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Start: 13th of Excitol, evening, at the top of the ziggurat Velkrazar. The Bill's Bimbos face off with the Nexus Encephalon and Dismalaravas from opposite sides of a Wall of Force, with a pair of Brain Golems charging up the stairs ahead of the Tremor Chasers.
Almost immediately, Calliope hit Dismalaravas with a Psychic Lance, and combat ensued. Intellect Snares were flying in from the city, and the ziggurat shook from heavy figures charging up the sides. Soon into the fight, Dismalaravas was killed. A pair of Eaters of Knowledge arrived at the top, pursued by the Tremor Chasers. Upon dispatching the initial pair of golems, the Nexus Encephalon attempted to Plane Shift away, but was stopped by the combined magical intervention of Ragnar Dravenson, Nesdin, and Crax Goobadink. Aoife Sweeney connected with her dad again, and after pulling several brains and Headbands of Intellect out, determined which was Killian Sweeney and retrieved him, safely stowing his brain in the Long Johns of Holding. With him out of the was, Ragnar Dravenson and Rohtagels leapt into the central pool and destroyed the remainder of this Elder Brain.
Immediately, the team heard a horrific psychic scream and observed a shift in the cavern - the Intellect Snares paused, then circled up above Velkrazar toward the ceiling of the cavern in a holding pattern. Hundreds of Illithid in Uldrazim Plane Shifted away. About 50 Illithid that were surging towards the ziggurat during the fight had paused, but continued their path to Velkrazar at a slower pace.
The group of Illithid arrived at the base of Velkrazar, and 3 split off and began to ascend. Calliope and Aoife Sweeney went to meet the trio. The leader came to the top and confirmed the death of the Elder Brain, and Aoife Sweeney picked up on their sense of loss and lack of direction, despite their stony exterior to Calliope's disarming words.
Aoife Sweeney suggested they join with Xan'alith'alan in Qir'ellan'alak. They viewed them as an outsider, a renegade when they were separated from the hive mind, but considered the offer after further discussion. Finally, the leader connected with Aoife Sweeney and seemed to have this confused regocnition of her, almost like she was one of their own, and introduced himself as Gra'urith'elix. The trio then rejoined their 50 Illithid group and entered Velkrazar from the entrances at the base of the structure.
Nesdin set up a Tiny Hut, and with no other immediate danger approaching the zenith of the ziggurat, the party took a short rest.
End: 13th of Excitol, evening, after SR within Nesdin's Tiny Hut atop Velkrazar. Level up to 10.