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Message: <blockquote data-quote="gfunk" data-source="post: 698476" data-attributes="member: 1813">Session 23 The DM gets his act together and comes out guns blazing! “Where in the Abyss did Joachim get himself to?” Entropy, Noir, and Hor’ahun looked around in confusion as their friend was nowhere to be found.  Unlike Joachim, they chose not to go into the portal first, but to explore the part of the tower on the Prime Material Plane.  In her spectre form, Entropy was able to rapidly scout the area but the Inquisitor’s whereabouts remained a mystery.  Realizing that their friend probably went through the portal, the three companions decided to join him.---------------------------------------------------------------------In a battle-lust, the drow golem made a serious tactical error.  Seeing his opponent immobilized, it mistakenly assumed Joachim was near helpless and rapidly closed to pummel him, rather than utilize its impressive reach.  All four of its attacks fell short . . .If the golem had been a true construct, it may have survived long enough to realize its error.  But it was more than a mere golem, it was imbued with an evil spirit that gave it its malevolent powers – exactly the kind of being Joachim’s sword was enchanted to destroy.  His combat ability magically amplified, the Inquisitor swung at the golem in a whirlwind of blows that reduced it to a pile of scrap metal in record time.Unfortunately, energy drains and Destruction spells had taken their toll on the cleric.  He seriously doubted he could survive if he continued further.  Unable to extricate himself from the golem’s webbing, he was forced to bring a Flame Strike down upon himself to destroy the powerful net.  Without delay, he retreated back to the room where he had first entered the Ethereal Plane, hoping he would find his companions waiting for him.---------------------------------------------------------------------Irae T’ssaren could not believe how easily and how far Joachim had advanced through her stronghold – and by himself no less!  The priestess of Kiaransalee was relieved to see him finally flee, but she knew that  holding back was no longer an option  She had to crush her foes simultaneously with all the forces at her disposal if she hoped to prevail.  Though she was already seriously indebted to the demons of the Abyss (she had called Balors on more than one occasion), she decided to further increase her balance.  After all, if she could not complete the Great Revenance, what was the point?---------------------------------------------------------------------Finally re-united, the party paused to consider their battle strategy.  Before their discussion was completed they heard a brief flapping of wings as a powerful abjuration reverberated through the room.  Designed to remove magical protections, it could not have come at a worse time.  Many of the party’s powerful spells were stripped away.Utilizing excellent tactics, a Balor was actually standing directly in front of them.  However the party did not notice it as it was standing directly behind a wall in the Prime Material Plane – in the Ethereal Plane though one could walk through objects on the Prime, they still obscured vision.  Taking advantage of the party’s ignorance the demon uttered a Blasphemy that dazed all of the party except Entropy, who was still in iron golem form and immune to such effects.The Alienist figured that there was someone behind the wall, but she could not be sure.  Fondly remembering Glouroth, the Shadow Dragon she had turned into an icicle in the Underdark, the sorcerer’s body assumed its reptilian form.  With her now greatly enhanced senses she could “see” precisely that a Balor was standing behind the wall.  Casting, the dragon conjured a huge disembodied fist which slammed into the demon with a resounding crack.  Seeing that his cover had been blown, the Balor made a tactical retreat to the upper floor.Entropy flew up to intercept the demon but saw that he had actually ascended further than she thought.  Before she could continue, her dragon blindsight informed her that there was a drow hiding in the corner of the room.  Without hesitation she sent her magical fist directly at it.  Flushed out of hiding, a drow rogue drew his rapier and tumbled forward.  Changing again into an iron golem, Entropy picked him up by his neck trying to squeeze the life out of him.  Her job was made easier when Noir appeared and sliced the helpless drow to ribbons.  The paladin’s battle cry was cut short however, when a bolt of negative energy emerging from the wall struck her almost as soon as the rogue fell.Seeing that his foes did not follow him, the Balor threw another Greater Dispelling down at the party.  This time it had the desired effect as Entropy found herself returning to her normal form!  She moved into the corner and yelled at her companions, “Get your asses up there and take out that Balor!  Otherwise he’ll just dispel our spells till the cows come home!!”Before they could come to their friend’s aid, Joachim, Noir and Hor’ahun received a rather unexpected surprise.  The ceiling suddenly parted, forming a gaping hole.  Through the orifice came an old friend – the massive iron golem the party had destroyed yesterday!  Effortlessly, it pushed the Inquisitor out of the way as it stood before the three companions.  As before, it belched forth a cloud of extremely poisonous gas.  Though Noir and Joachim were still protected by Inertial Barriers, Hor’ahun’s had been dispelled by the Balor.  The Githzerai began to cough up blood as the toxic fumes entered his lungs.Weakened, but desperate, Noir, Joachim, and Hor’ahun exited the room without delay – trying to put as much distance as they could between themselves and the golem.  Unfortunately when they reached the upper level, they did not anticipate the fact that the Balor would have the good sense to take cover behind the orb wraith.  As soon as Noir emerged, the wraith hit her with an Enervation, weakening her even further.  Ignoring the wraith for now, both holy warriors focused their offensive output on the demon as Entropy had admonished.  Though they slew it in record time, their only reward was a tremendous explosion as the demon’s demise further worsened their injuries.The sorcerer was in serious trouble.  Above her was an undead monstrosity that could easily continue draining her spell energy and below her was an anti-magic tank that could flatten her in seconds.  Thinking fast, she blocked the golem’s path upward by erecting a wall of force.  She then cast her final Shapechange spell, assuming the form of a spectre and moving up to join her comrades in battle with the orb wraith.Turing on the wraith, Noir and Joachim saw that they were outmatched.  Since their blows went through the undead creature most of the time, they realized that they would be lifeless husks before they could kill it.  