The Keys of Telku / The Final Key pt. 26 / Kahn the 11th, 3593 CE / 6-11-23

The Adventurers stand upon the Grey Road, a path through the Astral Plane, and the domain of Accuris the God of Deah. They are seeking a path to the city of Liem, and a final confrontation with Tarrus the One-Eyed, who seeks to open the so-called Chaos Gate. But the party's path is blocked by kytons, invaders from the Shadow Realm who seek to usurp Accuris's control of the Grey Road. As a battle ensues. Coron of Ur warns against invoking the power any deity besides Accuris in this place, leaving the kitsune Baijao, a follower of Vespera, with no options to speak of as he turns into a fox for the remainder of the fight. Idra Brisby, companion to the party's other kitsune, Nari Ashida, is similarly disadvantaged, especially given the lack of effect from her ray of frost on the murderous and lustful kytons. On the other hand, Lulu’s mournful bardic performance seems amplified in the echoing Grey Road. Nari, for her part is keen on conserving spells for the fight ahead, as Tarrus’s magical might likely exceeded her own. Fortunately, the combined efforts of Taavi, Adrienne, and Jozu are able to beat the chained kytons, with each one felled vanishing into a cloud of shadowy vapor accompanied by their last haunting moans. With the way clear, our heroes once more return to the world of the living. emerging into the city of Liem in the dead of night. The vital energies of the mortal plane restore the party to full power, as if having rested for 8 hours, in the moment of return. As they rush to the Tower of Tarrus, the party finds that is is guarded by a sizable contingent of soldiers. However, the main force is centered on the square in front of the towers main entrance, and the party conjectures that perhaps by sneaking around the back they can find another way in. With restored magics, Nari is able to hide the party in a sphere of invisibility, by which they can sneak past the guards. At the rear of the tower, they see Tarrus's Chief Counselor, Guryd, hastily exiting the tower and fleeing from a secret door. The party seizes the opportunity to enter the Tower of Tarrus and begin the long climb to the top, where they presume, from the light show they observed earlier, that the ritual is taking place. Along the way, the party passes Tarrus's throne room, and where a familiar-looking imp sits. Hezzrack recognizes Adrienne and Nari, as well as, surprisingly, Chester, the rat, who, to Lulu's surprise and dismay, reveals himself to also be an imp. The two laugh about the tricks they've played on both the party and Tarrus, who they claim is in for more than he bargained for with his ritual. Before the party can do more, the imps disappear, and the party pushes forward. In the topmost chamber, the party is confronted once again with 20 or so guards attending the ceremony, as well as three large grey renders guarding the way. At the far end of the chamber, before a large stained-glass window, stands Tarrus, with the glowing portal he is attempting to open emanating from the wall. The party notes that he has drawn a circle of protective magic on the floor in front of the portal. A brief exchange makes it clear that Tarrus has no interest in stopping this madness. He even uses his own sorcerous blood to reignite the portal and a wishing ring to ensure the ritual not be magically stopped again, after Nari temporarily dispels the portal through no small effort. Combat begins with our heroes ascending to the side galleries in an effort to use the columns as cover and bypass the guards. The party splits, with half taking the east gallery and half to the west. The large grey beasts take up positions at the far corners of the chamber to block our heroes heading to the ritual floor. Coron casts a large swath of the guards in the central room into darkness. Jozu begins battling the eastern beast, while Adrienne takes on the west, before it's too late and Tarrus's ritual is complete.