Overview

From a treacherous underground chasm, the party descends into Umbra-Kath, an ancient city corrupted by necromancy. A undead army marches at the behest of a fallen sorcerer and a dragon, Varethrax the Darkbind, whose dark magic gnaws at the city’s heart. The heroes must unravel the source of the blight, survive the city’s traps, and end the ritual that binds the dragon to undeath.

Setting

Grisly tunnels lead to the Silent City, once a beacon of trade and arcane learning. Now its spine is a necrotic lattice; towers lean, streets shadowed, and the dead crowd the avenues. The campaign spans the Chasm Gate, the Crowned Sepulcher (catacombs), the Cathedral of the Dying Star, and the Dragon’s Lair perched in the city’s collapsed keep. Realms beyond Umbra-Kath echo with factions that either aid or hinder the party.

Main Quest

Cleanse Umbra-Kath by severing the necromantic focus at the Heart of the City, disrupt the ritual sustaining Varethrax’s corruption, and either slay or banish the dragon. Only then can the army fall and the city’s living memory be restored.

Side Quest (Investigative Hook)

Investigate three Relics of Purity scattered through districts to weaken the dragon’s hold, free the last living mage of the city to aid in the sealing, and rescue captives to gain new allies among surviving guilds and scholars. Each relic provides a boon against necromancy and undead, and together they form a key to the Heart.

Central Events and Triggers

• A caravan map from Gristvale points toward the Crowned Sepulcher; undead patrols intensify as the ritual nears completion.


• An eclipse darkens the Cathedral of the Dying Star, accelerating the necromantic flow.


• In the Heart’s chamber, the party faces cultists, bone golems, and a corrupted magic lattice that must be disrupted.


• Ultimately, Varethrax awakens, defending the ritual’s core until the heroes sever the link between dragon and city.

Rewards & Outcomes

Loot includes relic-infused gear, the Lumen Shard circlet (casts Day/Night light with undead-dissonance effects), and a lasting alliance with Gristvale’s guilds. The party gains renown, access to Umbra-Kath’s surviving libraries, and the city’s gratitude if they preserve the living while quieting the dead.