fall he expends all three charges for him. All three sunstones dim. Then with a tap of his foot energy is transfered. 4d8 ⇒ (8, 5, 6, 6) = 25
As he moves he drops his greatsword tip first into the stone floor. As he draws his bow. He also laughs at the Archer, "Is that all you got?"
Round 5
He plans to shoot the deamon on the ceiling.
"I am far to the right. The miasma lessens in strength the further you get from the portal. No threats were seen; this room does look like hell, though. I am moving forward and around the room."
Round E
His voice now coming from in front of the group, "I still don't know where Arella went. No sign of her. I found the source of the sound of the horde. A horn of some kind with magic coursing through it. Move forward out of the miasma. I am invisible again. Do you want me to advance or wait?"
"I believe that is me!" He slaps higher, likely his shoulder and becomes visible. "Moving forward then. I am going to the right!" He quickly becomes covered by Miasma again. "Oh yeah out further the Miasma isn't so thick. I really don't like the look of this place but down to a hell we went..." He draws his sword and activates his ring going invisible again.
With no response from Alice, he feels her go limp, "Xan, how is Ulricha? Alice is out cold. I was going to return with her. Ulricha?" With Alice over his shoulder he feels around for Ulricha's body. With Xan's help, he can find and pick her up, too, this round.
Round D Otherwise he finds Ulricha and slips back through the portal. Right after Vandomir comes through.
You can hear panic in his voice as he asks Alice, "I am going to rush to the side, do you want me to carry you or leave you with Xan? There are alot of bones and debris here."
With Quince out of the gameplay and likely game, Jorne would have shared his Warder techniques with someone. Maybe Ulricha so he can protect you or whoever speaks up first. It takes 10 minutes so he could easily have done it while we waited the portal to open.
As they started walking towards the portal he whipped out two wands and put mage armor and shield on himself.
He snickers at the comment but doesn't let go. Through the portal he moves slowly behind Arella, holding her and Alice's hand still.
He offers, "I can cast mage armor five times per day with my wand. So I would suggest Bless, Hero's Feast, and Cat's Grace. Unless someone can cast one of those spells for the group. Do these spells affect us all? Is there a primary caster for the bless spell? I believe it has a radius effect?
As Alice gets serious and those sick into a room, he offers some extra provisions, "Hey I found ten healing kits, mostly unused. Is there anything else that you could use?"
In the days to come he has conversations with each of you learning about your past and plans for the future.
Quince:
He comes to you for advice, "Lord Commander, I have this bracelet which controls Countess Arella. Should we use it with her permisson or leave it with someone. If we don't control her when we go then she should stay behind."
He confirms that the Lord Commander is going on this mission as well and then reminds him of his sworn protector abilities.
He states Seriously, "I do not lead soldiers. If anything shock troops or elites. Such as your group. At the moment I am the sworn protector of the Lord Commander. Saren and the soldiers should be along in less than a week. I could contact them to send an advance force. However, the Lord Commander is more suited with communication devices for such a task. Occupation seems right, we do need to undo the miasma. Who can study the magic circles? We did find other books besides those in the library. Maybe they hold some clues."
He pulls the books from his leather bag on his belt. He also pulls out much of the loot found in the keep.
