Flamerule 7-8, 1491 DR
Farooq entered the room determined to disrupt this ritual and hopefully kill Glasstaff. He was immediately struck by a massive wave of fear which emanated from this mighty creature. He struggled to fight through the terror and managed to throw his spear and javelin at Glasstaff wounding him slightly, but also knocking himself backwards into the other room at the same time.
Those who could, shot arrows and spells at Glasstaff or the devil if necessary. The devil seemed to be protecting Glasstaff behind it's mighty bat wings and seemed barely affected by any attacks directed against it. Glasstaff actively broke the containment of the summoning circle and disappeared as soon as he could in a flash of magical light. The devil then casually turned its back on the group and with a mighty slash of its claw ripped open an expanding, glowing rift near the far wall. Having accomplished that the devil ignored attacks coming in at him as it casually walked back towards Farooq. Glasstaff blinked back into the room and dashed through the rift, seeming little interested in the battle with the PCs.
Farooq stood, standing with his scimitar drawn, awaiting the devils attacks. The devil missed with its initial bite, but struck massive blows with its claw and great fiery mace, crushing Farooq's armor into his body. Even as Farooq lost consciousness the devil struck with its massive tail sending Farooq's limp body blasting backward into the room, crashing through two pillars and colliding with a far wall, leaving Farooq's body a crushed and twisted wreck. The devil barely glanced back at the PCs as he casually turned and walked back across the broken circle and through the glowing rift.
Still stuck in the silence spell, Finder called upon the power of his patron and channeled healing magic into Farooq, while Bronn helped him get to his feet. Farooq stood and took up a defensive position again, waiting to be sure that the devil did in fact truly leave. He went into the other room to collect his thrown weapons and noticed that he could see through the rift as snowy, mountainous scene. He was unable to determine any landmarks.
They all quickly decided to leave this cursed infernal temple but were intercepted when leaving by another trio of the lesser Bearded and barbed devils. Using the knowledge from their last fight they were able to set up a good choke point and quickly defeated them, watching as the last of them turned into bubbling black ichor, returning to whatever hell birthed them.
They made it outside and searched for a suitable campsite for the evening. They discussed their plans and concerns, had a good meal, assigned guard shifts and soon went to bed. It was on Keeper's watch that a small war band of orcs snuck up on their encampment, ambushing them in a hail of arrows. It took a few seconds for the rest of the surprised group to awaken and react and by that time, they were upon them with massive great axes attacking their sleeping forms.
The battle went well for them once they woke up and sorted things out. Nash and Bronn received vicious wound, with Bronn almost succumbing to his wounds. They found meager treasure upon the defeated orcs, healed up as much as they could, moved their camp to an elevated position of defense, and had a restless night afterwards.
In the morning of Flamerule 8, they set out and had an uneventful day full of deep, worried thoughts about the true meaning of what they had stumbled upon. By late afternoon they were back in Phandalin meeting with Garaele and Adabra. After filling them in the group was no closer to understanding what they had ransacked her home looking for. They decided they would head out with her to the mill after updating the Townmaster about the situation.
The townmaster was less than believing of their story of devils in the hills around Phandalin, but was convinced by the reassurances of Adabra and Garaele. He has decided to take their recommendation of gathering together, perhaps with Gundren's help, a group of people to collapse the old mine so that hopefully the devils will not continue to be a problem.
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