Chapter Five: Death in Saragost, the Aftermath

Returning to the Node with Alev's inert corpse, the heroes hope desperately the power of the stars can overcome the evil cleric's necromancy. As Alev is placed in the center of the Node the nearly invisible runes on the walls of the place begin to glow with an unearthly white light. Alev's bones grow muscle and sinew, and flesh forms around his corpse. He gasps his first breath after dying and rouses bleary-eyed to the relief of the rest of the Starborn.

Examining the goods captured from the Barrowghast the party finds that the coffer is filled with rows of gems in a case made for the purpose. There are hundreds of small garnets, a double handful of larger garnets and four massive black sapphires. The total value of the gems is about 20,000 gold pieces.

Additionally, there is a great black pearl that radiates magic and evil. Anyone holding it feels their life force draining away (gain one negative level while holding the gem). The pearl seems to swallow all of the light around it and looks like a void in space.

Finally, the heroes look over the notes and diaries captured from the evil priestess of She. It seems that the drow had quite a bit planned for Saragost. The heroes already knew of the plots to destroy the main gate with an alchemical bomb, to poison the main water supplies and the plan to steal the Storm Dreamer Stone. What they were not aware of is the importance of the Starborn Node to the drow. According to the notes the drow's primary purpose in attacking Chillhame and Saragost is to capture and corrupt the Starborn Nodes; to make them a focus of the Dark and a haven for the Host. The drow have been seeking desperately in the sewers for the Node, but have not yet found it. The black pearl is some artifact . . . a piece of the fallen hand of Brith that later became She . . . with the power to corrupt the Starborn Nodes.

There are forged documents naming the bearers nobles from the Court of Caldrazza. It appears that the drow have used disguise self and other magic to move about the city in the guise of nobles from Caldrazza. Finally, in the larger chest are several large bags that appear to be flour. The bags actually contain an ingestive poison . . . no doubt the poison intended for Saragost's water supply.

Having thwarted the drow plans for the nonce, the heroes make their way to the Council to advise them of the morning's events. On learning of the power these drow have at their disposal, Lady Arigaine, Sir Talos Greykeep (the new Commander of the Guard) and several wizards and warriors set out for the Barrowghast to finish off the drow commanders. The heroes learn later that the drow were killed in a fierce battle on board the ship. Several warriors were killed, but the drow fell to the combined magic and steel of the Council's greatest fighters.

Further research into the drow documents reveals that the Duergar army is to attack at dusk on April 2. That leaves the heroes and the city two days to make final preparations for the overwhelming force that is marching down from the north . . .

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