Session 15: Downfall of the Duergar Lord

General Summary

In the dimly lit duergar mess hall the party planned the final details of their attack. With the biggest challenge being the approach, Morthos made the decision to traverse along the southern most wall over the lava pool utilizing the effect from the Spider Climb spell he had cast earlier. After he had made his way into position he would create a distraction which would allow the remaining party members to enter the other side of the chamber. Before making their way back into the Forge Chamber, Reinaldo provided a bit of inspiration:

So put your best face on everybody
Pretend you know this song everybody
And let's fight!
We’re way too young to wait here forever
But I'm way too handsome to die so whatever
Now let’s fight!
And we shall survive here tonight

Nervously the party made their approach. As Morthos waited for the rest of the party to get into position, the duregar in the western towers quietly dispatched the single duergar that remained loyal to Xardorok with ease.
Morthos, scaling the ceiling moved into position as Reinaldo shrouded Bulwark and Atalanta with Invisibility to aide their approach. Along the ceiling, Morthos cast Darkness on Odin to create the distraction which worked as he gently floated down to the ground with Feather Fall. Immediately the Muzgardt Duergar sprang into action, taking out the Sunblight Duergar and initiating all-out chaos.

Still unaware in the fog of this loud forge chamber, Xardorok Sunblight stood much taller than any duergar or dwarf. His white beady eyes appeared distinguished against his soot-stained, gray-bearded face as he stared into the pool of chardalyn beneath him. A jagged chardalyn crown rest on his brow along with a spiky chardalyn gauntlet which adorns his right hand resting on a panel of levels that control the large cranes the loom overhead; the same cranes responsible for the assembly of the chardalyn dragon.

Fight for the Forge

By the time Morthos drifted down to the ground, Xardorok atop the command center next to his Forewoman had gone invisible. At the north side of the chamber Atalanta and Amelia quickly dispatched the the enlarged Chardalyn Smith wielding a massive warhammer writhed in flame. Stomping around the corner, entered the ogre they had noticed in the chambers previously. Picking up a cart filled with Chardalyn scraps the ogre nearly took Atalanta out, slamming in down upon her body. Seeing her in grave danger Reinaldo Polymorphed the ogre into a rat, taking this dangerous foe out of the combat, for now.

Quagoloth

Battle carried on as the Quagoloth's in Xardorok's control entered the fray along with the Forewoman of the Forge. Still atop the command center in the center, she sounded an alarm from a device around her next. Following her gaze, the party noticed her attention fixed to the chimney in the north east corner of the chamber that the black smoke from the chardalyn forge billowed toward. The party heard a high pitched screech echo through the chamber and watched as a massive spider covered in black soot made its way down from the chimney shoot. The spider jumped down from the ceiling just at the same time the Forewoman jumped from the command center. When the two collided in midair they both turned invisible.

Morthos, on the south side of the chamber, managed to take out a quagoloth and rally the duergar stationed in the nearby towers. Sensing a chill down his spine, his focus was broken as he felt a massive hand around the back of his next and the cold chardalyn spikes of Xardorok's gauntlet piece his chest. Before losing consciousness, Morthos looked up to see the stern visage of Xardorok now suddenly visible. The chamber seemed to quite as Xardorok called out;

"Ye think ye ken walk inta Sunblight an’ seize mah glory? I’ve news fer yeh… the only thing ye’ll be seizin’ is a slow death.”

Advancing towards the lake of lava as if to toss Morthos' unconscious body into it, Bulwark sprinted into their direction as quickly as he could. With a Healing Word, he was able to bring Morthos back from the brink of death as his conscious body wiggled free from Xardorok's grasp. The battle seemed to be going in the party's favor as one by one the quagoloth's were taken out along with the remaining duergar loyal to Xardorok.
Sounds of metal scrapping on stone echoed through the chamber as the 15-foot tall doors on the southwest side of the chamber began to swing open. A horde of a dozen duergar along and a four-eyed monstrosity with massive claws made their way into the fray. The combat with Xardorok had now made its way up on to the command center where Kolbrak had also stealthily made his way to the controls. Seizing an opportunity, the Muzgardt duegar used the controls to drop a chardalyn replacement wing that was suspended in the cranes above; crashing down upon the duergar and Umber Haulk that recently entered the chambers.

Forewoman Thontara & Soot Spider

Xardorok's demise was near as Amelia, Bulwark, and Morthos closed in around him. At the north end of the chamber however, Atalana was ambushed by the Forewoman and giant spider that had previously gone invisible. The duergar used the commotion to catch Atalanta off guard and shover her into the lake of lava. Before she was completely submerged Reinaldo used the Wand of Magic Missiles from Vellynne to finish off the spider. He waded into lava and was able to pull her out, saving both of their lives.

A cacophony of swords, tools, and various mechanical resounded throughout the chambers as Bulwark's Spiritual Guardians closed in on Xardorok, cleaving him in every which direction. Those remaining in the chamber froze as moments later Gandolpha and her black yeti's entered the grand chamber. Holding true to her word, Grandolpha let you leave Sunblight and take with you the treasure's you've already recovered.

Vellynne Harpell & Company

Walking back out into the unforgiving winds within the Spine of the World served as a brutal reminder that the party still had their work cut out for them. As they made their way down the mountain side, two kobolds waited for them closer to the bottom of the cutback path. As they ushered them the rest of the way, they found Vellynne lying in wait next to a towering Evergreen tree coated in snow. Without saying anything she turned and opened a portal and walked through. As the party followed suit they had found the mountainous landscape the same, but the weather far different. The temperature was much warmer, the trees more tropical, but most noticeable was the cascade of oranges, purples, and blues that now encompassed the sky.

Report Date

29 Apr 2021