Difference between revisions of "The Assault on Kala"

Latest revision as of 07:07, 30 August 2008

About the Saga

Learning from the god Trithereon that their plan to rescue their original bodies from the Scarlet Brotherhood had been detected, the Blackrazors decided to bring the fight to the arch-mage the brotherhood had sent to Obsidian Bay to curtail their plans. Fighting such a foe would be no easy task, but it would be made ever more difficult for having to occur in the part of the Obsidian Maze known as the Horns of Medusa. The best of the guild went in, but would they return?

Timeframe

• Greyhawk Date: Sunsebb 6, CY 590
• Real World Date: 2002-04-12
• Read other Blackrazor Guild Sagas

Cast of Characters

• Tanevir Calywyn
• Ragnar Blackmane, human barbarian with a penchant for ale.
• Greggor
• Mugwort
• Aesop, Human...errr...Elven...ummm...we really don't know what race this Mage is...
• Kannett, Ranger & master tattoo artist.
• Kalib Ironfist, Tritherionite Cleric.
• Erilar, Elven archer magnus
• K'sograh the Mighty, human mage, a victim of Identity Theft...
• D'klar Ironforge, dwarven cleric.
• Gideon Dwyfors, brain exploder.
• El Brujo

Notable Quotes

No quotes are available.

What Has Come Before

No Adventure summary available.

The Saga

In the two weeks since their last escapade in the Grand Duchy of Geoff, the members of the Blackrazor Guild adventuring there have made their way back to their homes and guildhall in Obsidian Bay. They did not travel together, and took various routes and means of travel to reconvene, as they each had their own business and affairs to attend to en route or once they got back. For example, Kalib and his followers had tasks to perform at the Cathedral of Liberty, Tanevir and Aesop had to report to the Obsidian Tower, Gideon had to make preparations and inform his superiors in the Steelstorm Guild that he was traveling to OB to continue adventuring with the Blackrazors, etc. By the 6th of Sunsebb, however, they were all back at the guildhall and discussing their next adventure. Kalib brought news of a pressing matter to the attention of the guild. He revealed that while at the Cathedral, he had communed with his god regarding the BR's plan to effect the release of the Blackrazor bodies that were being held by the Scarlet Brotherhood cloners. Trithereon revealed many disturbing things to his faithful cleric, and he in turn informed his guildmates. According to Kalib, the Brotherhood of the Scarlet Sign was aware of the Blackrazors' intentions to try and rescue their original bodies. He also stated that they had plans to interfere with any such attempts. That was not all of Kalib's bad news, however. Trithereon had also informed him that there was a Scarlet Brotherhood archmage in Obsidian Bay currently, plotting such interferences. It seemed that Archmage Kala was currently at the Horns of Medusa in the Obsidian Maze, holed-up in a secure location with plans on making a preemptive strike against the Blackrazors. This was grave news, and meant the guild was once more in store for a fierce battle. Much was discussed, and the guild decided not to wait for whatever tricks the Brotherhood might have planned. Instead, they would seek out Kala, and bring the fight to him. Tanevir felt that some additional magical might could be useful in facing a Archmage of Kala's reputation, and so sent word to the Tower that the guild could use some assistance in this matter. When they learned of the renewed Brotherhood presence in OB, they gladly agreed to send a support mage, and indeed, El Brujo arrived at the Blackrazors to help plan the assault. After much more discussion, the guild agreed that the threat needed to be dealt with forthwith, and decided to send a contingent to investigate and confront Kala. Some of the lower-ranking Blackrazors, including Anders, Obert, and Gambori, had done some exploring of that region of the Obsidian Maze, and should be able to provide them with at least a rough map of the passages therein.

Later that day, Gambori led a Blackrazor party that consisted of Tanevir, Ragnar, Greggor, Mugwort, Aesop, Kannet, Kalib, Erilar, K’Zograh, D’Klar, Gideon, and El Brujo out to the Maze, and throught it down to the Horns of Medusa without encountering opposition or too much difficulty. At this point his information gave out, and Gambori left to return to the guildhall. The party continued on, marching down a 30 foot wide corridor into the depths of the UnderOerth. The passages were illuminated by a hazy bioluminescence from the fungi that was growing on most of the exposed rock surfaces, providing some ability to see, if not all that clearly. As they progressed, the party encountered first one, and then a second statue seemingly placed at random in the halls of this part of the Maze.

Unsure what to make of these, they pressed on, coming to a Y intersection. While trying to decide which way to continue, 4 figures suddenly appeared before them, and Ragnar was immediately hit by 2 crossbow bolts. Greggor immediately scored on one of the figures with a poisoned bolt, and Kannet advanced and engaged another. When he did, he heard someone should “Surrender to the Suel Imperium,” and he saw many more figures down the passage to the left. It seems their attackers were humans dressed in chain mail and wearing red sashes. Gideon unleashed a Brilliant Blast at their main force, and Ragnar advanced and sliced the first opponent who stepped up to meet him completely in twain.

Engaged with their foes, the Blackrazors fell to battle. Erilar and Greggor provided missile support as Mugwort and Ragnar bested those closest to them in melee combat. A red robed figure appeared from the back of the pack of attackers, and moved on Ragnar. K’Zograh yelled, “You are stopping our mission,” in the Suloise language, and then buried a crossbow bolt into the monk attacking Ragnar. Tanevir, Aesop, and El Brujo added Magic Missles to the damage dealt the monk. 4 more figures joined the fray, but Kalib, D’Klar, and Kannet made short work of them. The monk yelled out, “Pyremius save my soul,” and moved to attack Ragnar again. Before he could land one blow, however, he and most of his group were hit by one of Gideon’s Concussive blasts, and the monk and some of his follwers died as their blood exploded from their veins. Although he was trying to be unobtrusive, El Brujo was noticed by Gideon as the Tower mage made notes about the psion’s unique abilities. Ragnar’s mightly blows, Erilar’s hail of arrows, Mugwort’s deadly sneak attacks, and the muscle and might of the rest of the Blackrazors made quick work of the remaining combatants as aesop watched his ass and the party’s back from any more ambushes. Their foes dispatched, the party looted their bodies, but took away nothing more than their armor and brestplates, which bore an interesting Suloise insignia.

