Episode 06: The Mad Mage
General Summary
The Finders confront the Mad Mage Kelek and discover the existence of Pis Pis Noel, Rajah of Demons.
In the Ritual Chamber
The party pressed into the ritual chamber where they found Bobby the Barbarian and Of the Cock the Cutter tied into a ritual circle protected by a shimmering bubble of force. Standing on the other side of the circle was Kelek, performing a ritual with the stolen coxcomb of Cluckthulu to wrest a wish from his demonic master. Surrounding the circle was a handful of wargs, creating a threatening barrier between the group and the mad mage.
Taela leapt into action first, her loyal panther companion Salamin charging alongside her to engage the wargs. Gundar followed close behind, using his dwarven martial arts and a mixture of dwarven Iron Foot Circle Dance, to deliver a devastating kick that launched Kelek into the air. Meanwhile, Gyrosphinx flew into the frey, delivering a message to Veoric from his patron: "Do something flashy."
The tiefling warlock obliged, rushing forward and smashing the ground with Bobby's club, shaking the earth itself.
The resulting tremor was catastrophic: everyone except Laszlo and one stubborn warg toppled over. Kelek lost control of his ritual spell, and the ground beneath him opened into a gaping pit. The mage tumbled into the abyss, his ritual undone, leaving Bobby impressed with Veoric’s skill, and thrilled to see his club returned.
Whack-a-Mage
Kelek managed to fly halfway out of the resutling pit, but popped back down after surveying the situation. Laszlo stepped forward, unleashing a barrage of insults at a warg. "You're a wet towel!" The warg peed itself, becoming a literal wet towerl.
The remaining wargs tried to take Gundar down, but were thwarted by his sick dwarven martial arts dance moves. Meanwhile, Taela, Salamin, and Gundar worked together to bring down another warg. Veoric readied himself for Kelek's inevitable reappearance.
Kelek soared out of the pits, firing spell bolts at the party. Veoric retaliated with a spell of his own, but the Mad Mage counterspelled and ascended further. Laszlo retorted by assaulting the mage's mind, which disrupted his concentration on his flight, resulting in him crashing back to the ground.
The wargs continued to attack Gundar, this time landing a bite, but their efforts were in vain as the tide of battle turned. Salamin pounced on the fallen wizard and missed. But Gundar followed right behind, punting Kelek back down the hole. Gyrosphinx slashed with his claws and Laszlo continued to hurl insults, depleting their foes even more.
Kelek huddled in his hole, mostly broken and nursing his rage. The wargs were either slain or rendered useless.
Taela urged her panther to dive into the hole to finish off the Mad Mage. Kelek was prepared, hurling a fireball up at the pouncing panther. But it wasn't enough. The flaming panther dived through the conflagration, ending the Mad Mage's life in a flurry of fiery fur and fangs.
Rajah of Demons
As the battle reached its climax, a colossal demon lord revealed himself. Many armed and crackling with lightning, Pis Pis Noel, Rajah of Demons announced that the whole ritual had been a challenge for his minion. Kelek had failed, and the ritual was nothing more than a ploy, it would grant no wishes.
The Rajah cracked the crystal ball with a single claw and reached in, dragging Kelek into the Abyss and sealing the Mad Mage's fate.
As the demiplane began to collapse, the party acted switfly to rescue the hostages and recover their spoils. They retrieved Sneezey the blink dog pup, the coxcomb, Bobby, and Cutter before making their escape.
Once back on the material plane, they restored Cluckthulu to his full power and successfully recruited Cutter, his chariot chicken, and Knock the goblin into the guild.
They gave the club back to Bobby the Barbarian, who promised them a favor sometime in the future.
Guild Assessment
This new grouping has proven itself admirably. They are more than capable of handling increasingly difficult bounties and beacons with higher rewards. I also recommend that they begin the process of forming a company within the guild, allowing them to take direct requests on the guild’s behalf when appropriate.
Though somewhat unconventional, this team has demonstrated that they are far greater together than the sum of their parts. Their potential is immense, and the guild should apply them accordingly.
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