Truush showdown II

Session 83

Lotus is back and says a healing word for Maltheo bringing him back up with 8 hp. Gold attacks Briya with cold and hits twice but is immune to her cold-attack retaliation. Maltheo takes Cass and action-dashes toward the portal area and activates patient defense. Gold's uses two charges of a legendary action to shadow dash out of grapple, appear next to Maltheo, and make one attack that misses. Briya moves and attacks Gold and crits for some big damage. Æsheryn tries to Heal Maltheo but is counter spelled, even after silvery barbs from Cass. Red sun moves into melee with Æsheryn. Cass inspects the portal: It's abyssal/demonic. Very much Truush's entire aesthetic. A pure damage wall that might take 2 magical dispels to bring it down. The crystal is spinning faster and faster. Is it a timer? Truush moves up to Briya and is energized at feeling that the battle is turning in his favor. He hits Briya back into her regular form and keeps attacking.

The crystal changes from green to red. A demon appears: The Herald of Blood.

Lotus moves his song-of-creation snake up to the Herald and hits him. Gold spear attacks Maltheo and he goes down. It's his turn now and he fails a death save. The Herald points at Red Sun "you need to fight harder". Blood starts to pour out of Red, but though damaged, seems to want to fight harder. Briya moves away from Truush, and casts Draconic Transformation. Breath weapons basically everyone but Æsheryn. Red fails; Gold fails; Herald fails; Truush saves. 32 dmg on failure. Æsheryn tries asking Corellon for divine intervention but is unanswered. Red hits for 13 damage. Misses the other two, and his blood rage ends. Cass casts Resilient Sphere on the crystal itself. It seems to immediately power down. But the green shields remain. Herald of Blood starts vibrating as though it can't stay in place. Cass casts contingency and dimension doors back all the way into the library. Truush moves to Lotus, angrily, and hits Lotus, who falls prone. "You little purple boy; where is your kitty cat." Lotus lies really well and gives Truush a pause.

Lotus misty steps and appears next to Red and it dies from the extra fire magic. As it dies, strange fey magic gives a shared mental connection. Lotus can ask one question to the Spirit of Where. Asks about Axon. Last thing in mind is an image of where Axon is. It's recognized instantly that weeks (months?) ago he was in that very room watching someone (Kra'naelen) be resurrected for the first time. He's in Rosohna with a crossbow, wearing light armor that is functional and not fancy, and sitting with Niminion Theyless!

Then Lotus tries vicious mockery on Truush but fails. Truush legendary action moves to Æsheryn. Gold moves around behind Briya and takes an opportunity attack from Maltheo, who hits with sneak attack, tries to stun and succeeds. Truush legendary action attacks Æsheryn and misses. Maltheo attacks Gold and hits twice, then moves away to behind the crystal. The Herald drags the snake away and then moves from it, so the snake opportunity attacks the Herald and hits for 26. Herald attacks Lotus with a blood whip for 15 and is grappled. Briya breath weapons again. Gold success; Herald fail; Truush success; 33 dmg. Herald dies in green fire. As does the snake. Briya dispels one of the green shields. (east). Truush legendary action attacks Æsheryn but misses again. Æsheryn dispels the second shield. Cass hides (still in library). Truush is still angry and raises his hand and summons a giant ice storm. Dex save. People are hit hard. Briya hurt, but keeps dragon form. Æsheryn keeps banishment.

Lotus targets Gold and Truush with banishment. Both save. Gives bardic inspiration to Æsheryn and moves away. Truush legendary action attacks Æsheryn and misses again. Gold attacks Briya and hits, knocking her unconscious. Maltheo attacks Gold. Pleads to Cass to handle the crystal. Hits Gold twice and kills it. The Spirit of How. Hate fills Maltheo's heart remembering all his past. "How do I kill the king?" – "The king is already dying. It's been so for quite some time." (images of Lorna's spy that we saw; his gaunt, old form; feel that the king however has insane drive to see the war to the end. Knows he's on borrowed time. Especially compared to Elves. Crown has multiple enchantments in it) "The king will die if you remove his crown. But you must also kill the prince."

Maltheo knows all he has to do now is befriend the prince.

