Battle for the Flying Tower Rages

 

Location: the Lortmill mountains - former Duchy of Ulek. Near the village of  Hallowuud

Date: 18th of Reaping, High Summer. Close to midnight. 

The party leap into battle, a hobbit having come out of one tent, as well as rustling and high squeaking yips coming from another. Gothi's cavebear, Morsel and Graxxuzazz the direwolf noses to the ground

catch the scent of the female drow. She was about 30' away invisible. Seems a combination spell of misty step and invisibility were activated.

The hobbit tries to backstab Tibaltuous but misses and calls out for aid! To cover his 'tactical retreat' a new enemy emerges from one of the tents. At that moment, Graxxuzazz the direwolf - polymorphed - runs over to the hobbit - in dire wolf form - and tears a chunk out of the small creature's leg. Yelping the hobbit looks for a way out. Hester casts Circle of life which allows the Fellowship to be much more agile [DM: dodge area effect spells]

In the dim light, the evil knight emerges from the shadows, his armor a twisted amalgamation of dark steel and jagged spikes. His helmet, adorned with menacing horns, conceals a face twisted by malevolence, with eyes that burn like green embers in the night.

He wields a massive two-handed sword, its blade etched with ancient runes that seem to pulse with a sinister energy. The sword’s edge glows faintly, as if thirsting for the blood of its next victim. Each step he takes echoes with a chilling metallic clang, sending shivers down the spines of those who dare to oppose him.

His presence exudes an aura of dread, and the very air around him seems to grow colder, as if the warmth of life itself recoils from his touch. This knight is a harbinger of doom, a relentless force of darkness that leaves only despair in his wake.

The battle then is engaged with the drow knight. The sword he wields appears to have an enhanced effect of draining magic ability and spells from the opponents mind as a number of spellcasters are hit and drained of the ability to remember to cast a spell! This also appears to have the separate effect of healing the fallen knight. His sweeping blade cuts deep as he fights the party. The anti-magic blade hits Tibaltuous and he forgets how to cast some of his keys spells. The knight then hits Doc, slicing into the gunslinger/paladin. Morsel, having lost the scent for the female drow leader sets his sights on the hobbit and barrels forward to rip him apart. The hobbit

scuttles away behind some boxes and one of the tents with a cry of fear as Gothi's cavebear towers over him. Tibaltuous casts Heat Metal on the drow knight then the dark elf's black armour starts to smoke under the effect. Tibaltuous checks one of the tents and encounters a kobold with mace in hand. The ever-quick and silver-tongued bard persuades the kobold to go back to sleep! During battle! [DM: extremely high persuade roll!]

The female drow appears in a blink near the bridge and invokes dark energy. A swirling necromantic fog drains life energy from a few of the party, fortunately, Hester's spell allows a few party members to fully avoid the deathly tendrils. She then disappears again!

Gothi activating her X-Ray vision, blood starts to drip down from both her eyes as the vision allows the ranger to see through the tent walls. She sees 2 small tied up figures in the tents as well as the kobold the bard persuaded to sleep. She then notes motion on rope bridge - the female drow? Calling out to the party, she leaps towards the rope bridge. Morsel appears from the fallen tent, the limp body of the hobbit drops from the massive cave bear's jaws.

Tibaltuous tackles the drow knight over cliff, the spiked armour digging deeply into his flesh as he bowls the surprised dark knight over the edge! Trying to let go, the bard is then caught in a deadly grip about his throat as the knight squeezes. The two fall, the drow's helmet flung off into the dark, and then they start to drift down gently. Tibaltuous grimaces. Featherfall! Damnation. Tibaltuous sees the blazing eyes of the grinning drow. 

"I'll take you with me.. halfbreed." The drow grins, blood dripping and falling away. 

There is a crack and echo of a gun shot. Doc fires at the knight's arm holding the bard, and with a cry of pain he lets Tibaltuous go and Tibaltuous falls! Tumbling and smashing against the lake bed walls.  The bard's wisecracking sword - Sir Lawrence activates a newly enhanced power - used to be levitate, but now the wielder can fly. Good timing.

Doc and Graxxuzazz both here a commanding word from the female drow elf: "Jump!". She apepars again on the rope bridge with a wicked smile as both the heroes, shake their heads and then under the command powerful spell, jump off the edge! She then darts towards the tower.

Tibaltuous is able to save one of the two and reaches Graxxuzazz the sorcerer and stops his fall, the two then move towards the tower. Doc falls and starts to tumble down the side of the empty lake. Getting pummeled and smashed by outcroppings the 1/2 orc is able to stop his fall. Able to slow his tumbling, Doc starts to climb back up slowly.

