The Tower of Al-Harnala, Part II

16th - 19th Day of Ready'reat, CY 591

The priestess stepped towards Madoc and cast a death spell on him. He was able to resist the spell, but he was weakened in the process. She seemed to do this in an instant, and was able to follow it up with a windstorm centered around her blowing out in all directions.

Safadin was able to resist the high winds, and he sent an explosive ball of lightning at the priestess. She dodged most of the electric attack, but still took damage. Madoc made several attacks against the priestess landing a single blow. Creden grabbed the binder and crossed back over through the planar breach. The priests of light followed him over, but were immediately knocked over by the power of the winds.

The priestess then spoke the words of anathema inscribed on her obex holy symbol, and a destructive power surged through Creden. He resisted the spell, but he was still damaged by the attack. Safadin attempted to cast another spell at the priestess, but he was not able to overcome her resistance. Madoc landed several blows against her this time, but at the end of his attacks she seemed to gain much of her strength back. Creden said a prayer to Saint Cuthbert shielding everyone from her attacks. It did not seem to affect her though. He then moved in to melee range. The priests tried to attack her with light rays, but the power of the wind and her resistance stopped their attacks.

The priestess stepped towards Creden, cast a necromancy spell and touched him. He was saved from the majority of the damage, but was nearly dropped by the effect nonetheless. Creden brought his maul down on her head. It split her skull and drove her brain pan into her spine. Killing her instantly.

The priests said that the binder was no longer safe, and that it was our duty to protect it. They passed back through the light field as it was dissapating.

We searched the priestess, but we did not find any evidence of who told the cultists about our mission. Safadin began deciphering the ancient text inscribed on the wall of the main chamber.

The text can be read here.

Madoc went upstairs to check on the status of our exit from the temple. He noticed that the bones were missing, and tracks led into the bedchamber nearby. As he started going down the stairs to warn us, he heard footsteps following us. He hid in the shadows of the stairwell, and saw a skeletal figure of a woman in robes passing by. She entered the main chamber, and Safadin determined that she was a lich.

She identified herself as Al Harnala, and she congratulated us on the defeat of the priestess. She briefly recounted the story of her imprisonment by Lord Obender, and her association with Ibenala. She also confirmed that Ibenala is Tiamat, the Lord of Evil Dragons. She did not know who the priestess was, but suggested a possible connection to the Brotherhood of Tilvan. Safadin recalled from his study of history that this group eventually became the Scarlet Brotherhood.

She asked that we destroy the iron golem, which housed her phylactery.We did this the next day without difficulty, and then by request we destroyed her.

We decided that before we give the binder to anyone, we should ask for advice from Saint Cuthbert. Someone at the council meeting in Hommlet was working with the cultists. Creden communed with his deity and found out that one of the aids to Alarion Gantil, professor at the Grey College and mentor to Safadin, had been killed and replaced by a shapeshifter. This was the same shapeshifter who we killed in Blue. The commune said it was unclear as to whether the binder could be protected by Canoness Y’dey, but we decided that it was the best course of action.

We teleported to Hommlet by way of Blue and met with Canoness Y’dey. She was pleased with our work, and she agreed to keep the binder.

Our part in the quest is now complete.