Chapter 7 - Secrets of the Soul Pillars

The PCs arrive in Cauldron to find it greatly changed. Powerful contingents of mercenaries patrol the streets, keeping order in the name of Lord Orbius Vhalanthru, the acting ruler of the city since the mayor's sudden absence. These mercenaries have succeeded at keeping order, but fear and suspicion grows with each passing week as the citizens gain no relief from the increased taxes. Rumor and speculation run wild through the city even as the mercenaries crack down viciously on any signs of trouble, ostensibly to prevent further riots.

Before the characters have a chance to react to these changes, they find themselves beset by the growing malignancy within the city. Three well-trained and well)equipped assassins, enhanced by powerful magic, strike at the PCs. Should the heroes survive, some quick detective work and divinatory magic leads them to the Cathedral of Wee Jas. After dealing with its defenders, the characters discover a strange artefact. This is a soulcage, built by the Cathedral's leaders in alliance with the Cagewrights, and it yields clear clues that some dangerous and powerful conspiracy is at work within the city. Further research leads the group deep beneath the city to an ancient ruin made by spell weavers, an ancient race that made this region their home before disappearing forever several centuries ago. The enigmatic creatures built a horrific underground complex dedicated to researching a strange combination of necromancy and cold magic.

The complex is a great repository of powerful lore, but it is filled with horrors of its own. A powerful Cagewright loremaster still resides in the complex along with his undead servants, continuing the research that first led the Cagewrights to the soulcages and the gate ritual that their construction enables. Worse, the final chamber is guarded by a dracolich named Vittriss Bale. Once the characters have defeated these deadly guardians, they can study the strange lore preserved by the spell weaver's magic and learn of the Cagewrights' terrible plans.