Session+101

**Session 101** **3-4-2017**  **Discussions of War and Crashing Bits of a Hell Plane**

Having returned from Arvandor, Erevin and the others were ushered into the palace by Eltrue and Horitsu. Chanting could be heard in the crowds around them of Erevin's name among shouts of joy, "Corellion is with us!", "He has pleased Corellion!", "Now is the time! Kill the drow! Revenge for their attack upon us!" Erevin nodded to them proudly, "My people!"

The companions returned to the luxurious rooms they had spent many a night in, resting for the night and healing their wounds. Erevin took his mother aside, telling her of the strange vision he had had of elves seemingly being born from his tears much like the story of Corellion. She didn't know what to make of the vision other than telling him it sounded like the mythic tale of how the elves here came to be born when the blood of Corellion fell like rain... when he had fought Grumish many millennia ago. "Perhaps it simply means that Lionspaw blood flows in a race of elves somewhere else... I do not recognize that world you described."

In the morning they joined together at a large breakfast table... a few people were out in the hall, peeking in to get a glimpse at their returning heroic prince. He winked at one of them, "It is still me... though I may have walked among the gods... I am still just an elf." The group could here whispers and giggling still coming from the halls. Erevin frowned at the rather bland food on his plate, "Did they change something?" Wren and Thorn sighed and shook their heads, "Nope... it seems it's just us. Welcome to the party." Posy, Mali , and the others gobbled it up, it tasted fine to them.

A young elven squire came up to the elven prince, stumbling over his own words, "If it pleases you my lord... your highness... my lordship... I..." he frowned, finally looking at Erevin with exasperation, "I don't know what to call you." Erevin smiled, setting a calming hand on the squire, "Erevin is fine." "Lord... Lord High Erevin," he nodded. The elven ranger shook his head, "Just Erevin is fine." But the squire continued on, unmoved in Erevin's plea for a lack of titles, "Your mother has convened a council and wishes to speak with you... after you have finished your breakfast." Erevin nodded, "Thank you." "No, no," the squire bowed a few times as he backed up, "Thank YOU... for speaking with me."

The companions walked to a chamber off of the throne room to find Eltrue, Horitsu, and Attalicus. "M'lords, Mother," Erevin nodded to them in greeting. "My son, and his companions," Horitsu welcomed them in, "I have called this council to perhaps aid you in your next endeavor... or at least find out what your plans are... Attalicus has some ill news as well." She gestured to the mage.

Attalicus nodded, addressing the group, "I have heard many disturbing things in the past few weeks. I am in contact with the towers of other elven communities here in the realms..." He pointed out cities on a great map, "Myth Drannor, Evereska, Sun's Heart, and Evermeet. In our communications we have found out that the world stirs..."

Attalicus gestured on the map, "For Myth Drannor, we have heard that Hillsfar, a human city to the north that once was ruled from the shadows of the elven court had thrown off that yoke and exiled all elves years ago. You will only find humans in that city. We've heard that they have been building up their forces... we believe in part from Zhentil Keep where they worship Bane and are led by a tyrant known as Manshoon . We know that Zhentil Keep has been sending Hillsfar money and advisors. Where they seen the Cormanthor forest as only a place of demon hauntings with nothing to be gained before... now that the elves have returned, there is magic and wealth to be had there. We are not sure of their goal yet... it could simply be 'Kill the elves because they oppressed us.' But whatever their goal, Zhentil Keep is probably behind it. Bane is the god of tyranny and strife and this would suit his purpose to cause that. There is nothing major there yet... but it builds."

The grand mage moved his hand slightly to the southwest, "The elves in Myth Drannor have also said that orcs and goblins from the north have been invading in Cormyr." "Is that uncommon?" Erevin asked. "Cormyr is a very militarized and stable country. It is certainly not common. While I've no doubt that the orcs and goblins will be dealt with eventually... there could be something more instigating the conflict," Attalicus answered. The group nodded.

The high elven mage moved his hand along the map far to the south east, "From our contacts in the Yuirwood, where the star elves there are elves from another plane... They have said that Thay is once again on the move... sending gnolls and undead into the Yuirwood."