Hester casts guiding bolt at the fleeing drow but misses and then invokes his power and summons an avenger - a large celestial angelic form of his deity. The 15' being filled with stars hovers before Hester and then gently picks up the cat like humanoid to carry him forth across the large empty lake

toward the tower perched against one cliff wall. Tibaltuous is flying there as well, Graxxuzazz in tow, the bard holding the tail of the lizardfolk as they fly onwards. Graxxuzazz casts lightning bolt, enhancing the spell to fire. It bolts into the slowly falling drow knight. The combined fire and lightning doing extensive damage.

All hear a grinding noise as the tower seems to push and pull against the cliff wall. dust and debris fall. The female drow screams out, "Noooo!" her cry of outrage echoing around the walls of the dry lake. The tower seems to be leaving them behind..

Gothi now on the rope bridge, nocks an arrow and shoots true, hitting the female drow in the shoulder, the arrow dripping blood. Grimacing, the drow limps away taking a potion which seems to visibly heal some of her wounds. She casts dispel magic on the avenger but then Graxxuzazz casts counter spell on it! Frustrated in rage and she then slips into the open doorway on the balcony on the 3rd flor of the tower.

Doc holding on with one hand to precarious outcropping over the deep water below, pulls out some climbing claws which allow him to climb faster. 

The drow knight then starts to float upwards! The drow's levitation ability taking him past Doc and towards the edge of the cliff. Flying towards the tower being carried by his tail, the sorcerer launches a final lighting/fire bolt at the drow knight. The drow is able to hold on to his spell and continues to levitate upwards. He tosses a rope and snags an outcropping pulling himself to safety. The drow knight grins down at the climbing paladin/gunslinger, bandaging a wound on his arm,

Morsel attacks the drow knight and the fight slicing the bear, and massive bites out of the drow. The evil power affects the bear and it runs in fear. Morsel is howling in fear and rage into the darkness as it runs away.

The party come to the door at the balcony. It is closed and locked. Graxxuzazz and Tibaltuous summon their ghast - "Sir Ghastly" using the power of Orcus. [DM blogpost for more info] . It starts to hammer and smash the door. The stench is atrocious, all of the party- Gothi, Hester, Tibaltuous and Graxxuzazz  nearby eyes are watering.

Gothi remembers her key! All the party have a key to the doors. This allows them to gain full access. They enter but are is in full darkness - magical it seems. Fortunately Graxxuzazz and Gothi know the layout of the tower well.  Inside the tower, Hester invokes his gods power to allow the party to see in any type of darkness. Graxxuzazz using a fell amulet sees fine in the darkness.

The party explore, now able to see in the dark. The adventurers, enter their study, the books on bookshelves primarily look to still be there of the small library they had been collecting. Graxxuzazz notes his small friend's little house on one of the shelves is still there, somewhat enhanced since he had last seen it. They move through into the hallway, the circular stairwell going up and down. The avenger angle unfortunately cannot make it up the stairs, it's massive size not able to navigate the tight circular stairs. They go up to the control room, and see the a fallen male drown at the controls, his

head burnt and frozen at the same time. At that moment, a blast of necrotic energy hits all three, all lurch back in pain, but Graxxuzazz's held spell - Scorching ray - hits the drow, burning her even more as she runs down a set of stairs nearby. Gothi and Graxxuzazz know this is the power chamber where the demons drained soul energy to power the tower. Gothi raises her bow but the lithe drown elf is gone , out of sight. Tibaltuous heads back to see if Doc needs any aid.

Gothi leaps after and enters the familiar by dreadful room. Strange beds or racks flat have chains and

shackles. Glowing glass chambers line one wall and at the head of each rack. There are 3 beds - or racks - with 3 humanoids strapped in. 

Lukann the wizard's apprentice to the famous Leomund is strapped into one, he looks to now be an ancient frail man, with withered skin, sunken eyes; hair falling out to point of being just long wisps on a shiny skull. He once was a vibrant man, with long black hair, well-trimmed goatee and moustache. Fairly fit even in his fortyish looking age when the Fellowship met him.

A large glowing orb like chamber at his head is pulsing and the wizard convulses, crying out weakly as tears run from his wincing closed eyes with each pulse.

The 2nd rack holds what appears to be a firbolg. The tall - 8' - humanoid is not moving the orb at near her head has just a glimmer of light in it. The body of the firbolg - female from appearance - is now a dried husk. Sunken features - mummified.

The 3rd rack holds what appears to be a very small scaly figure - Graxxuzazz knows this as the caretaker of the library. She is secured down with 1 of the shackles that would fit a humanoid around

her waist. She convulses as well, as the orb at the far end of the rack glimmers and pulses.

The drow hovers near Lukann, a dagger at his throat. "Stop or I kill him. This blade will drain his soul."

