The Call of Atropus: Omens (Chapter 3)

Odom, Quatre, Crow, Relia Mallas, and Alm were summoned back to the Order of the Gauntlet’s regional base in Neverwinter. Melody was off conducting research into the historical usage of planar seals and binding magic. After being teleported to Neverwinter, the party met the halfling clerk from their previous mission, whom they noticed had adopted Quatre’s suggestion to use a corkboard instead of a clumsy calendar. The party spoke with Ostur Barrelbringer, Righteous Hand of the Order of the Gauntlet. Ostur informed the party that the Order was able to discern the location of the second seal, using the results of Odom’s Divination in the Plane of Shadow. Ostur presented the party with a map of the Windswept Depths of Pandemonium, and warned them extensively about the threats that the plane poses. Odom, Relia, and Alm had previously researched Pandemonium, using the library at the Hall of Vigilance. They learned that the winds of the Plane were maddeningly powerful, driving those who spend more than a few moments in the winds to complete insanity, and also deafening them permanently. Few gods choose to dwell in Pandemonium, but those that do hold a domain in the Plane are often evil. No deities claim power over the plane, and the tunnels of Pandemonium have no known origin. The deepest layer of Pandemonium, Agathion, is nearly impossible to access, and many deities choose to use the layer to contain threats and powerful artifacts. It is believed that unknown entities live in the infinite depths of the plane, never before seen by mortal or divine eyes. Ostur explained to the party that any wasted moment spent in the plane would be a moment closer to death. He also informed the party that the plane is essentially infinite universes of dark, lonely, iron-clad, lawless labyrinths full of cold and howling winds. Even though other Outer Planes are hotter, colder, or more dangerous at first glance, Pandemonium is arguably the most dangerous, for no other Plane of Existence is as mind-numbingly exhausting as Pandemonium. After preparing sets of reinforced earplugs, to protect their minds from the deafening winds, Odom created an arcane bond between his companions, so that they would be able to communicate telepathically. The party then headed into the Clerical chambers of the Order, and were granted a series of blessings to help them survive their journey. The symbol of Helm flared into existence on each of their arms. After this, they headed into a transportation chamber, where Ostur activated a one-way portal to the Astral Sea, from which they were told to find a Magenta portal, which would take them to the first layer of Pandemonium, Pandesmos. The party journeyed through the Astral Sea for what seemed to be several hours, before eventually coming across a series of color pools: Emerald Green, Dark Rust Red, and finally, Magenta. They discerned that the Emerald Green pool likely led to a plane of existence tied to nature and that the Rust Red portal likely led to a plane of existence that acted as a sort of cosmic prison, sometimes referred to as Tarterus. As they approached the Magenta color pool, they could hear the sound of whistling winds and howling shrieks. They braced themselves, and entered the portal. After entering the portal, they found themselves inside a strange, twisted city, which seemed to be built around the inside of an enormous, warped cavern. The city was built all around them, with no discernable “up” or “down.” Gravity seemed to function based simply on what part of the cavern they were nearest to. They checked the map that had been given to them, and learned that this city is often referred to as the Madhouse, an interplanar city that is arguably one of the most hospitable places in Pandemonium, but that isn’t saying much. Dread creatures, including shadow demons, illithids, and other beings, dwelled in the city, banished eternally to this plane of existence. Spirits lingered too, forced to remain in this place, denied the prospect of an afterlife. Demigods and other powerful entities that had made enemies with divine or primordial powers were often exiled into Pandemonium, where the winds slowly drove them to madness. After making their way through the twisted landscape of the city, they spoke with a lingering spirit, who informed them that the quickest way to the second layer, Cocytus, would be to head through the far gate of the city, and descend into the largest available tunnel, travelling until they reached the Great River. He also informed them that they should not, under any circumstances, speak to or look at the entity known as Isaac, which lived in Madhouse. He informed them that Isaac often presented as a normal human in a polished and clean-looking white suit. After hearing a voice enter their minds, encouraging them to turn around, the party quickly made their way towards the far gate, keeping their eyes low and their feet fast. With some help from Odom and Quatre, the party chose the centermost tunnel, learning that one of the tunnels to the right would be a poor choice, for it had all the markings of a Vampire Lord’s lair. They travelled through the central tunnel for some time, and Crow spotted a set of strange, long-limbed creatures, which seemed to be probing for light. Fortunately, the party did not have any active light sources, and as such were able to pass by unnoticed.