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<blockquote data-quote="Uller" data-source="post: 316057" data-attributes="member: 413"><p><strong>August 17, 2002 – Devils and Angels and Dragons…Oh My!</strong></p><p></p><p>August 17, 2002 – Devils and Angels and Dragons…Oh My!</p><p>[obvious plot hole to accommodate a PC for a guest player]</p><p></p><p>“Greetings! I trust I’ve not missed the fun.” Turning the companions saw a young (relatively speaking) elf. Approaching them. He was clad in black leather armor covered with silvery studs and outfitted as an archer with a shortbow in his right hand and a shortsword sheathed on his right side. His ruddy-brown hair matched the rusty iron landscape and his gray cloak provided camouflage that could make him nearly invisible in this environment. “I am Erryth, servant of Terylath Silverblade and Hunter of Elhanan. Terylath bade me to seek you out and join you in your endeavor.”</p><p></p><p>“What can you do for us?” queried Ilde skeptically.</p><p></p><p>“Well…I can shoot. I can make myself scarce when I’ve a need. And there are few places I can’t get into or out of unseen.”</p><p></p><p>“That sounds useful. Besides, this task is best left to the elves,” said Dainis. So they all agreed to allow Erryth to join the party.</p><p>[/plot hole]</p><p></p><p>So there they stood…the doors were open and the iron guardian lay in a heap upon the threshold. A warm breeze blew out of the structure and the halls within echoed with the ringing of many hammers. But the sharp ears of Ilde heard another sound…a low guttural growl of many creatures nearby from just inside the fortress. This was a different growl than one from one of the steel cats. Then came the sound of many creatures sniffing…then silence. </p><p></p><p>Just inside the main door, there was a small alcove with a large passage (10’ wide by 20’ high) branching off diagonally into the fortress to the right. On the left was a set of large double doors. Dainis (still in the form of a formian Myrmarch) approached the doors cautiously with Ilde right behind and slowly opened them. There, standing at the ready for her were two creatures. The first was a massive reptilian beast with light blue scales and 10 long necks, each ending in a head that featured a mouth full of razor sharp teeth. The beast was fitted with a massive collar that was attached to a chain fastened to the back wall of the room. Standing next to and behind the beast was an 18-foot tall humanoid creature. It appeared to be a cloud giant, but had a bestial visage, large curving horns like a ram, one hand was a wicked looking claw and the other was replaced by many tentacles. Its legs were like the hind quarters of a goat and it’s feet were cloven. It was richly dressed and held in its hands a great black morning star that was wreathed in yellow flames.</p><p></p><p>Dainis did not recognize this creature, but she could feel her armor willing her to charge it and engage it. It knew what it was…the foul offspring of a giant mated with some sort of devil or demon. The hydra had similar infernal features…cloven feet and eyes like wells of loathsome darkness. The giant uttered some obscene words in its morbid language. Dainis and Ilde both felt their life’s blood being sucked from their bodies. Their skin became tight and cracked as if dried by a great heat. But they were strong and it’s wicked enchantment did not prevail over them.</p><p></p><p>Dainis resisted the urging of her armor, but then of her own will she leapt past the hydra dodging its attacks and struck at the giant. Her rapier slipped through to its thigh, a mere scratch to the giant, but to Dainis the wound was far more grievous. A terrible chill ran through her blade and crept over her entire body, sapping her strength. The hydra moved to block the door, its multitude of heads flailing about biting at Dainis as it moved. Then several of its heads turned toward Ilde who was still just out of reach and each sent a spout of frigid air and mist at her. She ducked behind the door, avoiding most of the blast.