They transported and were attacked immeadiately. Surprise! The Cleric had the Alertness Feat and so he was not surprised. Five demons lay in wait. Four Barlgaru and one Hezrou demon. The Barlgaru attacked recklessly, giving them advantage and the Hezrou was just very tough and resistant to almost everything. Each demon got three attacks and they were not weak attacks, the Barlgaru had a +4 to hit and damage and the Hezrou +7. Shock wore off quickly the high armour class of the players thwarted many of the attacks but during the surprise round I was rolling 27 d20 to hit, which meant that statistically I was likely to get atleast one critical hit or two a round, statistically the Fighter with the highest Armour Class was going to be hit 30% each round, but the others were more likely to be hit. The paladin was squared off against the Hezrou who had a 35% chance with each of its attacks. The Ranger remembered the last time he fought a Barlgaru, because it knocked him unconcsious in two rounds. Within three rounds of combat two of the players were down and only one of the Barlgaru was dead. The battle was short and bloody but they one in that fight, the dragon had reverted to its normal form to use its breath weapon, which did not cause much damage but wore the demons down. When the rest of the characters portaled in there was a seen of carnage and blood spilled on the ground and the walls warped with ice damage, and five demon corpses. Three of the characters were suffering from near fatal injuries, two were knocked unconscious in the fight. They voted for a short rest to heal.
They set up camp in the entry hall and got ready to rest. When the short rest was half done, he'll broke loose. Another set of demons entered the group. Four Barlgaru and one Hezrou. They attacked and after a couple of rounds the Demons were losing, and the Hezrou decided to bolt. The Ranger had killed one Barlgaru with four quick shots and a group of player characters teamed up and killed another. The Dragon damaged the Hezrou with its Frost breath weapon, but most of the attacks against the Hezrou were non magical and so the demon was resistant. It tried to flee, but the Paladin cut it off from escaping, so the demon fled toward another of the doors, there were eight in the room. The demon was dashing past many characters and they all got opportunity attacks, but the demon was faster than they were. They were able to catch up, but not attack, however, that was enough, as when the demon fled them, more attack opportunities presented to them. The demon shouted something just before it died in a language they did not know.
The warlock broke camp quickly and walled up the passage way the demon escaped through with an icewall and the door they flead through, he froze shut with another Icewall spell cast from the Orb of Golden Death.
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Spoilers
It gave me some pause. They were not supposed to alert the entire level of their presence until they had fought and killed more of the enemy, or made an alliance against one side or the other. But that shit did not happen and hit the fan instead. Two of the doors were blocked off, but e demons were expecting a counter attack, they had just attacked the opposing side a few days ago and the devils had lost their Red Dragon. The Demon's Red dragon had eaten it. Then the players show up and two patrols are wiped out and an alarm has been raised. The players are assuming the corridors are not connected, but they are, so, it is just a matter of time before the players get attacked by three patrols at once, no not three, four and the leader demon too. Not a straight attack though, because they have to find out that the ways are blocked so they have about 2 minutes for the demons to get in the corridor that they just entered. There are three options. The go straight and they get engaged in a long and bloody battle where they will likely die. They go slow and they get caught in a corridor and they will probably will die. Or they go down one of the two side passages and they encounter the Dark elves that feel the demons have been sending them into the toughest fights and are ready to revolt. It is this option where they have a chance, sort of. The Drow are Chaotic Evil and they will betray the party after they have gotten what they want from them, e destruction of the demons. Four mages, two priests, and several fighters and seven Driders—which they won't tell the PCs about until they intend to betray them. The Drow may try to send the PCs towards the Devil first and kill them later. While they clean up the last demons with the help of the Dragon, then well then the players are in a better position maybe a new level too, level ten. Either way, if the Paladin casts his Oath spell, he will see it work.
The key thing is to keep up the suspense: I will ask them if they are dashing? Are they running from what comes from behind? Who is leading? Who is going first? Who is making the direction decisions? And then sound the drums. Every time I ask them a question I will say that a combat round has passed. That I am measuring time in combat rounds. Every time they discuss things it takes time. I will use a stop watch. Every elapsed minute equals a combat round, i.e. I am not a monster, I will give them more time to make a choice than they really have. They have twenty combat rounds for the demons to get to the point closest to the door they went through. I will point out that the slowest party member is the dwarf, are they leaving her behind? She is in full armour and has been in the heat since the first battle in the Fire prison, and has not been able to rest. Two levels of Exhaustion! Every minute of dashing will add a level, every minute of combat. Every other character too. This is to provide tension only. They need to rest soon!
Make the passage to the right seem more inviting, darker. Make the bend to the left less inviting brighter light, more heat. I want them to live not to die in battle!
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