20th session: The trials of Asmodeus

10th moon, 29th day, year 4553
After a quick trek back to the duergar mine, the brothers hand in the head of the drow and secure safe passage out of the Underdark.

10th moon, 30th day, year 4553
The brothers meet Krul, their duergar guide, and head out into the maze-like Underdark. They quickly realise that even though they are only a few miles below the surface, they would probably never have gotten out alive.

11th moon, 3rd day, year 4553
After a 3-day march through the Underdark, where the only significant opposition was a handful of hook horrors, the T'orghs finally see the sun again. They exit the dark below in a cave in Dragon Mountain and soon head for Menzo.

11th moon, 4th day, year 4553
At once back in Menzo, the brothers brief their father on the mission of Master Rhylar, especially the part about a traitor house working against Asmodeus.

High Priest Venar uses Nalfein to connect magically with Master Rhylar, and Nalfein explains that they have his bottle, and Master Rhylar agrees to swing by and to pick it up in person.

While they wait, they spend some time training, buying new spells. Amongst others, Belos learns identify and immediately succeeds in identifying the maul. It is indeed the Maul of the Titans.

They also learn that the vampire they killed in the Underdark was a noble of House Jhalavar.

11th moon, 10th day, year 4553
Master Rhylar arrives, sitting atop a very big and very shadowy dragon. He informs Father, uncle and the brothers that the scrolls of Asmodeus that they have are as suspected the original ones. Asmodeus planted them in the mortal world, so that his followers could proove themselves to him. In order to gain access to the scrolls' powers, one must surive and complete 16 trials posed by Asmodeus himself. He also explains that the runes on the wall in the temple are keyed to the trials. Activate a rune to get a trial. He also shows them how to do that.

The brothers and Father decide that the best course of action to take is for the brothers to attempt to complete the 16 trials, so that they can command the power of the scrolls in the coming face-off with House Jhalavar.

11th moon, 11th day, year 4553
The brothers once again leave Menzo and head northwest, to the temple where they found the scrolls.

Belos' health improves as well, he doesn't feel as weak from the energy drain as he has the last month, but he is still not at his best.

On the way to the temple, they run into a snake of epic proportions, but even though it is big, it is no match for the blades of Tagar.

11th moon, 19th day, year 4553
The T'orghs arrive at the temple, and activate a random symbol. It changes to the symbol of earth, and a horned devil appears.

"To the south-west, 10 days on foot from this forsaken place, lies the nameless hills north of the Red Lake. There, Chief Grask, leader of the Skullsmasher clan plans a ritual in 8 days, at midnight. You must stop the ritual and bring back 10 liters of the chief's blood to be poured over the altar in the House of T'orgh. Eternal life to the Lord of Light, so it was at the beginning, so it will be at the end."

Wasting no time, the brothers head out again, and by using fly and free action spells, they make up for the time and arrive at the giant lair seven days later, after stumbling over some well-equipped goblins whom they interrogated about the precise location of the giants.

11th moon, 26th day, year 4553
The brothers sneak into the chieftain's lair, bypassing most of the tribe, and try to kill him while he is sleeping. Unfortunately, a magical alarm wakes him, but they still manage to kill and drain his blood before the wall of fire that is blocking for the other giants ends.