Reiphe O'Mallory the Election Coordinator arrived to Icemule TC. After some questions regarding why he hid a crumpled paper, he revealed he was given orders by the gravely injured Mayor Talliver Dabbings. Ellerel Barrowfoot was to be released and given the sigil needed to create a Portal to the Green woods in the north mountains, where the Tablet of Life is believed to be.
After some lengthy discussions, the Sigil was given to the Councilmen present, Dayzed and Kobane.
| The paper is stained with old blood and was clearly wet. There is a clearly visible sigil drawn on it in a thin rivulet of dried blood. It looks sinuous and vaguely circular, with a series of jagged lines crossing it. |
It was reluctantly agreed to use Ellerel to create this portal. As if summoned by his name, Ellerel arrived, was given the sigil and agreed to aid the town and adventurers in this portal.
Lead by a kilt-flipping ranger, the councilors, townsfolk and group of adventurers headed outside north gate, where Ellerel created this one-shot portal. Soon they were transported to a long expanse of snow where they faced off against Zeban’s creations; vast skeletal worms, immense fanged ebon bats, rotting mountain griffins, fleshless icy corpses and winged skeletal horses.
They battled on, moving through frozen woodlands, across icy walls and past a wall of unnatural vegetation. With fiery magic and sharp blades, the growth was removed allowing access to the woods beyond. More of these corrupted creatures tried to stop them as they push forward.
Soon they found themselves at a woodland monument…
| Incongruous and ancient, a monument of silver-veined black stone stands untouched amidst the tangled sea of overgrowth. Honeyed sunlight pours through a strange aperture hanging above the platform, around which crackle threads of arcing mana. The light is warm, and the patter of melting snow fills the glade, which is aflower with multifarious blossoms that heavily perfume the air. |
The way forward was blocked. The aperture repelled any who tried to approach. More so to Ellerel, which he says is why Zeban was unable to claim the relic within yet. It was hostile to those not living.
Ellerel eventually weakened it enough for the group to enter, where they found themselves on a floating Isle.
Drifting amidst an impossible landscape, the floating island is overgrown with abundant greenery in wildly alien configurations. A languid spiral of wood, still adorned with living blossoms in silver and scarlet, has grown into the shape of a pedestal at the island's center. Dozens of other landmasses, far larger, dot the horizon. Honey-golden radiance showers down through the pastel clouds cavorting through the sky, but it seems a diffuse and sourceless glow. You also see a glowing amber aperture.
On the pedestal was the sought after stone tablet of life.
Sorlu was quick and removed the tablet.
| an ancient white stone tablet. Nonsensical arcane words are scrawled onto the surface of the tablet. They seem to shift and reshape themselves of their own volition, their movements reminiscent of unfurling vines. |
It was decided we had to rush back, before Zeban could realize they had it. But they soon found out it would not be so easy.
More of the creatures awaited them on the way back to the portal. A portal that was now barred by bloody vines. More things attacks as Ellerel tried to figure out how to open the way. Unfortunately, Arnabas found us and taunted us from the shadows
Arnabas materializes, dripping shadows that are as thick as coagulating blood.
He focused his attention on Sorlu, demanding the tablet, but he resisted and hid the best he could.
Arnabas made more threats and attacked Councilor Kobane.
Roelon drew on the moonlight of Lornon and trapped the Demilich while Erienne unleashed a searing Sun burst, burning away the rotting flesh of Arnabas.
He fled into the shadows and sent demons to attack, while he focused his attention back to Sorlu.
Ellerel pleaded with Zeban, to remember life before, trying to end this peacefully. This did not work.
Eventually, Arnabas was defeated, the final blow given by Earthdiver. The remaining demons were felled shortly after.
Arnabas body has finally given up, as it was merely the host to Zeban’s spirit.
Arnabas's flesh begins peeling away as the body beneath it rapidly surrenders to decay.
A hideous wisp of bloody mist forces itself out of the rotting jaws of Arnabas's body and drifts away on the breeze.
The vines blocking the portal crumbled, and the adventurers this moment to retreat.
It was ultimately decided Sorlu will protect the tablet. Ellerel did not trust himself with such power and there was some uncertainty with Mellian the Abbey.
Ellerel mentioned it would be sometime before Zeban would find himself another body. He reminded everyone that there was still one amongst us who is an ally to Zeban
He left, aiming to find what remains Arnabas’ corpse, to return it to the earth of home.
