20021026 AsTheWormTurns

<H1> As the Worm Turns </H1>
<H2> Roll Call </H2>
<TABLE>
<TR>
 <TD> Fingle </TD>
 <TD> 3rd/15th Gnome Cleric/Wizard </TD>
 <TD> Richard Jacobsen </TD>
</TR>
<TR>
 <TD> Estus </TD>
 <TD> 15th Human Cleric </TD>
 <TD> Ray Chiang </TD>
</TR>
<TR>
 <TD> Prince Donner </TD>
 <TD> 6th/13th Human Fighter/Wizard </TD>
 <TD> John Speck </TD>
</TR>
<TR>
 <TD> Borgar </TD>
 <TD> 10th/3rd Dwarven Cleric/Warpriest </TD>
 <TD> Matt Miller </TD>
</TR>
<TR>
 <TD> Grackle </TD>
 <TD> 6th/10th/2nd Half-Elf Fighter/Rogue/Templar </TD>
 <TD> Mark Whisler </TD>
</TR>
<TR>
 <TD> Colin </TD>
 <TD> 16th/2nd Human Fighter/Hospitaler </TD>
 <TD> Jim Yonemura </TD>
</TR>
<TR>
 <TD> Kill'Dar </TD>
 <TD> 16th/3rd Elf Wizard/Fighter </TD>
 <TD> Rick DiRicco </TD>
</TR>
<TR>
 <TD> Auric </TD>
 <TD> 13th (20th CL) Wemic Druid </TD>
 <TD> Keith Farrar (Full Risk, Full Reward) </TD>
</TR>
<TR>
 <TD> Travian </TD>
 <TD> 17th Human Paladin </TD>
 <TD> Robert Giedt (Full Risk, Full Reward) </TD>
</TR>
</TABLE>
<H2> Session Summary </H2>
<B>Round 2 (continued):</B> Colin flies over to the worm and swings his sword several times, wounding it. Estus turns twice, affecting one gaseous vampire. Marta casts two Lightning Bolts on a group of four trolls (including the Avoral Guardinal). Travian flies to the worm and swings four times, hitting thrice (80 pts). Auric readies an action to cast Sunbeam on a vampire if one appears. Donner delays.
<B>Round 3:</B> The Avoral Guardinal prepares Dispel Magic against the hags. Fingle's Simulacrum casts Grease on the area under one of the nearby trolls and Mass Invisibility on the group. Fingle casts a Shadow Evocation (Fireball, 37 pts) on a group of trolls (knocking one unconscious) and follows up with a Greater Shadow Evocation (Cone of Cold, 55 pts). Donner delays until after Kill'Dar. Kill'Dar casts Disintegrate on a nearby small sarcophagus and casts an Empowered Fireball (59 pts) on the same group. Borgar finishes his Blade Barrier (46 pts) spell in the middle of the room, catching several trolls and vampires. He then casts two Searing Light spells and hits a vampire once (42 pts). Donner casts a Wall of Force and quickdraws a Wand of Fireball (5d6, 16 pts) and catches the enemies fighting with Grackle. Grackle attacks the hag, wounding it further. He then turns gaseous and retreats into the mist. The hag closest to Grackle casts Dimension Door. The orc next to it disappears into the mist as well. The other hag casts a spell, and the Avoral attempts to dispel (11th level), but the hag completes her spell. A giant Wall of Stone cuts them off from the rest of the room.<BR />The trolls close with the wall of force, one attacks Colin and hits for 50 pts, and Travian who is missed. The bulette's appear and attacks Borgar twice and Travian. The Nightcrawler stings Travian, then attempts to bite Donner but narrowly misses. Vampires materialize around Colin and Travian and Auric triggers his Sunray which destroys two of them. The Nightshade says telepathically: "If you kill me, my master will come. Tremble mortals." Colin destroys the Nightshade, to everyone's amazement--it dissolves into inky blackness. Fingle shells several trolls with illusionary fireballs. Estus casts True Seeing on Auric and Flame Strike on some vampires (killing one) and a bulette.<BR />Gorath appears (!) in the middle of the Blade Barrier and walks through it. Estus, Auric, Fingle, and Borgar all fail their save vs fascination (DC 27). Gorath casts Disintegrate on the Wall of Force (as a Free Action) and leaps forward and plunges his spear into Kill'Dar (for 95 pts). Travian forces one vampire gaseous and swings and misses a troll. Marta fells two trolls with Lightning Bolts.
