Marigold's Round 3
Taking advantage of the hag's prone state, Marigold hustles over next to the railing and conjures a wave of healing energy to bolster Nidrama as well as herself and anyone else within reach.
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Using his magical boots Maxim flies over to where his Bror and their angelic ally face the golems;
He moves o'er the scrap below and lands gently nearby one of the brutish constructs. The gun-mage then immediately invokes some of his magic to empower his trusty pistol...
One barrel glittering with frost, Maxim levels his pistol at the nearby golem and fires!
[ooc]Standard Action - no further actions taken
Maxim flies way over the golem's reach all while his gun shines with powerful icy magic.
Kikinnin focuses his good attentions on the flesh golem in front of him, his axe cutting and chopping all while his own wounds quickly heal under Abadar's faith. The dwarf completes his lumberjacking cutting the right leg, then the left, which makes the golem lose balance and plunge over the railing.
After a long fall, the golem crashes against the bottom of Skullrot's ground. The hanged skeletons cackle delighted by the unusual show.
With the crone prone, JJ starts swinging Alakast to left and right, striking on the head, on the chest, on the arms. Only one of the attacks fails, but the pounding is enough to knock the hag unconscious.
Marigold approaches the railing bathing with healing everyone but Kikinnin whom is too far to be helped.
Nidrama works on the other golem, following Kikinnin's example by swinging once and again with Marigold's fervor, but this time applying extra power on her swings.
The deva cuts and cuts and burns the flesh, leaving the creature badly damaged.
Then, Maxim leverages his gun, and with the appraising eye of a true merchant, blasts the golem with an icy bullet, with just the optimal amount of energy necessary to defeat it. No less, no more. The bullet lodges in the back of the flesh head, the adamantine piercing through the strong hide resistance, then the ice freezes the top of the creature.
This last menace collapses on the balcony, shattered and destroyed by ice and fire.
There is nothing on the flesh golems to be sacked, but some of the hag's possessions shine with magic which Maxim and Marigold can eventually sort out.
+4 mithral breastplate
amulet of mighty fists +2
chime of opening (43 charges)
black jug (spoon of infinite nurture)
cold iron ladle (can be wielded as a coldiron club)
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"O-oh! That chime could c-come in handy if we, um, s-somehow encounter a door M-Maxim can't open," Marigold remarks, rather surprised by the find in general and even more surprised to see that it has so many charges left.
Seeing that Nidrama and Kikinnin still have injuries, the halfling beckons them closer. First, she pulls out a scroll and a potion she'd had stockpiled...
...and after a few minutes, has everything taken care of.
"Golems to guard fiends? Well, I guess they at least won't be corrupted..." muses JJ.
"We should press on.."
After some item research and wounds healing, the group presses it before the spells wear off.
Climbing up to the fourth floor very much finds the same as in the two floors below. Rows and rows of cells with fiends and worse creatures alike. It is perhaps surprising there does not seem to be any empty cell at all, the prison is at full capacity.
There are more stairs leading up, it seems there is at least a fifth floor, then the tower stretches, the side alleys disappearing and leaving only the central trunk. The tower seems to have even more floors like that going up.
Kikinnin breathes much easier with Marigold's ministrations. "It's a kindness I'll never grow tired of." When it's clear the others are raring to go higher, the black beard follows along diligently and vigilantly.
"Nice shot with the powder, bror." Kikinnin keeps looking up, then down, expecting a flock of vrock, or a murder of crow demons, still unsure where they're going to encounter the Mad God...
"Um...we r-really don't know where they're k-keeping Adimarchus, do we?" Marigold points out as they reach the fourth floor with what looks to be no end in sight. "You'd th-think h-high profile p-prisons would be s-somewhere under t-tight security, r-really obvious...but that m-might not be the c-case. If we c-catch anyone that m-might talk, we should p-probably try to f-find out the specifics..."
"Can't you..." here he gestures at Margold and Maximum and wiggles his fingers.. "Just kind of 'detect' the right way to find him?" asks the youth, hopeful as ever.
You make it up to the fifth floor. Here the cells are around the central trunk of the tower. Unlike the celestials and fiends imprisoned in the floors below, the residents of these cells are not bound with chains. Instead, they wear tight-fitting straightjackets made of stitched demon hide. They carry no gear.
Going up finds a similar setting in the sixth and seventh floors. The things seem to change just a couple of floors up, where the ceiling seems to finally cover the central shaft.
