Valgrim dispels the prismatic wall with his rod again and attacks lich as swift action.
Exousia full attacks:
Friar channels energy to harm undead:
Valgrim removes the prismatic wall and steps forward to strike the undead creature. His blow lands solidly, but like the angel he is suddenly overcome by terror when Thessalar doesn't fall. Exousia lands two solid blows of her own and Ferez burns the lich's bones to ash with his holy power. Thessalar's crown rolls across the floor and comes to a stop at the base of the force vat full of goo.
"Great job, all. I guess let's check out the lich's treasures and try to find what we came here for."
While Bublaka identifies the items, Exousia casts Greater Restoration on herself to regain her strength. She then studies the portcullis and tries to dispel its magic (arcane lock can be dispelled). She can cast the spell at will. Should I roll or say it takes 2 minutes, like taking 20?
Meanwhile, Friar tells the party, "I feel a pull from inside the force cylinder so whatever we need must be floating in that goo. But it could be a slime monster also, contained by the wall of force." Friar spends a charge from the wand of communal resist energy to give everyone except the angel and Valgrim acid resistance.
potions of inflict serious wounds (10),
lesser rod of quicken metamagic,
wand of scorching ray (8th, 23 charges),
evil robe of the archmagi,
ring of protection +3,
ring of wizardry II,
headband of vast intelligence +6,
handy haversack,
two gloves of storing (one contains his portable hole and the other his lesser rod of quicken metamagic),
boots of speed,
portable hole,
gold dust worth 100 gp,
3 doses of true seeing ointment (worth 250 gp each),
gem dust worth 5,000 gp,
2 doses of ruby dust for forcecage spells (each dose is worth 1,500 gp), the poratble hole contains a vast collection of spellbooks and 22,000 gp in miscellaneous spell components and foci for spells.
Nothing of the treasure appeals to Valgrim. Perhaps Bubba or Friar will find interesting stuff. When the Remove Fear wears off, Valgrim cowers in a corner while the spell wears off. Afterward, Valgrim asks for another Shield of Faith from the clerics and then he and Exousia will flank the cylinder of force. We ask for a Haste from Bubba and ask them to move away and when ready, Valgrim will touch the rod to the cylinder and await the results.
Valgrim and Exousia flank the cylinder as Bublaka and Ferez wait just outside the gates leading into the chamber. The force vat disappears in a blink with a touch of the Rod of Cancelation and it's digusting contents wash across the floor (and around Valgrim's and Exousia's legs?) The stuff undulates on the floor and fanged mouths coalesce out of it's substance and lash out at the two warriors within reach...
The speed at which the thing forms and lashes out catches the warriors a bit off-guard as the goo takes further shape into an even more monstrous thessalhydra than the two you fought out in the courtyard!
Despite the things fury, it does not manage to penetrate the angel's defenses.
Exousia fends off the creature's attacks. She waits for Bublaka to inspire and then swings herself!
Friar shoots a searing light at the creature.
Valgrim takes a swing at the beast now!
Valgrim only manages to find something vital to hit in the gooey mess of the thessalhydra once and Exousia twice.
Ferez's searing light burns into the mass. It has a very rapid healing but your not giving it much of a chance to recover.
It continues to snap at its foes to no avail.
Bublaka casts Slow at it again.
Valgrim rages and full attacks it again:
With Valgrim's last blow the animated goo creature disintigrates back into the fluid that it originally arose from. Valgrim feels a presence manifest itself into his blade. Ferez now feels the pull only back toward Zulshyn's.
We grab the treasures, Exousia shrinks in size, and we teleport back to Zulshyn's place. When she answers the door, we show her Thessalar's crown and smile, "I believe we had a deal for that fragment of Balakarde."I am sure Bubba gives her a nice welcome back kiss too.
Zulshyn's brooding demeanor breaks for just a moment as she gives a slight smile, "Wonderful." She gives Bublaka a smoldering look and says, "Come with me, the statue is in my private chambers." The rest of you do not get the impression that you are invited and Bub returns shortly with a statue that is an amazing likeness of the wizard Balakarde.
As the bard approaches a sudden strange stillness falls over the area. Sounds grow muted, colors dull, and the air itself feels thick and chilling. With a foreboding sense of dread, you all feel the urge to touch the objects you have recovered together.
