Episode Three: The rain ends, but the storm begins

Present:
  Crinsea (Hannah)
  Euwin (Paul)
  Flux-Hand (Liam)
  Laeknir (Mr. Rheam)
  Ponty (Garrett)

Kobolds are dangerous in numbers but they are cowards at heart. When the lizardman shaman is felled by arcane bolts and sacred flames, the surviving kobolds bolt for safety. One flees to the kitchen, where it huddles with some of its fellows, terrified for its life.  Crimsea and Alma guard it while the other party members confront the other, who has gone to beg for protection in a room that has been converted into a makeshift shrine to a dragon god. The words "We serve that we may one day join you" are scrawled in Draconic on the wall. Sadly, the kobold's memory is jogged a little too hard by Ponty's frying pan and he falls unconscious. However, interrogation of the kobold in the kitchen reveals that the lizardman shaman took the soul crystals to his room beyond the shrine.  After Flux-Hand successfully cleared a small coffer of poison needles, the group found the stash of crystals...

They sky is growing light and the rain is letting up as the party returns to the River Snake Inn. Etta is preparing fresh bread for breakfast, and Mr. Druin, the halfling proprietor, is cleaning the damage from the previous night's fight.  The wizard Allatar, former valet to the Archmage Llewellyn, anxiously greets that party, telling them that Paramswarm has gone ahead to the ritual site to prepare the rites by which the  soul crystals will be bonded to their new hosts.  After a quick rest, the party sets out to meet their destiny.

They find that they are not the only ones interested in the ritual. Vile undead creatures have

crawled from the river. After disabling the bodyguard Pallando, they pinned the crippled Paramswarm to the very altar he was pallning to use in the ritual. Apparently, the party has arrived just in time.  The monstrosities look fierce, but they are felled swiftly by arrow, blade, and spell. 

After he is restored to health, Paramswarm then quickly prepares the ritual. One by one, he straps the heroes to the altar then plunges a jeweled dagger into their chests.  The wounds do not bleed. Rather, they leave gaping holes, into which he quickly inserts a colored crystal. The wounds then magically close. From the perspective of those receiving the crystals,they feel intense pain, followed by a sense of falling into oblivion.  Then...nothing.