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Message: <blockquote data-quote="gfunk" data-source="post: 833002" data-attributes="member: 1813">Session 32 Paths divided As was discussed before in the battle plan, each party member was absolutely loaded with defensive spells.  Joachim was no exception, not only did his powerful cloak displace him from his true location but he also was the recipient of abjurations from both Entropy and Hor’ahun.The Cathezar hardly seemed to notice.The approximately two dozen spiked chains on the wall slammed into the Inquisitor with uncanny accuracy.  After a few seconds,  the chains quickly retracted revealing a bloodied and battered Joachim clinging to life.The demon sneered at him, “I’m terribly sorry human, but you are an uninvited guest.  Kindly move out of the way, so that my other guests may arrive.”  With a blindingly fast flick of her thickly muscled tail, the Cathezar seized the cleric and began squeezing with all her might.His rib cage nearly collapsing under the pressure, Joachim knew that there was no hope for him to continue this battle.  In a matter of seconds, this demon would send him to the bosom of Tyr.  Though in incredible pain, he managed to concentrate long enough to complete a Word of Recall spell.  In a flash, Joachim  returned to the Temple of the Triad in the Homlet – alive, but with a new appreciation for this assassin’s power.-------------------------------------------------------------Entropy, Hor’ahun, Noir and Nurn found themselves in a smallish stone chamber, which bore no resemblance whatsoever to what they had seen in the Gate.“What the hell is this?”Nurn nodded in appreciation, “A redirection spell of some sort.  I should’ve expected as much from the Cathezar.  She did not reach her vaunted position as Amaeul’s right hand by carelessness.”As if on cue, the trap was sprung.  The entire area was suffused with a powerful abjuration that dispelled many powerful defensive enhancements on the heroes.  Immediately afterward, the room was filled with a blast of bone-numbing cold that damaged everyone.In the from of a specter, Entropy noticed Joachim’s disappearance.  “It seems that our beloved Inquisitor is nowhere to be seen.  Which means that he probably made it to the Cathezar . . . by himself.  Well, if he could do it, it is certainly worth trying again!”As before, Entropy tried to open a Gate directly to the Cathezar.Not wanting to make the same mistake twice, Hor’ahun nocked several arrows and fired through the Gate at the serpentine demon.  Though his shots were true, the Cathezar’s body was constantly in flux shifting between the Prime and Ethereal planes, the arrows caught his foe while she was in the Ethereal plane and bounced harmlessly off the wall.Made of bolder stuff, Nurn and Noir charged through and stood before their foe.“Welcome to my abode!”The chains adorning the wall animated once again as they streaked towards the pair.  Since the Cathezar had to divide her attacks, the blows were not quite as devastating.  Noir clenched her teeth in pain as the chains smashed against her, but was surprised to note that her colleague did not seem to be very bothered.  In fact, many of the chains either harmlessly bounced off Nurn or simply left light wounds.  Who was this Nurn anyway?Before Noir could contemplate the question further, the Cathezar released a burst of unholy energy dazing both warriors.Seeing that Hor’ahun did not go through the portal, Entropy went through it herself – effectively sealing it.  Seeing that both of her companions had been temporarily incapacitated by the Cathezar, she decided to summon help.  Gesturing quickly, a radiant golden Gate opened behind the Cathezar.Through the portal stepped a luminous humanoid figure with lithe but powerful muscles and gleaming white wings, holding a very large greatsword.  It was a Solar, the most powerful celestial of the Upper Planes.  Of course, it was an incredible understatement to say that the magnificent Solar did not appreciate being called to do an evil sorcerer’s bidding, but as powerful as he was, he had little choice in the matter.  With expert skill and precision, the celestial rained blow after blow upon the Cathezar aiming for her neck so that his decapitating vorpal sword could do its work.As with Hor’ahun’s arrow, the first blow went harmlessly through the Cathezar.  Recognizing the power of her new enemy the assassin immediately went on the defensive but suffered a large gash to her shoulder nonetheless.Sandwiched between Entropy and the Solar, the Cathezar knew that this situation did not favor her.  Concentrating, to avoid a potentially beheading strike, she teleported out of the room.-------------------------------------------------------------Appearing in his quarters in the Temple of the Triad, Joachim’s wounds quickly created a red puddle on the floor.  