A Life Learned Along the Death Walk

Honorable Priestess of Melora,

When we last corresponded, our party was waiting for the Eladrin to appear. We did not have to wait long.

We noticed an Eladrin had been standing nearby and watching us. It was not clear how long he had been there. Ryn greeted him.

"Are you of the Emaq Caste," the Eladrin asked Ryn. "Yes," Ryn replied.

"Have you," asked the Eladrin, "been on a Death Walk recently?"

We gave each other puzzled glances, while Ryn answered, "No, I haven't. I can offer my services to you, if there are any dead among you."

The Eladrin nodded. "There is one dead among us. Come with me."

The Eladrin led us through the snow and over a high ridge of ice and rock. Below us was a valley filled with a mist. Manos frowned. "This is not normally the way I've gone before."

We followed the Eladrin down into the valley. As we descended, we noticed that the air was getting warmer, and the snow started to disappear. The ground around us seemed unsteady, and the rocks on the ground began to look more like volcanic rock. We passed a few hot springs and saw algae of a number of colors.

Manos glanced at us and whispered, "I've never been here before."

We finally reached a low encampment of criss-crossing fissures. Here, the Eladrin folk made their dwellings in the walls. There were many wild-looking Eladrin here, wearing handmade leather clothing.

The Eladrin who brought us here took us to their quarters, where he said we could stay. He seemed puzzled that we would be traveling with Ryn. "Members of the Emaq Caste -- those who do the Death Walk -- are not to be touched. They live separate lives from the rest of us."

Ryn did not look very pleased with the Eladrin's attitude. Still, he agreed to do the Death Walk. "It's the least I can do, since you are letting us stay here."

"Good. Just don't wander around. Stay in your quarters."

The Eladrin gave us some food -- a slurry of sorts, with some algae and meat in a stew -- and left us to eat.

After we ate, we discussed ways to explore the area and get more information. Ryn could walk around unhindered, since he was a member of the Emaq Caste. Kale had an impressive ritual that made him invisible to all around him. Perhaps Ryn would do the initial exploration of the encampment, report back, and tell Kale what areas were worth looking into.

Ryn left the quarters to start exploring. He didn't find anything unusual except for one area, in which a guard prevented him from following one of the paths down a ridge hallway. The guard told Ryn, "Their world is so dull compared to ours. Their north has a harsh beauty." When Ryn pressed the guard for details, the guard said, "This valley was not found as it is -- it was modeled to fit the needs of this outpost."

After exploring the rest of the area, Ryn went to do the Death Walk. He discovered that the Death Walk was for an Eladrin who probably was a mage. This Eladrin's death was accidental and happened well over a month ago.

The body of the Eladrin was frozen. The room for the Death Walk was filled with candles and containers of water.

As Ryn began the Death Walk, he started experiencing the life of this Eladrin mage. He learned that the Eladrin had built this area. It was not a volcanic area before the Eladrin arrived. The mage himself was separated from his group in a blizzard. The mage was also in charge of operating some sort of magical device.

The Death Walk lasted for 36 hours. After the vigil was over, Ryn asked if the Eladrin could set us on the right path to the Mad Mage. They agreed to do this and gave Ryn some pig weed for smoking.

While Ryn was on his Death Walk, the rest of the party went to the path that Ryn had been prevented from exploring. The guard was still there, so Firinne talked to the guard to distract him. Kale used his ritual to become invisible to all eyes, and he snuck around guard and walked further down the path.

Along the path, there was a sign that warned "Do not enter". As Kale continued down the path, he noticed that the land was becoming swampier, and he had a strange feeling that the area seemed haunted. Finally, the path led down to a volcanic area, where a black ovoid was suspended above by three posts coming off to the side (almost like a spidery structure). Kale detected magic from this device.

The posts on the side were made of some unrecognizable metal. The posts had bumps throughout their lengths -- almost like handholds. Occasionally, there were runes for protection. Kale used these handholds to climb to the top of the ovoid.

At the top of the ovoid was a closed door. The top of the oviod itself was covered with runes for strengthening metal from fire. The door was locked by a morphic lock (something like a padlock that changes shape). A morphic lock could only be opened by a morephic key.

The entire device seemed like some sort of golem or magical construct.

Kale cast a spell to allow him to fall from the top of the ovoid like a feater. As he floated down, Kale noticed a small pore (a hole) in the bottom of the ovoid.

After Kale returned, we went back to our quarters to meet up with Ryn. Manos had already packed up and was ready to leave.

Manos said that we are getting close to the lair of the Mad Mage. The Mad Mage lives under a caldera. The main entrance -- Hell's Teeth -- is surrounded by runes of protection and is guarded by Gnolls. There are side passages to the caldera, which bypass Hell's Teeth. Manos will show us the way but will not go into the caldera. Carlognios' father was captured up here many years ago.

We discussed the ovoid and what it might mean. Some of the party members thought we should stay and see if the ovoid could be used against the Mad Mage. But we could not determine a good way to free the ovoid, since it was still guarded.

In the end, we decided to leave for the Mad Mage's lair. As we drew closer, my heart sank as I remembered my prophecy and what I would be compelled to do.

Your faithful servant,

Aelar