Sarenith 27, 4712, continued
Landing at the bottom of the last level of the Spire, the Coopers suddenly realize that two of their numbers are missing. Both Thorne and Omok must have accidentally hit the Spire with travel tokens on their way down and disappeared back to the surface! The rest of them immediately find themselves surrounded by the root of the Emerald Spire, stretching in all direction. They barely have time to examine their surroundings before they hear otherworldly screams. Two towering menaces climb over the roots on either side of the base of the Spire and close in.
Upon seeing this threat, Olifrit hides behind Kazmauk and covers herself with his cloak. Unfortunately Kazmauk immediately leaves his spot and charges the Gug on the left side, landing a successful blow. Darelle uses the lichen and other mosses present on the floor to entangle the right side Gug, managing to stop it in its tracks as it struggles to break free. Daryle loosen arrow upon arrow. Kazmauk lands two great blows against his opponent but ends up caught in the entanglement. Olifrit casts deep slumber on one of the Gug. It appears to work for a moment, but it shakes it off. Kazmauk continues to land blows and finally manages to slay his opponent before turning his anger on the remaining one. Olifrit taunts the last Gug with rude gestures. While entangled the Gug cannot move, but his long arms still reach and rend both Darelle and Kazmauk, before Darelle uses her wand of magic missile and kills it.
Taking a breather, the Coopers heal themselves. They debate whether they should return to Fort Inevitable to rearm and re-equip with healing potions and other magical items, but in the end they decide to continue exploring the level, at least for now. Darelle and Daryle climb one of the roots, and finally see the rest of this large room. They notice a door in the southwest wall, as well as a root that crosses a river of lava onto another section of the cave. Kazmauk heads towards the door at the southwest corner.
Darelle makes her way across the rift and discovers a large pillar of stone. Though it doesn't have a mouth, the pillar begins to talk in an incomprehensible language, but thanks to a nifty magical item Darelle is able to understand it. Daryle merely shakes her head but observes the conversation from afar, her bow at the read. The creature identifies itself as Oorivoon, a philosopher and a guard. The two of them have a very productive conversation about life and the soul. The ranger questions Oorivoon about its purpose here. It replies that it was appointed as guardian to this room. It further explains to Darelle that a Vault Keeper dwells here, but that unfathomably powerful creature has gone insane in the eons that it has hidden at the base of the Spire, and it has not come to talk to Oorivoon in many centuries. When Darelle asks what the Vault Builders are, Oorivoon shares his knowledge of them and their roles as primordial beings. Oorivoon then explains that it is particularly hungry, and insists on eating Darelle. The ranger is caught off guard, but Daryle, who had remained behind, comes to her rescue. In the resulting altercation, Darelle proposes to Oorivoon some of the Gug meat to satiate its hunger, and Ooviroon readily agrees.
Meanwhile, Kazmauk enters what appears to be a very large alchemical laboratory. He quickly discovers that it is occupied by three vivisectionist Ropers, who are clearly intent on adding the dwarf to their collections of body parts. Kazmauk attempts to fight them off, but they prove too powerful for him, so he flees the room, but not before noticing there are several body parts of opponents the Coopers have encountered throughout their trip within the Spire, including the two mechanical legs that once belonged to Klarkosh, and the hideous head of the Mistress of Thornes.
Back in the main room, Kazmauk deals some damage to the Ropers, but they are vicious creatures and drive him back. While Daryle and Darelle find themselves chopping off pieces of the Gugs, Kazmauk crosses the path over the lava and hides behind the stone pillar known to the other Coopers as Oorivoon. Closely followed by the Ropers, Kazmauk strikes a powerful blow, and then is surprised to see two of the Ropers tangle with Oorivoon, who quickly devours one of them.
Hearing the commotion, the Coopers return to the area carrying piles of meat, and join the fray. Olifrit attempts to slap and headbutt the Roper, but misses. Daryle launches several arrows. One of the Ropers becomes invisible and ambushes the sisters from behind. Eventually, the Coopers are able to successfully conclude the battle, but they now realize that they are hopelessly outclassed without both more magical healing and items and the rest of their party. They decide to immediately transport back to the Splinterden level and trek back to Fort Inevitable before returning to the Spire for one last (one hopes) glorious mission!
Showing posts with label Klarkosh. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Klarkosh. Show all posts
Friday, September 1, 2017
Friday, March 31, 2017
The Coopers are steamed
Sarenith 17, 4712
Following the arrests of Thorne's associates, the Hellknights conduct muscled interrogations. All of them tell a similar story. They last saw Thorne in the first week of Gorzan, which corresponds to the same time frame as the last time the sisters saw him. Roscoe orders further interrogations. The suspects are to be kept apart from each other and under 24 hours surveillance. They are to be interrogated at least twice a day until useful information is gathered from them.
Roscoe then departs the Citadel and meet his sisters and Omok at the Juliver Arms for breakfast.
Doliber welcomes them and vigorously shakes the Coopers' hands, congratulating them on their good fortune. When Roscoe looks confused, he tells them that earlier in the morning Gerald came in and announced that he and Cassandra would be married at the end of the Festival of Songs on Rova 1, 4712. After a great meal and some discussion about their brother's insanity, they decide it is time to return to the Emerald Spire. They gather their gear, and then head out. They'll deal with Gerald later.
