The Pentagon of Power
Greyhawk Legacy Campaign:
The Greyhawk wars have ended. The Overking Ivid V has been dethroned and his Great Kingdom factioned. The legions of Iuz have been subdued. The archlich Vecna has been vanquished. The world of Oerth stands at a turning point. The years of peace have brought great prosperity. But prosperity has the tendency to fuel the vices of greed. The war chests have been refilled. The armies replenished. But the wounds of wrath tear deep and never fully heal. They are instead replaced by the scars of vengeance. Many enemies remain but in spectrum so too do the sentinels of old. A threat still poses but from the ashes of its ruin Heroes are gathering.
Adventures:
The Short Versions: (Click here)
1st: To Kill a Hierarch:
-Einhoder-Caldwell-Popaxe-Markus Bowmen (NPC)-
The party members were contacted seperatly and summoned to the Whistling Fish bar. It was there that the party was formed, having known one another from past exploits. The were met by a knight of the holy shielding and informed that a Hierarch member of the Horned Society would be returning to his home in the city of Admundford. The Knight insisted that this Hierarchs death would be a great blow to the forces of evil. The party agreed and set off at once. They traveled north to the city of Elmshire. From there they booked passage to Admundford. Once there they quickly discerned the address they were seeking. They clumsily scaled the fence ij broad daylight and marched through the home on killing rampage. All the forces of evil were destroyed. The Heirarch proved to be quite the adversary as he had protected himself with a blade barrier. The battle was hard fought but in the end he was slain.
The party was later arrested and refused to cooperate. They were fined an enormous some of some thousands of gold and set free.
2nd-Return to the Tomb of Horrors: Part 1-Death Beckons:
-Einhonder-Popaxe-Caldwell-Baalthazar-(Special appearace by Kashmir)
As the adventure began Einhonder had found his powers faultering. He was visited by a high priest of Mayheime who warded him to maintain his paladin oath. The following night Einhonder found himself awoken by a terrible nightmare. Unable to sleep he set out walking and encountered Popaxe. Popaxe had also had a nightmare and likewise could not remember it. They soon came upon a Moonday midnight execution in town square. Strangely Baalthzar was not the executioner. Fearing something afoot they headed to the Temple of Wee Jas to seek Baalthazar. Once there they found a zombie banging at the door. Before they could discern what it wanted on eof the priest of Wee Jas had slain it. An investigation revealed that the zombie had been killed by an axe blow to the neck. The trademark of Baalthazar. Strangely the zombie carried coins minted in Kalstrand. The far away capitoal city of the Kingdom of Ahlissa. Caldwell soon arrived as he too had endured the same trials this night that had come upon Einhonder and Popaxe. The 3 party members decided it prudent to seek the wereabouts of the missing Baalthazar. With little delay Caldwell teleported them to half way across the continent to the city of Kalstrand. When last the party members were in this vicinity it was governed under the rulership of Ivid V. But now the southern portion of The former Great Kingdom had seeded to become the Kingdom of Ahlissa ruled by Overking Xevener I. Upon arriving in Kalstrand the party found their way to the local river front pub known as Khale’s Place. While enjoying a few drinks the party noticed a thick mist drifting into town. A moment later a man was killed in the night. As the party ran to investigate they came to see undead creatures looming out of the mist from the river. Caldwell immediately scattered them with spiraling flame. Those who survived came to feel the cold steel of Einhonders blade. The last of the wights was slain by an axe. It was Baalthazar standing in a trance like state. He would not respond to the party. Einhonder discovered a skull carved wound upon his back. He had become victum to some sort of curse. The party brought him to the Temple of Zilchus were the priest used powerful divinities to remove this curse. Baalthazar immediately awoke as if from a nightmare. He had no memory of how he came to be here but felt as though something was drawing him. Even having recovered Ballthazar the party decided they could not leave until they discovered what evil was at hand. Upon the one of the bodies of the slain wights Einhonder found a Tatoo with an insignia bearing the title “Pavlins Pearl”. Some information gathering lead them to understand the Pearl was infact a ship. The party sought at this Payvin at a bar called “The Master of the Pier”. Payvin told the party a horrific tale about how his ship was overtaken by mist and his crew utterly vanished. A dark voice had beckoned him seeking his soul to feed the one called the devourer. Sometime later the party had arrived at the tower of Ahrens the sage. Ahrens agreed to research this Devourer but at a ridiculously high cost. Begrudgingly the party agreed. The following day Ahrens had something for them. It seemed there was a dark force written of only as the Devourer and that long ago this source was sought by a wizard named Desatysso. He told the party that this Desatysso was last known to keep a stronghold in the Glorioles mountain range. The party set off at once. Aside from a wyvern attack the trip was fairly simple. Alas the party came to a cliff where hill giants had set an ambush. But Caldwell surprised them and sent them crashing down the mountain. Beyond this cliff they found the stronghold of Desatysso in virtual ruins. As they approached them came under fire from rock throwing hill giants. The party charged in while Caldwell slipped in spells from afar. During this battle a mysterious drow wizard appeared and aided the party. After the hill giants were slain the party learned this man to be Kashmir of Stormrealm. A plane traveler from a distant sphere. Now here seeking the wereabouts of his mentor. Kashmir would aid the party in assaulting the stronghold. Within the stronghold the party battled through many more hill giants as well as trolls and other minions. Beyond the stronghold lied a cave system build into the cliff face. The final conflict came against cunning Mountain giants but they could not stand against the fury of the party. Though the assault was victory it yielded very little. All the party found a reference scribed on scroll by Desatysso himself. It spoke of an alliance the wizard had with an adventuring party lead by Falon T’selvin of Kalstrand to stand against the true incarnation of the Devourer. The party would return to Kalstrand and when rested would seek this Falon
3rd-Return to the Tomb of Horrors: Part 2: City of the dead:
Einhonder-Popaxe-Caldwell-Drayo(Larry)-
Back in Kalstrand the party was now prepared to seek the Adventurer known as Falon in hopes he would have further information on this “Devourer” whose emergence was threatening the land. Baalthazar left the party to seek his own ends. None knew quite what this meant but little could be done. Einhonder knew after many years it was best to let the executioner to his own means. After speaking with Ahrens the sage the party learned that Falon T’selvin of Kalstrand was said to dwell at the end of some street. At this location they found a cemetery. Alas they came upon his grave. He had apparently been killed on his last adventure. At the rgavesite they found a mourner. It was one of Falons fellow adventures, a warrior named Grunther. Grunther explained that the wizard Deatysso had long ago contracted their adventuring party to seek out some Tomb. The adventure met with disaster as most of the party was killed. The rest injured beyond repair. Grunther had but one arm. He told the party that another member of their band had survived, a female wizard named Sather. Grunther said she was much smarter then him and might be able to help. The party discerned she resided in the town of Pitchfield. Caldwell summoned flying phantom steeds and they disembarked. The city of Pitchfield was mostly abandoned and the few who remained were leaving. The townsfolk spoke of plague. There was only one man entering Pitchfield. It was Drayo, the half drow spider druid. He bore the same scar on his back that Baalthzar had. He must have been drawn here as Baalthazar was. Caldwell immediately recognized his old adventuring companion and asked for his aid. Grunther lead the party to Sathers home. They found a crippled old woman who wa sneverous to speak of the past. Eventually she agreed to speak of their last adventure. She recanted Grunthers story but she recalled the facts. Alas it was revealed that the Tomb spoke of was none other then the dreaded Tomb of Horrors. This devourer was but another title of the ancient lich Acerak. Apparently the lich had not been destroyed so many years ago when the party had thought they had destroyed the Tomb. Strangley most memories of that adventure had escaped the characters minds. It seemed a return to the Tomb was in order. After leaving the house a mist rolled in, the undead were upon the party. With the combined socerery of Caldwell and Drayo they did not stand a chance. The party arrived in the vast swamp the next day. They remembered that the tomb lied somewhere in the enormous wetlands. As they approached the site of the Tomb they found their path blocked by 3 vampires. A battle ensued and these fiends were destroyed. Not long after they came upon the site to find something unexpected. Where once stood a skull shaped island now stood a skull city. A city of necromancers and the undead had been erected. The party snuck in and began to explore. As it was daylight their were few goings on. But they did find a young slightly insane necromancer. He spoke of himself as the first guide along the way. He told the party that at the end the devourer awaited their souls. The party took not of this silliness and continued on into the skull citadel at the center of the city. They discovered the place to be a black academy of necromancy. All apparently devoted to the devourer. Drayo came upon a statue which was to be visited by any who wished to join the ranks of the academy. Seeking to infiltrate the place further he allowed the statue to scan him. This attempt failed as Drayo was disintegrated. Caldwell grabbed him up and teleported out. Back in Greyhawk city the party visited the temple of Pelor and sought a means to resurrect the druid. The priest there directly them to the Lightlord in Chendl, capitol of Furyondy. Once Teleported there they visited this Lightlord. The High Priest seemed not to want to bothered but said he would perform the ritual for 10,000 GP. The party next visited the wizard guild and after a series of appointments were brought to a dealer of exotic items. He paid the party in full for Drayo’s magical staff. Once done they returned and had their friend resurrected. Drayo had memories of his soul being slowly sucked into a mouth of darkness. After resting the party returned to the Black Academy and continued exploring. During this second venture them accidnetly came face to face with one of the masters of the academy. A vile lich who immediately began attacking. Spell blasts rang out and mayhem ensued. It was Caldwell’s spell that would finish the battle. The lich was held still, and Drayo earth elemental twisted its head off. From here the enraged Drayo sent his elemental to attack the entire School. Meanwhile the party continued to explore. Hey came upon a trap door which would take them to the lower level of the Academy. And closer to the evil which plague these lands.
4th: Return to the Tomb of Horrors Part 3: The Footsteps of Doom:
Einhonder-Popaxe-Caldwell-Drayo(Larry)-Grunther(NPC)-
The Party was still tracking the devourer. A vile being of unspeakable power. They had known him years ago as the Archlich Acerak, They thought they had destroyed him in the bowels of the Tomb of Horrors. They were wrong. Now it seemed Acerak had returned and his power was growing. On the island where the Tomb once stood was now a city of the dead. The party had entered this city and its central structure, some kind of Black Academy of Necromancy. The Party now found themselves in the lower levels of the place. They explored catacombs littered with skeletons, wights, ghouls, and vampires. Alas they were attacked by an Iron golem whose force they could not stand. They managed to trap the thing and to venture further into this Black Academy. It was then they came upon the master of the house. A arch vampire Necromancer they soon come to know went by the name of Lord Ferranifer. A battle ensued and spells of mass destruction rang forth and too. When the mayhem had seised the Vampire was dead but so too was Caldwell the conjurer. The party bunked down as best they could as drayo summoned all his powers of nature to return Caldwell’s soul in another form. This summons was answered and Caldwell returned to the land of the living in a new human body. The spirits had been kind. Soon after Caldwells return the party found the entrance to the original Tomb of Horrors. From a journal they had found they knew they would need to aquire the amulet of the void. From the body of the dead necromancer they had recovered half the amulet. The other half they feared resided within the Tomb of horrors. Caldwell abruptly teleported everyone out. Back in Greyhawk city the party began to make preparations. Einhonder road off to the Nyr dyv to the Tower of Tenser. Long ago Einhonder and his party had rescued Tenser from a black oblivion and they had been friends ever since. He told tenser where they were going and sought his aid. Tenser gave what help he could. He also supplied Einhonder with the knowledge that Acerak had once been the apprentice of none other then the arch lich Vecna. After all was good to go the party returned.
BACK INTO THE TOMB OF HORRORS.