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"This place gives me the creeps. There is no easy exit. No windows out. Just an eternity of climbing. No easy escape..." mutters JJ, starting to feel oppressed.
He clutches Alakast close, drawing reassurance from his ancestors famous weapon.
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"The p-power of divination isn't s-something that I've b-been given," Marigold responds in the negative, shaking her head. "If he was h-here, that'd be m-more up R-Ryan's alley..."
As the group presses on, even Marigold begins to feel somewhat uneasy.
"I expected m-more guards...b-but I guess there's n-not much point when there's n-nowhere to go even if you m-manage to escape your b-bonds..."
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Maxim too shakes his head;
"I ain't that kinda wizard lad. My magic is more fir augmentation o' my pistol than readin' the tea leaves..."
The gun-mage smiles wryly;
"Try shouting. Maybes he'll hear us."
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"And so might everything else in here..." mutters JJ.
"Though given all the cries and screams, I doubt anyone would pay any notice."
He shakes his head.
"This place... there is no attempt to fix their minds. Just to make them suffer." The lad seems oddly distressed.
"How do we know the person we seek won't be inside one of these random straight jackets? I doubt any of them are mundane material. But to hold the lord of a an entire plane of existence... you have to imagine his shackles are stronger still."
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Kikinnin looks towards the central shaft, then back towards the stairs. "Alright, feels like we're almost there. Another floor or two up, eh?"
The black beard makes sure his axehead is still glowing with his Far's presence, before taking to the stairs, and heading up, feet just above the floor.
"It's too quiet. Like we're getting closer to a powerful entity in solitary..." Kikinnin makes sure the others are close by. "Miss Marigold, since you've been the eye of the storm here, being ruler of Occipitus, you might be targeted first."
The black beard touches her, and grants her some of Abadar's Protection.
"Heh. Suppose we should call you Storm-Eye, but when you consider that nickname up against 'Catnip' and 'Maxie', it feels too dark. So since you're the light in the darkness, miss Marigold, instead I will knight you 'Twinkle'."
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"If...um..." Marigold begins and stops, suddenly and inexplicably shy. "I...I th-think, um, if I'm a l-light...then all of you are m-my anchor," she answers, her voice soft and quiet. "All of y-you and everyone back h-home. L-lights n-need anchors so they d-don't turn into infernos and s-safe harbors so they d-don't go out t-too soon."
Her expression remains quite serious for a moment before a slow smile makes its way across her face. "B-but I d-don't know that 'Anchor' would m-make for a g-good nick-n-name for you. M-maybe 'Rock'. That's wh-what you are, an anchoring r-rock for the r-rest of us."
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JJ grins, the light hearted banter doing his soul good.
"Twinkle. I like that. Twinkle in the eye. Always suspected you liked a little bit of mischief... " he quips.
"Just not the chance of getting caught.." he looks around at the cells, full of those who most definitely have been caught.
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The conversation lights and cheers the group as you make it to the eight floor and things get even quieter, indeed like the silence of approaching an absolute figure of power, yet this time the power if madness itself. You can feel it making your hair stand on end, so dense you can almost chew it.
The feeling is so intense that it triggers the worst of Marigold's visions despite she being awake and not sleeping.
"Ahhhh... Nooooo, I beg you... kill me now!"
From within a cage shaped like a coffin made of metallic bones, the bars studded with spikes and cruel hooks, Saureya screams in agony.
You watch horrified as he tears at his dark hair, ripping great bloody clumps out before then clawing at his skin in an insane attempt to end his unbearable pain.
You strike the cage again and again with spell, sword and even your bare hands yelling for the angel to stop, yelling for him to try and escape, yelling for him to see past his madness and just hear you...
The Lich-Fiend cackles again at your frustration. "His pain has just begun angel, he will sink further and further into his own despair, pain and madness until his mind is forever broken!"
You turn to the vile creature with burning rage clouding your vision. You can feel all of your frustration and pain instantly transform into incredible terrifying anger.
Recognizing your intent Skullrot's powerful warden quickly intervenes "Destroy me Arch Angel and you will never know how to release him!"
"Speak quickly Lich-Fiend, your time is running out as is my self control!" you roar on the brink of losing all control.
"Heeheeeheee" Dark Myrakul cackles once again with delight.
"To release him Dark Angel is a simple thing Adimarchus, simple yet the most difficult decision you will most likely to ever be given"
"Enough of the riddles Myrakul, answer me now or die where you stand!" losing all patience.
