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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Menexenus" data-source="post: 3645564" data-attributes="member: 8951">Session 36: Ilthane and the Portal Guardian6th of Harvester.  The party had rushed out of the Whispering Cairn to confront the black dragon, Ilthane.  Alees found herself shaking uncontrollably at the sight of the powerful dragon.  Never in her days as a young thief had she considered the possibility that she might someday face a creature as powerful as this.  Part of her wanted to run, but she worked up the courage to stay and fight.  Killick flew towards the dragon and yelled out, "O powerful Ilthane, we understand your desire for revenge for the destruction of your egg in the care of the lizardmen in the Mistmarsh.  However, you should know that the egg was already infested with worms when we destroyed it.  So, if you are looking for those who killed your offspring, you should direct your anger at the Cult of Kyuss."    Ilthane responded, "Fool!  *I* am the one who placed the worms in the egg!  I *serve* Kyuss through his Oerthly prophet and general, Dragotha.  You will die because you ruined our plans.  Die now, in Kyuss's name!"  With that, Alexander emerged from the Cairn and cast Ice Storm on the dragon.  Ilthane flew away from the spot where the chunks of ice were still falling from the sky and cast a spell on herself.  Alexander recognized (with some disappointment) that the spell she cast was Shield.  So he grasped his Empower Rod, causing it to glow, and cast a Fireball at her.  The dragon angled her wings to avoid some of the damage.  Now that the dragon was in the air, Alees and Katawan resorted to crossbows.  Killick flew back away from the dragon and began casting a spell.  Thorash cast a Flame Strike at the dragon, causing it to screech in pain.  Tarric flew toward the dragon, ready to confront it.    Seeing that Killick was still in the middle of casting a spell, the dragon flew toward him and bit him as it flew by, causing him to lose the spell.  Alees and Katawan continued shooting.  Tarric flew up behind the dragon, but the dragon noticed his approach and turned around to attack the onrushing fighter.  It bit him, knocking him off his stride and causing serious damage.  The dragon's momentum carried it away from Tarric, but it performed a wingover and turned to face him.  However, rather than attacking the fighter, it shot a line of acidic green spittle at Alexander and Killick.  Both were struck by the acid, but both shrugged off the damage due to the preparatory spells they had cast before the battle.  Thorash attempted to dispel the Shield effect on the dragon, but Alexander recognized that the dwarf had mispronounced the final syllable of the incantation, rendering it virtually powerless.  Tarric moved closer to the dragon and unleashed his full fury upon it, slicing into its scaly hide.  Alexander grasped his Empower Rod, causing it to glow, and then shot a beam of black energy from his fingertip.  However, the energy danced across the dragon's scales and dissipated.      The dragon's momentum carried it past Tarric.  It made a wide turn to the left, back towards the party.  Once again, it shot a stream of acid at Alexander and Killick.  This time, some of the damage got through Killick's protections.  Tarric flew down to the ground next to Thorash and asked for healing.  Alexander grasped his Empower Rod for the third time, and once again a beam of black energy shot out towards the black dragon.  But this time the energy seemed to have an effect, and the dragon seemed slightly weaker and less powerful.  Having no other way to attack the airborn target, Alees and Katawan continued using their crossbows to no effect.  Thorash cast a healing spell on Tarric.    The dragon noticed that many of its targets were grouped together on the ground, so it swooped in low and landed right next to Tarric, Thorash, and Alexander, chomping at Alexander as it flew over him.  Tarric stepped up and slashed at the dragon while Thorash cast a second Flame Strike.  Now that the dragon was on the ground, Katawan charged at it but missed.  Alees moved up to try to sneak attack it.  Killick ordered Grimlock to threaten its flank while he continued hurling small orbs of magical flame at it.  Alexander tumbled out of the dragon's reach and cast a spell on his dagger.  The dragon spread his attacks to Tarric, Thorash, Alees, and Grimlock.  The party continued attacking it from all sides.  When needed, Alexander even tumbled back in to help threaten the dragon's flank.  The dragon turned its full attention to Tarric, but still the squire of Holy Shielding held fast, withstanding the dragon's full attack.  Katawan used his spring attack ability to remain out of the dragon's reach.  He also attempted to stun it with his blows, but he was unsuccessful.  Thorash continued healing Tarric.  The dragon continued raining blows down on Tarric, hitting him but not incapacitating him.    Realizing that the dwarf was undoing much of the damage that she was inflicting on Tarric, the dragon turned her attention to the wands in Thorash's hands.  She sundered one and then the other.  In response, the dwarf shot a beam of Searing Light into the dragon's scaly hide.  