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Message: <blockquote data-quote="gfunk" data-source="post: 946171" data-attributes="member: 1813">Session 41 Planetars, Solars, and Titans oh my! Any mortal would have long since succumbed to the insanity-inducing howling winds of Pandemonium.  A plane of unending underground tunnels, most leading to dead ends and many more leading to unspeakable horrors, it screamed in an endless cacophonic symphony.  For Eco and Brahmin, who had spent centuries in this place, it was simply another day in purgatory.Though all but the greatest gods had forgotten of her sacred duty, Eco was not without resources.  Placing her powerful greatsword on the ground, the Solar dropped to one knee and beseeched succor from the Lords of Good.  “Almighty deities, you have placed me here to preserve the sanctity of Desayeus’ eternal prison.  And yea, I am glad to do it, yet it seems that agents of woe seek to free the mad titan to wreak havoc anew.  Grant me vision to see my foes for who they truly are!”In her mind’s eye, Eco saw a sorcerer whose mind had been forever fractured by exposure to a place beyond even the reach of the Lords of Good.  Her allies included a formerly noble paladin who had been corrupted to the worship of an undead monstrosity as well as a powerful priest of the Lord of Tyrants.  The last person in the quartet was a non-descript human male but something was most peculiar about him, yes indeed . . . as the mighty Solar concentrated she saw the human's master, a massive creature, so hideous that it was difficult to describe.  Demogorgon!! Eco opened her eyes and stood.  This was no mere test as her masters would never deign to utilize such base and honorless retainers.  Though they were powerful, she would make certain that they would not find her easy prey.  Over the years, she and Brahmin had discussed many topics chief among which was the hypothetical defense of Desayeus’ prison against the denizens of evil.  It seems that their theories would be put to the test.--------------------------------------------Noir stood at the ready with her greatsword hefted and her animated shield bobbing slowly in front of her.  As Entropy opened the Gate to Pandemonium, the blackguard clenched her teeth in pain as the inhuman howling assaulted her senses.  However, it seemed that Entropy’s scrying was spot on as the celestial being she described stood straight ahead behind a somewhat smaller being with powerful muscles and emerald-green skin.After the Gate opened, both parties faced each other for the first time.  A Solar feared few things in the multiverse, but even Eco felt her resolve weaken a bit as a wave of despair washed over her.  Undaunted, she concentrated as she brought forth a spell that would anchor this vile fighter to the Prime, preventing her from entering Phlegethos.  Under normal circumstances, it would have succeeded but Entropy’s team had taken sensible precautions as well and the spell was resisted.  Quickly, Eco moved to the other side of the Gate where she knew her enemies could not see her.  Noir, seeing the Solar moving somewhere out of view, charged Brahmin instead.  As she ran through the Gate she was nearly decapitated by Eco, who swung at the Blackguard immediately as she passed through the Gate.  Ignoring the blow for now, Noir reached the Planetar and began a duel in which both participants were masters of the greatsword.  Though Brahmin was skilled and powered by divine providence, he could not match the sheer martial prowess of his foe who landed several blows drawing blood and ripping through flesh and muscle.Amal emerged next, initially meeting the same fate as Noir as he was cleanly struck in the flank by Eco’s greatsword.  Moving away from the Solar, the Dreadmaster invoked a powerful Necromantic spell at Brahmin as he tried to obliterate the celestial’s soul.  Counseled by his companion against such magics, Brahmin had warded himself appropriately and was unaffected.Seeing his two fellows nearly brought down with a greatsword from an unknown source, Nurn wisely chose to tumble forward, his dexterity easily allowing him to avoid their fate.  Noir was locked in mortal combat with the Planetar and the rogue moved into a flanking position.  His sword pulsing with chaotic energy, Nurn was able to inflict mortal wounds upon his foe.Abruptly, the Gate closed.--------------------------------------------Seeing her companion grievously injured, Eco gestured quickly as the Planetar’s wounds instantly closed.  Moving in to assist, Eco crossed swords with Noir trying to take the pressure off of her companion.  Amal directed his death spell at Eco but was thwarted yet again by the Solar’s abjurations.  Still distracted by the Blackguard, Brahmin barely noticed as Nurn attempted to slide his shortsword neatly between his ribs.  Nurn’s eyes popped open in surprise as the blade passed harmlessly through the celestial who assumed an incorporeal, ghostly form.  Without a sound, the form disappeared into the rocky ground.As Eco held off the trio of her attackers, another Gate appeared, this one several dozen feet off the ground.  The Solar frowned as a hulking fiend with enormous wings stepped through.  Immediately, the fiend began casting, weaving a spell that created an extradimensional maze around Eco.  