After the fight with Yisarn, the group returned to the elven encampment. Kalnyu decided to return to his people, but join those who would fight alongside the Harkenwolders, as per the bargain made between Eriyel and the adventurers. Kyoenkai did the honors of offering Yisarn's skull as proof of his death.
 |
| The Woodsinger Elves' camp. |
As the group was heading out of the forest, a halfing girl named Seranna on a horse rode up and informed them that the Elders of Harkenwold were calling for all of the rebels to gather at Albridge, as Redthorn was preparing for battle. So the party travels to meet up with Dar Gremath and let him know that they got a group of elves to fight for them. Dar Gremath explains that they are ready for battle, but it looks like it's going to be close. The party decides to help the Harkenwolders prepare for battle. They make all the necessary preparations and instill courage and motivation in the soldiers.
The party eventually agrees that it would be best to take an offensive position and storm their way through Redthorn's rabble, stomping him out themselves and ending this thing once and for all. So they cut themselves through hordes of Iron Circle brigands until finally they met Redthorn in battle. But just as they managed to draw blood, Nazin Redthorn fled to his steed and and rode swiftly out of sight.
The group, excluding Rayne, sped after him, furious at his cowardice. Rayne remained behind, striking down every last one of the pawns Redthorn had left behind. Once he had surrounded himself in dead bodies, Rayne followed after his companions.
 |
| Iron Keep, top view. |
They tracked Redthorn down to his stolen fortress in Harken, the Iron Keep. In order to sneak inside, they decided to use disguises to get into the Keep. Rayne climbed the wall and stealthily pulled two of the soldiers on guard over the side. He and Kyoenkai then took the armor so that they could pass as Iron Circle, saying that they had captured the others as war prisoners, in order to get inside. They successfully fooled the gate keeper, Sturmik, and got themselves inside the Keep.
From there, they hastily made their way into the deep interior of the fortress, searching for Nazin Redthorn. Much to their surprise, they encountered a couple of Dragonborn Iron Circle soldiers upstairs and Kyoenkai lost it, causing an avoidable but much enjoyable (on his part) battle. He viciously murdered them, ripping out one of their throats and proceeding to cut him from throat to groin and bashing the other one's face in with the blunt end of his scythe.
They took a moment to rest before proceeding to the next area, in which they were faced with two different directions to choose from. They decided to split up; Lirael went with Kyoenkai in one direction while Rayne and XIII went the other way. Lirael later telepathically asked Rayne what he and XIII found, to which Rayne replied, "REDTHORN...!"
Kyoenkai and Lirael were forced to fight a small group of Hobgoblins who attacked them as soon as they entered the room. Meanwhile, XIII and Rayne began fighting Redthorn and his goons. Kyoenkai and Lirael burst in at the last second to catch the end of the battle, helping to move things along. XIII got the final blow, blasting Nazin apart with his Eldritch energy.
The Baron Stockmer was released and the people of the realm rejoiced. They threw a huge celebration in the streets and revered the adventurers for their help and for taking out Redthorn. The Iron Circle fled from the land and the adventurers were rewarded with very helpful items.
Afterwards, Rayne confronts the others for abandoning him in battle to chase after Redthorn and fights them one by one. He caught XIII of guard and pretty much tossed him aside, but Lirael's mind tricks were no match for him. He surrendered, exhausted, and awoke later, only to find the letters "XIII" carved mysteriously into his neck.
Once all had recovered, they decided to go to the tavern to finally meet this mysterious stranger who had left them a note of summons. In the tavern, XIII refuses to admit to the deed and Rayne goes upstairs to find a mirror, frustrated. Meanwhile, the others notice a shady looking man in a cloak sitting all by himself and come to the conclusion that he looks like the type of man who may have left them that strange letter.
Much to their dismay, the man was a Bard who had just fulfilled his Epic Destiny and when they approached him, he threw his cloak aside in the blink of an eye and started singing and dancing!
RICK ROLL'D!!!!!!!1111
When at last the nightmare ended, Lirael got drunk for the first time ever just to have the experience and confessed his fondness for Kyoenkai, despite the fact that they had just met. Fianlly, a cloaked figure sat at their table, but Lirael's drunk behavior offended the stranger, who got up and walked away.
Rayne followed the person and begged them to forgive Lirael, explaining that he had just undergone a very serious musical trauma. Lirael agrees to sober himself up and they proceed to have a much-awaited conference.
The stranger introduces herself as Edrae, a High Priestess for the underground following of the Chained One, Tharizdun. She explains that, if they would agree to work for them, their is much gold awaiting them at the end of their first mission...inside an ancient tomb riddled with traps. The following is in need of a special artifact, which they believe to be located inside the tomb: a book, the Tome of Redemption written by a follower named Ishkal.
