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Message: <blockquote data-quote="gfunk" data-source="post: 558539" data-attributes="member: 1813">Session 12 “Glouroth walks into the meatgrinder” In his 354 years living in the Underdark, Glouroth had encountered hardly anything that offered him a significant challenge. Not for centuries, since he was a Wyrmling, had he met foes as potent as his current quarry. The Shadow Dragon had observed the battle from a distance using his blindsight. He had watched how his Kir-lanan minions were obliterated by this group of humanoids. However he also noted, with considerable pride, how his half-dragon daughter Phaikkul had immobilized one member of the attacking force with her force bead.Before entering battle himself, Glouroth cast a significant array of spells upon himself. First, he encased his form in a globe of absolute darkness. This was followed by two illusions, one which rendered his form blurry and difficult to hit and the other which conjured several duplicates of himself to befuddle attackers. As an afterthought, he encased himself in force armor to augment the considerable protection his scales provided.Diving out of his cave, Glouroth spotted one of his quarry on a broom. Grinning, he flew above the humanoid and unleashed his energy draining breath.--------------------------------------------------------------------------------In truth, the Githzerai's psionic powers allowed his vision to operate even in magical darkness. However, Hor'ahun could not see far enough to identify his foe. Blinded, he quickly flew into an adjacent cave and pulled out his bow, ready for battle.Joachim did not experience similar difficulties with vision. Quickly smearing some ointment onto his eyes, he chanted a prayer to Tyr. By the god of justice's divine grace, Joachim was granted the power to pierce any magical illusion or transmutation. Looking up he saw a massive dragon, pitch-black in color, descending towards him.Glouroth observed the High Inquisitor with curiosity. The spell that Joachim had cast was no minor incantation. Perhaps his quarry would provide a challenge after all. The Shadow Dragon uttered a few arcane phrases and disappeared from the High Inquisitor's sight. A moment later, the dragon appeared next to Hor'ahun throwing the whole cave into darkness.--------------------------------------------------------------------------------The half-dragon Phaikkul watched Noir sadistically as she struggled to get out of the force sphere. A veteran of many battles, Phaikkul knew that the best strategy for fighting powerful opponents was to divide and conquer. By isolating foes and preventing them from consolidating their power, they became easy prey for her father.Glancing towards the ground, she saw the two Desmodu armed with notbas staring up at her. Phaikkul has hunted such creatures before. In numbers they could be deadly -- but just two -- two would be child's play. The half-dragon flew over her targets and breathed upon them. Despite the Desmodu's efforts to evade, they were enveloped in darkness and powerful negative energy began to drain their very souls.In truth, if the two Desmodu had faced Phaikkul alone -- even with the ability of fly -- the battle would probably have been a foregone conclusion, as she had surmised. Unfortunately for her, she failed to notice an invisible Entropy behind them. Phaikkul reacted with shock when she heard spellcasting from an unseen opponent. Directly behind her appeared a tear in the very fabric of reality itself. As the surrounding air rushed into the rift, the half-dragon tried in vain to avoid being pulled in as well. Despite her struggles, she was sucked through the portal and into the Bleak Eternity of Gehenna. It would probably have been better if Phaikkul were killed outright -- her current fate most likely consisted of a slow, torturous death at the hands of the Yugoloths.--------------------------------------------------------------------------------As Hor'ahun waited in the cave, he was briefly blinded by a flash of light, followed by being enveloped in total darkness. Right next to him appeared the largest dragon he had ever seen. Instinctively he stepped back and fired two arrows into the wyrm. One of them harmlessly hit one of the false duplicates surrounding the dragon and the other hit squarely against the dragon but utterly failed to penetrate its considerable natural armor.Hearing the sounds of battle in the cave, Joachim turned around and flew back inside. Unhampered by the darkness or the dragon's illusions, he saw the wyrm in battle with Hor'ahun. He moved up to the dragon and struck it, dealing significant damage.Knowing that Joachim could attack him unhindered, Glouroth directed all his attacks at the High Inquisitor. Both claws and fang tore through Joachim's armor with surprising ease forcing the cleric back. Hor'ahun again attempted to shoot the dragon but failed to penetrate its defenses. Joachim, however, tore into the dragon -- scoring several successful hits, a few critically.Glouroth, severely injured, knew that a protracted battle in such cramped quarters would not favor him. He again muttered an arcane phrase and teleported out of sight of both Joachim and Hor'ahun.For the next several minutes, Glouroth and his foes played a deadly game of cat and mouse. As soon as Joachim and Hor'ahun attacked the dragon in one cave, it retaliated and quickly teleported to another one.Impatient at her comrades for taking so long, Entropy commanded the Desmodu to retreat and flew up to the caves herself.