2025/11/04 - 19:37
- Source: Discord aoa-timeline thread
- Thread:
Erastus 6th, 4719 AR - Thread ID:
1435352215341633547 - Generated: 2026-03-06T06:33:18.960730+00:00
- Messages: 8
2025-11-04T19:37:15.692+00:00 — jstrtx
- Message ID:
1435352215341633547
Starday, Erastus 6th, 4719 AR (cont.)
Fortress of Sorrow Inner Sanctum, Ritual Chamber of Dahak
Cinderclaws under the fiery command of the dragonoid Belmazog failed to protect the Fortress of Sorrow’s Inner Sanctum, nor did he or his high priests respond to the commotions outside the Ritual Chamber of Dahak. This provided the Regulators much needed time to mend their wounds and devise a plan to confront Belmazog and his remaining forces on the other side of this wall of bone and mud, and the massive bone door that the Psychic Kane discovered was covered in wards with draconic magic. Thinking about possible alternate routes into the Ritual Chamber, Kane recalled the explosives they retrieved from the Cliff-Top Temple of Desna that the Intrepid Explorer, Gerhard Pendergrast, was attempting to detonate to hide his glaring mistake in published exploits that would otherwise expose him as fraudulent. The Regulators at the time decided to keep the three powder-kegs, tindersticks, and everything needed to use them if the situation arose. This was just that moment, Kane extracted the two remaining powder-keg barrels from his bag of holding, with the Monk Bru-shlee and Ranger G’roynn Ironshaft placing each one on the northern wall on opposite sides of the massive bone door, followed by trails of black powder.
Hiding behind the slain Cinderclaw Chimera beasts, the party ignited the black powder, after thirty seconds a massive explosion rocked the northern wall! Ears ringing, the Regulators rushed into the Ritual Chamber of Dahak, gaining the moment of surprise as the Charau-ka Dragon Priest were slightly dazed by their proximity to the southern wall, annd while they were collecting themselves, the party took a moment to take in the scene. The immense dragon skull of a fossilized dragon loomed from the northern wall of this smoky, dome-ceilinged ritual chamber, amongst varying dragon skulls from young to adult that hung by chains from the ceiling. However the massive skull’s hollow eyes flickered with fiery light. Molten gold poured from the dragon maw into an immense iron cauldron below. A raised stone slab sat in the center of the boiling metal: a pedestal to offer sacrifices to Dahak. Ribs rise up in the southern portion of the room to support the ceiling, while the hollow space under the skull to the north of the bowl seems to have been furnished as a personal shrine, study, and sleeping nook. Female slaves beaten and bound by shackles or in cages can be seen on either side of this chamber.
The Regulators turned their attention to the Charau-ka Dragon Priest on the western end as it shouts in Draconic…”Master, defilers in the Inner Sanctum!!”, the slave nearby yells “HELP ME!”, as it responds “QUIET WENCH!” as he backhands the woman, knocking her unconscious. Quickly following to the eastern end of the room the party hear in Draconic “They are the same ones from the mine!!”, with additional pleas for help from two additional female slaves, terrified of their fate otherwise. Before the Regulators can act, the eyes of the Dahak’s massive Dragon Skull to the north flare bright as two beams striking the Champion Adélina Cornaro, and G’roynn Ironshaft, taking close to twenty-percent of their overall health each! During which the party hear Belmazog’s voice shriek from the north, “What? What are these outsiders doing here? Are you really all this pathetic? Dahak will feast on your fears…DESTROY THEM!”, standing atop the massive iron caldron he begins casting his dark magic!
