Ugwaerel moved forward and teleported into the midst of the adventurers. Using her Cloak of Ignorance she blasted everyone but Mara and became invisible to them. Then she attacked Pretis with Shocking Grasp. The party reacted with their own attacks which did considerable damage while Mara dispatched the last Ghoul and moved toward Ugwaerel. The battle continued as Ugwaerel proved to be a significant enemy.
As Ugwaerel became bloodied she blasted the party with Horrific Visage pushing some adventurers away from her. Alternately blinded and weakened, Ugwaerel moved up to Pretis and caused 31 points of damage in a weakened state. After the shock wore off the party redoubled their efforts facing Thundering Claws at every turn. Just as the party thought Ugwaerel might fall she stood tall and kept attacking. Finally the enemy fell and the party collapsed exhausted to the floor.
After a short rest a search was started and revealed that Ugwaerel was wearing gauntlets and a ring. The alchemical equipment on the altar was uninteresting and everyone kept Demin away from the utter black sphere. Lythandar and Melisana determined that they had garnered a Ring of Invigoration, probably used by Ugwaerel as she fell to 0 HPs. Also the Gauntlets were Vampiric Gautlets and Pretis then knew that the weakened 31 HP attack had been the result of this magic.
The party was determined to move forward even though several members were very low on Healing but a rest could not be had now. Mara checked the area for hidden or secret doors or chambers. Finding none the party moved to the double doors leading west. These were not locked or trapped and Mara flung them open to find a coal black chamber split by a 20' chasm running north-south. A shattered span of stone may once have connected the two sides of the chamber, but most of it apparently had been claimed by the chasm. Several large humanoids with massive bows stood on the far side of the chasm. They had chains attached to them that also attached to the walls. Behind them was a apparent wall composed of hundreds of flying skulls with grinding, gnashing teeth which resembled a blade barrier.
The Ogres immediately set to firing volleys of arrows across the room. The party quickly moved to the sides of the narthex area and everyone pulled out their ranged weapons. Mara was the exception as she struggled to find a way to attack the Ogres. As the Ogres started to be hit by various ranged attacks them moved back through the skulls, which disappeared, and the group could see another chamber dominated by a portal archway. The portal stood on the western wall and heavy mist filled the interior of the arch. Veins of oily fog spread out from beneath the arch, running along the walls as if exploring. In front of the archway were three half-ogres who began yelling at the Ogres in some unknown tongue.
An unchained Ogre moved up toward the arch firing his bow. Melisana moved forward, sprouted wings, flew over the chasm, then dazed several of the creatures. The Ogre moved toward her but she flew back without taking damage. Every so often in the battle a party member would start attacking their fellow adventurers which caused anxiety among the members wondering where and attack may come from next. Mara decided to gather some doors, tables, bodies, or trash to create a barrier in the Nave area. When she returned as barrier was established close to the chasm and Pretis ducked down behind it. Mara crouched their still trying to determine how to get to the Ogres.
The Ogres started to fall but the half-ogres moved up out of sight of most of the party and finally Mara decided to jump over the half broken span. She made a mighty leap and succeeded in landing safely on the far side. She immediately became the focus of the battle. Melisana moved up to the edge of the chasm and yelled that everyone should move up close to the edge and by her and she would teleport them across the chasm. Having accomplished this goal the group was beset by the remaining Ogres and half-ogres.
From the shadows of the Apse a staff wielding ogre emerged throwing magic missiles. From the Apse 3 human warriors also emerged with longswords. The remaining Ogres fell and a half-ogre was pushed over the edge of the chasm and fell into the abyss. Korbadur the Cruel fired off a cacophonous Burst pushing part of the party to the edge of the abyss also. While Pretis engaged a human warrior and two half-ogres the rest of the party was under siege from the Ogre Mage and the rest of the enemy.
Pretis, who had one surge left, was granted Cure Serious wounds from Alhellara. She also used a Inspiring Word on Gofin, who was also low on surges. Korbadur the Cruel cast Brilliant Chains on Mara, while secondarily hitting Pretis. Lythandar teleported out of danger from the chains. Alhellara used her battle surge as again most of the party was bloodied and low on surges. Demin stood back firing crossbow bolts at any enemy he could see while Melisana sprouted wings again and flew into the fray with Dawn's Blazing Fingers. Gofin teleported across the chasm, ran to the pick up the Starndard and returned to the edge of the chasm. Meanwhile a human warrior ended up in the chasm and Korbadur the Cruel fell from his various wounds. Gofin teleported back across the chasm to the warrior she left meaning to attack. Unfortunately he fell to Demin's ministrations at that moment. All the enemy was now dead and the was exhausted once again.
After a short rest a search of the Apse uncovered 9200 GP and a 5000 GP gem. Also there was a Skull Helm and a set of Spirit Chainmail +3. The Apse contained the arch and the mist also ran across the ceiling. A layer of fallen plaster covered the floor in dunes and drifts, though the walls and ceiling still contained a few patches of white. The drifts were much trampled and bloodstained. The group found Iuz grinning skull tattoos on the Ogres and Warriors. Ugwaerel had a tattoo of the eye in hand symbol of Vecna.
At the end of a long day the group settled down for an extended rest.
Scorecard: The adventurers gained 3243 XP for these encounters and now have 48084 XP and are 14th level. They need 8916 more XP to reach 15th level. The ring of Invigoration was claimed by Pretis, the Vampiric Gautlets by Gofin, the Skull Helm by Demin and the Spirit Chainmail by Melisana.
DM Note: I allowed the party to purchase a 10th level item at this point even though they are nowhere near a town, or other emporia. This was merely to allow them to use most of the gems and GP they had gathered.
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