The party came upon many clever death traps but none Einhonder had not seen before. Using what he could remember he guided the party through. It seemed as though the place was exactly as it was when Einhonders first group had entered. Repairs had been made and efforts taken to make it exactly as had been. More evidence of this was seen later as an incorporeal Glabrezu demon was seen tending to changes the new party made. The numerous puzzles and strange gates slowed the party downed but were all eventually bypassed. One gateway proved too confusing as Caldwell was transformed into the form of a female. The party was wise and continuously serched and used detection magics of all kinds. It became more and more difficult as many paths were displayed. Which road to travel became the dilemma. But every road it seemed ended in certain death. As they continued Einhonder seemed to remember more and more. The place became more and more littered with deadly Asp snakes but Drayo dealt with them when Popaxe tired of killing them. At long last they came to the throne room where they recovered the crown and scepter they would need to kill Aceraks floating skull of soul devouring. But when they reached the doors to the vault they could not seem to figure the way in. They knew the 2 sided scepter was the key but not how to use it. Popaxe tried and tried. He evn put the crown on his head thinking it part of the equation, it was not. Shortly after in attempt to get the crown off his head popaxe touched the crown with the scepter. Popaxe was wiped from reality and all that remained was dust. The party would press on however. Finally the vault was unlocked and more treasure then had ever been seen was revealed. The skull began to rise but Einhonder was all over it. Using the crown and the scepter as his Good friend Glinfrimmus had done so many years ago they once again destroyed the skull of Acerak. The treasure was looted, the sacs were packed and an exodus was made. Back in Greyhawk city all ends were exhausted trying to get Popaxe returned. He could not be reincarnated not could he even be resurrected by the Great Lightlord of Pelor in Chendl. Einhonder took the dust of Popaxe and went to seek Tenser. Tenser was not keen on throughing arround wish spells but what could he say. He charged Einhonder for the spell components costing 50,000 GP and said when this was done they were even. A few days later a confused Popaxe road into town. The day had been won, the tomb once again defeated, but the mission was not over. Within the treasure they had found the second piece of the Amulet of the void. An insciption on it lead them further to believe that they could use the amulet to open the portal to Aceraks true mantle of power. The gate being the mouth of the Devourer symbol within the Tomb of Horrors. For now there was treasure to spend but soon, very soon, they would quest to destroy Acerak once and forall.
5th-Return to the Tomb of Horrors Part 4: The City that Waits:
-Einhonder-Popaxe-Caldwell-Drayo-Krust(npc)-
The would be Heroes had crushed the Tomb of Horrors but Aceraks power had not been destroyed. There was still much to be done. They had aquired the amulet of the void, a strange magical device which they believed would open the gate to reach Aceraks true mantle of power. In the weeks since their last venture they had rested but Caldwell had been busy crafting magical rings which were meant to symbolically bind the party. Caldwell, Popaxe, and Einhonder met up with Drayo back in the entry to the tomb of horrors. They stood before a mosiac face whose mouth acted as a void of destruction. It was through this void the party would have to open the gate. They felt uneasy and sought to further explore the Tomb of Horrors hoping to find the answer they believed they were missing. Caldwell, now a female went back to the gate which had magically changed his gender. He entered the gate again but his gender remained the same. He would continue to live as a female. But he became aware of something that had up until this point been unknown. When he originally entered the gate not only was he turned female but his alignment had shifted to evil. Only now that this process had been reversed had he become aware of this. Afterwards Caldwell accompanied Drayo to a treasure room they had bypassed the first time. There were many traps as feared so they elected to seek the services of a theif. They teleported back to Greyhawk city and enlisted the help of Krust, a half orc thug who had traveled with Popaxe and Einhonder long ago. He claimed to be the only member of that party to have not perished in the Tomb of Horrors. After only 5 minutes within the Tomb of Horrors Krust had set off a trap and been killed by poison. The party continued their search and found a horde of 10,000 platinum and 10,000 gems worth 50 GP each. A worth of over 600,000 gold. After this Caldwell sought to get Krust brought back to life. He teleported back to Greyhawk city and went to the temple of Pelor. They told him it would cost 5,000 gold to have the half orc raised. Caldwell paid on the spot with the platinum pieces he had just aquired. Unfortunatly these platinum pieces were actually copper pieces magically altered to look like Platnum. But the illusionary enchantment began to fade if taken from the Tomb. The clerics saw this and thought Caldwell was trying to fool them. Caldwell began to defend himself and the head priest went to cast a spell to discern his intentions. Caldwell saw the casting and feared the worst. So before the headpriest could finish Caldwell exploded the Temple of Pelor and teleported away. He arrived in the Chendl, capitol city of the great kingodm. He sought to speak with the Lightlord there for terms of resurrecting Krust. But enchantments on the temple there would not allow Caldwell to enter. In frustration he dropped Krust’s body in the street. He rejoined his compatriots in the Tomb. Not long after Drayo demaned they return to save Krust. Caldwell went along with this and teleported the 2 of them back to Chendl. They located Krust’s body at the cemetery. Drayo called upon his natural summoning powers and reincarnated Krust in the form of a Centaur. Krust was horrified and wanted his old body and his possessions back. He was able to find most of his possessions at the guard house. Then Caldwell and Drayo sought the powerful wizards guild in Chendl. They were able to hook them up with a metamorphisis wizard. For the price of 5,000 GP he was able to restore Krust to his half orc form. They abruptly returned to the Tomb of Horrors. They continued their exploring and took a break to rest for the night. On Popaxe’s watch everything went bad. Einhonder awoke to find Popaxe’s axe in his neck. The dwarf had attempted a coup de grace type assassination attempt. But had failed. The party took arms against the dwarf but he proved too powerful. They fled and Popaxe escaped. Once regrouped the party pursued. Popaxe seemed to know all the secret ways through the Tomb and found his way out and even reached the inside of the Black academy. It was here that Caldwell was able to subdue him with Holding magic. They party immediately bound the dwarf and teleported away. Back in Greyhawk city the party split up. Calwell went with Drayo back to the Druids magical grove. Einhonder took the bound dwarf and rode off to visit his friend Tenser. Once there Einhonder spoke with one of Tenser’s henchmen, Jahred the Identifyer. Jared said he would try and determine what drove the dwarf to this evil ends. Hours later Tenser came to join Einhonder. He said he had looked into it. And that the amulet of the void had been used as a soul gem. The vampire scion necromancer Farranifer, head of the Black Academy, had been sent into the amulet when the party had defeated her. When popaxe took the amulet he opened himself up to a attacks of possession. The vampire had now taken full control of Popaxe’s body. Einhonder asked for more help and Tenser begrudgingly agreed. But he let Einhonder know that Einhonder would now owe him. Tenser used his powerful magics to restore Popaxe to his body. Then he trapped the vampire’s soul within a gem. He used his further abilities to interrogate the vampire forcing it to answer his questions. From this it was learned that to open the gate the party would need not only the amulet of the void but also a piece of Aceraks remains. They also learned that the gate lead to a place called the city that wait. A city that had once given worship to the demon lord Orcus. The party reformed and headed back to the Tomb of horrors. Once through the gate they found this City that waits. Above was a black sky with crackling energy. Below they was only black oblivion. From, this oblivion rose towers of steel. Dozens of towers connected by bridges. The party set off to explore. The entire place was covered with ice inside and out. The place seemed abandoned save for strange zombies which possessed the ability to drain life from nearby foes. They procured a wand of light but could find little else. But Krust found something that proved to be very very wicked. Within one of the Tower rooms was a rouletee wheel with a plague which dared to be played. Krust elected to do so. His first spin lost leaving him deprived on some of his power. His second spin also lost. A moment later skin healed over his eyes and ears and his hands melted into stumps. Krust was now useless. With little thought of it Drayo cut Krust’s throught. The druid then invoked his natural powers of reincarnation and Krust was returned in the form of an Elf. He seemed content to continue. They encountered more undead which used powers they had never heard or seem of. The party was now closer to their goal then ever. But what horrors yet lied ahead?.
Return to the Tomb of Horrors Part 5: Darker Still:
-Einhonder-Popaxe-Caldwell-Drayo-Targalen(ring)-Krust (npc)-
The party had regrouped once more and continued to seek Acerak to deliver finally doom upon the archlich. They had been within the demi-plane rift known as the City that waits for days now. Their resources exhausted, their future seemed darker still. They continued their exploration the abandoned city. Early on they came upon the form of none other then Targalen Windraider. The elven hero who had adventured with Einhonders Greyhawk party so long ago. The elf lord was in a trance like state and also bore the insignia of a bleeding skull on his back. The party surmised that Targalen had suffered the same effects as had Baalthazar. The evil of Acerak had claimed them and drawn them to this place. Caldwell used his socerery to restore Targalen who as expected did not remember a thing. The party ventured on exploring the numerous towers which populated the city. One bridge connected these towers gave way as the party crosses. The feather falling rings which Caldwell had created for the party came in handy. As the charcters fell a swarm of negative energy bird like creatures swarmed on them. With area of effect mass destruction spells this threat was abated. The party recovered and eventually came to a tower with an inscription dubbing it the Tower of Test. Within this tower they found trophys which in effect were those who had failed the test. The heads of mortal men had been mounted in the hall. One such head had apparently remained alive. Targalen arranged for communication to be made and the party transferred with this head. His name was Gus and he explained that this was the tower of the High Exaltant, a champion of some kind. One who could defeat this champion would assume his title and become master of this tower. Gus had attempted this long ago and failed. Gus provided other information. He spoke of this city as at one time existing on a prime material world were all the peoples worshipped Orcus. But Orcus was a fickle god and the people sought worship of other evil dieties. Orcus returned with wrath and the city was cast into this oblivion. Since that time the city had taken on a new master. The one known as Acerak. Acerak had animated poor Gus and left him here to guide any travels down to the High Exaltant. The party took Gus the head with them so he could indeed aid them. As the party transcended the tower they faced many tests. The test of dexterity which dealt with crossing a room of collapsing pillars. The test of strength, intelligence and wisdom followed. But it was the test of Forbearance which brouth them the most trouble. The test consisted of attempting to cross a room with thunderous sonic waves bombarding them. As the party members crossed the midpoint the sound became overwhelming and they were subdued. Krust and Caldwell sidestepped this and managed to rescue the rest of the party. Einhonder was nearly slain. The party had advance warning of when they would face the high Exaltant. They conjured all their abilities. Had the Exaltant been scanning for magical auras he would have been blinded by this party of super enhanced individuals. Drayo needed fodder and as such summoned 3 earth elementals, 2 fire elementals, and 2 black bears. YES black bears. The Exaltant revealed himself as a large undead warrior and challenged the party to single combat against their champion. Shortly after a mob of 13 individuals assaulted him. The Exaltant was cunning and slew the bears and the owls and the foxes and the fire elementals. He bypassed the earth elementals and brought his fury to Caldwell. The party strode to Caldwells aid. They bombarded the Exaltant with spells and swords and it was finally the near dead Caldwell who blasted the Exaltant into oblivion. Unfortunately there was no treasure. In time the parties depression subsided and they decided to rest.
