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Freaky Gray Company

2025.09.01 Session Notes

Exhausted but reunited, the FGC finally finds some much-needed allies.

Kat

• 4 min read
2025.09.01 Session Notes
The Temple of Surtur
Erash: Do I need to go bow on the floor?
Phelan: I don't know...do you see a tea cup?

The Ashdrip Grille

The Ashdrip Grille

Table-side

  • While Snow scouts, the party sends the tiefling boy with Arus (the human pilgrim) and plans to rescue Ferric.
  • A cute fire genasi waitress brings the check, flirts a bit with Erash, and leaves the bill on the table, recommending we go to a small shop next to the Temple of Surtur for dessert.
  • Says we should order the “Baked Assassin” there.
  • The bill is on a tray with a flaming sword symbol that disappears after a few moments.
  • The bill is weighted with a chunk of obsidian. When Erash picks it up, a voice speaks to him.
“You seek refuge. Find it under the flaming sword. Do not travel or enter as a group. Many eyes watch you. Some friendly.”

Street-side

Erash: You're invisi-bling his ding-ding?
Khoraka: It does psychic damage....
  • Snow scouts the situation with the efreeti and his gang of prisoners, and the group forms a plan.
  • Erash turns the prisoners to gaseous form while Khoraka casts darkness on the efreeti’s belt.
  • Everyone splits up and runs, or floats, away in different directions, with plans to reconvene at the Temple of Surtur.

About Surtur

  • Symbol is flaming sword.
  • His followers believe he will bring about the end of the world.
  • Worshiped by Fire Giants and Azers.

The Temple of Surtur

The Central Hearth at the Temple of Surtur, complete with Flamelings.
  • One by one, the party reassembles.
  • Our rescued tieflings/humans are safe somewhere not here. But we at least know they are okay.
  • A stocky Azer sitting near the central hearth addresses us without turning; his voice is the voice from the obsidian sending stone.
  • We talk about baked assassins. He requests that Erash prove his identity; he does so by showing his glowing inscription.
  • Satisfied, he opens a secret passage behind the altar and ushers us through.
  • He introduces himself as Kharzum, and then instructs us all to hold hands and then leads us through a framed wall of lava in an abandoned receiving room a short distance from the secret entrance.
The lost receiving room
  • On the other side is a female priestess and an older, grizzled looking male, both Azers. Kharzum introduces the priestess as Velthara.
  • She explains to us exactly what we’re doing here…

The Ashen Palaver: Kharzum, Velthara, and … Zhadrel, the High Forger.

The future now rests on the point of a blade. The Grand Sultan’s reign of torment may soon end. The Bloodied One awaits his ascendancy. His children await their freedom. The Lost Child of Gold & Flame has returned home. The name “Al-Kaleed” may soon be spoken after a thousand years. 
We are the Ashen Palaver. I am known as Velthara. We do not serve The Bloodied One, but his aims are our aims. 
The seat of the Grand Sultan’s power is protected against all by an eternal Forbiddance ward. The artifact is housed deep underneath the Charcoal Palace. Surrounded by Gaushroth’s offspring who both guard it and despite it. Central to a labyrinth - guarded over within and without by ever-watching eyes and constructs that never sleep or tire. 
Your destiny lies within the labyrinth. Destroy the artifact, and the Charcoal Palace will then be open to attack within its walls. The City lies in wait. Dragons, azer, and all flamekin will rise. We will prevail or perish forever. Either path offers deliverance from his reign. 
You didn’t ask for this task but it falls upon you. All of you. 
The mural gateway here. It was created by our makers - long before my fires were kindled. It has a sister. Located inside the vizier’s palace - once home to Tarir of house Al-Kahleed. Now occupied by the Sultan’s brother since the purge. Only Tarir and his blood may pass beyond that gate. We know this because we created it. The Vizier himself only sees the gate as a piece of flame-art which burns everyone. Even himself. 
Beyond that gate lies a space meant only for the blood of Al-Kahleed. Tarir’s personal study. Within that space, an artifact lies which will protect you from the watchers in the labyrinth.  
  • Worn out and overwhelmed with information, the party finally gets a long rest.
  • Phelan idly wonders what happens to him on this plane where there’s no/different moons…
  • Erash is shown to a private room, while the rest of the party sleeps in the Respite.

And in the middle of the night, Erash begins to dream…