Luckily they were supported by Entropy who began pelting the orb wraith which missiles of force, which could not miss.---------------------------------------------------------------------One interesting bit of information the party had not quite realized was that the tower itself was a sentient being of exceptional intelligence.  It was easily able to hamper the party by casting destructive spells at them through its very walls.  However, its precious orb wraith was in danger and the tower wanted to enlist some aid for it with all due haste.  Seeing that Entropy had blocked the mighty iron golem’s path, the tower simply opened up another hole on the other side of the room, allowing the golem to continue ascending.---------------------------------------------------------------------Just when things were looking up, the party saw their golem nemesis approach them once again.  Attacking Noir, the golem beat the hell out of her – only her Inertial Barrier prevented her untimely demise.  Looking to her companions, Entropy decided she could hold off the golem for a while, “All of you!  Get out of here!  Use the passage above you – I will hold off the golem!”Both Hor’ahun and Joachim ascended but before Noir could follow, the tower sealed off the passage.  Turning around, the paladin knew this would be her last stand.  Coming to her aid, Entropy cast two spells upon Noir – one rendered her invisible even while attacking and the other restored the energy that the Enervations had drained from her.  With this protection, Noir was able to hold off the golem long enough until Entropy teleported the both of them next to Joachim and Hor'ahun.---------------------------------------------------------------------Hoping for a brief respite from combat, the party was sorely disappointed.  On this level were the seemingly animated suits of armor that Joachim and ignored before.  In addition, all of the ghosts that Noir had turned were waiting for the group as well.  Since the party members were all invisible, they were able to take up better tactical positions.  While Noir stood her ground, Joachim and Entropy moved to opposite corners of the room.  Deciding that he would flank his foes, Hor’ahun used his psionic power to phase through one of the walls into an adjacent room.Everyone was prepared to strike, until they saw a hole open in the floor as the iron golem appeared again.  With no place to run this time, the party had no choice but to take the golem head on.  Noir moved forward and bravely challenged the construct once again despite her numerous injuries.  To thin out their opponents a bit, Entropy blasted the whole room with a wave of sonic energy obliterating all of the ghosts.The two suits of armor, both bearing lances, split up to attack Noir and Joachim.  Though Joachim was not hit, Noir was struck once and she felt a familiar feeling of negative energy as her strength was sapped.  To make matters worse, the paladin was grappled by the iron golem.Turning into a Nightshade Nightwalker, Entropy approached the suit of armor facing Joachim and tore into it with terrific force.  The blood that sprayed from the wound confirmed the fact that there were in fact living creatures inside the armor.  Joachim finished off the job, plunging his longsword into the drow warrior.  The Inquisitor then turned to help the paladin but it was too late, the golem had finally triumphed – crushing the paladin’s skull and flinging her lifeless corpse away.---------------------------------------------------------------------After phasing through the wall, the Githzerai found himself in total darkness.  However, he still had limited vision since it was psionically enhanced.  He saw what appeared to be a lavishly decorated bedchamber.  He had no time to investigate however, as his friends needed his help.  Moving to the door he knew that opening it would flood the adjacent room in darkness as well, sowing confusion that would probably prove a temporary boon to his companions.  However, when he put his hand on the door he felt a violent shock as the energy of a magical trap blasted him.  Though he felt the spell attack his life force, he managed to survive.Seconds later, the Githzerai began to feel woozy and his vision began to blur.  His knees slowly caved in as he hit the floor.  Before he could even cry out, he was dead – a victim of the iron golem’s poisonous breath.---------------------------------------------------------------------Screaming in anguish, the Inquisitor threw himself at the golem in revenge for the death of his friend.  The remaining drow soldier tried to impale the cleric with his lance but was abruptly grabbed by Entropy who had shapechanged into a Greater Ooze Paraelemental.  Unable to utilize his death lance in such close quarters, the drow warrior helplessly felt his armor dissolve by the creature’s potent acid, followed shortly by his skin and bones.  Entropy dropped the smoking pile of charred flesh to the ground.---------------------------------------------------------------------Of their foes, only the golem was left.  Ironically, it was the party’s two principle spellcasters that remained alive to fight it.  Immune to all of their spells, the construct had the decided advantage.  Entropy’s thoughts raced as she saw her friend Joachim in mortal combat with the metal tank.  Though her spells could not affect it directly, she knew there must be a way to damage it.  Finally, an idea struck her!  Assuming the form of a Pit Fiend, she rushed towards the golem, smacking it with her quarterstaff and trying to attract its attention.Annoyed by the insect striking its legs, the golem rained blow after blow upon Entropy.  The sorcerer screamed in pain as the mighty construct’s fists began to crush her bones.  However, her diversion had the desired effect – with the golem’s attention focused solely on her, the Inquisitor was able to rain death on it with impunity.  Finally, the sorcerer’s mangled body fell to the ground, followed seconds later by the golem which shattered into pieces as it hit the floor.---------------------------------------------------------------------Covered in gore, Joachim couldn’t believe the current situation.  Noir’s head had been caved in by the golem and Entropy has been reduced to a red stain on the floor.  Though he knew that the paladin was noble and honorable, the Inquisitor was shocked that Entropy had given her life to protect him.  Perhaps he had misjudged her after all. As he contemplated his fate, the Inquisitor was surprised to see Entropy’s Pit Fiend form begin to rise.“How!? The golem crushed you!”The Pit Fiend laughed as her wound began to rapidly heal, “Changing into a denizen of Baator has its advantages, my friend.  Do not think all the power in the multiverse resides in Celestia alone!”Though elated by this turn of events, how could the party possibly continue in their depleted state?  Two of their fellows were butchered and Irae T’ssaren still had not shown herself . . .</blockquote>

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