Master of the Outer Fane

1st - 2nd Day of Coldeven, CY 592

The Guardian
Vannay placed a force wall blocking the guardian from advancing, and this allowed us to prepare ourselves before engaging the eviscerator.  Once Vannay dismissed the wall, Creden and Delvanos pummeled it.  Safadin was able to finish it off by blasting a hole straight through the middle of it.  Uthgar and Creden pried Tulian’s Eye out, and Vannay examined it briefly after noticing a necromantic aura on it.  

It was decided that we should take it to the Khannenhelms right away.  Vannay, Creden, Uthgar and the two dwarves teleported to the Lortmils, while Safadin, Victor, Delvanos and the human slaves went to Verbobonc.

The Lortmils
Uthgar was given a heroes welcome upon returning home.  King Redogon was pleased that the final relic was recovered from Kuluth Dun.  We found out that Iuz has launched an attack on the Flare Line, but the dwarves are not going to give aid right away.  Some agents of Iuz had been in contact with the White and the giant clans, and Redogon believes that if the dwarves were to leave the mountains, an attack might happen.  Vannay offered some future help against the problem with the ancient wyrm.  Redogon did not seem anxious to accept outside help, but he did seem to realize that the problem may be too big for the dwarves to handle.  A feast was held that night, and some food for Creden and Vannay was brought up.  The dwarves were happy to take in the last two remaining dwarves of the Saltheart Clan.

Verbobonc
The city was ablaze with news of the attack on Furyondy by Iuz the previous day.  The party spent much of the day gathering information about the nature of the attack.  Victor spoke with Andre, High Priest of Kord, about the future war.  He implored the Kordites to send an envoy to Furyondy to give aid.  Even though Iuz’s assault seemed beaten back, Victor believed that it was likely just a feint to spread the army out.  Andre appreciated Victor’s counsel, and he agreed that it was the best course of action.  The priest also spoke of a shadow lord known as Lord Noct, who had joined Iuz’s inner circle following the Flight of Fiends.  Victor spent a few hours training with the younger Sacred Fists before returning to the Rook’s Cove.

Upon hearing about Lord Noct, Delvanos’ linguistic skills helped sort out who the creature might be.  In the infernal tongue, "noct" means night.  Safadin’s knowledge came into play, and he surmised that a shadow lord whose name meant night, could mean a nightshade.  He did not know much about them except they are one of the most powerful of the undead.  Vannay later agreed with Safadin’s reasoning.

Bait and Trap
The next day we returned to the dwarven temple in the ridge mines.  Vannay’s divination ward alerted us to the presence of a scrying sensor on Delvanos.  This was the opportunity for which we had been waiting.  We wished to draw Hedrack out by feigning weakness.  Delvanos and Uthgar put on a show for scrying sensor.  The had an argument about what to do with Tulian’s Eye, and Uthgar refused to accept anything but immediately returning it to his home.  Delvanos said splitting the party up was a bad idea, but he knew that Uthgar would not be moved.  While this ruse was underway, Vannay began casting his own divination to monitor the entrance to the dwarven temple.  We all made our way back to the temple, and we made sure that the sensor did not reveal that we were all present.  The trap was set.  A clairvoyance sensor was placed near the temple entrance, and we began preparing some long duration spells for the attack.

The Trap is Sprung
The plan hinged on the belief that Hedrack lacked the means to teleport to the dwarven temple.  The sensor would alert us to his presence with enough time to finish our preparations.  Hedrack and anyone with him would find a much different situation than he planned on.  On all points, we were gravely mistaken.

Hedrack, Thrommel and the glabrezu, Infinitus appeared teleported directly into the temple right next to Delvanos.  Hedrack congratulated us on the amount of destruction we had levied thus far, but said that our time was up.  In addition to the malevolent darkness encircling him, he had a strange pallor of death about him.  Fragarach spoke to Thrommel directly saying that it was not the time, but soon they must speak.

Thrommel closed with Delvanos killing him with two quick slashes with his great sword, which channeled his energy drain ability.  Hedrack turned to Victor saying that no matter what happened in the battle, Victor would not be leaving.  He cast dimensional anchor.  Vannay split Hedrack and Thrommel off from the rest of the room with a well placed force wall.  This gave us a chance to prepare, and Creden and Victor cast buffing spells.  Uthgar closed with Infinitus dealing a good blow.  Infinitus spoke a single word and Vannay was stunned.  Safadin attempted to disintegrate the glabrezu, but it shrugged off most of the damage.

Victor began grappling the demon, but the demon teleported out of his grasp and appeared next to Safadin.  Thrommel moved towards Creden, and after Hedrack disintegrated the wall of force, the fallen prince attacked.  Creden was prepared for it though with a death ward.  Safadin teleported himself and Vannay to relative safety away from the demon.  Uthgar closed with Thrommel.

The situation after two rounds was as follows:  Creden and Uthgar were right next to Thrommel waiting for the chance to defeat him.  Victor was preparing to close with Hedrack using a silence and grapple combination.  Vannay was still stunned, but he and Safadin were safely away from Infinitus.

We have been in battles like this before.  The beginning looks dangerous, but the tide turns after a few rounds.  Was today going to be any different?  The answer would have to wait.