“Do you have it?” Mordenkainen said hungrily, licking his lips. Ikasa leapt on Three, distracting the Archmage for a moment, then he saw what was strapped to Uthar’s back. “Ah. Give it to me. I will unravel its secrets.”

Three, rubbing Ikasa, watched Alustriel closely. She was watching Mordenkainen like a hawk, trying not giving anything away, but there was clear concern and trepidation in her eyes.

“Come now. That is not a weapon for mortals,” Mordenkainen said stepping forward.

At the rear of the room, Uthar’s eyes glazed over as the voice returned. “Do not let me be hidden again.” He blinked rapidly, then tentatively replied: “I hear you. I don’t quite understand, but I will try.” Uthar took a step back, putting the company between himself and Mordenkainen.

“Good. We shall hunt, together!”

“You seem…overly eager,” Three said carefully.

“Well of course I am! We have no time to waste—we need this sword to draw Kas forth.”

“I don’t want to draw Kas forth,” Eli said, glaring.

“What are you talking about you fool?”

With a glance to Eli, Three continued. “We need the piece of the Rod—you don’t need the sword for that.”

“We need to find out what the sword can do for us, and to lure Kas. We discussed all of this!” Mordenkainen snapped.

“No we didn’t. We accepted it was a lure, but you are talking like you want it beyond that purpose.”

“It is not safe for any of you to wield. I can find out what its secrets are, and how we can use it to our advantage.”

Three turned. “Do you agree, Alustriel?”

“He is right,” she said calmly. “It is not safe for any of you to wield despite the power it brings. I’m not sure any of you could control it.”

“I agree. That’s why we carry it sheathed and wrapped,” Three nodded. “But do you agree Mordenkainen is in a place to study it? And needs to study it for this lure?”

Alustriel shook her head. “I would prefer we keep it away from anyone.”

“Alustriel!” Mordenkainen growled, “You are too cautious—this is an opportunity and we must seize it! For the first time we may have the advantage of surprise!”

Alustriel stared at Mordenkainen, and Idris could see she was conflicted. “Perhaps it may be best,” he said, “To wait until your third returns to cast a deciding vote.”

Three looked to Alustriel, seeing a flash of gratitude at Idris’s diplomacy. “I agree,” she said with a smile. “Tasha?”

From the northern steps a haggard, elderly crone stepped down into the room. “You called?

Mordenkainen spun with a look of shock and surprise. Three watched a look of concern and consternation flash over his features, whether because of her appearance or because of her unexpected arrival.

“Yes, Mordenkainen, I have returned, finally. A little worse for wear.” Her voice croaked to match her aged face.

Marko jogged over to hold out his hand and steady Tasha’s tentative steps. “My lady?". Tasha took it gratefully. “You always were a gentleman, Mister Marko,” she smiled. “I appreciate the assistance—I have been through a great deal as you can see.” Her eyes still sparkled, causing Marko to swoon a little. He led Tasha to the couch and helped her sit.

“Tasha,” Three said, “Are you aware of the situation? Did you overhear?”

“You have the Sword of Kas,” she nodded.

“We do.”

“And Mordenkainen wishes to take it?”

“Yes. He wants to study it…which we did not think was the plan.”

Tasha sighed. “I have learnt a great deal. I travelled to Barovia and…‘communed’ with the Dark Powers in the Amber Temple. Not an experience I would wish upon anyone.”

“No mortals,” Three said glancing at Mordenkainen wryly, “Would do that.”

“It is clear that the knowledge came at a cost, Tasha,” Idris observed.

“Indeed it did,” Tasha said wearily. “But this,” she said waving a hand over her face and shrunken figure, “This is nothing I can’t overcome with time and effort. However there is something else I had to give them that I know I will come to regret.”

“Which was?” Eli said.

“A secret that was far better left as such.”

“And what was that?” Mordenkainen said, regaining his voice.

“The location of the hidden von Zarovich heir, who is, or was, living happily in the frozen north.” Tasha looked glum, and, strangely, Idris looked like something had walked over his grave. “I know this means nothing to you, but it is of great import to the Dark Powers, and obviously to the heir herself.”

“Was that wise, Tasha?” Alustriel said, pained.

