The sting of the Shadow Lord's magic drew a growl from Orin and he spared a quick glance over his shoulder, only to find four versions of his attacker gathered on the far side of the room.  Cursing evil magic under his breath, he turned his attention back to the unholy beast before him and tried to add to Windor's retaliation.

His hammer arced out and grazed the hound's hairy flank but failed to do any damage.


OOC:

12:23, Today: Orin Starshine rolled 12 using 1d20+3.  Attack hell hound (TN 13).  Miss by 1.

Greyband takes the shot from the sorcerer and the hellhound in stride. His mighty blade lifts and falls on the hellhound, slicing into it and betraying a copious amount of its black blood!!

Definite hit--AC -5--for 9 hp damage on the hellhound!

14:47, Today: Greyband rolled 9 using 1d10+4 with rolls of 5.  Damage.
14:47, Today: Greyband rolled 22 using 1d20+4 with rolls of 18.  Attack hellhound.

Still staggered by the injuries he received from the hellhound, Killian’s next attack with his spear is faltering and ineffective.

07:15, Today: Killian Hawkfire rolled 10 using 1d20+4.  Attack - Spear.

Renia tries to marshal her remaining strength, but the Denagothian anticipates her next attack and dodges it.

07:24, Today: Renia rolled 2 using 1d20+1.  Attack - Sword.

Neuken’s dagger finds one of the Shadow Lords, the figure breaking apart into shards of light which quickly fade from view when the blade finds it. Likewise, Dmitri’s swing destroys another of the duplicates with a single stroke. Only two of the robed figures remain, one of them undoubtedly the true sorcerer.

Windor’s mace lands squarely on the hellhound’s back, the crack of bone sounding at the impact. The beast yowls in pain, a noise that is cut short as Greyband’s blade removes the monster’s head, sending it bouncing through the hole in the floor.

”Blossom!” the Denagothian warrior cries out in horror.

07:36, Today: Dungeon Master rolled 5 using 1d6.  Initiative - Party.

07:36, Today: Dungeon Master rolled 2 using 1d6.  Initiative - Shadow Lord and Friend.

Heartened to hear the happy bounce of the hound's head along the tower floor, and even happier that there isn't a second hound to chase it, Jarder returns his and Hornet's attention to the shadow lord and his second rate doppelganger.

18:05, Today: Jarder Mehro rolled 13,6 using d20+5,d4+3.  ranged v shadow lords.
Hits AC 4 for 6 dmg.

Witht eh hound taken care of, Orin turned his attention back to the sorcerer.  He hadn't forgotten his own advice, and moved to carry it out.  Kill the mage and then deal with the warrior, he told himself.

"Show yerself for real, you coward," he growled at the duplicate images, before swinging wildly at one with his hammer.


OOC:

20:08, Today: Orin Starshine rolled 8 using 1d20+3.  Attack Shadow Lord (TN15).  Hits AC 9 (if that might be enough to dispel an image).  Darn dice roller still don't like me!

Pleased with the result of his last attack, Neuken hurls another dagger at this so-called Dark Lord.

12:21, Today: Neuken Orulto rolled 1 using 1d4.  Dam.
12:20, Today: Neuken Orulto rolled 20 using 1d20+1.  To hit w/dagger.  (Hits AC -1)
This message was last edited by the player at 16:21, Thu 22 July 2021.

Panting and gritting down his pain, Greyband whirls and watches as his teammates attack the multiple shadow lords. He then shouts, "DIE, EVIL LORD!" and springs forward after all his allies have attacked the evil sorcerer, hoping to have as few targets as possible...

Wait until the others have gotten their attacks in on the Shadow Lord, then Run and attack him! Hit AC -5 for 6 damage!

17:02, Today: Greyband rolled 6 using 1d10+4 with rolls of 2.  Damage.
17:01, Today: Greyband rolled 22 using 1d20+4 with rolls of 18.  Running attack on the Shadow Lord!!

[Posted by Dungeon Master.]

Windor joins his companions in rushing the sorcerer, swinging at the cloaked figure with his mace.

19:52, Today: Dungeon Master, on behalf of Windor Moonwrought, rolled 5 using 1d20+3.  Attack - Mace.

[Posted by Dungeon Master.]