He moved his hand south across the sea, "From the far south the elves have very little sway, but we have heard that there is civil unrest down in Chessenta . Their king is dead and now the people fight among themselves."

He pointed to the Graycloak Hills area far to the west, "From the Marsh of Chelimber, trolls have been trying to pierce the fog that hides the elves in Evereska ." "What would drive the trolls to do such a thing?" Erevin asked. "We do not know," Attalicus shook his head, "The trolls have not been communicative."

Attalicus moved along to the west and the north, "FromThe Serpent in Waterdeep we have heard that in the islands of Norland are nordic reaver pirates who have been attacking the merchant trade in the sea between Evermeet and Waterdeep much more than usual."

He pointed to the north, "And we have new agents in Vaasa that have informed us that a lieutenant of the lich king is attempting to regather the remnants that were once scattered decades ago... They are trying to rebuild. Nothing has happened so far, but the forces have been observed gathering. I'm sure it wont be long before they plunge into the new settlements that have formed there."

He turned to the group, "I am sure there are other strife going on in the world as well, but those are what come to our ears from our agents." "And even here," Horitsu added in, "Since you have returned last night... there have been calls of revenge ever since the drow attacked our forest with their vampires and magma dragons, but they were few... but now that you have returned, many feel that Corellion has blessed us and given us a sign that we should end that threat once and for all." Erevin smiled, "I assure you that Corellion did not talk of any such plan to me."

Attalicus nodded, "I thought that these events would be of interest to you all because if you wish to find a path for your Littlest Bear to the plane of war where her god resides... you shall have to find a war."

Mali blinked her eyes in surprise, "The plane of war? That sounds awful!"  "We have to start a war?" Posy asked. "We don't have to **start** one... we just have to **finish** one," Erevin smiled, his voice a little sinister. Posy turned to face the elven prince directly, her head tilted, "Is our war going to be killing the drow then?" "Yes," he answered quickly. "How many do we have to kill?" the little gnome asked casually. "All of them!" Erevin answered with delight. "Okay... where do we have to go first?" Posy agreed easily. Erevin embraced her with an arm around her shoulders proudly, "That's my girl!" As the two talked about it, it began to sound better and better to them... "Yes!" Posy could feel the drum of war beating in her heart.

"Whoa, whoa you guys... we don't have to go starting a war. It sounds like there are a lot of other troubles going on," Wren tried to calm them. "We **didn't** start this war," Erevin disagreed, his voice getting more adamant as he went on, "**They** started it. They kicked in the doors of our h**ome** and **killed** innocent people! There is no measure as to how hard and how fast I will bring this fight to their doorstep!!!" "But Erevin, there are trolls attacking Evereska..." Wren disagreed, feeling that the threat of the drow who had already been defeated ranked lower than the threats coming in elsewhere. "Evereska is practically on the other side of the world," Erevin disagreed, "These people are here on our doorstep." "But they are our people... We have to defend The People!" Wren tried to reason with him. "Right!" Erevin nodded, thinking of their people in Myth Coramanth and the vengeance that had been building in him for so long against the drow. "We should defend **these** people first," Posy agreed with Erevin. "But we don't need to stir up a war that has already calmed down. We need to go to war with attacks that are currently going on," the young witch disagreed again.

Erevin and Posy had a haze over their eyes, fully ready to jump into war against the drow... the argument only fueling the drums in their head. Wren sighed and looked to Thorn and Mali, "How are you feeling about this?" Thorn shrugged, "Eh, they might have treasure..." Erevin turned to the young halfling, seeing an easy opportunity to pull him in, "It's a dragon's hoard! Imagine the treasure!" Thorn pondered the idea a little more seriously... the drow palace was in the volcano with Magmadon, "Well if I can profit from it, I'm in." "We owe him a death anyway," Erevin turned back to Wren. The elven witch sighed, nodding, "It's true... We do owe him a death." "There you go!" Erevin cheered, turning back to Posy, "Wren's in!" "But... there is still so much going on in the rest of the world," Wren added in one more time. "No buts," Posy shook her head.

