Much to the party’s chagrin, the twelve doors in the room all lead to small closets. None of them contain anything of real note. They’re just your classic storage rooms, and nothing more.
After doing a spot of healing, the party advances on the next set of teleportation circles. This one is just like the first, with no indication of where it leads. When they arrive at their destination, a righteous stench assaults their nostrils.
The room contains large metal tables, which occupy the majority of the space. While gathering their bearings, the party sees multiple warriors of wrath tending to a steaming vat. From where they’re standing, they see the vat’s contents writhing and stretching.
Instantly, the warriors move to attack. Having faced similar warriors in the previous room, the party has an idea of what they’re up against. Barnaby leads the charge by climbing up on the tall table.
As the warriors advance, Fyn incapacitates half of them with a prismatic spray. The other half summon fireballs with mixed success.
This battle really is a tale of two cities when compared to the last fight. Like well-machined clockwork, the party handles the oncoming threat. These warriors tend to favor their martial abilities over the magical ones, which bodes well for this group of heroes.
There is little threat or danger, and the party comes through mostly unscathed.
The Protoflesh
Once the warriors are taken care of, the party advances on the source of the stench. The vat’s contents are gray, constantly shifting and reshaping. It’s reminiscent of Saruman’s creation of the Urak-hai.
Having read about this material in the Therassic Library, Fyn recognizes this as protoflesh. Essentially, it is a raw material in the creating of sinspawn. It’s also incredibly volatile and can cause deformations if accidentally touched.
Believing this to be an integral part of a world-domination ploy, the party resolves to destroy it. Fyn cautiously dispels the magical flames. Instantly, the protoflesh lets out the whisper of a scream before hardening inside the vat.
Content, the party heads back to the previous room and uses the second set of teleportation circles. These ones take them to another room in the Halls of Wrath. Gorgeous depictions of Runelord Alaznist decorate the walls, except for a thick wall of black smoke.
Fyn recognizes this smoke as nothing more than an illusion, and the party walks through. The resulting chamber is gigantic, complete with a silver Sihdreon motif in the floor and ceilings made of roiling flame.
A glabrezu demon hulks in the center of the room, accompanied by a ferocious woman. She has two shaved lines running along the top of her head, capped by a spiky white mohawk. Her armor is a brilliant red hue, shining illustriously in the flickering fire. A long, pointed ranseur rests in her hands.
“For fury, and hellfire!” she bellows. The fight is on!
Is this Runelord Alaznist, in the flesh? What was she planning to do with the protoflesh? Will a lack of rest come back to bite the party?