2025.06.08 Session Notes

Bone Devil Fight

• Evening started with a fight!
• The devil had a particular interest in Erash.
• Phelan could not help but notice the parallels to Emmi’s meeting notes — that devils are being sent far and wide (and he has a worry about the correlation with the Sultan sending emissaries to the Nine Hells).
• Sending stone call placed to Emmi to let her know about it.

“Oh, I think we’re all signing up to die. But we’re doing it for you, so… FEEL GOOD!”
~ Snow

Kamordah

• We arrived in Kamordah and did a bit of shopping and relaxation.
• Met (an old flame of Ferric’s) — Theska Moonbud, who runs the Emberpetal Springs Spa
• Asked around for directions to Vallah; she lives in the foothills, in a smoking cave north of the town (you can’t miss it — it is the only one of its ilk.)

Vallah’s Forge

• Vallah begrudgingly greets them at the cave entrance.
• She seems somewhat surprised by the party’s presence, but not immediately hostile.
• She takes Erash back to the forge to trigger his mark.

Vallah’s Insights

• As far as she knows, the Effriti are not aware of Erash’s existence.
• He has allies in the oppressed races of the fire plane; the Azers, the elementals and others will help him if he asks for aid.
• The fire giants are less predictable. Some of them have sold their allegiance to the Sultan. But some would stand with him.
• The closest portal to the Plane of Fire is in Vuthos, the fire giant city underneath Mt. Mentiri.
• The leader of Vuthos, Faz’hul al-Tasim, was banned from the City of Brass.
• He now serves as the gatekeeper of access to the plane.
• Nobody enters the portal except by his permission; so our best chance of success is to sneak into Vuthos and slip through the portal undetected.
• Al-Tasim will be too proud to send forces after us if we are successful.
• Her advice: DON’T walk through the front door of the City of Brass OR Vuthos and DON’T let them know who Erash really is.
• Fanfare is not our friend; it is best to NOT attract notice.

Vallah’s Story

• Vallah and her family fled The Plane of Fire to escape the oppression under the Sultan.
• She and her mother escaped; but her father did not make it.
• Her mother died of her wounds shortly afterwards.

Forging a Deal

• Phelan agrees to design and create a new prosthetic leg for Vallah based off of her existing prototypes.
• With a lot of sweaty of work and Erash’s assistance, he creates a fully functional arcane limb for her.
• As repayment, she crafts a final Ring of Fire Resistance for Phelan over the next few days.

The Vintner’s Respite & Next Steps

• Returning to the hotel we had a tense conversation over dinner about next steps.
• Snow feels we have no clear rationale or plan for undertaking such a difficult journey with so many risks.

On the Nature of Dragons (a.k.a. Phelan’s Lecture of the Week)

• Generally, Dragons, specifically Red Dragons, care the most about treasure hoarding, being treated and tithed to like a god, or some combination of the two.
• Based on the story we heard about the origins of Erash’s magical bloodline, it was Erash’s ancestor who wanted to overthrow the Sultan. So Gaushroth gave him sorcerous power in exchange for something.
• We have no idea what that something is, but if Phelan had to guess, it has nothing to with the City of Brass itself or wanting to rule it.
• But it probably does have to do with that room in Erash’s dragon-y visions that only he seems to be able to access.
• So we need to go, find the room, and figure out how we either fulfill the deal and get everyone off our back or … renegotiate terms. Or something.

ℹ️ Fire Resistance: Who has what