Some of The Black Duke’s power of the Rod of 3 Parts looks to be used for these 2 gates! The Trident - each tong one of the Rods - one tong shoots a beam of pure black evil it seems to keep one gate like a purple bruise open, bringing forth the monstrosity creatures as they rush forward crashing into the gold shield in front of another gate where they instantly disintegrate. Slowly.. Small cracks are forming in the shield.
A 2nd tong of the trident shoots a beam of purple energy is blasting the gold shield - with the perceptive eye of Aust noting with horror is the Laughing Moon cavern where the statue of Tharizdun stands!
4 entrances to the sphere each hold 2 giant skeletal archers firing black bows of death.
The Laughing Moons leap into action. Their god and patron blessings in full effect.
- Rurrick's artifact and sentient cloak protects and allows him to fly up to do battle with 3 female elves protecting the Black Duke!
- Arjun unfolds his massive wings and flies towards the Beholder!
- Aust casting spells and leaping forth to spiderclimb - under haste! - the sphere walls to attack, cast spells to help his party at crucial times and more!
- Morthos blasting (and we see ALL 3 bolts of eldritch energy are hitting for a 1st!) any and all creatures!
- Namfoodle calls forth powers and spells of a true Archmage to attack and destroy after sending a message to the Octad that battle was joined!
- Reinhardt at first prays to his god Heironeous - for guidance and blessing but unfortunately the powerful monk's plea is ignored or the god is focused on evil elsewhere.. - then races into battle using his monkish abilities to great effect!
- The Beholder's anti-magic cone is effective on many until the party spreads out and then full battle is engaged all over the sphere!
The enemy wizard casts TIME STOP and decapitates the ancient dragon ally of Arjun!
Then..
Killing blow goes to Arjun! He takes the Beholder down.
The the Dragonborn barbarian paladin of Tiamat notices the massive dragon is regenerating!The tide slowly turns.. although some of the valiant party fall in battle.
Morthos' well-aimed and good tactic of eldritch blasts pull the giant skeletons from their perches high up.. tumbling to the ground and smashing intl skeletal bits!
Some timely powerful spells from Namfoodle are quite effective. While Reinhardt deals with many of the monstrosities coming from the dark gate.
Further blows are struck. The battle turns to only the Black Duke and his wizard underling.. between the attacks of Aust, Rurrick and Arjun's FINAL DeathBlow (2 for Arjun!) the Black Duke tumbles to the ground. his trident with the Rod of 3 Parts falling and clanging on the floor of the giant sphere.
The Black Duke.. is dead.
The victory is short-lived as some of the party fell during the heated battle:
The Captain.. one arm lost to a disintegration beam of the Beholder falls.
The Sergeant.. his brother - also falls, his grenades having had some small impact.
Raff.. the rogue - former trooper of the Black Duke - also falls in battle.
Mishapp.. the boy who wanted to be a hero like his idols - the Laughing Moons - partially turned to stone by a petrification beam of the beholder lies on the ground not moving.
A fireball centered on the the Captain, the Sergeant and Raff to take out some monstrosities will make it unlikely any restoration magic except the most powerful will bring the trusting and reliable crew back..
The wizard - Antiuss - floats high above the party.. he looks to be torn at seeing his master fall (both happy and anger..?)
The gate to the hellish zone where the monstrosities spewed from is closed. The gate to the Laughing Moons headquarters still is open! As the party takes a breath and looks to bind wounds.. they realize the many area attacks (and perhaps the death of the Beholder and or the Black Duke) have weakened the sphere's glass walls.. and large cracks are starting to form..
What will the Laughing Moons do...?!