Rituals, Wizards, Earthquakes
and Deaths a plenty Book Two, Chapter 4.3
(session 86, 30 th April 2019) The Party: Naergon Harna, elven wizard
(Diviner) Mads Rangle, human
fighter/warlock (Fiend: Archdevil Zariel) Jamna Gleamsilver, gnome rogue (Arcane
Trickster) Tomaz Stormwind, human ranger
(Hunter) Druscilla Oakenrock, dwarven
cleric (Trickery: Mask)
Talis Wintercrest, half-elven
cleric (War: Bane) As the party emerge from the tunnel and their eyes adjust
to the stunning chaos that is the Temple of Tiamat, they see an interior that
is twisted and ashen, a soaring, vast cathedrallike space that towers far
overhead. Five distinct vaults branch off the central gallery. Though the
overwhelming colour of the place is a lifeless, ashen grey, each of the side
vaults shimmers dimly blue, green, red, white, or black— the hues of the evil
dragons and their world consuming queen. In each of the five chapels, a Red Wizard floats several
inches from the floor, back arched and hands stretched out, chanting and
channelling the appropriate, dragon-coloured magical force high up into the
central apse. The centre of this vast space is dominated by an immense bowl,
carved from black stone and heavily rune engraved, rising above it is a whorl
of arcane energy, interspersed with floating sigils and glittering lines of
power. In the centre of this whorl is a sphere of absolute blackness, and deep,
deep within that void four small specs of green, red, blue and white can be
seen. Each of the Red Wizards is pierced by a column of arcane
energy that is in turn projected from their out flung hands, high up into the
central tower of the Great Apse. There they can dimly see the figure of Severin
floating at the very apex of the Temple, the streams of energy enveloping him.
Severin wears the combined Dragon Queen mask (missing the green and white
elements) and from him a torrent of kaleidoscopic, intertwined coloured energy
pours back down and into the void at the centre of the great bowl. Although the
five colours projected by the red Wizards are of equal strength it is
noticeable that the twisted column of energy in the centre is overwhelmingly
red, black and blue. The green and white strands are present but very feint. As Mads activates his armour [blue immunity] and Jamna
her boots of speed, the cultists form a loose arc around the tunnel entrance,
three dragonclaws, a dragonwing and a dragonfang on each side. To the front
stands the heavily armoured figure of Galvan, to his side another senior
commander or dragonsoul the party does not recognise. Behind and to his right
stands an armoured undead figure, with white straggly hair and glowing red
eyes. The chanting of wizards echoes throughout the space and the smell of raw
arcane energy is palpable in the air. Jamna moves to the side and shoots at one of the
dragonclaws, the arrow hitting home as she continues into the black chapel. The
dragonwings charge forward towards Talis, Mads strikes with his glaive from
behind Talis, wounding one of the cultists [AOO]. Both dragonwings stab at
Talis remorselessly [pack tactics], blades sliding through her armour and
lightning coursing across her. From the rear the dragonsoul hurls a dragon orb
at Druscilla, it misses and shatters across the floor, lightning sparking and
grounding. The dragonfangs also pull out dragon orbs, one misses Druscilla, the
other hits Tomaz in the chest, lightning ripping through the ranger. Druscilla
prepares a spell [ready action] as Tomaz steps away from the dragonwing, who
stabs at him. The blade slides home, lightning curling around the wound [AOO].
