Chapters

Sigil Eve: “Piece of what?”
Sigil Morn: “It’s like being in the sea—without the water”

Sigil Eve

The company breathed a sigh of relief to be back in the luxurious surrounds of Sigil, releasing days of high stress. Before being able to take a second, Alustriel and Mordenkainen pounced, very excited to have everyone back. There was no sign of Tasha.

“Gentlemen! I will admit we were quite concerned, it is tremendous to see you back,” Mordenkainen smiled widely. “As you can imagine we were keeping a close eye on your down there in Neverwinter, and suddenly you vanished!? You can imagine our panic—had the Lord of Whispers taken you already, we feared!”

Marko sighed, looking around his companions. “Where do you want to start?”

Inris, ever reliable, stepped forward. “We interrupted a ceremony where the Vecna cult—”

the whispers…the whispers…

“You use that name very liberally I see,” Mordenkainen interrupted with arched brow.

“Well it has been used here before,” Idris huffed, shaking his head to clear the whispering, “And no one seemed concerned that it was.”

“I would suggest not using it, let me put it that way,” Mordenkainen said.

“It is best to take every precaution we can,” Alustriel concurred.

Idris rolled his eyes. “Okay. We interrupted a cult of he-who-won’t-be-named-in-the-future,” he said with heavy sarcasm, “Who were running a ceremony that ritualistically extracted secrets. We made the decision to end that ritual prematurely, at the cost of the sacrifice in question. At which point we were sucked into the Shadowfell.”

“Did you get the visions when that happened?” Marko asked.

“Visions? What visions would those be?” Alustriel asked keenly.

“Only we saw them,” Eli muttered.

“Only you?” Alustriel said, looking over to Mordenkainen with some concern. “Tell me what you saw.”

Marko explained the visions of the multiversal cults worshipping Vecna, and how he was gathering the secrets as they flowed to him in a far away place. And of how his eye watched, watched, ever watching. As he spoke these last words Mark shuddered.

Alustriel looked solemn. “We have heard of no-one else experiencing these things. I fear your link with the Dark One grows stronger.”

“Mmmm,” Idris muttered.

“It’s not good,” Uthar agreed.

“Or was it the death of the planar scholar that gave us the visions?” Sifer tried.

“I don’t think it is that simple,” Alustriel shook her head, “That was not a planar vision, it was something else. A message perhaps. Maybe he is showing you his powers.”

“There were a lot of cults,” Marko said.

“He has certainly amassed cultists in every corner of the multiverse. That is how he is growing his power.”

“In any case, and pending Dagult’s confirmation,” Idris continued, “We routed the Neverwinter cell. And we ended up in Evernight.”

“The echo,” Mordenkainen said.

“Do you know of that place?” Three chimed in.

“Of course. A cursed echo of Neverwinter, home for the undead and not much else.”

“But they treated us not like undead—they were kind? They helped us get back?”

Sifer frowned at this, as did Eli. “I think something different. We were able to negotiate a strategic retreat—it was not ‘kindness’.”

“Three, if you recall, that ‘kindness’ came at a price,” Idris said with a sympathetic glance to Eli.

Three growled. “I mean that they didn’t attack like every other undead ever. We were able to parlay!”

“I am surprised that you would be surprised,” Mordenkainen said archly, “A man of such obvious experience. Undead are not like animals; some of them are vicious, some of them are cruel, but many are wise beyond even their many years.”

“But this was a whole city of undead. Operating with commerce, housing…” Three persisted.

“Have you not heard of the great vampire Strahd? He rules an entire demiplane, a realm of his own. Or he did.”

“I have, but I don’t know how much is story and how much is real,” Three frowned. “I heard he was deposed or something?”

“Yes, a group of unknown heroes put paid to his plans–for now,” Mordenkainen nodded. “In any case the lesson is you cannot tar the undead with a single brush.”

“Right,” Three said curtly, entirely unconvinced.

Marko collapsed onto a couch. “What’s next?” he muttered tiredly.