"All you have to do dear angel is merely take his place!"
The Lich-Fiend’s cackles escalate in volume as he watches the revelation of his statement wash over your face.
No! There must be another way! You will destroy Dark Myrakul and return when you learn another way to release Saureya. But turning to gaze upon the angel lost in agony, terror and insanity you know you can not let him endure this living hell a minute longer... no matter what the cost.
Lowering your head in resignation and defeat you whisper –"Then so it must be!"
Staring into Saureya’s mask of agony you speak louder with conviction, "Release him unharmed and return him to his home and I will take his place Dark Myrakul"
"Of course Adimarchus," Dark Myrakul replies sounding almost respectful yet sly, "step away from the cage and his pain will soon end"
You slowly move away from the prison and watch as the Lich-fiend approaches the dark twisted cage and runs his hand over the bars. Instantly a door appears and swings open with an auditable moan like the wail of a sorrowful spirit.
Reaching into the cage Dark Myrakul roughly pulls Saureya from the cage and throws him towards the floor. You lurch to catch him, saving him from any damage and then cradle him in your arms like a child.
Anthux continues to writhe in agony in your arms oblivious to what is occurring around him. His eyes dart about, his mind still lost in his own dark insanity.
You snap your head upwards, "You said he would be unharmed!" you warn through clenched teeth.
"And so he will be the moment the cage door closes within you inside" Dark Myrakul relies with a cruel smirk.
Turning your gaze back to Saureya your eyes soften instantly.
"You finally won my dear friend", you whisper, "I have turned my back this night on all evil and fled from a vengeful victory to save another soul." shaking your head with an ironic smile you add with a sad chuckle, "I fear instead of me converting you to the dark, you have brought me back to the light..."
Gently lowering Saureya to the floor you step up towards the open cage and, taking one last look at the pain wracked angel you say, "I do this for you my dear friend"
And step into the dark cage hearing Dark Myrakul close the door with a resounding click of finality.
"Heeeheeeheee" Dark Myrakul cackles as you feel the beginning feelings of pain start to grow within your mind. Repressed for so long, within the dark recesses of your consciousness you feel your Inner demon stir.
You grasp the bars of the cage with pain and twist your head towards Saureya's prone form to seek some form of solace from the growing agony.
You watch the angel slowly rise to his feet. Shaking off his lunacy Saureya meets your gaze. For a moment a look of sorry is etched in his face before it slowly twists into look of sheer delight and glee.
"Fool!" you hear him say; "Now you will rot in hell, destroyed by dementia and knowing that it was I, Anthux, Graz’zt’s own son that brought down the great Adimarchus!" And before your eyes Saureya form changes from a dark angel to a black skinned demon with six fingers on each of his grotesque hands.
At first you believe that your mind is playing tricks on you, your Inner Demon creating evil illusions to break your heart and mind but then you realize the truth.
This is neither illusion nor trick of insanity, it is real and you have been betrayed by your own weakness and your own need for redemption. Your whole life has been for nought and all that you have ever loved a lie and lost to you forever.
The mere thought drives you into a spiraling descent of utter despair and madness. A terrible corrupting madness blasts out of your mind and prison, spilling out over Carceri, finally giving the Inner Demon the power and voice he had always sought...
For a second the halfling faints and the eye socked burns, consuming her patch in flames, then, her inner strength makes her recover consciousness as the flames in the eye still rage.
You reach the stairs end. One more floor, the ninth floor, and you will stand at the pinnacle of Skullrot's tower.
"Marigold!" gasps JJ.
"So... Saureya was no fallen angel? But always a demon in disguise?"
He puffs himself up, glacing up the stairs.
"What more do we know of this Dark Myrakul? And do you think you can open the cage of Adimarchus, with what you saw?"
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"I...I d-don't...I d-d-don't..." Marigold gasps, trembling on her hands and knees as the fire in her eye burns and burns. She looks up at her friends as tears slowly drip from her one normal eye...and sizzle and evaporate from the other.
"There was still s-something g-good left in Adimarchus after all...and all it g-got him was a kn-knife in his back and unending t-torment! It's n-not r-r-right!"
It takes her a moment to compose herself and slowly climb to her feet once more. As she does, she wipes furiously at her face, her expression one of sorrow and righteous anger.