They trek through the blooming countryside, and soon enter the Echo Woods. At the halfway point, the sky begins to cloud over, and the greenish darkness that descends bodes ill. The sisters immediately begin looking for shelter, as another green storm is striking the area. The best they can find is a large pile of rocks that offer protection against the rain, but not much else. Still, it's better than nothing so the Coopers hide there, weapons drawn and on guard against any surprises. The green fog rolls in, the cloud cover is low, and the winds begin to howl. Lightning flashes, and rain starts to pelt the ground. For half an hour, the intensity of the storm does not diminish.
Then, among two flashes of lightning, Daryle spots seven small figures emerge from the surrounding trees. The group is under attack. She recognizes them as twigjack, which they encountered back in the forest by Dimsdale. Darelle can smell the rot in the air. Clearly something is out there. The twigjacks separate and attack each member of the party. Roscoe and Darelle emerge from the shelter to engage, while Omok and Daryle stay behind and attack from a distance. The cackling of a voice can suddenly be heard, and giant slugs appear behind Daryle and Omok. Slime pours out of them, and the space soon become extremely slippery. Engaged on all sides, the Coopers do not notice the gnarled old man emerge from the nearest tree. He rushes Roscoe, who, surprised, gets knocked aside.
With the slime saturating the area, and with rain and wind battering them from all sides, the Coopers are soon down in the slime, struggling to get up and yet still fighting their enemies. The gnarled old man taunts them and tells them their doom awaits in the Spire. Eventually, he withdraws and merges back in a tree. After everyone managed to get up Darelle tells Roscoe and Omok about their previous encounter with the gnarled old man and tells them that he is an agent of chaos, one of the many who have emerged or been drawn to the Spire.
It takes four hours, but the storm finally abates. During this time they hear strange noises in the forest, and at one point a rendering cry of pain, but aside from hints that things are moving in the distance, nothing bothers the Coopers.
In the late afternoon, the Coopers reach the Emerald Spire. They enter through the tunnel and reach the Splinterden level. Using the transport token, they arrive on the Pleasure Gardens level, then use the hovering platform by the Devourer's throne to reach the 14th level.
The Coopers descend on the platform and arrive about a thousand feet lower in a large hall. The ceilings here are 30 feet tall, and the craftsmanship indicate that significant resources and time were spent building it. A large staircase lead from the elevator platform to a huge set of stone double doors. On either side are two large statues. The whole level is bathed in an eerily green light. On either side of the doors, in their own alcoves, are two statues, as finely crafted as those they encountered in the Pleasure gardens. The first one is that of a woman wielding a sword and appearing to be leading troops in combat. A star-shaped hole in her left palm is clearly visible. Omok comprehends languages and reads the inscription written in Azlanti "Eternal is the Seal of Estrekan. Eternal is her vigil against evil."
Next to the other statue the Coopers discover a dead body. Based on her cloak, Roscoe recognizes her as Tiawask, a missing wizard from the Goldencloak Iliara Starcloak had asked him to locate. She displays no visible wounds, and from the state of the body Darelle estimates that she's been dead about four days. Omok speaks with dead and converses with the dead wizard. Tiawask tells them her story of being captured by Klarkosh on the sixth level, and explains how she escaped using a potion of gaseous form. She was unable to find a way up, so she made her way down, hoping to discover another exit. She's been meandering down here over the last ten months, and died when she placed a star shape ioun stone in the statue's palm. The Coopers then notice that this statue has a similar star shape hole in its palm, but a stone fills the space perfectly. Roscoe promises to fulfill his mission and bring the body back when they return to Fort Inevitable.
Wrapping her hands in parts of her Shadowborn dress, Darelle retrieves the eastern star ioun stone. She realizes she has a similar stone in her equipment, the western star ioun stone. She is also suddenly able to read the inscription on the statue, even though it is written in Azlanti. It reads: "Dedicated to the brave sacrifice of Lady Estrekan of Almorain Blue, Knight Commandant of the Western Star." Omok casts divination to find out if placing the stars in the reverse order would work, and the answer is that indeed that is the fact.
On the count of three, Roscoe and Darelle place the stars in their appropriate spots, and the double stone doors shimmer, then majestically open. Daryle quickly spike them in place. In the middle of this large room is a huge clockwork leviathan, surrounded by four humanoids bounds in chains by its feet. The construct releases a jet of superheated magical steam that takes the Coopers by surprise. They suffer grievous wounds, but they engage the creature. Darelle is thrown against the wall, and falls to the floor. She notices that the humanoids' eyes and mouth are sewn shut.
Roscoe leads a valiant attack but he is grabbed and swallowed by the leviathan. He lands ten feet below in the creature's stomach, a pool of boiling water. Since the water itself is not magical, Roscoe is able to withstand the heat due to the protection against heat they acquired from the Mistress of Thorns back when they headed down to the magma level. Inside in the darkness he spots what seems like a large mechanical heart. It appears easy to dislodge, but Roscoe hesitates to do so.