“What choice did I have? What we are trying to accomplish is of even more import,” Tasha stressed. “Once they were satisfied with what I told them, they told me what I needed to know.”

“Which was?” Eli repeated, a little tired of the intrigue and lack of clarity.

“Well firstly—they did not free Kas,” Tasha said, glaring at Mordenkainen who merely shrugged.

Alustriel wasn’t letting him off that lightly. “Mordenkainen?”

“What?! I have nothing to hide—I guessed that they had freed him but how was I to know? I have no idea how he freed himself.”

“So he is still loose?” Marko confirmed.

“Of course he is,” Mordenkainen said shortly. “That is why we needed that sword.”

“The second thing,” Tasha continued, “Is that once he was free the Dark Powers intervened. The Archlich’s plan either scares or frustrates them enough that they gambled on empowering the Betrayer. They don’t like other’s intruding on their machinations.” Tasha looked around the company. “Kas has the last part of the Rod, courtesy of the Dark Powers.”

Alustriel rubbed her forehead at this, and Mordenkainen looked annoyed: “Which is precisely why I need the sword.”

Eli had heard enough. He spun to face the duplicitous Archmage. “Mordenkainen? You freed Kas and promised him the sword. Admit it.”

“I did nothing of the sort,” Mordenkainen snarled.

“You can say what you like, but you are clearly a liar and I don’t trust you.”

“You can choose to trust who you like, Eli, but the fact is that all of this has been my doing. Everything we have accomplished. I was the one that discovered Kas was gone—when you would not—and I was the one that devised the plan to retrieve his blade!”

“Is the plan for us to trade the sword for the final part?” Three pressed. “Is that where we are at?”

“If it should come to that then that would be wise trade to make,” Tasha said thoughtfully.

“That wasn’t the plan,” Eli protested.

“You’re right, Eli,” Alustriel said, “But now we now know that Kas holds a part of the Rod, which we did not before Tasha’s return. And that is potentially catastrophic.”

“Don’t be ridiculous,” Mordenkainen snapped. “Kas stands no chance with only one Part of the Rod. He must be planning something else with it.”

“We had best find out what that is, and quickly,” Tasha said. “The third thing I discovered was that Kas has taken the Rod to Pandesmos.”

“The first layer of Pandemonium,” Alustriel said quietly. “Wedged between Limbo and the Abyss. Why would he go there?”

“My best guess?” Tasha said, “Pandesmos is where the Archlich prepares his ritual and Kas now hunts him.”

Mordenkainen shook his head. “There must be more to it. He can do nothing with only one Part of the Rod. Only the complete artefact can stop the dark one.” Three could see he was reengaged despite his bubbling frustration.

Idris sighed deeply, his promise to Elsbah to return soon looking further away than ever. “What about the sixth piece?”

Tasha nodded. “As Kas now possesses the final part I convinced the Dark Powers to remove the shroud hiding the penultimate piece. We know where it is.”

“Which is?” Eli said for the third time.

“Avernus.”

“Oh god,” Uthar groaned.

“Ha!” Idris grinned.

“Hrmp,” Three chuckled.

“Also known as hell, Eli,” Alustriel said.

Eli slapped his forehead.

“Should be easy to spot who’s evil,” Three smirked at Eli.

“There is something else we hope you can recover there,” Alustriel said apologetically.

“What, the grail? What else??” Three said incredulously.

“Hell is a big place,” Idris protested.

“We know. But as you know, Kas removed both the Hand and the Eye of his Master.” Alustriel looked over to Three. “Though we cannot be sure, we strongly suspect the Eye you found in the Tomb was not that of Acererak…we believe instead it was the Dark One’s Eye. When you ‘vanquished’ it, it was instead released from the binding that concealed it, for it cannot be destroyed so easily. If it has found a way back to V as a result of our meddling, we must do everything we can to ensure he does not also recover his Hand.”

Eli shook his head. He couldn’t believe what he was hearing.

“So we sent the Dark One’s eye back to him?”

Alustriel looked sympathetic, but nodded. “Mordenkainen?”

