After a good night's rest (thanks to Rolen's silence), the Godsends moved on, further on through the Abyssal jungle. Suddenly, without warning, they were jumped by 3 different types of demons, which normally indicates some organization. Soon after, they were attacked by more demons, again several different types. Neither fights were very hard, but...
A short bit after killing the last of the demons, the forest was filled with the sound of bone-drums hammering away. The Godsends headed towards the sound, but when the sounded stopped and the howling began, they figured that trouble might be coming their way, and hid, polymorphed as beetles, under rocks and trees. Soon enough, another 20 demons came rushing through the forest, obviously looking for the Godsends.
The Godsends ditched their followers, but headed towards where the sound of drums had originated from. They soon found themselves surrounded by more than 100 demons of all sizes and shapes, talking with the demon-ape that was obviously their leader. He offered to show them the demongate, if they would kill a behir, spawn of Demogorgon for him.
The Godsends were more than happy to agree, and headed "east", following his instructions. After miraculously avoiding a monster goristro called "The Beast", the Godsends arrived at the swamp inhabited by the demonic behir. There they soon found its lair, and assaulted the monster. The fight started poorly, with GrubKo getting swallowed and almost eaten, but in the end it died, and GrubKo could climb out of its stomach, rather wounded and a lot more smelly...
Returning back to the demon with which they had a deal, the Godsends once again avoided the Beast.
Once back and having handed over the horns of the behir as proof of their deed, they were shown the way to the demongate.
The Godsends jumped through the portal, and found themselves in an Eladrin Stronghold in the Feywild. There they convinced the fairly skeptical Eladrins that they were the good guys, and were shown the way to the nearest fey crossing, so that Hwygar could port them back to the mortal world..
Freeday 6th Auktaubor, Year 1456
Back in Argent, Rolen went into the temple and meditated. His efforts were rewarded, and even though some dark presence tried to attack his mind, he managed to summon a angel of Erathis, who told him that in order to find out more about the Divine Engine, he would have to find a former exarch of Moradin called Vedalt or a tribe of Astral Giants (The giants of the Temple of Inchoate Mysteries) who resided somewhere in the Astral Sea. Rolen also learned that 3 pieces of the Divine Engine was enough to free Piranoth, if there was a god to "stand in" for the missing pieces.
Talking to the high priest shaman of the goliaths formerly of Bliss, the Godsends also learned that there are only 4 Sky Gems and that it is their mere presence that weaken Piranoth.
It was quickly decided that it would be easier to find Vedalt, the mysterious hermit, than looking for a semi-secret and reclusive tribe of astral giants in the infinite Astral Sea.
Mansday 9th Auktaubor, Year 1456
The Godsends ported back to Drahar, where they spend a few days crafting items and talking to acquaintances. It seems all was nice and quiet in the Empire at the moment. Then they headed to Arul-Matuk with a caravan, but unfortunately there was no orcs or goblins that attacked them.
Onsday 11th Auktaubor, Year 1456
Arriving in Arul-Matuk, the Godsends immediately started to search for a map and a captain able to sail them to the Shimmering Island (as they found out it was called), more than 3000 miles west of Arul-Matuk, in the middle of fucking nowhere. But just as they were heading down to the harbor, in order to meet with captain Haddock, the buccaneer they had been recommended, they received a message from Obamar.
Argent is under attack, come back quick!
Rolen promptly headed to the nearest inn, got a room and ported back to Argent. There they found Obamar assaulted by some drows and fire archons. After the attackers were dispatched, he asked them to find the other intruders who were heading towards the Vault (where 1/5th of the Divine Engine was locked up), while he repaired the magical defenses and prevented further intrusions.
Rushing to the Vault, the Godsends ran into some hill giants and some air archons, but they were also quickly dispatched. Arriving at the Vault, GrubKo kicked in the door, and they found themselves facing a fomorian with Tharizdun-tattoos, some water archons, a hill giant shaman and G'az. G'az didn't seem all too surprised to see them there, muttering "I knew it!" under his breath.
And then the memories came back...
Your vision blurs, and you suddenly find yourself standing on a ship with no sails, yet moving through what must be the Elemental Chaos at a breathtaking speed. Lightning storms, earth modes and random explosions are all around you. Behind is a goblin with an eye-patch controlling the ship with his will. You sense that his control is absolute as he is navigating this chaos with his eyes closed.
And then you remember. The one-eyed goblin is Zug-Zug, a goblin with extraordinary powers who has been in your service for years.
A couple of miles in front of you lies Tir-Ek-Nator, the sleeping place of Piranoth, the Destroyer of Worlds.You have been informed by Bane that Asmodeus' and Ioun's intel suggest that this is where Piranoth is resting after the latest battles. While far from the most powerful of Primordials, Piranoth has been deemed to be an important key to winning the war against Tharizdun and the Hordes of Madness.
As you approach Tir-Ek-Nator, you are so not impressed with the home of one of the best known Primordials. From here, it just looks like a huge active volcano floating in the Elemental Chaos.
Zug-Zug lands at the foot of the volcano.
Here we are, Mylords. I will be circling this area, within range of your portal. Just let me know if I can go home, aye? Do not forget and let me wait for a week in a god forsaken place like this.
As you jump off the ship, you notice that even if it is hotter than Asmodeus' home, many of the rocks of the volcano appears to be made of ice. But that is not the only thing that is wrong. Something feels out of place. It's like a deja-vu, only with a few changes. All your friends seem to have the same expression on their faces - except for one... Hwygar. The druid has an entirely different look on his face. One of determination and wonder, as if he is here for the very first time.
As you approach the base of the volcano, you can see that the only entrance seems to be behind a huge (30x30) set of double doors. As you come closer, you can sense the magic permeating the area.
After disabling the door, the Godsends entered the home of Piranoth. Going down, a tunnel flanked by lava rivers provided only one direction. After going down a bit, blackstar elementals suddenly surged out of the lava rivers, zerging the Godsends. They died, but kept coming. Finally, after killing more than 40 of the elementals, the Godsends could move on. Going down, they encountered some much bigger blackstar elementals, which almost cost Eric his life, when he was pushed into the lava river.
Going further down, they arrived in a large cave, with a lava river with a small island in the middle, a portal circle and some caves. The island in the middle of the river held a 20' diameter black marble sphere, which the Godsends deduced to be some sort of very ancient communication device. As they were about to consider activating it, they got company.
Ah, the godlings. You must be delusional for showing up here, thinking you will even get near my Lord and Master, who rests in preparation of the attack on Heaven. Yes, indeed, it's coming soon, and there is little your pitiful gods and armies can do. But you have been noticed. Instead of wasting your time fighting for a lost cause, how about you join us in the undoing of the universe?Harkk, the fomorian from Argent, was there, and he meant business. In his company was also a gargantuan dracolich. The battle was long and fierce (well, not for Harkk, he was split in two by GrubKo), and right up until the end, it looked as if this would end poorly for the Godsends. But then Rolen got back up, and healed everyone up at once, tipping the battle to the favor of the Godsends.
And then Piranoth awoke. Luckily for the Godsends, they had just the time to rest a bit, before the Primordial made his entrance. He was mighty and powerful, but the Godsends were well prepared and ready, and after a looooong fight, Piranoth died, with all Godsends still alive and (relatively) well.
And then the memory faded, and the Godsends found themselves once again back in Argent, facing Harkk (although a much younger version), Gaz and the other evil creatures...
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