”H-Hey! I’m trying to read this…” Thanara protests. ”Okay! Okay! Fine!” she relents.
Beyond the door is a short hall connecting three rooms. The first was once a fine library, but the books held in this large chamber—along with the bookshelves that once held them—have been destroyed by fire and force. The devastation seems complete. To the north, a sizable alcove extends from the room into what may have once been a large reading area, but this too has been ruined.
The next room is empty—save for a grisly heap of identical-looking dead bodies stacked in a well-organized heap. These must be the remains of Vraxeris's previous clones, all elderly and magically preserved.
The final room contains only three plain items of furniture—a large bed strewn with silk ropes, a writing desk, and a freestanding armoire.
Six identical women wait in this room. Each is a demonic beauty, complete with horns, bat wings, and a sinuous tail. Upon spotting you, though, they shriek and howl as they move to attack!
Already in battle form Snow sights on her prey and leaps on the nearest demon.
Lisa calls down a column of holy fire to burn the demons, while Snow leaps on one of them, ripping it to pieces! It melts into a pile of ice and snow.
The remaining succubus simulacra swarm around Snow, clawing at her!
]
Snow tears another simulacra to pieces and then focuses on her next targets.
Thanara works some magic and suddenly Snow begins moving faster, small trails of electricity accompanying her movements.
Lisa burns one of the succubi, then with an extra boost of speed, Snow tears through the simulacra, destroying three of them with critical strikes!
The remaining two continue to claw at her, landing one hit.
Taking a moment to size up the last two demons, Snow sets to work.
Snow destroys the two remaining duplicate demons!
There is nothing of value remaining in this room.
Still in wolf form Snow leads the way back into the previous room to let Thanara resume her reading, while she settles down on the floor to watch the entrance in case anyone comes to investigate the noise.
After healing up and steeling your resolve, you head down the hall behind the statue of Sorshen, runelord of lust. The hall opens into a grand cathedral that can be called nothing less than opulent. The floor is covered in polished red and white tiles. Thick pillars carved into the likenesses of Sorshen, nude with long flowing hair, circle the room and support a ninety-foot-high domed ceiling, where a gargantuan mural depicts men and women engaged in all manner of carnal acts. Numerous plain ten-foot-by-ten-foot cubes line the outer ring of the cathedral, while at its center stands a pavilion of opaque silk sheets.
Near the walls of the cathedral stand several delicate-looking cages, their sides more decorative than practical. Some of them contain what appear to be long-dead bodies, although one body in a cage in the chamber’s northern corner seems to be clinging to life.
Before you can investigate further, four women with batlike wings gasp in excitement as they fly up into the air. Each one is strikingly beautiful, appearing to be human save for the horns on their brow, their fangs, their taloned feet, and their wings. Each wears wears little more than a few pieces of magical jewelry and flimsy garments, though they do carry ranseurs.
"Oh, ho! Look sisters, what lovely specimens have come to play with us!" one calls.
"That one is dressed for the occasion," another says, pointing at Thanara. "Such sensual poise she projects! But I can smell her apprehension. See that blush? Adorable!"
"And check out the belly on this one!" the third woman laughs, pointing at Lisa. "It's no secret that she likes men! Went and got herself knocked up! But that doesn't mean she'll say no if we offer her a good time..."
"And what a ferocious pet they have brought along," the fourth woman says, pointing to Snow. "I'm sure the Mistress will have some fun ideas about what to do with her..."
Thanara steps forward and holds her hands up in a show of peace. ”Ladies. Hello and well met!” she begins. ”We aren’t here to cause trouble. But we seek the help of the denizens in this hall against a mutual enemy. Is there someone here we might speak to as the leader here?” she asks.
The fiendish women giggle as they continue to circle around above you. "You wish to speak to the Mistress?" one purrs.
"Perhaps you call her your Mistress when all is said and done," another coos.
The women laugh again. A few moments later, you hear a sultry voice in your minds. "Esteemed guests... What is your purpose for intruding upon my domain?"
Thanara gasps as she looks around for the source of the voice. She then calls out ”We…request a peaceful audience. Karzoug is…awakening and seeks to cause ruin and chaos on the world beyond Runeforge. We came here seeking aid and possibly allies to fight him. We know the magic of Pride and Lust are his weaknesses. Unfortunately, it seems the leader of the Pride wing, Vraxeris, has died before we could meet with him. So we have now come to you.”
"Vraxeris is...dead?" the voice asks. Immediately thereafter, it breaks into a fit of throaty laughter. The demonic women fluttering around begin to giggle and cavort as well. "You bring me such good news! Please, approach and enter my boudoir..."
