The Obelisk Of Zar

Hex 14.23. The weathered stone obelisk pulses with old world magic. Even the most persistent skeptic feels the hairs on their neck stand up in chilling wonderment. The obelisk itself is unadorned by any symbols or runes, having been eroded away by the passage of time.

The obelisk sits at the center of a circular cloister of similar, yet haphazardly arranged stones piled into low walls. Dark green vines grow everywhere, weaving through and over the walls like skinny green fingers.

what's going on

• A Felmog fiend called Vaddarak the Witch-Knight has been occupying the obelisk's cloister for weeks with a

VADDARAK THE WITCH-KNIGHT

A hundred and thirty year old, dying Felmog Outrider turned SORCERER (L9-C), Vaddarak was excommunicated from the Order of the Black Candle by their mighty leader Count Khasadar after being deemed “a mad obsessor.” Vaddarak delved too deeply into the foul arts of necromancy searching for a way to cheat death. Following the rumors surrounding the power of the Obelisk, he has made Zar his temporary home, whilst his coven of servants work to decipher the stone's power.

• Traits: Vicious, decrepit, constantly wheezes.
• Motivation: Achieve immortality at all costs.

XIRMASHA AND VADDARAK'S COVEN

A group of loyal Felmog cultists who serve their master in all things. Among them is Xirmasha (WITCH L6-C) who has the most important task of all: watch over Vaddarak's imminent death and capture his spirit before it can escape. The coven consists of four other WITCHES (L3-B), and five CULTISTS (L2-G).

• Traits: Stoic, extremely loyal, merciless.
• Motivation: Prevent anyone from disrupting Vaddarak's plans.

quests

THE RESURRECTION

Vaddarak and his retinue have been stationed at the Obelisk for weeks now. Through endless experimentation and sacrifices, they are finally close to discovering how to activate the Obelisk of Zar for Vaddarak's imminent death and resurrection. Soon, the Witch-Knight will wreak havoc upon the world for another lifetime.

• The Obelisk has the power to return the dead to life by reuniting a spirit with the body, but only once and at a price of -1 Vitality to everyone present.
• A set of Magic stone tablets can activate the power of the Obelisk, but are lost in the Coral Forest retinue of WITCHES, CULTISTS, and servants.
• TROGGLES, fearful of the Felmog interlopers, have kept their distance but surround the site waiting for an opportunity to present itself.
• Vaddarak will stop at nothing to activate the obelisk. He believes it can resurrect him once he dies.

rumors

• Zar is a place of power that can return the dead to life by reuniting a spirit with the body.
• Only the worthy can unlock the power of the obelisk.
• The local TROGGLES watch over the obelisk fiercely. (p306). Otherwise, only the local TROGGLES of the Highwilds know an alternative method, which they only share if Vaddarak and his coven (or the Cult of Ekh in the Highwilds p44) are driven out and defeated.
• Reagents to activate the stone without the tablets: ELDER ROOT, BLINKING CAVE-INCHER ICHOR, blood from four people involved in the ritual.
• HEROIC TITLE ACHIEVEMENT: Defeat Vaddarak the Witch-Knight.
• Woe of the Witch-Knight•. Evil WITCHES and SORCERERS suffer -1 Defense in the PC's presence.