The War of the Rift

Investigating

On the first night, Kendric brought all the so-far gathered heroes and told them of "the rift" and of the ancient order of magi who had once studied them. Morigan, Thorne, Artemisa, Zi, Hangman, Scritta, and Gurp Gorp were able to find and recover the remaining pieces of lore (though Thorne was cursed in the process).

That night, to strengthen the ties of reality, the most ancient of magics, stories, were shared amongst the assembled heroes, ranging from gods to the exploits of individuals. The accumulated power of the relics was so great, and they had to be physically separated from the potions, lest they became corrupted. Shadow beasts raided the supplies in the dark, and had to be repelled by light.

Day Two

The second day began with Thorne and Gurp Gorp volunteering to deliver powerful relics to the rift. They pushed through waves of demons that grew ever more powerful, bringing relic after relic safely through with them. The massively outnumbered duo ran out of time on the final delivery, a chest of potions.

Next a large group of heroes fought to defend the rift from waves of lesser demons breaking through the weakening veil between worlds. Amid these waves of lesser spawn, mighty greater demons periodically stormed the twin castles built astride the rift. The assembled heroes held the twin castles, and repelled the demons with such vigor that they were able to recover the lost chest of potions abandoned on the supply run.

Morigan and Scritta undertook the quest of the Magi; arcane rituals designed to weaken the greatest of the demons that led the invasion. The two heroes accomplished two rituals swiftly, incinerating a massive regenerating slime beast and running gauntlets of vile-spewing sandworms, then completing arcane rituals while under constant assault. Sadly, out of spell points the pair were unable to complete the remaining two rituals and soon joined the assaults on the demon lords themselves.

Demon Deities

Just when the heroes thought they'd have a chance to catch their breath, the rift tore open and the great leaders of the demonic host poured forth.

Morigan, Oblitus, and Gurp Gorp battled Uurgal-Who-Feeds-the-Crows, the demon of rage, a monstrous beast that took unending punishment while spewing great gouts of flame to consume his foes. The battle slogged on for an eternity, but the beast eventually collapsed in a pool of its own blood and rent flesh.

Alicaryn, Angus, and Havloch confronted a godling from pre-history. The trio, having fought their way through a temple and out onto a platform, found before them a monstrosity which scarcely could be imagined. It was perceived as great unblinking eyes, floating in a void, staring down upon them and the world. Angus and Havloch bravely pushed back ceaseless waves of deranged cultists, fighting hard to defend their lone archer. Alicaryn launched arrow after arrow from the edge of the void into the abyssal eyes, and, one by one, the eyes fell from the sky. When victory was imminent--the final arrow was drawn, the final eye hovered twice-pierced--only then did the demon complete its spell. The beam of vile energy it unleashed mortally wounded all present. The demon escaped into the world of Dargarth. His most vile presence escaped into the lands of the first kingdom.

Zi, Thorne, and Mock faced the many maws of Korth-the-bottomless, placating each poisonous mouth with its preferred treat. Satiated, the beast retreated back into the rift.

Sir Byron, Scritta and Hangman fought Gemik-the-Glittering-One, a creature massively empowered by magical items. The demon was already weakened by the previously successful quest for the Magi, thus one of its potent defenses was already shattered. The three assembled heroes fought and dodged the demon while smashing its treasures with Sir Byron's Sword. As item after item was crushed asunder, the demon weakened, and was eventually slain.

Each of the four relics was brought to the battle where its power was thought to be best utilized, based on the teachings of the magi. After the battles were over, the relics stayed in the possession of those that had wielded them; ownership was undisputed amongst the assembled adventurers.

The heroes celebrated their victories and memorialized their fallen with gladiator battles. Silliness ensued.