She grin bloody from the constant attacks of the Fellowship. Gothi stops, Graxxuzazz comes down with Hester to also see the tragic scene. There appear to be some figures huddled in some cells. Appear to be townsfolk possibly.

Meanwhile outside, The drow knight then yells down to Doc, "want a rope? Then we can fight as equals. One on one combat." Doc nods and he pulls himself up. The drow knight steps back, swinging his sword around easily, waiting for the1/2 orc to prepare. Then they battle. Both cleave and slice into the other, their sharp blades hacking and cutting back and forth. 

Back in the Power chamber, Graxxuzazz uses his sorcerous skills to command the drow to "Drop" the blade. An echoing clatter of the blade as it hits the floor. [DM: bad wisdom save!] 

Gothi scoops up her bow and looses four arrows at the drow. All hitting, she convulses and falls back. Graxxuzazz casts another scoring ray and the blasts drill into the drow's chest. She falls down between the racks, gurgling and crying out and then.. nothing.

Outside the melee duel continues. Doc, desperate and realizing this drown was a master swordsman, uses all his skills and pulls his pistol, the shot echoing around the cliffs, a disarming shot, and the drow drops the massive sword. Doc tries to kick it off the edge, but the drow knight stops it, stamping on the blade. 

The drow picks up his sword and raises it for a killing blow as there is a rumbling from the tower as it starts to rise into the air. 

Tibaltuous quips, "You cannot call us cowards and start to run away." The drow growls and then launches himself hitting the bard multiple times. Tibaltuous falls to the ground. Putting his sword to the bard's throat, threatens Doc.

Both Doc and the drow knight are surprised when with a roar of rage, Morsel appears again, no longer affected by the fear and launches himself at the knight, Both go tumbling off the edge into the dark!

Morsel is able to stop with his claws, the tumbling drow smashes down the side, sword clanging and spinning and then with a splash of water as the drow sinks into the water.

Tibaltuous is being healed up by Doc, as the 1/2 orc looks up at the tower rising and down at Morsel.

It appears.. the tower is once again under the control of the Fellowship, Lukann and the librarian being drained of energy, and the tower is ascending very quickly with no one at the controls! 

Audio Summary: 

[courtesy of https://notebooklm.google.com]

The Flying Tower

Some views of the Flying Tower - current status [updated with correct rope bridges]

Overview

The Tower - closeup:

Rope bridge:

Return to the Flying Tower

18th of Reaping, High Summer

[DM: back at the gaming table for the group was splendid after some remote/online sessions]

We rejoin the Fellowship as they look down on a small village enclosed by a wooden palisade about 15' high of unfinished point logs, there appears to be one gate with some buildings inside the walls as well as a small wooden tower. 

The party note that the evening wildlife which had been absent along the long road and then in Axegard has returned and is somewhat refreshing to all. crickets, birds, frogs and more.. the smell of lush forest a pleasant change from the demonic sewers in  and city grounds of Axegard.

One building has what appears to be a stone foundation while the rest are all wood. There is what appears to be one building has burned down. Smoke sill rising slowly up in a long trail wisp into the clear night sky.

1. The RustyKnight Inn

2. Ancient Cheeses of Blackmoor - Cheese shop and residence

3. Ralex's General Mercantile

4. McKran's Smithy

5. Burned out building

The party still up on a hill nearby, head down on to the road heading up to the village, the evening sky still somewhat lit by the setting sun even at 9 bells. The gate is closed as the adventurers move up. A muffled high-pitched voice answers after Doc knocks on the gate.

A high pitched but gruff voice after some shuffling, "Who's there?"

Doc replies, "Travelers, looking for a flying tower."

The voice sound somewhat strange, and the party becomes suspicious. Gothi and Hester sense something is off. Then some giggling from a few points on the other side of the gate.

Gothi - using her boots of spider climbing - stealthily and she peers over and sees three children [girl probably 14 and a boy and girl under 10]. Gothi draws her bow and a flaming arrow is pulled back, The two younger children scream and run away, while the older girl is shuffling back on her hands and feet.

The party tries to appease the girl, but she jumps up and runs. "My Da is at home!"

The party look around and check out the burnt down building. Investigating they confirm it happened recently. Tibaltuous confirms someone tried to put the fire out as he finds water, A small crossbow bolt - finely made - as well as a small chest under the remnants of a bed. A charred small crossbow bolt is found, but no markings or identifications found on it,

[DM: The party fixates on how the cheese is created - as no cows, farmlands, or ranches seen, milking dragon, unicorns being milked in basements, centipedes being milked.. 😆]

The party hear some laughter and voices from the larger building [#1]. Gothi and Doc go to investigate while Tibaltuous and Graxxuzazz continue to investigate into the cheese mystery.

