Official Harmonium Investigation Report

Security: Standard
Submitted: Ransom Jones, Measure One
Approved:

CASE REPORT: RJ-1023
REPORT ON PORTAL JOURNEY TO THE ABYSS: [See Case Report RJ-1002]
Incident: Upon stepping through the gate, we deduced that our location was the Abyss. We discovered that Rithok, Bordumus, and Voronis had been captured before we arrived. A large tanari leader and several dretch had them in chains behind a thunder beast and were leading them towards a distant city. We attacked the tanari, who was also armed with a rope of entanglement. The dretch commenced gating in more of their kind, but upon my insistence, their leader had them stop their attack on us. The halt in attacks was only momentary and we were soon all at it again, knowing that the prisoners would be killed if we did not. At this point, a tiefling swordsman ran up behind us and offered his aid. I recognized him from our neighborhood in Sigil, one Martiken Solitz. He identified the tanari as a hezrau, and warned that it could speak an unholy word. The demons attacked with walls of fire, but we were able to prevail. Special note for bravery to Simon for his amazing performance in this battle, killing many dretch and chasing down and slaying the thunder beast, which bolted and was dragging the prisoners behind it over the rough ground. Martiken loaned his two powerful Greensteel swords to use in the battle, saying that he could not attack the hezrau. The tiefling was a great help, providing me with a heart charm in my moment of need. Gilcrest tried mightily to call forth the power of St. Cuthbert, dim at this distance. Finally, I was able to strike the killing blow on the hezrau, although everyone was needed for the battle. We recovered eight bags of the speed powder from its corpse, which I took control of. Bedlam said that the powder is made from living things, possibly tiefling ashes, and has an evil origin.

Martiken created a magnificent mansion for us to rest and regroup in. During our time in the Abyss random events of chaos occurred, one of which was the rotting and polluting of our food and drink. Upon leaving the mansion for the first time, we were forced to fight and kill a purple worm, which briefly swallowed Voronis but regurgitated her upon its death shortly after. I noted that Bedlam saved some of the worm’s poison from its tail. We also recover a bit of money and two potions, one of invisibility and one of youth. We decided our best chance of finding a gate home is towards the besieged city of Broken Reach, so we continued traveling.

In between battling a flock of eyewings and resting in the mansion, we speculated on how to best get past the siege camps around Broken Reach. However, Gilcrest cast a divination spell, not realizing it would attract attention. The tanari Red Shroud appeared and spoke with Martiken. She agreed to let us go to the gate in the city, on condition that we give her all of our money to purchase needed supplies, plus provide three vials of blood, one from a good-aligned person. Voronis, Bedlam, and Griffon agreed to do so, knowing that while it would undoubtedly be used for evil, it was also our only chance of escape. Red Shroud and Martiken teleported to Broken Reach, leaving behind a vial of red liquid (later identified as a potion of youth). Several hours later, Martiken returned with five slaves carrying bundles. He said he bought the slaves to prevent them from being killed and eaten. Rithok was given command of the slaves. The enchanted armor and weapons that were purchased were made of Redsteel, and inscribed with evil signs and symbols. He also brought us several magic items, which were appropriately distributed. Mordecan said that the deal with Red Shroud is that we must hit the headquarters of Skullbiter, one of her former consorts. Skullbiter, a malfeshnee, has three generals: Shag (hezrau), Skree (vroc), and Gitasso (glabrezu). The plan was to wait until the tanari’s massive gate spells were finished (done so they could hurl the largest possible forces against Broken Reach’s defenses), then attack the leaders when their army was away. Rithok learned the hard way about divination spells in the Abyss. He tried to detect evil, but was struck with its full force combined with raw chaos and fell briefly unconscious. Upon regaining consciousness, he freed the slaves, who agreed to help us fight for the chance to escape this plane. The slaves were: Hans Rectanus, a liland; Ludwig the bariar; Hans and Will, two human barbarians; and an unnamed tiefling female. We outfitted the slaves as best we could, and continued.

Martiken’s recon of the tanari camp reported the last gating complete, and the army had left. On the approach to the main tent, Simon again demonstrated bravery in luring out the two armonite guards so we could ambush them. At the tent, we assaulted the guards, who responded by striking Bordumus and I with a ray of enfeeblement. The guards had corrosive blood, so our killing them, while quick and relatively silent, was also painful. Attacking from the rear of the tent, we attacked Skullbiter, his generals and their guards, which included a huge rust monster. We were able to kill all of the creatures, but Griffon was struck by a feeblemind spell. Since he had been guarding our funds, I took control of their care. The general’s tent had included a mimic modeling Broken Reach, but an ice storm cast during the battle destroyed it. A smoke mephit named Puff, that the tanari had enslaved, “adopted” Voronis, and followed us away. Taking Skullbiter’s head, we proceeded to Broken Reach. At that city, we were greeted by a line of zombie tanari, which opened for us to pass. Red Shroud’s latest assault seemed to have broken the last of the city’s defenses. She and three others wearing black shrouds met us and we gave her Skullbiter’s head, fulfilling our part of the bargain. She showed us a pit-gate, and we were permitted to pass through it. Before we left, Martiken said farewell, saying he was continuing on to find and destroy the source of the white powder.

The gate took us to Plaguemort. We quickly left that town, heading spireward. We were able to refill our waterskins at a stream, although we still had no food. While we camped, the female tiefling ran away and took Griffon’s magical bastard sword with her. In the morning, two young red dragons suddenly attacked us. Hans was killed and eaten in mid-air by one, and the other snatched me up. Bedlam cast an ice storm on both dragons, which also struck me and knocked me unconscious. Gilcrest was able to slay the one dragon with a shield of light scroll, but the other dragon escaped. After I recovered, we continued traveling. We traveled and rested, and Gilcrest was able to find some helpful herbs. Bordumus, using the power of Karnak, was able to draw a credible map of the Outlands. But we still were not sure where to travel to find a gate home. Soon, though, we stumbled across a group of mages, part of the Council of Gray Wizards, practicing their spells in a field. In exchange for a potion of youth, an ancient wizard created a portal and we finally returned to Sigil, appearing in the Hive near the Scratch Wall.

Upon returning to the square, we discovered that a new Harmonium station had been built, and that our old station was now a Mercykiller Gaol. Our time away from Sigil was nine days, and it was now the third Clerk of Mortis. Azrik turned over comand of the new station to me. During debriefing, Azrik said the deputy program had been canceled, although new guidelines were being drawn up for the use of bounty hunters (see Harmonium Orders 2). He also said the Sensates were pleased with the return of their paintings and wantd to throw us a party. I gave him the tanari heads we had collected, plus the eight bags of haste-powder. He said that the Council would meet to determine the powder's legality (it was later reported that they could not declare it illegal to use or own, although it was distasteful).

I hereby strongly recommend that Gilcrest and Salin be acepted into the Harmonium. Father Orlando was able to restore Griffon's intelligence. Eight weeks of training passed for everyone, including the new Harmonium recruits. Rithok was promoted to Notary Two. We sold all of the Redsteel gear and purchased new equipment via Old Bastard, now the Outfitter of Choice for the Sandstone Square Station.
Addendum: Salin unable to join Harmonium as his beliefs are not quite in the right place. Recommend that he seek another faction to join.

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