Session 24

Heroes: Moryak, Ruthinn, Tarkin

The Heroes escape the Tower of Araj, and find refuge in the Underdark. After a few hours of rest, Ruthinn uses a scry spell to make sure no more surprise await them in the tower.

When they return, they find the corpses of Vizeran and his apprentice savagely mangled, but the tower looks empty. A thorough search in the library and laboratory provides more details about Vizeran's ritual. The Heroes decide to spend the night in the tower, to continute their study on the ritual the day after.

During the night the suits of armor decorating each floor come to life, led by none other than Vizeran himself! The archmage seems to have no recollection of the Heroes, and gives them one chance to explain what they're doing in his tower. The Heroes keep their wits about them and matters are clarified, as Vizeran reveals his return is the result of a clone spell he prepared for such an occasion.

The day after, Vizeran sends the Heroes to the Wormwrithings to recover the first components needed for his ritual: the unhatched egg of a purple worm, and the central eye of a beholder.

The Heroes travel through the tubular tunnels of the Wormwrithings for several days, and eventually reach the Vast Oblivium, the lair of the beholder Karazikar. The beholder is surrounded by dozens of slaves that venerate the aberration as their god. After a short introduction the Heroes provoke the beholder's wrath, and battle is joined.

The Heroes emerge victorious from the confrontation, and recover the beholder's central eye.