She also explains that the book is said to reveal the whereabouts of the 13 Pieces of Redemption said to hold the power of unlocking each of the 13 Chains of Tharizdun. The Pieces take on the forms of humanoid warriors and were created by the Gods for the sole purpose of protecting that which binds Tharizdun. 13 Gods partook in the binding of Tharizdun, and each created a "key" so to speak and hid it amongst the many planes of existence. That way, Tharizdun would have little hope of escape. In order to free Tharizdun, the Forbidden Liberation Ritual must be performed and the 13 Pieces of Redemption are required for the ritual.
However, Tharizdun was still able to channel his will to a few select individuals who gave rise to the following of Tharizdun. They have been working towards freeing the Chained God ever since. It is Tharizdun's will, she informs them, to sacrifice all of his godly powers and become mortal once more to those who actively participate in his liberation. The other followers would not qualify, for they are merely pawns.
The party informs her that they are intrigued by her offer but they wish to meet with the other followers. She agrees to set up a neeting upon their return from the tomb. Lirael also inquires as to why she has chosen them. She replied that there are few adventurers left in the world, and even fewer who are not lawful good. Lirael also inquires as to whether or not there will be travelling involved, to which she replies that there very much will be, as the 13 Pieces will be scattered across the planes.
 |
| The tomb of Ishkal, entrance hall. |
Inside the tomb, the adventurers face many traps and cursed undead cultists. Towards the end of the tomb, they find hints of a dark ritual being performed long ago. There is a bloody torture table with arm and leg bindings and a ritual assistant's diary and even a large ritualistic symbol drawn across the floor of an entire room entirely out of blood. Edrae had also previously suggested that Ishkal had developed an extremely paranoid personality, as he thought the Gods were onto him for discovering the locations of the 13 Pieces. Thus, he had himself buried and the Tome hidden somewhere within him tomb.
 |
| Ishkal's Sarcophogus. |
In the final room, they find a mound of treasure and an old crypt with what appeared to be the corpse of Ishkal encased. Out of vengeance against those who would try and take his beloved treasure, the spirit of Ishkal rises to smite them. They struggled to fight the insubstantial being, but in the end Lirael invaded his ethereal mind and forced him to turn his vicious aggression on himself and he ended up being the one to kill himself after all. The move causes Lirael to fall unconscious and the group takes a while to recuperate. They take all the gold they can carry and Rayne went to the sarcophogas at the end of the room and opened it.
It was apparent that the very well preserved body of Ishkal lay before them. Kyoenkai, with a deep desire for the robes of a Tharizdun priest, stole the garments off of Ishkal, which revealed an incision in his abdomen. XIII eagerly tore him open and discovered a bloody sack hidden inside. The sack contained the Tome of Redemption.
 |
| Tharizdun Base in Cormanthor Forest. |
Edrae is waiting outside the tomb when they exit and informs them that the followers have agreed to let them visit their base. She brings them deep into the Cormanthor forest where they finally get to see the Tharizdun follower's hideaway. She tells the group about an interesting thing that happens to those who become official followers of Tharizdun. Females tend to have their hair seared white during the initiation ritual, while males have their hair seared black. It is believed that it is Tharizdun's way of marking them in a permanent way. Edrae however, was given black hair as a sign that she was appointed worthy of being a high priestess.
She leads them inside and introduces them to those within, then brings them to a door with a chain hanging outside. After pulling it, the door opens and a woman steps out, leaving the adventurers in awe.
Clyra is the eccentric and socially awkward scribe of the cult. She is, they are told, responsible for decrypting the very cryptic book they just picked up. As the adventurers swoon over her and attempt to bestow gifts upon her, Edrae interrupts the could of passion by telling them to hand the book over to her. While they wait for her to figure out their first destination, they are offered up a few minor quests to keep them busy.
First, there is a problem in the basement which needs tending to. Should they clean up the mess down there, the area is theirs for the keeping for storage and resting purposes and whatnot.
Second, there is a group of brave hearted adventurers that had tried to "stop" the cult from doing the bidding of Tharizdun. Naturally, they were captured and locked up as prisoners. The group could, if they so desired, make a tournament out of them for the entertainment of the cultists.
They decided to take on the tournament and were escorted down to the dungeons below the arena where they could choose which prisoners each would like to take on. The prisoners defiantly fought them without any concern for an arrangement of peace, which Lirael offered his lovely opponent.
They fought one by one, and not a single one of them died. In fact, they were so triumphant that they were cheered on like crazy and admired by all the cultists for their skill and talent. Also, there were some pretty talented bards in the audience that could even cover Justin Bieber for one hell of a battle theme.
The next day, Edrae informed them that Clyra had deciphered enough information to point them in the right direction.
Their journey would take them to the east. From the port city of Hulburg, they were to cross the Orofin Ocean to the elven continent. It was likely that the Piece they were looking for was located somewhere in the ancient, mystical land of Velenril. Unfortunately, there were no ports into the isolationist-like country. So their first stop would likely be Asilia, Iriaebor. From there, they would have to travel northwards manually towards Velenril, all the while in search of any clues as to where they might find
Seirim, the first of the 13 Pieces of Redemption that they would defeat...
