The Planar Portal ritual scroll opens a gateway, but little can be seen on the other side of the portal except for an unadorned stone platform. When the adventurers step through the portal, they see a striking female shadar-feai with elaborate robes, plaited silver hair, and tribal tattoos standing before them, atop a plain, stone platform. Mist appears all around them, except for the glowing portal beyond the woman, directly opposite from where they entered. The Raven Queen's symbol dangles from a chain around the woman's neck. She speaks in a soft voice.
"You come to Zvomarana as honorable supplicants, and by divine law you must pass the appointed tests before advancing on to Letherna. The monks here shall guide you through the first four of the Seven Veiled Gates of Fate along your road to destiny.
As you pass these tests, the Fate Pillars of Zvomarana will glow, visible only to you through the mists. You must come to me in the Inner Sanctuary, pierced by thorns' deathly visions, bathed in holy water, raven skull and holy writings in hand. Only then can I, Felidha, Holy Speaker of Zvomarana, open the fifth gate to you."
When the adventurers step through the second glowing portal, they arrive at the bottom of a stone staircase.
They find themselves on a pedestal in a runic circle. A cold wind and the smell of smoke, rot, and blood immediately greet them. They stand on the upper slopes of a frigid mountain. To the north, a wide stone stair leads up a slope from the terrace on which they stand. Grisly remains of carnage foul the stairway. Dark brambles choke the slope that edges the steps. Necropolis obelisks-one pristine and the other cracked, darkened, and missing its top-flank the end of the stairs and give way to a wide, paved plaza.
Beyond the obelisks stands a squat building. One side of the building is a tumbled, vine-covered ruin, while the other appears as if was built yesterday. Slightly luminous mist obscures the area surrounding the site.
Unfortunately, it seems that Orcus' minions have alred y invaded Zvomarana, since the ruins are swarming with Ghoulish hordes, led by a Deathpriest. Only after defeating them can the heroes proceed to investigate the shadowthorns.
As the shadowthorns pierce their flesh, a night-black raven appears before you. "Zvomarana has been invaded," the raven says in a singsong voice. "Help us, believer. The Raven Queen has need of you this day."
In the distance, the first Fate Pillar glows brightly through the mist, signifying success at this test. Paths become visible through the mist, leading to the first pillar, the second gate, and the third gate.
VILE WORKINGS
As the mist thins, the heroes spy another monumental temple ahead, ft is a jumbled ruin on the south end and structurally intact on the north end. The stone plaza is roughly paved, and a water
channel passes through its center. Great stone cisterns feed either end of the channel. Slightly luminous mist obscures the area surrounding the site. From inside the temple they hear the drone of disturbing chanting. A few spindly ghouls prowl through the rubble, their mouths steaming with their hunger. Within the southeastern cistern, something dark moves methodically through the water.
The creatures in the water are terrible undead nagas, led by a demonic enchanter. Only after defeating them can our heroes bathe in the holy waters. As the cool water calms and soothes them, the blessing of the Raven Queen comes upon them.
In the distance, the second Fate Pillar glows brightly through the mist, signifying success at this test. Paths become visible through the mist, leading to the second pillar, the third gate, and the fourth gate.
PROFANE STABLES
Another plaza with a monumental gate structure appears out of the mist. On the eastern side, the building is a tumbled ruin that adjoins a pristine section of unmarred white stone to the west. Much of this oddly shaped structure lacks a roof. Part of it is divided into cells, much like places in which monks might dwell. The cells have ceilings.
Our heroes hear the inhuman wails of someone or something obviously being tortured, punctuated by the booming, baritone laughter of something big inside the place. Suddenly, the wailing is cut short, and a limp, red humanoid body flies high into the air from the middle of the structure. It appears to be one of the emaciated ghouls they fought before.
Other than the cells and pillars, the most prominent features of the building are three depressions in the ground.
An immense creature stands in a courtyard just outside the archway. With a roar, it bursts through the wall, sending rubble flying as it hurtles toward the heroes.
After dealing with more undead monstrosities, the heroes find a Bloodcrystal Raven Skull in one of the depressions. As they lift the skull, a long, sorrowful note, not unlike a funeral dirge, echoes through the mists. In the distance, the third Fate Pillar glows brightly through the mist, signifying success at this test. Paths become visible through the mist, leading to the third pillar and the fourth gate.
LOST LIBRARY
Our Heroes emerge from the mist just outside a walled courtyard. Through the gate they see a long building with two smaller, lavish buildings flanking an area past its far end. Infront of the nearer structure are the stumps of two freshly hewn great trees. A fire is burning behind the long building, somewhere between the two smaller ones. They can see its scarlet light and thin smoke rising over the roof. Suddenly, from the door of the western smaller structure, a bunch of scrolls and hooks flies toward the firelight.
Spiderlike creatures made of sharp shards of black stone peek around the comers of the central building. Multiple eyes glow like twinkling blue stars in their misshapen heads.
The party investigates, to find a Death Giant burning sacred lore of the Raven Queen, helped by more Blackstar minions.
The heroes secure the libraries, and retrieve a few holy texts. In the distance, the fourth Fate Pillar glows brightly through the mist, signifying success at this test. Paths become visible through the mist, leading to the fourth pillar.
DEATH AND DESTINY
A lavishly carved archway with glowing sigils across its threshold pierces the wall that materializes out of the mist. Within is a hroad plaza around a low, stepped pyramid with four obelisks surrounded by a moat crossed by bridges. Atop the highest step rises a towering pillar of silver-blacfe crystal. Beyond that is a wall, into which is built an archway into a chamber with many narrow windows.Bat-winged, horned humanoids with flayed skin watch from atop three of the obelisks. A sleek black wyvern with a saddle perches on the wall above the far chamber. Near the crystal pillar
is the spirit of the female shadar-kai who greeted their arrival, a similarly clad bloody corpse at her feet. A dwarf in black plate stands near the spirit, threatening her.
This is none the less the leader of the Ebon Riders, Mauglurien, here to bring a final attack on the servants of the Raven Queen. Unfortunately for him, he's no match for our heroes.
After the adventurers defeat Mauglurien, Felidha confirms that the heroes have performed all the tasks necessary to continue on. The mist lifts, affording a view of vast tundra and Letherna in the distance. Felidha informs the adventurers that, once they repair the teleportation circle and release her from the magic circle, she can send them to the Raven Queen's Citadel.
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