</p><p></p><p>The giant and Dainis continued their fight, with Dainis fighting off attacks from the hydra as well. The giant swung its massive weapon at her but she lithely stepped aside and the club tore a mighty gap in the metal floor, sending an echo crashing throughout the building. He swung over and over, each time she avoided the attack. Again she stabbed at the giant and again she felt that dreadful chill as her vigor drained away. </p><p></p><p>Majestic said he believed the hydra to be a Lernaean hydra…it’s body is immune to physical damage and the only way to slay it is to cut off its heads. But new heads would quickly replace the old unless the stub of the neck was burned away. Ilde, Erryth, Larkin and Henrich all charged at the beast, hewing at its many necks like scythes at the harvest. Ilde seemed especially adept at this, severing neck after neck. Many heads came off, but many more grew back. Erryth and Larkin tried to burn the stumps with torches, but the thing seemed resistant to fire! Majestic had but one spell prepared that could do the job so he moved into position and waited. </p><p></p><p>Meanwhile, the giant had become thoroughly frustrated with Dainis. He simply could not land a telling blow on the elf in Myrmarch form. She either dodged his attacks or the thick hide of her formian shape deflected his morningstar. However he sensed that she was now very weak. So he dropped his weapon and leapt at her. He easily took hold and pinning her and choking her. Dainis new that her only hope was to somehow gain some strength, so she tried to turn into a Fire Giant. At first she failed because of the efforts of her attacker, but a second try worked. This distracted and confused the cloud giant but still she could not break free. Her vision was fading as her enemy continued to squeeze and pummel her. Death was near.</p><p></p><p>At last the other heroes had sliced off all the heads of the hydra. Majestic spoke the arcane words to summon a fire spirit. A small flame appeared in his hand and he hurled it at the still writhing body. A massive ball of fire erupted in the room and spilled out into the hall. A terrible stench of burnt flesh filled everyone’s nostrils and the now headless hydra rose up, took a step and collapsed to the side. Dead. </p><p></p><p>Larkin and Erryth began firing madly at the giant as it strangled Dainis in hopes of driving it off of her before it was too late. Erryth’s arrows sunk deep into its neck and it knew that it was finished. There would not be time to kill Dainis. So it stood up, backed up and again unclean words flowed from it’s foul mouth. It smiled and pointed at Dainis as fever spread through her body, weakening her further. </p><p></p><p>Now Erryth and Larkin let fly with another hail of arrows. The giant smiled as the bolts pierced his body. At last he staggered and crumpled to the ground in a heap of lifelessness.</p><p></p><p>Quickly the companions moved into the room and closed and barred the door. All were exhausted by the fray and Dainis was near death. “We should leave at once to rest and heal,” ordered Henrich as he struggled to catch his breath, his age showing. </p><p></p><p>“They’ll know we were here,” disagreed Majestic. “The door will be even more heavily guarded next time we try to enter. We should press on and strike while they are unaware.” </p><p></p><p>But the group had had enough. No one other than Majestic believed they could press on and hope to win the day. So Henrich decided they would go a few miles away and camp. At least they could rest, heal and prepare new magics. Then they would have Majestic transport them back into the fortress, hopefully past any guard.</p><p></p><p>But it did not work out quite so easily. They had camped for about 8 hours when the saw it: a rather large blue dragon winging its way past them towards the fortress. Unfortunately, they had not taken proper precautions to hide their camp and it easily spotted them as well. They quickly girded themselves for a fight, but the wyrm seemed to not be in the mood for battle. Instead of closing as they expected, it turned and began circling at about 1000’ away. Larkin fired some arrows at it, but all fell short or glanced harmlessly of its hide. It increased the distance of its patrol and continued circling.</p><p></p><p>“It must be marking our position,” observed Majestic.</p><p></p><p>“This could be bad,” remarked Erryth. “There is probably more where that one came from,” he continued, pointing out the obvious.</p><p></p><p>And there were…The party spell casters continued preparing spells while the others stood guard. It was agreed that if the enemy made an assault on their camp, Majestic would teleport everyone to the gate back to Rigus and they would make their escape to that city. After about 30 minutes the attack came. Majestic’s Psuedo Dragon companion and Dainis spotted a second blue dragon closing rapidly. It was about 500 feet away. The others could not see it because it was shrouded by magic that only the eyes of these two could penetrate. </p><p></p><p>“We better go…now!” called Majestic. Immediately everyone began to circle around the wizard so they could make their escape, but escape would not be so easy. Suddenly