Erevin turned to Mali, "How much can you control the earth... What I'd like to do is get you underground... to crack the earth beneath the Moonsea and drain it into the underdark!" "Yikes!" Wren shook her head, "People rely on that water... think of all of the creatures that live in it!" "It's just a **little** ocean... more like a lake," Posy tried to assure her. "It's a sea," Erevin corrected her. Posy stared at him, elbowing him, "I was trying to make it sound better." He nodded to her, turning back to Wren, "It's a pond... a puddle" "A fishing pond," Thorn agreed, "Just a little dried up creek." Wren shook her head.

WIth their heated discussions calming, Attalicus rejoined the talk, pointing again to the map, "I've also spoken to folks from Lyrabar. The druid that you aided before with the fungus in the Forest of Lethyr . The High Druid has contacted us and said for the aid that we gave to them, they have spoken with Sylvanus and Mielikki and they will conduct the ceremony that will transport you to her realm for your druidess." He gestured at Mali. "That is great news," Wren nodded to him, "It is nice to have an in." Mali agreed. "So it is up to you all as to where you go from here," Attalicus nodded.

All of Erevin's talk of war had Posy fired up, "I say we go to war with the drow!" "Even you must want some bit of revenge against that dragon," Erevin turned to Wren. "Of course I do," the young witch answered, visions of what he had done to Raven and to her home heavy in her mind, "I harbor it right here." She held her hand in a fist over her heart, "I have a lot of hate for that particular dragon." "We're going to need a lot of bags of holding," Thorn broke in, starting to plan. Erevin turned to him, nodding, "To loot an entire drow city and a dragon's hoard." "Yes! Exactly," Thorn nodded. "I happen to know a magic shop that would be happy to take our money in exchange for some new magic bags, I'm sure," Wren nodded, "And I've been learning a new spell... one that will open a teleportation pad from one destination to another and allow unlimited people to go through it over about a three hour period." "Wow!" Erevin turned to her, his eyes lighting up, "We could move a whole army that way! Right into their city!"

Wren could hear drums beating in her heart at the thought of giving that dragon what he had coming to him, but she was able to keep control over her own will.... and yet there was definitely some sort of outside influence... she could feel it. It tasted like war. She began to regret mentioning the new spell. She gestured at a symbol of Tempus gleaming around Posy's neck, "I think his divinity is hanging in the air around us." Mali nodded in agreement, "Perhaps the war in heaven has fueled Tempus and it's causing wars to break out down here in our realm. Certainly Tempus wouldn't be opposed to gaining more power... I wonder now if Grumish might've even been influenced by Tempus to go to war." "Grumish has always been a fool," Erevin nodded, "And I am not opposed to going to help any one of the goings on around us... but as I see it, the drow have blackened the eye of Myth Coramanth and we have yet to return it." "I'm ready," Thorn shrugged, adding items to his checklist. Erevin nodded to him, "That dragon was recently married and received several gifts from other dragons." Posy turned to Wren, "There might even be more elven children we have to rescue." "Fine," Wren finally conceded to her gnome companion, feeling the weight of the pull on her heartstrings, "We'll go to war with Magmadon and the drow."

"You are the blessed of Corellion, my son," Horitsu nodded to Erevin, "I shall inform the people. They shall make ready." "But how do you really feel about this as queen," Wren turned to her, "If we don't take out all of the drow, it's obviously going to stir up trouble again here." "We will never take out all of the drow," Erevin shook his head, "Unless they let me go..." He seemed fully convinced that he alone could take on the underdark if the leashes of responsibility weren't holding him back. Wren shook her head at him, "While I've always believed in your abilities... you're not **that** mythic, Erevin... You've only been blessed with a drop."

Eltrue bowed to Horitsu, "I have preparations to make as well." "If I could offer a recommendation," Erevin addressed his mother as well as her right and left hands, "I would send Shadowfall to this Zhentil Keep to see what she can find out about who is pulling the strings. She is capable." "I will ask it of her," Eltrue nodded, "It is not an easy thing to ask as the high seat of Bane is a dangerous place." "Tell her not to interact... simply observe," Erevin nodded, "We wouldn't want it to cost our... agents." "She is a capable spy," Horitsu nodded. "I'm certain that Myth Drannor will lend her aid if they can," Erevin nodded, "Having only begun to rebuild, they will want to thwart an attack, I'm sure."