Attachments:
- Draughthouse Gaming - aoa-timeline - Erastus 6th, 4719 AR [1435352215341633547].json_Files/aoa-cos-ch4-legacy-of-ash-and-bone-76eb2e75bf140f0a.jpg
- Draughthouse Gaming - aoa-timeline - Erastus 6th, 4719 AR [1435352215341633547].json_Files/belmazog.Avatar-2d961926075f71c2.webp
- Draughthouse Gaming - aoa-timeline - Erastus 6th, 4719 AR [1435352215341633547].json_Files/image-41006fb8b96716a5.png
2025-11-04T19:38:37.606+00:00 — jstrtx
- Message ID:
1435352558913716315
Fortress of Sorrow Inner Sanctum, Ritual Chamber of Dahak (cont.)
The party wasted little time in taking out the dazed Charau-ka Dragon Priest before they could regain their full abilities and power, Bru-shlee and Adélina Cornaro engaged the Charau-ka Dragon Priest to the west, as the Rogue Jegan wasted little time or effort in dispatching the priest to the east before making his way up the massive cauldron, where he discovered a mutilated Young Red Dragon that was being tortured by Belmazog to whatever evil machinations. It tilted its frail head up, looking at Jegan with pain and longing obvious in its face, hollowly begging, “Help Me Champions!” in common tongue before collapsing back down. With a new priority, after finishing off the other Dragon Priest that Bru-shlee and Adélina Cornaro were administering justice to, G’roynn Ironshaft turned his attention to the bindings of the Young Red Dragon. Though before he could engage, Belmazog blasted Bru-shlee, G’roynn Ironshaft, and Adélina Cornaro with a Fireball spell. The agile movements by Bru-shlee and G’roynn Ironshaft saved them from suffering any damage, but Adélina Cornaro wasn’t so lucky, doing another twenty-percent of her overall health. Belmazog wasn’t finished, he then cast a Fear spell onto Bru-shlee that he couldn’t break, gripping his mind and interfering with his abilities for the next few rounds.
Adélina Cornaro and Kane turned their attention to help Jegan with the chains binding the Young Red Dragon. While Kane’s Telekinetic Projectiles didn’t have the overall results, he cast a protective ward on himself right before the Dahak’s Skull’s eyes flared up once again, but missing Kane and Jegan both, a huge break for the party! It was at this moment that Bru-shlee made his move, quickly moving up the massive iron cauldron of molten gold, running around the platform to engage Belmazog. Bru-shlee, invoking his Flurry of Blows ability, struck out at Belmazog, but as if hitting a shadow Bru-shlee’s fist did not find its mark! A second swing, and again nothing, as if Belmazog wasn’t even there, before a retaliatory sonic roar on Bru-shlee left him deafened for the remainder of the encounter. With one final heroic move, Bru-shlee used his martial ability to find and trip Belmazog to the ground! Jegan and G’roynn Ironshaft made quick work of the remaining chains binding the Young Red Dragon, freeing it from its tormenting bonds, the dragon bellowing, “THANK YOU CHAMPIONS! NOW PUT AN END TO BELMAZOG!“. It was at this moment that Belmazog arose to his feet, placing his claw upon Bru-shlee and inflicting a Harm spell for nearly twenty-percent of his health, as Bru-shlee screamed out in pain.
Kane and Adélina Cornaro moved to aid Bru-shlee, and deal with Belmazog before he could do more damage, with Adélina Cornaro landing a mighty blow, doing over twenty-percent of his overall health, though her second attempt with her Broadsword swung wide, missing its mark. Before Belmazog could act, he was wracked with fear from Kane’s spell, Vision of Death, which caused Belmazog to panic in fear and pain throughout its body, seeking to flee the battle! Kane didn’t have long to revel in his success as he was struck by an eye beam from Dahak’s Skull above, but thankfully this only hit for partial damage. Bru’shlee on the other hand took a beam directly and did even more damage than Kane, which at this point he was quite Bloody from the battle. The Young Red Dragon Kyrion stretched out its wings, launching into the air, striking down upon Belmazog with his claw doing hefty damage across his chest, followed by a deadly chomp, ripping the head off his body as it collapsed onto the ground below. However the battle was not yet over, as Kane and Adélina Cornaro turned their attention to placing healing upon Bru-shlee and the Young Red Dragon Kyrion to at least stop the bleeding.