Meanwhile, the combat outside the leviathan continues. Daryle is grabbed by the creature and is when swallowed, joining Roscoe in its stomach. He points the heart to his sister, and she removes it from the wall. The monster keeps operating, however. Roscoe then plans to throw the heart out before the leviathan releases steam again. Unfortunately, Roscoe misjudges the timing, however, and as he aims the leviathan releases another jet of steam. Both Roscoe and Daryle are ejected while Omok and Darelle suffers grievous wounds. Roscoe drops the heart to the ground, and Omok picks it up and puts it in his backpack.
The Coopers continue to rain blows on the leviathan, and they inflict enough damage to disable the construct. As the party recuperates, Darelle looks at the four humanoids. They are humans. She carefully removes the stitches from the first person's mouth and eyes. His voice is a first raw and much disused, and Darelle can't understand a word he says. She remembers the ioun stones, and heads back out to the statues and removes both of them. Returning in the room, she sees Omok following the lead and removing more stitches from the other folks.
The first man Darelle freed introduces himself as Ithan. His companions are Efrah, Urian, and the lady Ommarra. All of them were Knights of the Ioun Star, and they had pursued the perfidious Nhur Athemon from Azlant all the way to his refuge here at the Emerald Spire. In a mighty battle they destroyed the archmage and his acolytes but the lady Estrekan and themselves were slain in the process. They were revived later by the archmage, who had indeed become a lich before the fall of the Spire, and, to taunt them and flaunt his power over life itself, forced them to endure in mock salute for over ten centuries.
As he tells his tale, Gerald walks in holding a couple of spikes, and happily returns them to Daryle. The doors to the outside world close with a ominous bang. The Coopers are once again locked behind magical doors...
Following the arrests of Thorne's associates, the Hellknights conduct muscled interrogations. All of them tell a similar story. They last saw Thorne in the first week of Gorzan, which corresponds to the same time frame as the last time the sisters saw him. Roscoe orders further interrogations. The suspects are to be kept apart from each other and under 24 hours surveillance. They are to be interrogated at least twice a day until useful information is gathered from them.
Roscoe then departs the Citadel and meet his sisters and Omok at the Juliver Arms for breakfast.
Doliber welcomes them and vigorously shakes the Coopers' hands, congratulating them on their good fortune. When Roscoe looks confused, he tells them that earlier in the morning Gerald came in and announced that he and Cassandra would be married at the end of the Festival of Songs on Rova 1, 4712. After a great meal and some discussion about their brother's insanity, they decide it is time to return to the Emerald Spire. They gather their gear, and then head out. They'll deal with Gerald later.
They trek through the blooming countryside, and soon enter the Echo Woods. At the halfway point, the sky begins to cloud over, and the greenish darkness that descends bodes ill. The sisters immediately begin looking for shelter, as another green storm is striking the area. The best they can find is a large pile of rocks that offer protection against the rain, but not much else. Still, it's better than nothing so the Coopers hide there, weapons drawn and on guard against any surprises. The green fog rolls in, the cloud cover is low, and the winds begin to howl. Lightning flashes, and rain starts to pelt the ground. For half an hour, the intensity of the storm does not diminish.
Then, among two flashes of lightning, Daryle spots seven small figures emerge from the surrounding trees. The group is under attack. She recognizes them as twigjack, which they encountered back in the forest by Dimsdale. Darelle can smell the rot in the air. Clearly something is out there. The twigjacks separate and attack each member of the party. Roscoe and Darelle emerge from the shelter to engage, while Omok and Daryle stay behind and attack from a distance. The cackling of a voice can suddenly be heard, and giant slugs appear behind Daryle and Omok. Slime pours out of them, and the space soon become extremely slippery. Engaged on all sides, the Coopers do not notice the gnarled old man emerge from the nearest tree. He rushes Roscoe, who, surprised, gets knocked aside.
With the slime saturating the area, and with rain and wind battering them from all sides, the Coopers are soon down in the slime, struggling to get up and yet still fighting their enemies. The gnarled old man taunts them and tells them their doom awaits in the Spire. Eventually, he withdraws and merges back in a tree. After everyone managed to get up Darelle tells Roscoe and Omok about their previous encounter with the gnarled old man and tells them that he is an agent of chaos, one of the many who have emerged or been drawn to the Spire.
It takes four hours, but the storm finally abates. During this time they hear strange noises in the forest, and at one point a rendering cry of pain, but aside from hints that things are moving in the distance, nothing bothers the Coopers.
In the late afternoon, the Coopers reach the Emerald Spire. They enter through the tunnel and reach the Splinterden level. Using the transport token, they arrive on the Pleasure Gardens level, then use the hovering platform by the Devourer's throne to reach the 14th level.
The Coopers descend on the platform and arrive about a thousand feet lower in a large hall. The ceilings here are 30 feet tall, and the craftsmanship indicate that significant resources and time were spent building it. A large staircase lead from the elevator platform to a huge set of stone double doors. On either side are two large statues. The whole level is bathed in an eerily green light. On either side of the doors, in their own alcoves, are two statues, as finely crafted as those they encountered in the Pleasure gardens. The first one is that of a woman wielding a sword and appearing to be leading troops in combat. A star-shaped hole in her left palm is clearly visible. Omok comprehends languages and reads the inscription written in Azlanti "Eternal is the Seal of Estrekan. Eternal is her vigil against evil."
