Mordenkainen ushered the company inside the comfort of the sanctum. Behind him Alustriel sat patting Isaka absently. Three was slightly hurt when the good dog didn’t leap up to greet him.

“You all look rather chuffed!” Mordenkainen beamed.

“We found the fifth piece,” Idris smiled.

“There’s nothing more we could have asked! This is tremendous news: five down, two to go.”

“I could have asked not to be tongued by a mind-flayer,” Marko sighed. “But we won’t talk about that.”

Alustriel raised an eyebrow.

“The chuffed demeanour is for both finding the Rod part and dispatching an elder brain,” Idris emphasised.

“That is no small feat,” Alustriel nodded. “And what of the Netherese obelisk? That was Tasha’s main concern.”

“It’s shattered.”

“Mister Marko destroyed it,” Three added.

“That’s where the boat comes in.”

“The…boat?”

“It’s hard to explain,” Uthar laughed.

“But very clever,” Idris said.

“In recent times another obelisk was discovered in the depths of Icewind Dale, an object of great interest to the Frostmaiden Auril. As luck would have it that threat too was dismantled. Surely there is some link there,” Alustriel mused.

“Kobolds,” Three muttered.

“Kobolds,” Mordenkainen nodded.

“Have you given any thought as to whether the obelisk are in any way linked to he-who-won’t-be-named?” Idris asked.

“I have,” Alustriel said thoughtfully, “But I do think it’s unlikely. I think it more likely coincidence; certainly there was no mention of the Rod being involved with the Icewind event.”

“It’s funny how whenever the Netherese pop up there are minor gods involved,” Mordenkainen said.

“Did you discover anything else of interest before we move on?” Alustriel asked.

“We nearly died, numerous times,” Three mumbled.

“I am sorry to hear that.”

“I did die. Again,” Three added.

“You fell down, Master,” Eli scoffed hopefully.

“Again?” Mordenkainen said. “Do you make a habit of it?”

Three just stared.

“He was gone for but a moment,” Idris shrugged.

“The only thing of note was that, as is their wont, the elder brain had delusions of grandeur,” Idris explained. “Plans to recreate an Illithid empire using the obelisk, blah blah blah.”

“Don’t they always,” Mordenkainen chuckled.

“One trick ponies,” Idris agreed.

“If that is all,” Alustriel said standing, “You must be tired. We will investigate the Rod and reconvene when you are ready.”

“I wouldn’t mind going home for a day,” Idris sighed. “Unless hours are too precious?”

“They are, but we can afford that. It is important to you, I know.”

“How long have we been gone?”

“Three days.”

Idris frowned. “So time was passing slower in the Far Realm.”

“We suspected as much. Until you emerged on that field we had no vision of you.”

“Where was that?” Eli asked.

“Below Kas’s ancient fortress on Oerth,” Alustriel reminded. “Not coincidentally, I should guess. The latent corruption likely influenced the flayer’s point of egress.”

Eli turned to Mordenkainen. “I’m confused. Weren’t you investigating Kas’s fortress?”

“I was! But not on Oearth—at his Dread Domain of Tovag. We can discuss it now if you wish?” Mordenkainen offered.

“Go on,” Three nodded.

“Settle in then. Alustriel has not heard this either…”

“I travelled to Tovag in your place, as promised. What a horrible place,"* Mordenkainen shivered dramatically. “A war-torn volcanic land, the skies clouded with smoke the ground reddened with blood and rust.”

“As expected, Kas rules it with overwhelming cruelty. Patrols of prisoner soldiers under undead commanders scour the land, dragooning citizens to serve in his army.” Mordenkainen looked Idris. “I know of your concern for orphans so you won’t like this, my friend. People age fast in Tovag, so children as young as 12 are conscripted into the armies…only to die soon after in Kas’s fruitless battle with the mists. As I said, cruelty rules. It is an unpleasant thing to witness, and the few I talked to begged for help to put an end to the practice. But I was not there for that.”

Idris frowned, disturbed.

“Who is Kas fighting?” Three asked.

“The same who we hunt, or so he believes. He sends his conscripts out through the mists to battle, but they never return. He is a realm separated from all others, his domain ruled over by the Dark Powers.”

“I assume Tovag is one of their Domains of Dead?” Idris said.

“That is precisely what it is. If you know anything about them then you know there is no way of leaving them without the Dark Powers’ say-so. And whilst Kas rules there and has power, he is stuck there forever, by their wish. An endless cycle of futility.”

“And yet…you were able to leave?”

