Saving the Prince

With the recovery of the Multum Ruptor scroll, the party has a few different options. If they choose to analyze the spell, they will discover the awful secrets that makes this spell so evil. If discovered, it is up to the party to decide how they want to handle this. If they decide to give the scroll to the Ruby Prince, he may be able to rid himself of the ancient pact that has affected his lineage for centuries. At the moment that the Prince uses the scroll for its intended purpose, however, each party member will immediately and permanently move one step toward evil on the good-evil axis. The Prince will be very appreciative and will fulfill his bargain with the party and prepare them for ascension to Mythic status. If the group refuses to give Khemet the scroll and/or destroys it or explains the nature of the scroll to Khemet and convinces him not to use it (Diplomacy DC 25 since he becomes Unfriendly when they suggest he not use the scroll), Khemet will be very disappointed, but will not despair. He works with the party to try to use the Scroll to lure the fiend who owns the pact to him and his powerful champions. Khemet is not aware that the pact owner is actually am Infernal Duke.

Options for handling the Scroll:

1. Party discovers secret but allows Khemet to use it anyway.
2. Party does not discover secret and allows Khemet to use it.
3. Party discovers secret, tries unsuccessfully to convince Khemet not to use it.
4. Party discovers secret and successfully convinces Khemet not to use it.

The party opted to not use the spell, but rather to confront the devil themselves.

Option #1 and #2 (Khemet uses the Multum Ruptor scroll)

Khemet is visually shaken and grateful for the party’s effort. He wants to hear all about their travels in the past and raptly listens to all the details (if they impart them). Reduce the dissuade Diplomacy DC by 5 if the party tells him the details of their journey. He is very anxious to use the Scroll and be rid of his curse, but his advisers have convinced him to wait two weeks until they have had a chance to use divinations to portend the outcome.

The party is invited to a special ceremony in two weeks at the Palace of the Forthbringer, after he and his advisors have had a chance to cast many divinations and communes to make sure that this scroll will do what it is supposed to do.

The Ceremony

During the ceremony, surrounded by his Guard and several others of high station, including High Priest of Pharasma lnebni Andebar (NG male human cleric of Pharasma 14), First Speaker Dahnakrist Phi (NG male human bard 3/commoner 6), and High Priestess of Nethys, Nefreti Clepati (N female human cleric of Nethys 7/wizard 3/mystic theurge 10), Khemet will invoke the Multum Ruptor scroll.

In the throne room of the Palace of the Forthbringer, where lines of ancient rulers of Osirion guided their civilization throughout the history of this region, a small group of distinguished advisors and representatives of different religious orders have gathered to witness a most remarkable magical ceremony. The Ruby Prince starts with a brief description of the folly of his ancestors in securing an infernal pact to grasp vast amounts of power to rule by might and magic. He also describes the unfortunate inheritance that subsequently cursed the entire line from Khemet I to himself. But he also praises the party for their diligent search to rid himself of this curse. Without going into too much detail, he tells the witnesses that the party, at great risk, found an ancient scroll that he is convinced will break the infernal pact once and for all. Without further ado, he unfurls the well-preserved parchment.

He rolls it out on a stone dais, inlaid and encircled with silvery runes and lines of hieroglyphs depicting ancient deities long forgotten to most people. He secures the corners of the scroll with small golden weights in the shape of a large key, a small mask made of gold and platinum, divided down the center, a golden disk in the shape of a tight spiral and a golden angelic ankh.

Slowly and deliberately, Khemet reads the words and invokes the ancient spell. After about a 5 minutes a ghostly humanoid shape rises from the scroll and hovers above it. Then over the next few minutes, small beams of light attach themselves from the ghostly apparition’s body to the corresponding parts of Khemet. After nearly 10 minutes, there is a web of lines of power connecting the forms and a smile begins to form on Khemet’s lips. “I can feel the evil leaving my body!”

Suddenly, the light around the room dims to a blood-red color and a 15’ tall black gateway opens in the air nearby. A tall fiend with huge bat wings sprouting from its back, two large curved horns protruding from its head and a massive barbed trident steps through the portal and you feel something malevolent like you have never felt before. He commands everyone nearby “On your knees mortals!”. With those words, he activates his Fear aura DC30 Will save. He stops and surveys the reactions to everyone around him. As he pauses, two more nightmares arrive through the gate, a pair of massive Pit Fiends, scowling and peering menacingly around the room.

Everyone else in the room, except for Nefreti and Khemet fall to their knees in terror.

Hutijin, Duke of Hell and lieutenant of Mephistopheles

How to Lure a Devil

If the party discovers the secrets of the Multum Ruptor scroll, they may be able to use it to force the pact owner’s hand. After studying the scroll, they will know that an innocent soul has been trapped within its dormant magic. Khemet and his priests believe that a True Resurrection spell would not bring the original victim back to life, but would free it to continue its journey to the afterlife. In addition, they think that although the scroll may fool a lesser fiend, the obfuscation power of the scroll would most likely not work against a more powerful devil.

If the party does not think of it, Khemet will suggest that they play dumb and use the scroll’s fallibility to bring the fiend to them, where they will be prepared. Since the bound soul is woven into the complete spell, he suggests that someone casts a true resurrection at the right moment to free it and deny it to the fiend as well. It will be up to the party to deal with the fiend and maybe they can trade its life for the pact.

