Chapter 10: The City of Spiders

After a long march, you make it to the outskirts of Menzoberranzan and Vizeran begins setting up for a ritual. Candles are places in a complex pattern on the floor, the parts for the ritual you gathered are placed at appropriate points throughout the pattern and he sits in the midst of it, "Be ready..." he says and begins to chant...

The waiting is the hard part. Time seems to drag as you remain alert, weapons drawn, every nerve singing with the tension in the air all around you.

Finally, a swirling light begins to flare in the darkness. A barely audible humming shakes you to the core, rising and falling like a vast heartbeat in the depths. The glow of faerzress gathers and brightens, creating swirling pools like holes torn in the air. A roar sounds from far away as shadows move in the depths of those pools of light. The demons are coming.

You prepare for the charge of the demon hordes, but are suddenly aware of something more approaching. A number of tunnels lead to Menzoberranzan and you see demons down each one. In addition to the normal demons, you see a horrifying sight. Demogorgon down one tunnel, his two baboonlike heads and tentacled hands moving and thrashing around him. Baphomet and Yeenoghu, lords of minotaurs and gnolls respectively, approach down two more. Graz'zt and Orcus are also present.

With the emergence of the demon lords, the lesser demons don't seem as interested in you anymore, turning on one another instead, trying to overwhelm the forces of their rivals from the abyss.

Vizeran is still chanting, though the cadence and intensity have altered now. Seftan realizes at the last moment what has changed. Vizeran, with a smirk, disappears from the area, leaving you alone here to watch the demons fight.

The fights among the lesser demons is impressive enough, but the battle between the demon lords is something else entirely. Their roars make the cavern shake, dust shaking down onto your heads, and missed attacks gouge chunks out of the stone walls.

The sounds of battle finally die away, the ground before you stained black and red with demonic blood and ichor. In the terrible grip of Demogorgon, even the mighty Orcus looks almost small. Tentacles hold the Demon Prince of Undeath in a crushing grip, slithering across the maggot-riddled flesh of the horned demon, as they tighten inexorably. A strangled gasp issues from the demon lord's throat as a horrific crunching sound echoes throughout the cavern and his skull-topped wand clatters onto the floor.

Demogorgon casts aside the limp form, which melts away as Orcus returns to the Abyss that spawned him. The Prince of Demons throws back his two heads and roars his triumph. As he does, his nearer head turns, burning eyes raking across the battlefield. Filled with bloodlust and battle rage, the demon lord searches for another target.

You realize with horror that he's a mere 80 feet from you now. The horror of the battle rooted you in place as he drifted close throughout.

Hunter's spell goes off and the demon lord doesn't even wince at the attack. He shakes his head and lets out a rumbling chuckle, "Prepare to die, little ones..."

The huge creature moves toward you, each step shaking the ground beneath your feet.Initiative
Hunter
Demogorgon
Elayna, Seftan, Aelfric