Episode 23 - The Portal

Where we last left off, the party was mysteriously summoned by a familiar blue portal, reminiscent of the one in the cathedral upon arriving in Rybalka.

The party found themselves in a chamber dominated by eight portals.  They were greeted by Makinnga Gallion, a Drow necromancer, and Selyne, a vampire drow.  Makinnga revealed that her mother, Matron Maelora of House Gallion, had become obsessed with immortality, using a crystal called the Vidrefacte to drain life essence. Maelora’s actions, including a costly siege on the dwarven city of Hammerhand and a ritual to cause a solar eclipse, threatened not only the surface world but also the stability of Drow society.

Through the party's action, Makinnga, by mutual benefit, tasked the party with restoring the Vidrefacte using the Moonshard crystal she provided. The goal was to cause the Vidre to reclaim the crystal, ending Maelora’s life-draining activities and restoring the sun, Scomatch.

She instructed them to reach the Underdark through the ruins of Krelgar Keep, travel along the Long Road to the dwarven city of Hammerhand, then take the Back Road to Holoth. She recommended infiltrating Tolgorith Tower through the Spider Goddess Temple for a stealthy approach.

She warned the party of the dangers involved, emphasizing Maelora’s ruthless nature and the consequences of failure, while simultaneously making it clear that she would deny this meeting if the party were to fail.

With a final warning about the guardians that would activate soon, Makinnga and Selyne left through a portal behind them, leaving the party to make their final preparations and determine their next move.