User:OccidentalAvian/Angel of Irons conspiracy

The Angel of Irons conspiracy was a plot carried out by the Angel of Irons cult in 836 PD to release the eponymous entity they worshiped. The cambion leader of the cult, Obann devised the plan by charming or inducting key figures in the Dwendalian Empire and Kryn Dynasty, using the ongoing War of Ash and Light as a smokescreen. The plot was discovered and combated by the Mighty Nein, a member of whom, Yasha Nydoorin, was abducted and magically mind-controlled by Obann to carry out his plan. This plan involved releasing and magically dominating several supposedly un-killable champions of the Betrayer Gods and use them to break the shackles imprisoning the Angel of Irons. During this time, the Mighty Nein learned that the Angel of Irons was actually a false identity used by Tharizdun, the Chained Oblivion. Ultimately the cult was defeated by the Mighty Nein in a battle within the Chantry of the Dawn in Rexxentrum on 13 Thunsheer, 836 PD.

Formation of the cult
The cambion Obann once served the demon lord Graz'zt as his Master of Wills, but was "shamed and destroyed" after failing Graz'zt in some way. Obann however survived, and was contacted by Tharizdun in the guise of an entity called the Angel of Irons. This "Angel" gave Obann a new purpose, find the means to release the Angel from its prison. Obann never knew the true identity of the Angel of Irons, nor that his machinations were actually working towards releasing Tharizdun from beyond the Divine Gate.

The cult was formed around the year 795 PD, according to records kept by the Cobalt Soul. Several high-ranking individuals were members of the cult, but due to the nature of Obann's mind-control magic, it is unknown how many were willing servants of the cult, if any at all. Among these were Vence Nuthaleus, annex to Ludinus Da'leth of the Cerberus Assembly, Cardinal Respa of the Chantry of the Dawn, and Taskhand Adeen Tasithar of the Kryn Dynasty.

In Xhorhas in 834 PD, Obann discovered Yasha Nydoorin, an aasimar member of the Dolorav tribe whose celestial heritage allowed her to more easily return from death. Obann preyed upon Yasha's grief at the recent death of her wife Zuala, offering her a release from her pain. Yasha took his offer, and fell under his control for a time, engaging in destruction and various violent acts at Obann's behest, some of which she did not later recall. Yasha later broke free from Obann's influence months later after encountering a ruined temple of Kord.

Abyssal incursions
In 836 PD, several months after the War of Ash and Light began, the Angel of Irons cult began enacting their plan to release their "Angel of Irons". Vence Nuthaleus constructed rudimentary Abyssal Anchors, magical devices that over time create portals to the Abyss by degrading the veil between the Planes of Existence. These Anchors were hidden in cities across both sides of Wynandir, such as Zadash and Pride's Call in the Dwendalian Empire, and in Asarius and the stone giant fortress Braan in Xhorhas. The chaos sowed by these Abyssal incursions empowered Tharizdun as the god of destruction and would be used to distract from the cult's other plans, and the blame for their installation was placed at the opposite sides of the war seeking to sabotage each other.

During their travels in Xhorhas to rescue Yeza Brenatto from capture by the Kryn, the Mighty Nein encountered an Abyssal portal in Asarius from which several shoosuvas had emerged, which they defeated. Telling this to Lady Zethris Olios, she hired them to investigate ongoing restlessness and bad dreams in the city. The party discovered that they were caused by a succubus and incubus, which they chased into a cavern beneath a well where the portal was, defeating them alongside a minotaur-like demon knight named Otaath. Inside they found an Abyssal Anchor, which they brought to Lady Zethris as proof.

Shortly afterward, the Mighty Nein were hired by Professor Tuss Waccoh to remove a group of stone giants from the Deepriver Mining Camp, where after parleying with the giants' leader Soorna, they learned that the giants had been chased out of their home, the Braan by demons. With Soorna's help, the Nein cleared the Braan of several babaus, chasmes, and dybbuks, and found another Abyssal Anchor hidden in the fortress. From this, Beauregard began to notice a pattern and theorized that a third party was using the War of Ash and Light as a distraction for an invasion.

Ambush at the Overcrow Apothecary
Attached to the Abyssal Anchor found at the Braan was a scrap of blue cloth, which Jester used to Scry on it's owner. This Scry lead to a vision of Vence Nuthaleus speaking with Obann using a sending stone. Vence told him that he had acquired the emblem necessary to open the King's Cage, the temple used to imprison Torog's champion the Laughing Hand, and arranged to have it sent to Obann at the Overcrow Apothecary within two weeks. While the Nein didn't recognize Vence or know who he was speaking to, they discovered that the Overcrow was within Rosohna and made plans to be there at the handoff.

On 8 Horisal, 836 PD, the Mighty Nein staked out the Overcrow Apothecary from an abandoned house, expecting to see Vence (or "Blondie", as they've been calling him). In the morning, Obann arrived in disguise as a drow, accompanied by a well armed hobgoblin. Nott sneaked inside while invisible, only barely avoiding being caught by the hobgoblin guard. A dragonborn arrived on horseback, having been hired by Vence out of Talonstadt to deliver the emblem, and made the handoff to Obann. As the dragonborn left, Nott Messaged Caleb to stop her, causing her invisibility to end and a fight to break out.