Arc 2: The Gate and The Bridge

The party reached the bottom of the pit, revealing a small lake that harbored the source of the dangerous melody: a rusalka, surrounded by a few dozen undead creatures bearing the same flowers that were on the ones that attacked the party at The Wayside Inn.

To avoid a battle, the group bargained with the rusalka: the agreement was that an essence of her captured in a vial would travel with them further into The Garden so that she could lead them to the source that has been polluting her waters: The Architect. Any deviations from the path to the corruption, loss of visibility from the party, or the destruction of the vial will immediately result in the partnership and all will incur the rusalka’s wrath.

The group had reached an area that the rusalka referred to as “The Gate“, a widened room where a number of undead and followers of Myrkul resided. Through passable disguises and deceptive words, the party talked their way into a better position with the Myrkulites before attacking, gaining the upper hand in a matter of seconds. There, the group found some loot, skeletons, and a secret letter before moving deeper into The Garden.

Having reached “The Bridge“, a quick familiar reconnaissance revealed a horrifying sight: lying hundreds of feet below at the bottom of a deep canyon was a mass of undead creatures in all shapes, sizes, and danger levels, numbering into the tens of thousands and each adorned with the mysterious purple flowers. The group soon came face-to-face with none other than King Ghrul, now a champion for Myrkul, along with a tactical team composed of skilled hobgoblins and a wicked undead avian-type creature said to be harbingers of war. The battle turned out to be an arduous effort as the party was able to triumph at the cost of a couple members, with one returning to the Wall of the Faithless. This visit was different than their first encounter, as they witnessed King Ghrul arrive and be consumed into the Wall (but not before taking in the good word of Sarenrae), and soon enough the entire party was mentally pulled into the realm as a warning.

Everyone was able to return to the Material Plane as the group sought out a long rest, where much of the party was contacted during their watch by The Architect in an attempt to sway the heroes to join forces and fell the Myrkul worshippers that were controlling the entity. The offer to each was that the undead aboleth would give them knowledge and power beyond their wildest imagination if they broke The Architect out of their necromantic prison, but alas the bait wasn’t taken.

Conversation between the two necromites

N1: “Why are we here?“
N2: “We are following orders given to us.“
N1: “Yes but we are stuck here guarding the gate and not at the meeting. Instead we guard him and that, with the reward being what? To become aberrations like the rest of them, or to end up as fertilizer?“
N2: “We listen because they can give us even more power.“
N1: “You know what, you are so right“

Letter

(found in a hidden compartment at “The Gate“)
→ “Hold the fort while we meet with the other groups to join forces. DO NOT entertain the Architect, he will infect you. The Gardener is nearing their ritual, stay away as well