7th-Return to the Tomb of Horrors Part 6: The Inevitable…
-Einhonder-Popaxe-Drayo-Caldwell-Krust(npc)-
It was going on weeks now and the party was still stranded in the City that waits. A demiplane that kept within its boundaries the true source of the demilich Acerak’s power. From clues they had gathered the party knew they needed to reach The fortress of Conclusion, there finally to confront Acerak. But to reach this Fortress they would have to solves the clues with the city that waits. As this adventure began it seemed Targalen had disappeared as quickly as he had arrived. The party exhausted what resources they could to find him but to no avail. They would have to push on without him. The next tower they explored was some sort of maze which ended in a a heavily webed room. The party was assaulted by magic which paralyzed Krust and slowed the rest of the party save for Popaxe. This made it only easier for the Darkweaver to attack and slay them. Drayo contained the creature with a Wall of fire soon after which Caldwell blasted the the thing with a prismatic spray. The creature was slain instantly. This conflict was followed up by a strange encounter. As the party discussed their next move Caldwell sensed a disturbance in the magical weave. A moment later a strange fiend enetered the room. Einhonder recognized the fiend as a messsenger of a dark wizard he had known long ago. The messengers name was pestilence. Soon heavy fottstepps could be heard and the enormous planar general known only as Noth Dreadrin entered. The party braced for combat. Then the master of both these creatures entered. It was Sith Theigis, the ancient dark wizard whse resurrection the party had failed to stop very long ago. Theigis mocked Einhonder for a moment then gave greetings to Caldwell the conjurer. It became evident that Sith held some sort of opposition to Acerak and now intended to aid the party against the demilich. He told them that Acerak was very ancient and eluded that he had known Acerak in life. He explained that Acerak was a devourer of souls and that he only desired the most powerful souls. The Tomb of Horrors had been set up expressly to draw powerful souls to him so that he could consume their life essences. Now Acerak needed but 3 more very powerful souls to begin the Apotheosis. This city was yet another stage in Aceraks testing grounds and the party would presumedly be the final souls he needs. With 3 more souls Aceraks Phylactory would be full and henceforth would come the Apotheosis, the means by which Acerak would propel the investiture of his spirit into the essence of the Negative energy plane. Becoming master of the very plane itself. This meeting was interrupted as the dead body of Krust became animated. It crawled out of the bag of holding at the parties dismay. It stood now possessed by Acerak himself. Acerak challenged Sith Theigis who he recognized. Sith informed the demilich that he was no longer his master. Sith condemned Acerak for following the Whispered One into Undeath. Acerak tried to make Krust’s form attack but Noth dreadrin destroyed that body almost immediately. Sith became alarmed as he felt Acerak bring all his powers in this place to bear against him. Sith and his minions were forced to flee but Theigis left with a final reminder that their were gates that needed to be unlocked. 3 of these hidden within the city. And that when Acerak was finally faced they would have to find his Phylactory. The party was very receptive to Sith Theigis’s help and set out to use their wisdom. In the room where they had just killed the Darkweaver they found a lever. They pulled it and the tower began to crumble. The party escaped. They found another tower which beared no resemblance to the rest of the city. Within this tower they were attacked by life draining zombies and winter wights. At the base of this tower they found some sort of flying creature held trapped by a series of 3 bars. One of the bars had been lifted when the party had pulled the lever. The party would have to find the means to lift the other bars back in the city. They soon came to a tower filled entirely with water. Drayo wild shaped into a huge killer whale. Einhonder and Popaxe joined him through the use of Gills spells and rings of warmth. In the depths of the tower were underwater caves. In one such cave Popaxe saw runes of the wall and tried to read them. Reading these runes unleashed a powerful area dispelling. The gills and spells and rings of warmth were dispelled. Drayo was able to withstand the powerful effect. But Einhonder and Popaxe were dying in the freezing water. Drayo got them out of there before this occurred. To explore the tower futher Drayo summoned 2 sharks and a huge water elemental. In the watery depths he came upon the Brine Dragon in its horde. The dragon immediately blasted them with a breath weapon of Akaline salt. Drayo and his companions fled. The dragon pursued. The sharks died first. Drayo reached the surface and his party and watched as the dragon began destroying the water elemental. With a wicked glance between one another Drayo and Caldwell began to rain down magics of awesome power. Caldwells prismatic spray made the dragon insane. But it would not stop. Finally the conjuerer was able to bring down a hold monster spell which bound the creature. Drayo commanded the Water elemental to “Finish Him”. The water elemental did as commanded and used a coup de grace like attack to score a “Fatality”. The party spend much time packing up the dragons horde. In which they found a silver key they knew they would need. In another tower the party found a series of portals. They did not know where these portals lead. Drayo summoned a Satyr who he sent through the portal and whom never returned. That was about as much of these portals the party wanted to see. The party continued on and 2 towers later came to a huge empty tower filled with thick webbing. This was were they had to be. Drayo used area of effect spells but could not damage the webs. Soon the party found a group of 13 wrath spiders gathering to attack. Drayo called for retreat but Papo would net fallback. Popaxe and Einhonder began to bombard the spiders, Caldwell let loose the fireball and Drayo was able to finish the rest with a flame strike. Popaxe knew they had to get beneath the webs so he began to experiment. He discovered his magical weapons could cut the webbing. So by means of a rope he began carving a large tunnel down through the webbings. Caldwell summoned Phantom steed for the grouo. Popaxe flew down and found a 10ft cubed riddle box hanging by a strand from the web. But a winter wight waited for them on the riddle box. Popaxe charged and found these creatures to be worthy opponents. Einhonder healed Popaxe then went in and finished the Winter wight off. On the bottom of this puzzle box the party found a riddle with 3 bottoms one of which was the correct answer. The party chose correct. They returned to the imprisoned flying creature and found the second bars had been lifted. Popaxe researched what clues they had found and learned they needed to return to the room with the large hourglass. Once this hourglass was flipped the last of the bars were lifted. The flyer was revealed to be a Phantom Flyer, a grotesque beast with tentacles and bat like wings. The creature was huge. Drayo utilized the silver key to open the manacles which bound the creature. The creature came to beckon the party to ride on him. A plaque on the wall told the party that this creature would take them to Acerak’s Fortress of Conclusion. Caldwell summoned the Modenkainens Mansion and the party rested before setting off. The Phantom Flyer took the entire party through the mists and blackness of the nnegative nergy plane. They flew for a long while and finally arrived at a huge black wall. The wall was decorated with only one thing. A larger replica of the face which they found in the tomb of horrors, the face of the Devourer. Within its mouth was a large iron door. At last they had reached the Fortress of Conclusion. The end was very near.
8th-Return to the Tomb of Horrors Part 7: The Fortress of Conclusion:
-Caldwell-Popaxe-Einhonder-Drayo-Targalen-Krust(NPC)-
Long had the heroes been on this forsaken quest to locate and destroy the Demilich Acerak. Having overcome the obstacles within the City that waits (a cursed demiplane within the plane of negative energy), they finally had reached Aceraks accursed Fortress of Conclusion. Having regrouped within a Mordenkainens Mansion the party took flight on a flying fiend which brought them through the darkness of the Negative energy plane and finally to a black wall adorned by a door created to be an icon of the face of the Devourer. Beyond the door the party began to explore. They came upon a shriveled wizard who had been sewn and stitched together to form a mockery of life. It was non-other then Desatysso. Dessatysso conveyed his story how he had reached the Fortress. He had encountered Acerak and the demilich had shown the wizard dissappointment. The lich had claimed he needed more then one powerful soul. Dessatysso’s adventuring party did not make it and for this Dessatysso was punished. The party learned what they could from this encounter but eventually they killed Dessatysso to put him out of his misery. The party next encountered a Nightwalker, a greater form of a a nightshade, one of the negative energy planes most dangerous fiends. The 20 ft monstrosity charged the party but was met by force. The party defeated the creature but not before Einhonder was slain. Targalen’s attempt at a raise dead failed. Their only other option was for Drayo to reincarnate him. This option was rejected as Einhonder had stated numerous time he would never want that. The party pushed on without him. They came upon a spherical room filled with magical mist. After the dispelling the mist the party found a lesser demon who had been tortured badly. The torturer soon appeared. It was an Overseer Glabrezu demon. The thing nearly destroyed Popaxe before the it was taken down. Afterwards Popaxe took the pathetic demon they had found in tow. They soon encountered a group of skeletons who they began to easily dismantle. Caldwell put up a wall of fire to cut of the undead entirely. But there was an unseen threat. A prismatic spray ripped through the wall of fire decimating the party. Drayo, Krust, and Gus the head were immediately turned to stone. Targalen was outright killed. Caldwell and Popaxe took massive damage but remained the only 2 standing members of the party. Caldwell threw a 2 Prismatic walls cutting off any means for further damage to come upon the party. Through dispelling magic he was able to restore Drayo and Krust. Drayo was then able to reincarnate Targalen in the form of a Centaur. The party powered themselves up and many hours later brought down the wall to face Acerak who presumedly had waited for them. He apparently had not for beyond the wall were 2 week skeletons they destroyed easily. The party continued to drive deeper into the heart of the Fortress. They came upon a room with Mural depicting demons. Each mural held a secret door. The party soon learned that each time a door was opened the demon on said Mural came to life. The party took them down in succession. In order they were demons of the following types. Nalfeshnee, Vrock, Marilith, and Bloodfiend. Within one of the secret passages the party found 6 scrolls held in a room where time was slowed. The party was careful but not careful enough. As Popaxe attempted to remove one of the scrolls from the room it unleashed a blast of time energy. The entire party was aged 37 years. After this staggering mishap the party found another passage which would take them even closer to their goal. But first they would need to seriously regroup. Caldwell brought fourth the Mordenkainens Mansion. Once within its safe walls the party rested and then Caldwell summoned his most wonderous powers to determine the properties of the items they had found on their adventure. Among the items were powerful weapons including Moradin’s Fury, a vorpal axe, The sword Perilous, a champion great sword, and at long last, a rod of resurrection. Targalen wielded the power of the Rod to return Einhonder to the world of the living. With the party returned to full capacity they felt content to push on and finish this once and for all.
9th-Return to the Tomb of Horrors Part 8: The Final Fate of Acerak:
-Einhonder-Popaxe-Caldwell-Drayo-Targalen-Krust(NPC)-
-(Many of the extra details herein were discerned by Tenser)-
Weeks ago the party had learned that the dark power of Acerak the devourer had returned and was spreading evil on Oerth. They destroyed the black academy of necromancers who were serving Acerak. Then they reconquered the Tomb of horrors. They entered a portal which brought them to a vile demiplane of a fallen city within the Negative energy plane. They conquered this evil city and had finally reached Aceraks dreaded Fortress of Conclusion. Inside the fortress they had already battled terrible demons and other fiends. They had even encountered Acerak for brief moments. They had learned that Acerak was attempting the Apotheosis, an occurrence whereby he would swallow 3 more powerful souls and merge his essence with the negative energy plane. The party would later learn through Tenser that this would have made Acerak an effective godlike entity. He would be able to control all aspects of the Negative energy plane including its influences into all other planes. All on undead on all worlds would be within his control and far worse unthinkable things. The party had just awoken when they realized the reincarnation magic on Targalen had become erratic. He was now a Bugbear. Targalen used a combination of divine spells to discern where Aceraks Phylactery (Spirit house) was. The party headed right for it. They came into conflict with a Hezrou demon, they defeated the demon but the creatures poisonous stench had weakened Caldwell, Targalen utilized a “Delay Poison” spell to get him back in good shape. After a few encounters and traps they found a bound demon. The demon promised to aid the party in destroying Acerak if they would free him. Drayo did so. The party learned that this demon was in fact Aceraks father, the archlich in life had been a Cambion, later research revealed this demon had killed Aceraks human mother and Acerak had imprisoned him for this. Not long after Acerak in the form of a winter wight (A super enhanced form of undead) entered the exchange. The Balor demon and Acerak began to battle. With the partys help Acerak was defeated. The party had been told that Acerak could take the form of any undead within his fortress. So while victory was good it mattered little as they knew they would soon encounter him again. After the battle the demon who revealed himself to be called Tarnhem gated out. This struck Krust as a little strange. Tenser later explained that the Fortress of Conclusion was a demiplane cut off from both the ethereal and astral planes. Without an ethereal or astral connection teleportation of any means is impossible. Though the demon had gated he could not escape and was brought back under Aceraks control. The party pushed on and came to stand before Aceraks massive Phylactery. It was a giant multi faceted gem held in place by a huge tri-pod. Within each facet was one of the 3,000 plus powerful souls Acerak had devoured. From above the Phylactery came Tarnhem, the Balor demon, now back under full control of Acerak. Popaxe met the Demon in combat. But the true threat came from behind. Acerak had snuck up behind the party in the form of yet another winter wight. He utilized a “Timestop” spell to simultaneously cast and unleash a “Prismatic spray”, a “Maximized Chain Lightning”, and a “Finger of death” while at the same time hasting himself. The chain lightning damaged all the party but they sustained it. The prismatic spray was not as well received. Targalen and Krust were both made immediately insane. They began acting erratic and attacking random party members. Popaxe took massive damage but still stood. Caldwell was hit with deadly poison which should have killed him. In a stroke of dumb luck the “Delay Poison” spell from a few hours ago was still in effect. The “Finger of death” also hit Caldwell but was absorbed by one of his magic items. Caldwell through up a prismatic wall to protect the party. But Acerak kept coming. After forcing his way through the wall the lich had taken massive damage and had nothing left for the uppercut of doom Targalen delivered. If the hit did not kill him, flying back into the prismatic wall would have. The Balor demon continued to assault the party. Caldwell tried using his magics to dispel his insane party members but to no avail. Einhonder tried to investigate the Phylactery while Drayo hammered away with “Flamestrikes”. The divine power of such a spell was damaging it. The party could hear the souls within crying out that destroy the Phylactery was to destroy their souls. They beckoned the party to instead let them free. When asked “how?“, the souls simply looked inwardly. Drayo began to search for ways of freeing them while Targalen in his madness demanded that they destroy the Phylactery paying no mind to the souls. Before this was decided from above the Phylactery it came. The skull of Acerak, the demi-lich’s true form. Much like the one some party members had faced within the original Tomb of Horrors. The Skull immediately devoured Caldwell’s soul. The party tried to battle the skull but it was increasingly hard as insane party members where attacking everyone. And there was also a Balor demon on the loose in the room. The skull tried to death attack Drayo but the druid’s “deathward” spell protected him. As the madness continued the insane Targalen struck and killed the insane Krust. Krust soul was automatically consumed by Acerak. Krust soon rose as an undead as all dead bodies in the Fortress of conclusion do. Acerak took immediate control of the body and used it to deal a touch attack on Drayo. It was “Aceraks dance of death”, the spell Otto based his “Irresistible dance” on. Drayo was incapacitated, the magics forcing him to dance like the Zombies in Thriller. Popaxe started shuffling though Caldwells equipment to get his hands on many of Caldwells items. Among these items were the crown and scepter from the original tomb of horrors, the wand of days they had recovered from the city that waits, and Caldwells Scarab of death protection. Acerak let the body of Krust fall as he took control of his demi-lich skull once more. He launched death attacks which were ineffective. With Targalen insane, only 2 party members were left to act. Popaxe tried to hold off the Balor while Einhonder had levitated and was still examining the Phylactery. Within the Phylactery all the souls were staring at a little girl. The girl was whispering something Einhonder could not hear. He used a potion of Clairaudience to understand the message. The little girl was calling for the power of the sun. With the spell casters dead or incapacitated the only means left to duplicate the suns power was to use the wand of days. Popaxe dropped back in the crossbow formation and tossed the wand of days over the Balor. Einhonder grabbed it and held it triumphantly toward the Phylactery. He went to speak the word of activation but it was too late. Acerak had devoured his soul. Einhonder fell lifeless to the ground. The demi-lich skull and the balor demon turned full force on the extremely wounded Popaxe. But they had forgotten one thing. The insanity spell on Targalen used confusion effects which had a small chance to actually let the victim act normally for a moment. This moment came non too soon. Targalen in his moment of Clarity unleashed a “Sunbeam” spell. The Phylactery exploded. The Demilich skull fell lifeless. The Balor tarnhem regained control of himself. The souls were set free. All the souls Acerak had devoured were returned to their bodies, the effects of the devouring fully reversed. Caldwell, Einhonder, and Krust yet lived. The demon Tarnhem gated out? And The party regrouped. They found another room with a gate which held a random destination. They also so found an enormous treasure horde. They looted what they could and returned to the magical fiend which had brought them to the Fortress of conclusion. They used a magical whistle to command the creature to bring them back. The creature returned them to the city that waits to a gate which took them back home. The party had stopped Acerak and his apotheosis. They had saved over 3,000 souls and dispersed Acerak’s essence. Now they would go home to rest for a very long time.
