Session 15: In Death He Mocks Them

The party arrives back to Zaimier, relieved to be at the end of their quest at last. Once there, though, Berekhan announces he has some things to do, and leaves the party to deal with Vondal on their own. Unruffled, they march up to the dwarf's manor, where Torbera, Vondal's loyal servant, greets them once again. She quickly takes them to see Vondal.

When they enter Vondal's study, to their surprise, they see Artin there! By what appears to just be coincidence, Vondal has retained her services - he has hired her to be a truth-teller and referee in this situation, to ensure the party is telling him the truth. The party is very forthright, though - they tell him that Soveliss is dead, and Maivera is MIA, and explain what happend to Dayman and Erevan.

Vondal says that he will not pay for dead men. The party feels cheated at this, as they remember distinctly that he wanted them back 'dead or alive.' Vondal coldly says he has no memory of this. The party appeals to Artin; uncomfortable, she declines to be an arbter here. Exasperated, the party requests that she raise Dayman and Erevan from the dead. She agrees, and promises to meet up with them tomorrow.

The party leaves Vondal, and discusses what to do now. Upset with what they feel is shady dealing on the dwarf's part, they decide to seek out Cabal and see if his offer to join him still stands. They make their way down to a seedier part of Zaimier, and here Cabal finds them. They say they are willing to join him, but he makes it very clear that he expects blank-check, unquestioning loyalty, regardless of their moral or scruples. When they press the point, he says that, yes, he might command them to kill. The party decides that they are not willing to work for him, and so a final showdown begins. He gives them then one more chance to walk away, saying that even if they defeat him, they will still lose. They are not moved.

The party kills Cabal and barely breaks a sweat. It is all distirbuingly easy.

After adjusting to this new windfall, the party decides they need to make plans to track Maivera down. They enter a nearby bar and try to drum up some lackeys/recruits for a quest to go find her. They find a few interested parties, and even return to the home of one of them to make further plans, but the negotiations break down, and everyone goes their own ways again.

The next day, the party meets up with Artin, and they retire to a secluded spot for her to raise Erevan and Dayman, using their disembodied heads. While she works, the party rests up, shops, and learns new rituals. Because the Raise Dead ritual takes so long, it is the evening of the second day when they are finally able to make their way back up to Vondal.

Vondal's mood is much more cheery this time as he sees Dayman and Erevan alive and in bonds. He has special cages prepared for them, and locks them up straightaway. He accepts Cabal's corpse too, saying he has a place to keep him as well. With their business finally said and done, he gets Torbera to bring out the party's money. 29,000 gold pieces for each party member, as agreed!

The party is a little apprehensive as they leave, a little concerned for the fate of the city with Erevan around, and a little worried about Dayman, who is not exactly a bad person. But Vondal gives them assurances that they will not be mistreated, and Artin backs him up. So the party retires to an inn for the night, their quest complete and their treasure won!

The next morning finds the party relaxed and cheerfully aimless. They are musing about what to do next when a huge explosion rocks the city! At first, they worry that Erevan has gotten loose and is causing havoc. But that thought quickly evaporates when they see in the sky above Zaimier the sinister form of a red dragon!

Rewards

XP: 500 (Kriv, Kava, and Rougi)
Money: 29,000 GP EACH (in-game reward)
Treasure: none