The party of adventurers found themselves reunited in the cursed catacombs when [[Bordak]] and [[Grumthar]] mysteriously emerged from a mystical fog, wisping into existence before their companions. [[Grom]], who had been helping [[Syllin]] disarm traps to safely move their bear companion, initially threatened the returning [[Bordak]] with his knife, suspecting an illusion in this place of twisted reality. However, [[Bordak]]'s familiar presence convinced [[Grom]] of his authenticity, and they embraced as brothers-in-arms. The reunion brought relief to the party, who had been plagued by the catacombs' malevolent whispers and visions that distorted their memories and perceptions. [[Tarnik]] had been investigating the ancient tomb inscriptions, particularly those on [[Durgath]]'s sarcophagus that read "my blood before shame, my name before silence." In a desperate attempt to unlock the tomb's secrets, he cut his hand with his axe and let his blood drip onto the carved name. The blood glowed with a faint bluish aura, but nothing more occurred, leaving the mystery unsolved. Meanwhile, [[Cub]] had fallen under the catacombs' influence, appearing dazed and confused as dark energies affected his mind. When [[Grom]] tried to help [[Cub]] by grabbing and shaking him, he felt necrotic energy attempting to seep into his own body, though it withered away harmlessly. [[Cub]] spoke strange words - "wither, fear, decay" - while in his afflicted state, causing [[Grom]] to become paranoid and suspect this might not be the real [[Cub]]. [[Bordak]] intervened before [[Grom]] could act on his suspicions, and [[Cub]] eventually snapped out of his trance. In gratitude and concern, [[Cub]] used his healing abilities to restore [[Grom]]'s health, providing ten hit points and one temporary hit point. As the party explored the catacombs, both [[Cub]] and [[Grom]] encountered a spectral female orc figure with the lean build of a scout. She wore a rusted crescent fang clasp inlaid with green jasper and spoke of the "[[Gor’Karn#- **Hall of Remembrance|Hall of Remembrance]]," directing them to go there with pain evident in her ghostly eyes. The apparition pointed toward specific directions before vanishing, leaving cryptic guidance about their path forward. [[Bordak]]'s investigation revealed they needed to travel beyond the [[Gor’Karn#- **Hall of Remembrance**|Hall of Remembrance]] to reach the city's heart, where they would find [[Korgath|the Wraith Lord]] and the cursed stone they sought. [[Tarnik]] led the party back through the catacombs using his excellent sense of direction, discovering additional inscriptions along the way. The ancient texts spoke of honor and remembrance: "spill blood before acting dishonorably, sacrifice is preferable to disgrace" and "one's name and legacy must be spoken, remembered and honored, to be forgotten is to be truly dead." These words painted a picture of the ancient orcish culture that once thrived in this place. [[Grom]], growing increasingly paranoid from the catacombs' influence, warned [[Syllin]] to stay close to him, expressing distrust of both [[Tarnik]] and [[Cub]]'s strange behavior. When they reached the entrance where they had first entered the catacombs, the party found their exit blocked by a stone wall that hadn't been there before. [[Bordak]] investigated the barrier but found nothing, while [[Grom]] frantically pounded on the walls with his horns and fists, desperate to escape the cursed place. [[Tarnik]] checked where the wall met the floor with exceptional skill, rolling a natural twenty, but even his thorough examination revealed no secrets. It was [[Cub]] who finally discovered the solution, using enhanced intelligence magic to find a hidden door outline that had been concealed from normal sight. The spectral female orc appeared to [[Cub]] once more, pointing toward the hidden passage he had found. When activated, the secret door opened to reveal another section of the catacombs containing additional tombs with similar orcish inscriptions and wolf symbols. [[Bordak]]'s knowledge of history proved invaluable as he identified these symbols as belonging to the [[Gor’Karn#- **The Six Shields of Durgath ** Warriors bound in life and death to protect the city. Their spirits linger, twisted and tragic.