As the session began, it was early afternoon on the 39th day of the 1st Trigon of Elok’s Influence. The day was dark and heavily overcast as an icy wind blew a storm in from the northwest. Douglan and Kogaan were standing at the docks in Lyelion, waiting for Fariedah’s arrival. A commotion toward the east caught their attention. A dozen or so riders approached on horseback at full gallop. They were Vanguard.
Once the Vanguard arrived at the docks. The captain dismounted and walked up to the party. He introduced himself as Captain Fabian Coldtalon. Leader of the Vanguard outpost in this part of the Wilds. The captain explained that the Vanguard were aware that the Githyanki attacked the Stargazer. He told the party that their attack was the third in a few weeks. The Vanguard are not sure what the Githyanki are after, but they are concerned that it has something to do with the Dooms.
Shortly after the Vanguard departed, Fariedah arrived, and the Stargazer departed for Hofkiinseyuvonlok. Kogaan’s home village in the Salt Lands.
Arriving in Hofkiinseyuvonlok, the party was met by the entire village. Vuvahzen told Kogaan that Hahnuziiaak came to her in a dream and told her of Kogaan’s return. The village had prepared a big celebration, and everyone, including the skyship’s crew, enjoyed the festivities.
During the night, Vuvahzen took Kogaan aside and told him that Hahnuziiaak had told her where the party would need to go to meet with the ancient dragon. It was a difficult place to get to, so the decision was made to take the skyship into the area in the morning.
The next morning, the Stargazer headed out. As they approached the location, Captain Merfiz became concerned that approaching bad weather would make it too dangerous for the skyship to head down into the valley. Kogaan and Douglan departed the ship and began the descent on foot.
About halfway down, the two were hit by a blast of wind and dust that caused them to look away. As their vision cleared, they found they had been transported into a large cavern. Hahnuziiaak, the ancient gold dragon, stood before them. The dragon looked them over and transformed into a gold dragonborn. He motioned them to be seated and came to join them.
Hahnuziiaak explained that what they saw before them was only what was left of his life force: a ghost, if you will. In fact, he had passed from his body shortly after bringing the gold dragon egg to Kogaan’s village. An egg intended to be the vessel for his return to Emathan once the Sil allowed it. Hahnuziiaak had stopped his life force from passing into the Sil as he became aware that something was wrong. He immediately understood that this was why less and less dragon life force was returning to Emathan.
As he continued, Hahnuziiaak explained that it took much of his strength to remain in Emathan. It left him with little ability to communicate with others. He had been watching Kogaan since he decided to embark on the Yah Do Balaan. He had been trying to help Kogaan whenever possible.
Kogaan explained to Hahnuziiaak what had happened when they visited the Sil and how they were trying to find a way to remove the thing that was trying to possess Aak. After thinking briefly, Hahnuziiaak reminded them they once had a powerful magical iron flask that could capture beings not on their normal plane of existence. Since Aak is from the Sil and the entity that is trying to possess him is not, the iron flask should pull it out of Aak and capture it in the flask. Unfortunately, Lafferty took the iron flask with him when he crossed into the Void.
Hahnuziiaak suggested the party return to the Void Water cave in the Shatter Lands. There, the separation between Emathan and the Void is very thin. They should be able to contact Lafferty and hopefully get the iron flask from him.
As the party finished their conversation, a huge gust of wind and dust blasted the party again, causing them to cover their faces. When they looked back up, they were standing on a trail in sight of the village.
The party departed for Winterberry Wood immediately. Arriving at the megalith next to the Midnight Depths, the party headed into the forest and met with Jandr, who agreed to magically transport the party into the Shattered Lands. Arriving there, the party met up with Render, who agreed to take them to the Void Water cave.
Entering the cave, Douglan headed to the well as Kogaan and Fariedah prepared for a fight. Douglan touched the water in the well and spoke Lafferty’s name. Lafferty immediately appeared, looking quite disoriented. Douglan asked Lafferty for the iron flask, and he agreed to give it to them. Just as he produced it from his many pouches, he began to look around like he could see something the others could not. Lafferty tossed the flask to Douglan just as he disappeared. In Lafferty’s place appeared a Void Shadow who immediately attacked Douglan.
As soon as the Void Shadowed appeared, Lightning Snakes began to rise out of the water and attack Kogaan and Fariedah. The party had what they needed, so they turned their efforts to fighting their way toward the exit. Reaching the tunnel, the party departed the cave, leaving multiple Lightning Snakes and Void Shadow behind.
Render returned the party to the tree they needed to return to Winterberry Wood. Before they departed, Render told them to please ask Jandr to visit as the Forsaken had noticed that the area they had been confined to in the past was expanding. It appeared that the magical changes occurring in Emathan were allowing them to move further and further away from the Shattered Lands. The party promised that they would relay the news.