a radiant being appeared in the sky, again only visible to Dainis and Majestic’s dragon. It was clad in black robes with bronze skin and long flowing black hair. Its wings were like that of a great bat and it held a trumpet in its hands. A greatsword rested in a sheath strapped to its back. It appeared neither male nor female. From this creature issued a stream of lightning. It struck Dainis and leapt from her onto all of her companions injuring all of them except Erryth who was able to duck out of the way completely. </p><p></p><p> Then another being appeared in the sky on the other side of the group. This one was taller than the first. It was a creature of terrible shadow and was wreathed in flame. Again only Dainis and the dragon could see it, but the others could only discern the light from it’s fire. It’s wings were smoke the color of pitch and fire ran the length of them. From it issued a stream of fiery bolts that landed amid the party and exploded with a terrible heat. The party scattered to duck for cover. Again most were injured. Dainis was especially weakened. They all scrambled back towards their circle. The dragons were both closing fast. They must go or death would be their prize. At last they linked hands and Majestic called upon his power and they were gone. </p><p></p><p>Now they found themselves before the gate to Rigus. Immediately Majestic sensed they were being watched. “They know we are here. Quickly! Through the gate!” With that, he lead the others back to the cave in Rigus. Without wasting a moment they all headed for the stair case to get up to the city, but time was against them. Within seconds, the angel and the devil stepped through the gate. There would be no escape. Their choice was to fight or to die. </p><p></p><p>Majestic turned his magic on that which the fiendish pair were using to hide themselves. He failed to reveal the angel, but the devil was shown to the party. Larkin and Erryth began firing fletched shafts into the fiery thing and Henrich summoned his mount, Bucephalus and moved to where he could charge into glorious battle. Dainis launched a wave of frigid cold at the gate, harming the devil a little, but the angel was completely unscathed. But the devil was clearly beginning to weaken. </p><p></p><p>At first he stepped forward to attack in his rage and pride…but then reason took hold over his malevolent spirit. He opened a gate to Hell and through it stepped a smaller devil. This one stood about 12 feet tall and was covered in wicked claws and spikes with a long spiked tail. It had in its hand a long terrible spear and appeared gleeful at the prospect of a fight. Then the fiery devil made his exit back through the gate to Acheron.</p><p></p><p>The fallen angel also realized he was probably now outmatched…but he’d not be denied a little fun of his own. He rose into the air and spread his wings while uttering horrible blasphemies. Erryth was closest to him and he pointed at him and said in a booming voice “I now condemn thee to Hell, child of Elhanan!” Erryth (who could not see the angel) paused for a moment. He knew it was him the voice was addressing and utter dread crept into his heart. In an instant, his entire body was wreathed in blue and red flames. He fell to his knees in agony. There was a flash and a crack of thunder…and he was gone. Nothing at all was left of him other than a pile of ash. With a look of satisfaction as one who has just smashed a fly who had been annoying, him the angel turned and reentered the gate.</p><p></p><p>The second devil saw his allies abandon him, but it mattered little…it was going to fight and it had little care for the outcome. Everyone braced themselves for a desperate mêlée, but it was not to be….Majestic pointed at it, said some secret words of the ancient language and a thin ray of green light issued from his finger tip and struck the creature in the chest. It was covered by a green light and utterly consumed.</p><p></p><p>Weary and weak, the group made its way up to the streets of Rigus. Dainis was so fragile at this point from fever and the fight with the giant that if she allowed her magic to wear off she knew she would be completely unable to move. Even now, her armor and gear weighed her down heavily. They would have to find a healer if there was any hope of her being able to help them in a second attempt.</p><p></p><p>[second big plot hole to make Dainis playable and allow the guest player to continue to participate]</p><p>Fortunately, Sorvis (the dwarven Thane who initiated this whole expedition) had sent a team of dwarves to Rigus to help support the party in their endeavor to find and retrieve the soul of his son. Among these was a powerful cleric who was able to completely heal the party and even retrieve the body and soul of Erryth from Hell through the use of very powerful magics. In return, the party had to make a “small” donation to the Temple of Thrum.