Azahu, Schmazahu

After a bit of research, the party figures out that Ahazu is imprisoned in a well and it is located somewhere in the ruined Overlook Tower.  Traveling up there is uneventful, but upon arrival the party is attacked by several nightwings.

Quickly dispatching the nightwings, the group continues inside and searches the ruins.  Eventually they discover the well at the bottom of the crumbling tower.  While preparing for the descent into the well, a swarm of abyssal ants attack.  Deep in the well, the Keepers of Ahazu begin assaulting the party with spells.  While the abyssal ants are a mere annoyance, the varrangoin lich arcanists prove much tougher.

Eventually the party prevails, and communes with the entity Ahazu.  In exchange for the release of Shami-Amourae, Ahazu requires a replacement of sufficient power within 66 days or the party members will be imprisoned in her stead.  He provides a book of infinite spells, with only one spell (freedom) remaining.  The party is to cast that, standing at the Well of Debased Eros.

Rudolpho, in a fit of barbarism, earns the mark of Ahazu.  Except that instead of the black smoke coming from his mouth, it comes from his backside.

The party returns to the Well of Debased Eros and prepares to release Shami-Amourae.

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Session Characters:  Nesta, Daria, Rudolpho, Hjalmderdr, Gwendelyn Vin, Ortho, Maybold, Mittens
Session Loot:  Paintings by Ulricon the Necromances, estimated value at 30000gp, by the Abyssal Antiques Roadshow crew.  Two paintings stand out from the others.  The first is a lush Abyssal landscape in a harsh blue light, depicting a dozen cities.  It is labeled Gallenshu and depicts the 377th layer of the Abyss. The second painting depicts a thriving city built in the middle of a giant rift in a mountain surrounded by jungle.  It is labeled Xuxuleito and depicts the Forbidden City of the Xaro Mountains in Hepmonaland at its height.  The two paintings of note are work 5000gp and 2500gp, respectively.  Two rings of protection +4, two rings of force shield, two tripartite amulets of the hive mind.  A book collection (hundreds of books) on the history of the Abyss (+10 circumstance bonus to Knowledge Planes checks) worth 12000gp.  Dozens of spell books, as a collection they contain all of the wizard spells in the Players Handbook except illusion and enchantment spells).  Amulet of the Planes, and a copy of the Demonomicon of Iggwilv.

Character Levels

Vin, Rudolpho, and Nesta are now 18th level !

Everyone else is closing in...

Monkey Shrines

The Red Shroud provided a guide, Shadowfire, and he leads the party through the pathways to the Well of Debased Eros.  Along the way, more abyssal ants emerge and attack the party.  Combat is short, but Daria gave the stink-eye to Shadowfire over a lack-luster effort.

Arriving at the well, the party begins to make its way down.  Thick foliage fills the well, enough so that climbing down is easy.  A few opt to fly, some climb, but all make their way down.  Several four-armed gorilla demons begin howling and making lewd gestures at the party.  Negotiations are replaced by Nesta making a pin-cushion out of one of the Gorallons.

Rudy takes the fast-track to the bottom of the well, and encounters the large spider-like creature guarding the bottom of the well.  Rudy opens up the second front all by himself.  The party struggles along until the various fractured groups begin to pull together.

Reunited at the bottom of the well, the party communicates with Shami-Amourae.  The party agrees to free her in exchange for her help.

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Session Characters:  Ortho, Nesta, Vin, Gwendelyn, Hjalmgerdr, Rudolpho, Mittens
Session Loot:  artwork and gems totaling 10000gp, demon armor, efreeti armor.

I See A Red Moon Rising.

Orgosh gives the party more information after Vanthus' defeat.  The Demogorgon's lover Shami-Amourae was imprisoned in a place called the Wells of Darkness, after she found a way to manipulate him, it was rumored.  Such a drastic action by the Demogorgon, implies that it may be true.  The succubus Red Shroud of Broken Reach is the formost expert on Shami-Amourae.