“The Rulers of the Domain are unable to leave,” Mordenkainen explained. “Others may travel. You may have heard of Barovia, where the Vistani gypsies are able to enter and leave at will.”

“I’ve read Master Zandeyr’s work ‘Poisons of the Sword Coast',” Marko nodded. “He spent some time in Barovia fighting someone named Strahd.”

“Ah, the vampire,” Idris nodded. He glanced over to Alustriel to find her rubbing her forehead with a look of concern.

“The other vampire—for Kas too is a vampire,” Mordenkainen continued. “Strahd was taken care of as I understand. Although you never know with the Domains; the Dark Powers don’t give them over easily. I did hear there was another von Zarovich…but maybe that’s just rumour,” Mordenkainen shrugged.

“In any case I searched Tovag high and low for Kas,” Mordenkainen continued. “Tor Gorak, the only city of note, was too depressing to stay long. I ventured to Kas’s Fortress but he was nowhere to be found. I…‘interrogated’ one of his senior minions and it seems our vampire friend hasn’t been seen for some time.”

Mordenkainen paused, looking around. “All of which forces me to conclude—Kas is not in Tovag.”

Alustriel looked shocked. “Not in Tovag? It’s an immutable law that Lords of the Dread Domains cannot leave. If this is true we have a bigger problem that we thought. Kas on the loose is something we can ill afford. Are you sure, Mordenkeinan?”

“Oh it’s true, you can trust me on that. He’s gone.” Mordenkainen looked around again, a small smile appearing on his face. “But you know maybe that’s not such a bad thing.”

Idris shook his head; did Mordenkainen realise how suspicious he sounded? And yet he did not hide it; he could not make head nor tails of the Archmage’s true intent.

Three cocked an eyebrow. “I don’t trust you on that because I don’t think your logic is sound. The logic would be that he is no longer the Dread Lord of that Realm, therefore he was able to leave. Or it could be that he did not leave voluntarily and there are other forces at work. Whether it be he-who-cannot-be-named—they’ve had a feud for centuries—or it could be the Dread Lords are making a move, or some minor god. What do you base you assertion on? Just because he wasn’t there doesn’t mean you know what’s happening.”

Mordenkainen inclined his head. “You are quite correct—any of those things might be true. But my point is it might not be a bad thing that he is gone. Consider: what has Kas spent his imprisonment doing? Who has he vowed to destroy by any means?”

“Ah, now I take your meaning,” Idris nodded.

“Think of it as insurance. If you fail, perhaps he will succeed. A less heroic backstop, I will grant you.”

“Thank you,” Three scoffed.

Alustriel, who had been staring at Mordenkainen incredulously, stepped forward. “It was not you who freed him, Mordenkeinan. Please tell me it was not you.”

Mordenkainen put a hand to his heart. “Me?! How could you think such a thing, my dear! Of course I did not free him.”

“Very well,” Alustriel said squinting with suspicion. “Despite your ‘insurance’ it behoves us to find Kas. Unfortunately that will be difficult—to have escaped he must have had the Dark Powers on his side and they won’t relinquish him easily.” She paused, again rubbing her forehead with concern. “I did not tell you this, Mordenkainen, but Tasha can help us. She…has travelled to the Amber Temple in Barovia to commune with the Dark Powers.”

Mordenkainen was taken aback. “Barovia? And you did not tell me? What madness is this!”

“It is a desperate measure I concede. It is my hope that she returns with an answer, though at what price I cannot guess. The Amber Temple is famed for the pound of flesh it will extract. I asked her to see knowledge on Kas and the Dark One both, the Dark Powers being the among the very few that might divulge such secrets. She has been gone now for too long, but I have faith. She’s been in worse spots.”

For the first time that the company could recall, Mordenkainen looked grave…and at a loss for words.

“We need to wait for Tasha,” Alustriel continued, “But with Mordenkeinan’s news action becomes pressing. We need to know what Kas intends—and that means we need a way to find him if Tasha fails.”

“So we should go to this Amber Temple?” Eli asked innocently. A chorus of ‘noooooos!’ seemed to echo in his head, though from where he could not say.

Mordenkainen’s eyes lit up suddenly, his brief loss of confidence forgotten. “You know what would be better than finding him? Him finding us! There is only one thing Kas loves more than his thirst for vengeance: his blade, the Sword of Kas. The Lich Lord gifted it as a reward for his loyalty, only for Kas to use it to remove the lich’s hand and eye in their final battle—or so legend has it. The irony! If we can obtain his weapon, I believe we can either lure him out or use it as a bargaining chip.”