Gothi and Doc enter the Rusty Knight inn and see some farmers, as well what appear to be 3 travelers, 2 serving girls, as well as a portly older man with large mutton shop sideburns behind the bar. Beside the hearth in the main room is a rusty suit of full plate armour worn by knights in jousts. Over the hearth is a massive two-handed sword. No rust nor scratch on the fine blade.

Gothi and Doc have a drink and order some food, Ol' Verris is the barkeep and owner, with his 2 daughters serving - Sarah and Vera. Sarah a cute girl in her late 20's is tall with long black hair in a pony tail, the intelligent one. The beautiful Vera is the blonde and bubbly always happy now 19.

Interacting with the 3 travelers, 1 appearing to be a hobbit and the other two are human females. 

Meanwhile Graxxuzazz and Tibaltuous look at the other buildings trying to figure out where the cheese is being made or creatures being held to milk it are. The bard makes a joke about spreading "the good word of IUZ" and he gets an intense pain in the back of his head. The two realize that saying those words about Iuz, the hated enemy of Orcus - was not a good idea..

Doc asks about the flying tower and one of the serving girls drops a tray of dishes with a crash. The lady names Doc and Gothi so it appears the Fellowship are well known. Gothi and Doc think they three are bounty hunters but it appears not.

Meanwhile, Tibaltuous and Graxxuzazz telepathically advise Gothi and Doc they will be down the road a 1/2 mile, and start reading their book again together.

One of the ladies - seems like the leader, a tall lady in her 30s with brown hair, long in a pony tail, blue eyes and wearing tan leather armour. A dagger at her belt - asks Doc if a reward if the tower is found. After a near combat moment the two leave. Telepathically talking that they need to figure who these folks are. They must know about the tower..

Gothi offers 77 gold, where Doc advises can pay 5000 gold if they find the location. This perks the three up a little, but other than a smirk from the hobbit, nothing more. Doc and Gothi get into some final words with the three and the the two adventurers can feel there is something wrong. 

They meet up with the sorcerer and the bard who are deep in a trance reading the massive tome ofOrcus' origin once again together.

While Doc and Gothi are moving down the road, the two and the bear hear a "Psst. hey Mister!" 

At first they don't see anything but then see the small boy from the gate. 

After some cajoling and offering 77 gold reward - the small 8 year old boy has never held a gold piece! 

The boy tells them of that they look like black-skinned elves. 

Doc and Gothi in unison: "Drow".

"Been a week in the town, they burnt down the building." He mumbles while looking at the gold, "Yea they carry tiny crossbows, like in one hand." Doc smiles and nods fingering the charred bot.

It appears they took some of the townsfolk away. At this the boy looks very sad, seems he has lost one of his family perhaps. Up in the mountains. The boy points to the Northeast.

The power source for the tower.. people. 

Doc tells the boy to go hide, gives the boys some food and water. "Get your sister and hide up there for a day or two." 

The boy looks sad at thinking of his family and friends being taken. "I'm a never comin' back.. with that much gold 77.. I can't count that high but I'll live like a king!"

Doc and Gothi come up upon Tibaltuous and Graxxuzazz. Both are in the dark, hunched over the familiar tome once again. Turning pages together.

Gothi rides up and jumps down and slaps both of them. The Portly athletic lizardfolk continues reading but the 1/2 elf bard is pulled out of his trance-like reading.

************

[DM ADVISORY: the next paragraphs may have some disturbing information to some feel free to skip]

Tibaltuous and Graxxuzazz are standing on a familiar desolate and featureless plan of black sands, nearby stands what appears to be a younger Orcus. In  front of the two is a human girl spread-eagled on

a wooden X. and Orcus looks down at the two, rumbles, "Kill her". 

At this moment, Tibaltuous is ripped away from the scene and awakes in the dark dizzy and nearly vomiting.

Graxxuzazz looks down and his clawed hands and realizes that he is not a lizardfolk but some type of barbed demonic humanoid, six arms, carrying multiple weapons in hand. Graxxuzazz/Demon cuts in to the girl, and he is pulled back to the realm. The two, now it seems to be not in sync they will need to re-read the chapter. 

**************

The party discuss and decide the three in the inn are probably drow who were purported to be at or in control of their flying Tower!

[DM: some time was spent trying to figure out why Gothi and Doc had MAJOR issues with Drow. 😊]

Mission Impossible [DM: queue theme music]

The party returns planning to do a night raid to take out the three bounty-hunters/drow/evil folk - 2 women and hobbit.

After some great stealth and planning, Gothi gets on the roof and using her X-Ray vision. She scans the rooms and then finds the skeletal like forms of what looks like 2 slender women and the hobbit. 

Tibaltuous starts his mission to move in, with the telepathic link with Gothi providing perfect details on where to go. The room was right next to Ol'Verris' room.

