Dunmari Frontier - Session 116

Battle for the Crown: in which the party defeats Fausto and enters Apollyon’s domain

Featuring: Seeker, Delwath, Kenzo, Wellby, Riswynn
In Taelgar: May 24, 1749 DR
On Earth: Wednesday Jan 01, 2025
Drankor

The Dunmar Fellowship battles Fausto in Drankor, claims the Crown of Purity, and enters Apollyon’s temple.

Session Info

Character advancement: the party reaches level 16

Summary

The Dunmar Fellowship encounters Fausto and his war wizards in Drankor, initiating a fierce battle, with Fausto dominating and controlling Seeker
The party realizes that Fausto cannot be killed while he possess the Crown of Purity, and their attention shifts to removing the crown
Seeker’s inspiration helps Kenzo seize the crown, transferring control and defeating Fausto.
Kenzo uses the crown to command Chardonian forces, leading to a moral debate within the party.
The party explores Apollyon’s tomb, where Apollyon emerges, leading to a fierce confrontation that ends with Delwath dead by Apollyon’s word of power.

Timeline

May 24, 1749 DR, midday: Fight Fausto and his allies. Take the Crown of Purity and defeat Fausto. Debate morality of the crown.
May 24, 1749 DR, early afternoon: Travel to Apollyon’s temple. Fly over the red mist, enter. Face off against Apollyon, who flees after killing Delwath with a word.

Narrative

We begin as the party teleports to the Temple of the Eight Divines in Drankor, where Fausto and his allies, a chalyte knight and seven Chardonian war wizards, unexpected await the party, poised for battle. The tension is palpable as the confrontation begins. Kenzo’s Soul Sight reveals Fausto’s enhanced power, emanating from the sinister Crown of Purity upon his head. Magical tendrils extend from the crown to various points, including into the Mirror of Soul Trapping and the chalyte knight. Kenzo wastes no time, unleashing a Fireball from the Necklace of Fireballs, damaging Fausto and the war wizards but failing to kill them.

Fausto counters with a spell, eluding Seeker’s Counterspell and taking control of the battlefield. Seeker falls victim to Fausto’s domination, compelled to attack Riswynn with a devastating Rune of Psychic Disruption. Riswynn collapses, incapacitated, although Delwath resists a similar charm from Fausto. Wellby attempts to blind Fausto with a precision arrow, wounding him but failing to disrupt his vision. Meanwhile, the war wizards target Kenzo, but their attacks falter. Delwath summons a pack of spectral lynxes, which tear through the war wizards, significantly thinning their ranks. The chalyte knight charges Kenzo, knocking him back but failing to keep him down. Kenzo retaliates, dispelling Fausto’s magic on Seeker with his cleansing touch and landing a flurry of blows on Fausto. Riswynn begins to recover, ready to rejoin the fray.

Fausto laughs grimly as Kenzo’s relentless attacks, which should kill him, only sever one of the gray magical tendrils extending from the Crown of Purity. Each blow causes another tendril to snap, revealing the Crown’s ability to protect Fausto from death. Although Seeker disrupts Fausto’s spellcasting with a timely Counterspell, frustrating his efforts to regain control of the battlefield, without taking the Crown of Purity, it seems the battle cannot be won by the Dunmar Fellowship.

The party shifts focus, attempting to take the Crown from Fausto. Seeker attempts to dislodge it using Catapult with a chain net, Fausto dodges, leaving the attack to hit the chalyte knight. Riswynn follows with an attack with Shatterstorm, aiming to force the crown loose through sheer force, but it remains fixed. Wellby’s sleight-of-hand attempt also fails, leaving the party to consider alternative strategies.

Delwath casts Sleep, successfully incapacitating Fausto temporarily. However, when Delwath attempts to remove the crown, he suffers massive psychic backlash, throwing him 40 feet and dealing significant damage. The chalyte knight awakens Fausto, reigniting the battle.

Kenzo seizes the opportunity to grab the Crown of Purity, using Seeker’s inspiration to overcome its defenses. After a brief struggle, the crown settles on Kenzo’s head, severing its connection to Fausto and the chalyte knight. The knight kneels before Kenzo, acknowledging his new authority. Fausto’s life force fades as the crown’s power abandons him, leaving his body lifeless.

With the crown’s influence in hand, Kenzo commands its network of controlled individuals. He orders Marius Cusico, the Chardonian general, to surrender and retreat from Dunmar. Testing his control, he directs the chalyte knight into a meditative pose and issues reforms to Chardonian bureaucrats tied to the chalyte trade, urging societal restructuring and reparations.

The party debates the morality of wielding the crown’s power, with concerns about its influence over Kenzo. Riswynn proposes testing its effects, leading to Kenzo relinquishing the crown. When Riswynn attunes to it, Kenzo collapses as the crown drains his life force. The party stabilizes him, but he is unable to reattune to the crown.

Through Wellby’s ancestral memory, the party learns the crown predates human settlement of the continent, and has been both a tool for benevolence and a weapon of destruction. Halfling lore reveals the crown transfers ownership only upon the death or defeat of its previous wielder.

