Chapter 37 - Zry’s Slaad Patrol (Assault on Nightwyrm Fortress - Part 6)

Our hereos are now making their way to reach the battlements of the Fortress. In front of them lies a chamber. The smell emanating from the chamber ahead is horrendous.
A large dragonlike beast sporting six heads lounges in its center. On either side of the chamber, stable-like stalls with stone barriers stand closed. Occasionally, smoke and fire erupt from within. Brutish ogres walk between the stalls, some bearing humanoid corpses, others wielding pitchforks and shovels. From the stalls, fire-breathing lizards harrass our heroes, providing a hard fight when paired with the monstrous Hydra. Our heroes are once again victorious, with no losses on their side.

A steep, 20-foot-wide stairway leads upward into the oddly dim light of the Shadowfell. Each step is broad and even, with obscure runes and sigils etched into its surface. The runes project some sort of warding magic, a spell designed to prevent the passage of a particular kind of creature. The wards are layered in a series of zones that continue up the stairs.
A close examination reveals that the runes were laid down in a ritual to prevent slaads from descending the stairs. At the top of the stairs, an assortment of horrible-looking creatures growl and slaver, their eyes with mania and hunger (Slaads indeed). The first creature to move down the stairs toward the party screams in pain as it moves through a shimmering curtain of energy
that sparkles at its passing. Its scaly skin blackens and smolders as it pushes forward, and then the shimmering curtain of energy shatters into tiny shards that wink out as they rain down. As this occurs, the other creatures roar in victory and also begin to press forward. Our heroes battle the Slaad on the stairs, making good use of the magical barriers, and proceed forward.

The level space on top of the wall surrounding the fortress is as wide as a city street. It contains bunkers, pits, and decrepit ballistas and catapults that more resemble fossils than weapons of war. Vicious spikes jut from the walls and point in all directions. From here, the roar of the vortex above is almost overwhelming as it pulls in air, dust, and shadows. From the inner side of the battlements, a catwalk spans a great chasm to the side of the fantastically large spire at the fortress’s center.
An assortment of horrible-looking creatures face the party, all of them terrifying and slightly froglike in appearance (more Slaads). One is jet black and especially menacing. Even once our heroes have defeat them, there is no rest!
Having aquired the last Soul Ring from the Black Slaad, the party attract the attention of Magrathar hislef, most trusted lieutenant of Urishtar the Shadow Dragon.

The inscribed magic circle atop the battlements flares with blinding light. With a loud crash of thunder, several creatures suddenly appear, including axe-wielding minotaurs and two horrid, draconic wraiths. Among them is humanoid figure wearing loose-fitting clothes and a mask. A ring on its gloved hand glows brightly. The being speaks in a warbling, gooey voice.
“I do not know if you are agents of the Raven Queen, Vecna, or some other god or demon lord whose interests I have yet to ferret out. It doesn’t matter. You have inconvenienced me. I detest inconveniences. Please throw yourself off these walls and save me further trouble, or things will go poorly for your immortal souls.”
As the figure finishes speaking, it stands silently as though awaiting the party's reply. The other creatures that arrived with it growl at you. After a few excahnges of intimidating talks (!), the party defeats Magrathar, and our heroes are now ready to access the Spire itself!

A slender span of fossilized bone extends to the central tower that rises into the whirling vortex. The catwalk seems solid enough, though here and there pieces have crumbled away, forming large gaps.
A huge, night-black dragon shrouded in darkness drops from the sky, trailing shadows in its wake. Its shimmering scales seem almost translucent. The dragon roars, rocking the catwalk as it lands. Pieces of petrified bone crumble and fall away into the darkness. The dragon challenges you in Draconic. “Who seeks to enter my domain while still encased in living flesh?”. Our heroes now face Urishtar himself!
Thorug a careful use of their combined powers, the heroes manage to defeat the Dragon, but not to kill him for good. Urishtar escapes, and readies his defences on top of the Spire. Having inflicted a hard blow to the dragon, the party decides it is time to recover their strengths.