Dimitri also attacks the sorcerer, roaring a battle cry as he tries to find the evasive magician with his blade.

19:53, Today: Dungeon Master, on behalf of Dimitri Reznov, rolled 5 using 1d20+2.  Attack - Sword.

Killian, still fighting back the pain from the hellhound’s flames, shifts his attention to the Denagothian warrior. As the black armored soldier moves to strike at Renia again, Killian stabs at the axe wielder’s flank, landing a solid strike on his ribs.

19:53, Today: Killian Hawkfire rolled 22 using 1d20+4.  Attack - Spear.

19:54, Today: Killian Hawkfire rolled 5 using 1d6+4.  Damage - Spear.

Renia swipes at the black armored warrior with her blade, but her foe is able to block the swing with the head of his axe.

19:54, Today: Killian Hawkfire rolled 5 using 1d6+4.  Damage - Spear.

Jarder’s dagger destroys the last of the fell sorcerer’s duplicates, the illusion shattering into quickly fading fragments of light.

Neuken’s dagger opens a gash on the Shadow Lord’s jaw. The spellcaster reels from the attack, narrowly avoiding blows from Orin, Windor, and Dimitri. Greyband’s sword, however, finds its target, opening a searing wound across the magician’s chest. The Shadow Lord cries out in agony, barely able to remain on his feet.

Staggering backwards, the sorcerer gives a brief, regretful look at the Elvenstar, which lies out of reach several paces away. Returning his attention to his attackers, he scowls hatefully, spitting out a few venomous words of defiance. ”This is not the end.”

The ring on his left hand suddenly blazes with crackling energy. The Shadow Lord mutters a guttural phrase and, within the blink of an eye, the blue tinged luminescence envelops him. An instant later, both the searing light and the sorcerer vanish from sight.

The Denagothian snarls a curse as Killian stabs him. He he responds with an overhead swing, landing a crushing blow on the elven warrior’s chest.

20:23, Today: Dungeon Master rolled 20 using 1d20.  Attack - Battleaxe.

20:23, Today: Dungeon Master rolled 8 using 1d8.  Damage.

---

20:41, Today: Dungeon Master rolled 5 using 1d6.  Initiative - Party.

20:42, Today: Dungeon Master rolled 2 using 1d6.  Initiative- Denagothian Warrior.

The party wins initiative. The black armored warrior is the only remaining foe within the chamber.

“Your boss is dead and your Bad Guy benefits have been cancelled.  Surrender now, before I turn you into a nasty little frog with warts!”

As if to reinforce Neuken's threat, Hornet whizzes past the captain's ear before reversing its direction and returning to Jarder's hand.

Even in the chaos of battle, Jarder wonders, How far could have the fiend teleported? Out of this room, no mistake.

11:55, Today: Jarder Mehro rolled 9,6 using d20+5,d4+3.  ranged v captain.
Miss.

Greyband advances and waits for the man's answer, prepared to press the attack when he is ready.

Move over to the black-armored man. If he doesn't surrender, Greyband attacks and misses him.
12:40, Today: Greyband rolled 9 using 1d20+4 with rolls of 5.  Attack the black-armored.

Orin joined in, adding to the circle of enemies gathered around the black armored warrior.  Like Greyband he paused to see if the Denagothian would surrender; if not he whirled his hammer and gave no mercy.


OOC:

19:43, Today: Orin Starshine rolled 11 using 1d20+3 ((8)).  Miss.

A charge at the Denagothian, and finally a telling blow!

16:28, Today: Dimitri Reznov rolled 19,7 using d20+2,d6+2 ((17,5)).

Dmitri lands a heavy blow on the Denagothian warrior, the strike powerful enough to crack the man’s breastplate. Staggering backward, the soldier hears Neuken’s call for his surrender as several of the adventurers advance toward him and Jarder’s dagger slices past his head. He takes only a moment to consider before casting his battleaxe onto the stone floor and kicking it out of reach, raising his hands with his palms open.

Near the table it had fallen from, the Elvenstar glows with a soft blue light.

OOC: Combat over.

Greyband wastes no time grabbing the Elvenstar with his gauntleted hands and, if he is able, putting it in his backpack!

Jarder takes a few moments to collect himself with the battle done and the foes fled or vanquished. His breathing slows and his sweat cools.