---Interlude---Rest & Relaxation, Trials & Tribulations:
Meeting with Tenser: The party returned to Greyhawk city. Caldwell used his magic to change his form into that of a young male version of the original Caldwell and then hid out in Drayo’s grove. Einhonder rode out with Popaxe and Targalen to visit tensers assistant for appraisal of magic items. While there they met with Tenser. They told him their stories and helped with what knowledge he had to piece together all that had happened. When he realized the Bugbear was Targalen, he pulled a spell out of his pocket and returned Targalen to elf form.
Caldwells Retribution: Then Tenser pulled Einhonder aside. He informed THE PALADIN that powerful magic had been used to discover that Einhonders friend Caldwell had blown up the Church of Pelor in Greyhawk city. This was particularly concerning to Einhonder as Perlor is the patron god of his own goddess Mayheine. But Einhonder assumed that it could not have been Caldwell. Even so, Tenser instructed Einhonder to visit with Mordenkainen before Mordenkainen visits with him. When approached Caldwell freely admitted he had done so. Though he said that the priest of Pelor had moved to cast a spell first. Caldwell agreed to let Einhonder take him to Mordenkainen. At mordenkainens tower they found the ancient wizard Leomund. Leomund communed with Mordenkainen and then escorted Caldwell to the local Magistrate. Caldwell was brought into custody and a trial was held. All facts came to fruitation. Caldwell had tried to have his friend resurrected but paid with gold he got from the tomb of horrors. The gold was actually false gold. The clerics discerned this and tried to cast a detect lies. But Caldwell saw the priest casting and fireball the church. Caldwell was not arrested as he was defending himself. But total mass destruction was not found to be suitable for self defense. As no one was killed it was put on Caldwell to serve the Church for a period of 20 years till he had done enough compensation for the damage to the church. Or he could pay 20,000 gold outright and be free of this. His party members helped him pay the bill.
Personal Pursuits: After weeks of rest the party members began their own pursuits with the treasure they had found. They enjoyed these months of peace. Popaxe traveled north to the capital city of Chendl in Furyondy. There he visited with the powerful wizards of their guild to exchange items of magical power. Caldwell Built a 2 towered keep at the edge of Drayo’s grove. There in his laboratory he began creating magical items for himself and many of his party members. Drayo too used his powers in item creation. Drayo continued to gather forest folk to join him in his grove. Once secure Drayo embarked on research expedition. He traveled to across the Flaeness seeking Greater Druids, and libraries of great wisdom. He held council with treants and sought meditation within the earth itself. When finished Drayo had learned how to channel natures power to create new spells of his own design.
Einhonder increased construction on his church and built many more shacks in Shacktown. He dispersed ungodly amounts of gold amongst the poor. Targalen return to the Elvin islands of his people and followed his own pursuits. Gus the accursed talking head had been polymorph into a man by Caldwell and came to serve the sorcerer. Krust traveled to see his friend Rhymind Falbizzarre who helped him return to his true physical form of a fantastic Half-Orc.
10th-A Paladin in Hell: Part 1:
-Einhonder-Popaxe-Caldwell-Drayo-Targalen-(appearances by NPCs)
There was much sadness in the land. The legendary Paladin Strongheart had died of old age. His triumphs against evil had preserved the lives of so many and Oerth had lost one of its greatest champions. An enormous ceremony was to be given by the collaborating churches of Pelor, Mayheine, Pholtus, and Heironeous in Chendl, capitol city of Furyondy. King Belvor had declared this day a national day of greif as many had done throughout the Flaeness. The Einhonder and his party went to pay their respect. Present at the services were many of the parties friends including Rhymind Falbizzarre, Baalthazar the executioner, Markos Bowman, Krust the half orc, Barren Negate, and Wally the bard (AKA Glinfrimmus the spell filcher). Among the prolific figures of Greyhawk there was the entire circle of eight including many past members such as Mordenkainen, Leomund, Tenser, and Lord Melf Brightflame. The heads of many churches spoke aswell as the vastly powerful Hazen of Velune, the priest who had single handedly wielded the Crook of Rao and banished all the demons of the world. There was to be a burial on the second day of services but this did not come to pass. As the party awoke they found a crater where the Temple of Pelor had once stood. The entire church, its priests and the body of Strongheart was gone. Targalen attempted a communion with his god and received an extremely rare and direct response. The church of Pelor had been pulled into Hell by an evil socererous named Loviath, Strongheart’s soul having been damned to that place. Rhymind Falbizzare and his party worked diligently with Einhonder’s group to discover what had happened. Many preists and sages also sought this end. Einhonder and Popaxe teleported to the faraway city of Kalstrand to seek the wise Ahrens the sage. All he could tell them was that the name Loviath had once belonged to a Disciple of Asmodeus. As clues began to wear thin the party was concocted a vague plan on how to arrive in hell and to search the entire plane. This concotions were interrupted by an imp bearing a message from the wizard Emrikol. It was a message of summoning. The party learned that Emrikol had long ago been a wild mage of enormous power but that he had died in magical battle at Harrows point. To this day the place was plagued by magical disturbances left over from this socerers duel. Upon arrival the party found a 300 ft diameter sphere of magical swirling metal shard and chaotic magic. Many of Einhonder’s party urged Rhyminds party to go through and some insults were thrown back and forth. With things heating up between the two parties Rhymind took his group to investigate the other side of the sphere. By means of an anti-magic spell and a lot of courage the party bypassed this. Inside they found a quiet enviroment. Young wizards began to run up on the group. They demanded to have a spell cast on them and when abided they only asked for more. One of these “Spell starved” touched Drayo and drained a spell from his mind. The mass beat down began. Einhonder tried to stop it but the party was angry and many of these “Spell starved” caught a bad one. Beyond these men the party encountered an endless magical stampeed of strange beasts. The party moved beyond them and came to a tower atop a crystal pillar located in the center of a lake. They soon found the device which teleported them inside. They found themselves sitting before chaos wizard Emrikol. The wizard explained that the Temple of Pelor was now trapped between the 5th and 6th levels of hell and was thus unreachable by most normal means. He said he could provide them with the one way to get there. When asks why he was helping he explained that he and Strongheart had long ago been alies but had taken different roads in life. With that the party found themselves teleported to docks at the base of the crystal pillar. There before them was the demonic appearing ship known as “Demonwing”. The party boarded and found the ship moving of its own accord. It sailed toward the edge of the sphere and crossed planes at some point as the party was now sailing the river styx. The party sought to take refuge below decks but they found it to be a stone cavern too large to actually fit within the ships hull. They soon encountered demons. As they continued in hopes to clear these creatures out they battled Hezrou, Wastriliths, fireball weilding Vrocks, Bar Lgura, an enormous Gorristro, and a Marrilith. A virtual tour of chaotic fiends. Alas they were faced with a Balor named Straoth, he challenged the party telling them they had no idea what was occurring. Drayo insulted the demon calling him “Fatty”. The demon became enraged and held fourth his hand Imploding Drayo’s body. A spread of panic shot through the party. The warriors charged to battle, the spell casters to incantation. The Balor used tactics against them and the battle grew grim. But at long last the creature could not stand up to the destructive bombardment of Einhonder and Popaxe. After the battle with the demon the party encountered a night hag begging for its life. The hag told the party the area below the ship stretch for miles, a pocket dimension of some kind. The party had cleared enough demons to be safe and returned to the upper decks. There Targalen used his rod to perform a ressurrection on Drayo, and the druid returned. Einhonder by accident used his magical Lantern of revealing and learned there was an invisible crew operating the ship the whole time. This crew consisted of skeletal warriors, spectral trolls, and was captained by a Glabrezu demon. The party seemed content to let them do their bitting. It was from this crew the party would later learn that this ship actually a lesser layer of the abyss having been forged into a ship by the Demonlord Demogorgon to serve some ends in the Bloodwar.
11th-A Paladin in Hell: Part 2
-Einhonder-Popaxe-Caldwell-Drayo-Targalen-
Only a few days ago the party had been on Oerth and had traveled to the funeral of the Legendary Paladin Strongheart. Not long after the church of Pelor and Stronghearts remains had been pulled into Hell. The party had been traveling the river Styx for some time now on their evil ship known as the demonwing. Soon they would would face the forces of Hell and perhaps try to wrest Stronghearts soul from the clutches of Oblivion. After resting the party was awoken as the approach of another ship. There were humans on board. The ships pulled together. The other ship seemed to be commanded by the planar warrior Lukas Arcanum. He explained that he was hunting the vassals of the devil lord Baalzebul. The creature called the Garkin and his viceroy, the fiend was known as Malastation. Lukas was able to tell the party many things to aid them in hell and vs. devils in battle. After the friendly exchange each ship went on its way. Not long after the Demonwing came to stop in a small sea of the river styx. It was cold beyond mortal measure and huge icebergs floated about. The captain of the Demonwing in his most unfriendly tone declared they had reached their destination. The party was unsure of what to do next. They found a man swimming in the river styx. They rescued him but he his mind had been erased by the memory draining powers of the river styx. Caldwell sought to aid him with a dispelling. But this revealed the man to be a were shark. The creature mad its escape. Not long after this the party was visited briefly by a celestial creature of light. The being spoke quickly declaring that the Deposed archduke devil Geryon had built a fortress within one of the icebergs and that they would have to rush to stop him. The party soon discovered that the entrance they sought was beneath the water. Utilizing the diving bells on board their ship they could this entrance but they were most afraid of what would happen if they actually touched the river styx. A debate of vast depth and intrigue ensued yet yielded no solutions. How would they reach this underwater entrance. Alas Caldwell having used a scrying spell of some kind attempted to teleport beyond the underwater cave and directly into the steel structure concealed within the iceberg. He did not return from this teleportation. The party grew worried. Drayo used his crystal ball to locate the conjurer. He found Caldwell levitating above the river styx many hours travel back the way they had come. Targalen took his griffon and flew for hours to recover the conjurer. It was later discerned that Caldwells teleportation had failed to bring him inside the structure and he had appeared outside underwater in the river Styx. This had forced him to loose the last 8 hours of his memories. In a panic he tried to teleport back to the ship. But in his mind the ship was still traveling to this location. Thus he had appeared many hours travel back. Not long after this the party was attacked by 2 Gelugan Ice demons. They destroyed them with massive damage spells. The quest to get inside the fortress continued. Drayo and Targalen used numerous flame strikes to carve a hole down the center of the iceberg to reach alas the steel structure. The melted ice however still left a lot of water. Caldwell used his abilities to Lower water and then further turned the water to dust. After this he used a metal to wood spell and they busted inside. They came upon a black altar donated to Geryon. They explored more and came to a kennel of winter wolves. Though there was many of this creatures the party brought the mass damage spells to bear and then there were none. That was when doom entered. The devil duke Amon came forth with his faithful winter wolf Soulfang. He seemed friendly at first and spoke to the party. He was surprised they had made it that far. Alas he asked who they served. “I serve the Goddess Mayheine” replied Einhonder.