After the celestial disappeared, the fiend shouted loudly over the swirling winds, “Where did the other one go?”Amal looked up, recognizing Entropy’s familiar guise, “He shapechanged into a spectre and disappeared into the floor.”Each party member waited anxiously as they awaited either celestial’s return, nervously looking around the dark cavern.Brahmin appeared first, materializing next to Nurn.Without the support of Eco however, even the powerful Planetar could not hope to last long against such potent foes.  All four concentrated their power upon Brahmin and he quickly fell to their blows, broken and bleeding.As they turned their attentions from their formerly living foe, Eco reappeared exactly where she had left.  Seeing her companion of many years in a pool of blood, she screamed in rage as she tore into Noir with savage fury.  With her vast array of magical powers and emotionally charged battle frenzy, the Solar certainly had the resolve to slay all her foes were it not for the timely intervention of Entropy.Casting a spell and touching Eco, Entropy forced the celestial to dance.  Though the Solar defended herself admirably despite this significant handicap, she could not hold her own under such circumstances.  In her final moments of life, Eco thought of what could have been. If she had maintained her cool demeanor and concentrated she could have resurrected her friend within seconds.  After that, who knew what was within the realm of possibility?  With her inexhaustible array of magical abilities, Eco was certain she could wear her foes down.  But now she would die, forgotten and having utterly failed in her mission.  As Noir's greatsword struck the killing blow across the nape of her neck, Eco whispered a prayer to the Lords of Goods begging their forgiveness.The celestial uttered a scream unlike any the companions had ever heard.  Her body begin to stretch to an impossible length as her facial features became warped and elongated.  Then, in a flash of light and energy the mighty Solar disappeared and, in her stead, stood an utterly black portal.Kicking the Planetar’s body aside, Noir dropped her weapon as she picked up the Solar’s fallen greatsword.  “What a waste!  To put such a powerful artifact in the hands of a sentimental and weak fool!”--------------------------------------------“Now what?”“What do you think? We go through the portal and help ourselves to Desayeus’ Soul Totem,” Entropy threw the Dreadmaster a look of feigned surprise.Nurn cautiously approached the portal, “Perhaps we should have brought the Githzerai with us as well.”The Alienist shook her head, “I think not.  Joachim and his celestial brigade might try a little adventure into the Undying Temple while we are away.  A psi blast from an undead psychic warrior should slow them down a tad.”After stripping their celestial enemies of their knick-knacks, the companions entered the prison of the god who was banned.--------------------------------------------Centuries ago, it was a place of splendor and magnificence, a palace filled with beautiful and exquisite works of art.  However, the years had not been kind as the multi-colored frescoes were cracked and faded, their time long since past.  In the corner were two beautiful beings with the trunks of serpents and the bodies of handsome men.  They were Lillends, the bards and artists of the multiverse.  Usually vibrant and full of creative energy, they instead absent-mindedly painted childish drawings on the wall using only their fingers.At the approach of the party, they immediately stood up in surprise, drawing their longswords.  One of them spoke in Common, “Assassins!  So, after all this time you have come!  Not satisfied with merely imprisoning Lord Desayeus, the conclave has ordered his death!”Amal put his hands up in a plea for parlay.  His was a silver tongue, but forked nonetheless, “Nay my friends.  We are hear to speak with Desayeus.  Where can he be found?”The Lillends were uninterested in conversation as they continued to advance menacingly, “Bah!  Does the servant bring his master’s head to the chopping block?  Prepare to die murderer!”Nurn and Noir quickly engaged as Entropy began to cast a summoning spell.  She was pleasantly surprised as the portal opened -- she was unsure that conjuration magic would function in a prison designed to hold a god.  Two large writhing masses of tentacles emerged, each holding an iron bar bristling with cruelly sharp barbs that tore into their own bleeding flesh.As one Lillend was quickly taken down, Amal cast a spell at the other – crushing its will and enslaving it to his merest command.  “Now snake-man, tell me where your Master is.”A tear escaped the Lillend’s eye, as he tried to resist the mighty enchantment.  But the Dreadmaster’s power could not be shrugged off so easily.  “He . . . Lord Desayeus in the northern most chamber.  He spends his days in endless contemplation, he is no longer a threat to anybody!  Please do not harm him!!”“Silence insect!  Come friends, let us get this task over with.”Their advance delayed briefly by the arrival of more armed Lillends, the companions approached Desayeus’ chamber.  Before they could move further, Amal found himself encased in cube of force and Nurn tried to dodge a giant disembodied hand approaching him.  Though phenomenally quick, the hand grabbed the rouge nonetheless as it began to squeeze the life out of him.  Stepping out of the shadows was a statuesque human male of titanic proportions wielding a maul of pure, glowing energy."MORTALS!  SO YOU HAVE COME TO FINISH THE TASK THAT THE CONCLAVE OF GODS STARTED EONS AGO!  COME THEN, CRASH AGAINST THE SHORES OF ETERNITY AND BE BROKEN!"Noir and Entropy’s pseudonatural creatures moved to meet him.</blockquote>

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