Session0064

Episode 0064 - Assimilation
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**Setting:**

Sigil - June 18th, 211 AW
**Synopsis:**

* As Lane Coronato, now the mortal avatar of Asmodeus, opens the Inner Gate and travels into the Material Plane, the party battles Titivilus and the other devils.
* During the fray, Mahadi tries to sabotage the Inner Gate and prevent the party from following Lane Coronato, as the party comes to the realization that Mahadi is working with the devils.
* After defeating Titivilus and the other devils, Louche confronts Mahadi about his betrayal, eventually convincing him to stand down as Mahadi expresses his resentment toward Louche for the decades he spent in his shadow.
* After an emotional conversation, Louche convinces Mahadi to merge with him using the *psalm of assimilation*, and come with him to another universe, where he vows to reverse the psalm and free Mahadi to do as he pleases.
* Shortly after Louche plays the *psalm of assimilation* and merges Mahadi into himself, the Lady of Pain and her dabus appear on the scene.
* After the party explains to the Lady of Pain what happened at the Inner Gate, they return to Every Ware to rest, where they bid farewell to Gregarian Advantis and make plans for their return to the Material Plane.

## June 18th

As Lane Coronato, now the mortal avatar of Asmodeus, opens the Inner Gate and prepares to enter the Material Plane, Sigil's artificial sky changes from dusk to a midday sun, as alarm bells begin to toll throughout the city. XVIII, seemingly having reached an emotional breaking point having been betrayed yet again by Lane, begins to drinks the blood from Malkoth's corpse, transforming themself into a gargantuan bat-like monstrosity.

As combat begins between the party and the devils, Frog uses a *pick me up* to resurrect Malkoth from death. Meanwhile, a dabu appears from invisibility, seemingly having been present all along. The dabu urges Lane Coronato to depart, warning that the Lady of Pain will be coming, and joins the devils in combat as Lane reminds them of a deal that they made. Lane Coronato then opens a portal to Ymana and steps through, disappearing into the Material Plane. Odell immediately sends a magical message to the College of Mimrinoth informing them what's happened, and instructing the Rune Carvers to begin using rune magic to drain Asmodeus' power.

As battle continues, Malkoth attempts to use a *vortex warp* spell to free Mahadi from the other devils' clutches, but the spell takes no effect. Mahadi then approaches the Inner Gate's control console and installs a magical device onto it, which seems to sabotage its functionality and cause it to start going haywire. Louche deduces that Mahadi is attempting to destroy and disable the Inner Gate, and comes to the troubling realization that Mahadi is working with the rest of the devils, not fighting against them. Malkoth casts an *antimagic field* covering the control console, and Jack breaks Mahadi's now-inert sabotage device.

Meanwhile, XVIII kills Titivilus, and Gregarian Advantis kills the traitorous dabu.

As the rest of the party dispatches the remaining devils, Louche faces off with Mahadi. Mahadi explains his resentment and animosity toward Louche, having been forced to babysit him and live in his shadow for centuries. He demands that Louche draw his weapon and fight him fairly, but Louche refuses, putting his weapon away and embracing Mahadi. He offers to take Mahadi to a different universe where he will be free to do what he wishes. Mahadi drops his weapon and stands down.

After the devils are slain and combat comes to an end, the party recognizes that XVIII is still in a frenzy. In an attempt to calm them, Gregarian Advantis creates a puppy familiar for them, Falgron begins drafting a painting of XVIII with the rest of the party, and Frog uses a *hallucinatory terrain* spell to recreate the scene of their first meeting. XVIII reverts to their true form, and has a heart-to-heart conversation with Frog about their relationship and XVIII's nature. Afterwards, Gregarian gives XVIII his *ring of familiar summoning*.

Meanwhile, Louche tells Mahadi about multiverse theory, and that he has secured a way to leave this universe and travel to another. He once again offers to bring Mahadi with him, explaining that in order to do so, he will need to play the *psalm of assimilation* and merge Mahadi into himself. He assures Mahadi that afterwards, in whatever new universe they travel to, he will undo the assimilation, and Mahadi will be free to do as he pleases. The two discuss their relationship and history, Mahadi insisting that he has only ever been using and manipulating Louche, and questioning why Louche would offer him this kindness now. Nonetheless, after some discussion, Mahadi ultimately agrees to Louche's proposal. Louche plays the *psalm of assimilation*, and Mahadi disappears, his soul merged into Louche's.

Gregarian Advantis receives a *sending* from Loot, explaining that all of the doors of Sigil have stopped functioning. The party speculates that the Lady of Pain will surely be arriving very soon, as the alarm bells continue to toll. Gregarian tells Loot about what's happened, and tells the party about the doors. The party checks and finds that the Inner Gate is still functional, and deduces that only Sigil's internal doors, not the gates in or out of Sigil, have stopped working. The party quickly discusses whether to stay and explain what's happened to the Lady of Pain, or simply depart now before she arrives. Eventually, they decide to stay.

Shortly thereafter, the Lady of Pain arrives with a cohort of dabus. The party explains what's happened, with Gregarian Advantis taking point, though they omit the detail of Louche and Mahadi's assimilation. After collecting their testimony, the Lady of Pain urges the party to leave the scene. The party departs, heading back to Every Ware to regroup.

At Every Ware, Patches forges a bill of sale from the Mercury Company to Preston Reeve, which will effectively end his prospects of winning the upcoming election. Considering their agreement fulfilled, Gregarian Advantis gives the party magical paintings that connect to Sigil, as promised. With their business in Sigil concluded, the party bids farewell to Gregarian, and discusses their plans for their return to the Material.

After some discussion, the party decides that they first priority upon returning to the Material Plane will be to deal with the Titan of Sapphrius Bay and Israphel's plotted attack on Mimrinoth. Odell speculates that using the rune of Asmodeus to power the Imlaq Colossus might weaken Lane Coronato in his current form.

As the party is discussing, Frog receives a *sending* from Aristoadle, stating that the dead are rising in Kameshima, and asking for him to return to aid when possible.

Discussing their other priorities, Odell speculates that the Morningstar might be planning her ascension ritual for Sur'noresh, a holy day amongst the elves, celebrated on July 1.