Upgrade your account to a Community Supporter account and remove most of the site ads.

Reply to thread

Message: <blockquote data-quote="gfunk" data-source="post: 1090386" data-attributes="member: 1813">Session 50 ”The Final Conflict [Part 3]” Resolution Ammet howled with delight.  The foolish mortal dared to think that she could bargain with him!  After he eviscerated this priest, he would take perverse delight in seeing his “ally” suffer a slow and painful demise.As the demon approached him, Joachim felt a bone jarring blow as Entropy’s Clenched Fist pummeled him mercilessly.  The only spells he knew required somatic components, quite impossible to cast in his current predicament.  He silently cursed to himself as his faith begain to waver, “How could I have trusted her!?  She betrayed me already, what a fool I was to follow the guidance of Israfel . . .”Joachim was snapped out of his trance with a painful crack of Ammet’s whip.  The three-pronged weapon found its way through the slits in his full helm, tearing into skin and leaving permanent, bloody scars.Entropy laughed at the Inquisitor’s helpless state as she continued to clamp down on his body, slowly hammering her way through his enchanted armor.  “So, in the end, Joachim you were nothing more than my pawn.  And justice for all . . .”Like a bolt of lightning from the heavens, an idea suddenly struck the tortured priest.  He not a mere cleric in the Maimed God’s hierarchy, but a High Inquisitor.  In his hands he held the power to ferret out the most insidious evil of all – the hypocrites who called themselves Tyrites but were actually using the order for their own nefarious purposes.  To this end, Tyr had graced him with several powerful abilities – his mind was forever his own, never could his actions be influenced by even the most powerful magic.  Even the Zulkir of Enchantment could hold no sway over him.However, he had one additional power that he had never before used as the opportunity never presented itself.  In his capacity as Inquisitor, he had the ability to identify those who could change form and corrupt the priesthood.  He could force these charlatans to their original form!!Without further hesitation, his hand grasped one of Entropy’s teeth as powerful magic coarsed through his body.  What happened then was nothing short of a miracle.  Instead of Entropy holding him helpless and at the mercy of Ammet, the massive red dragon changed shape rapidly until she returned to her original humanoid form.  To the Alienist, it was the realization of her worst nightmare.  Suddenly, she simply held Joachim in a bearhug.  She immediately willed herself to resume her massive form, but something . . . someone prevented her from shifting!  Given sufficient time and effort she would be able to work through the magical block but now . . . Smacking his now weakened foe with an elbow smash to the face, Joachim easily broke her grip.  Much to his chagrin however, he fell 60 feet to the ground and landed prone with a resounding crack.  The pain was fully bearable however, for now he had the advantage!  He quickly stood and ran towards his flying carpet.“Fool!  Dispel the magic on his carpet!  Our flight is our only advantage now!!”The demon did not appreciate the temerity of his yet unseen ally, but even he could see the logic of her advice.  Concentrating briefly, Ammet cast a Greater Dispelling on the carpet rendering it temporarily non-functional.  To add insult to injury, the Clenched Fist  slammed into the running Inquisitor once more.In a rage, Joachim turned around and launched his own Greater Dispelling at the Clenched Fist as it disappeared in a puff of smoke.  “Coward!  Show yourself and feel the wrath of the justice!!”----------------------------------------------Before his foes could respond, all eyes in the room fell on the new arrival. The young man with close-cropped blonde hair charged forth with his greatsword.  Seeing the gigantic corpse of Nalavara spread out over the chamber, Nurn looked to the ceiling and saw Entropy and something else . . . Ammet!!!All this time, Hethradiah had informed him about the demon.  Nalavara was merely a means to the goal, an unwitting vessel that stored the only being who could cause his master’s demise.“Nurn!  Entropy has allied herself with this vile demon!  She seeks to help him escape the Bastion!  If you truly serve your master, help me destroy them both!!”The death slaad involuntarily assumed his true form, standing a full eight feet tall.  His fists clenched as adrenaline pumped through his massive body.  After all this time, after all the sacrifices he made in this human sorcerer’s name . . . SHE HAD BETRAYED HIM!!!Nurn held up his hand and brought forth his most powerful spell, the Finger of Death .  Normally, nothing should have happened.  Not only did Ammet have considerable resistance to magic, but he was especially robust due to his draconic nature.  But it seemed that Tymora smiled upon the death slaad this day.Ammet’s fiery eyes that promised hellish tortures lost their fiendish luster as the demon fell from the sky.  As soon as he hit the ground, he exploded in a tremendous blast that rocked the entire chamber.----------------------------------------------The three combatants stood for a moment at a standstill, each with their own agendas.  The circumstance that had brought them together no longer existed.  