====== Rough Road to the Dark Messiah ======
**Session Date**: 01/31/2026 \\
**Game Masters**: Rachel and Rew


===== Player Characters =====

  * **Baila**, Eladrin College of Dance bard (Tara)
  * **Borgoth**, Orcish Fighter (John)
  * **Bramble**, Elf Rogue (Kyleigh)
  * **Chartreuse**, Human Artificer (Nat)
  * **Gutboy**, Dwarven Barbarian (Tim S)
  * **Klarna**, Goliath Paladin (Hazel)
  * **Klast**, Peace Cleric (Jim W)
  * **Lee**, Half-Elf Horizon Walker Ranger (Hal)
  * **Lith**, Shadar-Kai Druid (Bridget)
  * **Rotheon**, Aasimar Clockwork Sorcerer (Ace)
  * **Vicurian**, Eladrin Bladesinger Wizard (Danny)
  * **Welbatsen**, Elf Barbarian / Fighter (Colin C)
  * **Yuna**, Human Cleric of Isva (Jenny Beth)


===== Named People and Places =====

  * The [[Dark Messiah]] - A titanic, monstrous facsimile of the shattered [[Demiurge]], Ao. This Frankenstein's monster of stolen Shadar-Kai settlements and necrotic Shadow Shards is animated by the volatile "Monster Energy" once associated with the warlock [[Caiel]]. It hurtles through the Aether toward the [[the_hospice_of_eilac|Hospice of Eliac]] and [[welmet|Welmet Station]], 
  * Ashriel, The Mourning Saint - Leader of the Shadowfell Fascists who wants the entire Aetherverse to bend to his will of “peace at any cost.” 
  * General Morvax Umbrahand - An ancient pre-Sundering Shadowfell Warlord who led the attack on the Feywild and later the Prime Material Plane. He is known for his wandering Tower of Death and the fact that he wielded the blade Vesperfang, created by the Raven Queen before she went mad.
  * Solon the Wretched - Another ancient pre-Sundering Shadowfell Warlord known for his floating throne and the deadly magic it projects. The Homeshard Heroes faced off against him just last month on Delphi. He believes that by collecting all of the “slivers” of the Demiurge they can make the Dark Messiah the primary Overgod.
  * General Karioch - An angry half-undead fascist who once ruled Brickhell, one of the Shadow Shards used to build the Dark Messiah
  * Minister Rakthar - A maniacal leader of Voidhaunt who has been turned nearly insane by the blasphemous libraries of his Shadow Shard now used to build the Dark Messiah
  * The Spawn of Chaddrus - Master of the Monster Energy and ultimate soul in control of the titanic Dark Messiah

===== Major Plot Points =====

  * The two parties of heroes were the only ones who were able to successfully make their way onto the Dark Messiah. The others have all been destroyed or waylaid by Fascist resistance. 
  * The Dark Messiah reaches for the Hospice of Eilac, pulling it toward its right fist using an onyx, crystaline obelisk that was once part of the city of Voidhaunt.
  * The heroes know that they must locate the source of the Monster Energy which they realize could very well just be Caiel. 
  * One group has crash-landed on the Cursed Forest of Umberhowl.
    * There, the 165 degree temperature macaws are opposed to the 160 degree macaws.
    * The group fights off vampires, skeletons, and skeletal horses
    * A tree grabs Lee
  * The other group manages to make it to the Obelisk on the right hand of the Dark Messiah. 
  * Yuna uses her newest creation to crack off a part of the Dark Messiah, saving the Hospice from the Destruction that befell the other shards. The Monster Energy that animates the Dark Messiah pulls them toward the ruins of what was once Flaygallows.
  * The group of heroes in the Cursed Forest are chased by hordes of Shadowfell monsters. 
  * Each time horde creatures die, traces of green energy flow through the air towards the Flaygallows.
  * Klast and Chartreuse receive a cryptic message from Caiel. He is being held in the [[Vault of Regret]], the same prison that once housed [[Ashriel]]. This is also clearly the source of the Monster Energy. 
  * The Homeshard Heroes attack the source of the Monster Energy. They find a soul furnace burning, guarded by Ashriel, Solon the Wicked, and a mysterious armored form who is the Spawn of Chaddrus. 
  * Despite Vicurean arriving, he isn't able to deliver area of effect spells to defeat the legions of undead and fascist hordes.
  * After Stacy the Cambion, Caiel's step mother arrives, the Spawn of Chaddrus reveals himself to be Damien and not Caiel. 
  * After giving up all that he stood for, all that he was, Ashriel still was not able to slay Roethon. The Assimar was victorious against their former father figure. 
  * Borgoth disintegrates Stacy the Cambion with his particle accelerator. 
  * Chartreuse managed to communicate with Caiel, breaking him out of the soul furnace. As control over the Monster Energy fades, the entire monstrosity begins to buckle and collapse. 
  * Keeka and Val make a cameo at the end of the adventure. As the Dark Messiah implodes and restructures, Keeka and Val swoop in to rescue the Homeshard Heroes and the prisoners of the Fascists. Callie, once separated by the destruction of the Hospice is now ascendant and can interact across the entire re-constituted plane of the Shadowfell.