		
<B>Round 4:</B>	Kill'Dar uses a Limited Wish and relieves the fascination, freeing Estus, Auric, Fingle, and Borgar, then he reveals that the elves have wishes available for use for the benefit of the race and teleports with Fingle to the elven grove.
<BLOCKQUOTE>
<B>Ents:</B> Your need is dire.
<B>Kill'Dar:</B> What gave me away?
<B>Ents:</B> Your wounds and your appearance here indicate that your need is dire.
<B>Kill'Dar:</B> Yes, an ancient foe has appeared and seeks our destruction.
<B>Ents:</B> Yes, it is time. It was foreseen.
<B>Kill'Dar:</B> (Waits impatiently)
<B>Ents:</B> We knew when the time came, speedy action would be required. Use it well, this is a branch of the World Tree, bestowed upon on after its passing. It holds all the dreams of those before it. Treat it with respect.
</BLOCKQUOTE>
Kill'Dar is handed a tree branch with some leaves. It appears to still be alive.
<BLOCKQUOTE>			 
<B>Ents:</B> The power of the world tree responds only to the people of the trees and only when called for in selfless dire need. Invoke it carefully. It can change the path of the future only thrice. Our wishes go with you.
<B>Fingle:</B> (Teleports back)
</BLOCKQUOTE>
The Avoral does Fear Aura on the bulette, which retreats. Fingle casts Magic Missile on the troll. Grackle turns solid and performs a Spring Attack on Gorath but misses. Donner teleports with Marta and Borgar but is off target and ends up in the Blade Barrier (39 pts). He then casts Magic Missile on a nearby troll (19 pts). The orc shaman steps near Gorath and gains the Unholy Aura. He then casts Harm and touches Auric. The vampires materialize. One troll attacks Grackle and the other moves and attacks Travian. Auric creates another two Sunrays, killing the nearest one and wounding the remaining one. Colin steps up against the Orc shaman and attacks, wounding him, but is blinded by the Unholy Aura. Colin summons the Fire Elemental Prince of the North.
<BLOCKQUOTE>
<B>Kavoradius Jor:</B> "Who summons me? Oh, it is you--my new ally. What do you wish?"
<B>Colin:</B> "Attack my enemies"
<B>Kavoradius Jor:</B> "Who do I spare?"
<B>Colin:</B> "Uh, <begins listing party members>"
<B>Kavoradius Jor:</B> "<Begins recounting.> That's a mighty long list. I hope I can remember it. Time to die!"
</BLOCKQUOTE>
Kavoradius Jor raises his hands at the two nearby trolls attacking Travian and a Flame Strike comes from his hands. He kills both trolls and catches the vampire behind them. Estus moves and casts Heal on Auric and Travian. Gorath concentrates and leaps at Kill'Dar, attacking everyone in the area, killing Marta and Fingle's simulacrum outright and wounding everyone severely. Travian attacks the troll and hits four out of five times, knocking it unconscious (149 hp).
<B>Round 5:</B> Fingle, Kill'Dar, Donner, and Grackle have a mental conversation about how to use the Wish spell. Fingle uses a Limited Wish to cast a Divination to determine how to use Kill'Dar's Wish. 
<BLOCKQUOTE>
Brains over brawn, trick and treat<BR />A magical tongue delivers defeat
</BLOCKQUOTE>
The group determines for Fingle to have the ability to convince Gorath to accept the Stone. Kill'Dar casts the spell out of the limb: "I wish that Fingle would have the ability to convince Gorath to take the stone."