| Six Shields]] of [[Durgath]], elite bodyguards who served under the last warchief of [[Gor’Karn]]. The party learned that [[Durgath]] had upheld ancestral ways and ritual honor, ultimately defying [[Korgath]] when the latter turned to forbidden necromancy in his desperate bid for power. As they explored deeper, the party discovered more defaced tombs and ancient ritual chambers that had been abandoned for thousands of years. [[Grom]] encountered the spectral figure again, this time learning she was connected to [[Grumthar]]'s past. When the spirit appeared to be staring at [[Grumthar]] and pointing at walls, [[Grumthar]]'s skin went pale with recognition. The figure was revealed to be scout, also called [[Sela]], someone very dear to [[Grumthar]] who had died in battle years ago. Her spectral form wore the same crescent fang clasp that matched a keepsake brooch [[Grumthar]] carried, confirming her identity and creating an emotional moment for the battle-hardened warrior. The spirit's guidance led them to discover stairs descending deeper into the catacombs, but [[Grom]] used his minotaur heritage and Labyrinthine Recall ability to determine this path led further underground rather than toward an exit. The party debated their next move, with some wanting to rest and recover while others pushed to continue their quest. [[Grumthar]], revealed to be at half health and injured, needed healing but tried to hide his condition. The spectral figure appeared to [[Grom]] one final time, asking whether he was there for the stone or to return, and telling him to finish what he started or leave. When the party returned to the original entrance, they discovered the stone wall had mysteriously opened, allowing them to escape the cursed catacombs at last. [[Grom]] celebrated their freedom by singing, tap dancing on the stone floor, and playing his viol in an exuberant display of relief. Outside the catacombs, [[Grom]] shared his encounters with the spectral figure with [[Grumthar]], and when [[Grumthar]] showed his matching keepsake brooch, the two warriors pressed their foreheads together and declared themselves brothers. [[Grom]] offered hope that [[Sela]] might still be alive, as his visions seemed to show living people rather than mere spirits. The party discussed their next destination - the heart of the city where they needed to find the cursed stone. However, confusion arose about whether they had truly completed the catacombs or needed to find the Hall of Remembrance first. [[Bordak]] argued they needed to go beyond the catacombs to reach the Hall of Remembrance, while [[Grom]] insisted they had finished their trials and should proceed directly to the city's center. The debate grew heated as the party struggled with exhaustion and the lingering effects of the catacombs' mental influence. Frustrated by the confusion and seeking divine guidance, [[Grom]] climbed to the roof of a thirty-foot tall ruined building to get a better view of the city. From this vantage point, he could see the crumbled remains of what had once been important structures, possibly including the main castle, though most lay in ruins with only their current section preserved. In a dramatic gesture, [[Grom]] tore off his leather armor and drew his father's minotaur dagger, a family heirloom from the [[Black Horns]] clan. He cut a long gash down the center of his chest, letting his blood flow as an offering while screaming out to [[Gonosh]], the god of the orcs, demanding answers and guidance. Instead of [[Gonosh]], the goddess [[Lysara, Lady of Shadows|Lysara]] appeared before [[Grom]] with a mocking laugh. She criticized the party's lack of intelligence and specifically called out [[Grom]] as being unworthy of her father's attention. [[Lysara, Lady of Shadows|Lysara]], daughter of [[Gonosh]], expressed particular respect for [[Bordak]]'s ideas despite calling him soft, noted [[Grumthar]]'s reckless aggression, and acknowledged [[Tarnik]]'s understanding of rituals and old ways. However, she declared [[Grom]] to be losing his mind and questioned whether a minotaur was even worthy to serve among orcs. When she suggested that gods shouldn't have to do everything for mortals who couldn't help themselves, [[Grom]] made a catastrophic mistake. In his frustration and pride, [[Grom]] insulted [[Lysara, Lady of Shadows|Lysara]] by calling her [[Gonosh]]'s "bastard daughter" as loudly as he could. The goddess's demeanor immediately changed to one of deadly rage, and combat seemed