Session XLII: Clan Khazdulbar

General Summary

Citadel

Adventurers continued to fighting their way through the noble level of the citadel. They've reached noble quarters where they found old family heirlooms of Thul family - four golden potions capable of immense healing powers. However, they still missed Dorn as he was teleported away during last fight. They had few hours left before the gate will fall so they decided to enforce the gate with stone walls and frozen dead bodies and spent the time they had left resting, preparing for final chamber in the citadel. 
When they attacked it, they faced heavily armored guards with Obisidian Wardens whose proved to be tough opponents. They were heavily outnumbered, in difficult position, trying to conquer citadel's strongest position at 4 people. This proved almost fatal, but the king himself when hurt by Borygen, consumed his loyal guards, showing his true face - Servant of Baphomet, The Horned King. He consumed bodies of his followers and tried to kill whomever remained. Golems started entering the room and everything seemed dire. Borygen meanwhile managed to slay Yngvi, now permanently, claiming her contract in middle of the battle. The Servant of Baphomet tried to kill them, but when High Priest Bhelgyr joined side of adventurers after finding true face of his king, tables have turned and the False King had to escape through his get-away portal.    

Dorn's Mission

Dorn teleported back to Bazrek Nithil and run to catch-up with the army through his Etherealness. After some time he managed to catch up and tell them the news, they've prepared the plan to get to Bergat as soon as possible, find the escape location and wait for the King to try to escape. They've managed to get to Bergatt, but time was close, gate already fallen and every minute was expensive. Dorn took with himself five veterans and one mage to help him capture or slay the king. After few hours of finding and exploring where the portal could be, they've spoke with the dead body of previous king - he told them about sail-less ship at the end of the Bergatt's shipyard. They walked through Ethereal Plane to the ship and waited for the portal.   

False King

Dorn and his squad waited in the ship when Servant of Baphomet appeared - this monster was no king and it absolutely decimated Dorn's squad. They managed to lock him in Wall of Force, but he took the face of his duergar's self and called for help. This got Dorn and the last remaining soldier to escape before they are caught and slaughtered.  

Escape from Ramadun

After this, the adventurers were still trapped inside Ramadun with dozens of Stone Golems marching to them, trying to kill them with no way of escape. Darian took his last drop of magic and put everyone into Portable Hole and escaped through magic to the lowest floor of Ramadun's Forge. They hid here and came up with a plan. They've teleported to the gates and Raggran ran with them through his Warlock's abilities and just managed to survive and hid inside burning house. Now they just had to escape Bergatt - the No Man Zone as Bazrek Nithil army was already in the process of annihilation of Bergatt to siege Ramadun. Everyone hid in the Portable Hole and Borygen took his second breath and his last loyal Meregon and run through the burning town, taking dozens of arrows, dodging boulders from catapults and squads of soldiers - he managed to get to the Bazrek Nithil siege camp where they finally had some time to rest.  

Gates of Ramadun

The next day, when they were already rested and Bergatt destroyed, the siege has begun. Cleric that turned his back on the False King was with them as he escaped from the golems as well. He offered his prayers to Laduguer to open the gate and tell the Ramaduanian people the truth about their Abbysal King. They agreed and together went to the main gate. After prayers to Laduguer with Borygen, the gate indeed openend and behind it - steel wall of shields and spears. After Borygen and Bhelgyr spoke to the people of Ramadun about their False King and safety from Bazrek Nithil, potentional freedom from Underdark and place they could live safely, they dropped their weapons and surrendered.   

Aftermath of Ramadun

When adventurers entered the citadel again, the False King was gone. Borygen through his blood was able to have short visions of flames where he saw large underground water - probably the one nearest Ramadun. Bhelgyr as now ruler of Ramadun in absence of the King, officially surrendered to Therdal I, King of Bazrek Nithil. These two cities merged as one and as one they will continue to the surface. Tylus survived and joined Therdal I as his assistent. Argon and Emvi were taken as prisoners by Bazrek Nithil.

Notes

Start: 16th of Sydesar, 320 SE
End: 18th of Sydesar, 320 SE