(G550 17/02/2024 via Roll20 - JF(GM), KT, AL) YI18

 (G550 17/02/2024 via Roll20 - JF(GM), KT, AL) YI18

[Fenrir, Giselle, Corhim and Dak have are inside the Fortress of the Yaun-ti.]

DAY 621 (14th Uktar) (November) cont ...

With the lower levels of the Fortress cleared of enemies and the prisoners all escaping through the main entrance, our heroes went up the ramps to the upper levels.

The fortress was on high alert now though and they met a squad of five strong yuan-ti abominations coming down. Fenrir started with the Eldritch Cones and the abominations shot back with Magic Missiles and Fireballs. Again, although lurking at the back, poor Corhim was hit by a Fireball and badly hurt. He cast Stinking Cloud from around the corner then went into hiding.

A squad of lizardmen arrived at the stairs, drawn by the sounds of battle. More Fireballs were thrown about and Thoburk was very nearly killed. Eventually though, Dak and Fenrir won the day, slaying most of their enemies and forcing the rest to retreat.

The first of the upper areas was dominated by a balcony that went around the top of the main hall below. From the balcony there were many doors to other rooms. They explored some of the rooms then moved on.

Fenrir tried to get rid of Thoburk, for his own safety, but Corhim kept on "helping" and interrupting. Perhaps he didn't want to be the only one that kept nearly dying?

The next chamber of interest they came to was the Gate Room. A strange electric glow was eclipsed by this chamber's four massive columns. Stone arches along the southwest and northwest walls were filled with maelstroms of brilliant green light that obscured whatever lay behind them. A similar arch stood in the west wall, but it did not glow. Beyond it was only blank stone.

Just then four yuan-ti half-bloods appeared at the stairs and attacked them, shooting arrows. Sparkledingle cast Glitterdust and Fenrir surrounded them with a Wall of Flame.

The half-bloods did not stand much of a chance and those that did not turn and flee through the flames were cut into pieces by Dak or blasted to death by Fenrir.

Moving on they found a barrack room with multiple bunks and foot lockers. They looted the lockers and went through to an area of guest rooms. These were dusty from lack of use, but they still opened up all the wardrobes and chests and took anything of value.

As they went up the ramp to the next level Fenrir cast Wall of Flame behind them to act as a block to anyone coming up behind them. The whole fortress was beginning to fill with smoke from all the fires he had been setting.

They entered a massive chamber, the largest they had seen in the citadel so far.  Multiple serpentine statues stood in niches along the north and south walls, and the room was crossed with two rows of big pillars. In the centre of the chamber stood a three-tiered ziggurat of black marble. 

Sparkledingle went to take a look at it. It seemed to radiate an aura of dread so he left it alone for now.

The went back down a level and looked a narrow set of stairs to the west. It was guarded by two lizardmen but Fenrir made short work of them. When he went to  look at the chamber (it was in the middle of the central tower) at the end of the stairs he saw a small dragon come flying out. It said , "Help me! Don't let them catch me again!"

This was just a ruse though and it flew into the large chamber and Dak attacked it, leaping into the air to get at it. He managed to grab the beast and they plunged down over the balcony into the hall were the skeletal dinosaur had been. They were both alive and wrestled on the ground for a bit until Dak managed to untangle himself, grab his falchion and chop its head off.