Mimo, Lucia, Sturmberg, and Kristov were on a mission to find Quet-Faeren, an elusive creature that held the key to unlocking the secrets of the silver maze. They had been wandering through the maze for hours, but with Mimo’s encouragement, they kept moving forward.
As they made their way through the maze, they came across a series of lifeless bodies. Lucia touched one of them, and they were aghast when the body suddenly moved. Mimo realized that life was the secret to not getting trapped in the time magic that surrounded them.
Sturmberg stumbled upon a demon-bone blade, and Kristov deftly dodged a molten glass door trap. Mimo and Kristov worked together to finish an unfinished tiger mold, and the group poured molten glass into the mold to create a glass tiger. The group was torn over whether or not to finish the tiger, but they acquiesced and poured the molten glass into the mold.
Mimo prayed at the tiger mold, and to their surprise, the tiger came to life. She named it “Senator” after a cousin who had died. Kristov was able to bring the tiger to heel and convinced it to track Quet-Faeren.
After finding the girl deep in the maze, the party convinced her to aid their quest. She warned them not to take any of the artifacts they had acquired, but Lucia took her silver crow anyway. Quet-Faeren gave the adventurers the next key, and they stepped boldly through the magic doorway.
The group made it onto a ship with amber bat wings, suspended in an astonishing storm. Below the ship was another doorway, this one suspended by a metal chain. Each time lightning hit the doorway or the chain, the ship lifted into the air and above the storm.
The ship was manned by terracotta sailors who largely ignored the group. However, anytime the adventurers came close to the captain, or the engine at the center of the ship, the crew grew agitated and took note of them. Heading to a small hold, the party decided to sleep for several hours and recover while the crew ignored them.
Once they awoke, the group examined the ship once more. This time they saw a silver key hanging by the captain’s neck, and more of the mechanisms around the engine. Noting that the chain suspending the door would be drawn into the ship with each jolt of lightning, Lucia attempted to overcharge the engine with electricity. Kristov tried to climb the wings but quickly realized he was not meant for heights. Instead, he helped Lucia climb the rigging.
Lucia attempted to get to the crank, but the sailors were displeased. Mimo made a noise to grab their attention, but she had to roll out of their way. Kristov fell overboard and fell to his death but he was able to catch himself near the magic door.
Lucia used her silver crow to steal the key from the captain while Mimo and Sturmgberg protected each other from the crew. Finally getting the key, the trio climbed down the chain and through the door with Kristov while the terracotta sailors jumped overboard in an attempt to get the key back.
The party fell through the doorway and into a splendid throne room. All around the throne were portals to the other areas in the spire, and to the outside world. In the center of the room sat Quetzel, in all her mummified glory. The party could even see the black ruby heart peeking out from her chest cavity.
Realizing that the treasure around Quetzel was likely a trap, the group spent hours examining the room and the dead sorceress to find a way out. Eventually, Lucia remembered a spell that would allow her to peer into the past, but she was unsure if she had the power to see back far enough for answers.
Calling on all the power at her disposal, the druidess used so much energy that the spell temporarily stole her sight, leaving her physically blind but her mind open to the past. Lucia saw visions of Quetzels final battle with her sires, and how the party could defeat her.
Warning her friends on how to disarm the cursed items, she instructed Kristov that no one should touch the ruby — that it was a possession trap set by Quetzel in the past. The crafty merchant took his hammer and pried the stone out of the demon-sorceress’ chest without touching it. Then with one deft swing of his hammer, he destroyed the gem.
Almost immediately the spire began to howel and quake. The throne room started coming apart at the seams, and Sturmberg ordered his friends through the doorway to the forest clearing they had entered from many days ago.
As the spire started to evaporate around them, the adventurers looked on as it faded away as if it was never there. The only proof of their quest were the mighty artifacts they had obtained and the pavonated silver treasure still in their pouches. While the team breathed a sigh of relief, several figures took note of momentous event from the shadows of the forest.
JesseFolk.com 