Rise of the Runelords

Again you went through the normal morning routine. Wolfgar had a good day, so you all felt better going into the day with Edwin having a Heal ready to go.  Airwalks all around and you headed back up into the spire.  You opened the doors at the top of the spiral ramp to meet a rune giant waiting for you.  Edwin had already cast mass resistances to everything he could, so the giants cone of fire/sparks did little damage.  You quickly moved in.  Expecting a tank-n-spank, you were a little surprised when the giant withdrew into the large room you fought in just yesterday.  You followed.  It continued to withdraw toward the next room where the lamias were.  You fired arrows, cast spells and threw whatever you could at the retreating giant until it stopped in front of the opening to the pagoda-like structure you had seen yesterday.  It was quite hurt.  You had stopped at the entrance to this room realizing the giant was pulling into something - and ambush, trap, or something else.

There was a brief lull as you sized each other up and some of you cast a few more defensive/protective spells.  Then Golian (invisibile) and Balros started to inch forward hoping to draw the giant toward them.  Sounds of spellcasting started from the room but no one could readily see from where exactly.  The giant was suddenly nearly healed as two lamia harridans maoved out from the pagoda behind the giant.  Golian suddenly appeared. "Damn invisibility purge!" Balros heard him grumble as he moved closer to Balros.  Malloric and Henrik were not far behind.  Edwin, DArgo and Pirozzi were bringing up the rear. Soon the other spellcasting finished and an ice devil appeared near the statue.  That was enough for Pirozzi to see the mage but still no enough for a target specific spell.  He instead silenced the area, but not before a familiar, glowing red 'pea' shot out landing amongst the group.  The group scattered and the wizard and one lamia retreated to get out of the silenced area.  The giant, Golian and Balros were trading blows and Malloric was moving and firing arrows.  Henrik and Wolfgar headed toward the devil.

The giant took a step backward as one harridan cast a blade barrier around Golain and Balros.  The other took a few quick steps and lept over the statue and landed near Malloric and Edwin.  Henrik and Wolfgar were headed toward the mage who cast a spell at them that was dissipated by their rune-forged weapons.

Malloric was firing like crazy at the giant and lamias when one of them took a few quick steps and lept over the statue landing near him.  D'Argo, Edwin and Pirozzi backed away.  A third lamia, yet another variety, came out of the pagoda.  One of her first actions was to circle Malloric in a blade barrier.  The lamia that landed near Him encircled Pirozzi in one.  Malloric was content to stay were he as even with the slight penalties for firing through the barrier.

Pirozzi cast air walk so he could get out. That took a few rounds.  D'Argo dimension door'd into the first blade barrier to grab Balros and Golian.  He was the target of a dispell magic and he lost his images.  Almost on cue, the third lamia blasted him with a ray and instead of zigging, he zagged and was hit square in the chest.  He turned to a pile of dust.  "That sucks!" Balros said, "We'll never get out of here now."

Henrik and Wolfgar were pushing the mage further back and closer to some of the lamias and giant.  The mage cast a spell and separated them with an invisible wall.  Now Henrik was the only one standing with the mage, two lamias and the giant.  With arrows from Malloric still flying the giant soon fell.  Pirozzi had by now 'walked' to near Wolfgar only to encounter the wall of force.  Edwin cast a long spell and was now standing next to an angelic creature.  Edwin grabbed onto its clothes and pointed to Balros and Golian.  The creature concentrated and then it and Edwin were next to the two in the barrier.  Edwin's (the angels) next action was to dimension door the bunch of them to slightly behind the enemy to help Henrik. Pirozzi flew up to find the top of the wall and started in again with spells.

Henrik was pounding on the main lamia and doing good damage, but she kept casting quickened cure spells each round.  She ran out after a few rounds.  The beat down commenced.  Once again, the mage was beaten hard and popped away before  you could kill him.  The last of the lamias fell, but not after dishing out some damage with her unholy dagger.

You pondered about what to do about D'Argo and decided you needed to hunt the mage down now.  You started down one hallway, then another before Golian said, "Hold up. I have an idea." as he cast a spell.  "Follow me."

You soon reached one particular door and forced it open. Inside was the mage and two summoned devils.  The group was getting low on spells and hit points, but so was he.  It didn't last long.

.