“Yes, I’ve seen this work,” Marko declared, very familiar with this tactic from his Stormwatch days.

“Good, I am pleased to have the imprimatur of one as illustrious as yourself, Mister Marko,” Mordenkainen beamed. “As it happens I know where it is hidden.”

“What?!” Three exclaimed.

“How??” Eli scoffed.

“‘As it happens’?” Alustriel mocked. “Mordenkeinan this seems rather too convenient even by your standards.”

“How did you come across this information, Mordenkainen?” Idris frowned.

“Oh I have a wide network of sources, Idris, wider even than Mister Marko’s,” Mordenkainen grinned. “Just as Alustriel has faith in Tasha, have a little faith in me.”

Idris shook his head. “Okay? Well are you going to pop off and do that then? We have rod pieces to collect.”

“Oh, no no no, this one is for you. I have done one of your duties already—”

“Our ‘duties’?” Three said, arcing up.

“As I have already mentioned, Tovag was horrible,” Mordenkainen snapped.

“Did you come back with a piece of the Rod?” Idris said, adding his disdain to Three’s pile.

Mordenkainen frowned. “Well no…but I came back with information you would have struggled with. I have spent the last while in a volcano strewn landscape and don’t fancy doing that again just now. The sword is in Brimstone Hold, a prison found at the Peak of Flame in Chult, far to the south of Neverwinter. It is not a pleasant place to be interred…much Like Tovag: hemmed in by a lake of lava and guarded over by fiends and worse.”

“Let’s get the sword,” Eli said resignedly.

“Compared to what you have been through of late I think this will be something of a doddle,” Mordenkainen nodded. “Get in there, grab the sword, and get out.”

“It’s that simple,” Idris snorted.

“Sounds easy,” Uthar groaned.

“We need you to attune the Rod,” Three said. “I’m going to my church to prey, and Idris has things to do. We can’t keep going at this pace, we need a break.”

“Of course,” Alustriel said. “We will seek the next Rod piece and return, shall we say one day?”

“I am a fair man,” Mordenkainen added. “When we find the location of the Rod you can decide. Find the sword—as I would strongly suggest, or find the Rod.”

“Get the sword,” Marko voted immediately.

“I’m sure you can decide the best course of action between the two of you,” Idris said pointedly. “We’re your wish, after all.”

“That’s very good,” Mordenkainen laughed, “But no, you have already made it very clear you dislike being told what to do.”

“My my, Mordenkeinan,” Alustriel said, “It’s almost as if you had planned this? Are you so sure this is wise?”

“My dear when am I ever not sure?” Mordenkainen smiled smugly. “Of course this is a good idea! Kas will come running once he finds out we have his long-lost blade. Heaven knows, I would.”

Idris returned to the Shining Serpent, finding it secure and now protected by the glyphs and wardings ordered. Atticus briefed him on the tavern goings-on, focussing on a second visit from the earlier cult troublemakers. “This time we were ready; it was a short scuffle, nothing more,” he grinned, rubbing a bruise on his massive shoulder. Elsabah was overjoyed to see Idris, and their night passed in the blink of an eye—Idris returning barely rested but full of vigour.

Three performed his traditional cleansing, reinvigorating his connection to Kelemvor and His church, and relishing resting in a consecrated place for the first time in many a moon. He even made up with Isaka, who sat loyally by his side.

The rest of the company went about their business before retiring for well earned, and whisper-free, rest.

The following morning the company reconvened in the lounge. Both the Archmage’s were there, waiting.

“Still no Tasha?” Idris said, to a shake of the head from Alustriel.

Mordenkainen sprung to his feet. “Now. Have you made your decision?”

“You haven’t told us what the option of the Rod is,” Eli grunted.

“There’s a problem,” Alustriel sighed.

“Of course there is,” Marko groaned.

“We’re not getting any indication of where the next part is.”

“Is that possible?” Three asked, surprised.

“It shouldn’t be. If the next piece is accessible it should at least give an indication. But we are getting nothing.”

“Where is the definition of ‘not accessible’ to you?” Eli asked keenly.

Alustriel shrugged. “Hidden by some very powerful magic?

“Are there planes it might be on that means you can’t see it?”

“The only place I consider that possible is a Domain of Dread, simply because the Dark Powers are that…powerful. But even then I do not know if that is enough to hide it.”

“You are saying the Domains have more influence over that than the Far Realm?” Idris said, surprised.

