Encounter: The Closing Chapter

Written by Matthew Cicci
Illustrated by Matt Lichtenwalner
Cartography by Danny Rupp
Edited by Tony Hoffart

Difficulty: Hard
Magic: High
Keywords: ritual magic, summoned creatures, wild magic
Terrain: Inside, wood floors, some debris, two levels
Treasure: Minor

Chaotic tendrils of uncontrolled magic thrash wildly throwing the inside of the once immaculate library into disarray. Nothing is as it was; the shelves previously quiet and serene are now a maelstrom of flying books and Immeril, once calm and strong, now clutches a book madly. Tears stream down his face as he chants the guttural arcane words with a voice hoarse from fatigue.

 

Within the bedlam dance of wild magic, rose-colored wraiths, their skin wreathed in flame erupt from the tears between the dimensions swooping down upon the lone arcanist. Their ephemeral bodies causing his to twitch and convulse as they attack him while others tease and taunt his mind, their ghostly hands batting at the book and trying to wrench it away.

With every ounce of conviction he possesses Immeril manages to shrug off the wraiths’ torments and his wide, wet eyes fall upon you. “I am sorry, so sorry.” Deep sobs rack his body. “Please help me.”

Background

This encounter should serve as a capstone for your PCs interaction with Immeril Lithose. They have likely strung together a number of clues and other oddities to realize that Immeril is in truth a villain who preys on the literal life-force of others. It may even be likely that by the time you are prepared to run this encounter, your PCs may be familiar with Immeril’s Faustian pact, and the nature of both the fel roses and the Furum.

However, a twist of remorse over his latest killing (perhaps his father, or other beloved friend/NPC . . . or PC?) has caused Immeril to rethink his ways; he is attempting to rid himself of the Furum once and for all. To do this he has sequestered himself in the locale where it all began, the Brightstar Wing of the Royal Library, and is attempting a dangerous ritual in hopes of abjuring the entities that have slowly eroded his free will. This leaves the PCs faced with the difficult decision of how best to put an end to this sympathetic villain’s menace.

Objective

The overriding goal of the PCs at this point is likely to be putting an end to the murders caused by Immeril. However, depending both on their relationship with the noble and/or their awareness of the Furum, the means by which to achieve that goal may not be as straightforward as beating him into submission. The PCs may find it possible to eliminate the threat by helping the elf escape the grip of his pact.

A number of issues stand in the way of the PCs achieving this goal:

• Furum Entities – These wraith-like, fiery beings have begun to populate the library due to the magic being unraveled here. Their main desire is to stop Immeril from completing the ritual; this includes destroying any who’d aid him. [Notes as "F" on the encounter Map]
• Wild Magic – The ritual Immeril is attempting to cast is well beyond his spellcasting skill. Gouts of wild, untamed magic have caused books and furniture to be flung about the room at random. When the PCs enter it is likely they will have to avoid or contend with these projectiles as a potentially damaging environmental hazard.
• Immeril Lithose – The young elf himself is growing weary of body and mind the further the ritual progresses. His psyche is under constant pressure from the pleading Furum, and the longer the ritual goes on, the more they will sap his will to fight them. Without proper assistance, reassurance, or aid, it is unlikely Immeril possesses either the physical or mental fortitude needed to complete the intensely difficult arcane process. [Notes as "I" on the encounter Map]

Tactics

Both Immeril and the Furum have different tactics and strategies throughout this encounter.

• Immeril Lithose – Initially, Immeril attempts to rid himself of the Furum. He attempts to grit through his agony and the constant harassment from the entities in order to complete the ritual of abjuration. However, as mentioned above, he lacks the ability to finish this process on his own. For more information regarding, Immeril’s actions throughout the encounter please read the development section below.
• Furum Entities – These beings attack the PCs with an almost mindless savagery. The furum are split up into two groups. two furum entities occupy ground level and attempts to rush the PCs and keep them away from Immeril, The other group, numbering three, has taken to the balcony of the second floor; these furum attempt to devastate the party from above with ranged attacks. Their fiery assault could easily unleash more chaos, as much of the library is vulnerable to combustion.

Environmental Effects

The uncontained magic of the ritual has left much of this wing of the library in shambles. Toppled bookshelves and broken desks should make for some terrain that is difficult to navigate. While none of this should necessarily block a player’s way, it is likely capable of reducing speed or movement rates. However, wise players may use these shambles to their benefit.Tables for example can be flipped to provide cover or perhaps even as a means to get to the upstairs.

In addition, the magic has caused for books to fly through the air, tables to hop up and down, and chairs to skid wildly across the floor. These occurrences are sure to hinder the characters as they get nearer to Immeril, subjecting them to further movement penalties and, perhaps, even physical harm.

Development

The key to this encounter is dependent both on time and how the PCs interact with Immeril. Below are some key elements to keep in mind:

• Immeril cannot finish the abjuration without help. If he is not killed or aided within a suitable time frame (5-6 rounds or some other similar period), he succumbs to the Furum’s will. At this point he brings the full power of his own villainy to bear on the PCs and possibly attempts to drain the vitality of one of their characters.
• Immeril can be aided in a variety of ways, such as encouragement to fight off the Furum’s commands or by assisting him in completing the ritual itself. If he can finish the ritual, he physically weakens and collapses, but not before ridding himself of the Furum and significantly weakening any remaining entities. This a suitable option for victory as it disposes of the true source of evil.
• If Immeril is killed, the remaining furum are not weakened and continue fighting. However, it may paint the PCs as murderers of a popular noble if they lack the proof necessary to show otherwise. This course of action does however eliminate the immediate threat of the fel roses and the Furum.

Awards & Treasure

The PCs should receive an experience reward (if your games suits such a reward) for completing this encounter. In addition, the secret of the fel rose and a perhaps a few of the items can be found on Immeril’s person. If he is dead, they are for the taking; if he lives, he is more than willing to part with them. The furum roil away in burst of smoke and flame when killed, they leave no baubles behind.

Click on the image below to download the map for this encounter.

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The Closing Chapter by Nevermet Press is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0 United States License. Permissions beyond the scope of this license may be available at http://www.nevermetpress.com/contact.