"I just don't want to see any of these places fall because we didn't go there," Wren frowned. "If we never ask, we'll never know," Posy shrugged. "So there wouldn't be any guilt there... but they would have still fallen," Wren insisted. "I am sure that Cormyr is well within its own capabilities to thwart some orc attacks," Erevin assured her. "Besides we can't go to ALL of the places," Posy tried to assure her, "Any of them could fall because we went to a different one." Wren nodded to her, "That's true."

Thorn was adding to his checklist, "I'm going to need a horse and wagon too...those big bags of holding are heavy at 60lbs each... and expensive at 10,000 gold for a large bag!" "We can probably go back to get more," Posy tried to assure him. "There wont be any time for that... We're going to go from this war into your god's realm," Thorn shook his head, "We need to be ready for an in and out." It was true... odds were good that they were going to be engaged in war when they would enter the plane of war. "Wait... We're going to leave in the middle of the war... abandoning everyone there?" Mali blinked, taking in what Thorn had said. "So maybe it isn't wise to go to battle with Magmadon and the drow if we're not going to be there for it," Wren frowned. Thorn looked up from his checklist, "So... no dragon hoard?" "I'm sorry," Posy laid a hand on his shoulder. "On the other hand, if we're going to leave from the battle... then perhaps starting our own war may be the most controlled," Kale piped in. Thorn stopped crumpling his list and smoothed it back out. "As far as we know we wont be able to control the circumstances of when we leave though," Erevin frowned, mulling the thought over in his head.

"Perhaps you should find out more about that," Attalicus offered, turning to Posy, "Do you have a contact with a high priest of your faith?" "We'll need one who has been to war. Not someone from some temple who hasn't been to war in years... what would they know?" Erevin grumbled, feeling the deep pull of war in his veins. Uther nodded to Posy, "There is Father. He is the closest to Tempus in our tribe. Perhaps he would know something more." "It would certainly be wise to consult him before we go to war," Wren nodded, "Think of it as war planning." "Fine," Posy nodded, "Everyone get your furs on." The group sent Azarius with Uther and Ursus to teleport to the arctic north to bring back Uthgarte while they gathered items and prepared for battle.

The group headed to the elven blacksmith to pick up their mithril orders. Wren helped Inali into her new enchanted tiny mithril elven chain shirt. "I feel so shiny!" Inali turned around with delight, as the armor transformed to fit her kitsune form, "Look at my belly button!" Wren laughed, "Shiny is a good look for you." Posy and Thorn sold their pieces of the mithril to the blacksmith. Erevin handed his order of mithril elven chain to Shri, custom fit for the drow priestess.

Heading into the local magic shop, Erevin and Wren each bought one of the largest bags of holding. Eyes widened by the weight, Wren stared at the empty bag in her hands. Kale laughed, leaning against her, "Would you like me to carry that for you?" "Yes, please! My strong handsome man," the young elven witch handed him the bag, "Thank you!" "It's going to cost you later," he winked at her. She laughed, "Mythic." "It has been mythic," he nodded, agreeing with her.

Thorn bought several items, handing the clerk a list of antitoxins, alchemist fire, sunrods, healing potions, and all of the reduce person potions the shop had. "Sir, if you don't mind my saying so," the clerk looked down at him, "You seem rather short already. Why would you want to be shorter? Or is this perhaps a gift for someone else? Shall I have them wrapped?" "No, no," Thorn shook his head, "If you must know... I'm into some kinky shit." "Well we don't discriminate here," the magic shop owner nodded, "Don't ask, don't tell." Thorn bought a medium bag of holding as well and handed his to Posy. "What am I supposed to do with this?" she looked at him with a frown, "What about my own stuff?" "I'll pay you to carry it," he shrugged, handing her 5 gold. "Melleron could carry them too," Mali offered, petting the tiny lion in her arms, "I'll take one of the large bags too... and some potions." Thorn stepped back up to the counter, "Oh, and one potion of ant haul please."