"What h-happened doesn't ch-change the things he d-did before or b-bring back the l-lives lost because of his actions...b-but even Adimarchus d-doesn't deserve such a f-fate. We have to p-put an end to h-him for his own s-sake just as m-much as for ours."
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Kikinnin grows still in body, trying to process what's been leveled against Marigold's senses, what must be a fraction of the madness endured by the imprisoned Adimarchus. It's an alien thing to the black beard, being subject against one's will like that. Though there is some empathy for Adimarchus and the betrayal he suffered, Kikinnin feels a greater sympathy for Marigold, feels an urgency to see the connection between Mad God and Ruler of Occipitus severed.
"If we're putting down a rabid god, let's be done with it."
Kikinnin takes to the stairs, holding his position until everyone is good and ready to face that Dark Myrakul fellow, somewhere in Skullrot. He wants to trust his eyes again, in case they encounter something wearing a familiar face...
Maxim nods at his Bror;
"Aye. Let's git to fixin' what needs to be done."
He draws his pistol and moves forward with purpose.
Marigold's mystery finally unlocks on its full connection with its final revelation. As the group recovers from the halfling's vision and you build up your determination to end with the madness that afflicts the Material Plane of existence once and for all, you climb up the last stairs that separate you from your final goal.
The staircases lead up to this twenty-foot-high chamber. The floor gives way to a forty-foot-wide shaft in the middle of the room. A large iron cage is suspended over the shaft, its base level with the floor of the room. The cage itself is shaped like a coffin made of metallic bones, the bars studded with spikes and cruel hooks. No door seems to be apparent on the cage, as if it were built to never be opened. Slumped on the floor of the cage is an angelic figure with purple skin, golden tattoo-like patterns crisscrossing its body, and wings of metallic gold feathers. It covers its face with its hands and appears to be sobbing.
The central shaft drops 160 feet to the floor at the bottom of the tower. A thick iron chain connects the hemispherical cage to a heavy iron winch that's bolted to the east end of the room.
On the middle of the room there is a humanoid skeleton with clawed hands, horns, and fangs. Dark Myrakul himself. The fiend-lich is clad in jet-black chainmail, and bony wings spring from his back. He is attended by one of his greatest creations, a demon-flesh golem. This golem is similar in basic appearance to a flesh golem, yet its parts have been harvested from demons, resulting in a far more horrifying creation than the mere flesh golems you just fought in the floors below.
As you arrive Dark Myrakul is torturing Adimarchus with his words* "...your Cagewrights efforts were for nothing, you will be here for ethernity, even those who have come to kill you will utterly fail to Skullrot defenses..." the creature crackles seeing the Demond Lord disppair.
* in Abyssal
Once a half-demodand, Dark Myrakul underwent a painful and torturous process similar to that some humanoids undertake to become a lich; with the aid of his demonic patron, Graz'zt you suspect by Marigold's vision, Dark Myrakul became a vile undead menace known as a lichfiend.
Such creatures enjoy both the defenses and powers of fiends and liches. Aside from the danger of his scythe, the fiend lich touch causes insanity, and their presence is scary , although this is no problem for creatures of your heroic level.
As other liches, they have damage reduction to damage reduction to weapons except for those bludgeoning AND magic.
They are immune to cold, electricity, mind-affecting, poison, and polymorph.
They have resistance 10 to other energy attacks, including sonic, and they do have spell resistance.
Finally, as powerful magic wielders, expect many others nasty surprises.
Their Will is very strong, but you can expect more success when targeting their Reflexes as liches are not very agile. Despite not having a great Fortitude, you do remember undead are immune to effects targeting Fortitude unless they can also be used on objects.
As you make it up, the fiendish undead looks at you with its vorpaline adamantine scythe and smiles. Of course, you are ready for the fight!
As he climbs the tower the blue light within JJ seems to grow stronger, pulsing as his celestial nature pushes back against the darkness of the realm.
JJ pauses for a moment spitting words at the lich while be hopes for a favor from Marigold or speed from Maxim.
"Well, it seems talk of our demise may be premature." he quips. In celestial. He's pretty sure the fiend will understand him, and maybe the language will give Adimarchus a hint of hope. And really, he's done with speaking that vile language.
"L-looks like this is the e-end of the l-line," Marigold remarks with an air finality as they near the top of the stairs. "G-guess it's t-time to sm-smoke 'em if you g-got 'em..."
As she speaks, she uses some of her magic to weave protective bubbles around herself and the others; she also grants Kikinnin and JJ a boon to allow them to move freely and ignore impeding effects and magics.
