Post by David on Jun 25, 2013 14:29:19 GMT -5
The heroes (Garlok, Tandris, Anasta, Aerone, Pudic, Minosti, Mizzrie, and Skye) continue searching the records of Kerlenzen as Anasta assumes his form. Skye, meanwhile, waits in the hallways on guard. Who is going to mess with a salamander...? Other than a squad of clerics and orogs looking for trouble-makers, that is. When the lead cleric calls out to Skye and ask her what she's doing, Mizzrie comes out of the room but the priest's detect good reveals that things are not what they appear and the hall erupts into combat!
Mizzrie invokes darkness as the evil priests unleash many hold persons spells on her and the (giggling) salamander. She nearly quits laughing at a command to "surrender," but manages to resist. Mizzrie and Skye fall back and Aerone holds the door. Garlok flips into the darkness and starts cutting through the orogs while Skye pokes, squishes, and burns those who emerge from it. A silence takes out more enemy spells and Garlok drops his glowstone, so the rest of the heroes can now join the fight. The high priest tosses a pair of fireball beads which nearly kill Pudic, Tandris, and Minosti. Each lose several items and the telepath is nearly naked. He had summoned three shadows, but they're no match for the heroes than he is; he attempts to invisibly backstab the Prince and Garlok quickly hacks him down.
The group hurries off to the elevator after Skye burns away the evidence of the battle. On the next level, Mizzrie's find traps spell reveals a mechanical trap in the hallway, but Garlok's feeble thief skills trigger it instead of disable it. Nothing happens. The party hurries on to be attacked from behind by rutterkin. Poor Minosti takes the majority of the punishment before Aerone and Garlok help him out.
The group continues on and finds a large hallway with strange plaques on the wall with handprints. Anasta and Minosti try one and disappear. They materialize in a guard room controlled by a huge nabassu. The psi narrowly manages to momentarily throw the demon off-balance by erasing its short term memory, but Minosti's weapons are useless against it. That's when the rest of the heroes appear and help trounce the very powerful demon.
The group then walks into the throne room of Zenshur, the cambion marquis in charge of this level of Iuz' dungeons. With him is an alu-fiend and a pair of rutterkin. Anasta unleashes a psionic blast and take out both of the powerful demons. While down, Tandris sets to work probing his mind, bolstered by her potion of psi-enhancement. The rutterkin and alu-demon die quickly and Garlok "backstabs" the stunned cambion, sapping him to unconsciousness. Tandris learns that only the Blood Bailiff and the demon in charge of the third level know that password. Unfortunately, getting to the former requires crossing the city and the later is only accessible via a teleport while the heroes have less than an hour before the All Saints party arrives...!
Mizzrie comes up with a brilliant plan! The party has potions of polymorph and Skye has seen a bullette...the salamander quickly quaffs the magic and becomes a land-shark. Garlok then breaks the item spell on Timrith, who actually knows how to burrow. He gives Skye pointers and she then burrows through the wall of the elevator. Below are 16 vargouilles and seven shadows. Garlok grabs Aerone and Pudic and jumps...plummeting to the bottom of the shaft. Near the bottom, the Prince and his companions gently float to the ground, the demon-bats in pursuit. Aerone uses his magical ring to conjure a flame strike. The column of magical fire catches all the vargouille, leaving only the shadows which the heroes make short work of.
The group smashes their way into the third level. The first hallway has a magical trap, so Skye simply burrows around it. The next room is guarded and the heroes battle four more rutterkin. One tries to flee, but Garlok catches it. The heroes enter a large hallway with a cloud of darkness on one end. They explore further and find a nice study guarded by two trolls. Aerone and Pudic slaughter the demi-shadow trolls almost instantly and Garlok and Timrith's dragon senses allow them to find and attack the improved invisible illusionist within. He manages a phantasmal fireball which drops Tandris and Pudic before being beaten unconscious. The telepath then probes him with the last of her mental strength, even bolstered by Anasta's potion. Exvyn and Holmer and near!
