Welcome to Patron DnD, where Platinum-level patrons and I get together to play Dungeons & Dragons via Discord and Roll20. Patrons also get exclusive access to private videos, custom 5e content, and participate in monthly DM Roundtables.

This Patron DnD Campaign will feature a rotating cast of players, depending on signups, availability, and earned Platinum Points.

Music by Kevin MacLeod.
Token art by Jimmy McClure.
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Ten years ago, the Ghoul Imperium of the Underworld and the vampires of Morgau marched into Krakova and conquered the kingdom entirely, establishing the Greater Duchy of Morgau and expanding the borders of the Blood Kingdom.

The undead occupation has been kept in check by resistance from the Court-in-Exile, as well as opportunistic reaver dwarves who sailed across the Nieder Straits.

But the hidden machinations of the ghouls swirl beneath the surface. Rumors abound of an even more sinister plot that threatens not just one kingdom, but the entire world of Midgard.

Empire of the Ghouls is designed by Richard Green, and published by Kobold Press. It takes place in Kobold Press’ fantasy world of Midgard.

Chapter 6: The Pure City of Vandekhul
Episode 7: The Bone Cathedral p2

Active Party [Finale — no player limit!]:
Bahn Mi, level 12 kobold Bard College of Whispers
Ry, level 12 shadow fey Black Powder Sorcerer
Alaric, level 12 dhampir Death Domain Cleric/Bard
Millie, level 12 human Way of the Kensei Monk
Zaberi, level 12 human Battle Master Fighter/Wizard
I/O, level 12 gearforged Circle of the Moon Druid/Cleric
Kovac, level 12 ratfolk Dawn Blade Rogue
Torben, level 12 bearfolk Ancestral Guardian Barbarian/Fighter
Davros, level 12 dwarf Geomancer Wizard

Bahn, Alaric, Millie, and Zaberi unlock the door at the end of the hall, stepping onto a balcony overlooking the inner sanctum of the Bone Cathedral.

They finally come face-to-face with Duke Morreto Lichmark, who’s overlooking the ritual — and calling for it to hurry up, knowing the heroes are hot on his trail.

Below, High Priest Radomir Marrowblight ushers in Archduke Avgost into a cage attached to a winch and chain. The cage is pulled and lowered into a pit of hissing purple worm hatchlings. Marrowblight calls for this sacrifice to Vardesain. The blood of a Krakovan noble, in return for the secret to making more darakhul.

The party is facing off against these major enemies, plus a dozen armored guards and acolytes.

The locket containing the Holy Robes of Sister Adelind begins to glow. It opens, and the fabric leaps out and bursts into flame as a voice whispers to Alaric: He must not give into rage or despair. But become an avenging angel for Krakova.

Radiant wings sprout from his back. The burning fabric then forms a large portal, and down leap the rest of their friends and allies, ready to help save the day!

The shouting Duke attacks the biggest one he can find, Torben. The bearfolk takes the blows and protects his allies with his ancestral guardians, keeping the Duke occupied while Bahn and Zaberi cut through the guards, and shake-off the paralytic claws of the ghouls.

Ry helps keep the High Priest busy by summoning his hell hound, followed by a fire elemental!

Alaric flies down to the middle of the room and unleashes a powerful command undead spell, ordering them to grovel. The critical maneuver gives the party enough time to get into position, including Davros levitating the cage and Millie racing down to free Avgost.

Alaric is suddenly stunned and knocked down by Marrowblight’s hunger curse, and Bahn and Zaberi are nearly killed by ferocious ghoul claws and teeth. But I/O heals and provides powerful AoE buffs as the party beings to rally.

Torben takes out the Duke with Grimslade’s blade, while Kovac fires a ghoul-slaying arrow right at Radomir’s heart, destroying the high priest.

With the two villains destroyed, the Emperor of the Ghouls, Nicoforus, makes his dramatic entrance, sweeping into the room with three dozen infantry darakhul. The surviving members of Marrowblight’s and Lichmark’s groups kneel before the Dread Lord.

The Emperor, as teased by Marius, takes credit for thwarting this seditious act, and claims comeuppance for the two instigators in bringing the wrath of these surface adventurers. He allows the party to take the captive and leave the city and the Imperium — never to return.

He sniffs out that Bahn has been infected with darakhul fever, however, and offers to let the kobold stay. He even offers him a lordship, as he’s proven a wily statesman.

To everyone’s shock (or maybe not!), Bahn is ready to accept the offer. But I/O and Alaric talk him out of it. Plus, they point out, there’s no guarantee he would survive the transformation, or end up as a full darakhul with his personality intact.

The one person they can’t convince is Millie, though she waits until the party boards a ship summoned by Alaric. She bids the party farewell, opting to stay in the Underworld and continue to disrupt the Imperium to avenge her former party.

The others return to the surface after a long time away, knowing the threat of the Ghoul Imperium from a rogue faction has been abated. We’ll see where everyone ends up in our Epilogue session!

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