This is a continuation of this post

Be me

DM in 5e

The party has shifted and lost of changes have happened. We now have a Kenku Druid named Silly Strungle, the same Warforged Warlock/Paladin named Kamal Rex, the original Slimefolk (I allowed it) Cleric named Alfredo, Myconid (Yes I allowed that too) Barbarian named Jerome, and Triton Bard named Axel. They did have a companion, a Helmed Horror that gained sentience through a deal Kamal made with an Eldritch God (Reflavored Warforged since it’s a DMPC) who was an Eldritch Knight named Xahkis. Kamal regards Xahkis VERY highly, as his brother, remember that.

At this point in the story, the party had been doing mostly small quests and discovering many new factions such as a unified undead society headed by a council of wraiths and a death knight named Lord Gron, a traveling city sized caravan full of ancient Nothics and Goblins learning under them named the Kurakan Karavan, and various secluded villages with their own unique issues,

Their quest was from the head savant of the Kurakan Karavan, an extremely powerful Nothic named Qal, in his moving mansion atop a dragon turtle. Qal had explained the history of his people to these newcomers.

TL;DR Kurakans were a race of four armed humanoids that had an empire spanning the material planes and other planes of existence, with the goal of expanding their knowledge of other cultures. Although a human wizard named Leandros ascended to lichdom and cursed the knowledge and ability for extra-planar travel. This cursed morphed the bodies of the Kurakans into the gibbering Nothics that exist now, unable to die of old age but unable to reproduce. Qal and the other Kurakans waged a pseudo war on Leandros and were victorious, trapping his consciousness in another plane. This caravan had survived for 2,500 years.

Qal has a ledger presumably written by Leandros himself, which may have some clue as how to dispel the curse afflicting his people.

This ledger had nine lines, all written in different languages.

Qal had also mentioned that using any magical means to decipher the languages would break their minds and make them fall into insanity

I had let my players know that exotic languages would be BIG in this campaign so they were able to translate 6 out of 9 of the lines.

Qal then directed them to a dwarven city known as Emerald Heart, which was the sole provider of arms and armor for the military of Latria before the apocalyptic fall of the nation.

And so they set off across the wastelands, meeting some struggles along the way.

Before them was a massive gothic city above a canyon supported giant metal pillars, this was Emerald Heart.

Although in the canyon was a enormous Myconid colony, sprawling fungus filled the canyon, huge cyclopian structures all constructed out of fungus. Everything in this city was alive, and the people had much more life.

The city was bustling with joy, Myconid sproutlings running about, playing games, circles of relatives having great times, friendly business in the shops, this was a city full of joy.

The party up to this point had never seen this type of happiness. The continent is destitute, full of sorrow and death, the very land is dying as the “chaos” is wilting the life out of the soil. The main governing force is a brutish chaos cult that is able to maintain some semblance of order, much better than the remnants of the previous duchy’s military.

The party then manages to find their way to the massive elevator that goes up to the city, disguised as ambassadors.

Kamal the Warforged Paladin had an estate here in his name so he opted for the party to go there and inspect it.

Arriving at the mansion owned by Kamal, they found a military quarantine around the estate. Dwarven guards patrolling the property and a checkpoint to go into the property.

Questioning the Officer in charge of this checkpoint, they learn a horrid creature has taken up residence here.

“Fucking Oroboros is in there” pipes up the player playing Kamal

For context, Oroboros is a Pit Fiend that has been screwing with the party for 4 sessions, toying with them because he has a contract for their heads, or so he claims.

So the party decides they will Investigate the mansion.

Going inside they are met with a terrible sight, corpses everywhere, some old, some new, and all of the faces that aren’t completely shredded have expressions of extreme horror plastered on them.

Jerome the Barbarian tried to open the door the came in from, which wouldn’t budge.

He tried to smash the window but his body was forced to stand back. Any other attempt to dismantle the house caused the same result.

So the party kept searching, only being met with room after room of harrowing sights of singed bodies huddled together, mouths agape in fear.

Going up to the third floor of the mansion, there was a large library, with massive figure sitting on the table facing away from them

“I cast Eldritch Blast at it” says Kamal’s player

“What? Are you sure?” I say, shocked. This is very odd for Kamal’s player

“Yes, I rolls a 25 to hit” he says confidently

And so with a bolt of force energy bashing into the back of this figure, their suspicions were right, this was Oroboros.

Everyone at the table is very nervous because they are level 6, and I already told them a few weeks ago he is above CR 20

Oroboros begins to talk as Kamal’s player says “I cast Eldritch Blast again”

“Are you sure?” I ask with wide eyes

“Yes” he says

“Ok everyone, roll initiative against Oroboros”

And so a horribly stressful fight ensues with Oroboros dominating the battle, laughing with each mighty strike

Breaking down their health and morale, Oroboros casts Dominate Monster against Xahkis.

Xahk having 7 wisdom obviously fails the save, falling under Oroboros’s control.

“Death is calling, and I am it’s herald, but there is some way to delay its grasp. A proposition! The life of this... thing, and you all may leave with your lives. Choose wisely.”

Kamal only responds with charging in with his greataxe

The battle progresses, and Kamal falls under the constant barrage of attacks.

With a toothy grin, Oroboros attacks Kamal while he is down, causing two failed death saves.

He picks up the battered Kamal and lifts the body high

“Another choice for you all! One life for another! Xahkis or Kamal, you choose who dies and the rest live.”

We break for snakes after that and when I come back into the room, Kamal’s player is leaning back in his chair, his eyes all red.

“This is fucking stressful man” he says, sniffling

Now THAT is how I love making someone cry, let me know if you’d like to know the end of how that battle turned out. Thanks for reading!