Returning to the lair of the mind flayers reveals that the expected has happened. The surviving occupant has found a less hazardous space to occupy, and the loot has been looted. The group presses on, ascending a short stair to a landing and two doors. Neither is trapped, both are locked, and one is guarded by a spell-absorbing protection. One door is knocked open to reveal a dusty room, with a trap within. Demming hurls a missile from his necklace into the room and they pull the door shut.
While the fire burns, the group continues to scout the doors. The first two are barred and as the group then doubles back to the burnt room they think they hear a door creaking behind them. A quick and paranoid pause, then a peek into the hallway. Not much is seen, so they climb the stair and investigates the ashes and crushed bones that litter the floor of the fireballed room. Nothing much is found. Hmm. That is a bit of a stumper.
Anyhoo…back downstairs to the large set of double doors. As they approach, a side door bursts open and a lichified hydra attacks Ron’j!. He battles and as Nils moves to reinforce, the door bursts into flinders as a devilish cloud giant-like entity strides forth, swinging a mighty flaming morning-star. He pummels and pounds on the group members almost slaying Nils before falling victim to a polymorph spell that leaves him in the shape of a large fish, quickly running out of oxygen.
The group pauses for a second to apply healing to the downed fighter when another door opens and a 5 armed nightmare from the pits of evil appears, casually dangling a flayed human body from one hand. Although Demming downs his potion of demon protection in preparation for battle, the beast seems forrnidable, almost slaying Abe with a single word. Dalliance opts for a more direct approach and disintegrates the nightmare. It is definitely time to go.
They rope trick the ‘night’ away and return with a fresh spell complement in 10 hours time. The fortress now sports a metallic lion pack doing laps around the perimeter and a duo of machete golems at the front door.
Into the shape of the wind and the group walks past all the guards, rapidly ascends the stairs and confronts the spell-absorbing door. Taking advantage of the general clamor that permeates the iron fortress, they begin to batter down the door with brute strength, gauntlets of rusting and an acid-weeping magical hammer. After about a minute, a hole is opened and Ron’j! sticks his arm through to unbar the door. He receives a large dose of electricity for his troubles. As Nils drags him away from the door – muttering about undetected traps – the real cause for alarm becomes evident. A rakasha! OSR! No…just a minute. Dalliance projects her image into the room, then slams a Wall of Force across the opening, then proceeds to batter the creature to death with a spell of clenched fist. The group rejoices, then presses on…
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