A brilliant flash of light heralds the arrival of a ghostly figure of a man floating serenely in the air with an expression of joy on his face. The sense of oppressive menace and muted reality are swept away the instant you touched the objects together. The spirit floats for a moment regarding you with a look of immeasurable thanks before you hear his voice in each of your heads, "You have done what I dare not hope could be accomplished. I have sensed and heard your purpose. As long as you seek Dragotha's destruction I shall give you my aid." He says the dracolich's name with such hatred that it twists his ghostly face horribly before returning to normal. "I was foolish and thought I could catch the evil dracolich off-guard not realizing I was playing right into his claws. I failed to recognize the taint of Kyuss on one of my most trusted advisors souls - Lashonna. Beware her, she is second only to Dragotha in Kyuss' service" He shakes his head sadly, "Fate is cruel to have led me to her. I followed her advice and clues into the Wormcrawl fissure thinking I had the upper hand. When I teleported in to Dragotha's inner sanctum he was waiting for me. Did he just kill me? Oh no, he captured me and the tortures I was forced to endure were unimaginable." The spirit's form is wracked by convulsions and ghostly Kyuss worms eat slowly away at his incorporeal flesh, "It lasted months at least but I remained defiant. Little did I realize that the ancient evil had one last card to play....one that I did not see coming. He finally broke me body and soul. He had recovered my dead sister's remains and turned her into one of his mockeries, a Kyuss Knight! He had her deal the final death blow to me...my sweet Maralee." His ghostly soul fractures as it must have done so long ago. Balakarde's ghostly form regains form, "You now offer me a glimmer of hope where there was none before...a chance for revenge!"
Friar is overjoyed that the party was able to reunite Balakarde's spirit. "You were a great guide for us, Balakarde. Lashonna shared your notes with us and she suggested killing Dragotha, Kyuss' herald. It seems she has been furthering her own agenda. We destroy Dragotha and she moves from number 2 to number 1. We are on this path already and we have destroyed the draco-lich's phylactery, so his death can be permanent. Eliminating the general of the army still benefits us. I am sure we will deal with Lashonna in due time. And even more so, for what he did to you. I am sorry for your pain. Do you have any information about Dragotha's location, his defenses, etc? How did you know how to teleport into his inner sanctum? Was Dragotha alone or who were his allies/guardians? Anything you can tell us will be helpful. Did he have the Spire? I remember when we visited the Spire of Long Shadows, we received a vision that Dragotha tore off the spire and flew away with it. It must be how they intend to resurrect Kyuss and bring him back into our world."
"Yes, any tactical knowledge you could give us abut Dragotha's defenses or location. We know from your maps of the Fissure that Dragotha's lair must be somewhere through Kyuss' Maw, we assume. Is that correct? Do you know how far from there? Are we talking days of traveling or hours?"
The ghost nods, "Oh yes, I am quite familiar with his inner sanctum. I knew how to teleport there because of the information that Lashonna gave to me...foolish, foolish, foolish, I should have seen that she was too inimately familiar with the place. Yes, the tabernacle lies through Kyuss' Maw and lies through about a mile of twisting tunnels. I cannot tell you much about the rest of the tabernacle, but I can tell you that his allies who reside there will be quick to respond to an attack on the dracolich. It was one of the reasons I stood little chance overcoming Dragotha. They came quickly...and I guarantee you that Dragotha is already aware of your presence here and preparing for your arrival. I strongly recommend you destroy his support first. As to what his allies within the tabernacle are...well overworms, at least one wormdrake, and his avolakia priests. The Writhing Sanctum is his lair and lies directly below the tabernacle. It is also the resting place of the spire you speak of...Kyuss' prison. I imagine that he will await you there, both because that is where he is most powerful, but also to guard the spire from you. Dragotha himself is a monster like few others this world has ever known. He has all the powers and capabilities of a great wyrm red dragon powered by the undead energies of a lich making him immune to cold, electricity, fire, paralysis, polymorph, and sleep. You can bet he covers acid and sonic with magic. Besides that he is nigh invulnerable to magic and can use his terrible breath weapons at the same time he casts spells and tears things apart. Beware his most feared attack, his Deathwind breath. It's a storm of negative energy that will destroy you and heal him at the same time. Be glad that he can only muster it once a day."