</p><p>[/plot hole]</p><p></p><p>After about 24 hours they returned to Rigus, healed and strong and none-the-worse-for-the-wear (if not a little wiser and more prepared for the dangers they would have to face). Majestic teleported them straight into the chamber where they had encountered the giant and the hydra only to discover that the enemy raises their dead too! The hydra’s still-headless-body had been dragged over to a corner so it was out of the way, but the giant was lying on its bed, alive and awake! Fortunately it was completely unprepared for a fight. Before it could scarcely move, Erryth and Larkin had again pierced it with several arrows. It toppled out of its resting place as it tried to reach for its weapon, but dropped down dead before it could get a hold of it or defend itself.</p><p></p><p>“This time, stay dead!” laughed Erryth.</p><p></p><p>So now they began to explore deeper into the fortress. Down the main passage they proceeded, carefully opening each door to see what lay inside. The second door Erryth opened revealed a torture chamber. A humanoid creature whose body was wrapped in chains was torturing a female humanoid with wings and the tail of a snake. Both her scales and feathers appeared to have once been brightly colored, but were now dulled by blood stains. Fluttering over the scene was a small gray winged female humanoid dressed in robes, apparently supervising the chain wrapped creature’s efforts. Dainis was behind Erryth and saw the chain creature. Her armor immediately knew it to be a devil and overcame her. She charged into the room to attack. Erryth fired an arrow at the winged woman. His arrow hit her as Dainis reached the devil and attacked. Her rapier struck the creature in the back and she ran him completely through, nearly killing him in a single maddened blow. </p><p></p><p>The woman vanished and the devil backed away and animated all the chains in the room to slow down his attackers, but it was no use. Ilde ran in and finished dropped the creature with a final blow from her sword. Majestic dismissed the robed woman’s invisibility magic and the other began attacking her. Henrich struck her with his long lance. Now she brought down an impenetrable darkness and seemed to be looking for an escape. But there would be none. Larkin could hear her wings fluttering and launched arrows at her as rapidly as he could. Everyone could hear the twang of his bow string singing, the thwack of arrow on flesh and bone of three arrows landing true and the thud of a small lifeless body collapsing to the ground from a height of six or seven feet. Dainis fell upon the devil to “make sure it is dead” and Erryth freed the victim of the cruel duo. They retreated from the darkened room and into the hall so they could see again. </p><p></p><p>“I am Findula,” she said. She explained that she is a Lillend and a historian of her people. She was sent to investigate the missing souls of some of their forge masters. She was captured and brought here to be tortured (mainly for the pleasure of the two creatures they just fought). She said the master of the fortress is named Imperagon and he is responsible for the missing souls. He is building something but she does not know what.</p><p></p><p>The group offered to heal Findula in exchange for her help, but she declined. Her ordeal had shaken her and she just wanted to return home. They were ready to let her when Majestic pointed out that the front door is probably very heavily guarded by either those steel cats or far far worse. If they caught her, they would know something was amiss which would endanger the entire group.</p><p></p><p>So Henrich intimidated Findula into joining them. “You’ll be dead before you take a step from this place and then you will have doomed us all. You’ll stay with us and help us or I’ll slay you now and relieve you of your fear…” Findula grudgingly accepted.