Session 21

Setting: Mount Inferno

After battle, Willyam introduces the team to his fellow Protectors, including the head of his order, Kaya the Huntress. As he's going down the line, they find someone he doesn't know. He introduces himself as Enkindle, aka Steam. The Fire Genasi originally hales from Errista, but has spent a couple decades in seclusion on the continent of Kraet. When an army of strange ice creatures started forming and interrupted his peace and quiet, he traveled back to Errista and the Tower Eternal to find out what was going on. Unfortunately, he got swept up in the mobility of a force headed to Gale, and was essentially herded into a Teleportation Circle into the middle of a battle.

Negotiations between the leaders of all the factions begin in the caves under Mount Inferno. After casting Mass Cure Wounds on the party, Lorali, as representative for the Tower Eternal takes the lead in the talks. The Chieftain of the Fire Lake Tribe asks for peace in exchange for Mordeus back. He, Durzo, and Lorali talk about the nature of Deities, and the need for a presence. Durzo says that a God need not be physically there in order to protect them. Lorali offers to alter the functionality of the Orb, and to possibly give Mordeus the ability to ascend to true Godhood. The Chieftain agrees, and so he will travel with the Order of Valor to the Vault of Oblivion to place the Orb back. Lorali drops the bombshell that she will be traveling with them, because she was chosen by the Tower Eternal to become the new Vaultkeeper. Willyam is visibly distraught by the revelation.

Lo'Kag and Rhaine question Sofia Mang. She reveals that she and Siril Goldenwood were meant to unleash Mordeus together, so she could rule the Forsaken Expanse for the Empress of Gale. She doesn't know why, but the Empress betrayed her and pulled all her troops from the Expanse.

Lizzy tells the team that the Empress was in fact trying to take over the Forsaken Expanse. However, she was not aware of the Vault of Oblivion, nor was she involved with the plot to raise Mordeus. When she was told everything, she pulled all the troops from the Expanse, and ordered Lizzy to lead them south to help prevent the catastrophe.

Before traveling to the Feywild, Durzo uses his Sending Stone to talk to Queen Syleese. He fills her in, and she agrees to research the name, Koyassa.

The team travel to the Vault of Oblivion in the Feywild thanks to a teleportation spell from Lorali. They are tested by the Vaultkeeper again by a group of Giant Spiders at the entrance. Once they're defeated, the are brought directly into the vault room, where the Vaultkeeper awaits. He transfers his power over to Lorali, and fades away. As the new Vaultkeeper, Lorali provides a boon to Steam and Altuna. She also alters the Orb before they use the Amber Key to place it back into the Orb. She sends the Chieftain back to Gale, and opens a different circle to the Forsaken Expanse Archway once the team decides that should be their next destination.

The Order, along with Steam and Altuna, arrive at the other side of the Arch in the Whispering Woods, but something doesn't seem right ...