Under Riswynn’s attunement, her aura remains unchanged, reassuring the party of her integrity. She maintains Kenzo’s orders for dismantling the chalyte trade but promises to wield the crown responsibly. The group discusses destroying the crown to prevent future harm, with Kenzo advocating for a delay to ensure reforms are enacted first.

Preparations turn to Apollyon’s tomb. Seeker uses Clairvoyance to scout its interior, describing a massive statue of Apollyon, rows of dark pillars, and an altar in an unfinished space adorned with murals and statues. The red mist surrounding the tomb’s base, remembered as a remnant of Cha’mutte’s plague, does not enter the structure. Wellby receives a message from Sura detailing an unexpected truce: General Cusico has called for an end to hostilities in the Chardon-Dunmari War though a rogue contingent of soldiers and wizards may still pose a threat.

The party rests, preparing to enter the tomb the following morning.

The journey through Drankor is marked by Riswynn’s holy magic, which clears lingering undead from their path. Upon reaching the tomb, the party flies to its domed roof, discovering an unguarded door. Descending a spiral staircase, they emerge on the ground floor, near a colossal statue of Apollyon. The dimly lit space is oppressive, with flickering light filtering through the dome casting long shadows among rows of black pillars and ominous side chapels.

Kenzo activates his aura abilities, detecting Apollyon’s presence in the room. From behind the statue, Apollyon rises, clad in frayed imperial robes. His ghastly appearance—a face scarred red, glowing eyes, and an aura of necrotic energy—commands attention. Floating 50 feet above the ground, Apollyon mocks the party, proclaiming himself a god and warning them that their souls are now bound to his tomb.

The party launches an attack, but Apollyon deflects Wellby’s arrow with his aura, showcasing his defensive power. Delwath engages, only to be cursed by Apollyon’s hatred of elves. Riswynn casts Sunburst, dealing radiant damage despite Apollyon twisting the magic to mitigate its full effect. Seeker’s summoned metal construct lands several blows, but Apollyon retaliates with a command spell, forcing Kenzo to kneel.

Blinded by Wellby’s second arrow, Apollyon transforms into mist, retreating through the floor into his inner sanctum. Before disappearing, he turns to Delwath, issuing a word of power that instantly kills him. As Apollyon’s presence fades, the party quickly revives Delwath with Riswynn’s Revivify. The session ends with the group contemplating their next move, resolved to track Apollyon deeper into his tomb.

Detailed Summary

The Confrontation With Fausto

The party teleports to the Temple of the Eight Divines in Drankor, and encounters Fausto, a chalyte knight, and seven war wizards.
Combat begins, with Kenzo using Soul Sight on Fausto, revealing Fausto’s increased power and numerous magic tendrils extending from the Crown of Purity, which Fausto wears. Three tendrils extend to the Mirror of Soul Trapping, while another extends to the chalyte knight.
Kenzo uses a Fireball from the Necklace of Fireballs, damaging Fausto and the war wizards, but not killing anyone.
Fausto casts a spell, avoiding Seeker’s Counterspell.
Seeker is dominated by Fausto, and forced to attack Riswynn with an eighth-level Rune of Psychic Disruption, incapacitating her. Delwath resists the charm.
Seeker grants Fausto Runic Inspiration under the charm.
Wellby attempts to blind Fausto with his arrow, damaging him but not blinding him; the war wizards attack Kenzo, with limited effect, and are mostly destroyed when Delwath summons a pack of spirit lynxes, that tear into them.
The chalyte knight attacks Kenzo, knocking him back, but Kenzo is still able to stand and run to Seeker, using his cleansing touch to dispel Fausto’s magic and freeing him, followed by a series of blows on Fausto. Riswynn recovers and prepares to rejoin the battle after being incapacitated.

The Crown of Purity

Following Kenzo’s flurry of attacks, Fausto laughs and a magical gray tendril from his crown snaps, preventing him from dropping unconscious under the violence of Kenzo’s blows.
Fausto’s spellcasting is disrupted by Seeker’s Counterspell, frustrating his efforts to regain control of the battlefield.
A magical gray tendril from his crown snaps with every significant attack, hinting at his connection to the crown and causing the party to reassess their strategy, realizing they need to remove the crown.
Seeker attempts to remove the Crown using Catapult with a chain net, hitting the chalyte knight instead of Fausto.
Riswynn targets Fausto with Shatterstorm, aiming to dislodge the crown through sheer force, but the crown remains fixed.
Welby makes a sleight-of-hand attempt to grab the crown but fails to dislodge it.
Delwath casts Sleep, successfully incapacitating Fausto temporarily; his attempt to remove the crown while Fausto is asleep results in massive psychic backlash, throwing him 40 feet back and dealing massive damage.
The chalyte knight awakens Fausto, maintaining the high-stakes tension of the battle.