</p><p></p><p>So they continued on exploring the long passage. They found a lounge, lavishly decorated with a tapestry of a great red dragon…probably Angwyrm. Then they opened a door onto a large chamber that appeared to be a large apartment. A red curtain separated the room in half. In the half they could see, a large metal creature (different from the golem at the front door) stood guard in the center and an Ogre Mage (who was dressed in the rags of a slave for some reason) sat on a chair in the middle. Upon noticing the door opening, the ogre stood and began calling to someone behind the curtain and the metal man took up a fighting stance, ready to defend the denizens of the chamber…</p><p></p><p>They have 6 days and 20 hours remaining. </p><p></p><p>Next Game: Sept. 22nd</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Uller, post: 316057, member: 413"] [b]August 17, 2002 – Devils and Angels and Dragons…Oh My![/b] August 17, 2002 – Devils and Angels and Dragons…Oh My! [obvious plot hole to accommodate a PC for a guest player] “Greetings! I trust I’ve not missed the fun.” Turning the companions saw a young (relatively speaking) elf. Approaching them. He was clad in black leather armor covered with silvery studs and outfitted as an archer with a shortbow in his right hand and a shortsword sheathed on his right side. His ruddy-brown hair matched the rusty iron landscape and his gray cloak provided camouflage that could make him nearly invisible in this environment. “I am Erryth, servant of Terylath Silverblade and Hunter of Elhanan. Terylath bade me to seek you out and join you in your endeavor.” “What can you do for us?” queried Ilde skeptically. “Well…I can shoot. I can make myself scarce when I’ve a need. And there are few places I can’t get into or out of unseen.” “That sounds useful. Besides, this task is best left to the elves,” said Dainis. So they all agreed to allow Erryth to join the party. [/plot hole] So there they stood…the doors were open and the iron guardian lay in a heap upon the threshold. A warm breeze blew out of the structure and the halls within echoed with the ringing of many hammers. But the sharp ears of Ilde heard another sound…a low guttural growl of many creatures nearby from just inside the fortress. This was a different growl than one from one of the steel cats. Then came the sound of many creatures sniffing…then silence. Just inside the main door, there was a small alcove with a large passage (10’ wide by 20’ high) branching off diagonally into the fortress to the right. On the left was a set of large double doors. Dainis (still in the form of a formian Myrmarch) approached the doors cautiously with Ilde right behind and slowly opened them. There, standing at the ready for her were two creatures. The first was a massive reptilian beast with light blue scales and 10 long necks, each ending in a head that featured a mouth full of razor sharp teeth. The beast was fitted with a massive collar that was attached to a chain fastened to the back wall of the room. Standing next to and behind the beast was an 18-foot tall humanoid creature. It appeared to be a cloud giant, but had a bestial visage, large curving horns like a ram, one hand was a wicked looking claw and the other was replaced by many tentacles. Its legs were like the hind quarters of a goat and it’s feet were cloven. It was richly dressed and held in its hands a great black morning star that was wreathed in yellow flames. Dainis did not recognize this creature, but she could feel her armor willing her to charge it and engage it. It knew what it was…the foul offspring of a giant mated with some sort of devil or demon. The hydra had similar infernal features…cloven feet and eyes like wells of loathsome darkness. The giant uttered some obscene words in its morbid language. Dainis and Ilde both felt their life’s blood being sucked from their bodies. Their skin became tight and cracked as if dried by a great heat. But they were strong and it’s wicked enchantment did not prevail over them. Dainis resisted the urging of her armor, but then of her own will she leapt past the hydra dodging its attacks and struck at the giant. Her rapier slipped through to its thigh, a mere scratch to the giant, but to Dainis the wound was far more grievous. A terrible chill ran through her blade and crept over her entire body, sapping her strength. The hydra moved to block the door, its multitude of heads flailing about biting at Dainis as it moved. Then several of its heads turned toward Ilde who was still just out of reach and each sent a spout of frigid air and mist at her. She ducked behind the door, avoiding most of the blast. The giant and Dainis continued their fight, with Dainis fighting off attacks from the hydra as well. The giant swung its massive weapon at her but she lithely stepped aside and the club tore a mighty gap in the metal floor, sending an echo crashing throughout the building. He swung over and over, each time she avoided the attack. Again she stabbed at the giant and again she felt that dreadful chill as her vigor drained away. Majestic said he believed the hydra to be a Lernaean hydra…it’s