Later in the day, the group seen that crowds of elves were streaming toward the palace where they gathered. "Lady Lionspaw is going to make an announcement," one of them was saying to another. Several whispers of, "Are we going to attack the drow?" could be heard filtering through the crowd.

The group headed to the palace after shopping to see a large crowd gathered around it. Horitsu stepped onto the balcony flanked to her right was Eltrue, dressed in his shiny elven armor. On her left Attalicus wove a magical gesture that made the queen's voice carry over the crowd. "Thank you, my people, for coming today. As you have no doubt seen for yourselves, my son Erevin has returned from Arvandor itself after meeting the Seldarine and the great Corellion himself," she started out, "He and his companions have returned, and the blessings of the gods are now upon him." Echoes of roaring cheers could be heard. "The drow have attacked our people with nothing but malice and hate in their hearts... They sacrificed their own dark souls just to strike at us... trying to infect us with the foul taint of undead!" She continued, "But with the help of Lyrabar, Damara, my son, and his companions... we were able to defeat them, staking their defiled bodies in the sunlight! And yet the foul perpetrator... a dragon known as Magmadon, and some of his drow escaped! Will we let this affront go unpunished?" "Noooo!" the gathered people answered her.

Posy started the stomping, getting the people even more fired up. "Then we shall teach them a lesson that they shall never forget," Horitsu continued on, "We shall cleanse this blight upon the surface world, sending them back to the Underdark where they belong! Erevin himself has offered to lead the charge with his companions... with the magical assistance of the White Tower and Raven's Nest." The cheering and shouting was thunderous in the crowds below. "Now... this ancient foe is dangerous... So I shall ask for volunteers to aid Erevin in this assault," Horitsu barely got out her words before a ringing, "We will go!" answered her from the crowds. "Then prepare yourselves. Plans are being made," she nodded, "We shall march soon and put an end to this threat once and for all." "Lionspaw! Lionspaw! Lionspaw!" the crowd chanted the name over and over among thunderous stomping and clapping. "We're going to war," Erevin smiled at his companions, "They'll never see us coming."

Elves were pulling out armor and weapons that they hadn't used in years, but they donned it all and practiced in the yard. Eltrue was whipping them into shape and giving out approvals. The following day Azarius returned with Ursus, Uther, and their father Uthgart. The three barbarians looked a little hungover upon arrival. "Has the sun always been so bright here in the elven lands?" Uthgart greeted them, shielding his eyes. "Yes," Erevin nodded, flashing a wide grin. The elder barbarian nodded, "Oh good, it isn't just me then." The group greeted them warmly. "After discussing things last night with my sons... over perhaps a few ales," Uthgart addressed them, "I had a vision... sent to me by Tempus himself. He knows what you require, and he has sent me to aid you in this quest. I can open up the portal to his plane if I can gather enough energy released by violence and bloodshed. The power of war! My sons said you had some target in mind?" "You will have your war," Erevin nodded. "Yes, and it will be bloody," Posy added beside him. "Aye, you made a good choice, son," Uthgart nodded as he patted Uther on the back, "What foes shall we be slaying then?" "Dragons and drow," Erevin answered, "Will this be suitable for Tempus?" "Indeed," the elder clan leader nodded with approval, "I shall be able to open the door long enough for you all to get through... but you will have to find your own way back." Wren nodded, handing Inali a slip of paper with spells that she would need to prep to be ready, "We'll need to purchase a few scrolls just in case." The little black fox nodded to her.

Horitsu, Eltrue, and Attalicus reconvened with the group in the war room. "Do you need to contact the dwarves?" Eltrue asked, "Clan Eisenhammer could have a gryphon sent for you." "No," Erevin shook his head, and gestured toward the witch beside him, "We plan to teleport directly into their city... along with the entire army." "Alright," Eltrue nodded, "When do you plan to conduct this assault? Today? Tomorrow? In a week?" "Tonight," Erevin nodded to him. "Very well. The call will go out," the captain of the guard nodded. "We'll have to put that dragon down as fast as possible," Erevin looked at his companions. Posy hefted her hearth hammer and nodded, "I'm ready." "With Tempus and Corellion's blessings, hopefully we will make short work of this," Erevin nodded. "Let it be so," Eltrue agreed.