Kenzo Claims the Crown

Kenzo manages to grab the Crown, using Seeker’s inspiration to help overcome the Crown’s resistance. After a brief moment of struggle, the crown settles on his head.
The chalyte knight kneels before Kenzo, recognizing his new authority.
Fausto dies as the crown severs its connection, leaving him unable to sustain his life force.
Kenzo acts quickly to take over the individuals bound to the Crown’s control by Fausto. He orders Marius Cusico, the general in charge of the Chardonian Expeditionary Legions in Dunmar, to surrender and retreat; he commands the chalyte knight into a meditative pose, testing his control; and he orders a number of bureaucrats and Chardonian officials, mostly in the chalyte trade and formerly controlled by Fausto, to try to reform Chardonian society, focusing on reparations and societal restructuring.
The party debates the morality and implications of Kenzo’s actions, especially the use of the crown’s mind-control abilities.
Concerns arise about the crown’s influence over Kenzo and whether his values will remain intact.
Riswynn and others propose methods to test the crown’s impact on Kenzo’s soul, including soul sight and attunement tests.
Kenzo argues for using the crown to enact positive change, acknowledging its potential risks but emphasizing the opportunity for justice.
Other party members express reservations about the long-term consequences and whether such power can be wielded responsibly.

Riswynn’s Test and Shifting Power

In order to test for corruption associated with the Crown, Kenzo gives it up, allowing Riswynn to attune, and uses Soul Sight to examine Riswynn for signs of corruption.
Riswynn attunes to the crown, prompting Kenzo to immediately fall unconscious as the Crown drains his life force.
The party stabilizes Kenzo, who regains consciousness but notes he cannot reattune to the crown.
From Wellby’s query of the halfling ancestral memory, the party learns that the crown predates human settlement on the continent and has a long history of both benevolent and malevolent wielders. Halfling memory lore reveals the crown only transfers ownership when the previous wearer is defeated, typically through death.
Riswynn’s aura remains unchanged under soul sight, reassuring the party she has not been corrupted. She maintains Kenzo’s orders to the controlled officials, to dismantle the chalyte trade.
Party members voice concerns about the crown’s potential for corruption and the risks of keeping it.
Delwath proposes destroying the crown immediately to prevent further harm.
Kenzo argues for a brief delay to ensure key reforms are enacted before its destruction.
Riswynn commits to using the crown responsibly and promises to honor Kenzo’s intentions while maintaining her independence.
The party discusses the challenges of entering Apollyon’s tomb, particularly the red mist surrounding the structure.
Seeker uses Clairvoyance to view the interior of the temple, noting a massive statue of Apollyon, rows of dark pillars, and an altar. The space appears unfinished, with murals and statues in various stages of completion.
The red mist does not enter the temple but pools near the base of its steps. It is remembered as a deadly phenomenon tied to Cha’mutte’s magical plague.
Wellby receives a message from Sura detailing an unexpected truce: General Marius Cusico has called for an end to hostilities in the Chardon-Dunmari War. A small contingent of wizards and soldiers refuse to comply, creating potential trouble.
The party rests for the night, preparing to enter Apollyon’s tomb the next morning.

Entering Apollyon’s Tomb

The party travels through Drankor, relying on Riswynn’s holy magic to clear their path of lingering undead.
Upon reaching the mist surrounding the tomb, the party flies to the dome’s roof and begins exploring.
They find a door at the top of the dome and detect no traps or magical effects.
Descending the narrow spiral staircase, the group enters the temple’s ground floor, emerging near the massive statue of Apollyon.
The space is dimly lit, with flickering light filtering through the mist. Rows of black pillars and side chapels create an ominous atmosphere.
Kenzo activates his aura abilities to detect Apollyon’s presence, realizing Apollyon is in the room.

The Encounter with Apollyon

Rising from behind a massive statue, Apollyon, in frayed imperial robes, greets the party with mocking grandeur.
Apollyon’s appearance is ghastly: frayed flesh, glowing eyes, and a red scar dripping down his face. He floats 50 feet above the ground.
Apollyon taunts the party, proclaiming himself the future god of posterity and warning them that their souls are now bound to his tomb.
The party attacks, but Apollyon’s aura of necrotic energy deflects Wellby’s first arrow, showcasing his defensive capabilities.
Delwath engages Apollyon but Apollyon relates in rage, showing is hatred of elves, and briefly cursing Delwath.
Riswynn casts Sunburst, dealing radiant damage despite Apollyon twisting the magic to resist its full effect.
Seeker summons a metal construct, which successfully lands several blows on Apollyon despite his counterattacks.
Apollyon compels Kenzo to kneel with a command spell, briefly incapacitating him.
Blinded by Wellby’s arrow, Apollyon flees in mist form, descending through the floor into his inner sanctum. Before he departs, in anger and rage and hatred, he turns to Delwath and orders him to die with a word of power. Delwath falls dead.
Kenzo senses Apollyon’s soul moving deeper underground, leaving the party with the challenge of tracking him.
The session ends as Riswynn uses Revivify to bring Delwath back to life, and the party contemplates the challenge of tracking Apollyon through his tomb.