Amon’s friendly demeanor vanished and he spoke in a new tone. “Tell your whore goddess to keep her vassals out of this domain.”
A rage filled the Paladin and battle ensued. Caldwell banished Amon with a maze spell. Meanwhile the party attacked his wolf servant, the greater winter spirit Soulfang. Targalen summoned a Bigbys hand and subdued the beast. When Amon returned Caldwell utilizes the maze spell again. The party prepared and when Amon appeared they attacked. The duke seemed quite powerful and Caldwell again banished him to the maze. A long time went by as by now the winter wolf soul fang had been slain. The party prepared but the Duke seemed not to return. But alas he did. But not where he was expected. He came invisibly from behind being aided by 2 more devils. A cornugan fire devil and a Gelugan Ice devil. Einhonder set down the lantern of revealing making the Devils all appear and rendering their mirror images nullified. A battle of epic proportions ensued. The devils bombarded the party with alternating forms of mass damage. Fireballs, lightning bolts, cones of cold. In return the party hit back with searing lights, chain lightnings, and sonic strikes. The party was being overwhelmed. Caldwell called up a prismatic wall to protect them. But in an instant all 3 devils had teleported to the other side. Now it was a close quartered battle. The party fought bravely but the fury of the duke of hell was overwhelming. With each strike he shattered bones. Drayo was the first to fall. Then Einhonder caught between the devil met his fate. There was but one chance for escape. In the pivotal moment Caldwell tried to summon his powers of teleportation, a last ditch to exodus. So many times before the party had turned certain death into unlikely victory. So many times before had moments of despair been transmuted into the stuff of legends. But there are no such legends in hell. No tales of heroics nor hymns of valor. There is but death and damnation. And thus was the dish the nine hells had delivered to these inane mortals. Caldwell’s spell failed him. He watched in horror as the energies drifted uselessly from his fingers and the brain matter of Targalen covered his face. He fled beyond the prismatic wall to safety. Watching the shadows of the figures still battling. He witnessed an obliterating spread that could only have been Popaxe’s dismemberment. Held captive by the icy clutches of death as the duke of hell’s weapon came crashing through the prismatic wall sending magical energies scattering in every direction. Amon had to bring his boot down hard to retrieve his mace from the chest of the sorcerer. Looking at his own battered and beaten body, the feeling of exaltation came over him. These mortals had fought well and died deserving as such.
12th- A Paladin in Hell: Part 3:
-Einhonder-Caldwell-Popaxe-Drayo-Targalen-
The entire party was dead. Slain by the Devil Duke Amon. They had come to hell to save the legendary paladin Strongheart and had instead found their own demise. But it did not end there. Einhonder found himself in fields of joy beneath a bright pure sunlight. His goddess Mayheine appeared to him and told him it was time to go back for his friends. She gifted him with a Divine Avenger blade and he appeared back in hell. He came face to face with Amon and with a single blow killed the Duke of hell. Only to be mocked. This illusion faded away and reality returned. Only Caldwell and Targalen had been truly slain. The rest of the party had simply been beaten into unconsciousness. Now they existed as tortured pets for Amon who would often taunt them with illusions and other deceptions. Popaxe and Drayo were in such continuous pain as to not be able to maintain consciousness for very long. When they were awake they screamed in agony until they fell into unconsciousness only to awake later. Einhonder strangely enough was immune to any pain. No matter the extent of the torture. Presumably this is how it would remain for a great time. Then Drayo’s pain began to subside. His senses returned to him and he heard the calling of his familiar. A large cat sized spider named Sven. Sven had hid in the bag of holding and had snuck out. Using the telepathic bond with his master Sven was able to take some of Drayo’s pain unto himself. Being an intelligent speaking spider Sven had information. Amon had left to speak with his master Geryon. This was the time for escape. But their were patrols but within the patrols there was a 5 minute window. Not much time. As drayo began to study his surroundings he realized the situation was worse. He, Einhoner, and Popaxe, were virtually naked, there arms frozen into the ice wall of the chamber. Their lower half had been torn away. They were nothing more then bloody torsos. Einhonder had obviously sustained much great abuse and was beyond recognition but still with out pain. Drayo used his druidic shape change ability to get out of the ice. He had Sven recover the rod of resurrection and body pieces of Caldwell and Targalen. Half destroyed the druid struggled to complete the ritual. He was successful and Caldwell and Targalen returned. Many of the parties items were actually stored in the very room they occupied. Though Amon had personal aquired the most powerful magical items. They freed Popaxe and Einhonder. Targalen used a plane shift spell to escape. The plane shift void collapsed and the party found themselves floating in sea of styx. Their last 8 hours of memories erased. The demonwing ship arrived and pulled them free. Sven the spider was able to piece together what had occurred to the party. With little delay the party took the ship away to safety. Caldwell was able to polymorph the torso party members into a full form. Many of the party members spoke of leaving or abandoning the mission entirely. Einhonder demanded that they returned. It was decided they would return but would need supplies. They set out for the second level of hell where the great city of Dis was located. Once there they infiltrated the city only to find that the city had a human quarter. Built to resemble exact replicas of real cities. Some signs proclaimed to be within the city of Waterdeep. Very strange indeed. They found many dealers and acquired suitable replacement equipment. Then they returned to the place of their demise. They infiltrated the structure just as before. They surprised Amon who came on them at once. Having dispatched the party once before the Duke of Hell was brash. A long banter ensued but neither side was able to meet an agreement. And as always battle ensued. Popaxe and Einhonder met the Devil in combat while Caldwell and Drayo reigned down terrible spells of destruction. Targalen helped. Devils came to aid their master and Targalen found himself facing them alone. Einhonder came very near to death but alas the Duke could not hold up against the parties ferocity. He teleported away. Having seen their master flew so too did many of the devils. The party remained after the battle was done and found a cleric of Pelor named Terrance being tortured. The party healed Terrance up and brought him with. Terrrance told them that he was at the Temple of Pelor when out of nowhere a siege of devils began. He said the paladin strong heart rose from his grave and led the defense of the Temple. He explained this battle had been going on for many days and that he was captured and tortured After hearing his story the party was infused with a sense of urgency. Soon they were attacked by every devil on that level. They had regrouped and prepared. Dozens of devils came in assault and dozens were felled. The party had returned with a vengeance and would not be denied. They proceeded to explore this structure slaying demons along the way. Soon they came to large platform which worked as an elevator. Next to the platform lied a mechanical Bulette. The party had encounter bullettes before. They had know them to be huge land traveling shark like creatures on 4 legs. Some one had constructed a machine to resemble this. The party climbed aboard and began to figure how to operate it. A button within brought a glass steal bubble over the control chamber, thus sealing the party inside. The party then used the lever on the elevator to descend. The elevator brought them to deeper levels of this structure and beyond. Eventually the elevator brought them out the bottom of the structure and was descending them deeper through the ice berg of enormous size. After 100’s of feet the elevator dropped out the bottom of the ice berg and continued to descend through the Sea of Styx as water rushed in on them. The party was protected within the mechanical Bullette. The elevator brought them to the bottom of the Sea of styx and then deep into the earth below the sea. Eventually the elevator shaft changed from stone to pure adamantine and then came to a stop. The party was now between the 5th and 6th levels of hell. They stayed within the Mechanical Bullette and began to explore. They were soon engaged by a Nycaloth, (Yugaloth Guardian). The creature tried using illusions to deceive the party but failed and the party dispatched him. Unfortunately the mechanical Bulette was disabled during the battle. Next the party fell victim to a terrible trap. Einhonder pushed beyond this and found a Barbazu devil in a control room. Once slain the tarp seized to function. The party eventually reached a massive clock. They had encountered many smaller clocks in every room of this place. This archaic clocks undoubtedly counted down to some horrific event. The party located a secret passage and came to a place of a great battle. Dozens of dead worshippers, clerics, paladins, and knights of Pelor littered the battlefield along with many dead devils. Drayo went to scavenge for magic weapons and found that as he lifted the first weapon tiny worms burrowed into his body. It was that which adventures fear more then devils or demons. It was rot grubs. Tiny worms which burrow through your body and into your heart. Having no time to consider an option Drayo severed his arm. He would proceed with one hand. Soon after the party came to the front doors of the church of Pelor. Here it now lied beneath the ground. The doors had been blasted open as it had been assaulted endlessly. The party explored the ruined temple and killed some devils. They rescued a group of priests who had apparently been trapped. These priest explained that when the temple doors fell they all retreated to a place called the Holiest of Holies. There they have been held up till now. They ventured out but were unable to return. Apparently every staircase in the temple was now magically altered and lead to random locations. The party took this priests in tow and continued. Caldwell dispelled a wall of force which obstructed them. They had reached the great hall of the church of pelor. Now however the entire hall was a massive pool of lava with Pelorian followers kept bound within cages suspended above. The party went to rescue them when 2 terrible Pit Fiends rose from the lava and began attacking. Both Drayo and Caldwell were targeted by Meteor Swarms but survived. They returned powerful spells of their own. The Pitfiends were repelled long enough to save the prisoners. The Pit fiends chose now to ambush the party in melee. But they were met by the destructive power of Popaxe, Einhonder, and Targalen. The Pit fiends were destroyed. The followers were rescued and joined the salvage party that the adventuring party now protected. Beyond the lava pit the party found a room were hid a female follower named Tiea. She had been hiding here for some time. The party thought this was wise. They took this opportunity to rest before exploring the rest of the ruined Temple.