Another of Killick's flaming orbs struck home, causing additinal damage to the embattled dragon.  The dragon focused all of its attacks on Tarric once more.  This time, without healing support from the party's cleric, Tarric was brought low.  Seeing that the party's fighter was down, Katawan threw his last Fireball bead at the dragon in an act of desperation, but the explosion had no effect on her.  Rather than following up on her victory over Tarric, the dragon disengaged from the party and shot another line of acid at Killick, wounding him again.  She seemed to be trying to get her distance from the party.  Now that Thorash was out of melee range of the dragon, he drew a scroll and cast Dispel Magic at her again, hoping once again to drop her Shield effect.  When Alexander realized that Thorash had cast the spell more proficiently this time, he drew his Wand of Magic Missiles and fired it at the dragon, hoping that the Shield was down.  It was indeed.  The Magic Missiles slammed into the dragon's skull, knocking it unconscious.  Alexander ran up to the dragon and continued casting Magic Missiles at it until he was sure that it was dead.    Tarric was quickly revived and the party celebrated its victory!  Alees worked on removing the dragon's head as a trophy while Tarric, Alexander, and Killick flew into town.  Tarric and Killick flew to the newly ruined militia barracks just outside town.  Melinde, the paladin of Heironeous, was in a state of shock as she tended to over a dozen wounded.  She was grateful to see Tarric and Killick and to hear the news that the dragon was dead.  Killick did what he could to assist the wounded, as Tarric asked if there were any other survivors.  Melinde shook her head no.  She told him that when the dragon attacked, Captain Trask ordered them to form up for battle.  He knew that they wouldn't stand a chance against it, but they hoped that they could buy the civilians some time to flee or hide.  As she described the horrific efficiency with which the Captain, the High Priest of Heironeous, and most of their friends were cut down by the marauding dragon, she finally broke down and took refuge on Tarric's shoulder.  She blubbered that she was in charge because she was the only officer left.  She cried that she didn't know what to do.  Tarric shared in her pain and comforted her.  Tarric recalled that Melinde had been famous for her sunny and cheerful disposition when he had been a member of the militia.  She was always an optimist and always had a smile on her face.  So it was all the more difficult to see her overwhelmed by grief and despair.  It brought home the seriousness of the events that had taken place and put the party's victory over the dragon into perspective.      After Killick was done assisting the wounded and after Melinde had had time to regain her composure, Killick asked if Merris Sandovar, the militia's scout and his old mentor, was still alive.  She said that he was the luckiest of them all.  He had been out on a scouting mission when the dragon attacked.  She told Killick where to find him.  When he did find him, he and his old mentor embraced.  After exchanging news and pleasantries, Killick asked Merris to deliver a message to Nogwier, the High Druid of the Bronzewood Lodge, informing him of the party's progress and asking for an update.  Seeming happy to finally have something useful to do, Merris said he would return by dusk the following day.    Meanwhile, Alexander had flown into town to see what was left of Allustan's house.  It was completely destroyed.  After some asking around, he was able to find Mick, one of Allustan's apprentices.  Mick recognized Alexander immediately and seemed impressed and envious of his newfound power.  Mick reminisced with Alexander about how they had both been lowly servants just a few short months ago.  Alexander brought him back to the present and asked him about where Allustan had gone and what he had taken with him.  Mick described that when the dragon attacked, it landed in the town square and asked for Allustan by name.  The clerics of the Church of St. Cuthbert, led by Father Jierian, had filed out of the church to face the threat, but they were quickly cut down by the great wyrm.  With the sounds of screaming and crying all around them, Allustan had prepared to face the dragon by casting some defensive spells on himself.  He told Mick that he was going to try to lead the dragon away from town and that Mick should run.  Mick said that he followed his master's instructions, and he never looked back to find out what happened.  Alexander asked Mick about Allustan's activities at the Whispering Cairn prior to the dragon's attack.  Mick confirmed that Allustan had been excavating a collapsed passage in the Cairn.  Allustan had confided that he thought there might be a portal leading to another, possibly more important, Wind Duke Cairn.  He had found the portal only a couple days before the dragon attacked.  Allustan had been researching it carefully before entering it to make sure he was prepared for any challenges he might face.  Mick could not be sure that Allustan had entered the portal, but he thought that it made sense that Allustan might go looking there for something to fight the dragon with.    When the rest of the party finally arrived in town with Ilthane's head in tow, the town's survivors erupted in celebration.  