Out of the Abyss Session 5: The Horned King

The session begins with Driddle, Valentia, and Thavos successfully navigating the Maze Engine to return from a seven-month time-travel excursion. Reunited with Taryn in the present, Driddle identifies the machine's self-destruct sequence and activates it to prevent its misuse by demonic forces. The party narrowly escapes as the engine implodes and supernovas, causing a massive cavern collapse that buries the artifact forever. While navigating the Labyrinth's tunnels, they encounter Thor Storm Dancer, a Bugbear Hexblade under contract to the Winter Queen. Thor joins the party after his sentient sword instructs him to trust them, providing much-needed muscle for the coming hunt. After a long rest within Driddle's Tiny Hut, the party researches Baphomet, discovering his immunities to charm, exhaustion, and poison. During this rest, Driddle suffers a persuasive nightmare influenced by Demogorgon, who attempts to turn him against his 'do-gooder' friends. Driddle fails his saving throw against this madness, leading to increased paranoia and susceptibility to demonic influence. The party then tracks minotaur activity through the mathematically regular tunnels of the Labyrinth, eventually using Locate Creature to pinpoint Baphomet's lair. An alarm horn sounds, alerting the lair to their presence and forcing a direct confrontation. The party engages in a series of hallway skirmishes against minotaur guards, where Thor demonstrates his devastating Eldritch Blast capabilities and Taryn uses precision shots to disarm guards. Upon reaching the inner sanctum, they confront the 25-foot-tall Lord of Beasts, Baphomet. The chamber features gravity-reversal magic and illusions of lava. During the initial chaos, Driddle is paralyzed by madness, forcing Valentia and Amber Eyes to retrieve the Dark Heart and a Purple Worm egg from his pack. They successfully activate the artifact, significantly weakening Baphomet's legendary resistances and physical power. The final battle is brutal; Taryn suffers a permanent, debilitating groin injury from Baphomet's glaive, and Thor is nearly killed. However, Valentia maintains an Aura of Vitality that keeps the front line standing. In a climactic moment, Thor delivers a massive critical hit with his crystal sword, cleaving through Baphomet's horns and skull with radiant and thunder energy. As Baphomet's body decomposes, the remaining minotaurs surrender. The session concludes with Orcus sensing Baphomet's defeat and ordering his mind flayer thralls to prepare for movement, signaling a shift in the Underdark's power balance.