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Message: <blockquote data-quote="James McMurray" data-source="post: 247007" data-attributes="member: 743">They find Amastacia in her quarters above the Lucky Merchant Inn, one of the finer inns on the edge of the Gladiator and Merchant sectors. After explaining what happened, they talk Amastacia into heading off to the jeweler’s district to find some more (and larger) diamonds. She returns the next day, having found just barely enough. She informs the group that the diamond market here has been nearly depleted by them, and that 5,000gp diamonds are completely unavailable. She had to go to 5 different gem cutters to get these. She can get more though, but it will cost 7,500 each, as she will have to enlist the aid of a friend in creating them.Also, a new mining company opened up somewhere in the city, but the location of its offices is a closely guarded secret, and they are rumored to be having trouble producing. How they expected to produce in a mine in the center of a vast metropolis is anyone’s guess.The group teleports William’s body to Greyhawk city, where Billy and Oskar meet with Jacob Sunspear, the High Priest of Pelor. Although he is currently not in need of any work, he understands that the business with Acererak is of great importance, so he does call upon Pelor’s power to True Resurrect William Siege. Billy and Oskar’s excellent negotiation skills get them a “rock bottom” price of one Spear +1 of Spell Storing, one Belt of Counterspelling, and a Lawful Keen Dwarven Waraxe +3.Over the course of the next few days, William revives his fallen comrades. They then begin to prepare for a return assault. With extended spells and polymorphs (into trolls for some of the combatants), the party prepares as well as they can. Their last preparation is in the form of calling to Heironious for an Ally. As William finishes the spell, a 9’ tall winged woman with emerald skin and a sword taller then the dwarves steps through a shimmering portal. “I have heard the call, what is your request.”“We need your help in fighting a great evil.”“May I have a few minutes?” When William nods agreement, Shyla the Planetar moves to the far end of the room and drops to the floor in prayer. 15 minutes later she returns. “Heironious has deigned for me to accompany you, but there is the matter of payment. In exchange for my help, you are to return the Gem of Arlig to its rightful owners.”“What and where is this gem?” William asks.“It is in the pommel of your friend’s sword.”Kargur is greatly disheartened at this news, and responds to the group’s questioning looks, “We liberated it a while back from an evil sorcerer. It is what makes my sword a Holy Avenger.”Seeing the look on his face, Shyla tells him, “We understand your trepidation. There will be no hard feelings if you do not wish to do this.” Kargur’s only reply is “I can’t refuse.”Shyla, seeing his doubt, tells him “Heironious teaches that True Strength comes from within.”Kargur’s reply is a bitter sounding, “Then you’ll be going into the fight without your sword?” The Planetar looks saddened, but does not respond.They agree to return the gem after the battle with the frosty undead, and Gate back to the City of Moil to the antechamber outside the beast’s lair. Almost as soon as they arrive, another large sleet storm appears in the entrance to the thing’s room, blocking all sight. The Planetar summons an Elder Fire elemental to fight this frozen fiend, as does William. William also summons an Astral Deva, knowing that its mace of disruption might be able to get a lucky blow in on the thing.The Deva, being immune to cold, charges ahead, but stops short of entering the room. The elementals are also sent ahead, while Galrond casts Mass Haste and Greater dispelling at the storm.This time the battle starts in favor of the party, as their sheer numbers give them the advantage. Billy raises an anti-magic field just in case, but drops it after a few rounds when it no longer seems necessary.Kargur manages to deal the lion’s share of the damage during this battle, as his sword cries out for revenge. Lanis’ arrows also scream into the thing. Although they hit consistently, do not seem to harm the beast much, bouncing off his icy shell. Oskar too is in the fray, his axe hitting every so often. The summoned creatures attack as well, using their reach to great advantage. None of them seems capable of piercing the thing’s icy shell however.In less than a minute, the cold aura of the beast and a couple of cones of cold from it destroy one of the summoned creature, but William and the Planetar keep everyone else standing with Mass Heal spells. Although the Winter Wight manages to hit a few of its foes, the protective spells placed upon them prevent all but the Deva from catching on fire. Kargur’s assault is redoubled as he begins to sacrifice his own life force to power his blows.Galrond, for want of anything better to do, begins to blast the thing with maximized sacrifice spells, but it shrugs them off. Billy also tries spells, which also fail to harm it, until the end.As the battle rages, Galrond gets a lucky shot with a spell and sends the beast reeling. It redoubles its efforts to set people on fire, as their burning souls feed it, but is still unable. Moments later, blows from Kargur, Oskar, and Lanis send the beast to its knees. Billy sends a massive barrage of ten magic missiles hurtling into the thing, and Heironious shines upon them as they all hit and shatter the creature into a hundred pieces. The party breathes a sigh of relief, and leans against walls to rest.Shyla steps up to Kargur and holds out her hand. As he places his sword in it, she grabs the gem and twists, popping it free. The grief on Kargur’s face is plain, as he feels Heironious has taken everything from him, first his shield, then his sword. As the Planetar leaves she says again, “True strength comes from within. Although I did not leave my blade behind, you will notice that I did not use it during that battle. You are a warrior, your sword arm is your strength. Not your sword.”</blockquote>

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