38th session: The Rod of Power

9th moon, 17th day, year 4554
Once again back in Menzo and rested (Nalfein quickly shed all adverse effects from his encounter with the specters), the brothers bask in the glory that killing the Queen of Drows has gotten them. Everywhere they go, their dark elf brethens are clearly impressed with them.

9th moon, 18th day, year 4554
The T'orghs are summoned to the Temple of Asmodeus. Two officers of House Argith and House Hume, along with 40 elite guards, come and escort them to the Temple. Before leaving, they are warned by Father to be vary of what they say.

Up in the Temple, they are presented to High Priest Da'kar Argith and High Priest Q'lor Hume. They are respectively protected by a Pit Fiend and G'lor, weaponsmaster of House Hume and first warrior of Menzo.

The two high priests enquire about the scrolls, about the drows, the balor, and last but not least, about Nalfeins plans to become High Priest of House T'orgh. The brothers leave after a lengthy chat, not really sure why they were summoned, except for a few hints and perhaps threats.

9th moon, 20th day, year 4554
The T'orghs take the portal to Hope, and head north into the mountains, towards the Mountain of Despair, the volcano that holds the Temple of Azarath and the Rod of Hope.

9th moon, 28th day, year 4554
After 8 days of climbing through the mountains, killing a few stupid orcs and ogres on the way, the brothers arrive at the Mountain of Despair. They promptly enter the tunnels, heading towards the Temple, which is in fact a whole city.

9th moon, 29th day, year 4554
The brothers are attacked by a mind flayer, who apparently knows them:

Ah, T’orgh brothers. Finally I find you. I will feast on your brains and then tell my allies how to destroy your House, using your knowledge. Delicious, right?

He says right before attacking them, along with his two hulking abominations. The battle is quick and brutal, with both Nalfein, Jegred, Belos and Ta'gar falling prey to his mind. Luckily for them, Jeffrey has no such thing, and is able to finish off the foes.

9th moon, 30th day, year 4554

The brothers arrive at the Temple of Azarath, a city built around the center of the volcano. They head down for a central structure, avoiding all dwarven ghosts, and investigate the 4 sections. They quickly find the first valve, and battle a fire, earth and air elemental that are summoned as they pass through the room towards the valve.

Vary of traps, they spot that 3 of the statues in the second room are magical. From great distance, Belos imprisons two of the statues behind a wall of iron, and thus the brothers only face one iron golem before they can turn off the second valve.

In the third room, they use magic to locate all the trigger traps and dimension door to avoid them, completely bypassing any eternal guardians there.

In the last valve room, as they enter, a radiant being appears, an angel.

I, Doranor, 23rd angel of Moradin, command you to stop. You must go no further. The last valve must not be closed. The power trapped inside the volcano will only bring death and destruction to the world, and despite what you may think, it can not be controlled. So leave immediately, dark elves of House T’orgh, or I will kill you without mercy.

A few spells are exchanged, and then Ta'gar closes in for melee and chops off the head of the angel. Dead. The last valve is closed, and the T'orghs can hear a rumbling. They head out and head towards where the entrance to the volcano and the Rod of Power must be, when they suddenly find themselves facing a 60' feet tall towering inferno, with the hint of a man-shape behind the flames.

Thank you for liberating Imix, mortals. 3000 years is a long time to be imprisoned, even for an immortal. Tremble before the almighty Imix   Now feel his flames of wrath. Imix will destroy you, then the rest of your world. 

Ta'gar wants to leave, but the others want to stay. Before anything can happen, however, they are hit by a very thick and hot wall of fire that expands, nay explodes out from Imix, and hits them hard. Belos  is down and dying, and Ta'gar decides he was right and ports back to Menzo, leaving Nalfein to face the beast on his own. Nalfein, wise beyond years, decides to follow his two brothers, and just as he fades out, he sees Imix tossing the biggest fireball he has ever soon at him.

Note:

Armors should be done around 11th month, 5th day.