body is immune to physical damage and the only way to slay it is to cut off its heads. But new heads would quickly replace the old unless the stub of the neck was burned away. Ilde, Erryth, Larkin and Henrich all charged at the beast, hewing at its many necks like scythes at the harvest. Ilde seemed especially adept at this, severing neck after neck. Many heads came off, but many more grew back. Erryth and Larkin tried to burn the stumps with torches, but the thing seemed resistant to fire! Majestic had but one spell prepared that could do the job so he moved into position and waited. Meanwhile, the giant had become thoroughly frustrated with Dainis. He simply could not land a telling blow on the elf in Myrmarch form. She either dodged his attacks or the thick hide of her formian shape deflected his morningstar. However he sensed that she was now very weak. So he dropped his weapon and leapt at her. He easily took hold and pinning her and choking her. Dainis new that her only hope was to somehow gain some strength, so she tried to turn into a Fire Giant. At first she failed because of the efforts of her attacker, but a second try worked. This distracted and confused the cloud giant but still she could not break free. Her vision was fading as her enemy continued to squeeze and pummel her. Death was near. At last the other heroes had sliced off all the heads of the hydra. Majestic spoke the arcane words to summon a fire spirit. A small flame appeared in his hand and he hurled it at the still writhing body. A massive ball of fire erupted in the room and spilled out into the hall. A terrible stench of burnt flesh filled everyone’s nostrils and the now headless hydra rose up, took a step and collapsed to the side. Dead. Larkin and Erryth began firing madly at the giant as it strangled Dainis in hopes of driving it off of her before it was too late. Erryth’s arrows sunk deep into its neck and it knew that it was finished. There would not be time to kill Dainis. So it stood up, backed up and again unclean words flowed from it’s foul mouth. It smiled and pointed at Dainis as fever spread through her body, weakening her further. Now Erryth and Larkin let fly with another hail of arrows. The giant smiled as the bolts pierced his body. At last he staggered and crumpled to the ground in a heap of lifelessness. Quickly the companions moved into the room and closed and barred the door. All were exhausted by the fray and Dainis was near death. “We should leave at once to rest and heal,” ordered Henrich as he struggled to catch his breath, his age showing. “They’ll know we were here,” disagreed Majestic. “The door will be even more heavily guarded next time we try to enter. We should press on and strike while they are unaware.” But the group had had enough. No one other than Majestic believed they could press on and hope to win the day. So Henrich decided they would go a few miles away and camp. At least they could rest, heal and prepare new magics. Then they would have Majestic transport them back into the fortress, hopefully past any guard. But it did not work out quite so easily. They had camped for about 8 hours when the saw it: a rather large blue dragon winging its way past them towards the fortress. Unfortunately, they had not taken proper precautions to hide their camp and it easily spotted them as well. They quickly girded themselves for a fight, but the wyrm seemed to not be in the mood for battle. Instead of closing as they expected, it turned and began circling at about 1000’ away. Larkin fired some arrows at it, but all fell short or glanced harmlessly of its hide. It increased the distance of its patrol and continued circling. “It must be marking our position,” observed Majestic. “This could be bad,” remarked Erryth. “There is probably more where that one came from,” he continued, pointing out the obvious. And there were…The party spell casters continued preparing spells while the others stood guard. It was agreed that if the enemy made an assault on their camp, Majestic would teleport everyone to the gate back to Rigus and they would make their escape to that city. After about 30 minutes the attack came. Majestic’s Psuedo Dragon companion and Dainis spotted a second blue dragon closing rapidly. It was about 500 feet away. The others could not see it because it was shrouded by magic that only the eyes of these two could penetrate. “We better go…now!” called Majestic. Immediately everyone began to circle around the wizard so they could make their escape, but escape would not be so easy. Suddenly a radiant being appeared in the sky, again only visible to Dainis and Majestic’s dragon. It