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Message: <blockquote data-quote="TaranTheWanderer" data-source="post: 9770018" data-attributes="member: 15882">This response summarizes the combat within the Labyrinth of Lost Souls in four passes, highlights key turning points, and lists the active spell enhancements on the Exemplars.[HR][/HR]<h3>Combat Summary: Labyrinth of Lost Souls</h3><h4>Pass 1: The Initial Breach and Enemy Response (Rounds 1–2)</h4>The combat began immediately upon the Exemplars opening the double doors into the Labyrinth. The time dilation effect of the plane hit the unprotected members (Akos, Falen, and Spritewing), causing immediate discomfort, though Custodio’s Avoid Planar Effects protected five allies.The core conflict centered in the portal room, where the Exemplars sought to rescue the trapped deaf-mute knight and the djinni, Eeldai. Upon entering, Sir Tymbeck (Tim) found the knight injured and poisoned, just as a Loyalist strike force—including Loyalist Soldiers, Brelish Thugs, and an Infernal Cleric of Darkness (Khagron)—began pouring through the functional portal.Turning Point 1: The Quick Rescue of the Knight (Round 2) The critical early action was the rescue of the endangered deaf-mute knight. Vitus swiftly cast Dimensional Door on the defensive, teleporting himself and the severely wounded knight out of the immediate combat zone and into the hallway behind the front line. This sudden maneuver saved the knight from being immediately finished off by the Loyalists, whose commander (Khagron) had just arrived.With the front line engaged (Tim, Custodio, Vincenzo, and Rockhorn), Akos attempted to summon a unicorn for additional healing and protection. Simultaneously, Rockhorn and Spritewing engaged a Loyalist soldier (Parch), while Falen gained crucial telepathic intelligence from the conscious and psionic Altar/construct in the room.<h4>Pass 2: Planar Disruption and Status Effects (Rounds 3–5)</h4>The enemy commander, the bugbear cleric Khagron, launched a Moon Bolt at Tim and Custodio, though Tim resisted the debilitating strength drain. Combat continued as the Exemplars worked to contain the Loyalists and address the magical threats. Tuck successfully landed crossbow bolts on an engaged thug, forcing Vincenzo to shout a warning about errant shots.Turning Point 2: Activating the Altar/Psionic Construct (Round 3) Falen prioritized disrupting the enemy infrastructure. Using the overwhelming telepathic information received from the living Altar, Falen executed the complicated mental "controls" of the construct despite suffering strain and pain. This action successfully refocused the hostile portal to the Temple of Straevok the Soulkeeper, immediately severing Phelix's access to the portal room.Khagron then responded by casting Mass Aid to bolster his remaining allies and revive a dying thug. Akos responded to the threat posed by the Loyalists near him (Mitrik and Redcap) with a demoralizing speech, leveraging his fey connection.Turning Point 3: Exploiting Fear and Killing Mitrik (Rounds 6–7) Akos's powerful intimidation tactic caused the two thugs, Mitrik and Redcap, to become demoralized and cower. This momentary lapse in the enemy's formation allowed Eeldai, who had just been freed and healed by Akos, to execute Mitrik, slashing him with her scimitar. Meanwhile, Rockhorn and Spritewing continued to engage and eventually dispatch Loyalist Parch.<h4>Pass 3: Enemy Commander's Final Attack and Immediate Retreat (Rounds 7–8)</h4>The Exemplars continued to deal damage, with Tim attacking the final engaged Loyalist soldier (Lithia) and Vincenzo striking back at his opponent, Gattas, who used Draconic code words to signal he was a spy (Artor Kieran).Turning Point 4: Khagron's Blasphemy and the Altar's Retaliation (Round 7) With most of his forces down, Khagron used his most devastating attack: Blasphemy (a spell-like ability). This attack targeted nearly everyone outside Akos's protective Antimagic Field (which Akos had cast earlier to free Eeldai) and the highly resistant living Altar. The spell successfully paralyzed or severely weakened most Exemplars and allies, including paralyzing Spritewing and severely weakening Tuck, forcing a necessary retreat.However, the powerful psionic Altar, threatened directly by Khagron, immediately unleashed an electrical counter-blast (a defense of the Ancients' stonework). This massive damage killed the bugbear cleric Khagron instantly.The dual effect of Khagron's Blasphemy crippling the Exemplars and the Altar's immediate, catastrophic retaliation killing Khagron created an urgent, chaotic situation. With the main threats neutralized, the remaining priority shifted to immediate evacuation.