selfless sacrifice: a D&D story

as the battle between those who are hunting for the runestones and
those who are protecting them,
the gnome mage brings with her some more help for our heroes
in this hellish dimension.

the gnome mage was able to manage to convince a group of rag-tag misfits that
just happen to be captured within the Ravencrest Manor.

here are some of the highlights...

the second group of adventurers are teleported in.

the gnome mage turns to the human rogue, Stephan and
gives him a figurine of alabaster in a shape of a chicken.
some of the group start to make their way towards danger...

the gnome mage realizes she gave the rogue the wrong magic item.

Valkia approaches the Keeper.

the gnome mage looks on,
taking shots at Valkia with a ray of frost.

the gnome mage yells, "throw the figurine!"
and out of a cloud of dark gray and brown smoke with wings forming upwards.
a giant cockatrice emerges and attacks Valkia. with several hits from the talons and it's beak.

taking an incredible of amount of damage,
Valkia is flung across the fiery chasm.

the giant cockatrice is led towards Caelestrasz,
where she is dealt damage from all sides.

the giant cockatrice gazed into her eyes and she started turning into stone.

Grungni asks Breena for the runestone and Breena asks why.
knowing what he wants to do, he knows he couldn't reveal much details
on what is needed to do to find the third runestone.
Nanna and Breena gives Grungni the runestones,
and Grungni presents the Keeper with the two stones.

the Keeper of the Angerforge accepts the two runestones and demands a sacrifice.
Grungni lets the Keeper settle himself down onto the rock altar.

the dwarf cleric starts a prayer in his dwarven tongue.
the Keeper dips his maul into the molten lava and presses onto
Grungni's body and life exits his body.
with this the Keeper reaches into his own stomach and out is pulled the third runestone.

"with his sacrifice,...."

he begins to take all three runestones and mold them into one.

"...and with this stone...."

the gnome mage opens a portal for everyone to leave.

the gnome mage begins to talk to Breena,
"you are a great leader elf. here is the Grimnar Stone.
present this to the dwarf of the North. with this stone he will be able to bring
the three clans together and those lands will be in peace for once.
here is also a satchel with useful items. good luck."

as all the heroic adventurers leave the Molten Core,
the gnome mage leans over Valkia's body.

"...oh my child, you have so much to learn.
even though you seem to know so much, in your life,
i am your beginning and your end."