Brilliant Nothing

Chapter 8 - Maze of Stairs

Continuing their exploration of the stairs, they came upon a section that seemed severly damaged. Using flight, Blaze went on ahead and attached safety ropes, or just ferried people about. She slayed some spiders that had trapped a missing section of stairs with a web, and she ran into many small demons which she killed with the assistance of the others. Then they found a doorway on one of the landings.
Using flight on Thorlin, and using him as a ferry, the PC's made it to the landing, despite broken stairways, and went through. They found themselves in a strange place, coming out of a cave from some mountains, beside a huge desert of green sand. They found another cave nearby and explored only to find a dead person. Then some dogs with human faces appeared and the PC's spent some time killing them all. They seemed to attack mindlessly, not stopping even when they seemed to be doing little but dying at the hands of the party.
The party searched the immediate area, and not finding other portals or a library, they went back to the stairs and continued on their way.
A couple landings later, a man with a battle axe came down some stairs threateningly towards the party. Blaze told him how foolish it would be to attack this large group, and he showed caution. He stopped, and told the PC's to find another way. The party asked where the library was, and he unconvincingly pointed in another direction. The party decided they wanted to go this way more than ever since he was trying to stop them. Thorlin climbed to the other side of the stairs and began walking up that way. (you can walk on both sides of the floating stairway).
As the man saw the party taking an offensive position, he climbed to the other side to confront Thorlin. At the same time, he threw two cubes back up to the landing he was guarding where they started to grow. Also, he threw two orbs near the party that turned into huge floating gold orbs that seemed to block the PC's way forward. This might not be a battle as easy as the PC's first thought....

Chapter 9 - Stairs and more Stairs

The PC's faced off against the enemy. The large globes sprouted 6 heads each, for a total of 18 long lizard heads snapping at the party. Thorlin slammed through them and charged the warrior. Thorlin fought off against him, but soon Blaze, invisibly, flew behind the man and ended his chances of winning. Before the man could flee, Blaze and Thorlin managed to inflict enough wounds that when he jumped off the man was rendered unconscious as he disappeared.
The party used up most of the of their useful magic finishing off the heads. The continued on, to the landing, and shortly thereafter met another enemy. A huge demon with four arms confronted the party. Zendrak attempted to divert a battle, but the creature was intent on a fight, and attacked. The demon used powerful magic to stun injured party member after injured party member, and only Thorlin with Marienne's healing was able to withstand him, until he was forced to flee.
The party, injured, tired, sore, and out of magic decided they had to find a place to rest, before continuing on. Moral began to lower considerably as the party started becoming bitter about their situation.

Chapter 10 - Planeswalker Guild

Found some old guy. Rescued him. Brought us to Planeswalker Guild landing where small town, and library. Party joined planeswalker guild and went to library.

Chapter 11 - Library

Looked through library. Found some facts on portal. Decided to go to a doorway on stairs that blew open when portal was created, and that opens to first level of Baator, Avernus. Decided it must be close enough to portal to walk to, if not right near it.

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