Right before Tibaltuous, Doc and team crashed in, the party recalled that Ol'Verris had two daughters.. no three daughters! One being smaller. [met at the gate]

Gothi realized that the three were not the three potential Drow but the daughters of the innkeeper!

The mission was pulled back, the team moving out. As it appears the three travelers were NOT in the inn. Probably at the tower or on the way to it, based on the details from the boy the party had been given.

The Fellowship decided it was time to find their tower!

Moving as fast as they can, Gothi riding her bear - Morsel -  and Graxxuzazz polymorphs into a dire wolf. They all headed up into the mountains and found a bridge crossing a dry riverbed. The party saw some light ahead. Then a small camp with tents. but all that was minor, there was the RedWater Fellowship's TOWER.

The tower looks to be crashed/landed on the edge of a deep lake. The lake formerly fed the Siren river. It has nearly dried up it appears, now the lake depths can nearly be seen hundreds of feet below the tower precariously crashed into the wall of the mountain at a slight angle. A rope bridge along the steep and shear wall goes from the camp to a balcony - looks to be the 3rd floor].

As the party move up, a female drow appears smiling, wearing a wide brimmed hat. She was the one talking to Doc and Gothi in the Rusty Knight Inn. Her skin in areas is white and black, as if some disease or other gave it a patch work white and black. 

Some discussion and negotiations to work together or ally, but in the end, these break down. 

Gothi fires two arrows, but she quickly dodges and then disappears from sight. Between Morsel's and Graxx's sense of smell they know she is fairly close but moving away.. 

COMBAT - next session.

Audio Summary: 

[courtesy of https://notebooklm.google.com]

Greyhawk Map - Realm status

 Status in High Summer of the various kingdoms, empires, and more.

1. Dragonkeep
2. Wayberry
3. Axegard
4. Dragon's Lair?
5. Flying Tower
6. Fax
7. Enstad
8. Bright Desert - location of majority elvish Houses of the land
9. IUZ controlled areas
10. Overlord Romack controlled areas
11. BlackRune controlled/allied areas [majority of Pomarj are allied to BlackRunes.. rumours as of late with the decline of the BR empire, the various tribes, clans and more in the Pomarj may be more rebellious..]
12. Undead [Robin] controlled areas [expanding in mainly Southern directions currently]
13. Under no one's control at this time

Allies and enemies:

• Overlord Romack has a uneasy truce with BlackRunes [to fight off forces of IUZ] - who knows how long that will last..
• IUZ and BlackRunes are at war
• Undead forces under Robin are warring with everyone

A Heroes' Feast for the RedWater Fellowship

 

17th of Reaping High Summer

The battle with the undead titan continues, the many attacks from the Fellowship as well as the contingent of skeletons Graxxuzazz had summoned wearing the colossal humanoid down. Its connection to the shadow shield through the umbilical-like cord from its back now cut the giant appeared to be near lethargic as the attacks of arrows, bullets and magic continue to pepper it. The giant gash in the titan's stomach no longer was spewing forth zombies as well.

The fleshy arch had collapsed and continued to pump out caustic blood growing in area in some spots a few feet deep of the acidic fluid.

Behind the party, the cloud giant sheathed the massive sword on his back still holding the pulsing purple orb and called out, "Parley!" Gothi and Tibaltuous were closet to the cloud giant chief and could see he as well as heavily wounded.

A flying demon circling hears this and screeches in rage flying fast towards the giant. The demon flies by breathing fire on the cloudgiant, his skin burbling and bubbling taking the full force of the heated breath. 

Tibaltuous moves towards the giant as Doc calls out, "Take out the demons first, then we can deal with the giant." The bard steps up and shouts, "Drop your sword, giant!" 

The giant loosens a strap and the massive sword CLUNKS into the blasted town street. Nodding with a
smile the bard starts to intone one of his signature spells - Hypnotic Pattern - as a mystical pattern of swirling lights engulfs one flying demon while the other flies off.

Hester heals Gothi with a ranged heal then launched a guiding bolt at the demon flying off - missing. Graxxuzazz standing in the pool of acidic

blood takes some damage, but fortunately reduced by the twilight sanctuary spell.

Graxxuzazz also launches a guiding bolt as well but hits, and at first it appears to not have a major effect. but then, the giant watching aloof as the titan finally succumbed to the attacks of the heroes and started to topple to the ground the demonic landscape of the town quaking and rumbling as the sixty foot tall creature crashed into a few former houses and lay still.. after the party shot and loosed more missiles into him [DM - having fought zombies before and not taking any chances] 

Graxxuzazz directs his final skeletons to hack and shoot at the titan to make sure it stays.. dead.

