Session 12: The Final Battle

The last chapter.

Knee deep in blood.

In the chamber of blood Mannon secures the second orb, then he and Alton examine the floating bodies of the defeated foes. Flasks of acid, throwing daggers, more gold pendants, and a magical chain shirt, given to the paladin.

Covered in gore the group leaves, heads back to the garden vault. Once there, debate; attempt to discern the magic of orbs and unlock the portal, or hold up in the forge. As the discussion continues behind the magical barrier a pod drops from one of the stalks, it writhes on the ground, soon ready to hatch.

The group is exhausted and bloodied, wounds need tending, spells are depleted, Mannon wishes to study books and orbs, needs to unlock their use. Despite the danger of the pods hatching the decision is made to barricade the door to the forge, to rest and recover.

Some cleaning, some food, then sleep. Alton and Mannon take the first watch. Alton meditates on the shadow realm, reclaims his mysteries. Mannon studies the orbs and his books. A revelation comes to him. The writing is that of the mad gods, the orbs and incantation can unlock the large doors of the garden vault, he knows what to say and what to do.

Prophit and Rhin take the next two watches. Occasional sounds are heard from outside, more pods dropping from their stalks, ready to hatch. As all rest sleep is disturbed by the very gods themselves. A prophecy is seemingly delivered. In it a hole in the earth opens up, the gods of madness return, taint covers the entire world.

Krius' god, Justicia, conveys a blessing on all members of the group, a blessing that will last to victory or defeat. It's now up to the heroes to win the day.

Everyone rested, cleaned as best as possible, weapons sharpened, lantern lit, the door from the forge is opened. Outside, in the garden, dozens of the gestation pods have dropped; several show signs of clawed creatures beginning to emerge from them. Time is running short.

Humans help halflings ascend the tall staircase. Mannon studies the globes, his books, places one globe on one pillar, changes his mind, places it on the other, then mumbles incoherent words and the name Paraxis. He then mumbles more unknown words and the name Tsathzar Rho. A seal is broken, a hiss of air, then the large doors before them unlock. The doors are opened.

Behind them power courses through thick vegetation from some unknown aberrant power source forming a tunnel that stretches far off. Rhin and Krius take the lead, the rest follow.

As the tunnel opens up on a large empty room warblade and paladin draw weapons, to them they stand on a large featureless plain of basalt rock illuminated by a single dim star. Before them a large globe of flesh, it erupts covers the landscape in gore. In the middle a demonic being, twisted face, long arms, vicious claws, multiple lashing tails, Tsathzar Rho once wizard, now beast. Heroes charge into battle.

For cleric and the halflings the world remains normal, quickly attention is turned to the tunnel; a hoard of larval draconic kobolds is making its way slowly towards them. Alton fires crossbow bolts, Mannon throws eldritch blasts taking down foe after foe, but there are too many, creeping doom slowly advances.

Prophit is torn, assist the halfling against the hoard or assist Krius and Rhin against an unseen enemy. Blood erupts from Rhin’s forehead, Krius staggers, Prophit forgets the hoard, helps the warriors, gives Rhin holy strength, then imbues his waraxe with magic.

Warblade and paladin slog through writhing guts, have difficulty engaging their horrid foe, but manage to close. Krius distracts the beast, Rhin delivers a mighty blow with his axe. The beast reels, unleashes another flurry of claw attacks, it then phases out of its realm of madness, leaving Rhin and Krius.

The hoard encroaches faster than crossbow bold and magic blast can take them out. Alton summons a wall of black flame across the path of the creatures, holding them off for but only for a while.

Prophit, Mannon, and Alton, distracted by the larval kobolds suddenly find themselves facing a new foe. The beast has phased into the real world, it moves towards the halflings.

Back in the realm of Madness Rhin and Krius focus their minds, their world waivers, shifts, they are back in the real world ready to battle the aberration that is Tsathazar Rho.

Prophit calls on a darker path, imbues his hammer with necromantic energy, then he Rhin and Krius move to attack their enemy.

Surrounded, Tsathazar Rho lashes out, then fades and retreats back to his realm out of time. All but Alton focus minds, attempt to follow, to finish defeating the foe.

Alton stares down a slobbering hoard of kobold larva ready to rend him into pieces. He remembers the necklace he acquired from past battles, pulls a golden bead from it, aims at the center of the kobold mass and throws. A firestorm engulfs over half the kobold forms leaving smoldering piles of goo.

Back in the other realm, Mannon, Krius, and Prophit attempt to engage their enemy. Krius lets forth a furious sword strike the misses its mark. Mannon throws an magical blast, that seems to be harmlessly absorbed by the creature. Prophits attack proves to be as futile. Surrounded again the beast crosses back into reality, this time Rhin is waiting, dwarven war axe bits deep. Tsathzar Rho drops into a pile of haphazard limbs.

Prophit, Mannon, and Krius return to reality and as they do the defeated form of Tsathzar Rho crumbles into dust, a wave of dark energy shakes the room transforming it into an ordinary cave. Connection to the far realm severed, the few remaining larval kobolds melt into piles of slime. One last shudder cracks the cavern wall, exposes it to the outside world, fresh air.

Outside, night, clouds with one lone star twinkling through them. The trail the heroes took to the cave winds back to town...

The characters present:
* Alton (Aaron), halfling shadowcaster
* Mannon (Dave, absent ran by DM), halfling swordsage/warlock/cleric
* Prophit (Jeff), human cleric
* Squire Krius (Matt), human paladin
* Rhin No-Clan (Jim, absent ran by Matt), dwarf warblade

Rumors and clues gathered (this session):
* Vision sent by the gods of the world being overrun by hoards of creatures

Treasure found (this session):
* 2 potions of invisibility
* 2 potions of darkvision
* 2 vials of dust of armor enchantment
* 1 vial of dust of weapon enchantment
* +1 medium chain shirt

Foes/traps/tricks overcome (this session):
* A hoard of larval draconic kobolds
* 1 disgusting outsider, Tsathzar Rho

Experience gained (this session):
740 each player