As they stood in the war room, the palace shook as though from a great explosion! Posy and Maliumpkin tumbled to the ground as the others barely maintained their footing. Attalicus clutched his head. Wren felt the same spike of pain in her own head as something horrible ripped through the realm! "The sky! The sky!" shouts could be heard from outside as the group raced to windows and balconies to look out. The horizon to the east-northeast was lined in red! Nothing typically lived up in the cold tundra except for a couple of nomadic tribal clans. After a moment, they could see streaks across the sky from that area, scattering in different directions. One came into the Rawlingswood, close enough that it looked like an enormous fireball! "Hold that call until we know more. We don't need anything back-dooring the city while we're gone," Erevin spoke to Eltrue before turning to his companions, "Let's go."

Erevin gave Azarius the information of a ranger house in the east closer to where the Rotting Man once was, and the sorcerer easily dropped them off there. There was a ranger guard stationed in the house who was obviously still in shock from the event, "Did you see?! Did you see it?!" "Easy," Erevin tried to calm him, "Where did it land?" The young ranger pointed to the east, "I'm guessing about 10 miles that way." Erevin nodded, moving up to see a plume off in the distance.

The group moved quickly over the ground, Thorn and Mali riding on the back of Melleron, until they reached the area about an hour later. The forest was thick and overgrown with some rotted trees lying on the ground. Dead trees still stood, but new ones were growing. The ground beneath their feet felt soft from the rotted wood as bugs crawled over their feet. Wren immediately took to the air, shaking off her boots. The smell of smoke hung in the forest. As they moved over a hill, they could see a crater-like impact into the ground with a ring of trees and brush on fire around it. Smoke was heavy from the ground being so wet and the fire trying to burn. A pool of bubbling lava was at the center of the crater, and several demons were walking around in it. Wren's eyes widened, "They're both demons and devils from different areas of one of the Hell planes... they're normally violently opposed to each other... they must have been fighting as well... it seems that the war in the heavens isn't the only one spilling over into our plane." Some of the demons and devils had a few still-healing wounds and scars, but most had regeneration so the wounds were few. All of them looked bewildered to be there. One of the bone devils was pointing at random birds, burning them with fire to its great delight. In the center, Gary the baylor (demon) was having a heated discussion with Helga the pit fiend (devil). Three greater demons seemed to give Gary's demon side the upperhand against the two bone devils and several small devils on Helga's side. Wren informed them that most of the creatures there were immune or resistant to several forms of magic and required weapons of cold iron or good to hurt them fully. "If they're against each other... We need to get them fighting, leaving the rest for us," Thorn suggested as he looked over the hill at the considerable force below them. Erevin nodded his agreement, "It's true. To attack them now would likely unite them."

One of the bone devils was spearing woodland fauna with its barbed tail. Erevin snuck around to send a brilliant energy arrow into Boarchaps the nalfeshnee as though it had come from the bone devil. The demon turned around angrily, muttering something in infernal toward the bone devil who paced back and forth with its barbed tail swinging around. Tensions rose as Wolfsbane the glabrezu turned around, taking notice, and the other bone devil moved in to back up his friend. Thorn agreed to sneak in, looking like one of the minor devils, with Mali hiding as a centipede curled around his ear to act as a translator if necessary. Leaving his dagger with Posy as a way out, the halfling rogue drank his adjustable disguise potion, changed into a barbed devil and moved across the field to join the argument side. Boarchaps the nalfeshnee was threatening the two devils, "There are 152 bones in the bone devil, and I'm going to break every one of them!" "Whatever you say little pig," one of the bone devils retorted as the other made oinking sounds. Thorn slipped casually closer, grabbing the bone devil's barbed tail to stab it in the bare butt cheeks of Boarchaps! The nalfeshnee let out a mighty roar, turning toward the bone devil, "What the fuck?!" Thorn elbowed the bone devil, "Come on, big man, we can take him!" Wolfsbane and Boarchaps both seized the moment to smash into the confused bone devil! One of their meaty hands backhanded Thorn in the chaos, sending the halfling tumbling back. The other bone devil dove into the brawl, stabbing into the glabrezu with it's barbed tail! Hedgehog the hezrou took notice and moved to join his demon kindred in the fight as well. Thorn stepped casually back out of the circle, returning to his companions. With hundreds of years of animosity between the two fueling the battle, the field swept with hate and mauling violence as demons and devils went head to head! The companions remained hidden, watching as the bone devils and several minor lemurs and barbed devils fell... and the hezrou fell to the pit fiend, providing an opportunity for the baylor to chop off the head of the pit fiend in a final fatal swing! Wolfsbane, Boarchaps, and Gary were the only ones left standing, covered in ichor and clawmarks, and panting among the scattered corpses.

