#20 Necromancer’s Sanctum

Requirements: The Merchant Flees (Global) COMPLETE
Goal: Kill Jekserah
New Locations: #16 Mountain Pass (B-6), #18 Abandoned Sewers (C-14), #28 Outer Ritual Chamber (E-4)
Reward: 20 gold each, +2 reputation, +1 prosperity

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Introduction

One thing is for certain: you never would have found Jekserah’s lair without help. Deep in the Dagger Forest, you would have become hopelessly lost hours ago if not for the detailed directions you carry. After various twists and turns, you find yourself staring at an ancient mausoleum, hidden in the growth of the forest. A massive tree trunk mostly blocks the entryway. This building must have been built ages ago and was long forgotten by time.

You squeeze past the tree trunk into the dark halls of the tomb. You light a torch and wait silently, listening for sounds of inhabitants. It is faint, but to your left you hear a shuffling sound. You move closer and open a set of stone doors. Ahead of you, the torchlight catches shadows of the living dead. It looks like Jekserah is hard at work rebuilding her army.

Story Point 1

Jekserah has unfortunately had ample time to reanimate the corpses here, but they are no match for your skills. You knock down one last door to come face-to-face with the necromancer herself.

“I don’t know how you found me, but it matters little. You have mistakenly assumed that I ran because I was afraid to fight you. I was just holding out some hope that you would come to your senses in time. It is a pity that your minds cannot think beyond what is at the end of your blades. What corpses you have destroyed so far will now be replaced with your own.”

Conclusion

Jekserah collapses, the life fleeing her eyes. “I…” she whispers at you. “You have no idea what’s coming…” (#28)

With one more hack of your blade, you separate her head from her body and hastily leave the wretched place full of mangled corpses. You return the head to the Captain of the Guard and are paid handsomely for the bounty on her.

“If you are interested, I may have some more work for you,” he says grimly.

“First of all, we’ve had reports from northern scouts of sightings of a large flying creature. They’re afraid of dragons.” He shakes his head in annoyance. “I’d like you to head to the northern pass and investigate. (#16)

“Closer to home, however, there is some trouble brewing in the sewers below the Sinking Market. The wells in the area seem to be poisoned, and the sewers have become infested with snakes and sentient slimes, making further investigation difficult. I need you discover the source of the poison.” (#18)

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