Session XLIX : A Release to Intervene Report

General Summary

John stays charging into battle with Rosar, avoiding immediate conflict with Aard. Balin successfully calms down the crowd (with a failed attempt from Nalan) cheering Aard. Both agree through the party's intervention their combat will take place a different day. The party interrogates Rafael with little trust (Nalan: I trust him as far as I can throw him, and that's not far with one arm) The party persuades Rafael to fight for their side in return for passage of the island (and potential return to Xu). Oswald is offered a particular deal by Pavor to repair his friend's arm through blood magic (Secret: Usage of blood magic on the remains of the blood abomination). Isadora previously warns Oswald of the dangers of blood magic once more and only keeps the thought in mind. Nalan seeks a way to be cured from his potential possession, his armor being stuck to him (causing him to need prestidigitation for cleaning of himself at the lower parts), and the lyrium buried deep within his chest. Zulk offers either that he takes more Lyrium, he can smoke the demon out during a Long Rest but he will not gain rest during that time and has a potion that can temporarily increase his resilience against the demon (+10 on Saves). The party heard from Rafael Sanguine's Rose proved a powerful artifact in the hands of Daveth Uthram and decide they need to charge the enemy. Balin asks Yarpin to repair the Voidsteel Halfplate they recovered and takes possession of Rafael royal manticore cloke (grants evasion twice per day). John takes Rafael's Magic Ore Elite Rapier. They venture down and break the gates to the slave camp for mass combat to ensue. In total 7 goblins, 3 bugbears, 2 Night's Watch Veterans, 4 arches (15 ft. AOE 4d8 DEX SAVE DC 15 per turn) Rosar, Aard, Rafael, Mercer, Isadora, Lennard join them against 3 turned orc berserkers (that can explode) controlled by Maleg, 5 soldiers under the direct command of Gireon, 2 shades, a fire demon, a blistercoil weird and a capra demon. Oswald splits the battle temporarily in two by shielding Gireon and his soldiers. Rosar engages in battle with the balrog as many troops join her. In the end the Balrog Belrax is felled by a goblin's arrow who perishes in the fiery explosion. The Veterans are healed by Isadora to circumvent this. Afterwards Maleg uses his Synaptic Static for great damage before being killed by a bolt of Balin. They then continue to fight Gireon who Balin downs in the knee with an arrow and Nalan stamps the knee non-lethally. They then interrogate Gireon who tells them little apart from that Iudex Gundyr is alive, their gift of Sanguine's Rose proves vital and the Dawn of the Red Sun is coming. They then launch of his head with a bolt and take a Short Rest in the camp. Oswald & Nalan take a Long Rest on the stretchers crafted by Mercer on the way to the Conflux Point while John manages to take a Long Rest in Rosar's arms. When they arrive the crater is rather deserted with only a handful of enemies remaining (5 shades, 4 lyrium brutes, 2 Uthram demoncaller, Champion Gundyr, an Arcane Horror and Daveth Uthram. Oswald & Nalan decide to go Invisible and sneak towards Daveth who spots them with his detect magic when they are within 30 ft. Oswald wins initiative from Daveth while Nalan loses as they charge up against him. This allows Daveth to cast a Wall of Ice to encase them and deal massive damage. Nalan breaks the ice and goes after him with the Warlock using his mask to teleport out of his range twice. Battle then ensues with on the allied side Aard, Lennard, Rafael, the 2 Veterans, Isadora, 4 archers, Rosar (ridden by John still) and Mercer remaining. Oswald & Nalan are downed multiple times but help themselves up while the minions of the Uthramians are engaged by our supporting cast heroes. Oswald also initially banishes Champion Gundyr ensuring he does not utterly destroy them immedialety. As Balin releases a bolt with Arium attached to it, he seems to deal the killing blow against Daveth (also shortly restraining him with shackles) before his corpse starts to pulls to show a Pride Demon inside him. This also spawns a greater rage demon, a sloth demon and a despair demon. John & Rosar in close battle with the rage demon (fire before being crushed), the veterans with the despair demon (temporarily frozen by), archers & Isadora with the sloth demon Battle then continues with the true crux being whether the enemy will break the seal before their demise. It's through Rosar's rocks, Balin's precise aim, Oswald keeping to heal Nalan, but certainly Nalan who delicately taunts the pride demon (spoiler: skull-fucking), into stopping to open the seal (DC 25 & DC 26 Intimidation). Oswald re-banishing causes the Legendary Resistance to kick before him and Nalan lying unconscious their (later healed by John's Healing Spirit). Rosar's lightning ensures Iudex focuses their attention to them but proved ineffective against the pride demon. The heroes then deal enough damage to break the Pride demon's shield and with a massive stone throw (54 damage or so) the pride demon is greatly wounded. In the end it is a Night's Watch Veteran who deals the killing blow on the Pride demon, after which Iudex is quickly defeated narratively. The heroes are victorious and all alive with them recalling their victories and celebrating in booze. Nalan wishes to craft a helmet from the pride demons horns that he grabbed to "delicately distract" the enemy, Oswald recovers Daveth's equipment. Aard & Rosar shake hands to temporarily bury the hatchet and Vex remains imprisoned (7/8 seals broken).