He responds to your questions about the avolakias, "Ah, I had maybe thought you had come across them in your research. Avolakias resemble a disgusting cross between an octopus, worm and insect. They have slimy, pale gray bodies and moved around on six tentacles, each of which ends in an eye. They reek of death. They prefer to rely on magic or their own spell-like abilities when fighting. They also send their undead servants to fight for them, or if forced into melee, they will use their poisonous bite and flail with their claws. Avolakias animate corpses and use zombies as both minions and as a food source. Although they can eat flesh from living or freshly killed creatures they much prefer to eat undead meat. The tongue of the avolakia is composed of guttural, slobbering sounds. Most avolakias understand Undercommon, but their physiology makes it impossible for them to speak it. Completely repulsive creatures."
Friar also asks about locked doors and traps in the Tabernacle and Sanctum. "As you can see, Balakarde, we are a mighty group, but we consist of 2 priests, a warrior, and a loremaster. We have no trap disabler or lock opener, so it would help to have information on that. Also, you mentioned the Sanctum is beneath the Tabernacle. Any idea how we access the lower level? Stairs? Rope ladder? Pit? Etc.."
Retcon a bit: "The lich's robe is an evil item, only of benefit to one with a black heart to match its hue. We should see that it is destroyed or perhaps it can be purified and given to a mage of pure heart. Similarly, the potions are only useful for undead, it would be akin to poison for one of us."
"Friar, would you be interested in the wand or the rod? I believe either should be of use to one of your devotion and abilities. This ring appears to only work for me of our quartet, but that one is protective and could be used by any of us."
"The headband will greatly enhance one's intelligence, but my headband suits me more. The boots can give someone the benefit of my haste spell as they wish. These items provide means of storing things, of course."
Balakarde continues in a serious tone, "The tabernacle has been Dragotha's primary lair for over 15 centuries, during which it also doubled as Kyuss' prison. The structure has potent defenses due both to the ceaseless efforts of the cult of Kyuss' and the Wormgod's own presense. The whole place radiates strong abjuration, transmutation, and necromantic magic. The place has a powerful unhallowed effect that you will be unable to overcome and DO NOT try to scry. All you will see is Kyuss' himself which is near enough to drive anyone mad....and alert him to your presence. I did not interact directly with the place. If some of what Lashonna told me is to be trusted there is a pit to access the lower caverns in the center of the tabernacle. Lashonna of course gave me a good enough description that I just teleported straight to him."
"Avolakias are immune to cold, disease, energy drains, and paralysis as far as I know but they are quite capable of using their magics to make themselves resistant to whatever types of energies you throw at them. They are also just strongly resistant to spells in general. They often like to impersonate whatever race they are infiltrating by taking on their forms. This shapeshifting is not magical in nature, so magics detecting such things are ineffective. When in humanoid form, an avolakia can implant suggestions with its melodious and hypnotic voice. Beware it, and it is worse if you meet their gaze."
"Thank you for the information, Balakarde. The avolakia seem tough. It seems the situation calls for a stealth attack....the Tabernacle is not protected against teleportation magic so perhaps a Dimension Door can get us in, if we are close enough. However, with not all of us trained in Stealth, we will need magic that causes silence, which Friar and Exousia may prepare. And then try to slay Dragotha's allies one at a time before an alarm can be raised. Risky approach."
Valgrim pauses, holding his hatred of undead inside of him, realizing this is a good undead spirit: "I am curious about something Balakarde...you mention that you seek revenge against Dragotha. While we are all grateful for the gifts your items have imparted on us, I do not know how else you can help us. Guidance, perhaps?"
Balakarde shakes his ghostly head, "Lashonna warned me against trying to teleport into the tabernacle proper. I believe there are some defenses but what they are I do not know. She obviously left out key information so I would not suspect her of knowing too much. As to how I can assist you against Dragotha? Well, you have seen what just a fraction of my magical essence can grant you, when you face him I will hold nothing back and grant you much more power than you have now. I will however, be conserving my power until then and will not be able to manifest to you like this again."
"Well, that is good news! Glad to have your help! So you could teleport into the Sanctum but it was not recommended into the Tabernacle? Hmmmm...That becomes more troublesome. I am sure the place must have sentries, invisible and not. If we are spotted, we lose element of surprise. Any ideas anyone?"
"We don't have many options at this time. I say, we look at what the entrance of the Tabernacle looks like and then we decide if we risk teleporting inside."
"Balakarde, there is something I am confused about. What role did the Ebon Triad have to do with Kyuss? I am sure none of the 3 gods share Kyuss' worm infested dreams of conquest. And then we had heard that Lashonna hunted down the members of the Ebon Triad. But we found numerous chests of treasure there. So it is all a bit confusing. And how about Prince Midas? Wasn't he building a ziggurat in his city? And Lashonna was trusted by him, so that would make sense if she was guiding him along to further Kyuss' plans. It's starting to make sense."
