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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Silver Moon" data-source="post: 3993438" data-attributes="member: 8530">Chapter 18, "The Big Cheese", July 15th, 1005: Tao convinces the group that staying too long in this room would be suicidal, as it will only give the enemy more time to regroup. Hherrmyie and Phuddipeduzh both grab some old mattresses, and use them as shields as they head back down the hallway into a barrage of arrows. Serita casts a "Warp Wood" on the bows of the enemy, giving the two fighters a free round to drop the mattresses and charge. They are followed by the remainder of the party and a major fight follows. The floor is soon littered by the bodies of six hobgoblins , two gnoll and a human. Another group of troops, mostly hobgoblin, then charge into the room. The human leader of the additional forces orders his men to "Not engage the enemy until ordered to." He then challenges Phuddipeduzh to a one-on-one duel to decide the fate of the group. Phuddi accepts. The duel lasts for several rounds, during which time the rest of the party all watch, while conspicuously positioning themselves near the enemy. As soon as Phuddipeduzh manages to "snicker-snack" with his V-blade the others lash into the troops. Several hobgoblins try to escape, only to be stopped by a Web cast by Kharole. The archers then shoot them down. One is kept alive, to lead the group to King Kohlorahdooh's bedchamber. Natasha detects the lock on the door as being trapped. Klaaze is too impatient to let her try to open it, and smashes the door open with his shoulder. The group charges into the room, waking up the former King. Kohlorahdooh does not appear overly worried. He pulls down a rope near his bed, and the group hears the sound of bells ringing in the distance. He announces that reinforcements are on the way. Mark and Lysdashi push furniture against the door to bar it shut. Phuddi moves in towards Kohlorahdooh. The Lord then rips off his nightgown, revealing himself to be fully armed and armored. He tells Phuddi that he has been expecting them. He says that he is a 12th level fighter, so it is best for the whole group to just surrender while they still have the chance. He then thanks them for bringing him the remainder of the Rod. Lysdashi makes some rather crude comments to that, indicating that the group has no intention of surrendering. Phuddi and Kohlorahdooh begin to fight. The cramped quarters of the room do not allow the others to get in very close. Kharole casts a Magic Missile onto him, but it appears to have no effect. Serita casts a Heat Metal onto his armor. Kohlorahdooh gets three very good slashes into Phuddi, greatly weakening him. Kohlorahdooh's next two slashes are at Klaaze and Hherrmyie, both hitting. Phuddi get a Cure Light Wounds from Serita, and then returns to the battle. Kohlorahdooh's armor starts to heat up. As Mark tries to get in closer, Kohlorahdooh's armor starts to streatch, then breaks off completely as the man transforms into a giant wererat. The rat lashes out two more sword swipes, cutting into both Hherrmyie and Mark. This also gives Phuddipeduzh time to move in from the side. Phuddi gets in a good swipe into the rat's side. Kohlorahdooh dives at him, and Phuddi jumps to the side. The rat bites into the closest person to him, Serita. Phuddi then swivels around, and lands a perfect hit (natural 20) with the vorpal blade into Kohlorahdooh's neck. THE GROUP ERUPTS IN AN EXTREMELY LOUD CHEER! The wererat's decapitated body reverts to human form Lysdashi and Tao barracade the door. Serita casts her remaining cures on Hherrmyie and herself. The others grab Kohlorahdooh's sword and ring. The Rod leads Klaaze to a hidden chamber housing the final two pieces of the Rod of the Seven Parts. [DM’s Note #29: For some reason the group is surprised that Kohlorahdooh managed to find and assemble the two pieces, especially since they managed to find four in the same time that he only found one. This was a pre-timed event (and they had taken too long) but also probably a good thing that he found these instead of them, as it was the putting together the sixth and seventh pieces that cuased the Lycanthropy.] The barracade at the door is broken down by a group of soldiers, being led by Bly, Kohlorahdooh's second-in-command, Bly. Lysdashi grabs the Sceptre of Wishes, and wishes the group away to a safe place. They all disappear.</blockquote>

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