Rise of the Runelords

[ed.  short and to the point]

You made your way into the Halls of Wrath to find a large room overlooked by a very large iron statue with a bow in one hand.  You cautiously approached and as expected, it started to move.  It launched a volley of arrows of energy the size of ballista bolts first hitting Wolfgar with fire damage.  Edwin responded by yelling at everyone to stay put.  You mostly did as he cast a mass protection from fire.  It didn't do you much good as the next volley was cold and the next electric.  The group flew, dimensioned, door'd, air-walked and whatnot to get to the landing the golem was on.  It focused its attacks on the nearest to the hall behind the construct.  After much pommeling it was defeated.

You moved on to find some arcane circles in the floor, one red, one blue.  The runes translated roughly as 'In' and 'Out.'  You could get three people in one at a time.  As you did, you found yourselves teleported to another room.  The others followed. You did this a few times.  Each time coming to an area(s) occupied by fighter/mages (who loved fire spells - guess Edwin's protection paid off after all. Especially the time there were about 1 half a dozen fireballs all centered on the group and you took no damage.)

The last room was large and empty.  The only other exit aside from  the blue circle on the floor was what appeared to be a thick wall of smoke.  You formed up and buffed with what you had left.  The protection was still in effect.  Golian could not see through the smoke (fog).  Malloric girded himself against any ill effect and plunged into the smoke.  About 10' later, he came out the other side with the knowledge that he was to face another test.  The only thing the rest of the group heard was Malloric say, "You have got to be fucking kidding me."  as he faced a gargantuan demon in the middle of the room.  And that was not his test.  The rest followed.

Malloric informed the group that he was going to take on Lady Athroxis by himself and they were to handle the demon.

As Malloric made his way around the giant beast, Lady Athroxis hit nearly everyone else with a chain lightning spell as the demon summoned two Vrocks.  Pirozzi headed off to the side and Golian was making his way around to flank.  Balros, Henrik and Wolfgar waded up the middle to engage the demons.  It started badly.  The big demon had a gaze attack which periodically stunned individuals, but not for too long.  It attacked at least five time a round, but you were immune to it's poison tail sting. (again thanks to Edwin).  It looked to ward D'argo early in the battle and said "Your acid will avail you not here."  However, it's massive damage could not be that easily overcome.  Henrick collapsed under the weight of some massive blows.  While Balros and Wolfgar dispatched one Vrock.  Edwin though Henrik's abilities too valuable to not have in the fight so he cast a heal and Henrick rejoined the battle.  Pirozzi, safely off to one side was able to fire a few spells with effect (through the SR) and could keep an eye on Malloric at the same time. D'Argo, a bit dejected about the acid bit, resorted to buffing mostly.  However, it was D'Argo that decisively turned the battle.  He was able to get a slow spell through the creature's innate resistance.  From then it was nearly a cake walk.

Meanwhile, Malloric and Lady Athroxis were going at it with Malloric slowly getting the worse end of the deal.  Pirozzi had been helping with a few cures by way of his Spectral Hand.  D'Argo come up and cast a Glitterdust.  The protection from fire was saving Malloric from substantial fire damage and her stoneskin saved her from much physical damage.  Her buffs ran out first and Malloric finally landed several critical hits at once.  She fell.

.

There was a little discussion about following the lich, but only a little.  The trap door proved too heavy to heave open so you pulled out the chime of opening and down you went.  A steep stair ended in an empty room.  Your light showed the half dozen wraiths waiting for you. Confident in your abilities and knowing Edwin was only steps behind you headed in.  No sooner than the first took a few steps in, the far wall was illuminated showing the lich standing in the arch of an exit in mid cast.  As you engaged the wraiths, another devourer appeared.  Knowing how to handle them now, the undead only seemed to slow you down and give the lich a chance to leave unobserved.  Henrik was the first to the hall and peered around a corner.  Someone yelled "Stay together down here."  All he could see was an unnatural darkness anyway.

The group easily finished the wraiths and devourer and gathered in the hall.  Edwin's light sources were more than enough to overcome the dark at the end of the hall. When the natural illumination took over, you could see a thick wall of greenish gas covering the entry to the room.  It was hard to tell it's depth.  The first in made it only a few feet before being overcome by the noxious fumes.  All he could do was stand and wretch.  Golian ran in to try to pull him out and was overcome himself.  Many struggled to get through the deep cloud.  Once through the cloud, many were still nauseated even after several rounds.  You could see the lich in the rear of the room with a single sarcophagus in each of three alcoves to his left, right and rear.  Malloric started taking bow shots only to find they had little effect.  Golian was flying around to its rear, Pirozzi was shaking off the nausia and D'Argo was climbing the walls to stay out of the cloud. Edwin entered the room walking air.  A few spells were exchanged when the lich's confusion spell had some effect making Balros act very unpredictably.  D'Argo had enough of the lich's casting and laid down a black tentacles that covered nearly all the back of the room.  The lich was soon grappled.  Edwin, able to walk above the tentacles was heading in to try to land a heal on the undead when it cast the only spell it could.  Edwin was blinded.  The lich could do little while grappled.  It was merely a standing target for the group when it turned its attention to the sarcophagi behind it.  Instead of targetting any of you with a spell from its staff it cast at the stone itself setting off a trap that caused dozens of necromantic rays to spray in all directions from each of the coffins.  They did large amounts of damage to those near the lich and healed the unded for that same amount.  The group kept up the barrage with what ever was left.  D'Argo was able to land a grease on the lich's staff.  It could not hold it which effectively ended the fight.  The rays only seemed to occur every other round and you were able to do more damage than they healed.  Eventually the lich (un)died.

You looted the sarcophagi and rested.