Session 8: The Key of Time Part 2

Night falls and the group return to their sleeping quarters to rest and recuperate. It is not to be and they are woken by screams in the night. Enemies have broken into the Temple, scaled serpent cultists swarm through the darkness and a scaly serpent priest (looking remarkably like a Dragonborn) seeks to flee with both the Key of Time and Artemis’ mother.

Fierce battle is joined. The priest tries to escape but cannot, Assamber freezes him in place and Artemis disarms him of both his prizes. Cultists die in their droves and poisonous weapons find homes in flesh. Ultimately outmatched and bereft of his targets the serpent priest flees. Investigating the shrine they find Diana, handmaiden to the High Priestess sobbing over her corpse. She has been murdered by the serpent priest. Diana is grief stricken and she demands that the Key be returned as the most sacred relic remaining to the Cult.

The group are reluctant to hand it back. It has been stolen once before from the Cult, there is no guarantee they can keep it safe. Diana is insistent. Artemis’ mother comes round and supports her. They still refuse. As he examines the body of the High Priestess Morn finds Diana pressed close against him. Her scent is intoxicating and her words ensnare his mind. “Bring me the Key.”

He cannot resist and easily knocks Artemis to the ground taking the key to Diana. Smiling as she takes it she raises her hands and unleashes fiery death against him hurling him backwards as he recovers from her mental seduction. The Shrine breaks out into violence, Diana reveals herself as the Succubus Sinestra who nearly killed them in Nabonidus’ home. Her Efreet come at her call again and she traps Azhanti and Morn in the small shrine with a wall of fire. Seeking escape she flees outside where she is stopped by Assamber who rugby tackles her to the ground. Again and again they roll backwards and forwards, Assamber clinging on for dear life. Morn destroys the side wall of the temple and they engage the Succubus again. Calling her Efreet to her she tries to immolate her enemies but she cannot overcome them. Finally she falls to Assamber who drives his thumbs into her eyes and freezes her brain solid.

Collapsing in exhaustion, utterly spent they are taken into the tender arms of the Cult. Once again wounds are tended, burns healed and reserves replenished. In the days following the group recover and the Cult makes ready to leave. The journey out of the Oasis is much less eventful than the one into it and as they head to the City the group take a chance to check on one or two things they left behind. They find that Isaac has once again failed to become Chief of Clan Antarion and they wave at all those who told them they would never return from the south.

As they enter the City Artemis refuses to take his mother to the home of Trak’Ar as agreed. Instead he imprisons her in the temple of Mael where they fill in Nabonidus on events. A meeting of the Rebellion leaders is called in the cells beneath the Arena.

The group arrive quickly and find themselves meeting the leadership of the Rebellion. Trak’Ar is there as well and accuses Morn and Nabonidus of being involved in the treason. Tempers flare, voices are raised and many claims made by all sides. Trak’Ar insists on the return of his wife, Artmeis refuses, Morn complains they are shown no respect, Azhanti makes a plea for unity and Antonius is offended by the groups obvious prejudice against Tieflings. Trak’Ar demands Antonius returns his wife or their deal is off and Assamber assents to her removal from the Temple if she wishes it. At an impasse the group leave and matters remain tense between all concerned. Morn tries to smooth things over with his old ally Marat Kesh but it doesn’t seem to help.

As they leave Azhanti receives news, a sorcerous message.

“Najentus has invested the Temple, Nihlil is close to dying, come quickly, bring help.”

*cut scene*

Not far away on the Plains of Cadiz the Dragonborn legion gathers. In the central tent the Warlord Najentus dismisses his officer’s reports of supply trains and weapon stores. Turning he regards the serpentine figure prostrate before him. “You have failed me, the Emperor will be most displeased. Now we will have to take more drastic measures. Go, if you fail again do not bother to return...”