imminent. Though [[Grom]] quickly tried to recover by throwing himself to the ground and claiming to be Ganash's champion, his persuasion attempt failed despite his natural charisma. [[Lysara, Lady of Shadows|Lysara]]'s response was swift and devastating - she attacked him with a withering glare that required a wisdom save. [[Grom]] failed catastrophically, and the goddess's power dealt seventy-two points of necrotic damage, causing his body to shrivel and wither as his life force was drained away. [[Lysara, Lady of Shadows|Lysara]] kicked [[Grom]]'s withered form off the roof, but [[Bordak]] managed to catch him with an impressive athletic feat, preventing additional damage from the fall. The goddess warned that even gods were affected by the mist in this cursed place, though she retained lingering power from when this had been her territory. She threatened severe consequences if anyone else transgressed against her and demanded to know if the party would actually free the kingdom from the necromancer or continue "fucking around" with their quest. The situation exploded into chaos when [[Syllin]], enraged by seeing [[Grom]] nearly killed, fired her crossbow at the goddess. [[Cub]] heroically jumped in front of the bolt to protect Lisara, taking the hit himself. [[Tarnik]], horrified by this attack on their deity, struck [[Syllin]] with his axe for her transgression. [[Syllin]], wounded and defiant, pointed her crossbow at [[Bordak]] and declared herself "no one's slave" when the party tried to control her. The confrontation escalated as [[Syllin]] cast Zephyr Strike to enhance her movement and fled from the group, with [[Tarnik]] demanding she be collared or killed for attacking their god. While unconscious and near death, [[Grom]] experienced a profound vision in the darkness of the nine hells. He saw [[Syllin]] screaming in agony and learned from [[Aria, Goddess of Birth and Death|Aria]], a divine entity who controlled the domain of death for good souls, that Silen's soul was bound for damnation because of her sacrifice for him. [[Aria, Goddess of Birth and Death|Aria]] appeared in her true form as a black-haired woman and taught [[Grom]] about the balance between good and evil, the hierarchy of gods, and the consequences of his pride and recklessness. She explained that all mortals, even gods, must show respect to those above them in the cosmic order, and that [[Grom]]'s actions endangered not only himself but [[Syllin]]'s eternal soul. [[Aria, Goddess of Birth and Death|Aria]] revealed that [[Grom]] was a pawn in the gods' larger game, just as the gods themselves served higher powers. She warned him that his search for greatness through extremes would lead only to death and damnation, and that he needed to learn humility and use his silver tongue wisely rather than recklessly. The vision ended with [[Aria, Goddess of Birth and Death|Aria]] emphasizing that [[Grom]] must learn from his failures or be doomed to repeat them endlessly. When [[Grom]] acknowledged his mistakes and thanked her for the guidance, she disappeared, leaving him with the knowledge that [[Syllin]]'s fate depended on his ability to change. [[Tarnik]] revived [[Grom]] using his Lay on Hands ability, restoring five hit points and bringing him back to consciousness. The paladin sternly warned [[Grom]] that if he ever disrespected a god again, [[Tarnik]] would let them finish him rather than intervene. [[Grom]], his face sunken and weakened from the goddess's attack, apologized for his mistake and offered [[Tarnik]] a handshake in reconciliation. [[Tarnik]] helped him to his feet, and [[Grom]] gave a weak, sheepish bow to [[Bordak]] in acknowledgment of his leadership and wisdom. As the immediate crisis passed, [[Grumthar]] received his own mystical vision - a wisp of presence that felt like a hand on his shoulder and a familiar voice saying "Oh, is the reckless? I need help. I am stuck in the Mirror Vail." The voice vanished quickly, but [[Grumthar]] recognized it, adding another layer of mystery to their supernatural encounters. Meanwhile, [[Cub]] had pursued the fleeing [[Syllin]] and found her preparing her crossbow with fresh bolts, ready for another confrontation. The party stood at a crossroads, with their unity fractured, their healer fled, and their mission still incomplete, while the cursed city around them continued to test their resolve and sanity.