Using the mental map from the illusionist, Skye burrows through the wall and into a cell. She is wearing a silence pendent whipped up by Aerone via his imbued spell ability. Garlok picks the lock and surprises one of the two trolls on the other side. The other is no match for Skye the burning salamander. The heroes quickly search the cells and discover Count Holmer of the Shield Lands as well as many other prisoners including Sir Jalmain Meredeth, paladin of Mitra from the world of Terrax, Lady Delfaena Alluria of Celene, an elven noble and cousin of the crown-princess, Souella of Celene, Moonbear, a shaman of the Wolf Nomads, Kendrel Hammend, high priest of Trithereon on Oerth plus Morraine Skeldern, a warrior from Crockport who was defeated as she attempted to defend the Foundation in Chendl from the vampiric assault, and Parrais Endulanth, a Velunese office and wizard, captured in battle against Iuz. There are also several other Flan barbarians and even a goblin. Unfortunately the minds of all are broken and their will, much less ability, to fight is gone. The wounds in their psyches will take much time to heal, beyond even what the greatest of spells can do...as a result, each are little more than zombies to lead out.
Garlok picks the lock and the group cross to the other side, where he picks the other door as well. Those two trolls die in less than ten seconds and the heroes find more prisoners in the cell block. Still, Duke Exvyn Lyonnain, General of the Armies of Furyondy and trusted adviser to both King Nathan and Arch-Duchess Damelia is in no shape to fight. In the other cells, the heroes locate, Lorden Darrowmill, a peacock of a thief who was in the wrong place at the wrong time, Carlenna Pentrast an illusionst who crossed spells with Merouac (the evil illusionist), Kirshar Endorell, an elven fighter/mage captured defending the elven city of Myrendelle, and Lerrell Shaereless, a half-dryad druid/mage from the Vesve. Again, there are others in the cells, but these are those who appear non-evil and non-savage.
Most of the party drink gulps of sweet water and then half potions of polymorph, assuming tiny forms. Mizzrie then plane shifts Aerone, Pudic, and Tandris, along with Carlenna, Lorden, Morraine, Parrais, and Sir Jalmain to Maneä. The group appears on the edge of a massive, mountainous caldera above the clouds. The drow priestess then has the heroes gather in her bag of holding while she plane shifts herself and Holmer, Exvyn, Delfaena, Kendrel, Moonbear, Kirshar, and Lerrell to Maneä, appearing deep in a jungle. Tandris makes mental contact between the two groups, contacting Anasta and then Mizzrie. The drow priestess then plane shifts her group back to Oerth, appearing just outside the Court of Pope Hazem, where she tells of the fate and location of the other heroes. The Pope dispatches another group of clerics to rescue that party, using the mental image provided through Tandris.
Using the resources of the Pope and her Church, Exvyn and Holmer's minds are somewhat put right, although some of the psychological scars remain. Much time will be needed before either man is ready to do much more than react, much less lead. The same is true for most of the rest of the prisoners as well. Nonetheless, the heroes' success is beyond anything expected! Not only did they save both men, but also managed to extricate ten other victims, several of whom are quite notable, such as Delfaena, Kendrel, and Moonbear. Plus, the rescue team arrived mere moments after the All Saints party departed, clearly before any of their mayhem could have played any roll...
On the 5th of December, Pope Hazem and King Nathan call the heroes together and with the blessing of Countess Katarina inducts Mizzrie, Aerone, Pudic, and Timrith into the Knights of the Hart. Further, they give Mizzrie the charge of Liaison between the Knights of the Hart and the Knights of the Wild March, as she is a member of both orders. For his part, Garlok is made a Knight Commander of the Hart and raised to the rank of Colonel of Furyondy. Minosti is granted the title of Royal Loremaster of Furyondy. Anasta and Helena are invested as the new headmasters of the Foundation in Chendl, tasked with training the psionists of the future. At the ceremony, the rulers also grant their boons to the All Saints party (we need to talk about this, but anyone who isn't already a Knight of the Hart will be made one if they have any interest!).
Immediately after the ceremony, Tandris asks to gather another party to go BACK to Dorakaa. "We left many people in those dungeons to rot. We never went back for them and they have no way to escape or defend themselves from the rampaging demons, much less get food or water! With the cloud gone, I should be able to teleport an itemized party to almost any point we previously reached..."
The King, Pope, Countess, and others, meanwhile, encourage any interested party members in attacking the lands of Iuz and carving out new lands for themselves. What a great opportunity to become nobles...?