13th- A Paladin in Hell: Part 4:
-Popaxe-Drayo-Caldwell-Targalen-Einhonder had disappeared-
It had been weeks since the party had left their home world of Oerth. They had come to Chendl, capitol city of Furyondy to pay their respects to the legendary paladin Strongheart, who had died of old age. Not long after arriving the entire temple of Pelor had been transported to a pocket realm between the 5th and 6th levels of hell. The party had gotten aid from the arch chaos mage Emrikol. He had given them Demonwing, a magical ship which was actually an entire forged plane of the abyss. This ship proved the only means to reaching the 5th level of hell. Once there the party had explored the Fortress of Geryon (Deposed ruler of the 5th). They had been defeated by Amon, servant of Geryon, and duke of hell. They had subsequently escaped and after repositioning at the hellish city of Dis they had returned. Finally having overcome the fortress of Geryon they had reached the pocket domain between the 5th and 6th levels of hell. Here they entered the Temple of Pelor buried deep in the earth. They found the place had been endlessly assaulted and desecrated. After some exploration and killing of devils they had rested. Upon awakening they found Einhonder was missing, they would have to proceed with out him. The party next rescued a dwarves hero named Trailon who had been charmed by an Erynes devil. Trailon joined up with the party. The party then came to the Holiest of Holies. The most divine room within the temple of Pelor. Here the 25 or so still living Pelorians had held up. This was their last bastion where no evil could reach. The party was somewhat hesitant about this encounter as no doubt they would come across the Lightlord. The head of the Pelorian church whom the party had dealt with before. They had dubbed the Light lord a pompous and somewhat obnoxious man. Plus Caldwell had some time ago fireball an entire Pelorian temple and the light lord had to know this. Some of these worries were swept aside when they learned the Lightlord had been slain. In a surprise act of atonement Caldwell summoned all his powers of magic and sacrificed portions of his very life force to “Wish” the Lightlord back into life. This was successful. Not long after the Lightlord return a exchange of animosities began. Mostly between Drayo and the Lightlord. But this brewing aggression spread to all within the room. At some point this exchange of gross insults changed to discussion. Why was this happening?. It was decided that what ever the devils wanted was kept with the Holy relics of Pelor kept within this room. All of the relics were identified save for a mysterious crystal ball. The party could discover little more but felt it wise to seek out Strongheart. They traveled out the rear door of the temple were they found a tunnel which had been carved out by devil claws. The party followed the tunnel upward till it emptied out into a landscape of razor sharp mountainous terrain. They soon inferred that the devils of the 6th level of hell had tunneled to reach the Temple of Pelor. Now an army of over 500 devils tried to storm the entrance of the tunnel. But it was block by the Legendary Paladin Strongheart. Strongheart dispatched the devils as quickly as they came. They would not pass. The party tried to aid Strongheart but it was of little use, there was too many. The party conversed with Strongheart to further determine what had happened and what needed to be done. When the party mentioned the mysterious crystal ball in the holiest of holies it all became clear to Strongheart. That is what this was all about. He explained that the crystal ball was something called the Vallis Crystal. Within was kept an entire Crystal sphere having been trapped there by Asmodeus Millennia ago. Decades ago Strongheart along with Emrikol and their adventuring party had snuck into Asmodeus’s palace in hell and stolen the Crystal Sphere. They had left it with the Church of Pelor for safe keeping. Now apparently Asmodeus was making his bid to recover it. Now the party knew why they were here but they needed to find away out. Strongheart was helpful with this aswell. He told them that the Church was a Holy sanctuary and that it would maintain its connection with the Prime Material Plane. The church itself was being bound in hell through pure evil. The party would need to sanctify it. To kill ever devil within the temple and purge it of all evil. The party next went to start this but before they left they saw something unexpected. Out beyond the army of ensuing devils they saw those who commanded these devils. They were the minions of the Devil lord Baalzebul. The Garkin and the being who had once known as Maalastation. These creatures would lie in wait until Strongheart was sufficiently depleted and then they would strike. Strongheart assured the party he could hold up. Not long after this encounter the party was traveling through the temple again purging what evil they found. They came upon a large pit fiend who had just killed the evil socerous Loviath. The party went to attack but the Pit fiend assured them he did not come for a fight. He said his name was Scratch and that he had killed the socererous Loviath because she had failed the master Asmodeus. He further told them that their council was requested by Geryon, Deposed Archlord of the 5th layer of hell. The party agreed. When the party reached the front gates of the Temple they could see their enemies at the far end of the large courtyard. It was Geryon and Amon accompanied by 10 Cornugan fire devils. Geryon appeared at a huge half serpent devil. He informed the party that in one hour the apocalypse clocks would reach their climax and an army of 1,000 devils would gate through and swarm on the Temple. Geryon must have been worried the party would rescue the Temple by that time as he now offered them another option. He said he would release the Temple if they would only turn over the Vallis Crystal. Apparently if Geryon could recover the Vallis Crystal for his lord Asmodeus he would once again gain control of the 5th level of Hell. The party took some time to debate this offer. During this time The Lightlord arrived with the 20 or so remaining Pelorians. He said this was the moment to strike. He felt that Geryon had made an error in coming here and that if they attacked now they could finish this. His words inspired most of the party and they charged to battle. A war of the ages ensued. Spells of mass destruction laid despair to all involved. Towards the end only the devils lords, the Party, the Lightlord, and an unnamed Paladin remained. Amon was nearly slain single handedly by Popaxe but he escaped. Geryon too was pinned but managed to escape. The party had won the day non the less. During the battle many of the clerics had stayed behind to purify the Temple. The party and their new allies finished the remaining devils and magic began to encircle the Temple, they were going home. The light lord lead his men outside to recover the bodies of the fallen. The party realized Strongheart was still far above. Drayo went to get him and fond Strongheart dueling with the Garkin. The managed to pull out of this and return to the temple. The Pit fiend Scratch tried to block their way but was unsuccessful. For first time in weeks the light of the true sun shown down upon the Church of Pelor. The mission was a success. The city folk of Furyondy came out to celebrate the Party and the Pelorians. Strongheart appeared to the party one last time. He threw them his holy sword and told them their friend Einhonder would return when the time was right. He told the party that it gave him comfort to know that he was leaving the world in such good hands. With that he departed. A week long celebration ensued and there was much rejoicing.
Interlude: No Rest for the Wicked:
The party was enjoying time of rest and comfort. Einhonder had returned. He had come out of the Quest sword just as Strongheart had promised. He explained that during his watch he had found the sword and felt an Alarum (A paladins call for aid). He ran and fought aside Strongheart for hours, possible days fighting off that army of devils. But now he had returned safely.
The Party had finally created a name for themselves. From this point forward they would known as the Pentagon of Power. The Pentagon enjoyed much time being celebrated in the Capitol city of Chendl. Merchants and townsfolk gave them everything for free. Including food and lodging and other more personal gifts. Drayo and Caldwell took some time out of the celebration to return home. All was well. Caldwell and Targalen began working together to craft magical items. After which Targalen sought out a his church and began research of a new spell. After much time this was accomplished. Many weeks went by in peace and prosperity. Alas the party was invited be guests before, King Belvor the 4th of Furyondy. The Paladin King who had stood firmly in the face of Iuz and held the line of defense against the evils of Oerth. When the characters first arrived the kings emissary was surprised at the characters appearance. They had perhaps expected dress apparel and less weapons and armor. The party had adventured so long they all but forgotten the luxury’s of peace. Everywhere they went they were fully armored and geared up with spells. Eventually the emissary came to except this. He began to inform the party of the etiquette when in the presence of a king. With out this knowledge the party could inadvertently offend the monarch. They were simply rules, a bow and some courtesy. Drayo and Caldwell did not take well to this. They who had been to hell and back did not bow to any earthly king. A discussion arose from the party of the arrogance this king must have. Countless outburst’s were hurled claiming “who?”, “King of some tiny city state”, “How dare he”, “Does he know who we are”, “I’m leaving”. They discussed at length and perhaps were about to stay. The emissary had heard enough. He chastised them on King Belvor’s exploits and the role that Furyondy had served over the last century. He finally told them they should leave. And they did. They decided to have a better party at the local tavern. Popaxe and Einhonder who had stayed silent during the last encounter returned alone and asked to come before the king. They were begrudgingly allowed. The dinner in their honor had already begun. King Belvor had assembled some the most notable persons of the land. They enjoyed a great dinner in chairs engraved with their names. They exchanged stories with the king of grand adventures. Einhonder and the King even exchanged Holy swords at one point. At the end of the dinner the King had a surprise. He knighted Einhonder and Popaxe and declared them Knights of Furyondy. Furthermore he granted them lordship and title. They were given land within the Kingdom. After this the party fully reunited at the pub where the pair was mocked as being “oooooohhhh, their big time lords.” The party drank much ale. But what would happen next would prove to be the beginning of yet more terror. There would no more rest for the Pentagon of Power…
14th-The Bastion of Broken Souls: Part 1
-Einhonder-Popaxe-Drayo-Targalen-Caldwell-
While hanging at the bar the party was ambushed. Out of nowhere, what appeared to be a Marilith chain master (6 armed half serpent female demon) appeared and began ripping into Drayo. The party tried to react but before they could Drayo was dead. They began battling the creature. A human of unknown origin joined the battle to aid the party. Popaxe managed to drop the thing but before he could fully end it the creature teleported away. Luckily not long before the party had received a chest of thanks from the light lord. Within it was a scroll of True resurrection and many mighty healing potions. Upon the scroll was scribed “A spell for resurrected dead pigs”. The Lightlords usual charm. In any case Targalen used the scroll to resurrect Drayo. Then the party talked to their new friend. He was quit informative. He explained his name was Nurn and that he served a party whose identity he was sworn to conceal. Though he said they could name this entity as Hethradiah. He told them that the creature who attacked them was called the Cathezar and that she served the demon lord Ameneul. He said his mission was to watch the Cathezar and he was. She was now searching for the descendant of Dydd. Drayo left and went to his grove to speak with the elder tree. The tree was wise and told him Dydd was a powerful druid from long ago. He had belonged to a druidic circle called the Church of Elements. The party would have to visit this place. They teleported to the town of Litchfield in the country of Suundi as it was the closest location. From there Caldwell created Phantom steeds. After many many hours of flying they reached the forest island. Once there nature itself guided the party. They arrived at the druidic circle. There they met Dorus, a druid devoted to maintaining a powerful sapling tree which was said to be an incarnate of nature. Drayo asked questions of the tree with dorus to translate. Here the party learned much. Apparently all newborns across the land were being born sick. They were sick because they did not have souls. They did not have souls because all souls come from a font in some far location called the Bastion of Unborn souls. A powerful dragon named Ashardalon had been feeding on these souls to stay alive. This dragon was a great red wyrm of unmatched power who the great druid Dydd had nearly killed long ago. Dydd was now dead but Ashardalon remained. After the battle Ashardalon heart was mortally wounded. Using socerery he was able to transplant this heart with a still living demon. This would keep the dragon alive but not permanent. After this the party asked who was the descendant of Dydd though they strongly suspected Drayo. The tree did not know. Dorus told them that the divining of the druids had gotten an eerie silent response from the gods. The only phrase rendered was “The Dreamer reveals what the gods must conceal.”. Dorus told the party that the arch druid believed that this had to do with the Guild of Sleep. The party would visit this guild. But first they needed knowledge. Popaxe suggested they see his friend Ahrens. A great sage in the city of Kalstrand well known for steep prices but great wisdom. They teleported there and Ahrens gave them greater knowledge of ashardalon and everything he could on the name Ameo (Should have been Amenuel). Then he told them of the guild of sleep. The guild was a large guild of spell casters who believed the key to power and truth was found through dreams. The mother guildhouse was located in the city of Rel Astra. There the guild masters would sleep for months or years. Ahrens warned them that Rel Astra was governed by Drax, the Invulnerable and that he was very confrontational. Not long after the party was flying and approaching the city of Relastra. Lightning clouds appeared over head. A prismatic sphere came toward them from the city. It was Drax the Invulnerable came to meet those who threatened him. After some commerce the party explained they were not there for him. He warned them that Rel Astra was a free city and that they should not throw around their power. The party agreed. They entered the city and found their way to the guild house. There they learned the only one who could help them was The Dreamer Prime. But she had been sleeping for years and did not wish to wake. The party pushed in and found her dream manifested image. The image warned them if they tried to wake her they would have to fight her. They decided that doing so was a necessity to serve the greater good. The combat began. Drayo hammered the dreamer with a flame strike only to be disintegrated a moment later. The dreamer was aided by dream creatures and iron golems who joined the fray. The battle was long fought but in the end Popaxe discarded her head. At this point Caldwell was under a super powerful sleep spell and Einhonder and Nurn were caught within a Forcecage. Only Targalen and Popaxe remained. They pushed into the next room where the actually Dreamer Prime was awakening. She decided they were worthy of her knowledge. She began to tell them things she had learned due to her unique travel from the dreams of all beings. She explained that Ashardalon was now feeding on the souls to stay alive. But his hunger was growing. With every soul he ate a soulless child would be born. She said Ashardalon now resided in the Bastion of Unborn souls. To get there was difficult. She explained that the gods were banned from any meddling what so ever of the preincarnate souls but that one god long ago had violated this. His name was Desayeus. He had claimed souls as part of his portfolio and sown his power into a totem. This god was cast down for this and his totem shattered into 3 parts. One part Ashardalon had used to reach the Bastion. Another lied in the hands of some power. The final most accessible piece lied in Desayeus vault of Agathion, on the layer of Phylegothos, on the plane of Pandemonium. This vault was still guarded by Desayeus’s gatekeeper. At this point the dreamer grew week. She had just awoke from a seven year sleep and was weary. She promised if they came back she would answer their questions. The party promised to return in a week. They went to leave and were met by none other then Drax the Invulnerable. Drax was unhappy at this mass combat. But Targalen calmed him. It seemed however Drax was holding the Dreamer more responsible. Drax freed the trapped party member and told them to leave as he would now punish the Dreamer. He promised she would be alive at least enough to answer their further questions. The party flustered and beaten went to rest in Caldwells Mordenkainen’s Mansion. They had lost one of their number to one of the worst fates possible. Drayo had been Disintegrated. Could he be recovered. And if it was even possible, what would be the cost?.