Doc's fires his pistol and the bullet hits the retreating demon right in the back of the neck and crashes to the ground, turning into a cloud of black smoke that slowly disperses. Gothi looses two arrows into the titan, his Hunter's Mark letting the ranger know it now is finally destroyed, both arrows into the eye slit of humanoid's helmet.

The Chief seemed to focus on Tibaltuous and Graxxuzazz. "Orcus - touched Souls." Looking back over his shoulder into the destroyed town he wiped a streak of blood off his face with one hand as he sees the fallen titan. 

The Cloudgiant and Tibaltuous reach an agreement of letting the giant leave and he will return - one time - to battle or fulfill a task. The two agree, Tibaltuous stating, "I agree."

The large giant holds out the purple and black swirling sphere. "touch the sphere to sign this.. contract." As the bard touches the sphere, the 1/2 elf feels areas in his mind opening up like doors to new vistas. His understanding of the teachings of Orcus expand. Then Tibaltuous AND Graxxuzazz realize they are in on this deal together. They both must agree and summon the giant. 

The giant picks up the sword. He states his name is Chief Tomaklagg. He bows his head slightly to the bard and looks over at the lizardfolk. "I will go now, parley is agreed to, correct?", reaching down to pickup the massive sheathed sword. Graxxuzazz and Tibaltuous both say "Yes." in unison.

The shadow dome continues to fade and the Fellowship see griffon riders.

The heavily wounded giant walks into the blood and seems to be stepping down a ramp or stairs even though there was none there. "Call upon Chief Tomaklagg, one time." And then the giant disappears with a swirl of blood and is gone.

Griffon riders land nearby, a Captain calling out to the heroes. It appears that other than some stragglers, giants and humanoids, all the demons are gone or destroyed.

The Siege of Axegard is over and a victory for the forces of Overlord Romack.

The Redwater Fellowship are escorted back to the camp of Lord Royce. The wagon, Lars, Morsel the bear, are all there as well as the golden cube. Gothi's scavenger lizard comes back with a leather bound tome. The book written in orcish, tells of Stories From the Orc Graggshar Holds, majority is a single saga as well as other poems and more. It appears to be a rare book, or some were destroyed by the elves oppressing  the orc tribes. Worth at least a few hundred gold to a collector. 

Lord Royce meets the party after they rest and recuperate, who is delighted upon their return, the
covert mission went better than expected the warrior/priest advised over goblets of fine wine and tankards of strong dwarven ale. The heroes are given a feast which they feel empowering them - Heroes' Feast spell. Lars did not join the feast, and Morsel tolerates the undead warlock - due to him feeding Morsel. The spider hatchlings are running all over the back of the wagon, Gothi lets them run free, as screams of fright in the camp being dismantled. 

The party have become renown and with a smile advises there are large bounties on some of the Fellowship's members.

Lady Cowl, enters and advises that they can assist with getting the party to their lost flying tower. The gate to transport them would not be large enough to allow the wagon - and cube - through.

Hester asks for information on his home town and if there are any survivors. Gothi requests a enhanced saddle to infuse with strength.

The party are also given magical ear rings from Lord Royce. As well as the masters of magic, artificer, alchemy and cleric which will assist with the possible changing of the power supply to something NOT demonic.

He smiles reminiscing, "these were very helpful to my group when we were adventurers and heroes!" he says with a wink and continues, "Now, I pass them on to you. May they help you as well as they did us." A felt-lined wooden case holds 6 silver earrings  (each having a small ruby inset) 

Magical. When within 120' of each other allow mental communication with the rest of the earrings in use. Twisting the ruby inset 180° can turn it off if desired by wearer. Turn again will re-activate. This takes a bonus action to activate. Wearers have to mentally initiate (no visible change) to use. Wearers cannot have 2 magical earrings in same ear. 

The party decide to let the wagon travel with the army of Lord Royce under the supervision of Lars as well as Lady Cowl.

That evening, the party are ready, for once walking. A glimmering gate stands outside the tent of Lord Royce. At 8 bells, the party is ready. [ DM - the Heroes feast spell with end in 23 hours]

"So.. you trust me now do you?" She says with a smile at Tibaltuous.

The bard remarks, "You have proven yourself." 

She smiles back, "Yes, yes.. so have you." The decision on where to meet and what energy to use - soul energy or other is all the minds of the Fellowship as they step through the gate.

The party appear in a heavily wooded hilly area, a path heads off in two directions, Gothi confirms West and East. Goth i motions forward along the dirt and gravel narrow road. The mountains stretching up. The air is getting cold in the twilight as the heroes move forward. A weathered statue is on a small cliff ahead visible through the trees. Tibaltuous uses his spyglass, it looks to be an armoured figure weathered by time and the elements. It looks quite old, around 30-40 feet tall. A knight holding a sword point first in the ground.

