Shades of War

Fallen Shadows

Kiris, Adikia, Arc, Kirren, Leneia, Michaela, Roldan and Elix teleport to Shadowfell. Kiris sees the walled castle from his vision.
The party spots shadows on the ground. As the party approach the castle gatehouse, the shadows gain volume and turn to Shadow Knights. The Shadow Knights overwhelm the party.
The party run towards the gatehouse. Kiris persuades the people inside to open the gate for them by telling him that he is the son of Kristofer Acquermann.
The party enter the gatehouse and escape the Shadow Knights’ assault. They meet seven battle-worn Knights of the Wayraven who are dejected and tired.
The Wayravens’ captain introduces himself as Rudyard.Rudyard remembers Kirren and reminisces a time before the war.
Rudyard sends a knight to fetch Kristofer Acquermann. He explains that the Knights of the Wayraven have been defending the Darkcastle Mound for twelve years. Kristofer Acquermann has led the defense.
Rudyard learns that Korvin has died. He alludes that their enemy’s death changes Kristofer’s plans. Rudyard sends someone to get Kristofer.
The party rests as they wait for Kristofer.

Kristofer enters the gatehouse’s side entrance and stares at Kiris and Kirren. Kristofer acts paranoid, and accuses that the party’s presence is one of Korvin’s many tricks.
Before the party is able to explain themselves, the shadows assault the gatehouse. A Shadow Golem rises from the ground and attacks Kristofer, Kirren, Adikia and Kiris.
The party, with help from Kirren and Kristofer, defeat the Shadow Golem.

After witnessing both Kirren’s and Kiris’s powers, Kristofer finally trusts his children. He apologizes to the two and invites Kirren, Kiris, Arc and Adikia to the castle.

“Forgive me if I was paranoid earlier. Years of war changed me.”

The party explain that they know that Kristofer is in Shadowfell, and that their plan was to lift the siege on the castle.
As they are walking towards the castle, Kristofer tells the party that Korvin, who was once banished, ended in Shadowfell. Kristofer and the Wayravens defeat Korvin, and Kristofer decided to reside in Darkcastle Mound.
Kristofer reveals his plan to the party. He tells them that his plan was to bait Korvin and The Cult of Miledu in sieging Darkcastle Mound.
Kristofer explains that he halted communication with Midkip in order to preserve their forces and protect their kin.
Kristofer explains that his plan works because The Cult of Miledu needs to remove Miledu’s bindings, one of which is sealed within the castle.
Because of what the party told Kristofer, Kristofer tells them that the status quo has changed, and his plan must adapt to it.
Arc notices a faint, emerald-hued light emanating from Kristofer’s locket.

The party, Kirren and Kristofer arrive at the Darkcastle Mound. Kristofer leads the party to the portal sanctum.
The party enter an empty room save for a pedestal containing the destroyed remains of a spherical artifact. Adikia immediately recognizes that it is the Magus Labyrinthus, which they saw from Splix’s magic.
Kristofer confesses that in order to make his plan foolproof, Kristofer destroyed the Magus Labyrinthus. This drastic action makes the binding permanent on the castle’s end. But the artifact also enables the castle’s portal sanctum; this means that Kristofer has no way to teleport out of Shadowfell. He hides this fact from the Wayravens in order to not weaken their morale.
Kristofer shows his locket, revealing an Ymerald shard that was once part of the Magus Labyrinthus. Adikia asks Kristofer if he knows where the rest of their party is located considering that the location of the Magus Labyrinthus should have been their destination. Kristofer claims that he knows nothing about where their party are right now.
Kristofer asks if the party knows a way out of Shadowfell, but learns that the party depended on him to get them out of Shadowfell.
Adikia asks if Kristofer knows about the other places that bind Miledu. Kristofer knows about the following: Grand Cathedral, Temple of Akenatun and Matunda, Temple of The Sealed Path, and the one in Darkcastle Mound’s portal sanctum.