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Marigold's Round 1
"ಇದಕ್ಕೆ ಕಡಿವಾಣ ಹಾಕುವ ಸಮಯ ಬಂದಿದೆ," is all the words Marigold has for Dark Myrakul as she grants her allies and herself Sarenrae's blessing of fervor - hopefully for the last time. She then moves into the room, looking to put a little space between herself and the others.
"It's time to put an end to this."
Using the gift of speed from Marigold, JJ races toward the lich, but Alakast has no time to strike it.
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Nidrama raises her hand in the air and speaks up a prayer "Make of this our day of glory as we untie what has been shackled!" You immediately feel luck coming to your side.
She then flies forward over the pit.
Marigold bolsters the group with fervor, which JJ profits to surround the central shaft and engage Dark Myrakul.
Profiting the golem's surprise, Maxim unloads both cannons of his gun Smaug on the demonic flesh construct, stepping forward to face the beast with grit and aiming with dead eye.
Both cannons speak with twin voice, the planar fueled bullets blinking through the extraplanar's construct resistance and fully impacting in vital points.
The demonflesh golem roars menacingly, and comes forward, attacking Nidrama.
To your surprise, the left claw on its body attacks dependently, tearing through the angel flesh, who fortunately is preserved by part of the damage thanks to her angelic nature.
As the creature approach, you can feel its fear gaze. All of you are affected except for JJ who is too far away.
Dark Myrakul steps away from JJ "You mortal dare to face me, the great jailer of demon lords?" the liche cackles and then his eyes shine with power, he closes his fist and JJ feels an implosion felling over his inner being.
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Blue light surges to the youths skin, enveloping the dark magics that try to consume him.
JJ offers the lich a smile. "Yes!"
He steps forward to offer a touch of justice to the dark jailer. "Perhaps it is time you experienced your own prison."
Alakast, faced with a foe worthy of its nature spins and slams, slaps and slams once more into the face of Dark Myrakul. Trying to destroy the cruel creature before it can unleash more harm on the multiverse.
Okay, here I am assuming that the lich fiend is indeed a fiend, so bonuses against evil outsiders etc count
FE +20 to hit and damage
Evil outsider bane +2 top hit and +2d6 to damage
an outsider (astral mastery) +1 to hit and damage
holy +2d6 to damage
prayer +1 to hit and +1 to damage
Oh, heroism, +2 to hit
Total of +26 to hit and +24+4d6 to damage
Fervor for bonus attack
Ouch!
Marigold's Round 2
As JJ moves to engage Dark Myrakul Marigold moves the rest of the way up the stairs and past Kikinnin, quickly taking note of everyone's positions. Hoping to help the others fell the golem quickly so they can come to JJ's aid, she uses her magic to envelop the group in a powerful holy aura!
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As Dark Myrakul fails to implosion JJ, he seals his own doom. The young man jumps over the fiend-lich striking no less than eight times with the power of the planes and the gods as Alakast shines with divine magic. An arm is crashed, the chest of the creature, a wing is shattered and JJ finishes cracking the skull of the dark creature with a resounding clack!
Marigold brings in a magical holy aura preparing the party for whatever has to come next.
Nidrama endures the fear and flaps her wings to hover over the pit, engaging the golem with her flaming greatsword.
The golem is very tough and its demon-flesh parts deflect most of Nidrama's attacks, but still the deva manages a burning hit, despite the flesh resist most of the non-adamantine blade.
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Uneasy for the ascent, leg muscles still wearing down while walking upon air, Kikinnin takes a moment to tap his friends with more protections. "Bror, let's do our best to stay within several paces , so Abadar's Shunt will lessen your wounds."
"JJ, no stopping you now. Here's a token of Abadar's faith in you." Having protected the young man a little, Kikinnin brings the same kind of energy to Maxim, though it extends outwards from the blond beard.
"Bror, stay close by Marigold. You've got some radiant protection from the evil that's sure to seek out the lass."
AC =
HP =
Weapon Equipped = Eldgammel(Flaming/Holy/Speed)
Condition(s) = Several lol
Smite = 3/4
Lay on Hands = 15/17
The black beard grits his teeth, as he watches JJ circle the pit, allowing himself to come within painfully close Scythe-striking distance. "Careful, JJ! That blade of his looks lik... oh. Nevermind." The last word in Kikinnin's mouth fades in echo across the expanse, as the Warden of Skullrot collapses in what can only be considered god-like wrath.