"The Ebon Triad is a somewhat heretical faction that is unsupported by any of the main churches. From the fanatical peripheries of the three evil churches comes a blasphemous doctrine known as the Way of the Ebon Triad, an anonymously penned collection of essays and scrolls soaked in phantasmagoric allegory and apocalyptic ecstasy. The Way outlines in vague terms a series of rituals and portentous events that culminate in the spiritual and physical adhesion of three evil gods into a single supremely powerful overdeity. Outlaws even within their own blasphemous religions, adherents to the Way of the Ebon Triad travel the world in search of fellow wanderers, often banding together to influence important events and edge the world closer to catastrophe. To the Ebon Triad, these events merely presage the advent of the Age of Worms, an era of darkness and writhing death that would provide the required backdrop for the ascension of their tripartite deity. In my opinion, they are simply an extension of the Kyuss' cults whose goal is to sow dissension in the competing religions of the three other gods. Now that I know she is a servant of Kyuss', it puts some serious doubt on any of her claims at working against Kyuss' or the Ebon Triad for that matter unless they were competing with her for power. I suspect she herself started those rumors to give herself some legitimacy in your eyes." he frowns at the mention of the ziggurat, "Hmmmm, it sounds like Lashonna is making some play for power with the ziggurat. She would need Kyuss' prison however, and Dragotha keeps that guarded and I doubt he would allow anyone to do anything with it without being personally involved."
"Yes, very troubling. Maybe she is waiting for us to slay Dragotha and then swoop in and steal the spire. We will have to watch out for that."
Friar does not have any more questions for Balakarde. He bids the spirit adieu and thanks him for his gifts and hopes they make it far enough for him to make another appearance.
After finishing your conversation with Balakarde, Zulshyn takes you all back upstairs and on the way says, "I have another visitor who just arrived. I think you may wish to speak with her before heading into Dragotha's waiting jaws." She gives a dry smile after this last comment.
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A short human female was sitting in the back of the room. She kept quiet, with a broad grin on her face, nodding at the newcomers. She had a few rings and baubles on her fingers; and various wands and rods poked out of her satchel. At first appearances, she didn't look very much like an adventurer, except for the confidence that clearly radiated from her person.
A muscular dwarf with black dragon-like scales approaches the woman, "Pleasure, ma'am. Valgrim Twin-Axe at yer service and these be my allies. Any friend of Zulshyn is an ally of ours." Oddly, the dwarf has no axes on him despite his surname, only a falchion strapped on his back.
A priest bows before the beautiful young woman, "The blessings of Sarenrae upon you. I am Friar Ferez, humble priest of the Dawnflower, part of Valgrim's Vanguard and on a sacred quest to destroy a draco-lich and stop the Age of Worms...and you?"
Valgrim looks at the slim woman. "You must be an arcane sort. We had a friend who commanded the wind and lightning. Unfortunately, he got too close to a mariith and she squeezed the life from him so learn from his mistakes. Stay away and you will be fine. We would appreciate your assistance." The dwarf looks a bit more somber now.
Friar shoots the dwarf a look. "Don't mind our dour leader, Alie. He tends to be overprotective and though he appears all tough on the outside, he is mush inside, once you get to know him. And he was referring to our former comrade, Vulcan, who died in a battle with a marilith. We will all do our best to protect each other. After all, it's only us 4 now that our planetar angel is leaving us."
Exosuisia speaks up, "While I would like very much to stay and smite the dracolich myself, I am afraid that the battles on the Abyssal fronts have not gone well in my absence. Syranus himself has commanded my return to the front." She hands over her breastplate and greataxe to Ferez, "As agreed."
Valgrim gives the angel a warrior's handshake. "A pleasure fighting at your side, Exousia. Thank you for your help. Take care."
Bubluka is uncharacteristically quiet as he studies the woman, remembering friends that have gone before. He looks at Zulshyn, a question in his eyes, do you get visitors a lot down here?
"If you're joining us Alie, here's what we need to do." Valgrim unrolls a map of the region. "After resting and preparing our magics, we will Wind Walk here, to Kyuss Maw, deal with whatever guardians may be there and travel a mile to the Tabernacle, where we will try to sneak in to Dragotha's lair and kill avolakia priests and the wormdrake, among others before entering the Writhing Sanctum and fighting the first ever dracolich. Works for you??"