“Well,” Mordenkainen said settling his shoulders. “It appears you need my help again?” He looked pleased. “My friends here may not be aware, but I maintain a roaming stronghold for my sojourns in Avernus—The Tower of Urm. I study how the Nine Hells affect the schools of magic. Nothing sinister!” he said glaring at Eli. “In fact some of my greatest magic was shaped by that complex place. The Avernus Hellhounds inspired me to created my Faithful Hound spell. And my Mansion was—”

“Enough, Mordenkainen!” Alustriel interrupted.

He rolled his eyes, but came back to the point. “There is a mad dragonborn champion who roams Avernus: Arkhan the Cruel. He worships Tiamat,” he emphasised, glancing to Marko and clearly enjoying his reaction.

“Then he has to die,” Marko spat. “What an idiot.”

Mordenkainen grinned. “Arkhan is trying to use the Hand to secure her freedom from the prison that holds in the Nine Hells. You and your valiant Stormwatch companions know well the danger that would pose. But Tiamat is not our concern,” he said with a smirk at Marko’s frown. “I have enjoyed watching Arkhan struggle to contain the power of the Hand; it is a fight I think he is destined to lose. Particularly if our wonderful Wish-bringers are involved!”

Alustriel look more than tired at Mordenkainen’s behaviour, but said nothing.

Tasha sat up instead. “We believe the penultimate Part of the Rod is held in a casino, The Red Belvedere. The proprietor is a shrewd and powerful tiefling named Windfall. She too worships Tiamat, and she and Arkhan are close associates. It is our hope that you will find both the Rod and Arkhan within the halls of the Belvedere. He builds a hoard for Tiamat and perhaps the Rod part is a crown jewel in that collection.”

“When you are ready we will transport you to as close as we can to the Red Belvedere,” Alustriel said. “Because Avernus is an ever shifting landscape, getting out could be very difficult, so we have prepared a scroll of recollection: use it to return here.”

“Be warned the Belvedere is no battleground; as you can imagine the clientele are some of the worst of any plane. You cannot simply murder your way through it,” Tasha cautioned.

“And once you secure the Hand…return it to me. We will keep it safe from he-who-shall-not-be-named, unlike the Eye,” he snorted.

Idris glanced at the other wizards, both of whom looked tired but only impassively watching Mordenkainen. He turned to his companions. “It is very likely that the Hand will be attached to this Arkhan.”

“Almost certainly,” Tasha nodded. “I believe Mordenkainen said as much.”

“And while we are doing this,” Three said, “Where’s the sword going to be?”

“Ah yes, we did not resolve that question,” Mordenkainen said staring at Tasha.

Tasha leant back on the couch, and looked over to Three. “Keep it. Use it if you must.”

Everyone was surprised at this declaration.

“It may cost you dearly, the same way my visit cost me,” Tasha continued, “But that is the price we all are paying for this misadventure.”

“Are you sure Tasha?” Alustriel said with great concern on her face.

“It’s better than giving it to Mordenkainen,” Tasha smiled. Uthar nodded enthusiastically.

Mordenkainen laughed loudly, spun on his heel and strode out of the room.

“Gentlemen,” Alustriel said once Mordenkainen was gone, “I understand this is a lot. And you can see the tensions this pending catastrophe has created between we Three. But I plead with you to continue and to continue to give us your trust.”

Eli shook his head. “When you cast the Wish spell that brought us to you, can you be sure that you were all wishing for the same thing?”

“Eli I believe we can,” Alustriel said with a warm smile. “There was no duplicity,” she said glancing to where Mordenkainen had walked away, “Despite what you may thing. There is nowhere to hide in an empowered Wish—and variance would have failed.”

“I am under the impression that he has interpreted the results differently,” Eli frowned.

“That is his way. He is…frustrating. But he also has great insights.”

“He is a liar.”

“He is sometimes less than clear as to his intent.”

“No. Don’t try and couch that in some clever language: he is a liar,” Eli growled. “He has said untruths to us to further his own agenda or interpretation of how we do this job. And if you can’t see that…I am very surprised.”

“Oh we can see it,” Alustriel assured. “It is part of his character. But remember: he is the one that had the intuition that the Rod was the way to stop the Dark One. And there is no question that was the right decision: unravelling whatever the Dark One has woven will require the Rod of Seven Parts. It was an insight that required his particular way of thinking, and if that way of thinking requires the outlandish risks he takes, then that is something we must accept.”

