Sixty-First Session - Through the Fire and the Flames

Session resumes with Alana experiencing a prophetic dream while resting in the Temple of Sarashim. She finds herself wielding a staff she has never held before, her eyes glowing blue, and senses her God around her, asking her to be his ‘voice and hands.’

She says yes, and is told: 'when you reach the water, call for me.'

In the morning, the Keepers discuss their dreams and the possible portents at length, including the meaning of the ‘voice and hands’ role (equivalent to ‘champion’ or ‘harbinger’), the advisability of seeking out ‘Tristan’ at the City of the Dead, and The Lord of Lost Causes warning Markoris their current path is a true suicide mission. Alana, sensing that Ishaq is not a fan of the ‘voice and hands’ thing, does not share her dream.

Then Sol teleports the party to the city of Ueramos. Where *everything is on fire.*

The party finds themselves in a burning room. Alana takes some fire damage. Markoris realizes they’re about six stories up in a wooden tower, located on a small island in the middle of a river running through the city. Celia spots a way out of the room, but it’s blocked by a fallen beam, also on fire. Ishaq notices the floor is not alight due to being inscribed with protective runes, which run throughout the tower’s structure in key areas.

Looking out the window, Markoris sees much of the city around them is also ablaze, and the base of the tower is burning as well. A plan is hastily made to evacuate the tower so Alana can cast Control Water to redirect the flow of the river to put out the inferno.

Ishaq uses Dimension Door to BAMF himself and Celia to a marketplace nearby. They find it deserted except for numerous slain bodies, many of them apparently killed while running away. The victims appear to have been dead for hours, which may mean this attack is already over.

Meanwhile Max and Markoris rappel down. Markoris finds a window that looks safe, and they attach their ropes to Max’s grappling hook and start climbing down. During the descent, Max sees a lot of fire concentrated in a commercial looking district to the south and east, and sees figures running back and forth. After a close call with Markoris losing his grip and being caught by Max, they reconnect with Ishaq and Celia in the marketplace.

Alana turns into a Giant Eagle and flies Raul and Sol out of the tower just before the roof caves in. The party reunites, and it’s decided the party should consult with survivors before summoning a flood in order to avoid inadvertently drowning anyone. Max, acting very intense now that he’s back in a war zone and close to revenge on Cyrus, leads the party to where he spotted the survivors. He is certain that this is the city he saw under attack by Cyrus and his raiding ships in his dream last night.

The party crosses a bridge and Ishaq calls out to the people they see to establish that they’re here to help. The Keepers make contact with surviving members of the city guard who seem to be in charge. The plan: Ishaq and Max will rescue people from buildings who still have folk in them, while Alana douses the flames of buildings that are empty, and Celia heals the injured.

Celia is guided to a stone temple packed to the brim with hundreds of injured. She starts spamming Spare the Dying and Prayer of Healing to ease their suffering. Meanwhile, Max and Ishaq respond to fire among the arcane shops. With Ishaq's help and a crowbar, Max dislodges a burning beam blocking access.

Ishaq Dimension Doors into the building looking for people, despite his clothes catching alight and facing smoke inhalation. He finds three people hiding under a desk, old elven woman, younger elven woman, and young female gnome. He uses his fireproof body + prestidigitation to smother flames and direct fresh air to the rescuees, and he gets all three out.

Meanwhile Max helps clear the way to the basement, facing smoke inhalation - they find two twin elven brothers - they have surrounded themselves with water from an infinite bottle. Max gives his Greater Healing Potion to the injured elf so he can climb up okay. They reconnect with Ishaq and his rescuees outside - the elven lady give Ishaq her cloak to hide his exposure.

Meanwhile, Alana uses 3 4th-level slots to maintain half an hour worth of Control Water to douse many buildings, saving several structures from destruction. As she does, Markoris notices many bodies around a tree that many people are trying to douse with water.

Session ends with the party continuing their heroic rescue efforts in the city of Ueramos.