was clad in black robes with bronze skin and long flowing black hair. Its wings were like that of a great bat and it held a trumpet in its hands. A greatsword rested in a sheath strapped to its back. It appeared neither male nor female. From this creature issued a stream of lightning. It struck Dainis and leapt from her onto all of her companions injuring all of them except Erryth who was able to duck out of the way completely. Then another being appeared in the sky on the other side of the group. This one was taller than the first. It was a creature of terrible shadow and was wreathed in flame. Again only Dainis and the dragon could see it, but the others could only discern the light from it’s fire. It’s wings were smoke the color of pitch and fire ran the length of them. From it issued a stream of fiery bolts that landed amid the party and exploded with a terrible heat. The party scattered to duck for cover. Again most were injured. Dainis was especially weakened. They all scrambled back towards their circle. The dragons were both closing fast. They must go or death would be their prize. At last they linked hands and Majestic called upon his power and they were gone. Now they found themselves before the gate to Rigus. Immediately Majestic sensed they were being watched. “They know we are here. Quickly! Through the gate!” With that, he lead the others back to the cave in Rigus. Without wasting a moment they all headed for the stair case to get up to the city, but time was against them. Within seconds, the angel and the devil stepped through the gate. There would be no escape. Their choice was to fight or to die. Majestic turned his magic on that which the fiendish pair were using to hide themselves. He failed to reveal the angel, but the devil was shown to the party. Larkin and Erryth began firing fletched shafts into the fiery thing and Henrich summoned his mount, Bucephalus and moved to where he could charge into glorious battle. Dainis launched a wave of frigid cold at the gate, harming the devil a little, but the angel was completely unscathed. But the devil was clearly beginning to weaken. At first he stepped forward to attack in his rage and pride…but then reason took hold over his malevolent spirit. He opened a gate to Hell and through it stepped a smaller devil. This one stood about 12 feet tall and was covered in wicked claws and spikes with a long spiked tail. It had in its hand a long terrible spear and appeared gleeful at the prospect of a fight. Then the fiery devil made his exit back through the gate to Acheron. The fallen angel also realized he was probably now outmatched…but he’d not be denied a little fun of his own. He rose into the air and spread his wings while uttering horrible blasphemies. Erryth was closest to him and he pointed at him and said in a booming voice “I now condemn thee to Hell, child of Elhanan!” Erryth (who could not see the angel) paused for a moment. He knew it was him the voice was addressing and utter dread crept into his heart. In an instant, his entire body was wreathed in blue and red flames. He fell to his knees in agony. There was a flash and a crack of thunder…and he was gone. Nothing at all was left of him other than a pile of ash. With a look of satisfaction as one who has just smashed a fly who had been annoying, him the angel turned and reentered the gate. The second devil saw his allies abandon him, but it mattered little…it was going to fight and it had little care for the outcome. Everyone braced themselves for a desperate mêlée, but it was not to be….Majestic pointed at it, said some secret words of the ancient language and a thin ray of green light issued from his finger tip and struck the creature in the chest. It was covered by a green light and utterly consumed. Weary and weak, the group made its way up to the streets of Rigus. Dainis was so fragile at this point from fever and the fight with the giant that if she allowed her magic to wear off she knew she would be completely unable to move. Even now, her armor and gear weighed her down heavily. They would have to find a healer if there was any hope of her being able to help them in a second attempt. [second big plot hole to make Dainis playable and allow the guest player to continue to participate] Fortunately, Sorvis (the dwarven Thane who initiated this whole expedition) had sent a team of dwarves to Rigus to help support the party in their endeavor to find and retrieve the soul of his son. Among these was a powerful cleric who was able to completely heal the party and even retrieve the body and soul of Erryth from Hell through the use of very powerful magics. In return, the