"That's more than half the job done, now, I reckon," he observes with Greyband having secured the Elvenstar.

As he conducts a proper search of the Shadow Lord's (former?) lair, he asks if there might be a shortcut back, one that skips the swamps entirely.

Windor knelt and offered a prayer to Shul, expressing gratitude for the Moon God's help and protection. Though depleted in his daily allocation of divine power, the veteran cleric did his best to patch up his wounded companions.

"I suppose that Dragon we blew up is not currently guarding it's lair... might be worth a trip up into the mountains."

"And I'd sure like to put this mace in the face of that coward who just fled. Once we return the stone, I propose we do some hunting..."

"Da, I am all for hunting down the magically poofing coward. But first I am in need of healing by cleric. And preferably, an new tunic not soaked in blood and singed on edges like rag of old lady in castle kitchen."

The Elvenstar secured, the adventurers take their leave of Gereth Minar, the once forbidding tower now reduced to a virtual ruin, any lingering guardians who survived its near collapse having abandoned it. Outside of the tower’s gate, the poisonous yellow fog that once rendered the land around Gereth Minar impassible has lifted, all traces of the venomous fumes gone.

The lower half of the blue dragon still lies where it landed, the toe of one of its feet still twitching sporadically. Despite the yellow mist having cleared, the adventurers can see no sign of the great reptile’s upper body. They can only presume that it has been blasted a great distance away, or that the explosion was so powerful that it ceased to exist altogether.

The adventurers encounter no resistance as they journey back through the Forest of Lothenar and the rocky plains south of it. Occasionally, they sight small groups of Denagothian soldiers traveling east or westward. Although the warriors still ride in formation, many have scraped the Denagothian crest from their shields and armor. Clearly, they are fleeing from their former homeland, leaving as quickly as they can manage.

The border town of Geron is oddly subdued, many of the residents going about their business furtively, their faces pinched with a lingering fear. Here and there, the group overhear whispers of a curse. At first, the adventurers guess that the discomforting atmosphere might be attributable to the closure of the nearby Temple of Idris, which they learn has sat abandoned since the disappearance of the High Priest. However, the true reason is revealed to them in the evening, as they share a mug of ale with Sean, the trapper and Wendarian spy, at the Beggar’s Roost Inn.

The following morning, the party rides out to the Denagothian army camp outside of the village, to verify Sean’s story with their own eyes. It is just as the spy said. Every Denagothian soldier, from Captain Benar to the lowliest cook has been turned to stone. Every. Single. One. The silent campsite makes for an eerie spectacle, unmoving statues scattered throughout the rows of ragged tents, many bearing expressions of shock or horror.

Although the cloud giant would doubtlessly allow the party to use the pathway which is overlooked by his tower once more, the adventurers elect to travel the main road, though the pass that was once watched by the blue dragon. Unsurprisingly, the guard post is entirely abandoned. Pausing in their journey to search the area, the explorers find a hidden stash of the slain reptile’s treasure, a heady collection of gold and gems. Within the small hoard are a handful of objects: weapons, wands, and staves which the party suspects are enchanted.

Of the Shadow Lord, the adventurers find no sign. The sorcerer, if he still lives, has fled to a far country.

The party finds Wendar different than it was during their first visit. Fields that had stood neglected have been worked again, the first sprouts of healthy crops just pushing their way though the soil. The drought that had afflicted the valley kingdom has seemingly abated. Around the Citadel, the people present are smiling, the mood of those gathered on the castle grounds and within it one of hope. Even the guards can be heard exchanging jokes and sharing soldiers’ tales.

King Gylharen welcomes the adventurers as heroes, though he is sober to learn of the loss of Patch, Jayanti, and Zinnelis. The King promises that the fallen will be honored throughout the kingdom, their sacrifice recorded by scribes. He assures the party that the financial reward that will be bestowed upon them will be commiserate with the great courage that they have demonstrated.

The Elvenstar has glowed brighter and brighter the nearer it has been brought to its rightful place. In the high tower of the Citadel, it is replaced on the pedestal that has served as its home since it was gifted to Wendar. Once there, the stone’s bright blue light shines through each of the tower’s wide windows, gradually filling the sky which overlooks the valley with a faint, but visible shimmering. The sight serves to assure all of the Wendarians that peace and protection have been restored to their home.