Next to the other statue the Coopers discover a dead body. Based on her cloak, Roscoe recognizes her as Tiawask, a missing wizard from the Goldencloak Iliara Starcloak had asked him to locate. She displays no visible wounds, and from the state of the body Darelle estimates that she's been dead about four days. Omok speaks with dead and converses with the dead wizard. Tiawask tells them her story of being captured by Klarkosh on the sixth level, and explains how she escaped using a potion of gaseous form. She was unable to find a way up, so she made her way down, hoping to discover another exit. She's been meandering down here over the last ten months, and died when she placed a star shape ioun stone in the statue's palm. The Coopers then notice that this statue has a similar star shape hole in its palm, but a stone fills the space perfectly. Roscoe promises to fulfill his mission and bring the body back when they return to Fort Inevitable.
Wrapping her hands in parts of her Shadowborn dress, Darelle retrieves the eastern star ioun stone. She realizes she has a similar stone in her equipment, the western star ioun stone. She is also suddenly able to read the inscription on the statue, even though it is written in Azlanti. It reads: "Dedicated to the brave sacrifice of Lady Estrekan of Almorain Blue, Knight Commandant of the Western Star." Omok casts divination to find out if placing the stars in the reverse order would work, and the answer is that indeed that is the fact.
On the count of three, Roscoe and Darelle place the stars in their appropriate spots, and the double stone doors shimmer, then majestically open. Daryle quickly spike them in place. In the middle of this large room is a huge clockwork leviathan, surrounded by four humanoids bounds in chains by its feet. The construct releases a jet of superheated magical steam that takes the Coopers by surprise. They suffer grievous wounds, but they engage the creature. Darelle is thrown against the wall, and falls to the floor. She notices that the humanoids' eyes and mouth are sewn shut.
Roscoe leads a valiant attack but he is grabbed and swallowed by the leviathan. He lands ten feet below in the creature's stomach, a pool of boiling water. Since the water itself is not magical, Roscoe is able to withstand the heat due to the protection against heat they acquired from the Mistress of Thorns back when they headed down to the magma level. Inside in the darkness he spots what seems like a large mechanical heart. It appears easy to dislodge, but Roscoe hesitates to do so.
Meanwhile, the combat outside the leviathan continues. Daryle is grabbed by the creature and is when swallowed, joining Roscoe in its stomach. He points the heart to his sister, and she removes it from the wall. The monster keeps operating, however. Roscoe then plans to throw the heart out before the leviathan releases steam again. Unfortunately, Roscoe misjudges the timing, however, and as he aims the leviathan releases another jet of steam. Both Roscoe and Daryle are ejected while Omok and Darelle suffers grievous wounds. Roscoe drops the heart to the ground, and Omok picks it up and puts it in his backpack.
The Coopers continue to rain blows on the leviathan, and they inflict enough damage to disable the construct. As the party recuperates, Darelle looks at the four humanoids. They are humans. She carefully removes the stitches from the first person's mouth and eyes. His voice is a first raw and much disused, and Darelle can't understand a word he says. She remembers the ioun stones, and heads back out to the statues and removes both of them. Returning in the room, she sees Omok following the lead and removing more stitches from the other folks.
The first man Darelle freed introduces himself as Ithan. His companions are Efrah, Urian, and the lady Ommarra. All of them were Knights of the Ioun Star, and they had pursued the perfidious Nhur Athemon from Azlant all the way to his refuge here at the Emerald Spire. In a mighty battle they destroyed the archmage and his acolytes but the lady Estrekan and themselves were slain in the process. They were revived later by the archmage, who had indeed become a lich before the fall of the Spire, and, to taunt them and flaunt his power over life itself, forced them to endure in mock salute for over ten centuries.
As he tells his tale, Gerald walks in holding a couple of spikes, and happily returns them to Daryle. The doors to the outside world close with a ominous bang. The Coopers are once again locked behind magical doors...
Friday, August 26, 2016
We're stuck, and this time it wasn't Gerald's fault!
Pharast 1, 4712
Following the confrontation with the magma dragons, the party is winded but excited. They managed to slaughter two dragons! After taking a breather, they decide to continue exploring this level of the Emerald Spire. After all, there shouldn't be much left to chart. Thorne and Rowen are exhausted after this battle and managed to recuperate two of the bolts of dragon slaying +10. They decide it would be wiser for them to return to Fort Inevitable and place the bolts in a safe place. They use the rope back to the Spire, and, using the token, transport away from this level.
Roscoe, Darelle, and Daryle decide to remain and continue their exploration. They struggle to string a rope between the Spire and the edge of the cave on the other side of the Spire, but eventually they succeed. Roscoe is the first one across, followed closely by his sisters. This large cave slopes down and eventually leads to the staircase to the eleventh level, but what immediately attracts the Coopers' attention is the presence of a hobgoblin chained to the wall. Wearing only a loin cloth and worn leather boots, he seems dehydrated but still aware. His gear and backpack are piled nearby. He appears to be a sacrifice delivered to the dragons. Darelle notices that though he is worse for wear for having been here, he has not been affected by the extreme heat.