party had to make a “small” donation to the Temple of Thrum. [/plot hole] After about 24 hours they returned to Rigus, healed and strong and none-the-worse-for-the-wear (if not a little wiser and more prepared for the dangers they would have to face). Majestic teleported them straight into the chamber where they had encountered the giant and the hydra only to discover that the enemy raises their dead too! The hydra’s still-headless-body had been dragged over to a corner so it was out of the way, but the giant was lying on its bed, alive and awake! Fortunately it was completely unprepared for a fight. Before it could scarcely move, Erryth and Larkin had again pierced it with several arrows. It toppled out of its resting place as it tried to reach for its weapon, but dropped down dead before it could get a hold of it or defend itself. “This time, stay dead!” laughed Erryth. So now they began to explore deeper into the fortress. Down the main passage they proceeded, carefully opening each door to see what lay inside. The second door Erryth opened revealed a torture chamber. A humanoid creature whose body was wrapped in chains was torturing a female humanoid with wings and the tail of a snake. Both her scales and feathers appeared to have once been brightly colored, but were now dulled by blood stains. Fluttering over the scene was a small gray winged female humanoid dressed in robes, apparently supervising the chain wrapped creature’s efforts. Dainis was behind Erryth and saw the chain creature. Her armor immediately knew it to be a devil and overcame her. She charged into the room to attack. Erryth fired an arrow at the winged woman. His arrow hit her as Dainis reached the devil and attacked. Her rapier struck the creature in the back and she ran him completely through, nearly killing him in a single maddened blow. The woman vanished and the devil backed away and animated all the chains in the room to slow down his attackers, but it was no use. Ilde ran in and finished dropped the creature with a final blow from her sword. Majestic dismissed the robed woman’s invisibility magic and the other began attacking her. Henrich struck her with his long lance. Now she brought down an impenetrable darkness and seemed to be looking for an escape. But there would be none. Larkin could hear her wings fluttering and launched arrows at her as rapidly as he could. Everyone could hear the twang of his bow string singing, the thwack of arrow on flesh and bone of three arrows landing true and the thud of a small lifeless body collapsing to the ground from a height of six or seven feet. Dainis fell upon the devil to “make sure it is dead” and Erryth freed the victim of the cruel duo. They retreated from the darkened room and into the hall so they could see again. “I am Findula,” she said. She explained that she is a Lillend and a historian of her people. She was sent to investigate the missing souls of some of their forge masters. She was captured and brought here to be tortured (mainly for the pleasure of the two creatures they just fought). She said the master of the fortress is named Imperagon and he is responsible for the missing souls. He is building something but she does not know what. The group offered to heal Findula in exchange for her help, but she declined. Her ordeal had shaken her and she just wanted to return home. They were ready to let her when Majestic pointed out that the front door is probably very heavily guarded by either those steel cats or far far worse. If they caught her, they would know something was amiss which would endanger the entire group. So Henrich intimidated Findula into joining them. “You’ll be dead before you take a step from this place and then you will have doomed us all. You’ll stay with us and help us or I’ll slay you now and relieve you of your fear…” Findula grudgingly accepted. So they continued on exploring the long passage. They found a lounge, lavishly decorated with a tapestry of a great red dragon…probably Angwyrm. Then they opened a door onto a large chamber that appeared to be a large apartment. A red curtain separated the room in half. In the half they could see, a large metal creature (different from the golem at the front door) stood guard in the center and an Ogre Mage (who was dressed in the rags of a slave for some reason) sat on a chair in the middle. Upon noticing the door opening, the ogre stood and began calling to someone behind the curtain and the metal man took up a fighting stance, ready to defend the denizens of the chamber… They have 6 days and 20 hours remaining. Next Game: Sept. 22nd [/QUOTE]
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