Tomaz retreats towards the black chapel and casts hunters mark on the wounded
dragonclaw [bonus action] before shooting it dead. He then shoots the next
dragonclaw as well. Talis calls on the power of Bane and as Hazirawn screams in
her head “ use me, let me drink. This may
be our last chance, let’s drink deeply” stabs the dragonwing to her front
with Winters Strike, eviscerating the cultist with two blows, ice and cold
blossoming across the ground. Mads casts dimension door, touching Druscilla and
both disappear to materialise in the centre of the black chapel. Mads then
takes stock of the situation [second wind 17HP] and watches the dragonclaws
close on Naergon and Talis, swarming all around, swords rising and falling in a
frenzy [pack tactics]. Both Talis and Naergon are badly wounded [multiple
criticals] as the chanting of the Red Wizards continues to echo around the
Temple. The wizards in the black, blue, green and white chapels all cast mirror
image on themselves. Rath Modar, in the red chapel, instead casts Globe of
Invulnerability, enclosing himself in a sphere of shimmering energy. Naergon,
badly wounded, and with an apologetic look towards Talis manages to cast
dimension door and teleports to stand behind Mads and Druscilla. In reaction
[readied action] Druscilla completes her spell and casts earthquake. The floor
of the temple ripples and roils and the huge cauldron at the centre cracks as
most of the cultists are knocked to the ground. Talis manages to keep her
footing as does the undead horror and two of the dragonclaws. Galvan staggers
to his feet and struggles across the rippling ground towards Mads, whilst the
undead horror strides across the rippling ground towards the red chapel. Jamna looks up and can see far above in the very apex of
the black chapel another red wizard, floating and chanting. A stream of black
arcane energy pours from its hands down to the wizard at the foot of the
chapel. She steps south and shoots at Galvan [inspiration] but her arrow flies wide
of the mark. The dragonwing staggers to its feet and stabs Talis, a flurry of
blows that see’s Talis fall after the first blow but the cultist carries on
stabbing [2 death save fails]. Leaving the cleric bleeding out on the writhing
floor, the dragonwing lurches forwards towards Tomaz. The dragonsoul, stands up
and reels across the floor, throwing a dragon orb at Tomaz, but it flies wide,
lightning grounding into the floor of the temple. One of the dragonfangs staggers
forward and also pulls a dragon orb, this time the orb smashes across Tomaz,
lightning rippling across the ranger, who staggers, smoking and cursing. The
other dragonfang lurches across the unstable ground, flaps its cloak [bonus action]
and glides across to the southern wall just as huge fissures rip across the ground,
splitting the cauldron and opening deep chasms across the rippling ground.
Druscilla turns and casts Heal on Naergon [70 HP] as Galvan, the dragonsoul, the
dragonwing and the two dragonclaws still in the area are all thrown to the
ground again as the temple floor heaves and shifts. Tomaz casts cure wounds on himself
[19 HP] and retreats towards Jamna shifting his hunters mark form the dead dragonclaw
to Galvan. Talis shudders as the floor beneath her ripples and dies
[inspiration, death save fail]. Mads casts eldritch blast at the undead creature
[inspiration] forcing it back across the shifting floor and into one of the fissures,
with a growl it slips over the edge and falls, tattered black cloak flapping
around it. The dragonclaws advance, clambering to their feet and flapping their
cloaks, gliding to the edge of the uneven floor, swords in hand as the red
wizards continue to chant and energy flows into the Great Apse. Naergon casts
Sunburst across the cultists, the dragonsoul and both dragonfangs stumble,
blinded although the dragonwing shrugs of the effect. One of the dragonclaws
advancing on Mads screams and falls to the ground writhing as the light sears it.
The red wizard in the black chapel continues chanting, seemingly unconcerned
with the flash of brilliance [constitution save success]. Galvan clambers to
his feet and flapping his cloak [bonus action] glides out of the earthquake and
hurls a dragon orb at Jamna who ducks and rolls [uncanny dodge] but is still
savaged by the flickering lightning. Jamna shoots at the blind dragonsoul, the arrow slams
into the unsuspecting cultist lying on the heaving ground, she then retreats
into the black chapel. The dragonwing climbs to its feet and stumbles to its feet
and flapping its cloak glides out of the earthquake in front of Tomaz. The
dragonsoul, blindly climbs to his feet and stumbles across the heaving ground
before flapping his cloak and gliding southwards before attempting to land on the
edge of a fissure, and arms flailing, plunges headlong into the depths. The
dragonfangs likewise stumble blindly out of the earthquake, one to the north
west, the other to the south. Druscilla casts Flame Storm and a rolling inferno
spreads from the wizard in the black chapel, engulfing the dragonwing advancing
on Tomaz, the four dragonclaws in front of Naergon and Mads and reaches out to
incinerate the dragonfang and Galvan. As the flames die down, only Galvan emerges
through the heat haze, hate in his eyes, Tomaz takes aim and shoots at him, the
bolt pierces his armour but doesn’t stop him. Tomaz then steps behind Druscilla
as Mads steps forward towards Galvan and eldritch blasts the wizard in the blue
chapel. The blast evades the mirror image and rocks the wizard, breaking his
concentration as it hurls him back ten feet. The rest of the wizards continue
chanting and channelling energy up into the Great Apse. Naergon steps into the centre
of the black chapel and casts lightning bolt from his staff, the wizard above
is shriven and loses concentration, the black vane of energy wavering and
weakening. Galvan charges at Mads, who lunges with his glaive {AOO] but misses.
Galvan’s shortsword rises and falls, stabbing repeatedly, the blade slides into
Mads’s armour, pouring lightning into the wound but the magic dragon armour
shimmers deep azure and absorbs the entirety of the energy blast. Jamna steps out and shoots at Galvan, the arrow flying wide.