Before entering battle, Wren gathered her companions and wove a heroic invocation over all of them. Moving up behind the tree line, she sent a wail of the banshee into the center of the crater over the remaining demons. The ear-piercing scream washed over them, and, already heavily wounded, the glabrezu clutched its more sensitive wolf-like ears before its head exploded from the sonic vibration! The other two seemed to shake it off. Before they could react, Erevin stepped forward and shot several holy arrows into Boarchaps to pierce into its chest! With a mighty roar, the nalfeshnee summoned 3 frog demons from his plane. Larry, one of the three, stayed near Boarchaps, looking around while Mo and Curly quickly surrounded Erevin, slashing him with their demon claws! Gary the baylor looked around to spot Thorn and Posy in another line of trees, "Little mortals want to play... Come forth, my concubine!" Suzanne the marilith answered his summons, slithering up between her master and the short folk threat.

Wren pulled a swift cast from Cirdan to put blink on Inali and then transformed into her huge white dragon form as Kale stepped between her and Larry, the frog demon, who was moving toward them. Posy threw her hearth hammer into Suzanne, catching one of her arms. Mali wove a spell, creating two massive stones that slammed together directly catching Gary between them with a mighty grinding clash! The baylor was knocked to the ground by the massive blow, but Suzanne was only clipped by one of the rocks as it charged through.

Thorn quickly ran in, barely slashing the marilith with one of his daggers! Erevin pulled another several holy arrows, shooting 3 massive holes into Curly and sinking 2 heavily into Mo, The two frog demons raked their claws over the elven woodsman, fighting with each other in their attempts to grapple him! Boarchaps quickly charged across the field to bury his claws into Wren's white dragon scales!

Gary got back to his feet, turning around to glare at Mali. A smirk crossed his lips as he wove his magic over the huge lion beside her in an attempt to take control of his mind, but protected by the witch's magic Melleron was fully immune to the charm effects. Suzanne wielded a sword in each of her six arms, cleaving gashes into Thorn several times as he attempted to dodge and weave around her. Her tail then slapped and wrapped around the halfling, clutching him to her! Wren pulled an ill omen spell from Cirdan, weaving it over Larry forcing him to miss one of his attacks against Kale as she leaned closer to bump Erevin, healing some of his wounds with a hex. Kale slashed and pierced his blade into the frog demon.

Posy charged into Suzanne, wielding her hearth hammer to smash into the snakewoman again and again! Covered in blood, Thorn tossed his dagger out into the woods, using Rose to port away from the marilith's squeezing grasp! Mali wove powerful swirling winds around herself, and Melleron leapt over to rake his claws and bite into Larry. Erevin shot another burst of holy arrows into Mo and Curly, sending Curly back to his plane!

Boarchaps bit into one of Wren's wings as he raked his claws against her scales! Suzanne whirled her 6 blades, slashing into Posy several times, and then slapped her with long snake tail, coiling around the little gnome's body! Posy's shirt emitted a burst of fire, but the marilith was fully immune to its effect. With Suzanne holding Posy up in the air, Gary the baylor left gaping slashes across her with his enormous longsword and then lashed her twice with his long flaming whip!

