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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Mahiro Satsu" data-source="post: 304818" data-attributes="member: 4970">Episode X Ooltugula’s Portal part 6from the journal of Velm TrueforgerWithin was the last chamber, its walls covered with green and scaly mosaics, pillars like trees rising to a ceiling covered with bas relief branches, and carvings of hideous snakes and serpent-like creatures. A foul stench, like spoiled incense, drifted in the air. Treasures and objects of art were strewn all about. Directly across the room stood a huge looking glass.Cara crept across the silent chamber and peered into the mirror. The surface rippled like water. Instead of her own reflection, she saw a huge chamber. A giant marilith demon, each of her six arms bound by a bronze manacle and heavy chain, glowered at Cara in smoldering rage. It was Meerschaulk herself, waiting for the freedom the Sons of the Coil had promised long ago. Freedom that needed our blood to baptize.In a burst of smoke and stinking brimstone, a hideous creature appeared in our midst, surrounded by mirror images of itself. It had the squawking head of a twisted and infernal vulture, massive black wings, and puckered skin that gave off a cloud of abyssal spores. Van and I launched into combat, while Cara crept close enough to bestow healing magics on us if we needed them.Though the spores hooked into our skin and grew, bringing blinding pain, we fought as scions of Selûne should: with skill and valor. For the first time in our short careers, the enemy had no good luck, and blow after blow from its hooked claws and beak went astray, while nearly every one of ours struck true. The demon sank to the floor and dissolved into stinking greenish smoke, and was gone.Beyond the mirror, Meerschaulk’s face contorted in rage. She stared at each of us, never to forget the faces of those who denied her freedom. Van strode forward and drew out the snake-killing rapier he had dubbed Ssslasher, and swung it in one titanic blow against the face of the magic portal shaped like a looking glass.KA-CRASHHHH!!! Van was thrown from his feet. The surface of the mirror exploded in jagged cracks and fell smashed, and all that was left of Ssslasher was a burned and melted stub. The cry of Meerschaulk faded away into silence.Then the room began to tremble. Cracks ran across the floor. Scooping up what items of worth we could, we fled through the marble portal.Out in the limestone cavern, great chunks of rock were falling from the ceiling to smash into the floor below. Barely keeping our feet, we scaled the other side of the bridge and I hefted the dead weight of Saeita’s petrified form.“I’ve got her, “ I cried. “Go!”Somehow we climbed the staircase to the top of the ziggurat, and as we descended toward the longboat a great lurch went through the steps. We all tumbled to the bottom, breaking off one of Saeita’s stony arms. No time to lament. Cara snatched up the arm and we all piled into the longboat, just in time to witness the ziggurat sinking, sinking, and abruptly plunging into the limestone cavern below with a roar of stone and water.“Plant the poles!” Van shouted. The water filling Glamerdrung’s lair swirled into a momentary vortex as it followed the ziggurat down into the depths, sealing forever the portal to Meerschaulk’s other-dimensional prison. We managed to hold back the longboat as the water level crept steadily down the cavern walls.Finally the boat came to rest upon the floor of the cavern, propped unsteadily upon tons and tons of treasure and coin. I looked upon the riches of Aerunedar, the statue in the shape of Saeita, Van and Cara looking pale and stricken. I thought of Bronn and Roman’s souls speeding toward their rest and wished them well.And I thanked Clangeddin for guiding us. And Selûne too.After two hundred years, Aerunedar was open to the dwarves again.*** *** ***Of course, we returned to Eveningstar with what coin and treasure we could manage, and it amounted to quite a fortune. Not that you’re interested in hearing such boasts. It was enough, at least, to allow me to build a small keep where the southeast gatehouse enters Aerunedar. Enough to establish a school of wizardry in Bronn’s honor and memory: the Spellforge. But first, I’ll lay Bronn Spellforger to rest in the Crystal caverns near our home at Thunderstone, as he wished. He is with Mystra now. Once my people have restored Saeita Neví, I’ll see that she returns to you.And as for me? There is still work for the dwarves who would see Aerunedar rise to its former glory, and no living dwarf has seen more of that place than me. So I will return to Eveningstar, and I will join my Uncle Dorn and his Doomslayers for another trek into the reaches below.To all you Champions of Selûne, I wish you luck. The rest of the world awaits your swords, and your will, and your wisdom. Do not forsake their need. The Eyes of the Moon and the Blade of the Axefather go with you, gladly.VelmBlood of NorClan TrueforgerThe Year of Wild Magic1372 DR</blockquote>

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