Mordenkainen looked around the company. “We knew about the cult, obviously. But I sent you there with a secondary, rather more important purpose. Did you find anything else?”

“We found a book,” Three said. “Mister Marko?”

Marko pulled the Dolindar journal from his satchel and tossed it to Mordenkainen, who flipped through it quickly and shook his head. “This is mere politics and gamesmanship,” he said, dropping the journal to the marbled floor. “The Dolindar claim has long been a matter of contention for poor Dagult.”

Idris glanced over at Uthar, a compass for his decisions. He telepathically spoke: “Should we show them what Three found in the Dolindar matriarch?”

Uthar paused, unsure of the answer. The mages were powerful, but that did not make them good. Alustriel he felt could be trusted, Mordenkainen less so, and the absent Tasha was a mystery. But it did seem they were intent on stopping the Dark One’s plans, and he doubted that could be done without them.

Sifer could almost hear Uthar thinking, and was worried for a moment there would be no answer. Then it came: “Yes.”

“Funny you should ask,” Idris said turning back to Mordenkainen. “We—well, Three, found something inside one of the Dolindar’s.”

Three took the crystal fragment from his pouch and held it forth.

The look that passed over both archmage’s faces was pure astonishment. Three glanced to Idris who met his gaze: interesting. There was no hiding the fact that Alustriel and Mordenkainen were shocked, evern moreso than when their Wish had summoned the company forth.

A smile crept over Mordenkainen’s face as he looked over to Alustriel. “I was right!”

Alustriel nodded slowly. “May I?” she asked, taking the crystal from Three. She turned it carefully in her hands, her eyes aglow. “I never thought I might see this. Where did you say you found it?”

“I cut it out of a creature,” Three said.

“Out of the undead Dolindar woman—Kevetta,” Sifer added.

“What is it? You clearly know,” Eli said.

“Yes. Yes I know,” Alustriel said softly. “It is a section…of a rod. A very powerful rod. A Rod of Seven Parts.”

Somewhere, the universe laughed.

Alustriel went on. “Each part has powerful magic embedded within, and when they are all combined it becomes an artifact of legendary power.”

Mordenkainen was beaming. He clapped his hands with excitement. “I knew it, I knew it! And you wouldn’t listen—but now look! If we can piece this back together we can defeat Him, I am sure of it. It is no coincidence that these six men have been chosen. It is no coincidence that they have found the first piece. Now we just need the other six…”

“Piece of what?” Sifer said.

Everyone paused.

“The rod?” Three said, as if to a simpleton.

“The rod he just explained?” Eli added, trying his best not to judge.

“He just said what it was,” Idris said, not bothering to hide it.

“No, no—it was a rod of power, yes?” Sifer said trying to recover his wits.

“The Rod of Seven Parts,” Mordenkainen said tilting his head.

“Oh! All I heard was that it was a rod of seven parts,” Sifer shrugged.

“That was it’s name,” Idris said.

“Yes,” Mordenkainen confirmed, looking askance at Sifer. “You weren’t the smart one, were you.” It wasn’t a question.

Alustriel stepped into the uncomfortable void and held the rod section aloft. “Interestingly—or luckily—each part of the rod will lead you to the next.”

“That seems like a design flaw,” Eli muttered.

“And very convenient,” Idris added.

“That is the way of artifacts!” Three exclaimed. Eli looked to three, confused. Was there nothing he did not know?

“Indeed it is,” Alustriel laughed. “If I am not mistaken, this is the tip, and if I empower it with the command word it will reveal the approximate location of the next.”

“And what is the command word?” Marko asked.

“RUAT,” Alustriel intoned, deep arcane magic causing her voice to resonate and warp with power.

As she spoke the crystal pulsed, once, sending a radiating flash throughout the room. The pulse faded to reveal the crystal now glowing with light that flowed through it, particles beaming along its length. Alustriel’s face was lit by the glow as she looked on in wonder.

“Is He looking for this?” Marko said quietly.

“Oh he would love to have this,” Mordenkainen said rubbing his hands.

“So did you just alert him to its existence?”