What would they do now?Entropy spoke first, “Joachim, that was quite the misunderstanding.  Perhaps the Revenancer has allowed you to live this day.”The cleric angrily looked up in the air – he still could not see the sorcerer.  Nurn appeared to have calmed down and the slaad seemed to have no further reason to fight.  But the real question remained – could Joachim take Entropy?  The Inquisitor, with the ability to purge all the invisibility in the chamber, strongly doubted that the sorcerer could stand up to him in an honest fight.  However, what would happen if he lost?  Without doubt, the “Chosen” would take his body back to the Prime to be animated as a servant of the Revenancer.  No, he could not live like Noir had chosen to do.  Besides, the entirety of the Dale armies was currently marching on her precious Undying Temple, not to mention the Knights of the Undying Dragon from the south.  Yes, he was sure that her evil would be displaced once and for all.“Very well sorcerer.  However, the solar’s sword is mine, I promised the Seraphim that I would return it to them.”“Help yourself.”Suddenly, five creatures stepped into the chamber.  They seemed to be composed of pure, positive energy and they slowly assumed humanoid shapes.  They began to glow as bolts of lightning arched out from them, striking everyone in the room.  Immediately, all the companions were healed and both Noir and Hor’ahun stood once more.  A feeling of unadulterated joy filled the Bastion.One energon stepped forward and spoke, “The cycle of life has been repaired.  The Ban of the Unborn sleeps, and gods, and yes, all creation breathes easier.  We are the manifestation of the life force of creation.  We thank you.  Receive our gifts and be glad.”The being paused as his companions exited the chamber.  It continued, “But all is not well.  Though Nalavara has consumed countless preincarnate souls, there is one that remains unclaimed.  She imprisoned him, but now with her demise, Vangerdahast is once more free.”Joachim’s eyes lit up at the mention of the famed leader of Cormyr’s War Wizards.  “Yes, release him!  I will take him home!”“So be it.”A nimbus of light appeared in the center of the chamber as it coalesced into human form.  An elder gentleman wearing the royal hunter green robes of the Cormyrian nobility slowly stood.  His eyes immediately fell on the deceased Nalavara.  “But how . . . I was Imprisoned by the Wyrm.  Have you freed me?”The Inquisitor strode forward and clasped the wizard’s shoulder, nearly in tears, “My friend, I am honored to report to you that Nalavara has been slain.  And, furthermore, the liberation of your country is nigh.  As we speak, elements of the goodly kingdoms of the Dales approach.”Entropy, dismissing her Invisibility, flew next to Vangerdahast.  “I have heard much about you old man.  It please me greatly that those stories were mere fairy tales told to frighten infant drow.  I look forward to personally slaying you and animating your corpse in service to the White Banshee.”Vangerdahast shot her an intense stare, but was too bewildered to respond.“Each of you has received a soul jolt.  Your wounds will be healed nearly as fast as your opponents can deal them.  In the unlikely event of your demise, our powers will bring you back from the dead immediately.  But then our gift will be totally spent,” the energon interrupted.Nurn smiled as he placed his artifact greatsword over his shoulder, “Well, my work here is done.  Despite your betrayal you have all served Demogorgon admirably,” he turned to face the energon, “Keeper of the Bastion, send me home!”“It is the least we can do,” the energon opened a gate to the Brine Flats.Turning to face his comrades one final time, Nurn spoke, “I wish I could say it was fun, but I hope to never see any of you alive again.  Should you ever cross Hethradiah, expect me to pay you a visit.”  He stepped through.“Vangerdahast, please come with me.  I will return you to the regent of Cormyr – she is currently under the protection of the Simbul in Algarond,” Joachim then addressed Hor’ahun, “My friend, I know that our relationship has been a rocky one.  But I know you are honorable at heart and a skilled warrior without peer.  Please come with me, I promise to give you a place that befits your meritorious service to Faerun.”The githzerai bowed his head as he thought it over, “Joachim, I have wandered all the Outer Planes and rarely have I felt home anywhere.  But I recognize the truth of your words and, despite the treachery of our one-time comrades,” he glared at Entropy, “you have always treated me equitably.  Let’s go.”A golden gate was immediately opened to the Platinum Heaven and the trio exited.Entropy turned to Noir, “Come, blackguard.  We have a long-delayed audience with Lady Kiaransalee.  The Great Revenance will be completed and all of Faerun will know what it means to cross the Revenancer.”The gate to Naratyr, the City of the Dead, was thrown open and the Chosen of Kiaranslee stepped through.  Noir paused for a moment and swore under her breath, “Yes, mistress there will be many changes indeed.”With that, the final mortal left the Bastion of Unborn Souls.  Indeed, many preincarnate souls would be needed in the coming days to fill the huge void that would occur following a veritable bloodbath on the Prime.</blockquote>

Verification