Kikinnin turns his attention to the demon-meat-man, entering flank with Nidrama, and throwing a single strike into its side, testing its hide's strength.
edit:
As Kikinnin moves in one direction and Marigold the other, Maxim's brow furrows trying to see how he can be best tactically place.
He shifts near to Marigold then reloads each barrel with alchemical cartridges
When Maxim tries to reload, his fingers shake and teeth chatter with fear...
The golem tests Kikinnin as he approaches.
Landing a hard punch on his chest as the dwarf breaks through the flesh of the construct with his axe, it's high magic cutting through the creature's resistance.
Thanks to Nidrama's prayer, Maxim maintains his fingers swift and manages to reload both cannons of his gun with alchemical products crafted for the occasion.
Not noticing Myrakul's demise, or perhaps not caring about it, the golem keeps pounding on Kikinnin with his slams.
The champion of Abadar holds high his shield blocking the pounding of the slams one fist after another, but he is surprised by the vestigial arm that lashes out leaving an ugly gash.
Intelligent enough for simple strategy, the flesh golem steps back out of flank.
JJ dashes from the fallen lich toward the fearsome golem. Ducking under the golems poorly timed punch, he swings Alakast is a big circle...
"Do lich's regenerate? " he asks, suddenly remembering a particularly gruesome arc of Beatinator and the lich-king of Agmarnagh. Everytime you thought he was dead, he came back stronger.
AC = 36/16/35
HP = 241/264
Weapon Equipped = Eldgammel(Flaming/Holy/Speed)
Condition(s) = Several lol
Smite = 3/4
Lay on Hands = 14/17
Kikinnin respects the strength and accuracy of the demon-meat man, sliding behind the creature while watching the spare arm he didn't see initially. So much so, he heals quickly, so he might withstand the assault further, so it withstand the pummeling of the Watchers Plus One.
When JJ arrives, Kikinnin simply stands where he is, and takes the opportunity from his side of the monstrosity to do his divine work.
JJ does not know if the lich regenerates, but after a swift maneuver below the golem's attack, he scores a solid blow with Alakast.
Meanwhile, holding his position, Kikinnin starts swinging with Eldgammel cutting piece after piece of dead demon flesh, trimming the golem like a gardener pruning an ornamental tree on his beloved garden.
As the ratcatcher hero completes his deed, he is not only healed, but the golem remains down at his feet, completely destroyed.
Before you stands the cage that holds Adimarchus, a major artifact created by his rival Demon Lords themselves. Its resemblance to the soulcages you have encountered earlier in your adventure is no coincidence; the cage is Adimarchus's entire world, and in his insane inspirations gifted upon the Cagewrights, it seems the design of the cage has been a central theme.
The cage design is divine, sturdy to the most powerful of mortal and magical adamantine weapons. A few attempts to study it with magic quickly turns up the cage is impervious to all types of magic.
To you, the cage appears rusty, fragile, and feeble, something that can be bashed apart with a single weapon blow.
"Wh...what is th-this?" Marigold asks, blinking in confusion as she stares at Adimarchus' prison. "This c-cage doesn't look like it could hold a ch-child! L-like I could just reach out and s-smash it with my m-mace..."
She looks to the others, confused by their apparent confusion at her words.
Kikinnin flicks and wipes his blade, uninterested in Eldgammel wearing the tears of flesh from the golem any longer than it has to.
When Marigold takes to studying the prison of Adimarchus, the black beard takes to the winch, if there is one, which supports the cage above the expanse of Skullrot's main atrium.
"We should lower it to the floor below, eh? Less risk than if we try and fight in the air?"
If there's a way to lower the cage several floors down, Kikinnin begins the process.
"When you say the cage looks weak, miss Marigold, you're saying you're the one's gonna open it, I think."
There is a winch indeed, but when Kikinnin starts to try move it, he finds out it is hard to move and requires some great effort to do.
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JJ is more than happy to help lower the cage.
"You know... it kind of makes sence. " says JJ>
"Even artifacts have ways to be destroyed. So... if this cage holds the true ruler of Octipus... then destroying it would release him."
He grins.
"So having the only person who could destroy it be the current ruler of that plane... well, why would they give up power over a whole plane of existence? You make the flaw in the design the one thing person in the whole multiverse who has the most to lose by breaking it!"