The party moved on down the right corridor, mostly because the mass of their attackers came from the left, and soon discovered that the corridor branched again. Shortly beyond the right fork, the party could see statues of Lizardmen, and shortly beyond the left, statues of orcs. They party followed the left fork, and when the passage split again they again went left. In this hallway they found three statues of humanoid that appeared to be of better quality than the ones they’d discovered previously, but they were incomplete, almost as if unfinished. Kannet scouted ahead down the hallway, and found that the passage branched out in multiple directions, with some passages larger and more well-traveled than others. Before he could return, however, the party heard someone yell, “Interlopers,” and they ran to find their ranger quickly turn before the solidifying gaze of 2 medusa.

Both the party and the medusa had weapons drawn, but before anyone could make a move, Tanevir emphatically stated that the party was attempting to find and kill the Suel Archmage Kala. This gave the medusae pause, and the Blackrazors held their action to see what the response to Tanevir would be. The medusa felt that they were certainly outnumbered, at least for now, and that help against the archmage could be beneficial. In trade for leaving them alive and alone, the medusa gave the party directions to the Kala’s lair. They also told the party that there were other groups of medusa out hunting, there were other bands of Suel protecting Kala, and that the pools to the north were dangerous, as they contained Chuul. After Erliss, the medusa’s spokesperson, had given the guild all the information she could, the party thanked them and began retracing their steps.

The directions proved good, and shortly the Blackrazors were nearing where Kala was supposedly holed-up. When they were almost there, they came upon a smal side passageway down which they could hear a faint whispering, as of many voices speaking in unison. Erilar, Tanevir, Kannet, Greggor, and Mugwort split off from the group and sneak down the side passage to investigate. Down a curving corridor they find the entrance to a small room in which they see a number of figures kneeling before an altar and praying together. While the many party was distracted by waiting for their comrades, they were suddenly surprise attacked, and by Kala himself!

Ragnar was hit by an incredible bolt of Lightning, which would have destroyed him outright, and possibly even more of the guild, but for his trusty ring of Spell Turning. Fortunately, the deadly blast was reflected back at Kala, although it seemed to have no effect on the arch-mage. Taking advantage of the element of surprise, Kala unleashed another spell, this time a Chain of Fireballs that detonated over the entire main group of the party. Burned and breathless, most of the group survived this attack, but K’Zograh and El Brujo fell, the latter unsuccessful in his attempt to Teleport away before the arch-mage’s spell went off. Kala stood at the far end of a longish chamber that adjoined the passage in which the Blackrazors were standing. He was dressed in red and gold robes, and there was a large shimmering hand floating before him.

Kala sent this hand in fist form buffeting into Ragnar, who rocked under the mightly blow. Kala then dissappeared, leaving only a floating sword in his place. Then an Iceball hit the party, and though hurt, none fell from this blast. At this point, the Blackrazors regain their composure and join the fight as only they know how. Kalib and Greggor spelled up while Ragnar went to work on the fist in front of him. Down the side passage, Tanevir noticed that the praying Suloise are actually illusory, and he directed that group of Blakcrazors to join their comrades in combat. During the confusion of combat, Gideon snuck his way up the side of the chamber. When he was in range, he unleashed a crushing Mind Blast towards the spot that Kala was last seen, and though he could not see the arch-mage, he could mentally “feel” that he had blanked his mind, leaving him effectively stunned. He yelled out that he had temporarily incapacitated the arch-mage. At this point the muscle of the group moved on Kala. Ragnar dealt with the fist, with Kannet’s help. D’Klar took on the sword currently warding the invisible arch-mage. Mugwort and Kalib flanked the spot where Kala should have been, and both were rewarded by landing mighty blows on the evil wizard’s invisible body. Gideon and Tanevir employed their respective versions of arcane might, but neither seemed to hurt Kala. Another round of blows by Kannet, Mugwort, and tanevir was enough, however, and the arch-mage was definitively destroyed.

D’Klar quickly cast Healing Circle, and combined with healing magics from the other clerics present, the party was restored to their full health. They gathered up the arch-mages now visible, and very bloody, body, and looted his lair. Behind a Wall of Force which they had little trouble Dispelling, they found the crumpled bodies of Kala’s bodygaurds, who had obviously committed suicide when they saw their leader fall. The Blackrazors gathered much from the room, including volumes of coin and valuable items, many waepons and items of potent magic, and a portable desk full of coded contacts that Kala had made in and around OB. Carrying the remains of Kala, and the property they now claimed, the Blackrazors made their way away from the Horns of Medusae, out of the Obsidian Maze, and back overland to their guildhall. In going through the loot from this encounter, the party found they had taken a ring of Wishes. A potent magic item, this, they were immediately set with a dilemma: should they allow Gideon to take this as his treasure, or should they keep it as party treasure and use it to raise Scrappy and Malphas. Gideon made the decision easy, as he agree to pass on the item in trade for membership in the Blackrazors. The guild readily agreed, and made Gideon not only a member, but also presented him with the Order of the Razor. This concluded, the party split the rest of their treasure, Tanevir went to report the demise of both Kala and El Brujo to the Tower, and life returned as close to normal as if ever does at the guildhall.

Experience

Not available.