15th-The Bastion of Broken Souls: Part 2:
-Popaxe-Targalen-Einhonder-Drayo-Caldwell-Nurn(NPC)
The party was recovering at a bar in the city of Rel Astra. They now knew that the most ancient of Red Wyrm dragons had found its way into “The Bastion of Unborn souls”. A place where yet to be born souls grow. The dragons was feeding on these souls to survive. This Dragon, called Ashardalon had been nearly killed long ago by the great druid Dydd. The dragons heart was nearly destroyed and to survive the creature had to graft an entire demon within its body to fuel his blood. Now with this demon heart the Dragon Ashardalon was more chaotic and evil. A demon lord going by the name of Amanuel had sent its servant (The Cathazar) to kill Dydds descendant. The party presumed this to be Drayo and infact he was now slain. The parties adventure had taken to see the Dreamer prime, a powerful wizard who used dreams to gain knowledge. She had challenged the party and disintegrated Drayo. The party was now traveling with Nurn, a mysterious yet cunning and versatile individual who served a mysterious master he called Hethradiah. The party needed Drayo returned to life, and restored to full power. They sought first the church of Pelor but this was utterly unsuccessful. They next came to see the High Vigilant of Mayaheine, head of Einhonder’s church. The High Vigilant agreed to do what was asked but explained that such powerful divine powers were sewn at the expense of his own life essence. He perform the True Resurrection and fell comatose. Other priests came to help as the party went to finish their mission. They returned to the Dreamer prime. She appeared to them in dream projection as she stated she could appear no other way. Drax the invulnerable had apparently punished her. She told the party the story of the god Desayeus. Apparently the gods were forbidden to mettle with preincarnate souls by some ancient decree. Souls yet born had yet been given choice. Choice of worship and powered garnered as such was part of the foundation of the multiverse. Thus was the ban of the Unborn set. Desayeus was a god who sought to make preincarnate souls part of his portfolio. Fearing the wrath that would come from breaking the ancient decree the other gods cast him down into a prison. His soul totem which had his divine essence within it was shattered into 3 pieces. The party would need one of these 3 pieces to reach the Bastion. The only one they could possible reach lied within the prison of Desayeus on the outer plane of Pandemonium. She also told the party that the demon lord Amaneul was one aspect of the demon lord Demogorgon. The party traveled to Tenser’s castle to get a spell focus so as to plane shift to Pandemonium. Tenser was not home and even the ever helpful Jahred the Identifier could not be of service. They eventually purchased the spell focus key for pandemonium from the wizards guild in Greyhawk city. Caldwell remained beyond to work another solution. Upon arriving in Pandemonium the party found themselves in an infinite underground plane of howling winds and screams of echoes of despair. Targalen scryed the gatekeeper to the prison whom they knew to be called Eco. Once done Nurn teleported the party. They reached the gatekeeper but there was no apparent gate. The party now stood before 2 celestial angels. Eco the Solar, and Bramman the Planetar. The party pled their case but Eco stated she had been ordered to maintain that no one enter the prison and that she could not break her oath. It was soon apparent a battle would ensue and it did. The battle was harsh but in the end Popaxe took both the angels heads. From the bodies of the Angels, the party acquired loot. And there was some debate as to weather it was righteous to take this loot. This debate would continue as the loot was toted away. From the place where Eco was slain a door rose from the ground. The party entered and were now within the Prison of Desayeus. They first encountered 2 Lillend (Exotic female, half serpent, feathered winged, angelic like creatures). The Lillend assumed they had come to kill Desayeus but after some urging from Targalen and Einhonder they finally believed the party had come to talk. And so they brought them before Desayeus. Desayeus appeared as a 20ft tall titan like creature whom had been imprisoned for far too long. He showed signs of slight madness and loneliness. He urged the party to stay and talk and they did. Desayeus told his side of things, how he meant well when proclaiming the preincarnate souls as part of his portfolio. He meant to be their protector. But in the other gods fears he was punished. The party represented mostly by Targalen explained and pleaded their case with extreme courtesy and proficiency. Though the fragment of the soul totem was all he had left the fallen god was enticed the party and agreed to give it to them without a fight. The party told him they would return it if possible and asked if there was anything else they could do. He said perhaps when their mission was done they could petition the gods for his release. They asked what gods and provided a list of 5 key figures. They were Pelor, Paladine, Lathander, Odin, and Ptah. The party took note and headed out. They arrived back in Greyhawk to find Caldwell had been partying. They took him in toe as the debate as to the loot of the angels was revisited. Alas it was decided that the loot be returned to bodies. After great urging Targelen agreed to take Popaxe back and things were as such. It was now time to enter the Bastion of Unborn souls. Using the Soul Totem fragment as a spell focus for Planeshift the party arrived in the Positive energy plane. A plane of pure brilliant light. Nurn took this opportunity to clear his conscious. He informed the party he had mislead them. He told them that this Hethradiah he served was also an aspect of Demogorgon. He said that the demon lord had 2 heads and that each shared the consciousness of the body. Amanuel had sent the Cathezar to kill the descendant of Dydd because he feared the descendant might destroy Ashardalon. Amaneul needed Ashardalon alive so that his minions could conquer Ashardalon and expose his demonic heart. If Amanuel could kill his other ego he would die but not if he absorbed the heart of Ashardalon. Thus Amanuel could take full power of the body of Demogorgon. He explained he served Hethradiah (Demogorgons other side) from the beginning. And that Hethradiah believes should any part of Demogorgon be lost that the force of chaos in the multiverse would be weakened. Hethradiah’s one goal is to stop Amaneul from acquiring the heart. After much thought the party considered all Nurn had done and agreed to let him continue in his capacity. The party moved on. Ahead they could see a massive many miles long structure made entirely of crystal. At the gates if this place they met resistance. Servants of Amanuel sent to gain the heart of Ashardalon. They fought many demons including a Hezrou, 4 Glabrezu, a Nalfeshnee and an enormous 70ft long Retriever (giant abyssal spider construct). The party destroyed them all. Using the soul totem as a key they gained entrance into the Crystal structure. Inside they found trees made of crystal. Within the tree glowed sparks of light, these were preincarnate souls. Beyond these trees the party was met by greater force. A band of dragon fiends greeted them. Among the enemies was a half dragon Kobold of some mighty mojo, a double dragon headed ettin, a true dragon blooded Chimera, and a half dragon dire bear of humongous size. These were no doubt the children of Arshardalon. In the first moments of combat Popaxe took the wrath of the ettin and it was very very bad. This was going to be a battle. All the creatures exhibited fiery breath weapons of some kind. The party retorted with mass damage spells which the creatures absorbed with glee. Popaxe managed to behead the kobold and the Ettin. But Ettins had 2 heads, the battle continued. The Dragonbear wrapped up Targalen and Popaxe leaving the spell masters to bombard it. Alas it was Nurn who would finish the thing once and for all. The Ettin fell too to the parties increasing fury. The echoes of these creatures dooms bore throughout the structure sending shockwaves across the plane itself. The Pentagon of Power had arrived.
16th- The Bastion of Broken Souls: Part 3:
-Einhonder-Popaxe-Drayo-Caldwell-Targalen-Nurn (NPC)-
After much trouble the party had finally reach the Bastion of Unborn souls. It was a massive crystalline structure within the Positive energy plane. Within it were crystal trees dotted with glowing lights. These lights were growing souls. The party had come to find the ancient Red dragon Ashardalon who was now feeding on these souls. They almost immediately encountered a large Red Dragon and a Dragon priestess. Popaxe beheaded the Priestess and Caldwell Mazed the dragon. Upon the dragons return it found its doom at the hands of the Pentagon of Power. After the battle party sought rest in Caldwells Mordenkainens Mansion. When they awoke the next day they were ambushed by 2 more Red dragons. The dragons were killed. Soon after Einhonder found the body of a slain Paladin. It was Orrun Pelor, an orcish Paladin of Pelor of great renown. Apparently Orrun had come to slay the dragon and failed. He now lay dead with a dragon slaying sword beside him. Upon touching the sword Einhonder saw visions of this particular blade killing dozens of dragons over hundreds of years. Einhonder took up the blade for the cause. The rest of the party tried to raise Orrun from the dead but failed. It was time to finish this. By attuning themselves to a light force the party was able to enter the center of the Bastion. There they saw the enemy. A gargantuan 80 ft long Red Dragon. The Dragon lied in rest being washed over by a flow of preincarnate souls.. The party regrouped and prepared with numerous spells then set forth to crush the serpent. The dragon was waiting. Upon entering into proximity of Ashardalon Drayo began to glow, he infact was the descendant of Dydd. The entire party spoke aloud the passage which they had known would stun the dragon. “In the name of Dydd, whose blood is my blood, who slew your heart, feel again the pain of your hearts demise”. The dragon shuttered at this as the party let set the onslaught. Popaxe, Einhonder, Targalen, and Nurn charged and began to blast away at the creature. Caldwell and Drayo let slip the spells of war. The dragon utilized mirror images making attacks more difficult. As Caldwell cast a chain lightning he found the spell rebounded back upon him. The dragon was clever. Ashardalon let loose a breath weapon as none had ever been seen before. A fiery inferno of wrathful doom. Instantaneously using death spells. Ashardalon was aided by a Kobold sorcerer who stood atop a small nearby tower. In the middle of combat Nurn yelled out that the Cathazar was present though none could see her. (The Cathezar was a Marilith Chain master Huntsman who served the demon lord Demogorgon). Nurn ran through an illusionary wall to battle her. As the battle continued it seemed that Ashardalon would not strike at the descendant of Dydd. Ashardalon devastated the warriors that threatened him. Ripping them to pieces and grabbing and tossing them tens of yards away. But the party held strong. Drayo utilized mass heals to keep the effort going. As the battle continued it seemed Ashardalon was winning the attrition. He continued to crush the warriors while simultaneously battling the spell casters with socereries of his own. Caldwell was held. He managed to free himself only to be feebleminded a moment after. Targalen had his soul and body pulled away and into the dragon. He was gone. Drayo’s spells seemed ineffective. Popaxe and Einhonder continued to blast away but they knew death would come soon. In the end, it was the unyielding destruction wrought by the Vorpal Popaxe and Einhonder’s Dragonhammer Blade. Ashardalon fell before this fury. The dragon had been defeated. But it was not over. The kobold tried to surrender but the party seemed to ignore him because now the Cathezar was attacking. She was trying to gain the heart of Ashardalon. This would not happen. Popaxe and Einhonder stood to face her and Drayo finished her with a devastating SonicStorm. The party searched out what they could. They found Nurn barely alive. They made the kobold tell them what he could in exchange for his life. The tower he was on was a Daerns instant fortress and the party took it with them. It was time to go home. Upon exiting the party was met by 5 forms of light. They communicated telepathically explaining that they were the representation of the forms who maintain the preincarnate souls. They told them all was put right and the party would receive a gift for this. After this encounter the party returned home. They freed the Kobold and gave the body and items of Orrun Pelor to the Church of Pelor. They then went to Pandemonium to return the soul totem to the trapped god Desayeus. Upon arriving at the door the party found a carpenter boarding up the door. Strange that a carpenter would be using lumber to board up a planar gateway. The party asked if they could pass and with little discussion the carpenter allowed. The party returned the soul totem and once again told Desayeus they would petition the gods for his release. After exiting the carpenter wanted a word with them. He asked all slayers of Angels to step up. They did. He made it clear that he would hit them with his workman’s hammer. They excepted. This hammer held crackling electrical energy that would have destroyed steel. Each party member barely survived the blow. A moment later 2 solar angels appeared to take up guardianship of the Door. Next a gateway opened and a chariot pulled by goats came through. The workman hopped in and then disappeared. Einhonder noted that the workman seemed to resemble the Norse god of lightning, Thor. After this the party returned home. They had instilled that souls would still flow to the new born. All was once again well
17th-Hell Hath No Fury… “The Revenge of Amon”:
-Caldwell-Drayo-Targalen-Popaxe-Einhonder-Markos Bowman(Rob Q)-Krust-
The party had been retired for 2 years when they found themselves summoned by Mordenkainen. When they arrived at the Whistling Fish they learned it had been deception. They were actually summoned by the fiend called Pestilence. He now wished to take them to Raxes to meet with the ancient Necromancer Sith Theigis. The party agreed and they set off through the air. Upon entering the borders of the Great kingdom they were attacked by a skeletal platoon lead by a Death Knight upon the back of a skeletal dragon. The party destroyed them and continued on their way. When at last they reached Sith Theigis he admitted it was not him who wished audience with them but instead it was the Pit Fiend Scratch. Scratched communed with the party through a magic mirror. He explained that he knew of their desire to get revenge on Amon, duke of hell. He went on to say that Amon had now fallen out of favor in hell as well. It seemed that not long ago Amon had betrayed and killed his master Geryon. This apparently was not in the best wishes of Asmodeus. The most powerful Pit Fiends in hell known as The Dark Eight had been dispatched to destroy Amon. But now it seemed Amon had been given asylum by the Devil lord Baalzebul. Scratch said the forces of the Dark eight had split and that half of their armies were attacking Amons stronghold in Hades while the other half was laying siege against Baalzebuls home city of Maladar. He unveiled a plan by which the party would infiltrate Baalzebuls castle to track down and find Amon. He gave them a key which would open any door with the castle. It seemed the devils had recalled the soul of the key maker and made him create a duplicate. The party agreed and followed the plan. First they need provisions however and thus teleported to the Capital of Furyondy, the mighty city of Chendl. There they traveled to The Temple of Pelor where they old friend and hated nemesis known as the Lord of Light dwelled. The conversation went well until Drayo began washing his hands In the holy water. Threats were hurled back and fourth and the party vacated. They next traveled to the church of Mayheine where the high priest met them with threats of violence. The party responded pleasantly and a deal was worked out to gather some healing potions. Not long after they returned to Sith Theigis where the Necromancer opened a gate to the 5th layer of hell. Once inside the frozen wasteland the party called up A “Caldwells Conjured Cutter” and a magical ship appeared. Some Gelugon ice devils attacked but were defeated. The party followed the route to where they had left their demonic ship known as the Demonwing. After two years the ship was still there. The party once again took control of it. They sailed through the desolate fifth layer of hell and arrived In the city of Maladar. The capitol of Lord Baalzebul. A massive siege was under way as thousands of devils on each side fought to the death. The party met some resistance but for the most part was able to sail their ship right under Castle Maladar. There they faced 2 Gorristro demons who had been alter into half Mithril Golems. The golems held awesome power but were eventually destroyed. From here the party enter and began to infiltrate the castle. Inside they fought even more devils and guardians. At one point they faced 12 iron golems lead by a bound Balor demon. But all would fall before the Pentagon of Power. They came upon a throne room where a terrible book of vile darkness sat. Upon the walls of the room was the story of Baalzebul. The devil lord it seemed had long ago been a great planetar angel but had fallen and become this thing. To some degree Baalzebul must still hold some fondness of those days as this room sits as a monument to them. In the lower dungeons the party came to met the guardian. It was a massive 100 foot tall bound colossal ice creature. The party threw there most destructive efforts at it to no avail. Caldwell was nearly killed. After an initial failure the party elected to just run past the damn thing. Beyond they came to the treasure horde of Baalzebul. They loaded up on gold and magic items and other riches. They also found Baalzebuls collection of special soul gems. There were many demons and other fiends. Some of these Drayo released and fed to the Colossal guardian. But two of these gems kept trapped two humans. They were Rygar and Maalastaion. The party had heard of Maalastation and thus attempted to free him. But as his body began to materialize a great mist of energy enveloped and took him. Next Krust tried to play games with the soul gems and freed Rygar. The great warrior arose once more. He told the party that he still maintained a telepathic bond with the Garkin, general of Baalzebul’s armies. He said that the Garkin was traveling with Amon into the plane of Tartarus. The party decided to joined with Rygar so that all could fulfill these vengeance. They escaped the castle of Baalzebul and headed down the river Styx for the outer plane of Tarterous. There to hold a final reckoning.