The dragonsoul blindly stumbles forward following the sound of combat, the remaining
dragonfang stumbles north west out of sight. Druscilla mutters “ pteryga ” and activates her wings of
flying and flies across the earthquake towards the Great Apse. Tomaz shoots at
Galvan but misses and then moves to stand with Naergon and peers up at the
floating wizard. Mads, wields his glaive and spars with Galvan, wounding him
slightly. The sound of red wizards chanting and funnelling more arcane power
into Severin continues to echo across the temple, but above Naergon and Tomaz
the red wizard in the apex of the black chapel disappears. Likewise, Druscilla and
Jamna see the blue wizard across from them disappear. Rath Modar casts fireball
across the hall, engulfing Druscilla in flame. Naergon “ we need to get on ” [telepathic link] and casts forcecage on Galvan,
imprisoning him in an impenetrable box of force. Across the temple the undead
creature appears floating up out of the chasm, lands and shoots his longbow at
Druscilla, his arrows flying past harmlessly. Jamna races across north west out of the black chapel as
Druscilla emerges from the smoke and heat into the centre of the Great Apse.
Peering up she can see the figure of Severin, floating at the apex a hundred
feet above, wearing the Dragon Queen Mask. She casts Shield of Faith on herself
as the earthquake effect dissipates. Tomaz advances north east into the Great
Apse, transferring his hunters mark onto the undead creature. Mads moves away
from the forcecage and casts eldritch blast at the undead but misses it
entirely. The chanting of the red wizards continues to echo around the temple
as Rath Modar casts another fireball, this time engulfing Mads and Tomaz.
Naergon calls “ which wizards are still
here, I can only see Modar in the red chapel, are there any others visible?”
[telepathic link]. “ no white or blue that
I can see ” replies Mads [telepathic link], Druscilla adds “g reen’s gone too ” [telepathic link]. “ I might as well join in then ” mutters
Naergon [telepathic link and casts Great Invisibility on himself. High above
Severin waves a hand and once again Druscilla is engulfed in flame and heat
[scorching burst] but she maintains her concentration, although her robes and
gear is alight. Naergoth Bladelord, the undead creature shoots at Tomaz, one of
his arrows slamming into the ranger’s shoulder and taking him down as life
energy is drained from him. Jamna leans against the wall and pulls from her pouch a packet
of dust of disappearance and throws a handful in air, only as she does so is
the awful truth revealed: that this is in fact dust of sneezing and choking. A
cloud of irritating powder fills the air for thirty feet around her, both Jamna
and Naergon manage to avoid breathing in the noxious substance [CON save
success + portent]. Jamna runs north towards the red chapel. From the chasm in
front of Mads the dragonsoul emerges, flapping on its cloak, gliding southwards
until it collides with the wall of the temple and lands, unsteadily. Druscilla takes
damage from her burning robes as she flies up the Apse towards Severin and
casts flame strike. The roar of fire and unholy light engulfs the cult leader, the
flames appear leave him untouched but the unholy radiance hurts him. In
reaction Severin points a finger at her and Druscilla is wrapped in hellish
chains, burning and restraining her as she falls towards the bowl below. Tomaz
groans and shudders on the ground [death save success]. Mads advances on the dragonsoul
and attacks, repeatedly wounding the blind cultist. From the chapels in the
temple the sound of red wizards chanting echoes and energy continues to pour up
into Severin. Rath Modar casts magic missiles at Jamna, four darts slamming
into the gnome. Naergon moves out of the black chapel and casts Dispel Magic at
Rath Modar but fails to dispel the shimmering globe surrounding him. Severin
again waves a hand at Druscilla and another burst of fire blossoms around the falling
dwarf. Naergoth Bladelord shakes its cloak and flies towards Jamna and reaches
a cold dead claw towards her but she ducks under his reach. His longsword
swings round and cuts her deep in the shoulder as she twists and turns [uncanny
dodge]. Next time: can they prevent the Rise of Tiamat and save
the world? No levels were gained this session:
Naergon
17 th level
Mads
16 th level
Jamna
16 th level
Tomaz
16 th level
Druscilla
16 th level
Talis
13 th level
XP earnt is now irrelevant as the rest of TOD is based on
milestone XP In-Game the session ended at 09:30 on 15 th Eleint
1485 DR [The last LONG REST was completed at 06:00 on 15 th
Eleint] [The last SHORT REST was completed at 08:45 on 15 th
Eleint] Next session Tuesday 7 th May at 19:15