Since the Governor-Mayor and the mine managers were no where to be found, Allustan had disappeared, and the High Priest of Hieroneous, Father Jierian, and Captain Trask had all been killed by the dragon, all of the traditional authority figures in town were gone.  So the townspeople naturally turned to the party for leadership.  Alexander gave the townspeople permission to sift through the ruined buildings and sell anything of value to finance a rebuilding effort.  Killick advised them that they should focus on keeping at least one mine active so that they would continue to receive Greyhawk's protection.    Alees inquired about Killian's father.  No one knew where he was, but since he was a teamster by trade, he might have been away on a delivery when the dragon attacked.  Killick used his healing arts to help his party gain the benefits of long-term care.  The Feral Dog Tavern was being used as a make-shift hospital.  So most of its rooms were full of the sick and the dying.  However, out of gratitude, the townspeople insisted that the best and largest suite at the inn be reserved for the party so that they could rest and recuperate.  Later that night, Alexander had a bit of insomnia and noticed that Alees was not in her bed.     7th of Harvester.  The next day was bleak.  A few people succumbed to their injuries and died, but not as many as would have died if Killick had not offered his assistance.  The party healed up as best it could in preparation for an expedition to find Allustan.  The party asked Alexander if they might take one more day to rest and recuperate before they ventured after his former master.  Alexander reasoned that, since Allustan had been gone for 2 full days already, he was either dead or safe but in hiding.  Either way, an extra day of recuperation shouldn't make a big difference.  So the party chose to recover for another day and leave to find Allustan the following morning.      Alexander spent the day sifting through the rubble of Allustan's home, trying to find a book or a journal or some papers that might help the party find Allustan.  Although he found many books and papers, he did not find any that would be of immediate use.  Alexander gave all of the books and papers that he did find to Mick for safe keeping.Just before dusk, Merris returned and delivered Nogwier's response to Killick.  After receiving Merris's message privately, Killick shared the following information with the party.  Ilthane has been spotted flying north away from the Mistmarsh on a number of occasions, prompting the belief that her true lair is somewhere north of Nyr Dyv.  Additionally, Nogwier has uncovered some ancient druidic legends that seem related to the fight to prevent the Age of Worms.  Apparently, there was an ancient sect of druids, known as the Order of the Storm, who combatted an earlier attempt by Kyuss to bring forth the Age of Worms.  They banished Kyuss and were tasked with keeping his demonic minions in check.  The remnants of Kyuss's powerful army were contained in a part of Rift Canyon now known as the Wormcrawl Fissure.  Over the centuries, the Order of the Storm seems to have died out and it is unknown whether any of its members maintain the vigil.  The party discussed briefly whether they should go directly to the Wormcrawl Fissure or try to recover Allustan, but it was quickly decided that helping Allustan was the more immediate goal.    Alexander noticed that, once again, Alees was not in her bed when he woke up in the middle of the night.     8th of Harvester.  After resting, recuperating, and rememorizing spells, the party ventured back to the Whispering Cairn to follow Allustan into the portal.  Katawan reminded the party of what he had experienced when he had tried to enter the portal before: the portal was narrow, filled with a dark soupy substance that made vision of any kind impossible, and blocked by some foul creature with claws.  Tarric went in first.  Others tried to follow, but the way was blocked by Tarric, who seemed to be fighting something directly ahead.  After a short time, Tarric was no longer blocking the way, so Thorash entered.  For a short time, he was also blocking the way as he seemed to be doing battle with something directly ahead.  Then he was gone, too.  So Killick moved in to take his place.  He immediately popped back out screaming that the creature inside had defeated both Tarric and Thorash by grappling them and that someone else needed to step into the breach.  When no one else volunteered, Alexander drew his dagger and jumped in.  He stepped out moments later to allow Katawan in.  However, Katawan also fell prey to the portal's guardian.  Killick stepped in and Alexander cast Dimension Door to appear on the far side of the unknown creature, flanking it.  Killick struck it with his staff and Alexander struck it with a casting of Magic Missile, finally felling the foul beast.    The party stabilized its unconscious members and dragged the beast's carcass out into the light of day.  They saw a horrific undead creature resembling a ghoul, but much more powerful.  The party considered whether they should press on or rest yet again before actually entering the unknown cairn that lay beyond the portal.</blockquote>

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