21st Zarantyr, 1000 YK
- They arrive at Nasaar Kol, and find a ruin strewn with skeletons. The remains of the Order of the Emerald Claw force from 994 YK.
- Lozaal advises that they collect up the skeletons weapons in case the manifest zone animates them. He also finds the corpses of two of the necromancers, and takes their weapons too.
- Lozaal gathers the party and warns them that there might be some gnarly shit in this ruin, he has intel that they've been experimenting with things they shouldn't be.
- Dax sends Zedd off to wait, as she won't fit into the ruin.
- They descend into the darkness! Spooky!
- They enter the antechamber, and find the shattered sarcophagi, canopic jars, and a huge adamantine statue of Muurat Dhakaan.
- There are two sets of adamantine doors, one set unlocked and the next set locked.
- Lozaal provides some context as to who Iraala Dhakaan and Muurat Dhakaan are. That they were the first (and last) spymasters of the empire, and that they would've been impossibly old when the empire fell. It was Iraala that raised the alarm on the kapaa'vola and instructed the Kech Dhakaan to go underground.
- Warden finds a lever in the northern stairwell that has been pulled already. Checking the other side, there is also a lever that was not pulled. They pull it.
- Lozaal goes to check the sarcophagi, and finds an inscription stating "Kur Lheshat Nasaar". The Key to the Kingdom of Night.
- He checks the other side, and opens the still mostly intact sarcophagus, revealing it is full of grave dust. He assumes these are cremated remains. He roots around in the dust and finds and lever, which he pulls.
- The doors unlock with an audible click. They proceed into the next room.
- They find themselves in a vast burial chamber, with another statue of Muurat in the north and a statue of Iraala in the south. In the center of the room, on a raised platform, is an ornate adamantine sarcophagus.
- Lozaal walks up the center stairs to investigate the sarcophagus, to see if it's been tampered with. Leonus goes to investigate the statue of Iraala.
- Lozaal hears a voice on the breeze, "chaat'oor"
- A ghostly duur'kala appears above the sarcophagus and screams, which saps the life from the group. Her scream seems to awaken other undead, who emerge from their sarcophagi.
- Warden transforms into a giant coral snake.
- Leonus gets surrounded by undead dar, but they just cannot hit him.
- Dax' Athla and Kalshana use Channel Divinity to Turn Undead, and between them all of the undead fail. It is then a fucking slaughter, Sovereigns and Six.
- Lozaal obliterates the ghost, and then they destroy the other undead.
- After they've destroyed them all, the ghost reforms and declares she will speak to the ghaal'dar, and the chaat'oor must leave.
- Lozaal tells the others to leave, and they do.
- The ghost introduces herself as Hezra Duur'kala, a duur'kala of the Kech Nasaar both in life and in death. She's been here for a very long time. She is second in command, behind Denaal Daashor, in the absence of the lhesh.
- Hezra explains that the lhesh, Iraala and Muurat are not present. Iraala and Muurat are khaar'gaa, "Children of the Blood".
- Hezra states that the Kech were activated when a fail safe was activated. She explains that the emperor Jhazaal Dhakaan created an artifact, the Kur Lheshat Nasaar, as a fail safe in case Iraala ever turned on them. The artifact can control the Kech Nasaar, it's been activated but no orders have been given and they don't know where it is.
- The Nasaar seeded Maurezhi into the nations of Khorvaire to learn more about what's happening. When they discovered taarn on the continent, they were angered. Iraala and Muurat have traveled to Valenar to drive the elves from the continent.
- Lozaal asks if the Kech Volaar can send representatives, but Hezra says that she cannot negotiate. If the Volaar want to work with the Nasaar, they need to meet with Iraala and Muurat.
- Hezra also claims that beneath the burial chamber they are in, is a vast necropolis containing thousands of undead dar. She claims that they have been innovating over the years, and have a variety of undead at their disposal.
- Lozaal thanks her for the information, and leaves.
- Once they get out of the ruin, they make their way out of the manifest zone before they talk. Dax casts Tiny Hut, and they take a Short Rest whilst they discuss what happened.
- Lozaal explains that he got what he came for, and he wants to report back to Volaar Draal.
- They have a discussion about what to do next, and what Leonus is going to do. He explains that he also found what he came here for, evidence of the Emerald Claw, and he needs to wait for the queen to contact him, so in the meantime he'll look for any more Emerald Claw activity.
- Lozaal asks Leonus to join the group, explaining that the party do not party hard enough and he needs someone who will party with him. He complains that the others don't party with him and Dax points out he's never invited them. There is a little domestic incident.
- They discuss what to do with fun, but Leonus is all about bones. Dax carves a little ornament from the skeletons left by the Emerald Claw. She suggests decorating the bones of his armour, but he strongly refuses. Don't touch the armour!
- Dax also mentions that she can make mosaics! She learned in Sigilstar.
- Lozaal asks Leonus if he chose to be a bone knight, and he explains that he was chosen to become one but he wanted to do it. When they find out he fought in the war, they ask him if he ever fought in Northern Cyre, and then it gets a little awkward. They ask if he likes railspotting.
- Leonus took off his helmet! Face reveal!
- Dax asks Leonus to teach her his bone magic, but he refuses. He doesn't think Karrnath would appreciate it.
- Dax, frustrated, goes on a rant than on this side of the continent they focus on the wrong things. There is evil everywhere and they fight each other!
- Kalshana mentions Riedra and confuses Leonus. The same Riedra that is providing humanitarian aid across the continent, especially in Karrnath? That Riedra?
- Yes
- Huh
- Lozaal also says it seems pretty sus that Kal has such a problem with Riedra, or as Leonus puts it, "The Red Cross of Eberron"
- Dax trusts Kal though. Lozaal just states "I believe that Kal believes what she's saying"
- Leonus comments that Kal has a lot of conspiracy theories. Manticores. Riedra. Hmm.
- Kal says that Lozaal should go to Riedra and see for himself! Except they won't let him in!
- Lozaal states that the burden of proof is on the person making the claim!
- Kal says that Riedra is only providing aid because they want to win the culture war! Get control of the narrative before the Kalashtar can get their side of the story out!
- "Oh wow how evil, providing humanitarian aid"
- Dax asks how to distinguish an inspired from a kalashtar, but they look the same. Any kalashtar they've met could've been an inspired! They need a way to detect them.
- Lozaal maintains that he hasn't seen anything to indicate that Riedra is a threat to them, other than Kal's word. Dax compares the Adarans to the Masvirik'uala, they are isolated against an existential threat. Riedra controls the messaging.