Rise of the Runelords Recap # 121 [RPG]

[12 Gozran 4708 continued]

As they watch the bizarre Denizens of Leng continue to perfect the strange machinery that seems to open a window to the past, the Heroes of Varisia discuss what to do.  Speculating that they’re working on behalf of Karzoug, the adventurers decide to attack.  Ava starts things off with a spell that creates total silence, creating perfect cover for Kang to hurl a bomb into the Denizens’ midst.  The adventurers are heavily outnumbered, however, and quickly surrounded.  The fighting is intense, and every time one of the Denizens is seemingly slain, their bodies liquefy and disappear—leaving only robes behind!  The humming and sparking of the machinery seems to intensify as the battle goes on until it reaches a point that Kang thinks it’s going to overload and potentially explode!  The adventurers retreat toward the rear of the chamber and Ava conjures a thin stone wall to act as shielding—but instead of an explosion, something potentially worse happens.  A terrifying thing from beyond time has emerged from the chronal energies manipulated by the Denizens.  The creature is vaguely shaped like a hound, but its feet end in large razor-sharp talons and its enormous maw is filled with weirdly transparent teeth.  It easily breaks through Ava’s conjured barrier and attacks.  But the adventurers stand firm, and destroy the abomination with little harm to themselves.

Later, the adventurers decide to try to free the angel they encountered previously from the spell that compels it to defend the chamber it is in.  But the binding spell is too strong.  After leaving the Pinnacle and setting up camp outside, the group make their final plans for battling Karzoug—for tomorrow, they plan to confront the Runelord of Greed!
 
[13 Gozran 4708]

The fateful day begins auspiciously.  Ava’s fervent prayers to Sinashakti are answered, and her new attempt to free the bound angel works!  The angel, now able to speak, gives her name as Ayruzi and vows to assist the group in defeating Karzoug.  With such a powerful ally at their side, the adventures progress quickly through the remaining chambers of the Pinnacle.  In one large chamber they find a twenty-foot-tall golden statue of Karzoug with its hands posed as if it were holding something.  The chamber also contains a golden sarcophagus, and perhaps most meaningfully, a massive pair of double doors that shimmer behind a hazy screen of magical energy.  The adventurers know they’ve found the innermost layer of Karzoug’s defences—and one of those defences takes the form of a truly enormous Shemhazian demon!  The forces of Nirvana and the Abyss come to blows as Ayruzi leaps into the fray with her flaming greatsword.  Although Erik is knocked unconscious in the fighting, the demon is finally slain.

 
With a powerful new ally at their side, the adventurers are veritably knocking at Karzoug’s door.  But the Runelord has been studying their tactics for weeks.  Which side will emerge victorious?  The answer is imminent.

Director's Commentary

The penultimate session!  The PCs are certainly as powerful as the AP expects (probably more so), as they made quick work of some crazy-tough opponents like the creature emerging from the Leng portal and a CR16 Shemhazian Demon.  Freeing the angel was another coup, as it'd offer them even more help in the big final battle the next session.  Interestingly, the players (perhaps with some foreknowledge) chose the longest route through the Pinnacle of Avarice--a different turn could have seen them at the final battle a couple of sessions ago!