“No, no, he has no vision here. Unless—” Alustriel looked fearfully to Mordenkainen.

“Unless you have brought him here,” Mordenkainen frowned, looking around the company.

“That can’t be discounted,” Idris warned.

“We shall have to take more care,” Alustriel nodde, turning to Idris. “It appears you will be making a trip home. The starry void of the Astral Sea is where the next piece lies.”

The archmage pair detailed the next steps: Once the company was ready and rested, Alustriel’s portal will be opened to the Astral Sea. As much time as was needed could be spent researching the Astral Sea in the great libraries of Sigil, and information regarding the Rod of Seven Parts would also be relayed.

“You must take the rod piece with you, as it will help locate the next once you are in place.” Three took it and handed it to Marko. “I can hold it but I don’t think I can use it or wield it?”

“Why don’t I hang onto it,” Idris offered, and Marko gratefully handed the piece into his safekeeping.

Eli vanished into prayer, and Marko, Idris, and Three headed for the library, keen to learn all they could. Sifer wanted to work on his martial skills and sought out the quartermasters, while Uthar set about working out how to get his gold sent back home. It was agreed the company would reconvene the following morning.

Sigil Morn

“Not good enough, sir!”

Under his breath, Sifer cursed. Who was this accursed man and why couldn’t he stand still. He shook the sweat off his brow and lifted his aching sword arm once again. Moments later the sword clattered to the stone floor as the master-swordsman disarmed Sifer with consummate ease.

“You say you want a weapon to take on your adventures? I will give you a fine blade—all you need do is knock this weapon from my hand,” the scarred veteran smiled.

“A longsword,” Sifer muttered.

“You’re far worse with the longsword. Your balance is all wrong and you need to be stronger,” the taskmaster guffawed. “But it’s your choice.”

“So shortsword then!”

“That’s definitely the wrong choice,” the man said apologetically, “That grip is never going to work. Very poor indeed.”

“Enough! One more try, and this time it is I who will emerge victorious,” Sifer growled. He did his best to clear his mind of the hours of frustration and focused on the lessons. Weight, balanced. Arm, loose around the wrist but strong through the elbow. Stance, foot forward and presenting a little target as possible. Satisfied, he stepped forward and engaged with a cry. “En garde!”

Eli emerged earliest, perching himself uncomfortably on the corner of one of the luxurious lounges in Alustriel’s drawing room. His evening of solitude and contemplations had bolstered his confidence and he felt ready for whatever this ‘Astral Sea’ had to offer.

“Morning, Eli,” Idris waved, arriving with a clutch of books that he dropped on a table. “A good night’s research—Mister Marko and Three have found out more about the rod, and I’ve schooled them in the Astral.”

“Very good, Brother Idris,” Eli nodded, wishing he too had attended that school. “And good morning, Uthar.”

Uthar stepped into the room with a quiet nod, having performed his own good works: sending funds (gathered from those that wished it) home to Neverwinter to be distributed via Flukespan—as arranged by Marko who assured everyone they were entirely trustworthy. “We won’t even take a guild cut,” he announced solemnly. Uthar’s money had gone to his monastery, something he felt satisfied for given his long absence. Eli sent his to his compound, and Idris to the Inn.

Three and Marko arrived next, their heads bursting with the information they had gathered with Idris’s assistance. Three was the only one who hadn’t sent his money back to Neverwinter, instead exchanging it for two pristine gems from the Sigil jewellers.

And finally, Sifer walked stiffly into the room. He looked like he had been involved in a bar-brawl, bruised and obviously aching. “Gentlemen,” he grunted, collapsing into a seat by Eli.

“You look worked over,” Uthar said.

“I was!” Sifer beamed. “I wanted a new sword, and all I had to do was defeat the swordsmaster. Just once.” He held up his empty hands and shrugged. “Maybe next time!”

Three looked around the company. “I was glad to assist with the research, but I confess I found myself unsure of what I should be working on. Does anyone else feel this uncertainty?”

“Aren’t we just instruments at this point?” Sifer asked. “They don’t know why we were chosen, so why would we know?”