2025-11-04T19:39:14.695+00:00 — jstrtx
- Message ID:
1435352714476519424
Everything seems to slow, as Bru-shlee leaps onto the side of Dahak’s Skull, pulling himself up top before making multiple strikes onto the fossilized skull, to no effect. This relic appears to be extremely tough, resisting damage. Jegan, joining Bru-shlee, a top Dahak’s Skull, made an attack with his Rapier’s black blade to no effect either! G’roynn Ironshaft seeing this, switched to his Starshatter Arrows, gifted to him by the Ekujae, trues his aim on Dahak’s Skull above. The first hitting but ricocheting doing minimal damage, but the second found its mark, inflicting massive damage to this relic! Thankfully Kane and Adélina Cornaro were focused on healing Kyrion, as Dahak’s Skull’s eyes began to glow bright, the Young Red Dragon unleashed a flurry of attacks upon the relic with his tail striking true followed by his bite, both doing solid damage and causing fissures to appear and parts of Dahak’s Skull began to crumble apart. Seeing this, Bru-shlee and Jegan made acrobatic moves to dismount off the unstable skull above, landing on the ground safely below. Jegan, seeing the eyes about to ignite once more, threw his Dagger of Returning at its brow, striking true, and doing just enough damage to cause the remaining skull to shatter, with the remaining pieces falling down into the very molten pool of gold pouring out of its maw prior.
Battered and bruised, the Regulators stand victorious in the Ritual Chamber of Dahak, Belmazog and his minions defeated, but more importantly, this relic of Dahak destroyed, never to be a threat again and finally lifting the curse that plagued the Ekujae and their lands.
2025-11-04T19:41:51.138+00:00 — jstrtx
- Message ID:
1435353370646020188
Fortress of Sorrow, Belmazog & the Aftermath with Kyrion
The Regulators spoke with the Young Red Dragon, Kyrion, learning more of his story and how he came to be caught up in Belmazog’s schemes. The following is a transcript from that conversation:
Who are you? “I am Kyrion. It is your pleasure to- hrrmph. It is… Good. Great. Yes. Well met.”
Why were you chained up? “Belmazog and I had an irreconcilable philosophical disagreement. I was of the opinion that he is an idiot. After a persuasive argument on his part, I am forced to amend my argument. He WAS an idiot with the good fortune to have powerful supporters in the Scarlet Triad.”
Are you part of the Cinderclaws? “By default of being nothing else. They brought me up, almost raised me. I suppose Belmazog was… the closest thing I had to a friend before his betrayal.”
Do you worship Dahak? “No!”
Why are you scared of Dahak? “Belmazog used me. He hoped I would serve as Dahak’s avatar, but I served well enough as an unwilling vessel for the Destroyer’s power. Do you know what it is to look upon the face of a god? To know that all of your wrath and hate could burn the whole world clean, and that you would still be nothing more than a dying spark in the face of an inferno?”
We saw Dahak in Huntergate. “Then you understand.”
What is that thing in your chest? “A shard of something powerful, a fragment the Scarlet Triad gifted to Belmazog to aid him in the ritual he performed to raise the dragon pillars,” Kyrion replies, looking down at his wound and prodding at it slightly. “The gold around the wound inflicted by the shard is a manifestation of its power, I think. It’s painful, but not agonizing. It’s a complete violation of my personal autonomy, but from an arcane viewpoint, it’s really very interesting. I wish I knew what it is or where it came from.”
Can we have the shard? “I’m reasonably sure taking it out will kill me. So, no.”
Do you know what the Cinderclaws were planning? “To secure the aiudara that those elves are guarding. But in the grand scheme of things, Belmazog already got what she claimed he wanted. Huntergate was opened, and it’s only a matter of time before Dahak tries to force his way out.” Kyrion’s mouthparts in a gruesome smile. “Belmazog ultimately got what he deserved.”
