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Message: <blockquote data-quote="THEMNGMNT" data-source="post: 8190799" data-attributes="member: 6809274">Session 118. 20th level player characters with 5 epic boons. Previously, Tiamat escaped from Hell, killed Bahamut, and confiscated his divine portfolio. She now has power over all dragons in the multiverse. The PCs must find a way to undo the damage she has done. So, so close to the end of this campaign.In this session, the PCs planeshifted into the first layer of Hell, Avernus, where Tiamat's hoard lays (mostly) unguarded. Tiamat is marauding across the Heavens. The legions of Hell rampage in her wake. In Tiamat's absence, the archdevil Bel controls Avernus. In the hoard is an artifact known as the Staff of Suffering, which can bring back to life the beastmaster ranger that was sacrificed by the Cult of Tiamat three sessions ago. That's the goal this session: find the staff and resurrect their friend.The PCs explored the hellish caverns holding the treasure hoard. It's like Smaug's hoard times a billion. More wealth than exists on the entire world of Faerun. Literally the largest collection of wealth in the multiverse. To represent the hoard's lure I had the PCs roll DC18 Wisdom saving throws. Three successes meant PCs had overcome their lust for gold. Those who failed had a choice--lose a turn trying to pocket all the gold...or take 8d6 psychic damage. I lifted this approach from Swords of the Serpentine and it worked very well. Some PCs took the damage while others lost turns in the midst of the battle with Bel.Because of course Bel guards the Staff of Suffering. With him were two pit fiends, a host of ice devils, and a pair of treasure golems. The PCs unloaded on him. The shadow sorcerer dropped meteor swarm. The vengeance paladin hit for nearly 200hp of damage in a single turn. Bel was quickly on the cusp of death despite having bested the PCs twice before. But they had once again fallen for the misdirect spell. This wasn't the real Bel; merely an illusion. The real Bel appeared amongst the hoard and the fight raged on. The vengeance paladin (and his holy avenger) would not be denied. Bel fell beneath his blade.The devils kneeled before the paladin. One of the pit fiends said, "What is thy bidding, master?" Wait, what?!? The party paladin now a lord of Hell? The PCs had a lot of fun trying to figure out what to do with that one. Eventually, the paladin passed rulership of Avernus to the amoral whispers bard.The Staff of Suffering was used to bring back the beastmaster ranger...and then it distintegrated into dust.I told the PCs that control of the multiverse's greatest treasure hoard gave them access to any magic item in the DMG...so go nuts!!! They're gonna need it, because...Next session: The final battle against Tiamat!</blockquote>

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