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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Raunalyn" data-source="post: 6076824" data-attributes="member: 72670">Liberation of Raam: FinaleIt's been some time since I've done an update. Here's the recapAfter spending a short rest recuperating from the battle with the Queen’s mutated daughters, the group ventures further into the vault. They soon arrive at the treasury.The room is mostly bare, with a few piles of treasure and equipment. As the group moves in to investigate, two statues flanking the room come to life and attack. While the party fends them off, a door on the opposite end of the room opens, and Mallah, the Grand Vizier’s bodyguard, steps out.Ignoring all other enemies, Dryder leaps over tables and boxes, rushing to attack the abomination. His slash results in an eruption of ichor, which blinds him. The rest of the party, following his example, soon rush to assist, focusing on Mallah and swiftly killing her. The two golems are soon destroyed.After collecting their treasure, they group continues to explore the vault. They soon arrive in a large central chamber. On the north side is a large altar, which is flanked by two pools of blood. Atop the altar is a large book.Dryder, wielding the sword of Allkirk, suddenly goes into a rage as the blade bursts into flame. They soon realize that the blood is actually the blood of the Queen. As Kratas moves forward to investigate the book, a tendril of blood shoots out of the pool, wrapping around him. As he struggles to free himself, a creature emerges from the pool, a copy of him made of blood.This is one of my more devious traps that, sadly, was partially stymied by poor rolls on my part. Every time one of the group took damage from the tendrils, a copy of them would emerge and attack. These were only minions, but as more of the party got involved, more of the blood clones emerged. Not only that, the minions would explode into a burst of blood that would inflict necrotic damage on the party. Dryder soon figures out that fire and radiant damage harmed the blood, so he has Katrie throw Fire Hawks at the pools while he attacks the tendrils with Allkirk’s blade. Soon, the pools are defeated.The book is a journal of some type. It contains some of the rituals that Abalach-Re used to create her abominations, as well as notes on her plans and problems. Dryder and Kratas destroy the rituals.(The contents of the journal will be shown in a later posting.)Exploring further, they encounter two beings that are somewhat of a surprise. These are two floating heads, named Sacha of Arala and Wyan of Bodach. After a very humorous discussion with the group, where barbed insults were exchanged and questions about who the champions of Rajaat were (and even who Rajaat was), the party finds the entrance to the throne room. They wait until the signal is given.(Note: this is different than canon. Sacha and Wyan were captives of Kalak. However, I decided to take some creative license here with both of them, as well as with Rajaat. The conversation will be posted in a later article)The following morning, the group overhears Tectuktitlay discussing the future regency of the city with an unknown second party. Apparently, the reason why the second army was able to enter the city so easily was due to a traitor. Before the party can ascertain the identity of the second speaker, they hear a loud “boom” coming from within the palace. They hear Tectuktitlay order his soldiers to see what is happening. At this moment, the party pushes open the secret door and attacks.The Sorcerer King of Draj was entirely unprepared for the party’s assault. Having only a handful of guards in the room (and an Obsidian Golem), he was unable to call for help before the group attacked him. Katrie and Dryder were both able to rush in and lock down the sorcerer king in the surprise round, and the rest of the party was able to move into position to fend off his guards.This was an intense battle and a fitting climax to this story arch. The sorcerer king was a dangerous opponent, and his obsidian golem spent a round wreaking havoc among the group after he nearly stunned the entire party. Gundrek was able to shake this off quickly (damned Muls), but was seriously injured by Tectuktitlay and his guards. Eventually, the party corners the king, and Katrie rolls a critical hit, ripping out the king’s throat. The resulting wave of magical energy shatters the Obsidian Golem, knocks the party back, and causes the remaining guard to enter a berserker frenzy. But soon, the enemy is dead, and Dryder takes the time to remove the head of the Sorcerer King, just as the Grand Vizier bursts into the room with her guards.Motioning for the group to follow, she encourages Gundrek to hold the King’s head aloft. As they pass groups of people fighting, Gundrek shows each the head of Tectuktitlay. Arriving on the walls of the palace, the Grand Vizier shouts down to the throngs below, her voice amplified by magic.“Citizens of Raam. Know that the tyrant Tectuktitlay is dead. Know that, again, the city is now under our rule. Those Draji soldiers and citizens who wish to leave, you may throw down your weapons and leave this city, and none will attack you. If you stay, you will receive the same fate as your former king.”She motions at Gundrek to hold up the head.“This former slave was freed so that he could help defend this city. He was cast down, murdered, then returned to us so that he could defeat his killer. We should all learn from his example.As of this day, all slaves are released from their servitude. They will be given full citizenship, along with those who were unfortunate enough to be born into the lowest caste. The slaves and the Unclean will be treated as full citizens, paid as full citizens, so that we may rebuild our city and make it the most prosperous of all the city-states.As for those who helped us liberate our nation, I grant them the title of Nawab, along with lands and holdings appropriate to that title. They will also be granted a seat on the new council that is, even now, being formed. Finally, know that I am not your queen, Abalach Re. I am her daughter, Jyssiri, taught to rule as a decoy. However, I have accepted the burden of her rule, and together, we will succeed.“Cheers and shouts of “Jyssiri” echo from below.The day is now the 28th day of Morrow, in the Season of High Sun, in the Year of Guthay’s Defiance, 190th King's Age. In the skies above, the comet known as the Messenger can be seen.</blockquote>

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