Attributes
Featured NPCsUdin BoulderfallGraak CinderforceGalbrand LandusBrandon SwiftwaterSandra (Brightborn)Farmine (Doomguard)
Chapter Number7
TitleOnyx
Primary Locationtrayalon
Dm NotesThis chapter is an in-world planning session covering the Onyx interlude. The 09 source is the 'Interlude - The world expands' file which actually covers the NorthFork/Marcus story — that content was assigned to ch-08. The ch-09 source is the 07_Sections.md file (from 0109-07_Onyx) per the sequential mapping. Key point: Onyx is a reluctant antagonist — he does not want to enter the material plane, sends minions, and fears losing his own plane. This makes him a more nuanced threat than a conventional villain. The void stone endgame is now fully set up. Note: the 5 Nexus crystals mentioned in ch-12's source (collapsing the material plane) may be related to this chapter's Nexus rift setup.
Detailed NarrativeBack in Trayalon, the party uses the teleportation rod to return to Udin and must choose what to do about the Crown now in Swiftwater's possession. The Crown is drawing power from the Nexus through a rift at the waterfall, and Sorin's essence is gradually overwhelming Brandon Swiftwater. Onyx's motivations are laid bare: a reluctant deity who stays in his domain and sends out minions rather than entering the material plane, scarred by Terek's Folly and fearful of another god's plane falling. Onyx wants knowledge of how to place a piece of oneself into a relic as insurance against plane-death. Landus, Swiftwater champions, and Freeriver forces are all independently converging on the Crown — each for different reasons. Grak and the Blazing Hood Dwarves begin training the party in using the Blade of Worlds to access the Nexus, the only place where the void stone can be used to sever Sorin's binding. The Freeriver champions (Sandra Brightborn, Farmine the Doomguard) and a Swiftwater assault on Trayalon are potential flashpoints. The party must decide whether to try to destroy the Crown before Sorin fully dominates Brandon.
EventsCrown of Sorin confirmed to be pulling Nexus energy through a rift at the waterfallBrandon Swiftwater increasingly overwhelmed by Sorin's essenceOnyx's motivations fully revealed: fears plane-death, wants to preserve consciousness in a relicBlazing Hood Dwarves begin training party in Blade of Worlds / Nexus travelFreeriver champions Sandra and Farmine converge on Trayalon seeking the CrownLandus and Swiftwater champions are also independently pursuing the Crown
SummaryThe party returns to Trayalon following the Two Rivers crisis and grapples with what to do now that Swiftwater holds Sorin's Crown. The Blazing Hood Dwarves outline the path to destroy the Crown in the Nexus, while the nature of Onyx and the void stone are fully revealed. The party prepares for the final confrontation with escalating threats from Landus, Swiftwater (now Sorin-possessed Brandon), and Onyx's Doomguard.
Campaign Idfounding-of-trayalon-gallund-river-empire
Campaignfounding-of-trayalon-gallund-river-empire
Locationstrayalonnexus-adjacent
RewardsBlade of Worlds training (Nexus navigation ability)Full intelligence on Onyx's nature and motivationsStrategic clarity on all factions pursuing the Crown
Player CharactersFreespirit BastionDuncan SarkranaAdmond GalundSolomon