Short Synopsis
Nord leaves the party to rescue his wife, but leaves a mysterious tiefling behind to help the group. Meanwhile, Rolann seems mired in despair and eventually departs for the Asylum. Kelderrin runs off to help Tess Aderbrant, but through his association with the Aderbrant family, he arranges for Kepesk, Khazad and his cousin Warlan to assist the party in his absence.
The party heads out to the Asylum to find a demonic tree under the Asylum. The tree is guarded by lamias, but the party quickly dispatches them and the tree.
Things get more complicated when they arrive at the Clearlake Temple and attempt to destroy a second demonic tree. Despite the party’s quiet approach, Iluna rings a bell loudly. This summons forth an incubus and succubus and their minions. The succubus offers some sort of treaty or alliance between Graz’zt and the party. During the discussions, Warlan plucks up the timmask mushrooms with his mage hand. The party offers to come back the next day to give the succubus their answer.
Long Synopsis
At the One-Eyed Jax, the party discusses their predicament. A mysterious tiefling, Iluna Sturm, appears next to Nord. She explains that she is Nord’s servant, and that his true identity is that of Aerique Dyreson, the Jarl of Frostpire and the Highlord of Dyreland. The tiefling explains that Nord’s wife, Astrid, was enthralled by the Demon Lord Graz’zt and that she had magicked Nord into forgetfulness before he could rescue her. Declan and Embree also arrive to offer Nord aid in the journey back to rescue his wife. Upon hearing this, Nord leaves to save his wife. Iluna offers to stay back to help destroy portals created by Graz’zt.
Meanwhile, Rolann has been seen going back and forth from the Asylum. With each trip, his face looks more haunted. The party sees him gathering all his belongings and taking off quietly to the asylum.
As these developments occur, Kelderrin seems to be fidgeting nervously. He tells the group that he needs to help Tess Aderbrant back in Waterdeep. Feeling guilty about leaving the party, he arranges for a group of Aderbrant employees to fill in for him: Kepesk, Khazad and his cousin Warlan.
After some introductions, the party heads out to the Asylum to destroy one of the demonic trees. Below the Asylum, they find the evil tree being guarded by lamias. Initially, Boarstack tries to talk with them, but when Illidan illuminates a lamia with faerie fire, the duergar attacks. The lamia retreats under the blistering attack from Boarstack, Khazad and Warlan. Kepesk spits his watery blessing upon some of the party. Illidan and Jax shoot arrows. Iluna uses her gravitational powers to bounce the lamias up and down like balls. The party makes quick work of the lamia and destroy the tree.
The move onto the second site, the Clearlake Temple. As the party attempts to discreetly approach the demonic tree, Iluna flies over and rings a bell. This brings forth a formidable collection of demons that are led by a succubus and incubus and a marilith. The succubus, representing Demon Lord Graz’zt, offers a non-violent solution. Graz’zt is willing to help the party in their attempt to banish or destroy the demons infesting the Underdark. He is also potentially willing to offer some of his blood as part of the ingredients needed for the spell being crafted by Vizerin. The demon lord is even offering to potentially move his settlement somewhere else on the surface if the party kind find a place. But he will not relinquish the southern part of Luskan or its people without another place to stay. The party offers to return the next day with an answer. Warlan uses his mage hand to pluck the timmask mushrooms appearing in the “footsteps” of the marilith.
As they walk back to the One-Eyed Jack, Iluna telekinetically pushes Warlan around and Kepesk steps up to defend his gnome companion. There is some tension as the party spends an hour arguing about their next moves. For the moment, it seems like they will return to talk with the succubus and then head to the Underdark to retrieve more of the spell components for Vizerin’s spell.