Mission accomplished eeps for those on this final game: 33,000 xps each
Mission accomplished eeps for just the first game (this IS cumulative with the eeps above): 6,000 xps each
Experience for the first game: 6,480 xps each
Experience for the second game: 12,476 xps each
Mizzrie invokes darkness as the evil priests unleash many hold persons spells on her and the (giggling) salamander. She nearly quits laughing at a command to "surrender," but manages to resist. Mizzrie and Skye fall back and Aerone holds the door. Garlok flips into the darkness and starts cutting through the orogs while Skye pokes, squishes, and burns those who emerge from it. A silence takes out more enemy spells and Garlok drops his glowstone, so the rest of the heroes can now join the fight. The high priest tosses a pair of fireball beads which nearly kill Pudic, Tandris, and Minosti. Each lose several items and the telepath is nearly naked. He had summoned three shadows, but they're no match for the heroes than he is; he attempts to invisibly backstab the Prince and Garlok quickly hacks him down.
The group hurries off to the elevator after Skye burns away the evidence of the battle. On the next level, Mizzrie's find traps spell reveals a mechanical trap in the hallway, but Garlok's feeble thief skills trigger it instead of disable it. Nothing happens. The party hurries on to be attacked from behind by rutterkin. Poor Minosti takes the majority of the punishment before Aerone and Garlok help him out.
The group continues on and finds a large hallway with strange plaques on the wall with handprints. Anasta and Minosti try one and disappear. They materialize in a guard room controlled by a huge nabassu. The psi narrowly manages to momentarily throw the demon off-balance by erasing its short term memory, but Minosti's weapons are useless against it. That's when the rest of the heroes appear and help trounce the very powerful demon.
The group then walks into the throne room of Zenshur, the cambion marquis in charge of this level of Iuz' dungeons. With him is an alu-fiend and a pair of rutterkin. Anasta unleashes a psionic blast and take out both of the powerful demons. While down, Tandris sets to work probing his mind, bolstered by her potion of psi-enhancement. The rutterkin and alu-demon die quickly and Garlok "backstabs" the stunned cambion, sapping him to unconsciousness. Tandris learns that only the Blood Bailiff and the demon in charge of the third level know that password. Unfortunately, getting to the former requires crossing the city and the later is only accessible via a teleport while the heroes have less than an hour before the All Saints party arrives...!
Mizzrie comes up with a brilliant plan! The party has potions of polymorph and Skye has seen a bullette...the salamander quickly quaffs the magic and becomes a land-shark. Garlok then breaks the item spell on Timrith, who actually knows how to burrow. He gives Skye pointers and she then burrows through the wall of the elevator. Below are 16 vargouilles and seven shadows. Garlok grabs Aerone and Pudic and jumps...plummeting to the bottom of the shaft. Near the bottom, the Prince and his companions gently float to the ground, the demon-bats in pursuit. Aerone uses his magical ring to conjure a flame strike. The column of magical fire catches all the vargouille, leaving only the shadows which the heroes make short work of.
The group smashes their way into the third level. The first hallway has a magical trap, so Skye simply burrows around it. The next room is guarded and the heroes battle four more rutterkin. One tries to flee, but Garlok catches it. The heroes enter a large hallway with a cloud of darkness on one end. They explore further and find a nice study guarded by two trolls. Aerone and Pudic slaughter the demi-shadow trolls almost instantly and Garlok and Timrith's dragon senses allow them to find and attack the improved invisible illusionist within. He manages a phantasmal fireball which drops Tandris and Pudic before being beaten unconscious. The telepath then probes him with the last of her mental strength, even bolstered by Anasta's potion. Exvyn and Holmer and near!