Probably a knight of the Duchy of Ulek, the bard decides.

Gothi looks about and using her excellent survival skills confirms the area, showing the others on the map where they were. Northeast of Tringlee in the high hills heading up into the Lortmill mountains.  

The sun probably will set around 9 bells, the warm air cooling quickly.

Gothi recalls there is a small hamlet and as they move up to the large statue they see some lights most likely from the small village.

 Lights twinkling from windows in some houses and buildings as well as 2 lanterns at a wooden gate (closed) in a 15' wall appears to enclose the hamlet. Gothi advises the name of the village is Hallowud.

The party head down from the statue and move towards the hamlet.

Audio Summary: 

[courtesy of https://notebooklm.google.com]

Demonic Battles in Axegard

 

17th of Reaping, High Summer

Location: Sewers under the river town of Axegard | Limbo | The Abyss

We rejoin the RedWater Fellowship still in mid battle with the demonic tentacles part of the gate to the Abyss.

Graxxuzazz and Hester are wrapped up by one massive tentacle, trying to crush them together. Gothi is hanging upside down from another, the long tentacle holding her by one leg upside down. Tibaltuous is

also grasped by one leg, but he determinedly holds on to an out-jutting brick in the ceiling. [his talkative sword levitating the bard], while Doc and Gizzard edge back preparing attacks for the tentacles waving around in the air nearby.

The right arch has three large cracks, from the explosive arrows of Gothi, a vial of acid from Gizzard a Destructive wave spell from Graxxuzazz [this hit both arches as well as all the tentacles] and the Moonbeam spell from Hester. The left arch also has a number of smaller cracks in it. All of the

heroes have the multitude of voices screaming the heroes' names inside their head still, this is impacting the teams ability to cast spells. Also being in what seems like a Limbo between the material plane and the Abyss makes it even harder for Hester and Graxxuzazz to connect with their divine powers.

Gothi tries to pull free of the tentacle but it is too well wrapped around her leg. She then shoves her trident into the tentacle cutting part of the slimy appendage. Gizzard looks up seeing the precarious position of the ranger and fires her crossbow and it pierces through. Gothi falls to the ground and then moves over nodding to the goblin/gnome with a grim smile.

Graxxuzazz is able to connect with his god, and casts Destructive Wave again. The force and divine damage destroying a number of the tentacles. Both bone arches crack even more under the energy. Using his sorcerous abilities he teleports out from the grasping tentacle and appears next to Gothi and Gizzard.

Doc is able to tap into his Paladin ability to sense if the tentacles are undead or not. The overpowering feedback shakes him, as blood oozes form his ears, eyes, and nose. These are indeed both undead and demonic. He yells that out to Tibaltuous.

Hester casts Word of Radiance on the tentacle and destroys the appendage, the cleric/druid falls to the
ground taking minor damage.. Hester presents his star map and enters a starry form. Allowing him to fought off the voices and all.

Tibaltuous attacks the tentacle cutting it with Sir Lawrence. The tentacle falls back into the sewage. The bard keeps moving up the passage. and drops to the ground looking forward then back. The passage goes on for about fifty feet from the light of Sir Lawrence, then into darkness.

Hester's MoonBeam spell takes out the final tentacle, cuts right through turning it to ashen dust. Also damaging the bone arch. The remaining tentacle swings out to hit Gothi, Graxxuzazz and Gizzard. The razor sharp suckers on the tentacle cut through all three. It does slicing damage to all three as Gizzard falls to the ground, coughing blood.

A massive hand appears at the edge of the gate. Much bigger than a giant's had, titan sized or larger. A blast of necrotic energy waves out crashing over all except Tibaltuous. All are blinded except Graxxuzazz. Gothi having glimpsed where the massive hand was, fired blindly both arrows striking true and piercing deep into the black skin only a finger's length apart.

Graxxuzazz summons his sorcerous powers to do another Destructive Wave. This one washed over this massive hand, it shudders, a voice booms up from below as it is stripped of flesh by the divine and thunder damage. The portly lizardfolk tries to cast a Guiding Bolt spell but he crescendo of noise and distraction hamper his aim and the bolt goes high over the bone arch.

Doc blindly moves forward across the sewer and is able to make it to Gizzard and lay on hands to heal the sewer worker. She coughs and sighs awake again.

Hester brings forth a globe of twilight which assists all in the area. 

Tibaltuous and Graxxuzazz and Hester call back and forth on the merits if a Banishment spell and how that may affect denizens. 

Tibaltuous slams both his giant empowered hands into the cracked bone arch. The bard sees a massive head down below looking up. Inspired he hits the perfect spot on the bone arch, a hairline crack splits and the gate starts to implode and fall down into the Abyss. The fingers thumb and all are lopped off as the gate slams shut. 