<BLOCKQUOTE>		
<B>Fingle:</B> (Holding out the Sleeper Stone) "O Mighty Gorath, please accept this gem and spare our lives." (Rolls 14 Bluff check)
</BLOCKQUOTE>
Borgar delays. Donner delays. Grackle attacks the nearby vampire, misting it. The orc priest casts Blasphemy and dazes Auric, Travian, and Estus. The troll near Grackle attacks him, hitting once. Donner casts Limited Wish that Estus is not dazed and Estus casts Mass Heal on the group (and heals Colin). The elemental prince kills the orc shaman with a Fire Blast. Gorath says, "I will spare the survivors." and swings at everyone once. He uses his remaining action to finish off Kill'Dar. He then turns to Grackle and says: "Very well, I accept your gift", takes the pearl, and falls asleep. Borgar follows up a CMW on himself and Heal on Donner. Travian finishes off the last troll. Colin sends the Elemental Prince to clear out the rest of Krodol's fortress.
The group destroys the sarcophagi in the room. Meanwhile, sounds of the Fire Elemental prince clearing out the rest of the fortress. Before he leaves, he says: "This has been interesting and trivial. I will ask the same of you". Estus offers to cast a Sending to the King: "Cleared out Krodol's Lair. Elemental has been summoned to clear out rest of fortress. It will destroy everything inside. Will send message when it's safe." The king sends a response: "Not sure I understand. Battle going well. Will stay out."
The group heals themselves and begins sorting out loot:
<UL>
<LI> Each landshark was wearing a magical collar.
<LI> Size Large: 4 Magical Chain Shirts, 4 Suits of Spiked Magical Half Plate
<LI> One suit of large evil magical spiked full plate.
<LI> Three magical greatswords, two magical falchions, three magical longswords
<LI> Evil magical greatsword
<LI> Gorath's items are left alone (Full Plate, Spear)
</UL>
After collecting all the magical loot, the party decides to leave with Gorath's body. Fingle teleports the group and Gorath's body to the Elven Temple at Rillithar.
<BLOCKQUOTE>
<B>Elven Priest:</B> (Pointing at the dead bodies) What is that?
<B>Donner:</B> That's Kill'Dar.
<B>Elven Priest:</B> No, that. (Pointing at Gorath's body) That thing reeks of evil.
<B>Estus:</B> Oh, that's Gorath.
<B>Elven Priest:</B> What?
</BLOCKQUOTE>
All the elves in the temple begin gathering together. Much conversation ensues.
<BLOCKQUOTE>
<B>Elven Priest:</B> (With a note of finality) No, this is not a time to start a Godswar. (Turns to Donner) This is a weighty matter. We will seal him in the secure chambers below until we give the matter more consideration.
<B>Donner:</B> How is this place protected? Will you need our help to secure it further?
<B>Elven Priest:</B> There are many wards, they cannot be scried upon. They cannot be teleported into. They cannot be teleported out of. No extraplanar or undead creature can enter and under continuous guard.
<B>Donner:</B> Well, that sounds pretty good.
<B>Sphinx:</B> I will watch over him personally.
</BLOCKQUOTE>
They resurrect Kill'Dar with the Star of Rillithar. Grackle grumbles about the fact that the Star casts True Resurrection, since Kill'Dar doesn't end up losing a level. The priests ask about Marta.
<BLOCKQUOTE>
<B>Elven Priest:</B> Did she die in the same battle?
<B>Kill'Dar:</B> Yes, she is very brave.
</BLOCKQUOTE>
The elves gather together and cast a True Resurrection on Marta's body and she is brought back to life.
<BLOCKQUOTE>
<B>Donner:</B> We've heard rumors of arcane orders of mages who share pools of spells. Have you heard of them?
<B>Elven Priest:</B> Yes, we have.
<B>Donner:</B> The rumors are true then?
<B>Elven Priest:</B> Yes, they are a great force for Evil in the Imperium.
<B>Donner:</B> I wonder if we might start our own such organization.
<B>Elven Priest:</B> Well, the theories and research behind their magical capabilities are extensive. Perhaps if you could learn from them, it would be hard to say. This order has been around for centuries, and they have built their power slowly. And it may require some sort of unholy bargain.
<B>Donner:</B> I see. (Sighs)
</BLOCKQUOTE>
The group considers their next actions.
<H2> Foes Fought </H2>
Gorath<BR />Bulettes<BR />Trolls<BR />Vampires