Using the mental map from the illusionist, Skye burrows through the wall and into a cell. She is wearing a silence pendent whipped up by Aerone via his imbued spell ability. Garlok picks the lock and surprises one of the two trolls on the other side. The other is no match for Skye the burning salamander. The heroes quickly search the cells and discover Count Holmer of the Shield Lands as well as many other prisoners including Sir Jalmain Meredeth, paladin of Mitra from the world of Terrax, Lady Delfaena Alluria of Celene, an elven noble and cousin of the crown-princess, Souella of Celene, Moonbear, a shaman of the Wolf Nomads, Kendrel Hammend, high priest of Trithereon on Oerth plus Morraine Skeldern, a warrior from Crockport who was defeated as she attempted to defend the Foundation in Chendl from the vampiric assault, and Parrais Endulanth, a Velunese office and wizard, captured in battle against Iuz. There are also several other Flan barbarians and even a goblin. Unfortunately the minds of all are broken and their will, much less ability, to fight is gone. The wounds in their psyches will take much time to heal, beyond even what the greatest of spells can do...as a result, each are little more than zombies to lead out.
Garlok picks the lock and the group cross to the other side, where he picks the other door as well. Those two trolls die in less than ten seconds and the heroes find more prisoners in the cell block. Still, Duke Exvyn Lyonnain, General of the Armies of Furyondy and trusted adviser to both King Nathan and Arch-Duchess Damelia is in no shape to fight. In the other cells, the heroes locate, Lorden Darrowmill, a peacock of a thief who was in the wrong place at the wrong time, Carlenna Pentrast an illusionst who crossed spells with Merouac (the evil illusionist), Kirshar Endorell, an elven fighter/mage captured defending the elven city of Myrendelle, and Lerrell Shaereless, a half-dryad druid/mage from the Vesve. Again, there are others in the cells, but these are those who appear non-evil and non-savage.
Most of the party drink gulps of sweet water and then half potions of polymorph, assuming tiny forms. Mizzrie then plane shifts Aerone, Pudic, and Tandris, along with Carlenna, Lorden, Morraine, Parrais, and Sir Jalmain to Maneä. The group appears on the edge of a massive, mountainous caldera above the clouds. The drow priestess then has the heroes gather in her bag of holding while she plane shifts herself and Holmer, Exvyn, Delfaena, Kendrel, Moonbear, Kirshar, and Lerrell to Maneä, appearing deep in a jungle. Tandris makes mental contact between the two groups, contacting Anasta and then Mizzrie. The drow priestess then plane shifts her group back to Oerth, appearing just outside the Court of Pope Hazem, where she tells of the fate and location of the other heroes. The Pope dispatches another group of clerics to rescue that party, using the mental image provided through Tandris.
Using the resources of the Pope and her Church, Exvyn and Holmer's minds are somewhat put right, although some of the psychological scars remain. Much time will be needed before either man is ready to do much more than react, much less lead. The same is true for most of the rest of the prisoners as well. Nonetheless, the heroes' success is beyond anything expected! Not only did they save both men, but also managed to extricate ten other victims, several of whom are quite notable, such as Delfaena, Kendrel, and Moonbear. Plus, the rescue team arrived mere moments after the All Saints party departed, clearly before any of their mayhem could have played any roll...
On the 5th of December, Pope Hazem and King Nathan call the heroes together and with the blessing of Countess Katarina inducts Mizzrie, Aerone, Pudic, and Timrith into the Knights of the Hart. Further, they give Mizzrie the charge of Liaison between the Knights of the Hart and the Knights of the Wild March, as she is a member of both orders. For his part, Garlok is made a Knight Commander of the Hart and raised to the rank of Colonel of Furyondy. Minosti is granted the title of Royal Loremaster of Furyondy. Anasta and Helena are invested as the new headmasters of the Foundation in Chendl, tasked with training the psionists of the future. At the ceremony, the rulers also grant their boons to the All Saints party (we need to talk about this, but anyone who isn't already a Knight of the Hart will be made one if they have any interest!).
Immediately after the ceremony, Tandris asks to gather another party to go BACK to Dorakaa. "We left many people in those dungeons to rot. We never went back for them and they have no way to escape or defend themselves from the rampaging demons, much less get food or water! With the cloud gone, I should be able to teleport an itemized party to almost any point we previously reached..."
The King, Pope, Countess, and others, meanwhile, encourage any interested party members in attacking the lands of Iuz and carving out new lands for themselves. What a great opportunity to become nobles...?
Mission accomplished eeps for those on this final game: 33,000 xps each
Mission accomplished eeps for just the first game (this IS cumulative with the eeps above): 6,000 xps each
Experience for the first game: 6,480 xps each
Experience for the second game: 12,476 xps each
