17th of Flamerule of the year 1492
Realizing that locking the portal might have been a grave mistake, the party was struck by the grim consequences of their actions. The portal’s closure had inadvertently deactivated all the summoning and protection circles, unleashing a horde of elementals throughout the level—and potentially on other levels as well. The room that Angelica and Vladimir rushed into was a chaotic battleground, filled with the swirling forms of hostile elementals. Though their numbers were not overwhelming, the challenge was compounded by the explosive mephits whose self-destruction sent icy shrapnel in all directions. Combined with the elementals’ relentless attacks, the party found themselves taking far more damage than they had anticipated, their strength waning with every passing moment.
Water Elemental
As the dust settled, the group realized with a sinking feeling that nearly half an hour had passed since they sealed the portal. Their hearts pounded with apprehension as they cautiously ascended the stairs, knowing that something ominous awaited them above. Their fears were confirmed when they reached the next level. The cultists, who had somehow been roused from their slumber or summoned by dark means, had prepared an ambush. Crates had been dragged from distant corners to form barricades, blocking every exit. The north-facing double doors, which the party had ignored in their haste to reach the lower levels, were now firmly barred. The southern door, which had been spiked shut, was unspiked and wide open. Within the room, guards armed with heavy crossbows, acolytes chanting dark incantations, and a menacing high priest of the water cult awaited them, their eyes gleaming with malice.
Water Cultist Priest
The cultists were ready for battle. Though the party was not caught off guard, they were in no condition to face such an onslaught. Already battered and bleeding from their encounter with the elementals, they now faced a foe who would not only test their resolve but push them to the brink of death. The guards were formidable, but it was the high priest who proved to be the greatest threat. His command over water was terrifying, conjuring a massive wave that crashed into the party, sending them tumbling down the stairs. Several members were knocked unconscious as the relentless tide battered them. Amidst the chaos, Angelica was overwhelmed, succumbing to her wounds and drowning as the water surged around her. The situation seemed dire until ISAC, thinking quickly, used his only scroll of Revivify to bring her back from the brink of death. Despite their exhaustion and the mounting injuries, the party managed to wear down the high priest, eventually overcoming him and securing the floor.
Acolytes
As the adrenaline faded, the party found themselves in a state of disarray. They scoured the area, picking through the pockets of the fallen and gathering what weapons they could find, but their actions were aimless, driven more by survival instincts than by strategy. Dancer, always vigilant, dashed up the stairs to scout ahead. There, he heard the unmistakable sounds of cultists preparing in the warehouse above, their footsteps echoing ominously. He hurried back to warn the others, who hastily tried to prepare for the inevitable battle, though the time for careful planning had long since passed. Nearly half an hour ticked by in tense silence, the party’s nerves fraying as they awaited the cultists’ next move.
Soldiers
Finally, the cultists struck. A large contingent of guards, more acolytes, a knight clad in imposing armor, and an arcane caster of unknown power descended upon the party. Yllanys, desperate to buy time, slammed down a wall of ice to slow their advance and give his comrades a chance to reposition. But their efforts were in vain—the enemy caster shattered the icy barrier with a wave of destructive magic, and the knight charged forward with terrifying speed. The battle that followed was the most harrowing the party had ever faced. With their resources nearly depleted and their strength flagging, they were pushed to their absolute limits. The whirlpool created by the cult’s magic trapped some members, while others were driven to the far edges of the floor, barely clinging to life as they fended off the relentless onslaught.
Knight
Arcane Caster
In this desperate fight for survival, the party was forced to expend every last ounce of their strength. Nearly every member fell unconscious at least once, some multiple times, their lives hanging by the thinnest of threads. At one point, with only a few guards and the arcane caster remaining, the battle seemed all but lost. Dancer and Fwoosh, the party’s two rogues, were captured and bound, their struggles futile against the overwhelming force of their captors. When the dust finally settled, it became clear just how close they had come to total annihilation. Those who still drew breath did so with great difficulty, their bodies battered and broken. But for Angelica, there would be no revival this time. She had fallen in battle once more, this time permanently. The magic that might have saved her had been exhausted, and the only hope of bringing her back now lay in finding someone else with the power to intervene.
And this is where the session ended.