Then he takes Briya's health potion and gives it to her. 7 hp restored.

Briya stands, and casts Mass healing word, but Truush counter spells it. She transforms into a displacer beast. Truush legendary action attacks Æsheryn and finally hits. Æsheryn channels divinity and heals Lotus and Maltheo. Cass moves toward us again, to the dais. Truush ice storms. Lots of damage goes out.

Lotus animates objects (10 bones) to take the crystal 30 feet away from the dais. Maltheo moves and holds action for Briya to be in melee to unleash shadow blade stuff. Truush legendary action x2 to give himself a darkness shroud. Briya as a displacer beast hits once on Truush. Maltheo's reaction kicks in and he attacks. Æsheryn heals himself and moves away. Cass history checks the purpose of the crystal. The material plane portal used to be in the "town square" back when Molaesmyr was an actual settlement. Then receiving the Beacon from her lover, corruption took hold on the Queen of Fate and Flow, and this whole area, and blocked the portal. Maybe what was powering the portal in the town square was something else. (before queen and before beacon) So maybe it was this crystal? Truush spent time putting this plan in motion. Logic therefore dictates that it may be the power source for the original portal, but has been modified. Corrupted also. Cass hides. Truush's darkness fades. He looks around and considers options. Maybe he could leave? Maltheo taunts him on to stay, "You're just going to leave?" Truush uses high slot to hit Maltheo and Briya with Horrid Wilting. It hits Maltheo brutally. Briya is unscathed.

Lotus psychic lances Truush. Takes damage but uses legendary resistance. Bones move the crystal toward Æsheryn. Maltheo holds his attack for Briya to be in melee. Briya moves into melee and attacks. Maltheo attacks. Æsheryn misses with guiding bolt and sticks the crystal in his bag. Cass uses her staff's (mind scorcher) 9th-level scorching ray. Truush attacks Maltheo and knocks him unconscious. 2 death failures. Nat 20 tail attack. Cass silvery barbs. But Maltheo still dies. Maltheo's last thoughts, that we all hear. To Truush: "You're still gonna fail!" and to us: "I'm sorry; remember your promises."

Lotus psychic lances again but is legendarily resisted and gives Bardic Inspiration to Briya. Legendary action bites Briya for 31 piercing. Briya attacks and moves away. Legendary action to move to Æsheryn. Æsheryn tries to blind him but can't. Legendary action to attack but misses. Briya reaction-attacks but misses. Cass Hastes Briya. Truush attacks Æsheryn but misses. Hits Briya for 22 piercing. Grappled + restrained.

Lotus. Rolls a 1 on the d12. King of Fate and Flow arrives. Psychic lance on Truush. Orders fingers to attack Truush. King walks to Cass and drops a scroll at her feet. Guiding bolts Truush. Briya regains some HP and crits attacking Truush. Misses on the hasted attack. Legendary action attack back on Briya. 41 piercing damage. Briya goes unconscious. Æsheryn uses last channel divinity to bring her back and give health to Cass. Legendary action from Truush hits Briya again. Cass looks at the scroll. It's Gorgeous, done in insanely intricate script with an image of a crystal wand. Included in the scroll is a small crystalline object. It's a pure magical substance of the feywild. Invaluable does not begin to describe this item. Many many many many thousands of gold. "Imprisonment spell". Momentary stasis fails from Cass. Truush takes Briya down.

Lotus healing words Briya, but is counter spelled. Vicious mockery but saves. Bones attack. Legendary action from Truush kills Briya; silvery barbs; the attack still succeeds. She dies. Dying thoughts: "Why did I come on this trip?" The King casts Banishing Smite on his attack but misses both on Truush. Æsheryn Tolls the Dead. Truush attacks him and misses. Cass tries to Momentary Stasis but saves. Truush attacks Æsheryn and misses three times in a row.

Lotus casts Dissonant Whispers, bringing Truush low. The animated twigs, of all things, kill him, drag him to the portal, poke him on the sharp bits, and they de-animate. Æsheryn revivifies Briya in shards of stained glass divine light. Briya does the same with vines wrapping Maltheo's body. Tries to revivify him but it doesn't seem to be successful.

To be continued...