Roscoe examines the creature, and discovers that the symbol that was present on the mechanical dogs that attacked Fort Inevitable a while back are also present on the manacles. Could it be that whomever delivered the hobgoblin to the dragon is connected to the maker of the dogs? Daryle notes that this symbol is similar in many ways to the one Klarklosh used on his machines. The hobgolbin, who identifies himself as Omok, states that he saw a bunch of angry goblins who ambushed him. He was hunting them down when he came upon these goblins. He was taking advantage of the town's disarray to plunder the Emerald Spire. His story seems confused, and Daryle gets in his face trying to assert the truth. Omok is all over the place, but she's eventually convince that he tells a version of the truth, though she plans on keeping a close eye on him.
After much questioning, Roscoe unchains the hobgoblin and agrees to let him accompany them on their quest. Darelle heals him and helps him with water and food. Omok dresses himself and is finally ready. The party moves down the cave and comes upon what looks like a large aquarium window. On the other side is a pool of water that reaches up to eye level at the window. Beyond that is a small ledge that connects to a tunnel, and on that ledge is the dragons' hoard. But how do they get there? They search for a secret passage in their current cave, but they cannot find one. Reluctantly they decide to backtrack to the main cave and look there. Eventually, they discover a secret tunnel which leads to a small river of lava.
Omok is the first one to cross, after stripping down. Unfortunately for him, his pants, which he had placed on his head, fall in the lava and burn to ashes. Roscoe follows. The sisters look at each other. There is no way Daryle will remove her pants, and Daryle is wearing a dress. They decide to string another rope across the river, and successfully cross it.
In the dragons' hoard, aside from the usual coinage and gems, they discover five strange items. The biggest of them, which immediately attracts Omok's attention, is a large steel case featuring skulls and various evil looking runes around it. Roscoe casts detect evil and is almost blinded. Clearly, whatever this is should not be left behind. Meanwhile, Darelle and Daryle find a miniature wooden sculpture of a tree, a large leather belt with golden runes, a long sword that faintly shimmers, and a potion. The twins pick up the items while Roscoe and Omok argue about what to do with the case. Omok attempts to open it, but it is locked. They eventually decide they will carry it with them. Unfortunately, it is too big for one, so both of them must take it along.
Returning to the staircase after struggling to get the case over the lava, the Coopers decide to head down to the 11th level. Roscoe and Omok are carrying the steel case between themselves, with Darelle up front and Daryle closing the march. They descend about 150 feet when they finally emerge from the magma formed tunnels into a large made area. The floors are made of flagstones, while small continual lights give off a faint light. The Spire is in this room, and Daryle locates the level's name, Yarrik. Across from the Spire is a set of bronze double doors that are covered with seals made of cloth that is now threadbare it is so old, as well as runes inscribed around the door frame. The doors push inside the room. Clearly, someone a long time ago wanted to keep something locked behind these doors. But the seals show that they have not been disturbed in eons.
Darelle knocks on the door. No one answers, and no sound can be heard from the other side. After much debate, Roscoe and Omok leave the chest by the Spire. Daryle spends time examining the runes, and discovers a few words she's familiar with. She picks up the words beware, Yarrik, and curse. Omok attempts to open the door, but it is locked, and the seal remains intact. Roscoe and Omok decide to use the magical steel chest to batter the door down. Their swing is so powerful that the double doors swing open. The steel case pops open as well, and a large book falls out. Made of humanoid skin and covered in lettering written in blood, the book oozes evil. Omok looks at the name, and he immediately recognizes that the party is in possession of a chapter from the Book of the Damned. No one touches the book, and Roscoe carefully wraps it back up into the steel case. Omok and the Hellknight return the chest to the Spire.
A large hallway heads to another set of bronze doors. Side passages leave on either side. Two automatons stand guard, and as the Coopers come closer they activate and begin to fight. Darelle attempts to retrieve the chest but she's not strong enough to move it. Omok uses his ring of the Ram to push backward one of the automatons. Roscoe, and Daryle batter the creatures, while Darelle uses the sword she found and discovers its true nature. The Coopers emerge triumphant after a few minutes of intense combat. But with the combat concluded, the doors to this level close, and the Coopers are locked in!
Before opening the door, Roscoe decides to head into one of the side corridors. He can see a door, but for every step he takes the door seems to get further and further. After struggling for what feels like an hour, he reaches the door, but it turns out to be a fake. He backtracks to a perpendicular corridor and discovers another hallway. The same thing happens. He attempts to walk backwards, forward, and by marking the wall but every time it takes roughly an hour to cross what looks like a 40 feet corridor.
Meanwhile, Darelle wanders in after her brother, but then loses sight of her. She experiences the same feeling as Roscoe did. Eventually she reaches the first fake door. She decide to tie a rope on the handle to help her, and she strings it along behind her. She eventually reaches the perpendicular hallway as well, and hears Roscoe's faint yells.