“I get the feeling that they’re thinking it’s not about anything we can do as people,” Eli said, “It’s about the fact that fate put this in our hands.”

“Yes. We have confidence in our abilities individually, but we have stumbled into something that is somewhat larger than ourselves,” Sifer said.

Three shrugged, unconvinced.

“Before we do anything, we need to hand-out this loot,” Idris said breaking the silence, unpacking various finds, tossing the human tooth necklace recovered from the cultists to Three. Marko nabbed the books, to no protest, and Eli reluctantly added his snowglobe to the small collection, crowned by the green crystal segment.

“The number one thing is who is going to carry the rod,” Three said. “You have it Idris, but now we know that it casts Commune to speak your deity, does that change anything?”

“You may need a deity in order to use it,” Eli nodded, not sure if Idris qualified.

“I think we let Three have it, as he’s the one who’s going to be itching to talk to deities,” Sifer said. “But when he fucks it up, we take it and give it to someone else.”

Three ignored the slight. “Also Eli might want the same.”

“What would I say?” Eli said, terrified.

“The main property of the piece, that concerns us immediately,” Idris said, “Is that it can find the other parts of the rod. As opposed to the more ancillary function, powerful though that is. Whoever is carrying it is going to be spearheading the direction we go.”

Three nodded. “My advocacy is that Idris holds it. Where we’re going, he could use it like a compass. If we need it for divine wisdom, there are three of us that could use it,” he said glancing to Uthar.

“And the nature of the spell is not something you would cast in the middle of a fight,” Idris added. “Settled. Next: the snowglobe?”

“That was mine,” Eli said quickly picking it up and feeling slightly guilty at his hunger. More penance tonight.

For reasons he couldn’t explain, Three also coveted the globe, and had started to reach for it before pulling back when Eli had grabbed it. “Let Eli have it.”

Eli saw Brother Three’s interest and his resolve crumbled. “The snowglobe is yours, Brother Three,” he said, placing it carefully back on the table.

“No, no,” Three said waving the offer away.

“If no one’s taking it,” Sifer said, walking up and reaching for the tiny globe.

Three snatched it away and frowned at Sifer, who shrugged and walked away.

Eli sat stock still doing his best not to show his roiling emotions at his loss.

“I’m glad that’s over,” Idris laughed. “There’s this drift-globe which I wouldn’t mind. It does this.” The planar etched globe float into the air and started glowing. “It’s like a light.”

“So it’s not a map thing?” Eli asked, “Not a navigational tool?”

Idris shook his head. “It’s a representational map, this in no way describes the physical position of the gate towns. It’s a trinket, nothing more.”

“It seems very appropriate for you,” Three said.

“The last item is rather more useful,” Idris said. “The necklace, which will allow one to breathe normally in any environment.”

“Like what?” Eli asked, mystified.

“Any.”

“What environment’s can’t you breathe in?”

“Poison,” Uthar offered.

“A vacuum,” Idris added.

“Underwater,” Three said.

“Are you amphibious, Eli?” Idris smiled.

“No, but I don’t go in the water,” Eli said sulkily. “My body is a temple.”

“Give it to one of the strongest,” Three said, pointing to Eli, Uthar, and Sifer.

“I would take it, as I’m not in the front line and might need to help,” Sifer said, “But I have my own that keeps me healthy,” he said revealing a periapt around his neck.

“I’ve been fine breathing everywhere I’ve tried,” Eli said. “I once held my breath for two minutes.”

“Really? Well that’s a long time,” Idris said, trying to make amends whilst obviously thinking the opposite.

“Might have been longer but I passed out,” Eli added defensively.

Idris did his best not to laugh. “Uthar? It also helps with harmful gasses and vapour?”

“It gives me a little extra,” Uthar nodded, slipping the necklace on.

“So how do we get to the Astral Sea?” Eli asked.

Alustriel arrived some time later to answer Eli’s question. She explained again that the portal in her fortress was one of the few still working predictably, and it would be used for the next stage. “We do worry that your presence, and evident link to the dark one, may lead to my portal also being corrupted, but it is a risk we shall have to take. Now gentlemen; do you have any questions before you leave?”