Since the Wells of Darkness have no connection to the Gaping Maw, the party arrives at Broken Reach in Pazunia.  Pazunia, the Plane of Infinite Portals, is the first layer of the Abyss and home to the Red Shroud, formost authority on the Lady of Delights, Shami-Amourae.

After a bit of shopping, the party makes the necessary bribes to meet with the Red Shroud.  The party pays a steep price for information of the Lady of Delights and the Wells of Darkness.  One of the relics from the Isle of Dread turns out to be a key, the tooth of Ahazu.  Traveling to the Pit of Prisoners the group gains entry to the Wells of Darkness.

The party arrives in the bottom of a well, infested with chasme demons and abyssal ghouls.  The party fights fiercely and maintains its foothold in the Wells of Darkness.

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Session Characters:  Ortho, Gwendelyn, Nesta, Vin, Daria, Rudolpho, Hjalmgerdr, Mittens the Destroyer
Session Loot:  -7500 gp and an unfinished shadow pearl for bribes,  -25000gp for audience with Red Shroud.  And a lock of Vin's hair for extra information.

What's Eating Vanthus?

After the party recovers from the vile damage of the shadow demons, the party heads toward Vanthus' location.  Lavinia, now convinced there is no good left in her brother, demands that he be destroyed once and for all.  Vin is more than willing to oblige.

Approaching the bridge, several dread wraiths and shadow demons attack the party.  And swooping in on flying carpets, are a group of heavies taking advantage of the defense of the bridge.  Nesta and Ortho take an especially rough beating.  After defeating the demons, undead, and flying menaces, the party gears up and opens the doors to Vanthus' cell.

The inside is unnaturally dark and filled with death.  And a bit of undeath.  Fighting breaks out and then the glorious Vanthus emerges from the back room.  Combat retreats to the bridge, and Vanthus falls before the last of his shadow demon minions.  Lavinia is relieved and saddened, and finds comfort in Vins steady arms.

Saureya goes a bit more crazy, and the party ends his suffering.

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Session Characters:  Vin, Nesta, Rudolpho, Hjalmgerdr, Ortho, Gwendelyn, Daria, Mittens, Mire, Krenshaw.
Session Loot:  +5 mithril brestplate, +4 flaming burst longsword, +2 flaming burst sickle, +6 belt of giant strength, +5 mithril chain shirt, +3 shocking burst greatsword, +3 composite longbow (+7 STR), 50 adamantine arrows, gloves of dexterity +4, ring of protection +3, amulet of natural armor +4, boots of speed, 4 gold earrings with 300gp each.

The Pit of Despair

Moving deeper into the prison, The Divided's Ire, the party encounters an old gnome trapped in a luxurious room, chained to a wall.  Nurt Bilgeflower asks to be freed, and draws a quick map on where the last remaining contender for controlling the prison is location.  A vicious marilith, Lillianth, is nearby torturing a prisoner (Lavinia).  Vanthus is located elsewhere.

In a large room, with a small 10' ledge around the molten lava pit 20' below, six iron cages are suspended from the ceiling.  As soon as Vin sees Lavinia, he takes action and moves to rescue her.  As the party follows, the Marilith, her babau bodyguard, and six shadow demons.

The battle with the Marilith takes a fruitful course, but the shadow demons prove to be tough opponents.  Lavinia is rescued, an ice demon plunges to his death after the chain for his cage is cut, and a trumpet archon jumps to his death after his cage door is opened.

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Session Characters:  Daria, Rudolpho, Hjalmgerdr, Ortho, Mittens, Nesta

Session Loot:  +2 keen halberd, +2 unholy whip dagger, +2 wounding heavy pick, +3 keen scimitar, +4 short sword, ring of force shield, bracers of armor +4

The Halls of Montezuma

Exploring the prison further, the party fights a babau captain and several hezrou.  They are victorious and there is much rejoicing.

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Session Characters:  Daria, Rudolpho, Hjalmgerdr, Ortho, Mittens, Nesta
Session Loot:  +4 black dragon hide improved shadow banded mail, black dragon hide gauntlets of ogre power +2, +3 keen halberd, pink rhomboid ioun stone (+2 CON).