Daryle and Omok were still in the main corridor when Darelle and Roscoe vanished, and they follow along. Daryle quickly figures out something is not right, and she begins to draw in chalk on the wall. She runs out of chalk before she runs out of wall, but eventually they reach the fake door. They decide to head back to the main corridor, and they emerge from the side hallway roughly eight hours later, exhausted from their trip. Roscoe is next eight hours later than the first two, followed by Darelle four hours after that. All told, various members of the party spent twenty hours in the side corridors. They decide to rest for the night.
After recuperating the Coopers decide to proceed, since they are stuck anyway. They open the double doors, and in an octagonal room they find a statue in the far corner as well as a fountain in the middle. Suddenly three fire elementals appear, and they attack the group. The fighting is hard, and it seems that every time a spell is cast by one of the party members a fire ball emerges from the fountain and strikes that person. Daryle unleashes a series of arrows, while Omok repeatedly uses his ring of the Ram to damage the elementals. Darelle fights with her sword, while Roscoe lands some mighty blows against the enemy. Omok channels energy and heals the member of the group, and even Roscoe has to heal himself since he has suffered significant damage from the relentless elemental attack. Eventually, though, the Coopers are triumphant, but not before Darelle is swallowed inside one of the fire elementals before being rescued by her siblings. Following this encounter, Darelle feels strange. It is as if a part of the elemental power was left behind in her...
Following the confrontation with the magma dragons, the party is winded but excited. They managed to slaughter two dragons! After taking a breather, they decide to continue exploring this level of the Emerald Spire. After all, there shouldn't be much left to chart. Thorne and Rowen are exhausted after this battle and managed to recuperate two of the bolts of dragon slaying +10. They decide it would be wiser for them to return to Fort Inevitable and place the bolts in a safe place. They use the rope back to the Spire, and, using the token, transport away from this level.
Roscoe, Darelle, and Daryle decide to remain and continue their exploration. They struggle to string a rope between the Spire and the edge of the cave on the other side of the Spire, but eventually they succeed. Roscoe is the first one across, followed closely by his sisters. This large cave slopes down and eventually leads to the staircase to the eleventh level, but what immediately attracts the Coopers' attention is the presence of a hobgoblin chained to the wall. Wearing only a loin cloth and worn leather boots, he seems dehydrated but still aware. His gear and backpack are piled nearby. He appears to be a sacrifice delivered to the dragons. Darelle notices that though he is worse for wear for having been here, he has not been affected by the extreme heat.
Roscoe examines the creature, and discovers that the symbol that was present on the mechanical dogs that attacked Fort Inevitable a while back are also present on the manacles. Could it be that whomever delivered the hobgoblin to the dragon is connected to the maker of the dogs? Daryle notes that this symbol is similar in many ways to the one Klarklosh used on his machines. The hobgolbin, who identifies himself as Omok, states that he saw a bunch of angry goblins who ambushed him. He was hunting them down when he came upon these goblins. He was taking advantage of the town's disarray to plunder the Emerald Spire. His story seems confused, and Daryle gets in his face trying to assert the truth. Omok is all over the place, but she's eventually convince that he tells a version of the truth, though she plans on keeping a close eye on him.
After much questioning, Roscoe unchains the hobgoblin and agrees to let him accompany them on their quest. Darelle heals him and helps him with water and food. Omok dresses himself and is finally ready. The party moves down the cave and comes upon what looks like a large aquarium window. On the other side is a pool of water that reaches up to eye level at the window. Beyond that is a small ledge that connects to a tunnel, and on that ledge is the dragons' hoard. But how do they get there? They search for a secret passage in their current cave, but they cannot find one. Reluctantly they decide to backtrack to the main cave and look there. Eventually, they discover a secret tunnel which leads to a small river of lava.
Omok is the first one to cross, after stripping down. Unfortunately for him, his pants, which he had placed on his head, fall in the lava and burn to ashes. Roscoe follows. The sisters look at each other. There is no way Daryle will remove her pants, and Daryle is wearing a dress. They decide to string another rope across the river, and successfully cross it.
In the dragons' hoard, aside from the usual coinage and gems, they discover five strange items. The biggest of them, which immediately attracts Omok's attention, is a large steel case featuring skulls and various evil looking runes around it. Roscoe casts detect evil and is almost blinded. Clearly, whatever this is should not be left behind. Meanwhile, Darelle and Daryle find a miniature wooden sculpture of a tree, a large leather belt with golden runes, a long sword that faintly shimmers, and a potion. The twins pick up the items while Roscoe and Omok argue about what to do with the case. Omok attempts to open it, but it is locked. They eventually decide they will carry it with them. Unfortunately, it is too big for one, so both of them must take it along.
Returning to the staircase after struggling to get the case over the lava, the Coopers decide to head down to the 11th level. Roscoe and Omok are carrying the steel case between themselves, with Darelle up front and Daryle closing the march. They descend about 150 feet when they finally emerge from the magma formed tunnels into a large made area. The floors are made of flagstones, while small continual lights give off a faint light. The Spire is in this room, and Daryle locates the level's name, Yarrik. Across from the Spire is a set of bronze double doors that are covered with seals made of cloth that is now threadbare it is so old, as well as runes inscribed around the door frame. The doors push inside the room. Clearly, someone a long time ago wanted to keep something locked behind these doors. But the seals show that they have not been disturbed in eons.