He looks over toward the fallen lich. "It's kind of like a lich's amulet, in a weird way. Imagine a lich who ties their amulet to the soul force of their biggest enemy. Destroying the lich would destroy their enemy."
He looks at his sister with concern. "If you do destroy it... you may find your connection with Octipus vanishes. Or summoned back there. Or we may have no way out of here... as you were our key in and out of this whole prison plane."
"I g-guess you're right," Marigold nods. Then, with a pensive look, she adds, "H-hopefully me destroying the c-cage actually destroys it...rather than f-forcing me to take Adimarchus' p-place..."
She falls silent for a long moment.
"B-but in my d-dream, Adimarchus v-voluntarily switched p-places with Sureya...he d-didn't b-break the cage, he w-went into it w-willingly."
"Maybe he'll come out willingly as well... but after being in there for so long... I don't think he is an angel any more."
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Kikinnin continues working the winch, making sure the cage's travel is complete, before stepping away from it, and addressing the halfling lass.
"I'm thinking that if the cage appeared just as impenetrable to you as it does to us, then it's designed to force your sacrifice, place for place." The black beard places a gloved hand gently on Marigold's shoulder. "Your eyes are the clearest of all of ours." Kikinnin lifts his hand, and points it towards the cage and atrium below.
"You are connected to this more than any of us, so if your gut's telling you that you're about to make such a sacrifice here and now, like you did when you jumped into that plasma, I can only tell you that I won't rest to free you from the cage, if you find yourself trapped."
Kikinnin joins Nidrama in the air, looking below his feet, and begins to descend. "Choice is yours, Miss Marigold Montajay. Crack the cage if you're willing, and let's set eyes on Adimarchus."
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Maxim eyes the cage warily;
"I got magic's that'll do it. Disinter-grate it, follow up with limited wish..."
He shoots a look to his companions;
"Course the lesser wish might also get anyone trapped inside out..."
The gun-mage reaches for a stogie, finding he is down to two.
"Hell's Teeth. Last couple o' smokes. One fir now, an' one fir when all this is done."
Powder blacked hands spark up, and he takes a puff...
"Say the word folks."
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"W-wait...s-save your m-magic for a moment and let me s-see if I can do it," Marigold says as she raises her mace; the weapon having barely seen use since she bought it all those months ago. "I m-might be the only one that c-can..."
Once the cage is in position and the group ready, Marigold takes a deep breath and strikes the cage a single blow with her weapon, putting all of her strength into it!
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Over the course of a minute Kikinnin and JJ make the cage descend and Skullrot roars as the metallic container descends with Adimarchus weeping inside.
You make your descend of the tower, back to the bottom while discussing about the cage, Occipitus and how to face this last challenge.
In the end, Marigold steps up and swings her mace at the cage.
Forced to contain a Demon Lord, the cage creator had to include an escape clause to create an artifact of such power, and as JJ previewed the crafter came up with a condition he felt certain would never come to pass; after all any demonic ruler of Occipitus would be the last creature who would want to see Adimarchus released, a powerful contender for rulership of Occipitus, but what he did not realize was that anyone who passed the Test of the Smoking Eye could become the ruler of this Abyssal realm—including a humble small librarian halfling with no interest in ruling Occipitus!
As the mace strikes, the cage bars burst in all directions falling around in a rain of metal.
Standing released in the middle of the tower is a beautifully androgynous angel with pale purple skin, golden tattoo-like patterns that shift lyrically across his bare flesh, metallic gold wings as sharp as razors, and dead black eyes. Adimarchus wears a golden breastplate and wields two weapons: a brilliant energy whip and a golden gauntlet fitted with sharp, birdlike talons.
The weeping ends as his head looks up at you, then his form shifts to that one of a lithe humanoid with ash-black skin, opalescent white eyes, black fangs, and four shadowy tentacles protruding from his back, each one ending in a lamprey's maw. In this form, he wields instead a smoldering greatsword made of ash and cinders.
His eyes stare at Marigold ignoring all others "Finally free! You have served me well, it is time for us to revenge against all those who have inflicted grudge and pain on us!"
Adimarchus's right eye burns with a smoking flame.
Completely connected and ready, JJ is the first one to react even while the Demon Lord is still talking.
"Adimarchus!" calls out JJ.
"The time for revenge is past. It is now a time for healing. While trapped, your powers were siphoned off and caused.... hurt to a lot of people. But we together we can make this right. But to do that... first both you and the lands must heal."