20081108 FacingDemons01

<H1> Facing One's Demons: Into the Fray </H1>
<H2> Roll Call </H2>
<TABLE>
<TR>
 <TD> Kha'Narek </TD>
 <TD> 15th Githzerai (ECL17) Monk </TD>
 <TD> Matt Miller </TD>
</TR>
<TR>
 <TD> Grackle </TD>
 <TD> 10/6/4/3 Half-Elf/Half-Invevitable Fighter/Thief/Divine Seeker/Planar Champion (ECL 26) </TD>
 <TD> Mark Whisler </TD>
</TR>
<TR>
 <TD> Estus </TD>
 <TD> 19th/2nd Human Cleric/Parthenian Friar </TD>
 <TD> Ray Chiang </TD>
</TR>
<TR>
 <TD> Thorfinn </TD>
 <TD> 16th Human Bard </TD>
 <TD> Jim Yonemura </TD>
</TR>
<TR>
 <TD> Kill'Dar </TD>
 <TD> 19th/3rd Elf Wizard/Fighter </TD>
 <TD> Rick DiRicco </TD>
</TR>
<TR>
 <TD> Auric </TD>
 <TD> 15th (ECL 22) Wemic Druid </TD>
 <TD> Keith Farrar </TD>
</TR>
<TR>
 <TD> Travian </TD>
 <TD> 22nd Human Paladin </TD>
 <TD> Robert Giedt </TD>
</TR>
</TABLE>
<H2> Session Summary </H2>
<H3> Preparations </H3>
<P>
The party has spent several weeks getting various affairs in order:
</P>
<UL>
<LI> Estus has committed to build 4 keeps (40000 GP paid--builds 3 keeps on the Plateau and lowlands monasteries)
<LI> Donner has been dealing with the lower kingdoms in preparing for his ascension as King of the West
<LI> Kill'Dar has identified the unknown scimitar.
 <UL>
 <LI> Possessed by evil spirit (possibly minor demon)
 <LI> Communicates via feelings
 <LI> Sheds light in 20' radius on command
 <LI> Grants bearer free use of Combat Reflexes
 <LI> No special purpose
 <LI> Wants CE
 <LI> 1/day throw Black Lightning Bolt, 50% electric, 50% unholy. 8d6.
 <LI> +1 Scimitar w/Ghost Touch
 <LI> Appears to be Underdark craftsmanship
 </UL>
</UL>
Norc notifies Donner that he has detected Aishapra's presence at the Teeth. He believes that the assault on the gate is either underway or will begin very soon. The party gets the following information from him:
<UL>
<LI> Relationship Demon/Talisman: It is similar to a wizard and magic jar. When a demon is slain, it's soul goes to it's Talisman. From it's Talisman, it reforms after 24 hours. Normally, any demon slain outside the Abyss can be brought back by Rez. A Talisman is a powerful benefit (auto-Resurrection within 24 hours). The demon can only reform by it's Talisman. Takes 666 years to create Talisman (plus resources). Typically, only greater and lords create a Talisman. Possession of a Talisman allows the wielder to command ownership--doing so disables SR versus any attempt to command or control it. Subtracts 10 from Will save versus attempt. Price is a mark on your soul that your soul will go the Abyss and tagged by the owner. Demon Lord risks utter destruction by Talisman destruction.
<LI> Norc has studied this Talisman. Wish or Miracle will destroy it. Alternatively, a Disintegrate followed by Banishment would also destroy it.
<LI> Norc also warns that she is and old and wily general of demonic armies. She may have arranged for the party to get a hold of her Talisman, since the party brought back her Talisman to the Prime Material.
<LI> Now that we have brought the Talisman here. He believes she'll make every effort to retrieve it.
</UL>
The party considers several questions for Commune/Divination.
<UL>
<LI> What do Aishapra's forces consist of?
<LI> When's the best timing to go in?
<LI> Where is she?
<LI> How do we get there?
<LI> What should we expect when fighting her?
<LI> When is she attacking the portal?