Darelle knocks on the door. No one answers, and no sound can be heard from the other side. After much debate, Roscoe and Omok leave the chest by the Spire. Daryle spends time examining the runes, and discovers a few words she's familiar with. She picks up the words beware, Yarrik, and curse. Omok attempts to open the door, but it is locked, and the seal remains intact. Roscoe and Omok decide to use the magical steel chest to batter the door down. Their swing is so powerful that the double doors swing open. The steel case pops open as well, and a large book falls out. Made of humanoid skin and covered in lettering written in blood, the book oozes evil. Omok looks at the name, and he immediately recognizes that the party is in possession of a chapter from the Book of the Damned. No one touches the book, and Roscoe carefully wraps it back up into the steel case. Omok and the Hellknight return the chest to the Spire.
A large hallway heads to another set of bronze doors. Side passages leave on either side. Two automatons stand guard, and as the Coopers come closer they activate and begin to fight. Darelle attempts to retrieve the chest but she's not strong enough to move it. Omok uses his ring of the Ram to push backward one of the automatons. Roscoe, and Daryle batter the creatures, while Darelle uses the sword she found and discovers its true nature. The Coopers emerge triumphant after a few minutes of intense combat. But with the combat concluded, the doors to this level close, and the Coopers are locked in!
Before opening the door, Roscoe decides to head into one of the side corridors. He can see a door, but for every step he takes the door seems to get further and further. After struggling for what feels like an hour, he reaches the door, but it turns out to be a fake. He backtracks to a perpendicular corridor and discovers another hallway. The same thing happens. He attempts to walk backwards, forward, and by marking the wall but every time it takes roughly an hour to cross what looks like a 40 feet corridor.
Meanwhile, Darelle wanders in after her brother, but then loses sight of her. She experiences the same feeling as Roscoe did. Eventually she reaches the first fake door. She decide to tie a rope on the handle to help her, and she strings it along behind her. She eventually reaches the perpendicular hallway as well, and hears Roscoe's faint yells.
Daryle and Omok were still in the main corridor when Darelle and Roscoe vanished, and they follow along. Daryle quickly figures out something is not right, and she begins to draw in chalk on the wall. She runs out of chalk before she runs out of wall, but eventually they reach the fake door. They decide to head back to the main corridor, and they emerge from the side hallway roughly eight hours later, exhausted from their trip. Roscoe is next eight hours later than the first two, followed by Darelle four hours after that. All told, various members of the party spent twenty hours in the side corridors. They decide to rest for the night.
After recuperating the Coopers decide to proceed, since they are stuck anyway. They open the double doors, and in an octagonal room they find a statue in the far corner as well as a fountain in the middle. Suddenly three fire elementals appear, and they attack the group. The fighting is hard, and it seems that every time a spell is cast by one of the party members a fire ball emerges from the fountain and strikes that person. Daryle unleashes a series of arrows, while Omok repeatedly uses his ring of the Ram to damage the elementals. Darelle fights with her sword, while Roscoe lands some mighty blows against the enemy. Omok channels energy and heals the member of the group, and even Roscoe has to heal himself since he has suffered significant damage from the relentless elemental attack. Eventually, though, the Coopers are triumphant, but not before Darelle is swallowed inside one of the fire elementals before being rescued by her siblings. Following this encounter, Darelle feels strange. It is as if a part of the elemental power was left behind in her...
Friday, June 17, 2016
Who let the dogs out?
Abadius 26, 4712
Over the last four days, Darelle, Daryle and Gerald rested and re-equipped. They bought healing potions and Darelle invested into another invisibility potion. Daryle, meanwhile went hunting and captured 48 crowns' worth of pelts and goblin ears. She meets with Karlyle the butcher, who mentions that most of the goblin ears that have been turned in are those of juveniles.
Darelle spends some time with Dr. Mordel, who reports that there is a flu epidemic in the town. About one in five people seem to be affected. They are stricken and bed-ridden, but after three or four days they are able to return to their regular activities. The population outside the walls seems not to be as affected.
Gerald continues his research into the magical bow he wishes to build, and he begins to seek out components to build his copper coin change mail. He thinks that Roscoe will be rather impressed with this new invention.
In the late afternoon, Cassandra knocks on Gerald's door. After a sharp exchange that included a discussion about not telling her that he was back in time, Gerald reveals that he was badly injured. Cassandra forces her way inside, and she cooks him a nice meal. Over dinner she mentions that she is doing research in ice magic. Gerald mentions the idea of a unified theory of elemental magic where the elements could be stronger when combined properly than the sum of their parts. For example, earth to mud. She teaches Gerald the orison spell of ice over, which allows him to freeze roughly a cup of a normal liquid. Used on a water elemental, this will cause 1d4 points of damage. She departs late in the evening, after sharing a passionate kiss with him.
Calistril 24, 4712
Following the sisters' return from Xer and their quest for information on the Shadowborn family, the Coopers meet in the morning for breakfast at the Juliver Arms. Daryle tells her siblings about the goblins and what Karlyle told her. She speculates that it could either be a new tribe moving into the area, or the older goblins might have all been slain and are replaced with younger and more inexperienced troops. The breakfast is delicious, fried potatoes, pancakes, bacon, sausage, and eggs. Suddenly, they hear a scream. Through the window, they see two people running away. Both of them are elderly townfolks.
