Session 54 - Runeforge Completed

Erastus 9

As they were leaving, they came back into the room where the statue animated and attacked. There down below was a woman who calimed to be the Highlady Athroxis, ruler of the Halls of Wrath. She challenged the group to a fight to the death, and they obliged.

The monk appeared behind here and knocked her to the floor, while Phain took Orik, Vale, and Preacher with him after casting Dimension Door. As they starting beating her down they were surprised to learn there was an invisible gargantuan demon hidden next to her. Vale went down from damage while the rest of the group continued to beat her down. Soon they had her dead but still had to defeat the demon. After hurting Orik, the death of Highlady Axthroxis seemed to affect its movement and it started to clumsily swing at the group. Soon their repeated blows killed the demon.

Erastus 10

Battered and weary the party rested again in the Shimmering Veils, and returned to the Halls of Wrath to make sure no enemies remained.

Searching through the rest of the wing they found vats where they "grew" warriors from proto-flesh. They also found the magic circle that was talked about in Vraxeris's journal. Phain studied the circle and determined it could summon a planar creature, or could send them back home if any kind of teleportation spell was cast inside it.

The group completely searched the wing and after being satisfied that nothing hidden remained, Phain cast dimension door to send them back to Rimeskull. They appeared inside the circle of heads that they first fought Freezemaw at. Phain cast some spells to retrieve the keys used to open the portal to Runeforge to make sure no one else could get inside of it.

Erastus 11 through Arodus 4

The party returned to Magnimar to sell items and to upgrade and purchase new items for their trip to Xin-Shalast. Going through their contact at the Golemworks, he assured them he could have all their requested items in 3 weeks.

Phain returned home, once again human, just in time to see the birth of his son. Vale returned on his own to Fort Rannick to run it now that Khazen was dead.

After three weeks they reconvened back in Magnimar, went to Runeforge and did a Planar Shift to arrive as close to Xin Shalast as possible.

Arodus 4

The group prepared endure elements spells for everyone, and had appropriate clothing for the outdoors. Using some spells, they found they arrived pretty close to where they were trying to get to. They appeared in a frozen mire that would unfreeze and refreeze causing hazardous pit to open out of nowhere. Preacher fell into one, but was pulled out quickly by the monk. After traveling for a few hours, they realized something was following them, it turned out to be a seal. Xantumal couldn't speak to it with a spell, but then its form changed into a beautiful fey creature.

It told them her name was Svevenka, sister to Myriana whom they helped near Fort Rannick. She recognized them by their description and wanted to help. She told them that she had a contact inside Xin-Shalast. She hadn't been there for a few months, but let them know where to find him. She also offered to lead them to the road into Xin-Shalast, and warned them that it was guarded by cloud giants.

Arodus 11

After a good night's sleep (so they thought, actually one week's time) they were lead to the road by Svevenka. She wished them luck in defeating the Runelord.

At the point where she said the road was guarded, the monk snuck ahead to scout. He say a number of cloud giants in a high vantage point. He let Phain know and they devised a plan to dimension door up and surprise them.

Completely surprised them first of two giants went down without a swing, while the second giant died soon after. Another pair of giants rushed in to help, but the only hit they made knocked Xantumal off the ledge 60 feet below, injuring him, but with some healing from Preacher was fine.

Continuing down the road they saw the city ahead of them. An old man was walking towards them. Confused, but wary, they asked the man who he was. The old man asked if they were the ones he was looking for. Not sure how to answer they paused. The old man turned to a silver dragon. Relieved they found an ally they paused, but were attacked by the dragon. Wondering if perhaps the dragon confused them for an enemy they tried to let it know they were not his enemy, but it continued attacking. A fierce fight followed that almost killed both Orik, Preacher, and Hogie, but everyone lived except the dragon.

Searching the dragon they found a special ring with the Sihedron Rune on it. It was a powerful magic ring that seemed to have a special purpose.

Continuing on, they entered the mythical city of Xin-Shalast.....