“That’s right. The Far Realm is a known entity, despite it’s strangeness. The Domains are…different.”

“How many Domains are there?” Three asked.

“As many as they want there to be,” Idris answered. “They use them to play with people.”

“Correct,” Alustriel nodded.

“You proposed earlier that Kas may have been deposed or killed,” Mordenkainen said looking to Three. “If that were the case his Domain would no longer be required. The fact that it is still there leads us to believe that he still lives.”

“It is a concern that both he and the next Rod piece are untraceable,” Alustriel frowned. “I do not think that is a coincidence.”

“That means getting the sword might be completely pointless,” Eli frowned, “Because he might not be able to come and get it even if he wanted to.”

“Oh no no, I think this makes the sword even more valuable,” Mordenkainen countered. “As Alustriel has alluded to we need a way to tempt him and bring him out of hiding. There are very few things that he values but his sword is one of them. Imagine; it is very weapon with which he defeated the Dark One.”

“You think he is in hiding then, not trapped in another Dread Domain?”

“Yes,” Alustriel said. “And I think it is highly likely he is seeking the Rod as well.”

“Which means he could have one or more pieces,” Idris proposed.

Both Alustriel and Mordenkainen nodded glumly at that.

“But if they are in a place we cannot reach, how would Kas know where they are?” Eli said.

“He might have had them for some time,” Idris frowned.

“And don’t forget it is the Dark Powers that might hide it, and those same Dark Powers are likely to have freed him—Mordenkainen notwithstanding,” Alustriel said with a faint smile. “They may have simply gifted it to him or led him to the place it was held. This is all speculation, of course.”

Eli sighed. “It seems, Mr Mordenkainen, that you have tied our hands in this matter. Well played.”

Mordenkainen bowed wryly.

“But let’s be absolutely clear,” Eli continued, “I do not trust you one bit even though we will do this thing.”

“Still you do not trust me?” Mordenkainen said mock sadly, “After all we have been through together, young Eli.”

Three stepped forward. “I have a question: why would Kas leave his sword behind?”

“Oh he didn’t. It was taken from him—the battle between he and the Dark One ended badly for both. The Dark One was dismembered and destroyed for centuries before resurrecting, and Kas was banished to a Domain of Dread. The sword was taken from him by the Dark Powers.”

“This is a trap,” Eli groaned.

“Almost certainly,” Idris nodded. “However if we were indeed to face he-who-won’t-be-named, I couldn’t think of much more off-putting, based on the legends, than putting him in front of Kas and his sword.”

Mordenkainen clapped his hands excitedly. “Bravo! That is precisely what I have been saying! If Kas is free it works in our favour (perhaps). Sure he is a bad creature, a vampire with a nasty bloodlust, he’s done some bad things, but! But—put him in front of the Dark One and maybe good things will happen. I am glad you have come around to my way of thinking, Idris!”

Idris looked to Eli. “It’s almost the definition of ‘the enemy of our enemy’.”

“The enemy of our enemy in this case is just someone else I’m going to have to kill,” Eli said firmly.

“Well…after he’s done his job, feel more than welcome to give it a go.”

“Just imagine the six of you with Kas at your side, charging into battle!” Mordenkainen enthused, “What could be grander?”

“I would die first,” Eli said flatly.

“You would?”

“Before I teamed up with someone that evil? Yes.”

“Kas is particularly evil, it should be stressed,” Alustriel said tiredly.

“But as your friend has said,” Mordenkainen jumped in trying to keep the initiative, “The enemy of—”

“Those are just words,” Eli interrupted bitterly. “They are not actual truths. You know that, don’t you?”

“Well…they can be? Truth is a malleable thing.”

“They can incidentally be but they are not in any definitional sense.”

“Eli, there is black, there is white, and there is grey,” Mordenkainen said condescendingly, “And this is perhaps grey, but if the greater good is served by allying with the greater evil then is it not worthwhile?”

“Then I will plunge my sword into my chest,” Eli declared.

“Better you plunge it into his chest,” Mordenkainen grinned.

“Eli,” Three said gently, “Let’s follow the path before we have to get to that horrible conclusion.”

Eli nodded. “We have no choice, that much has been made clear.”

“Eli. If you do recover the sword and choose not to give it to Kas,” Alustrial said encouragingly, “Then that is your decision. It seems we are agreed: you will recover the sword and will use that to draw Kas out. And hopefully by then Tasha has returned which may inform our next decision.”

Idris settled his shoulders. “What can you tell us about this Brimstone Hold.”

Session played June 1, 2026