It is quiet now. the voices are all gone. The purple wall of power is gone. Only the lapping of the sewage water, the ragged breathing of the party make any sound. 

Gizzard does not appear to be breathing but she coughs up blood and is moving as Doc again used his healing ability. Three of the party members are still blind.

A short time later, the party are able to see once again. The party take a short rest, allowing their bodies to heal somewhat. Graxxuzazz takes part of the pinkie finger, with a black shiny fingernail. [very well-trimmed]

After some discussion they decide to move forward to the entrance under the Axegard keep. Moving ahead, Gothi and Gizzard take the lead being stealthy. The party moves forward, it seems the pressure and connection to the divine is weakening as the pressure increases, They surmise they are getting closer tot he Abyss again.

A red glow appears ahead. a rung ladder can be seen going up to a manhole cover with a locking mechanism. Gothi goes up and sees a vast and destroyed land. The ranger sees what looks like was once a town but areas are not jagged rocks, Every where a haze covers the ground. the lands are hot. A massive glowing blood red gate is in the distance as well as river of lava going up to it. A giant or titan possibly stands in front of the gate. The arch sprouts a dark red shadow straight up into the air, looking like it is creating or powering the shadow globe covering the town. The town looks like it is being turned into the Abyss. A massive titan, appearing to be the same one seen earlier.

Gothi comes back down and advises the party of what she saw. All look troubled at this. The party discuss tactics and strategy. A stealthy approach then attack looks to be the plan. The party advise Gizzard she does not have to accompany them. The sewer worker looks relieved. and grins. "Maybe
these will help.." She passes over three vials of acid. She nods and wishes the Fellowship good luck and fades from view into the sewer passage. The party climb up, then start across unfamiliar evil lands. As they move along they pass burnt and withered trees, faces in the tree trunks which look to be human bones and flash. 

The face contorts calling out piteously to the

party asking for help or death. Multiple flying demons can be seen circling the area, but they don't appear to see the party. Hester and Doc think about how to help them, as it appears there is at least fifteen faces in a tree or more. "Help me!" Kill me!" It appears souls or spirits have been imprisoned in the dead trees. Hester tries to comfort. But they don't seem to understand or acknowledge the two.

The party continue their stealthy advance.

Reaching a large cliff, they can see the massive titan slowing moving back and forth. As the party climb up stony hands come out of the wall to try and grasp them but take some necrotic damage. Finally able to pull free the party have a good view of the titan.

Doc and Hester note a strange cord like an umbilical cord going from the titan to the arch shooting the shadow dome into the sky. The focus is on that for their fist attacks.

All prepare. Then attack!

Arrows, musket balls, spells hit the umbilical cord and do extensive damage. The titan shudders as well as the dome above shudders and nearly disappears. The bone arches start to shake and blood gushes out. as the party realize the arch is made from flesh. Graxxuzazz summons a contingent of skeletons that appears and ready to attack!

After the surprise, the party attack again. The titan steps forward and attacks. knocking Tibaltuous back 30 feet.

The titan continues to pummel the party, stomping on skeletons but takes great amounts of damage from the party. Reaching into his gut the titan throws zombies out to crash to the ground. They don't seem to have any effect except perhaps take some of the massive damage being done to the giant.

The flying demons swoop in breathing fire on the party and skeletons.

Doc teleports up above the cord and timing it perfectly fired his blunderbuss perfectly right into the damaged cord. Shredding it. The arch starts to shudder and starts to crash down. Blood sprays

everywhere. There is a groaning shriek from the titan. The blood raining down is burning all in the area. The arches appear to be flesh without bone in them collapsing. The river of blood floods the area.

Sir Lawrence continues to make sarcastic remarks as the battle continues. The bard ignoring the blade, envelops the titan in Faerie Fire spell. Gothi's arrows continue to do massive damage to the giant.

The skeletons create a good diversion for the titan, many falling under the massive blows and stomping feet of the titan. Hester brings in his twilight sanctuary again which helps the Fellowship. Sir Lawrence engages one of the flying demons as it breathes fire on the skeletons and the party. Tibaltuous inspires the party using his mantle to allow the party extra moves.

Graxxuzazz, uses one of his signature spells casting Destructive Eave again. Two of the demons are destroyed, the waves hit the titan as well. 

Sunlight is streaking in as the party look up, the shadowy blood dome is starting to crack and dissipate. If the party can continue with this momentum, maybe.. just maybe they can be victorious. Circling griffon riders look to be coming near. Lord Royce's forces!

A giant form can be seen coming through the haze and smoke though from where the Axegard keep stands. A pale-skinned giant. Smaller than the titan but still formidable at over twenty feet tall. 

Until next time..