Lam heads over to the nearest place to sit and collects himself, "I am not as young as I once was."
"None of us is, old friend," Lavender chuckles, even as his skin returns to its normal texture, seemingly healing his grievous wounds at the same time.
"And the guilty have been punished." Theren kneels down, catching his breath.
Gilliam's search turns up a green scale jammed under a rock. An arcana check will reveal its origin perhaps.
Gilliam's knowledge is greater than he knows. He readily identifies the scale as belonging to a marilith - a six armed demon who is a master of sword play. The death knight's master is also revealed. Orcus rules him. Now that he thinks about it, Gilliam recalls that Sir Drzak is one of Orcus's more treasured servants. Unlike most death knights, he has a pylactery, which works exactly like a lich's. It is kept in the possession of his dread lord. Sir Drzak's service to Orcus is too important for his destruction to be permanent.
Lavender's immense knowledge allows him to identify further horrors in store. The ground at the entrance is marked by a smell of corruption and disease - a sure indication of Glabrezu demon presence. They are unusually intelligent for demons and Lavender is well aware of their ability to spread discord through people and land alike.
A faint smell of sulphur and head height scorch markings give him more bad news. The evidence is pointing to a Greater Flameskull. Not usually evil of themselves, Flameskulls are the animated skulls of long dead wizards or spellcasters and often serve as intelligent, undead guardians.
"So his punishment has yet to be properly carried out." Theren sighs and draws his sword before moving to the entrance. "Come now, we shouldn't keep his kin waiting."
A slight shimmer in the air is the only announcement of Alasandro's arrival as the warlock reappears among you. Surveying the landscape, he looks quizzically at his friends.
"How nice to know none of you have lost your touch."
He rides closer and dismounts, tethering Phyllis to a boulder.
"Not an unprofitable visit to my old home. The Winter Court is on the move and the Prince of Frost is taking an uncommon interest in the workings of this plane. Nothing very definite, but there are rumours his sister-lover has gained some inappropriate allies. Orcus, to be precise. Any confirmation of that?"
"Ah, welcome back, old friend.
"Indeed, you're on the mark, as usual. We have evidence of involvement of glabrezu, marilith, greater flameskull, and, in lieu of Orcus himself, a certain Sir Drzak.
"Shall we proceed?"
"His minions were guarding the entrance, and one of his favored knights was impersonating Keegan. Yes, Orcus is supporting her."
The layout of the ancient keep is familiar to you all as you move through the halls, heading directly towards Sir Keegan's burial place. As you approach, you hear commotion from up ahead.
High pitched and maniacal laughter echoes from the direction of Sir Keegan's tomb. After the laughter, the same high voice utters something that is hard to identify.
Perception 28
"This has all been very entertaining, Keegan, but I believe you have outlived your usefulness. Prepare to meet oblivion."
You can't be sure, but you think you hear a weak voice whisper "thank you" in reponse.
"Let us hasten, friends," Lavender murmurs as he keeps pace with Alasandro.
Alasandro's pace quickens.
Lam also does his best to keep up with the group
The old man follows slowly behind.
Rapidly explaining what everyone has heard to the slightly oblivious warden, the party hurries on.
Theren's silent feet lead him quickly to the familiar room that long ago you all explored. A great change has occurred. Where you once found honoured sarcophagi filled with skeletons designed to protect Sir Keegan and altars dedicated to the Dragon Lord Bahamut, you now see only desecration. The sarcophagi are overturned and smashed and far worse has befallen the altars. Only memory would tell you that this had ever been a place of honourable rest, so thoroughly have the agents of Orcus defiled it.
At the far end of the hall, you see Sir Keegan himself, brutally called by the servants of Orcus. And surrounding, gloating and enjoying his torment are the beings predicted by Lavender. A great flameskull, a huge Glabrezu and sliding eeriely around the remnants of Sir Keegan's tomb, a six armed, snake tailed Marilith. Thus far, only Theren can see them and they have not noticed him.
Marilith - Init (1d20+22=32)
Flameskull - Init (1d20+19=32)
Lam - 31
Theren - 28
Alasandro - Init (1d20+21=22)
Genryu - 21
Glabrezu - Init (1d20+14=19)
Sensing that they are no longer alone, the Marilith moves into the main tomb, scimitars held lightly in its six arms, looking for prey. The Flameskull spins, firing a bolt of fire from its eyes at Theren and dazing the avenger with the abrupt attack.
Flame ray (Ref) v Theren - on hit target is dazed to end of Flameskull's next turn (1d20+23=36, 2d8+10=16).
Lam stands for a moment to gain his focus, "Avandra don't let my luck fail me now." A brief moment of divine light shines outward from Lam and past his adjacent friends, imbuing them with divine strength.
Lam draws his fullblade and moves forward into the battle.
Lam's divine patron infuses Gilliam, Genryu, Lavender and Alasandro with power for the coming battle.
Lavender climbs atop the rubble and, delight in his eyes, throws a ball of force which slams into the marilith, then rebounds to the glabrezu and the flameskull.
Force Volly vs M, G, F Ref (1d20+23=43, 1d20+23=31, 1d20+23=33, 3d6+12+8=31)
The Marilith takes the full brunt of Lavender's attack which fizzles without touching the Glabrezu or the Flameskull.
Genryu walks quietly and slowly toward the battle
Theren charges at the marilith, but his blade just bounces harmlessly off it's skin.
Smiling at the prospect of joining in another battle with his old comrades, Alasandro strides to a position alongside Lam.
"Now we shall see if the old skill remains ..."
He gently raises paint-stained fingers at the Marilith and the Glabrezu, invoking his Hexer's wrath on them both. He then exhales softly. "The strands of fate will doom you, demon spawn."
Alasandro's almost teasing attack opens the door to his comrades to smite the Marilith.
The Glabrezu snarls and hurls a futile bold of Abyssal fury at the warlock before surging towards the avenger. Savage claws snap and hit only thin air.
Abyssal Bolt v Alasandro (Ref) (1d0+24=25, 3d4+7=16).
Gilliam moves up to join the fray. "You know, I REALLY HATE DEMONS!! Even more than undead. Pelor smite thee, foul beast!"
"Good show!" Lavender cheers.
"Oh excellent work!"
Unable to avoid the righteous fury of Pelor's strong right arm, neither the Glabrezu nor the Marilith can do more than look impotent and furious.
The Flameskull alone is unaffected. Raging, it hurls a bolt of explosive fire towards the comrades clustered at the end of the room. Abyssal flame springs up in the square, creating a zone of agonising heat.
Firestorm (Ref) v Lavender, Genryu, Gilliam, Lam and Alasandro (1d20+27=40, 1d20+27=35, 1d20+27=31, 1d20+27=29, 1d20+27=35).
Firestorm v Theren (1d20+27=47)
Firestorm damage (fire damage) (3d6+10=24)
"Mistake."
Alasandro gestures slightly and curses the Flameskull.
"Got them all now," he adds with satisfaction as the flames mask his line of sight.