Aleria Campaign / Doomsday Dawn / The Heroes of Underhill pt. 7 / 3589 CE / 6-11-19

General Summary

The Gatekeepers are locked in battle with the latest wave of demons to assault the Temple of Underhill as they protect the agents of the Eon Eye known as Gray Vengeance, who seek to gain the power of the White Axiom in the catacombs deep underneath the temple. The battle is brutal, and though they succeed in slaying one of the vrock demons, Garrus, after valiantly confronting their nalfashnee leader, is felled by the massive demon's brutal bite, falling dead. As Vercingetorix is taken down by another of the creature's assaults, all seems lost, yet Gwenda gains a temporary advantage by downing a potion of invisibility. As the nalfashnee searches in vain for the elven cleric, Vercingetorix rallies, destroying another vrock with a brual strike. Gwenda finishes the final vrock off by calling on the stars to create a burst of positive energy. The two remaining Gatekeepers coordinate their attacks, and are finally able to dispatch the vile nalfeshnee demon. As they attempt recover from the fight, they notice that the humming from beneath the temple has grown even more intense, causing the entire temple to vibrate and shaking loose stones and debris. They are confronted by the disembodied head of the woman from the graveyard, which Gwenda now recognizes as a form of demilich. The head introduces herself as Tabitha Grimes, a centuries old witch who was turned into a demilich by her patron when her body was destroyed while attempting to unlock the power of the White Axiom. She informs Gwenda and Vercingetorix that it is in fact the White Axiom that powers the Gate, keeping the demons of the Abyss in check, and that once Gray Vengeance has stolen that power for themselves, the Gate will gradually begin to weaken until it fails completely. She says that once their ritual is complete, something will come through the Gate that has been waiting thousands of years. When Gwenda challenges the demilich and asks why then demons and undead have been attempting to sabotage the ritual, Tabitha explains that they in fact simply wished to learn the secrets of the White Axiom and steal the power for themselves. Vercingetorix and Gwenda resolve to go seek reinforcements, seeing their first duty is to guard the Gate. Just as they decide to flee, there is a great flash of white light, and the humming stops, indicating that Gray Vengeance's ritual has been completed. The glabrezu demon re-enters the temple, mocking the survivors, and within moments they hear the approach of thunderous footfalls. As Gwenda and Vercingetorix run and leap from the cliff to the 50' drop below, they can see for just a moment the massive form of a colossal shemhazian demon, which literally tears the roof off of the ancient temple. Bloody but alive, they flee into the night, eventually making their way back to the Gatekeeper headquarters, where they inform their commanding officer of all that occurred. He informs them that Herman never returned. Talia is likewise never found, despite search parties being sent out. Underhill has now been completey overrun by an infestation of demons lead by the terrible shemazian demon, Tyrannus the Mutilator. They also learn that Gray Vengeance managed to escape at the last moment thanks to a powerful teleportation spell provided by the Order of the Eon Eye. Vercingetorix soon retires from adventuring, purchasing a farm and once again helping refugee dwarves escape the oppressive Xelishites. Gwenda also leaves the Gatekeepers to pursue other interests, her harrowing ordeal at Underhill leaving her scarred in mind and body. Though his body is never recovered, Garrus the Lion of Vaskalia is hailed as a great hero and martyr among the Gatekeepers, and a statue is even erected in his honor.

Character(s) interacted with

Vercingetorix, Gwenda Gwyndril, Garrus the Lion of Vaskalia, Tabitha Grimes the demilich of Underhill, Nastirh (a glabrezu demon), Tyrannus the Mutilator (shemhazian demon), a nalfashnee demon, vrock demons

Report Date

12 Jun 2019