“Where’s your friend?” Eli asked suspiciously.

“Mordenkainen? He—”

“No, no, your other friend,” Eli interrupted, most out of character.

“Ah, Tasha,” Alustriel looked curiously at Eli’s curiosity. “She is…busy. Any other questions?”

“Where is this portal going to open,” Eli said, seeing he would get nowhere with the Tasha line of questioning.

“As you know it will open to the Astral Sea. You will be transported to a location where we believe a dead god lies,” Alustriel said as if that were a common occurence.

“I don’t like the sound of that,” Eli said quietly.

“Or should I say dying god,” Alustriel corrected.

“Oh that’s even worse,” Sifer muttered.

Idris looked Alustriel in the eye. “Dead? Or dying?”

“Dying.”

Idris’s face relaxed at this. “There are a multitude of worlds that are not ours, different worlds that circle different suns. But all gods from all spheres die in the Astral.”

“It happens infrequently, but frequently enough,” Alustriel agreed. “The god is named Havock and it’s been dying a long time. Havock’s petrified form is hundreds of miles long and weighs thousands of tons. As Havock lost worshipers and power over millennia it started to deteriorate, now destined to drift forever in the Astral Sea.”

“What was his role in the theology?” Three asked. He was surprised not to know this Havock, though it’s great age perhaps explained that.

“Chaos,” Marko said, surprising everyone. “Eight legs and two heads that each held a single, unblinking eye.”

Alustriel nodded. “It’s name is a good clue. It was a God of Ruination.”

Eli blinked. “Is there a reason to arrive near this thing?”

“That is where the rod suggests the next part lies,” Alustriel shrugged. “Do not worry, Havock poses no threat. As I said, it is dying.”

“It’s is more analogous to an island,” Idris added.

“It is a good analogy,” Alustriel agreed. “There is gravity there where otherwise there might not be, caused by Havock’s sheer bulk.”

“That’s what I was starting to wonder,” Eli bluffed. “Is he…inhabited?”

“Quite possibly,” Idris said. “The body of dead gods provide landfall in the Atral Sea,” Idris added, “For there is no other solid ground. Other than ships used to travel through it.”

“Spelljammers,” Alustriel added to a cocked eye and shake of the head from Idris. He didn’t want to have to explain that.

“Why would any god go there?” Three said, coming to Idris’s rescue.

“It’s simply what happens when they die,” Idris said. “They don’t choose to go there, it’s where they go.”

“The most recent god to be found there was the Frostmaiden, Auril,” Alustriel added to blank looks. “She appeared, briefly, dead but not for long—she has returned now.”

Idris looked to Three. “And Kelemvor’s predecessor will be there too.”

Eli found himself getting uncomfortable with all this talk of gods. It was so casual, so lacking in faith. It was time to go. “So what are we waiting for?” he suddenly asked.

“Nothing,” Idris said, striding forward as Alustriel led the company to a glowing silver portal. “Just remember if we end up somewhere with no solid ground, just will yourself in the direction you want to go.”

“Good tip,” Marko nodded.

“It won’t at all be like being in the sea though?” Eli asked.

“It’s like being in the sea—without the water,” Idris laughed.

On hearing this, Marko produced a tiny model boat from his bags. “I’m not swimming, I’m sailing,” he grinned.

“It’s a little small isn’t it, Mister Marko?” Alustrial smiled.

“It gets bigger!”

Eli rummaged around in his own bags and pulled out something very similar. “So that’s what this thing is for.”

“We’ve got a fleet!” Marko smirked and jumped ahoy.

“After you, gentlemen,” Idris motioned.

“Oh, after you,” Three said, wanting the Astral Sea native to lead the way.

Idris didn’t move.

Three looked at him uncomfortably. “Aren’t we going to your home?” he said, then entered the portal, followed by the rest of the company.

Idris was the last. He took a deep breath, waiting a beat too long before stepping through.

Sessions played: March 3, 17, 2025