--------------------------------------------------------------------------------As his foes rushed him one more time, Glouroth looked up in a panic. Never before had he been placed in such a plight! Not only were all his minions killed, but his precious daughter as well. And now the wyrm himself faced imminent destruction.The human in full plate, emblazoned with a symbol of some human god, charged towards Glouroth. The dragon was prepared to enter what would probably be the final few seconds of his life. To his complete surprise, the human stopped abruptly and spoke in Common."Dragon, we have no wish to destroy you. We are merely traveling through this area to the drow city of Tilverton. However, if you continue to harass us I will be forced to crush you in the name of justice," declared Joachim.Glouroth was both relieved and humiliated. Did he dare hope that he could trust this human, "Why should I believe you? You have already slain my kin!""I am High Inquisitor Joachim in service of Tyr, the god of justice. My word is my bond. I pledge an oath to you that if you cease this battle, I will let you withdraw peacefully."Glouroth's thoughts raced as he tried to bring to mind the human god mentioned by the cleric. He remembered that this deity was indeed honorable and lawful, to a fault. Studying his foe's facial features and expressions, the dragon knew that he could be trusted, "I have your word then?""Yes, I will let you pass unmolested."--------------------------------------------------------------------------------Flying into the cave behind Joachim were Entropy and Hor'ahun, both of whom heard the conversation between Joachim and Glouroth. Entropy reached first, "Are you mad? We've nearly expended all our resources slaying these foul creatures and you would let the ringleader just walk away? I think not!"Joachim's oath could not be broken however, "I have promised this dragon that it can leave this are peacefully if it withdraws immediately."Though she had known Joachim for a long time, Entropy could hardly believe her ears, "Do you honestly think that this dragon is not already plotting a way to kill us? We may have to come back this way after Tilverton -- don't you think that this beast will muster all the forces necessary to try and destroy us?""Nevertheless, my pledge stands. If you interfere I will be forced to take action against you," Joachim plainly stated."Take your best shot," Entropy moved away from Joachim and began casting a spell. Prior to entering the cave, the sorcerer had altered reality with her arcane prowess so that she too could penetrate the dragon's darkness and illusions. About 20 feet from the dragon appeared a noble salamander from the Elemental Plane of Fire. The same type of creature that had laid waste to the Kuo-Toan stronghold, the outsider approached its foe cautiously. It could not see, but its hyperacute hearing allowed it to pinpoint the dragon. Before the salamander could impale Glouroth with its longspear, however, Joachim cast a spell that dispelled it back to its home plane.Hor'ahun entered next, landing behind Joachim. "This is obviously an evil creature. How can you make deals with such a beast? Isn't your order dedicated to law and good?"For a moment, Joachim wavered. His true seeing allowed him to see that this dragon was indeed chaotic and evil to the core. However, he had given his word, how could he renege now? He paused to look at the dragon and this brief glance spoke volumes.Glouroth snarled, "So you, a lawful and good priest would forsake me? Even after pledging an oath?! Bah, may the Abyss consume you for your duplicity human!"Joachim, his expression pained, wordlessly left the cave, leaving the dragon to the mercy of his two companions. Making his last stand Glouroth unleashed his breath on his foes draining them of their life energy.Entropy laughed in the dragon's face, "Now you die insect!"She conjured up a cone of extreme cold that enveloped the dragon. Fully expecting it to slay the beast, Entropy was surprised that it didn't inflict any damage, obviously negated by the dragon's considerable spell resistance. Since Entropy's speed was accelerated by spellcraft, she followed up with another cone of cold. This time, it hit Glouroth full force. The wyrm's body froze as it stood at the center of the numbing cold. Then, the life slowly left the Shadow Dragon's pupilless eyes.</blockquote>

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