“No! No. The ends never justify the means,” Eli declared. “And he will have that sword over my dead body.”

“I agree with not giving it to him,” Alustriel said, “He is too eager. But you are wrong about the ends and the means. We have said this to you before, Eli. ‘Never’ is a strong word. There is an in-between and you must learn to understand it.”

“I choose not.”

“That is your right,” Alustriel nodded with compassion. “But if you do make that choice the journey before you will be very difficult.”

“I expect no less,” Eli said folding his arms over his chest.

Regathering the following morning, Idris got straight to the point. “Tasha—what can you tell us about the Red Belvedere? The nature of the games, the currency they gamble with? Because it occurs to me that if we need to meet significant people in the casino, one way to do that is to high-roll.”

“I’m not as much as a gambler as our friend Mordenkainen, but I know a little about the Belvedre,” Tasha grinned. “Simply? It’s a casino, like any other. Whilst the games vary over time, there are staples: rooms that specialise in games of chance, other rooms games of intellect and strategy. The games are well known, with some variants; think three Dragon Ante, Dragonchess, and the like. Being Avernus it’s not just gambling in the traditional sense—tests of strength in a coliseum, Nightmare steed racing, and, last I was there, a maze.”

“And if I was going to take a stake, what form would that take?”

“Like any casino they have their in-house currency—in the Belvedere’s case they use ‘Talons’. You can exchange gold for talons, of, if you have them, soul coins. I should warn you that each talon is imbued with a mote of the Dragon Queen’s power, with varying consequences.”

“What do you mean by ‘soul coins’?” Three asked.

“Soul Coins are ugly things,” Tasha scowled. “Minted from infernal iron, each magically binding a single cursed soul.”

“Of a person?”

“Of a person. When you hold the coin you can sense the soul bound within—overcome with rage, fraught with despair, or whatever emotion the trapped soul currently suffers.”

Eli was horrified. “How do you get them out?”

“Burn them. Coins are used as fuel for the infernal war machines that traverse Avernus, empowering the vehicles and destroying the soul.”

“A one way trip,” Sifer observed.

“Unless I’m mistaken,” Idris said to Eli, “I believe the souls are those who were destined for Hell anyway, if that’s any consolation for you.”

“For the most part, yes,” Tasha nodded, “Though upon occasion some innocents are also bound.”

“But usually it’s an asshole,” Idris emphasised, aware of Eli’s sensitivity.

“Where does the soul end up when it’s burnt? I assume it goes to a devil or something?” Three asked.

“The soul is destroyed,” Tasha repeated, to a grim silence. “You can free souls from the coins, but the soul, when released, will only travel to where it was always destined to travel. Most will emerge as lemures from the River Styx, their mortal memories scoured away—now just slurries of vague limbs and anguished features. Whether that is a better destiny that being trapped in a coin?” Tasha shrugged.

Eli was left speechless.

“Noted,” Idris nodded. “Anyway, we’ll take ten thousand gold.”

“None of my portion will be used for this gambling,” Eli growled.

“Eli we’ll use any and all gold that we require, if that’s ok,” Idris said.

“Not for gambling.”

“If the gambling facilitates what we need to do, then absolutely for gambling.”

“Not my share.”

Idris shrugged. “And no-one who doesn’t normally gamble should be doing any gambling in a casino in Hell” he declared. “I have reservations about it myself, and I run a casino.”

“Those words should be tattooed,” Eli agreed. “They’re never not going to be true.”

“What about the Hand,” Three asked. “We need to recover it from this ‘Arkhan’?”

“More than recover,” Alustriel said, “You will need to sever it from his arm: it is part of him now, though as Mordenkainen said, it’s driving him into madness.”

“Very well. I will prepare an embalming sheet, blessed by Kelemvor, and create a pouch,” Three explained. “Assuming we are successful, we can safely preserve and hold the Hand in the bag.”

“A better approach than you took with the Eye,” Alustriel smiled.

“That’s unfair! We didn’t know!”

“And there’s been so many eyeballs,” Idris smirked.

Session played July 6, 20, 2026