<h4>Pass 4: Evacuation and Second Wave (Rounds 9–11 of Second Combat)</h4>The party realized the need to flee quickly due to the paralysis caused by Blasphemy, the lingering strength drain, and the Altar's warning that a second wave of Loyalists was arriving through the refocused portal.The Exemplars neutralized status effects, reduced time dilation, and retrieved key assets:<ol> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">Custodio and Tuck recovered from paralysis using a potion of Lesser Restoration.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">Akos successfully cooperated with the Altar to reduce the time dilation to its lowest setting (1 second outside equals 2 seconds inside).</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">Rockhorn used Levitate to transport the petrified wizard, who was then secured by Tuck onto Spritewing's back.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">Vitus and Custodio used spells (Sustain, Lesser Vigor) to help allies recover lost strength.</li> </ol>As the retreat began, the second Loyalist wave arrived, led by Fanatic Commander Kellam Black. Kellam and two archers engaged the Exemplars, though Rockhorn immediately entangled Kellam with a Tanglefoot Bag. Vincenzo’s attempt to erect a stone wall to block the corridor failed due to the Ancients’ defenses. Kellam quickly broke free of the entanglement and attacked Tim, but the Exemplars managed to maintain the line and continue the evacuation.<h3>Exemplars' Spell Enhancements (Active at Time of Retreat/Final Action Cited)</h3>The active protective and enhancing spells mentioned for the Exemplars, based on the narrative and provided spell lists:<table style='width: 100%'><tr><td style='width: 50.0000%'>Character</td><td style='width: 50.0000%'></td></tr><tr><td style='width: 50.0000%'>Vitus </td><td style='width: 50.0000%'>Avoid Planar Effects (64 rounds remaining), Mass Lesser Vigor (13 rounds remaining), Bless (69 rounds remaining), Sustain (48 hours), Attune Form (48 hours), Entropic Shield (7 minutes, 8 rounds), Lesser Vigor (on Tim, 17 rounds)</td></tr><tr><td style='width: 50.0000%'>Tim (Sir Tymbeck)</td><td style='width: 50.0000%'>Protection From Fire (6 minutes, 2 rounds remaining), Lesser Vigor (from Vitus, 17 rounds remaining), Keen Edge (on weapon, from Falen)</td></tr><tr><td style='width: 50.0000%'>Rockhorn</td><td style='width: 50.0000%'>Benediction (56 minutes, 1 round remaining), Mass Lesser Vigor (13 rounds remaining), Bless (69 rounds remaining), Sustain (48 hours), Healing from Akos’s Healing Blast .</td></tr><tr><td style='width: 50.0000%'>Vincenzo</td><td style='width: 50.0000%'>Mass Lesser Vigor (13 rounds remaining), Bless (69 rounds remaining), Haste (Casting caused)</td></tr><tr><td style='width: 50.0000%'>Custodio </td><td style='width: 50.0000%'>Mass Lesser Vigor (13 rounds remaining), Bless (69 rounds remaining), Avoid Planar Effects (5 allies protected, likely expired/ending)</td></tr><tr><td style='width: 50.0000%'>Akos </td><td style='width: 50.0000%'>Wild Frenzy (used in Round 6/7 - duration unclear), Bless (69 rounds remaining), Antimagic Field (centered on miscast scroll, likely ending/ended).</td></tr><tr><td style='width: 50.0000%'>Falen </td><td style='width: 50.0000%'>No major defensive enhancements listed; relied on Dimension Stride boots and mental resilience.</td></tr><tr><td style='width: 50.0000%'></td><td style='width: 50.0000%'></td></tr><tr><td style='width: 50.0000%'></td><td style='width: 50.0000%'></td></tr></table></blockquote>

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