Posy struggled in the squeezing grasp of the snake woman, and healed some of her own wounds Wren blew her cold dragon breath over Boarchaps, finally taking down the greater demon. Surprised that the baylor didn't come for her, Mali began to summon as Melleron and Kale continued to team up on Larry, Still covered in blood, Thorn dashed back in, unable to leave Posy fending for herself against the two. He stabbed into the surprised snake woman multiple times, tearing her open!

Mo clawed and bit into Erevin again before the elven prince stepped back and sent another barrage of arrows into both Mo and Larry, finally dropping them both! "Little nat!" Suzanne cursed at Thorn, tightening her grip around Posy. She nodded to the baylor, "I will let you deal with him, my master." She and Posy vanished from the battlefield as Suzanne ported them high in the sky, slashing the gnome with her blades as they plummeted back toward the ground! Gary pointed at Thorn as the halfling felt a pressure build up inside himself, but the rogue was able to fight it off, "You're stronger than I thought..." Wren moved around the tree line and sent a bolt of cold across the battlefield to blast against Gary. He hadn't seemed to notice the dragon before that.

Posy bit into Suzanne, latching her jaws firmly onto the marilith as they continued to fall toward the ground. 4 large elephants answered the call of the druidess, arriving to surround Gary with thundering feet. Thorn dashed around Gary among the elephants, stabbing and slashing with his two daggers into the baylor's vital spots shocking him with the massive amount of damage! Erevin then moved around the tree line to send a double shot of holy arrows into Gary. The baylor stumbled, shocked that such puny mortals could hurt him... as the mythic elven woodsman fired a third shot that pierced into Gary's throat! Gary exploded, fire showering out from his corpse in all directions to wash over everyone around him!

Erevin was instantly washed in fire, stumbling back and barely breathing. The fire caught in the powerful winds whirling around Mali, heavily burning the halfling within! High in the sky and plummeting to the ground, Posy could see the bursting sphere of fire glow below her. Embers glowed in the surrounding trees. Suzanne screamed and vanished, likely following the master who had summoned her, leaving Posy to continue to fall alone.

Far enough away to avoid the flames, and unable to locate her barbarian friend, Wren faded back to her elven form and broke the charm around her wrist to instantly summon Posy beside her... in a hurtling rush, Posy found the ground instantly below her with a heavy thump! Easing the distance of falling, the young gnome was easily able to handle the impact. The young witch gasped as her friend impacted the ground in front of her, and quickly offered her a hand up, "Posy! Are you alright? Where were you?" The red haired gnome nodded and stood back up, taking in the sight of no remaining demons and her severely injured companions... Despite their grave wounds, everyone was accounted for and still alive... With the battle seeming to be over, Shri, Mali, and Wren all began healing everyone quickly.

Erevin looked around at the blackened skeletal trees surrounding them in horror as he turned back to the rest of the group, "How many of these fell to the surface realm?" Posy shook her head, "A lot..." "If there wasn't enough chaos going on before... there is now," the elven prince shook his head. Heavily worn from the intense battle that they had barely survived, Thorn nodded his agreement, "I hope they all weren't like this one." "Can you imagine if we had jumped in with the demons and devils uniting?" Erevin shuddered. "We're not leaving for the drow tonight, are we?" Mali looked up at Erevin. He shook his head, "No... we will wait at least one day."

The group returned to tell the story to the eagerly awaiting Horitsu, Attalicus, and Eltrue. "I will have to investigate the origin of this," Attalicus nodded. "Be careful," Erevin warned. "I will," the high mage assured him, genuinely taking the word of caution. "The east may need help... several of these fell out that way," Erevin added, "Though I hope they were not as powerful... I never want to have to see a baylor again." Horitsu looked shaken... if it hadn't been for the powerful group of heroes being there and investigating it... she, Eltrue, and the others wouldn't have been able to take such demons down. The mythal may have been their only hope of surviving. "I'm guessing we will not be leaving tonight?" Eltrue asked. "We will wait at least one day," Erevin nodded.