The party may think of something more clever. But either way, at some point, the owner of the pact, Hutijin, Duke of Fell will appear and offer them the chance to free Khemet by inviting them to retrieve it from his guardians in the Nine Hells of Baator. He will tell them exactly where it resides and all they need to do is enter the place and retrieve it is they can. If they fail, however, they will become permanent residents of Hell and he will own their souls to amuse himself as he pleases.

Where Hutijin appears will dictate his effect on the party and his abilities. If they are foolish enough to summon him on his native plane, they will undoubtedly just get killed. If they meet him on a neutral plane such as Limbo, he will be powerful, but still offer the deal. If they summon him in Sothis, he will be at his most disadvantaged but still extremely powerful. His appearance in the city will cause mass panic and riots. Those within his presence will fall to their knees prone (described above) and his voice will carry through half of the city.

If the party decides to use the Scroll outside of the city, Khemet will suggest a set of old ruins that have already been thoroughly explored so not many people go there. Khemet will tell the group that the pact prevents him from engaging in combat directly (he has tried in his earlier days and is unable to affect any agents of the pact owner). If the party is unable to cast the True Resurrection scroll (Tark can do this with the normal penalties to casting a scroll of higher level than allowed – DC 18 caster level check and some way to increase Wis to 19+ e.g. Owl’s Wisdon spell) Khemet will assign a high level priest from the Temple of Abadar to cast it for them.

The party can plan this however they want and Khemet will be generous in his support, but the outcome will be the same – they will not be able to fight Hutijin in person, but must accept his challenge to free the Khemet line of souls for the infernal pact.

The Ruined Ceremony

Khemet and his close advisors suggest a site for the ritual about 20 miles west of Sothis called the Ruins of Khnum. IT has already been thoroughly explored by treasure seekers over the years and is a stop on several tourist excursions. The hieroglyphs are particularly interesting in that they depict many of the older gods of the region including Ra, Osiris, Set and Anubis.

The party can set up their ‘ambush’ however they would like – show them the overall map with likely locations highlighted. Khemet’s chief advisor in this endeavor makes a recommendation for an open area surrounded by easily defensible cover. Once the party is ready to start, someone will need to activate the Multum Ruptor scroll (CL17) and someone will need to be ready to activate the True Resurrection scroll as well. Have the two scroll casters make DC20 Arcana or Spellcraft checks to time the spells. If one misses by 5 or more, the timing is off and the bond soul is not released, but rather it is used as intended and the party’s alignment changes accordingly.

Slowly and deliberately, <party member> reads the words and invokes the ancient spell. After about a 5 minutes a ghostly humanoid shape rises from the scroll and hovers above it. Then over the next few minutes, small beams of light attach themselves from the ghostly apparition’s body to the corresponding parts of caster. After nearly 10 minutes, there is a web of lines of power connecting the forms and the time comes for the True Resurrection (have them both make roll) . If successful, the ghostly body forms into the semblance of a teenage boy dressed in plain gray robes and short cropped black hair. His gaunt face peers down at the ceremony, then smiles in joy as his body whisks away into the sky.

If not successful, the ghostly body will merely fade away as there is no pact to swap inside of the caster.

Suddenly, the sky above and the light around the area dims to a blood-red color and a 15’ tall black gateway erupts from the ground nearby. A tall fiend with huge bat wings sprouting from its back, two large curved horns protruding from its head and a massive barbed trident steps through the portal and you feel something malevolent like you have never felt before. He commands everyone nearby “On your knees mortals!”.

With those words, he activates his Fear aura DC30 Will save. He stops and surveys the reactions to everyone around him. Hutijin, Duke of Hell and lieutenant of Mephistopheles has arrived!

If it looks like the party is going to attack immediately, Hutijin will raise a hand and say “Stay your attacks, mortals. I am not here to defeat you – no that may indeed come to pass at a later date, but I know that which you seek and I am willing to tell you exactly where it is.”

“I am willing to make a bargain with you. I will not only tell you where the Ruby Prince’s infernal contract resides, but I will also facilitate an easy way for you to get to it. If you are able to defeat the guardians that stand in the way, his contract will be yours to do with as you wish.”

A wicked smile crosses his face. “Consider that – YOU will have possession and control of his immortal soul and can do with him as you wish. Of course, I know you would not be so… evil.” He then laughs and causes everyone to involuntarily shudder.

“If you are able to retrieve the Contract, I will leave this Hellgate open for you to return right here and our business will be concluded. However…” He leaves the word hanging. “If you should fail, then your souls will join Khemet’s in his formidable prison.”

Assuming that the party agrees to his terms, Hutijin will gesture to his portal which will change in perspective to a vast causeway with a white tower in the distance.

“I would suggest that you do not stray from this area unless you wish to explore more of Caina on your own and at the mercy of the other Lords.”

The Other Way

If the party attacks Hutijin, he will shake his head and say, “You have not thought this through, mortals. I do not carry my contracts with me. They are well guarded from simpletons like you. Very well, if you wish to find the contract of Khemet III, come visit me on Caina.” And he will step back through the portal.