Session 43

Heroes: Meghera, Serghor, Zark, Trull

The dark elf priestess introduces herself as Paellistra. From her the Heroes learn that they are in Undermontain, the lair of the legendary archmage Halaster (the Mad...). She does not seem eager to start a fight, but suggests the Heroes leave the lair with haste, to avoid the wrath of Halaster. Should he return while they're still there, he will not be as lenient as she is.

The Heroes hurry to explore the rest of the compound, and discover a pillar made of seven rotating chambers. When they enter the bottom chamber, they soon find out that the pillar contains seven portals to as many Lower Planes. Tracks of the modron march can be seen next to the portal leading to the Grey Waste. 

The guardian of the pillar makes his appearance: the vampire Crystivin first dominates the Heroes with his supernatural gaze, and sends them away. But when the Heroes shake off his spell,they return to the pillar, and destroy the vampire with powerful magic.

Now free to investigate the seven rooms, they notice that the magic of the pillar is failing, and the upper levels have stopped turning. The Heroes are about to leave, when Aach (the woman they met in Carceri previosuly) surprises them and traps them inside one of the inactive rooms. She plans to sell the secret to the portals to the best buyer, and does not want the Heroes to get back to Sigil before her. Yet her victory is short-lived, as Meghera, who was separated from the party, ambushes her and kills her.

Paellistra returns, and she's vexed by the fact that the Heroes have not yet left. Serghor, Zark and Trull are stuck in front of the portal to the Grey Waste, but it's just a minor inconvenience. Even though powerful wards in Underountain prevent the use of teleportation magic apart from the portals, they simply enter the portal to the Grey Waste, and then plane shift back to the Outlands.

Meghera is not so lucky. Paellistra accompanies her to a portal leading to Baator, were a band of stray Abishai stand on guard. Alerted by the devils, Paellistra's spider companions assume their true form, and turn into demons. When the demons catch Meghera's scent, a fight is about to ensue (tanaar'ri still seek revenge for the assassination of Marquis Fearson). Meghera quickly makes a deal with the devils for their help, and they abandon Undermountain together.

Back in Sigil, Zark finally decides to enact Zadara's plan to get rid of the Mercykillers hunting him for the crimes he commited (casting a fireball inside the archives of the Hall of Records). In return for his services, Zadara will make sure that he's put to death (!). With his punishment enacted, she will use her influence to retrieve his corpse, and have him reincarnated. Happy with the deal (!!), Zark gives himself up to the authorities.

The events unfold as planned, and after a few weeks in prison, Zark is executed. His corpse is claimed by the Gentleman, and brought to Tir-na-Og to get reincarnated. As the body of Zark'Gish'Eth dissapears into oblivion, the high elf Aldarion Goldleaf opens his eyes to his new life.