Session 106 Report: Hunting Down the orbs

General Summary

Session 106 – Wednesday December 18th, 2024: Hunting Down the orbs

4-hour Battle/Exploration and FINAL Level Up session 5:30 PM to 10:00 PM.

The Stone Bearers. Party of 6:

It is the 4th day of the month of Ches (The Claw of Sunset) in the 51st year of the Age of Enialis (Late March.)

• Ajani– High Elf, L19 Wizard – Nathan Gioconda
- Cassidy – Human, L19 Blood hunter – Ryan Armstrong (Remote) - Gazlowe – Goblin, L20 Artificer – Josh Pozsonyi - Isabella – Forest Gnome, L19 Barbarian – Jackie Armstrong - Juan Peyote – Gnome L19 Paladin – Will Johnson
• Seften Mitcaver – Human, L19 Cleric – Jacob Munson

Devils lay in wait.

The party faced a group of Devils: A Rakshasa, 2 horned devils, an Orthon, and an Erinyes. Cassidy sneezed and brought the party whole together. Cassidy went straight for the Rakshasa and was then hit by the horned devil. Bird and Juan ran into the melee and attacked. Juan was then captured by a force cage cast by the Rakshasa. Gazlowe swung and missed, and the demon friend Zorguk charged in with glee to kill the devils. Isabella landed two blows on the Rakshasa and almost freed Juan. Gazlowe got smacked by one of the devils and the Erinyes landed a blow on Cassidy. Ajani cast his trademark Chromatic orb at level 5. He hit the Horned devil, then it missed Khamit the Rakshasa. The 2nd Horned devil swung at Gazlowe but missed and hit Cassidy with its tail. The creature flew to Ajani, but Gazlowe pulled it back and to himself and punched it. Seften cast a 6th level spirit guardians and positioned himself amongst the fiends.   The fray continued. Isabella jumped high and swung her axed at the horned devil and killed with a critical hit. Cassidy cursed the Rakshasa and swung at it, but it had teleported away and left an illusionary duplicate in its place. She swore and then walked around looking for the invisible creature. Juan teleported out of the force cage and rejoined the fight. The Rakshasa struck Seften. Gazlowe punched the Rakshasa and with a little more fury of the small and killed it. Seften dropped the spirit guardians and then banished 2 of the devils. Juan finished off the last devil.

Demon lair

The demon Zorguk offered to take the party to his lair. Juan warned the party, “You’re never supposed to go to a 2nd location!” Gazlowe vouched for Zorguk, “He’s cool.” And the party proceeded to a room of demons where they were introduced as demon heroes who will destroy the devils. The Demons welcomed the Stone Bearers and taught them many things. The party leveled up to Level 20! Gazlowe gained the epic boon of Dimensional Travel.   The party tried to take a long rest, however, Seften, Gazlowe and Isabella tossed and turned all night with horrible images and dreams and gained no benefit from the long rest. Cassidy figured out that they were cursed by the Rakshasa. Juan walked to them and said “wahzemmm uhh hmmd” and removed the curses.

The first Orb

Zorguk explained that the nearest orb is in the water area is only protected by demons and one construct called “The Slayer.” He described the huge creature as an adamantine construct covered with Magical runes that protects the orb and wields a sword of light. The demons choose not to go near it. Zorguk led the party past hordes of demons safely to a narrow passage with stairs at the end. He told them, “It awaits in a large room up those stairs.”   The party climbed the stairs and walked across the old stone walkway that hovered over a lake of sparkling water filled with swimming creatures. Cassidy led the way. In the corner of the massive chamber (roughly 120’ square.) The party whispered to each other, “Just break the orb and then flee.” Gazlowe detected a magical field protecting the orb. Cassidy tried to talk to the Slayer, but it had no response. Ajani told them “I’ll dispel the orb and you guys destroy it.” Gazlowe cast greater invisibility on Ajani to help him out. The party got into position and waited as Ajani positioned himself in the corner of the room.

The Slayer

Ajani cast dispel magic at 7th level and the protective shield of invulnerability was dispelled. The Slayer (with 120’ of true sight) looked directly at Ajani, his rune covered shield lit up and a force beam shot at Ajani. The Slayer shot 3 bolts at Ajani, dispelling his magical protections and reducing him to 6 HP! Cassidy loosed 2 magical arrows at the creature, and both went *clink* off its armor. The Slayer shot another bolt of force at Ajani, and he went down unconscious. The runes on the Slayer stopped glowing.   Isabella rushed towards the orb and smashed her axe into it twice. It cracked but didn’t shatter. The runes on the Slayer began to glow again and its energy glaive sliced into Isabella. Gazlowe struck the Slayer with Magic Missiles to distract it and then teleported to the other side of the room waiting to be struck. However, the creature still focused on Isabella and landed a critical blow. Gazlowe understood, “It’s an order of operations programming thing.”   Zorguk charged in and struck the Slayer. Juan flew bird up to Ajani and healed him. He then cast spiritual weapon and had his drinking buddy smash into the orb. The cracks spread over the top of the orb. Seften cast power word fortify and protected Ajani and Isabella with extra health. Ajani stood up and cast a chromatic orb at the orb. The orb continued to crack, and the chromatic ball of lightning ricocheted to the Slayer and bounced right off him. The Slayer refocused on Ajani and shot another series of force bolts from his Rune Discus. The extra health from Seften kept Ajani just barely alive. Cassidy finally landed a shot with her bow and was able to brand the Slayer. The Slayer hit Ajani again and again knocked him unconscious for the 2nd time. Isabella smashed the orb with her axe, and it started to split open. The Slayer turned to Isabella and struck her hard.   Gazlowe saw the orb was nearly destroyed and ran up to it and hit it hard with his gauntlets, landing a critical blow. The orb shattered and the scream of a dragon was heard. Cassidy recognized that the orb was also controlling a dragon. Gazlowe screamed “Everybody run!” He then teleported 30 feet away. The Slayer was able to magically pinpoint the exact location of Gazlowe, but its magical force bolt missed its target. Seften cast heal on Ajani to bring him back to consciousness. As Gazlowe headed south down an unknown passage, the others retreated the way they came. Ajani could still see everyone as they were running away, he concentrated on the room that the friendly demons were in, but he wasn’t very familiar with and attempted to teleport the party there. With favor from the gods, Ajani was able to successfully teleport everyone to the room.

What next?

Safe in the room with the other demons, Cassidy recalled the runes on the Slayer and informed Gazlowe, that the creature is still in pursuit and has the ability to track him to his precise location. Gazlowe said, I’ll lure him away and then ran towards Japan.   The rest of the party looked at Zorguk who asked them, where you want to go next? They asked if there are any more creatures like this guarding the other 3 orbs. Zorguk said no, Just the collector and Bel. He explained that they’re both devil lords and Bel used to be the lord of Avernus before Zariel came along. He didn’t know about the white orb or any of its protections because he doesn’t like going into the cold.   The party wanted to rest but it had only been a couple hours. Juan asked, “Can we just have like a lazy Saturday?” The others commented, on what would the happen if Niptu found them just lounging around. The party sighed and gathered their things asking Zorguk, “Where is this Bel?”