Taking the time to recover from their clash with the red wizards and their vampire servant, Tobin’s Revenge tried to come to a consensus of how to survive the uphill struggle the rest of the day might bring. Despite an unexpected interruption, momentarily handled by Sariel, the group decides to locate and potentially negotiate with the cloud giant Oogway refers to as Blagothkus. Deftly making their way from the lower courtyard to the upper courtyard, the party quietly reaches the largest tower. Introducing themselves as opponents to the cult they are given an informal audience with the master of the castle. Learning that he is only working with the cult to potentially stir his fellow giants into action against the growing dragon influence throughout the land, the party shares their success in killing the dragon within his castle and defeat of the red wizards and vampire pests. Seeing his plans fall apart at the actions of these small folk, he proposes that the group finds Rezmir in the lower courtyard main complex while he and his ‘companions’ deal with the cultists and ogres on their side. In return, should any of them survive, he will take them where they please prior to him returning to his brethren in hopes he has enough to stir them into action.
Aside from Oogway making some odd attempt to convey information to the Blagothkus about ‘Esclarotta’ (met with an icy stare), the group quickly makes their way back towards the structure where they defeated the red wizards. On entering the courtyard they see Blagothkus, now joined by two other giants after leaping from the upper courtyard to the lower, taking a defensive line against the cultists and ogres spilling into the courtyard from the perimeter barracks. Oogway abandons the party to ‘help’ the giants, initially pulling Lucius on that path. The rest of the party begins their hunt for Rezmir. Finding 2 locked doors, minor shuffling to the left and nothing to the right, immediately upon entering the main corridor, Fionne attempts entry into the left side. Successfully unlocking the door and slowly opening it, Fionne and Belgwyn are met with the sight of the half-dragon standing prepared for them at the back of the room. As the remainder of the party take up positions in the hallway, several well armed cultists begin to rush in from the far end of the corridor beginning an intense close quarter battle.
Randall gets caught in a magical rug while attempting to follow Belgwyn into the room. Belgwyn’s first attempt to hit Rezmir cannot find purchase, and almost half of the party falls early to Rezmir’s return acid breath strike against the ‘stupid little dwarf’. It does not look good for the members inside battling the half-dragon and HER cultists. Outside in the courtyard Oogway makes little assists to the giants while they easily hold the line against the greatly inferior members of the cult. Lucius, understanding this is a one sided battle, begins to make way to the rest of the party. Despite a well placed fireball by Dennis and Randall freeing himself from the magical rug, the party continues to struggle with no less than 2 members lying unconscious at any given moment and little to no damage being done to Rezmir herself.
As Lucius finally enters the fray, potentially turning the tide against the party, a surprise move by Randall throws everything into disarray. His form melting away, he reveals his true self as the doppelganger that replaced Randall all those weeks ago. He praises Rezmir on her ambition and success so far before turning on the party as an enemy. With split focus on the doppelganger Randall, remaining cultist, and Rezmir the party pulls in some luck, finally making significant blows against their enemies while reviving their fallen companions to gain a numbers advantage. In the end, Belgwyn finally lands the ever elusive final blow, decapitating Rezmir with her dragon slayer longsword, sending Rezmir into the ether as she disintegrates in black ash. Randall does not last long against a vindictive Sariel and Fionne, and shortly after the onslaught, leaves the mortal plane for good.
To the annoyance of the party, Oogway finally walks through the doors of the complex, quickly taking cover from a frustrated shield bash of a passing Belgwyn. A quick search of Rezmir’s room reveals a trapped chest that Fionne is able to open without triggering, only to find it empty. Dennis is able to detect the chest’s magical properties and thinks that upon the death of the person attuned to it the contents are teleported to a safe location. Sariel wanders back to the chambers of Rath and finds stacks of letters to and from the Red Wizard. A quick skim reveals that the Rath was corresponding with a ‘Severin’ and the depths to which the Red Wizards are assisting the Cult of the Dragon. Other letters reveal that there are members from Thay that reveal some Red Wizards are not clearly as keen as Rath to the Cult’s plans. Also set on a lecture next to the desk, Sariel discovers a book written in a language she does not recognize. Luckily, Groz fluent in infernal is able to discern that the book is titled Beyond the Iron Gate and the final chapter, the most read based on the state of the pages, describes a massive summoning of Tiamat out of the Nine Hells into the world and the cost of thousands of sacrificed souls.
Blagothkus is impressed by the actions of the small folk and keeps his promise. Offering travel anywhere they need to be prior to his return to the north, the party asks for passage back to Waterdeep. Blagothkus reluctantly agrees at the warning that approaching that city with an unannounced sky castle may lead to trouble. Discussion of the dragon hoard in the bellows of the floating castle is quickly shut down by Blagothkus, stating it will be put to good use, and finally turns his focus to Oogway. With dire warnings that he has overstayed his welcome, Blagothkus demands that he departs as soon as possible, even offering to drop him off immediately. Yet, Tobin’s Revenge has been successful in their pursuit of Rezmir, gaining new insights into the plans of the Cult. Everyone, well those that are true, are still with them. They are on their way back to Waterdeep to report their findings. In all, it was a good day.
Session Date – 7 August 2025
Roster
- Belgwyn
- Sariel
- Oogway
- Fionne ‘The Ankle Biter’
- Lucius
- EKIM
- Faris
- Dennis Johnson
- Randall