Do you know what the Scarlet Triad is? “Hmph. An organization of foreigners who seem to delight in meddling with zealots, as far as I can tell. They were using us, certainly—they were too powerful and had too many resources to want us as equals. I suspect they’re using the Cinderclaws to prepare this region for some unknown plans of their own. All of which I told Belmazog repeatedly, but no. Belmazog knows best. Well, we now know where that got him.”
After this, Kyrion, grateful for the healing of his wounds, bid farewell and escaped through the southern collapsed wall and doors to the south, getting as far away from the Fortress of Sorrow as possible, a sweet freedom he did not believe was possible chained to that altar.
2025-11-04T19:42:07.069+00:00 — jstrtx
- Message ID:
1435353437465215006
Fortress of Sorrow, Belmazog & the Aftermath with Kyrion
The Regulators spoke with the Young Red Dragon, Kyrion, learning more of his story and how he came to be caught up in Belmazog’s schemes. The following is a transcript from that conversation:
Who are you? “I am Kyrion. It is your pleasure to- hrrmph. It is… Good. Great. Yes. Well met.”
Why were you chained up? “Belmazog and I had an irreconcilable philosophical disagreement. I was of the opinion that he is an idiot. After a persuasive argument on his part, I am forced to amend my argument. He WAS an idiot with the good fortune to have powerful supporters in the Scarlet Triad.”
Are you part of the Cinderclaws? “By default of being nothing else. They brought me up, almost raised me. I suppose Belmazog was… the closest thing I had to a friend before his betrayal.”
Do you worship Dahak? “No!”
Why are you scared of Dahak? “Belmazog used me. He hoped I would serve as Dahak’s avatar, but I served well enough as an unwilling vessel for the Destroyer’s power. Do you know what it is to look upon the face of a god? To know that all of your wrath and hate could burn the whole world clean, and that you would still be nothing more than a dying spark in the face of an inferno?”
We saw Dahak in Huntergate. “Then you understand.”
What is that thing in your chest? “A shard of something powerful, a fragment the Scarlet Triad gifted to Belmazog to aid him in the ritual he performed to raise the dragon pillars,” Kyrion replies, looking down at his wound and prodding at it slightly. “The gold around the wound inflicted by the shard is a manifestation of its power, I think. It’s painful, but not agonizing. It’s a complete violation of my personal autonomy, but from an arcane viewpoint, it’s really very interesting. I wish I knew what it is or where it came from.”
Can we have the shard? “I’m reasonably sure taking it out will kill me. So, no.”
Do you know what the Cinderclaws were planning? “To secure the aiudara that those elves are guarding. But in the grand scheme of things, Belmazog already got what she claimed he wanted. Huntergate was opened, and it’s only a matter of time before Dahak tries to force his way out.” Kyrion’s mouthparts in a gruesome smile. “Belmazog ultimately got what he deserved.”
Do you know what the Scarlet Triad is? “Hmph. An organization of foreigners who seem to delight in meddling with zealots, as far as I can tell. They were using us, certainly—they were too powerful and had too many resources to want us as equals. I suspect they’re using the Cinderclaws to prepare this region for some unknown plans of their own. All of which I told Belmazog repeatedly, but no. Belmazog knows best. Well, we now know where that got him.”
After this, Kyrion, grateful for the healing of his wounds, bid farewell and escaped through the southern collapsed wall and doors to the south, getting as far away from the Fortress of Sorrow as possible, a sweet freedom he did not believe was possible chained to that altar.
2025-11-04T19:48:34.298+00:00 — jstrtx
- Message ID:
1435355061621489858
Fortress of Sorrow, Belmazog & the Aftermath with Cinderclaw Slaves
The Regulators turned their attention to the rescued women, Zarah, Kumi, and Jaina, who were routinely tormented by Belmazog and his Charau-ka Dragon Priest. The following is a transcript from that conversation:
Relationship between Scarlet Triad and Cinderclaws? “Trade goods, magic, weapons, armor, trinkets, other items and even slaves in return for gold, overheard something about contracts, but don’t know much more than that.”
