As the Company approached Cerulean’s manor, they saw an unexpected sight – Penelo standing out front, holding a sword that was almost larger than herself! She smiled broadly as she saw them. “What’s with the sword? I recognize the hilt – that’s the restored HolySword of Dathus!”, Marcus asked. Penelo responded that Cerulen had requested that she take the sword to the “Order of Oblivion”. The sword would be used “to deliver justice beneath Nokthanim” and she would receive a “stupid amount of money” in return. Enough to seriously expand her beloved library.
She also told them she had dug up a little more information about Mani’vathas. The demon was apparently capable of reviving itself without leaving the material plane, as well as reviving other members of its family, so long as its soul could be tethered to those of planar natives. If this was done, it could rest within a person’s body even if it was killed. And she knew of no way to eliminate it without killing the host – and even that would not be enough if it could quickly take another.
Finally she relayed that Cerulean would be waiting for them back in the Red Crow Catacombs at Bhorn’s Crossing.
They made their way to the Catacombs, and to their surprise found Kamirae (the priestess who had told them of the demon Kael’zanith beneath the old abandoned shrine near Cerulean’s manor ) waiting for them. She pulled a gem from her bag – a perfect Sunstone – and handed it to Marcus. “In his silent moments, his most desperate hours, he has whispered the same though countless times. A plea that he believe goes unheard. Tell him that his prayer was heard. And though the demon has covered his soul in darkness, he has not been alone”. She then smiled, but would explain no further. But as they turned away, Marcus realized something. Her voice has not echoed in the empty halls as his had. And, for the briefest of moments, he could have sworn he saw gold shining in her eyes…
Below, in the Prayer Hall, they found Cerulean waiting with the spirits of his once companions of the Red Crow. He told them that when Mani’vathas had slaughtered the Red Crow, he and his lover Iris’thylia has been the last. And only he had survived – because Mani’vathas had tethered itself to *him*. After thorough research with Balzaghar the only way he had found to draw it out required a Sunstone – but the only one he had ever been able to locate was chipped and imperfect. Such a stone would certainly kill him in the ritual to purge him of the demon. But he was willing to pay that price to have the demon finally, mercifully, ended and the souls of his former companions freed.
Before they began the ritual, Shea gave them each a special concoction she had been working on – a concotion she claimed would give them enhanced strength and magic resistance. Bjorn was skeptical, but they all drank up.
He asked them to smash the sunstone on an altar with a ceremonial hammer, but Marcus’ eyes twinkled as he instead pulled forth the unblemished sunstone they had been given by Kamirae. Cerulean’s eyes widened as Marcus smashed the perfect sunstone, and the enslaved Red Crow… attacked.
At first they were engaged on all sides by spirits of the former Cult. Skeleton Warriors, Vampires, Wraiths – Mani’vathas had spared no effort in forming his minions into powerful forms. Marcus filled the room with brilliant daylight, weakening all the undead and helping to reduce their fury.
Tiana raced to engage a Skeletal Sorcerer before it could unleash its magic upon them, and was nearly cornered by vengeful wraiths before she managed to elude them and return to the safety of the party.
Bjorn charged a bevy of vampires, and together he and Cerulean carved a swath through their numbers.
Shea concentrated on protecting them from sniper fire. A massive windstorm kept the skeletal archers ineffective until Tiana was free to race around eliminating them.
As they began to stem the tide, demons ported into the room intent on slaughtering them where the Red Crow were faltering. Including a vicious Night Hag.
Once again Tiana raced to eliminate the Hag before it could do too much harm.
Bjorn charged into some of the heavier hitters.
While Marcus summoned a powerful swarm of spirits to tear at all who approached.
As they again began to approach victory, Mani’vathas himself finally made his appearance – with further demonic reinforcements. Mani’vathas took the form of an enormous Shadow Demon, with vicious claws and magic to match.
Bjorn held him at bay, taking a beating while keeping the demon focused on him.
Tiana once more raced around the perimeter culling the horde.
Marcus did what he could to protect the others.
While Shea let loose with a vicious assault of psionic energy on Mani’vathas. Although he was initially resistant, she eventually breached his defences.
And once he was vulnerable the others turned their attention to him as well. Before long he was failing. He desperately attempted to possess a new host – trying each of them in turn. But the oddest quirk sealed his fate. Marcus’ coin, safely in his pocket, rose into the air of its own accord. And every time Mani’vathas’ spirit attempted to enter a new host, the coin blocked it with a brilliant beam of light – all the while showing the face of a laughing harlequin. It would seem even against greater demons Misaye demanded the last laugh.
And as the demon howled in frustration Cerulean himself dealt the finishing blow on its corporeal form.
His posture straightened as he realized he was finally free. Years appeared to fall away from his visage as he blinked in wonder. He asked how they had acquired the Sunstone, and how they had known to bring it. Marcus told him of Kamirae. Cerulean pulled an ancient amulet of Maraike, Goddess of Life and Healing, from beneath his tunic. As he gazed at it Marcus told him softly, “You were never alone. And your prayers were never unheard”.
And all around him the spirits of the Red Crow, finally, ascended as they were released.
After giving him a few moments to himself, they returned to the surface together. To celebrate their new freedom – and his.
Author’s Note: That was pretty awesome. I had lots of theories over the course of the game as to Cerulean’s real story, but I did not see this one coming until the end. Didn’t really catch on nearly quickly enough that “Kamirae” was really “Maraike” either. Despite the hints that the shrine had been long abandoned and the obvious (in retrospect) name. Overall I think this was one of the best mod adventures I ever played. Easily matching most commercial adventures in both quality and engagement. Two thumbs up. Easily.
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