Our hearty adventurers had entered the "residential" district of the ruined city surrounding the skull covering the tomb of Acererak. They had just witnessed a battle between two factions. Luckily for the party they managed to stay out of the line of fire while the skeletons and zombies waged a fierce battle. The mages from two different sides also were engaged. Finally the last standing party moved bedraggled to the north.
On the party moved and upon entering another ruined courtyard, four figures emerged, weapons at the ready. Each was a living humanoid, but none looked like anyone the group had seen previously. Alhellara remarked that even beyond the fact that they were living, something appeared different about this group. They seemed resigned, rather than malevolent, though that didn't seem to slow them down as they approached the party. There were also two vents in the ground spewing lightning into the air. Melisana and Alhellara both attempted to parlay with the group pleading for safe passage out of the area.
Two arrows were fired in rapid succession followed by an Eldritch Blast. Demin fired his crossbow and then quickly moved north to try and hide amidst the walls. He was immediately beset by the Great Axe wielding enemy. The damage to the party was severe as the man with a Bastard Sword engaged Mara. Pretis moved to flank with Demin but they both found themselves injured quickly. Lythandar yelled out that it appeared these men were much more powerful than their own party.
Demin attempted to Bluff crying out that they should surrender or be killed. Alhellara, Melisana and Lythandar alternated using Diplomacy or revealing the parties previous involvement in thwarting Acererak's past plots. After about three rounds of battle the human attacking Mara held his blade in a non threatening manner. The others, a half-elf, a shifter and a deva followed suit. They introduced themselves as the Skullbreakers, a loose band of adventurers who heard that the Tomb of Horrors had been drained of power - they intent to make sure it stays that way. They invited the party back to the their Haven for rest and recovery. The Skullbreakers are Daud Jatmoor, Njall, Kobhein and Myshal.
The party was led along hidden passageways to a place the Skullbreakers call the Haven. Buried beneath the ruins, the building is rough-walled and furnished from the former domiciles of the city's leading necromancers. A fire burned in the central hall, and a feast of food awaited. The group was introduced to four other members in the Haven, Valdir, Xophus, Gwin and Calein. After a filling meal and a short rest the party asked about the history of the area. Xophus, singing along to the accompaniment of a lute related the history of Skull City.
In years past a group of adventurers overthrew Acererak's plots by destroying the demilich and his phylactery. Worried about all the souls stored in the phylactery the group undertook a ritual to safely send the fragments of the gem to the Shadowfell so the souls could pass on in peace. Apparently this did not completely destroy Acererak. Over the years the Black Academy was established by the necromancers of Acererak and Skull City grew up around it. Refusing to believe that Acererak had been destroyed, the necromancers actively encouraged new generations of would-be heroes to seek out the tomb. Many of these adventurers foolishly believed that the demilich's downfall meant easy pickings of his remaining wealth. The hundreds that died screaming in that darkness gave Acererak the strength he needed to restore himself to physical form. By the time he was reborn, Acererak had spent years dwelling on the failure of his apotheosis, and he had already sown the seeds of a more daring and dangerous plan. For years Acererak designed and constructed his eldritch engines while his undead servents labored to build the Shadow Tomb. During this time he drew magic from the Tomb of Horrors, eventually this magic proved insufficient.
With his plans set Acererak returned to the the Tom b of Horrors six months ago. At the site of his masterpiece of evil and the heart of his failed plan to seek the power of the Gods - Acererak performed variants of the dark rituals that had first infused the tomb with dread power. Then after drawing that incalculable arcane energy, he laid waste to his greatest creation.
As the tomb was drained of power, earthquakes and arcane storms rocked the city. Great eldritch vents blasted ash and lightning into the air. In the aftermath most of the city's necromancers and intelligent undead fled or were killed as Skull City fell into ruin.
Now the Blackfire Disciples believe that the fall of the tomb marked Acereraks''s true death. They have given up reverence for the demilich but continue to study his lore and tomb for their remaining secrets. The Faithmarked necromancers worship Acererak zealously. They believe that the demilich is alive, but that his abandoning the tomb shows his wrath against unknown transgressions of their part. The seek favor and pardon, primarily by destroying the "heathen" Disciples of Blackfire.
The Skullbreakers are certain that Acererak has put another plan into motion but they have no idea what it might be. They relate that the Black Academy never had a real connection to Acererak worth talking about. The necromancers were useless sycophants, all of them. Whatever is going on, Moghadam's likely the only one in Skull City who'd know. The lich's architect, an archwraith. Evil as his master and twice as mad.
When queried about Moghadam, the Skullbreakers state that he was responsible for many of Acererak's deadliest traps and defenses. He led the construction of each of Acererak's dungeons, but when the demilich abandonded the tomb, the archwraith fell further into madness.
Moghadam's lair is beneath the chapel in the tomb and only visible when two persons enter the tomb each carrying a special key. At this point the party states that they have found two keys and show them to Xpohus. He states that these will allow the group to enter Moghadam's lair. At this point the Skullbreakers offer a nights rest to the party which is accepted.
In the morning Alhellara and Melisana attempt to lure any Skullbreakers to accompany the party into the Tomb but they are rebuffed. So after being led out the group heads once again for the skull on the hilltop. As they are headed to the skull the group comes upon an area where the ground has collapsed to form a steep, crumbling slope. The air is a haze of smoke and ash that cuts visibility down.
A humanoid skull with gleaming gems set in its eyes and teeth suddenly shoots forward from out of the haze. It erupts into dark flames as it shrieks: "I am Acererak, and Skull City is mine! Kneel infidels!"
Of course the party does not kneel but moves forward into battle driving the skull away form them, but from the surrounding area a Large Bone Golem appears, followed by Wights and Skeletons from the lower ground. The skeletons fire arrows up into the party as the skull produces Shadowfire amongst the whole party.
Gofin teleports next to the skull and finds herself up close and personal with the Golem. Pretis charges up and Mara also moves to engage the Golem while Demin and Lythandar find that the Skeletons fall rather easily. The Wights move to climb the slope and Melisana and Demin both take a tumble down the slope as the edge crumbles. The skull falls easily while Mara and Pretis flank the Golem. The Wights are immobilized, teleported and dazed from the Divine powers of Melisana and Alhellara. More skeletons fall and one of the Wights falls without every attacking, unfortunately it explodes in a Death Wall catching much of the party and allowing the Skeletons a free attack.
The other Wight dies off in the distance where its Death Wall is of no use. The group then concentrates on the Golem, which suffers the agony of defeat, dying without its Bone Volley hitting anyone. The last two skeletons are dispatched and the party set down to catch its breath.
Scorecard: The group earned 4413 XP for the evening and now have 86098 XP and are at 17th level. An additional 12902 XP are needed to reach 18th level.
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