How long have they been working together? “Unknown with certainty, but at least six months, if not longer.”
What is the Scarlet Triad? “A network of Slavers, Smugglers, and Brigands that commit all types of crimes and nefarious acts for money and power.”
What are the Scarlet Triad’s goals? Why / What brought them here? “Other than the Cinderclaw gold? We don’t know what they were scheming or why they were interested in the Cinderclaws.”
How long have they been at the Fortress of Sorrow? “Varies, some just over a month, others several months. Depends on who you ask.”
Were there other slaves brought to the Fortress of Sorrow? “There have been several others, doing different jobs throughout the fortress. Some died from illness, others from defying the Cinderclaws, mostly Belmazog, where another was beatenned to near death and or sacrificed at this altar this very morning!”
Where did they bring you from? “We don’t know exactly, but it was hot and arid, that we knew, but typically blindfolded or hooded when transported, so tough to know for sure, and traveled by ship or caravan mostly.”
Where are you from / How were you captured?
- Jaina & Kumi “We worked abort a ship that was raided several months back while traveling the Inner Sea off the coast of Cheliax, those not killed were enslaved.”
- Zarah “My village of Zu’allan was raided and destroyed, half the village was killed or enslaved at least ten moons ago. I don’t even know if I have a home to go back to.”
- Gleb & Jethran “We were captured near the small village of Sember Cove in Ravounel roughly six months ago while mining ore for a project, and well, we’ve been working for the Scarlet Triad smithing various items at a humid cove hideaway, where we couldn’t tell you, until we were brought here a few months back with Kheffer and Darra.”
- Kheffar & Darra “Shortly after the wedding, we were sailing from Absalom to Hawah in Qadira to set up shop in the small city, but were ambushed along the way a few months ago by ogres, who sold us off to other slavers. We thought ourselves saved when they were killed in their sleep but our “would-be” rescuers were members of the Scarlet Triad looking for easy pickings from rivals.”
Why not escape? “Where are we to go? Without provisions or the ability to defend ourselves out there, we’d be killed, eaten, or die from disease! They didn’t really need to bind us because of it.”
What do you know about Belmazog? “We overheard him bragging and ranting about being the “chosen of Dahak” to his minions at times. He’s always been their head boss as long as we’ve been here.”
Did any of you witness anyone other than Cinderclaws or Scarlet Triad? “No. Plenty of hideous humanoids, or huge creatures in the swamp.”
Why were the Cinderclaws mining gold? “Who doesn’t love gold, it brought him more power through trade. Belmazog may be crazy, but he wasn’t an imbecile.
What was Belmazog doing here / just now / before we got here? “Belmazog ranted about ‘Summoning Dahak’s Power’ to sunder the land with fire, and deal with the Ekujae once and for all.” (The Regulators suspect he may have been doing this as a last-ditch desperate attempt to defeat the elves.)
2025-11-04T19:53:31.144+00:00 — jstrtx
- Message ID:
1435356306683723878
What’s with the giant dragon skull / hanging dragon skulls? “We heard several times about Belmazog bragging about hearing Dahak’s voice, drawing him to this place in the swamp, giving him great power, with promise of even greater rewards. Uncertain where these massive bones came from, but terrifying nonetheless.”
What’s with the hanging dragon skulls? “Rumor is that they were prior sacrifices to this Dahak entity, but we don’t really know.”
2025-11-04T23:09:38.516+00:00 — jstrtx
- Message ID:
1435405662619439296
Attachments:
- Draughthouse Gaming - aoa-timeline - Erastus 6th, 4719 AR [1435352215341633547].json_Files/c68adc2e-6171-41e1-8257-b86fe5d985d6-a2f77262e7722b45.jpg