Our heroes made their way to Crook’s Nook, seeking Carman. There, they encountered Yinyasmere, who feigned surprise at their search for the local blacksmith. Communicating telepathically with her, Thumper learned that Carman was in the basement, though Yinyasmere insisted on keeping this a secret. She eventually agreed to lead the group downstairs after being convinced they had critical information for him.
In the basement, they found Carman surrounded by a small army. Upon learning of Urevian’s intentions to claim his soul, Carman proposed a daring plan: both groups would unite to confront the devil directly. Despite Asterion’s protests, Torren accepted the offer. As the groups prepared to leave, Dreg overheard muffled sounds and investigated, discovering the real Yinyasmere locked inside a crate. She revealed the Yinyasmere with Carman was an imposter and exposed Carman’s plan to seize Otari by force if necessary. Dreg kept this revelation to himself for the time being.
With Carman’s forces in tow, the heroes returned to Urevian’s lair, where tensions immediately rose. Urevian suspected betrayal and offered the heroes a chance to reconsider, but negotiations quickly broke down, and battle erupted. Carman’s troops charged forward, managing to kill one devil before being wiped out by Urevian’s devastating spells. Asterion’s fiery landing harmed Carman’s men, earning Urevian’s approval as the two worked together against their shared enemy.
As Carman fled, his remaining forces turned on Asterion. Meanwhile, Urevian worked in alliance with Dreg, using Bingus and Asterion as bait to lure Carman’s men into a trap. The clever strategy successfully separated the attackers using an invisible wall, buying Urevian precious time to escape.
Elsewhere, Carman encountered Dreg, resulting in a brief clash where Dreg knocked Carman unconscious and retreated downstairs. However, a message from Urevian prompted Dreg to flee once more, pursued by Carman’s men and the rest of the group. Dreg reached Urevian, who sought his guidance before turning his attacks on Thumper. Though the strike wasn’t meant to be fatal, it exploited Thumper’s weakness, leaving him gravely injured.
Seeing Thumper fallen, Torren unleashed holy cascade in a fury. The spell obliterated Urevian but nearly killed Thumper in the process. The heroes worked quickly to save Thumper as Carman’s men incapacitated Asterion and turned their focus on Dreg. Bags was the first to stand by Dreg, offering solidarity amidst the chaos. Rallying together, the heroes eliminated Carman’s forces, bringing the intense conflict to a close.
This session saw uneasy alliances, devastating battles, and the fallout of betrayal as the heroes navigated the treacherous depths of the Abomination Vaults.