c02s04e19 - The 4th Shrine Day 202 Outlands of Hell; Kazarak Territory In the crystal cavern, the team hustles after the receding light of the soul river-- gettig broadsidded by a squad of warmec and kazarak warlocks. highlights include knock back eldritch blasts, webs, and force-energy enclosements that seem more focused on locking the team's movemnt instead of blind aggression. Rogar's invisibility gets partially nullified by a darkness globe that leaves him coated in black tar; leaving footprints whenever he takes a step. There's no wiping it off, but a second invisibility cloaks the tar-- but the foot steps remain marking his movement. The Kazarak minions didn't last long... ... but by the time the team had finished off the obstacle, the river of souls had completely vanished from view-- only a subtle pulsing red glow emanating from the crystal passage remains. The corridor is cut off by another steel plate-- less than a foot thick. THX can see through the blockade; 13 cultists are circling a disk of incredible darkness that's pulling the loose souls in like a gate. The cultist leading the chant finishes with "Kazarak's will be done!!" as the warforged teleports the team inot the ritual space; starting the slaughter of chanters frank splitting counterclockwise with Rogar and THX branching right-- picking through the 13 efficiently as the kazarak cultists realize they've been ambushed. some of the attending robed fellows outside the circle reveal themselves as demons, expanding to large sizes as they lay heavy concussions onto the chamber floor, knocking the team off balance. at the far end of the chamber are the leaders of the cult chant-- the team reaches the fancy warlocks as rogar takes a detour down a side passage, still leaving gloopy black foot prints when he steps. Bruiser demon slams down fists of concussion jostling the team further-- the darkness of the ritual begins receding as the magic circle of the ritual begins to seal shut like a spiral iris-- Stargate-style. Frank grabs the stunned THX and dives into the portal before it seals.... ... sinking through the portal, the featherfall rings catch their fall as they find themselves in the vastness of Kazarak's throne room -- not a dream this time; in the flesh. The vast expanse of the realm is lined with egg-like soul-crystals; the damned who had pledged allegiance to Kazrak; the source of docent technology. rising hundreds of feet like giant lightning rods, the souls channeled to this realm course through the resonators, shending shockwaves of energy coursing through the massive cavern-like lair. Kaarak's 400 foot frame stands up from his throne in the distance, striding a hundred feet per step as he chuckles in a deep bass that rattles the realm like aftershocks from an earthquake. THX is totally cashed on spell pool; Frank is about down to physical attacks only-- THX triggers the stored planeshift in his spell-storage crystal right as Rogar is sent Hurtling Through Hell by the head warlock in the crystal chamber, having caught the foot-printed ranger. on the way throgh he sees Kazarak -- Kazarak sees Rogar. The demon prince barks in surprise-- "you!" before the magicks pull Rogar back to the chamber alongside his allies, far worse for having taken the journey. A quick skirmish leaves the remaining demons and cultists incapacitated-- the chamber begins rocking from earthwauke shockwaves in grater frequency and violence as the team loots the back room -- hundreds of thoguht-crystals, scrolls and books lay scattered about the chamber-- the organized shelves bolted to the walls now bare from the tremors. Scooping up as much of the intel as they can; Frank trigger the planeshift in his own anulet of storing away from the chamber; back to Bartertown. <end of session> day 202 2/3 to level 18 Loot Acquired assorted thought-crystals, books and scrolls of th Kazarak Cult acquired from the Crystal Chamber