The winged women do not protest as you approach the silken pavilion. Numerous thick rugs, cushions, and tasseled pillows cover the floor of this decadent chamber. Strange, exotic scents are in the air, likely coming from several smoldering braziers and censers balanced on elegant silver stands in the corners of the room.
Five blank-eyed stone giants stand guard here, but they step aside and usher you deeper into the pavilion. The air in this room is unusually close—seeming almost to shimmer with pleasant-smelling mist. Pillows, cushions, and throw rugs cover the floor, and four beds sit in the corners of the room. Each bed has an iron frame to which numerous ropes and leather straps are attached. A large padded throne sits against the far wall, between two beds, while opposite it in another corner, a tall, spindly censer sits on a low wooden table—it’s from here that the faint mist seems to be issuing.
A familiar-looking succubus lounges on the throne. She appears to the same woman the simulacra you fought were based on, though this one is the real deal. She smiles sweetly and crooks a finger. "Come closer, my lovelies. Let me get a better look at you. I am Mistress Delvahine. And who might you be?"
Thanara curtsies politely, trying to ignore the shiver that ran down her spine at the accoutrement in the chamber. ”My name is Mayor Thanara. I am the one you…spoke with…just now,” she replies as she indeed approaches as requested, but only part way. ”As I said, I bear you no ill will or threat. I hope that we can come to an arrangement that is mutually beneficial to us both in seeing Karzoug’s return brought to a swift end.”
"Karzoug, Karzoug, Karzoug," Delvahine says, clucking her tongue. "Such a bothersome, greedy man, if I recall correctly. Sorshen did despise him so! Of course, I had no stake in their conflict, and it's no concern of mine if he has returned after all these years.
"Lucky for you, then, that you have put me in a good mood! I had been wondering why Vraxeris hadn't visited me or contacted me in so long. To think, he went through so many clones only to end up dead in the end!" The succubus laughs again. "So I will help you. You will need an object ripe with lust to place in the runeforged pool in order to make weapons that can defeat a scion of greed like Karzoug. I will give you one of my favoirte...toys... All I ask in payment is that either you, or your pretty pregnant companion, join me for a few minutes of fun...alone..."
Thanara blushes at the proposition. ”I…I’m afraid it does impact you,” Thanara counters. ”With no one left to oppose him, how long do you think it will take Karzoug to come here and claim this place as his own? What would that mean for you and your rulership here?” Thanara points out.
Lisa, too, seems uncomfortable with all of the lewd attention coming her way. When Thanara's words seem to fall on deaf ears, she steps forward. "It is in all of our best interests to work together. Your charms are undeniable, Mistress Delvahine, but we all know the consequences we will suffer if we accept your offer of passion. We value our lives and our souls too much for that. Surely, though, there is something else we can offer you in exchange for your aid?"
Snow lets out a soft growl. It is quite clear that she doesn't approve of the idea.
Delvahine sighs and rolls her eyes. "Now you decide to be prudish? If you had exercised such restraint a few months ago, you wouldn't be growing a whelp inside your womb as we speak, priestess," she sneers. "Very well, though. If you will not slake my carnal lusts, then I will accept payment in the form of jewelry or magic items worth no less than 500 gp."
Thanara let’s out a sigh of relief. ”Jewelry we can do!” she says before calling forth her extra planar mansion and stepping inside, acquiring a fine selection of feminine items to gift to Delvahine.
Delvahine inspects the offered jewelry before nodding in satisfaction. "These are...acceptable."
She disappears into an adjoining room for a few moments, then returns with a bejeweled device of a decidedly erotic nature. The function of the device is salaciously obvious. "Here you go. Take this with my well wishes. And if you should change your mind about my first offer, well, you know where to find me." She offers you a lascivious wink.
Snow's growl is much more pronounced now and when the trio leaves the Lust wing she stalks straight into (appropriately enough) wrath.
A wide corridor of polished marble opens into a brightly lit and extremely tall chamber. The upper portion of the far wall is entirely covered in a mural of an armored woman with crimson hair holding a burning ranseur and riding on the back of a massive red dragon. This is a depiction of Runelord Alaznist. A square outcropping of smooth marble juts out from the far wall, rising from the floor to a height of thirty feet. An opening in the wall directly behind the flat top of the stone column leads deeper into this section of the vault.
A twelve-foot-tall iron statue stands on this platform, an enormous iron bow gripped in its metal fists and a strange rune that looks almost like a pair of fangs decorating its chest. The statue quickly animates, sounding a thunderous alarm—a metallic clanking that vibrates the stones of the hall. It raises its bow and prepares to attack!