</UL>
After a short discussion, the party decides that it may be too late for such lengthy divination magicks. As such, the quickest thing to do is to teleport to the Teeth, have Grackle scout it out, but only 
One group of adventurers is left behind to guard Aishapra's Talisman. Mirto and Paxus remain for the purpose fo casting the Disintegrate and the Banishment.
The party Teleports to the tunnel entrance leading to the underground lake. Grackle goes ethereal and begins scouting. The beach area underneath the Teeth is filled with gnolls. As he moves into the connecting corridors of the former kobold warrnes, he sees that all the corridors are filled with gnolls.
He spots a half-dozen larger troops plus some gaseous larger form and a bat-winged figure hanging from the ceiling. There is also a medium sized quadriped with a small great cat (displacer beast?)
<H3> Combat </H3>
Grackle walks ethereally past many gnollish troops into the room before the rotating chambers. At that point a magical alarm goes off and a dog begins barking (Donner's Figurine of Wondrous Power). The party teleports into the room, next to Grackle.
<B>Round 1:</B> Kha'Narek runs up and attempts a disarm, but fails. Colin charges and hits 3/4 times. Kill'Dar delays. The ogre mage casts See Invisisble. Grackle moves, then attacks twice. The winged drow casts Web on the party. Estus moves out of the web (using Travel Domain) and casts Invisbility Purge. 3 ogres step up and attack Colin (one hits him 3 times, including 1 crit). Donner pulls out a Wand of Fireball and clears out the webs in front of the party. Kill'Dar acts and casts Arc of Lightning on four of them.
<B>Round 2:</B> Kha'Narek steps out of the web and attacks, hitting several times. Colin swings and hits several times, but his target survives. The ogre mage (who is apparently Toran Shah) casts Baleful Polymorph at Estus who saves. Auric shifts and attacks, killing one ogre. Grackle tumbles to the front line and attacks a lead ogre. The drow casts Feeblemind at Kill'Dar. Estus steps toward the ogre, killing it. The enemy cleric casts Fire Storm on the party (74, save to 37). The cleric casts a spell at Donner, which fails. The ogres attack the Donner party. Kha'Narek gets critted. Donner delays. Kill'Dar casts 
<B>Round 3:</B> Kha'Narek tumbles towards Grackle and attempts a disarm, which fails. Donner casts Haste on the party. Colin steps up and kills 2 ogres (attack + Cleave) and damages a third. The ogre mage steps up and attacks Colin, hitting 3 times nearly killing him. Auric steps up and casts Heal on Colin. Grackle attacks with his Kolyarut arm, killing the ogre with Vampiric Touch. Toran Shah nods at the drow. The drow casts a Wall of Force, separating themselves from the party. Estus casts Mass Heal on the party. The cleric opens the door and leaves. The ogre says in Abyssal, "We sacrifice our souls and ...". A Symbol of Death activates, but the party is protected by Death Ward Kill'Dar casts Disintegrate on the wall and moves the Sphere of Annihilation at the Drow.
<B>Round 4:</B> Kha'Narek runs after the cleric, but fails to trip him. Colin moves to block the corridor. Donner moves to block the the corridor. Toran Shah Dimension Doors far away. Auric moves past the spectres. Grackle moves near the drow and uses his arm to cast Enervation. Estus moves to the edge of the Antimagic shell and turns the Spectres, destroying 3 of them. Kill'Dar moves into the antimagic hallway. The cleric moves into the revolving chamber.
<B>Round 5:</B> Kha'Narek moves into the revolving chamber after the cleric. Colin moves into the revolving chamber. Donner grabs his dog and runs into the revolving chamber. Auric runs into the revolving chamber. Grackle moves into the revolving chamber. The drow moves into the corridor. Estus moves into the revolving chamber. The revolving chamber shuts door.
<H2> Foes Fought </H2>
<P>
Cleric (Graden?)<BR />Drow Sorcerer<BR />Toran Shah
<P>
<B>Base Experience:</B> 
</P>