Friday – October 28th, 998 YK
Evening
You ascend the ramp to an enormous platform open to the harsh elements. Great iron spires carved in the images of the dragon gods line the treacherous parapets like the bars of a cage. Lightning and thunder crash directly overhead, electricity crackling around the perimeter. In the center of the platform is a large raised dais atop are the shattered remains of an ancient orrery. Next to the dais are two large skeletal dragon guardians. At random intervals, bursts of jagged lightning surge across the platform, arcing from pillar to pillar.
Like giant floating steps, observation platforms rise around you. Hovering above each is a shimmering light. A silvery feathered serpent lies silently to the west atop one of the steps. Several prismatic glowing chains bind the creature to the platform.
 | Directly ahead, a strange orb of multihued metal floats gently above the the highest platform. It hums softly, pulsing with a strange, yet inviting, prismatic energy. Below the orb, a pedastal of stone stands empty. Above, the storm clouds are beginning to break, and you can see the three moons nearly on top of one another. From out of the dark clouds, a massive blue dragon swoops across the field toward you. The creature skin is rotting and fetid. Vol’s grip on this beast is strong. Clutched in his right claw is the Scepter of Storms.Wings “Welcome, frail creatures. I hope you do not come to disappoint me. Turn over the relics to my loyal spawn and I will let you live.” The two draconic guardians move closer. [The PCs attack] “You dare to thwart the will of Khurystas! Prepare to suffer my wrath!” The beast suddenly changes course, letting out a shrieking roar that eclipses the thunder. With a surge of speed, the great beast wings its way toward you. |
[During the battle the conjunction arrives and the artifacts are charged. Khurystas is brought low by the power of the scepter.]
Even as the great dragon falls, you notice a sudden shift in the light. Overhead, the three moons have come into alignment. Three concentric circles resemble a massive eye in the heavens, seemingly gazing down at the observatory.The dragon’s hulking form crashes onto the tower platform.
A sudden rumble shakes the tower. At first you think it was the crashing beast. The crystalline orb atop the high platform surges with an angry pulse of abyssal energy. Tendrils of fiendish light race toward the artifacts of Kha’shazul.
Your marks begin to burn. You drop to your knees as your dragonmarks consume you with agony. A piercing unearthly scream rises from within your heads. To your horror, you realize the inhuman sound is yours as something is wrenched from within you. As the pain subsides, the pulsing orb darkens to near blackness before exploding in a torrent of arcane energy.
 |
Blinding shards and tendrils of energy streak past you and in the aftermath of the explosion the dragon is no more. Instead, a massive 20 foot tall blue-scaled creature emerges. Its monstrous head looks vaguely like your former enemy, but forever changed by something dark and abyssal. It wields the scepter, though it too has been transformed. It is now a mighty gilded mace. Jagged bolts of black lightning leap from the surrounding pillars and arc across the artifact’s Khyber shard head. Two arcs of of dark light sizzle from the shard to the ground. In the wake of ozone, two massive blue dragon-headed rhinolike beasts appear near the fiendish bluespawn horror. Each crackle with electric fire Dark electricity sparks throughout the fiend’s maw as it howls for fresh blood and souls. The creature then gazes upon you with a baleful yet knowing stare. Khurystas is reborn and now the feasting begins. |
[Sur’kil is also transformed into a Couatl Mockery during the battle but is destroyed. The battle against Khurystas is hard fought and Morthos is claimed by dark abyssal creatures as he attempts to use the circlet to destroy Khurystas. His body and soul disappears. Sejik strikes the killing blow on Khurystas. The surviving members of the group teleport back to Korranberg via a Linked Portal ritual performed by Miklos. Over the next few days, Kohl’s and Caiphys’ marks disappear from their bodies.]
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