On scouting out the main entrance cavern, the party clocked skeletons, zombies, and two huge zombie ogres. This was not going to be an easy fight. Sticking to the brief, they attempted to act as a distraction, simulating numbers: Smith used his artillery to shatter the ceiling to great effect and Daellin and Selene d'Lyrandar using magic to confuse. Bludak Mal K'shaar got into a dangerous melee with an Ogre, and used turn undead to send them running in fear. At this point, the plan worked, and a mass of wights came into view. The party decided running was the best course of action.
A chase ensued, the party sprinting full speed through long corridors, weaving tunnels, rocky ascents and even sliding down a steep rock face (Bludak smashing into sharp rocks at the end). At one point they dropped 10 feet out of the blue and another time had to squeeze down a narrow 3 foot wide corridor. Bludak even used a bear trap to impede the enemy. the As daylight came into view, something unknown happened that caused rocks to start falling from the ceiling. The party managed to stay ahead throughout the chase and avoid the falling rocks, bursting out into the midday sun.
They were met with the remaining men from the journey across, who made short work of the undead. Ehaustion hit the party as the exertion of the chase took it's toll. The men provided a little healing and got an update from the party. They barely had time to get their breath back as the cavern collapsed in on itself. From the dust cloud came dozens of demons and other hellish creatures, striking fear into the hearts of the men. With them was General Yorin Thaurum, laying into them with his longsword, and screaming war cries. He was heard shouting that he had succeeded in his task to interrupt Erandis Vol's ritual by defeating her, and that "only a couple hundred" of these fiends had broken through from Dolurrh before he closed the gate. The party noticed he had some strange markings on his body.
A bloody, desperate battle ensued. Bludak was thrust into command, ensuring the men kept a strong, defensive position in a barricade, minimising casualties. One of the soldiers stated the airship was on its way, and they just had to hold for a few minutes. The others all played key roles in the battle. ensuring men were kept alive. The medic was saved, which was important in keeping men from bleeding out. Smith failed to work out how to use the laser-rocket gun that he picked up. The party tussled with imps, hell hounds and lemures. As the demons forced the remaining men into a circle, Thaurum joined the party with a crazed look in his eyes. They realised the strange markings on his body were a Siberys Mark of Death. Clearly Vol had managed to imprint this on him before she was defeated - the secondary aim Cleric Boyden had claimed she was researching. Thaurum claimed that Vol was controlling him to a degree, and as he spoke was actually raising dead fiends back in undead form. He then pushed his sword into Daellin's hands, telling him to strike him down, believing he could not fight Vol's control. Daellin hesitated, but ultimately attempted to cut off the Mark of Death. Seeing this fail, he knocked Thaurum unconscious.
As the ship neared closer, the party were thrust into combat with a bearded devil and his steed, a nightmare, as well as several manes. The devil fell quickly, but the nightmare laid into Elias Minch Elias was hit so hard that the hell-horse nearly killed him out right. Only a well timed potion from Daellin saved him from annihilation. The nightmare was finally dispatched as the Storm's Grace's flew over, dropping ropes for the remaining men. The party ascended, kicking off demons, and flew to safety. 60 odd men of the 150 that set out made it back onto the ship alive. They began the journey back home.
Epilogue
The journey back was a sombre one. The men mourned their dead. But the mission had been a success. Vol was defeated, to be re-spawned who knows where. The merge of planes had been stopped, and she had therefore not attained her dream of becoming Queen of the Realm of the Dead. The party had been instrumental in stopping this world changing event, and that was something to be proud of. But Vol had achieved something else. Her house's mark, the Mark of the Dead, had finally been imprinted onto a living being for the first time in centuries. In his weakened state, Thaurum spoke in tongues and had to be restrained for the journey. On arrival back at Korth, he was taken away quickly and quietly by King Kaius III's men. Kaius showed a little concern at this, but then thanked the party, and gave the their gold plus some extra for keeping some of the troops alive. He stated that they were now free of their obligation to him, and able to go as they please.
In the days that followed, rumours quickly spread around the city. News of the party's exploits gained them renown as strong and valiant heroes. However, it was Thaurum whom the stories favoured the most. Tales told of how he duelled with an ancient Lich and won. Despite no-one seeing the battle, it didn't stop the Bards singing of it in fine detail - and of all the hellspawn he also pushed aside with ease. But not every tale told of his valour. The men had been pressed to not mention of his mark and madness, but this clearly hadn't worked. Rumours were rife of his crazed state, and it didn't help that he hadn't been seen since the ship arrived. The official story was that he was recovering from critical injuries. But who knew what was really happening?
Maybe Kaius had simply had Thaurum killed, not wanting to risk what ill effect the Mark of Death might have on the world. Or maybe he was being kept alive for experimentation, to see how the mark could be used in Karrnath's favour. Or perhaps Kaius was hoping for a return to health from his main general. Whatever the truth, the party had no real way of knowing.
Additionally, a major change occurred in the realm, thanks to the actions of the party. With the downfall of Lithri the Smiter, leader of the Emerald Claw in Karrnath, as well as Vol's defeat - whom the party had learned was the real leader of the Emerald Claw - the Claw's power and influence in Karrnath quickly declined. It hadn't gone for good, but it was certainly no longer a threat of any kind to Kaius' power. Another side-effect of beating Vol was a wave of religious persecution against followers of the Blood of Vol: Despite the vast majority of followers never having heard of Erandis Vol (and even now, seeing the name of the religion as a coincidence - to the disagreement of Emerald Claw members), many temples throughout the country were looted and clerics attacked by Sovereign Host followers, a new wave of hatred put into motion.
The party thankfully took their gold, with a whole new outlook on the world, ready for whatever the future might bring...