| behemoth |
Well I finally feel like I gave the PCs a run for their money.
As predicted, the party made it down the grotto (can't remember the exact name for it) using Wind Walk. The first waterfall made them turn back into solid form to pass through and it was there that the group was attacked by the Wind Warriors. The battle was pretty much a minor annoyance for the party, but it did cause them to expend a bit of their magic to end it. (Most important is the cleric using his sudden maximize ability).
They then proceeded down the rest of the way and had to turn solid one more before they could enter the Star Chamber. Here their impatience got the best of them as they saw lights ahead and decided to sneak up instead of turning back to mist.
(Note: The encounter was modified using suggestions on another thread, so the party was going to be facing an improved Moreto, 3 Shadow Morghs and and low level NPCTrue Ghoul adept)
They came upon a camp site with a ornate tent and a dining table set up. At the dining table sat a Ghoulish figure (the Ghould adept) who invited them to sit and talk, but he party remained aloof. The ghoul intorduced himself as Moreto and stated that he was happy to see them as it had been a long time since he had had an intelligent conversation. The cleric/church inquisitor in the group noticed that the Ghoul seemed somewhat nervous.
Meanwhile, inside the tent the true Moreto was buffing himself up as much as possible under the assumption that things would probably turn bad. And that it did...
The Scout of the party was uneasy about the whole situation and noticed movement across the hall (the 3 Shadow Morghs) and screamed out a warning. The party reacted and the Ghoul tried to confuse them by attempting to accuse them of treachery. Moreto then walked out of the tent uner the cover of Greater Invisibility. To his surprise, the Church Inquisitor pointed right at hima nd yelled "There's another one" (Confusing to the rest of the party who saw nothing.
The Morghs moved into the fray and quickly attempted to start grappling some of the PCs and Moreto opened up with a Sudden Maximized fireball. (The Shadow Morghs high reflex and Evasion made this a perfect tactic.)
The party rallied and the Wizard attempted to use an area dispell magic having the Inquisitor guide him to where Moreto was. Unfortunately all he managed to dispel was his Minor Globe of Invulnerability and one of the buffs on a PC.
Moreto followed with a Sudden Empowered Fireball which dealt quite a bit of damage as well. The next dispel attempt only got rid of Moreto's casting of Indominability, so he was still doing fine. The Morghs continued to wreak havoc and even managed to paralyze a couple of the PCs (one of them saved by a casting of Resurgence (I think this was the spell...it allowed for another savings throw on the PCs next turn).
Moreto then used his wand of enervation and criticalled the Paladin, taking 4 negative levels and pretty much ensuring that Turn Undead was not going to be a factor.
The party quickly realized that they were in deep trouble. Their holy warrior was no longer as effective, they still could not see Moreto and the Morghs were doing some serious damage with their paralysis and the fact thet they kept healing a bit each round.
The wizard cast teleport and managed to get himself and two others out of their and back to where they had camped last. The Church Inquistor managed to cast a Planar exchange with an Avoral who managed to then Dimension Door the other two people out (2 trips of dimension door)
So all in all, I believe that 2 of the party were paralyzed, 1 got taken to negative hit points and another lost 4 negative levels and for the first time they had to actually run away.
Now they are back upstairs and I assume they are either going to attempt to rest or simply gather their wits and try to attack Moreto again.
So 3 possible scenarios (suggest more if you think of them!):
1. Let them rest up and try again, with Moreto doing the same.
2. Let them attempt to rest and have Flycatcher attack them for not coming back with Moreto's head (he is somewhat crazy)
3. Let them attempt to rest, have Moreto attack them, then have Flycatcher and his Phase spiders jump into the fray as well. (Maybe throwing in the Dread Wraiths if one side seems to be winning too easily)
Thanks,
Larry