Ignoring his injuries for now, the cleric knew that he had to extricate his friends from the Cathezar’s lair.  He had no idea where they were, but it was likely no better than the plight he had been placed in.Rifling through his pouches, he produced a small bracelet with several beads, each of which was keyed to one of his companions.  When broken, a bead immediately teleported the designated individual to the summoner’s location.  Joachim knew that his friends could resist if they wanted to – likely only if they had the upper hand against the Cathezar – but otherwise they would immediately appear.Removing the beads designated for Hor’ahun and Noir, the Inquisitor shattered them both.Noir, who was currently dazed and facing the most powerful demon she had ever known hardly needed convincing to leave – she teleported back to the Temple of the Triad.Hor’ahun, alone in a stone room in the middle of nowhere similarly had no compelling reason to stay and returned as well.-------------------------------------------------------------The Solar stared at Entropy with a gaze of pure hatred, “You will pay for summoning me mortal!  Even the greatest of Heaven’s champions may not call on me when they are in peril.  Yet you have the gall to compel me to fight your battles?  Your arrogance will not go unpunished!!”“Wish her back.”“What!?”“You heard me Solar, wish the Cathezar back!”Seeing that he would have to back up his words with actions later, the Solar complied.  Attuning himself to the Weave, he tried to grasp the form of the Cathezar and wrench her back to his location.  Though the Solar’s spell was mighty, the demon’s resistance to magic was mightier still and nothing happened.“It cannot be done.”“Unfortunate.  Then your service to me is concluded.”The celestial’s eyes narrowed, his visage becoming one of pure anger.  The sight would send most mortals running for their lives.  “Remember my words sorcerer.  You will pay.”“Right, right, whatever.  Piss off angel-boy, I’m the descendant of Dydd.”After the Solar’s departure, Nurn threw in his two cents, “It seems that your valiant comrades have chosen to retreat.  There was a very small window of opportunity where we could have defeated the Cathezar but it has passed.  I suggest you get us both out here before she returns.”“I can’t.”“WHAT!?”“Opening Gates isn’t like casting Magic Missiles Nurn.  I can only do it so many times each day.”“Well, in that case, we had best find the exit quickly.”Nurn quickly moved around the room looking for doors, when Entropy’s words stopped him, “Look at this place.  It is a veritable treasure trove of information.  All those scrolls and that desk.  Who knows what secrets the Cathezar may have.  Nurn, though I can’t open a Gate I have a more . . . random method of getting us and all of these goodies out of here.”“What would that be?”“Don’t resist,” with that Entropy opened a tear in reality in the middle of the Cathezar’s abode.  The resultant vacuum pulled the entire contents of the room into the hole, followed by Entropy and Nurn.-------------------------------------------------------------Seeing that his friends were back safely, Joachim broke his final bead which was designated for Entropy – but the Alienist did not appear.Confused, Joachim wondered what was going on.  Whenever he had used this item, no one had ever failed to appear.  This meant Entropy was either dead or had decided not to come back. The cleric cast a spell to heal all of his comrades and quickly turned to talk to them, “My friends, Entropy is either dead or beyond our reach.  This is the perfect opportunity for us to destroy the Undying Temple!  All of us already have our most powerful spells up – and Entropy’s as well!!  Without their mistress those undead fools cannot possibly stand up to us.  Let us do as High Justice Darius advised – Noir you try to channel enough positive energy to destroy the Orb and Hor’ahun and I will cover you.  When we are done, Hor’ahun can plane shift us all out.  What do you say?”The Githzerai needed no convincing, “I’m in.  I owe those undead bastards some serous payback!”“Are you sure this is a good idea Joachim?  I mean Entropy may still be fighting the Cathezar.  Shouldn’t we try to help her,” only Noir had reservations.“Don’t worry about it.  Even if Entropy dies, I can bring her back without her body.  If we can destroy the Undying Temple, she will no longer have an advantage over us.  We will truly be equal partners, united in goal.  Besides, if we don’t take it out then the armies of the Dales could be slaughtered by the Great Revenance.”“Yes, I suppose you’re right.  Onward then, for the Red Knight!!”-------------------------------------------------------------In a hurry to return to the Undying Temple, Joachim did not reach an alternative conclusion as to why Entropy did not respond to his summons.She was no longer on the Prime Material Plane . . .</blockquote>

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