Characters: Julian, Tulgar, Balin, Cael.
NPCs: Blue Ancient Wyrm Dracolich, Green Ancient Wyrm Dracolich, Red Ancient Wyrm Dracolich, Wearer of Purple Necromancer, Greater Devourer, Greater Dread Wraith, 2 Red Proto-Dracoliches, White Proto-Dracolich.
E 8 Mirtul 1374 - E 9 Mirtul 1374
9000 XP
Now standing in the darkened Storm Horn Mountains, the party made haste into a large cavern entrance which looked for have been hollowed from a great waterfall ages ago. Inside however, they found few signs of life, except for a small stream running under their feet. Moving in further Julian carefully searched the opening cavern room with his arcane vision and found a large magical signature hiding in a watery pool. Suddenly, an Ancient Blue Dracolich rose from the stagnant pool and blasted the party with a crackling bolt of electricity. The smell of its rotting bones and burning flesh choked the adventurers as they struggled to fight back. Julian and Tulgar moved forth to attack while Balin and Cael prepared an onslaught of spells. The stench however, suddenly grew even worse and the party turned to the opening of the great cave only to see a pair of Ancient Dracoliches crouched to the ground in the darkness. The small cavern exploded with fire, and corrosive gas, and lightning once more and both Cael and Balin were killed. Julian wasted no time in Teleporting the party away from the combat to the only place he new could be capable of resurrecting such grievous losses of life, the Fortress of the Faithful.The party found the Fortress to be well-underway with the reconstruction process, the acolytes in good spirits. They were greeted heartily and taken into the healing presences of the temple's priests. Cael and Balin were resurrected the 8 hours later after the morning prayers to the Triad gods. Then they ate with the priests there, described their battle with the dracoliches, and each adventurer was bestowed with a great spell, immunity to acid. The adventurers said their goodbyes and returned to the mountain pass during the early morning as the sun was just rising over the Storm Horns.
Entering the cave they found its walls to be in perpetual darkness and began to search keenly through the tunnels. They found a number of divination traps which may have altered their presence to the undead monsters, and Julian felt there was something suspicious concerning the waterfall. Cael froze the upper portion in ice and just as the water stopped its torrential flow, the party was set upon again by the elemental blasts of the dracoliches. More well-prepared for combat, Cael charged towards one and nearly disabled it with an incredible blast from his mageblade. Julian struck another for little damage, and Balin's choice of a Moonbeam was ineffective at best against the rotting dragons. Julian was then struck multiple times by the one and paralyzed by its fearsome presence. Tulgar charged in and destroyed a dracolich after being severely wounded himself. Then, just as it seemed the battle was turning it their favor, a shadowy black figure levitated from the waterfall's opening and pointed its terrible fingers at Cael, draining his life significantly. Cael destroyed another dracolich, however rising from the watery pool in the cave's center was another rotting dragon, and then another. Tulgar and Balin focused their attacks on the Proto-Dracoliches and Cael was finally struck dead by the necromantic energy of the shadowy figure. Cael's fate was far worse however, when his withered corpse rose in his amour as a terrible undead Devourer. Tulgar quickly dispatched the undead Devourer before it could drain any more life and bean to battle the Dracoliches once more. Balin had Shapechanged into an Huge Bronze Dragon and was also being drained of his life by the shadow.Meanwhile, the Proto-Dracolich near Julian was having trouble with a Coup De Grace because of his illusionary defenses. The remaining Red Dracolich returned to its aid and blasted the paralyzed Julian with fire, killing him. The necromancer had raised Cael's corpse once more, and this time he became a Dread Wraith and set upon Balin. Tulgar leapt upon Balin's back and attacked the shadow with the rage of his ancestors. The necromancer fell to the ground dead, and his shadowy aura began to diminish. Unfortunately, Tulgar and Balin were now surrounded by Cael's Dread Wraith, a Red Ancient Dracolich, and two Proto-Dracoliches. With only one option in sight of ending the battle quickly, Balin crashed himself as a Huge Bronze Dragon down 50 feet into the stone floor, smashing the necromancer's body. The three precious phylateries he had used to control the Dracoliches were instantly crushed under the massive force and a series of magical explosions from beneath Balin nearly killed him. Tulgar once again dispatched of the Dread Wraith and the battle was won.