This is almost exactly what Snow was hoping for and the wolf surges forwards to attack!
Thanara gasps and calls out ”A golem! Lisavet, don’t use any fire!”
Iron tears and crunches beneath Snow's jaws! The golem hefts its bow and begins smashing Snow with it, but Lisa's magic circle and her own tough hide keep the blows from hurting!
Snow continues biting and clawing at the golem, her fangs and claws leaving deep grooves in the metal.
Snow continues to gouge out chunks of the golem's body. Thanara's lightning slows the construct, while Lisa raises a ward to protect Snow. The golem slams its bow into Snow, landing two heavy hits!
The wolf ignores the blows, which are little more than love taps really, and tears on.
Snow's vicious attacks finish off the damaged golem!
The wolf howls her victory and then comes to snuggle Lisa and beg for the good touch.
Lisa uses her staff of healing to tend to Snow, stroking the big wolf's fur. You press on quickly before the ranger's transformation expires.
Beyond the golem, a teleportation circle transports you to another chamber. This long chamber is filled with practice dummies dressed in battered and scorched suits of armor and a few contraptions bearing sharp implements. Several doors and two open corridors exit the chamber along each side wall. An opening in the opposite wall leads to what appears to be a meeting hall.
Six armored sinspawn wielding greataxes rush out to engage you in battle! Behind them, a half-dozen more human warriors begin to bring their magic to bear!
Snow charges forwards barrelling into the greataxe wielders as her jaws snap shut on the first foe.
Thanara sees the large number of enemies and immediately sends a bolt of lightning that jumps from one foe to the next!
Thanara steps closer and unleashes a wave of lightning over the magi.
Thanara's chain lightning completely wipes out all six sinspawn, as all critically fail to avoid the blast! Lisa launches a fireball at the magi, scorching several of them. Snow bounds forward to bite one of the wounded men.
The magi quickly cast blur on themselves before moving to surround Snow. The one she bit is able to retaliate, slicing her with his greatsword.
Snow lashes out again, making huge swipes in an attempt to catch her foes despite their magical trickery!
Thanara's lightning drops one of the magi, while another fireball from Lisa takes down another one. Snow only scores one hit, thanks to the blur.
The surviving magi channel lightning through their swords as they attack, but only one lands a hit!
Thanara gulps and sends an explosion of lightning on the enemy mages, hoping it hurts them worse than it hurts Snow...
The unexpected friendly fire causes runes to blaze with cobalt light among Snow's white fur as she is thoroughly shocked.
Still there is a job to do and the wolf sizes up her prey before lashing out.
Thanara's lightning fries the magi, then Snow takes two of them down with her vicious assault! Lisa's ray of flame misses her mark.
The two remaining foes attack Snow again, but this time she avoids their attacks!
Keen to finish the fight before Thanara shoots off any more spells Snow lashes out at the remaining foes.
Snow is able to takedown the remaining enemies before they can strike again! Lisa moves to the wolf's side, taking several minutes to lay hands on her injuries and restore the ranger to full health.
Lisa gets a friendly lick for her efforts and then a hug as Snow switches back to human form to properly show her appreciation. With that done the ranger, still in her human form, leads the way to finish off the wing of Wrath.
Another teleportation circle leads you to a large chamber. The polished granite walls of this large chamber are covered in spidery glyphs. The ceiling rises twenty-five feet high, where a mural depicts Runelord Alaznist holding a flaming ranseur standing atop a burning tower of stone. Swords and ranseurs rest inside shallow depressions in the walls, glowing faintly to illuminate the chamber. The east side of the room is a solid wall of billowing black smoke.
Pushing through the smoke, you come to a wide avenue flanked by crimson stone pillars that runs down the center of a chamber—the ceiling arches sixty feet above and seems to be made of fire. At the center of the room, a huge seven-pointed star made of silver is engraved into the floor and surrounded by a circle of low-burning flames.
Another hulking glabrezu demon waits in this room, and before it stands a muscular, dark-skinned woman with a long braid of white hair. She wears spiked red armor and carries a burning ranseur. She shrieks a battle cry in Thassilonian as she rushes to attack!
Two foes means two targets and Snow shifts into wolf form to meet them!
Lisa likewise invokes a powerful spell, transforming into an angel with burning eyes, wings, and blade as she stands beside Snow!
The glabrezu surrounds itself with mirror images as it stalks forward. The woman charges into battle, stabbing at Snow with her ranseur!
Thanara gasps at the sight of the hulking demon, but seeing the other woman charge forward as it comparatively leisurely strolls, Thanara takes a divisive tactic. She holds her staff forward and channels some magic out of it!