18th-Hell Hath No Fury…Part 2: The Final Reckoning:
-Caldwell-Drayo-Targalen-Popaxe-Einhonder-Markos Bowman(Rob Q)-Krust-
The party now found themselves traveling the river Styx through hell and headed for the outer plane of Tarterous. There they knew they would find their enemy, Amon, Archduke of hell. They were on board the Demonwing accompanied now by the legendary pirate known as Rygar. For a time Rygars soul belonged to Baalzebul. Baalzebul had used Rygars soul and body to create the fiendish warlord known as the Garkin. Now Rygar was free and determined to destroy this Garkin. Through a telepathic link with the creature Rygar knew where the Garkin was heading and that Amon would be with him. The party entered Tarterous to find it a wasteland of black ice. Rygar lead the way until they came to find what they were looking for. There before them was 2 assembled armies. One of Devils lead by the Garkin and one of demons lead by a Balor bearing the symbol of Graz’zt. Each army held an item they were protecting. Apparently a trade was to commence. Rygar made the party follow him in an ill advised plan. He entered the army of Devils claiming himself to be the Garkin. Weather they believed him or not the army parted to let them through. Rygar openly challenged the Garkin. The devil army watched in confusion. Rygar claimed that the devils would know their leader for he would be the one left standing. The party was not entirely confident in Rygar as the only weapon he held was a non magical long sword.
The battle commenced and the demons became outraged. They believed this to a be a double cross of some kind. The balor ran to take possession of the orb they were to trade. The Garkin attacked the balor but instead shattered the orb. A magical explosion ensued and there released once more was Amon. The party fled in to attack Amon, Rygar and the Garkin attacked one another while the army of devils and demons unleashed upon each other. The Garkin tore into Rygar and Rygar replied. It seemed Rygars weapon could not affect the Garkin and so the great pirate resorted to the old ways. He disarmed the Garkin and reclaimed his great scimitar. Meanwhile Amon created a gate and fled. The party pursued him through. The gate exited into the plane of Hades. Amon had gated himself back to his secret stronghold. But even now that Stronghold was under assault. Bel, greatest of all Pit fiends and other members of the Dark Eight were assaulting the palace. Devils loyal to Amon were defending it. The assault would have already been over if it were not for the army of Yugaloths who had appeared to drive off the invading forces of hell entirely. The party chased Amon through his stronghold. It almost seemed as if Amon was luring them. But it mattered not as the party would have their vengeance. They found Amon waiting for them in a circle chamber with many Alcoves. Each Alcove had a figment of Amon in it. There were 9 in all and even a True seeing spell would not reveal which was the true Amon. Amon told them they were foolish to come here to his realm and then he went on to mock their prior defeats to him. The party had heard enough. Drayo unleashed a firestorm and Markos Bowmen let set a Hail of Arrows. The figments of Amon were revealed to be naturally aligned mirrors. Now they could see their enemy. Amon pushed a panel in the alcove next to him. In an instant the ceiling came down crushing all within. Simultaneously the floor shot down 100 feet into an anti-magic area. All magic would seize to function here. All the precious items and artifacts of power the party had procured over years of adventuring would not help them now. Amon smiled wickedly and quipped “Welcome to my world”. Einhonder the brave Paladin charged in to face Amon. Amon barraged him with a gargantuan mace leaving him dead on his feet. Then Amon bite the Paladins head clean off and spit it at the party. The spell casters fled as best they could but to now avail. Markos and Krust fought valiantly but could not affect Amon. Popaxe joined the fray but felt the total carnage of Amons assault. He could take little more. Next Caldwell was killed. Popaxe managed to reach the panels but there 4 of them. He began pressing at random bringing the ceiling crashing down a new. After many efforts they were able to figure out the controls and to raise the room once more above the Anti-magic area. Surprisingly they found Caldwell the conjurer there waiting for them. His soul had instantaneously usurps control of his Clone kept safely back in the prime material plane. By means of the ultimate socerery Caldwell had returned to rejoin the battle. The momentum of the battle had shifted and the party was winning through attrition. Amon realized this too late. Before he could escape he fell victim to a hail of critical placed arrows from Markos bowman. Simultaneously he was immersed in destructive spell energies. Amon fell once more. Not willing to allow a return Targalen bounded away at the devil until his skull and spine lay shattered across the room. Just as the battle was ending so was the siege. The devil armies of the dark eight had now taken the Stronghold. Bel and his pit fiends now stood before the beaten party. Bel informed the party he did not intend to honor Scratch’s agreement with them. The party tried to Planeshift but were unable. The Strongholds enchantments did not allow dimensional travel to the exterior of the keep, only within. The party might have been doomed save for the entrance of a greater Solar sentinel, a celestial champion. The angel brought the party safely through the army as the devils would not attack. The angel seemed confused but knew he had to help the party. He recognized the quest blade and within the sword the party could see the reflection of Strongheart, the legendary Paladin. The party said goodbye and made great haste as the Angel sent them home. The party had killed their greatest nemesis and acquired a miraculous horde of treasure.
-19th-The Axe of the Dwarvish Lords: (A Popaxe adventure)
-Popaxe-Baalthazar-Caldwell-Markos(NPC)-
Popaxe learned that his homeland had been destroyed by a terrifying creature. As he went to investigate he discovered this massive creature was systematically destroying dwarves strongholds throughout the Flaeness. He found Baalthazar, Markos, and Caldwell and together they went to face the problem. While in Greyhawk city Popaxe heard an alarm. It seemed all dwarves within the city were hearing it. Tordek the dwarven hero appeared. He too was hearing it. Tordek recognized the alarm as the call of Greysmere. It was under attack. They caught up with the creature while it was attacking the dwarven stronghold of Greysmere. The monstrosity was over 60 feet tall and resembled an enormous aberration. The creature seemed immune to the parties assault. The party was losing the battle quick but had to give the city folk time to evacuate. They succeeded in eventually wounding the creature and the thing fled. The king had been killed in the attack and the people were now following General Steelborn. Tordek explained he had been on another world visiting an imprisoned friend of his. This friend Mergin had said he had had a vision that Tordek would need to return to his homeworld and that he would need help. This Mergin had given him a Book of mapping to aid in his quest. During this discussion a old man came and began to speak of a prophecy. It was the prophecy of the axe of the dwarvish lords. Popaxe knew the axes legend as well as any dwarf. The axe of the dwarvish lord was forged by Moradin himself and was always wielded by the one true king of dwarves. When the axe disappeared ages ago that was when the one clan of dwarves split resulting in all the different clans species of the race. But a prophecy foretells of the return of the axe and the emergence of the king of kings return. But the prophecy also tells of the abomination. A terrible creature created by Dzinka, god of derro to exterminate all dwarvenkind. The abomination was the unstoppable creature the party had faced. Baalthazar turned to the gods to learn the axe’s location. They discerned that the axe resided in the ancient fallen dwarves fortress of Rundrudar located on the south coast of the Principality of Ulek. The party took the Demonwing and sailed their. Upon reaching the Fortress they face the rundrudar serpent. A massive guardian of the waters. They killed it and located the entrance behind a massive waterfall. They soon discovered that someone else had discover the place. Utilizing the book of mapping they discovered the fortress was enormous. They set about the perilous task of exploring the place. Through they explorations they discovered someone was building an army of Crimson goblins filled out with giants orges and other humanoids. Eventually they found the evil mastermind. Or more accurately he found them. He was a dark wizard named Tairdo who was seeking to control the abomination and was willing to sacrifice the dwarves species to fulfill his conquest. The wizard was accompanied an ancient red wyrm dragon, 2 fire giants, and a derro conqueror who was now wielding the axe of the dwarvish lords. Popaxe clashed with the derro while Caldwell engaged in a magical duel with the derro. Baalthazar took to dealing with the fire giants while Tordek dealt with the dragon. Popaxe beheaded the derro and claimed the axe of the dwarvish lords. Baalthazar killed both fire giants and Caldwell wounded Tairdo so that he had to escape. The red dragon proved to be the ultimate test as Tordek was slain. The party fought the creature the best they could but it was over powering. Markos Bowmen appeared to even the odds. At long last Popaxe slayed the beast. As the dragon fell Tairdo returned reinvigorated. The evil wizard opened a gate and summoned the abomination. Moments later Caldwell managed to make Tairdo vulnerable and Makos shredded him. Popaxe armed with the axe of the dwarvish lords faced the Abomination. The new king of kings prevailed and the fiend was utterly destroyed. The party resurrected Tordek and returned to Greysmere were Popaxe was heralded for all time.
Character Backgrounds
Old Greyhawk Campaign
Message Board Thread for Greyhawk Legacy
Greyhawk Basic Information
Greyhawk History
An extremely extensive research page of greyhawk history broke down by region (not mine)
A complete account of the Greyhawk Wars
Notable NPCs of the Flaeness
Greyhawk City
Greyhawk Gods
Credits
Home
