The party left the scene of the monster’s appearance and fled back north to Verbobonc to warn the city. They also contacted Elana, who rejoined them.
The monster, rampaging through the countryside at astonishing speed, soon reached inhabited areas, sending villagers fleeing for their lives. Some at the scene, capable of speedy travel, magical or otherwise, likewise headed for Verbobonc to sound the alarm. It looked as though the tarrasque would reach Verbobonc the next day!
Panic spread. People from throughout the outlying areas streamed into Verbobonc. Many immediately sought to take ship out of the area entirely. Citizens of the town likewise began to leave. A few brave defenders manned the walls of the city.
The party prepared for battle.
They advised the defenders to attack only the tarrasque, regardless of what else they may see during the battle. The party members cast spells and activated magic items that would help them during the coming battle. All were now ready, waiting.
They didn’t have long to wait. The monster came into view in the distance, charging rapidly toward the city walls. Lina flew up eighty feet above the wall and over toward Arnold, looking for an advantageous position.
The tarrasque charged against the city walls, at a speed that was almost beyond belief. The city walls held, but took heavy damage. From her aerial vantage point, Firiona hurled an admixed fire/acid ball at the monster, but the monster shrugged it off with no damage. She then flew upward to 140 feet above the city.
Then Elana had an inspiration: she flew toward the tarrasque and cast Otto’s irresistible dance. Immediately, the monster began hopping about, shaking the ground for hundreds of yards in all directions! This gave Edward an opportunity to put his rifle to use once again; unfortunately, the weapon had not been well-maintained, and only did minor damage to the creature.
Green Arrow was more effective, as he flew up to an altitude of 240 feet, next to Edward, and loosed four arrows at the monster. All found their mark and did damage, but not, unfortunately, as much damage as hoped for. Arnold, firing invisibly, struck a vital spot on the monster and did significant damage as well.
The brave townsmen at the walls all shot at the creature, but their arrows bounced harmlessly off the almost impregnable hide and carapace of the monster.
Lina picked up the now-visible Arnold and moved away from the tarrasque, which continued its forced shuffling. Persistent as ever, Firiona launched another fire/acid ball, but failed again to strike the creature. Elana flew up and out of reach of the creature.
Edward now took Green Arrow’s mercurial greatsword and charged downward, attempting to get into melee range of the tarrasque. Green Arrow again relied on his bow, and struck with one arrow, but then badly fumbled a shot and dropped his bow! He watched as the bow plummeted to the ground, out of reach. Arnold and the townsmen had less success: all missed with their ranged attacks.
As the monster kept dancing, Lina cast improved invisibility on Arnold, hoping that he would be able to do increased damage by attacking unseen. Firiona’s spells continued to fail against the incredible spell resistance of the tarrasque, as Elana, like Edward, flew down into melee range. In melee, Edward now called again on the might of Hieroneous, and landed three huge blows against the great devourer, doing heavy damage. Arnold also launched a sneak attack with his crossbow. The townsmen, once again, could not so much as scratch the hide of the beast.
Lina, hoping for a quick end to the battle, casts finger of death at the monster, but, as with so many other spells cast by the party, this too failed to affect the still-dancing tarrasque. Firiona’s spell-casting futility continued, as two more acid balls did nothing.
Seeing that the dance of the tarrasque was coming to an end, Elana attempted to force the monster to continue. But this time, the monster was unaffected. The party knew it was in for a fight now!
Edward sought to land as many blows as he could while the monster still was compelled to dance, and landed four more huge blows, backed by divine might. Green Arrow then activated his boots of speed, recovered his bow, and struck the beast with four more arrows. Arnold snuck in two blows, and even the townsmen managed to hit the monster, though, alas, doing no damage.
Desperately trying to prevent the monster from attacking, Lina once more cast Otto’s irresistible dance. Unfortunately, the spell proved far from irresistible, and Lina also found herself no longer invisible.
The tarrasque, now free to act as it desired, climbed over the city wall! Once inside the city, although several of the party landed opportunistic blows, the rampaging beast knocked down a number of houses and other structures. Verbobonc was now in deadly peril!
Elana’s attempted sonic orb attack failed to overcome the spell resistance of the brute. Charging against the creature, Edward launched into a full power attack, but missed! Green Arrow was more successful, hitting with four arrows, although again, none did as much damage as otherwise expected. Arnold and the townsmen again failed to do any damage. But now Firiona, who had held her spells, sent a quickened acid ball at the monster, and it struck home, although the succeeding acid ball failed to do so.
Now enraged even beyond its natural ferocity, the tarrasque focused all its anger on Edward, doing devastating damage with its bite, horns, claws and tail. Elana cast orb of sound, with sonic might, and this time blasted the monster with her magical power.
Edward shook off his injuries and, summoning all his strength, swung at the tarrasque. Four times he missed the monster. He swung one last time, and this time hit, a vital spot! The monster collapsed, stunned. Now, Firiona seized the opportunity. She spoke words of incredible power, and wished the monster dead forever.
And failed. Her head spun, and she could feel part of her life energy leave her. Shocked, the other party members held their actions.
Firiona took thought, and repeated her wish. Again, she failed.
Still recovering from the effort, she heard a mystic voice, as if from some celestial place, tell her to try again. She tried again. And . . . failed again!
The party stood aghast. Elana readied an empowered sonic orb for when the tarrasque roused itself, as it surely would. Edward healed himself to full strength; Green Arrow, Arnold and the townsmen readied shooting actions as well.
The tarrasque lay still. Firiona and the other party members could see its wounds healing before their eyes. Hoping to stop it before it regenerated itself any further, Firiona flew to the monster and touched it, hoping to imprison it. The spell broke through the monster’s spell resistance–but had no effect, as the beast shook off the attempt! Elana immediately fired a sonic orb at the monster, stunning it. Edward called out to the townsmen, asking if any powerful wizards remained to assist in the defense. The answer was negative.
"Evacuate the town!" Edward shouted in response. It seemed that the party would not be able to defeat the monster or stop it from rampaging through the town. When the defenders had evacuated, the party fled back to Greyhawk.
Could they stop Greyhawk from falling as well?
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