They hear a scream, then see two people running away, while Hellknights run in the opposite direction. Darelle is the first one out. She sees two automated hounds two street corners away, bent over two unlucky victims. The Hellknights have formed a defensive perimeter and are fighting them. Darelle sprints down the street and takes one of the corners next to the soldiers. One of the dogs lunges and bites down on a soldier's arm, chopping the arm right off. Darelle strikes at it, followed by Daryle firing arrows, while Gerald expands several magic missiles. It's enough damage to destroy the dog, who explodes. Darelle peels pieces of shrapnel from her face, but one of the Hellknights perishes. The combat continues for a few more moments, but the other dog is swiftly dispatched. Both dogs are constructs. Darelle attempts to heal the heavily injured soldier, but instead severely cuts his carotid artery. She is forced to use a few healing spells to restore him back to health.
Daryle examines the civilian bodies. Both victims were female and had black hair. One of the girls appears to be about 17, while they know the other is known to be a mother of three children who's about 37 years old. Daryle loots the bodies and picks up 17 copper coins and a small silver pendant while pretending to check for their injuries. The Hellknights roll their eyes and are aghast at this behavior. As more Hellknights arrive, Gerald orders six of them to bring the bodies to the Temple of the Golden Key to see if they can be revived. High Mother Sarise Dremagne tells him that the Hellknight can be brought The cost is too prohibitive. Gerald speculates that their black hair made them targets. Gerald makes all necessary arrangements to notify next of kin for all three victims, then leaves the paperwork on Roscoe's desk.
While examining the destroyed parts, Daryle finds a specific mark on both dogs. She has seen similar elements on some of the constructs in the Spire. Maralictor Wirt arrives on the scene to take command. In their discussion, Daryle mentions that she has seen similar constructs on Klarkosh's level in the Spire. She surmises the constructs could probably not escape by themselves. The symbol on the dogs is unique and though it vaguely reminds her of something she's seen before, she can't put her finger on what that was.
The house itself belongs to Geoffrey Kirker, according to Wirt, but, according to a neighbor, he and his family usually reside in Daggermark during the winter months. The house is searched, and no bodies or constructs are discovered inside. Daryle also explores the house to see how the dogs got in. She comes to three possible conclusions. The dogs could have been deposited by a green storm, summoned, or placed in here a while ago then activated today.
Meanwhile, Darelle tells Gerald to go ask Cassandra if Nissa has been summoning creatures. Gerald heads over there and carefully weaves the dogs into his discussion with the two of them. Nissa is very interested in the dogs, and Gerald quickly discerns that the child is not responsible for their presence. Returning to the scene of the attack, Gerald mentions to Maralictor Wirt his interest in training Nissa, the budding sorcerer. Wirt carelessly waves him away to do what he thinks is best, before tasking Gerald with investigating dimension doors and ways to prevent them. It would be unfortunate if enemies were able to introduce themselves in Fort Inevitable this way.
Wrapping up the investigations, a carpenter rebuilds a door to replace the destroyed door on the Kirker residence, and the Hellknights leave the scene. The Coopers continue their investigation for a while, but discover nothing. Gerald detects faint hints of magic in the air, but any of the three scenarios mentioned by Daryle could have been the cause.
As they head to Darelle's house, the Coopers encounter Cassandra again. She's wearing a cloak and carrying a strange package wrapped in leather. Gerald exchanges pleasantries with her, then offers to walk her home. At first Cassandra is very reticent, but then agrees. They all continue their walk down the street.
Three houses away from Dr. Mordel's house, the Coopers see a woman being thrown out of a second floor window. She smashes to the ground and dies instantly. They take a quick look at her. In her mid forties, she too has black hair. Daryle heads to the North Gate which is manned by a platoon of Hellknights led by the inept half orc Bolgur. She tells him what has happened, and connects this incident to the two deaths that happened earlier. Bolgur dispatches three Hellknights to investigate the matter. The officer in charge is surprised that Signifier Gerald did not invest the house to attempt to catch whomever threw the woman out the window. Gerald replies that he had to secure the scene first. The soldiers exchange glances. They break down the door and search through the house, finding nothing. Daryle receives permission from Gerald to enter the premises, but does not find dog tracks inside the residence. There are no other people present in the house.
Darelle documents the names of the three victims, and plans to investigate if there are any links between them aside from their black hair and their gender. With such a trying day, Darelle and Daryle return to Darelle's house, while Gerald heads back to his house. In the process, everyone forgot about Cassandra ...
Over the last four days, Darelle, Daryle and Gerald rested and re-equipped. They bought healing potions and Darelle invested into another invisibility potion. Daryle, meanwhile went hunting and captured 48 crowns' worth of pelts and goblin ears. She meets with Karlyle the butcher, who mentions that most of the goblin ears that have been turned in are those of juveniles.
Darelle spends some time with Dr. Mordel, who reports that there is a flu epidemic in the town. About one in five people seem to be affected. They are stricken and bed-ridden, but after three or four days they are able to return to their regular activities. The population outside the walls seems not to be as affected.
Gerald continues his research into the magical bow he wishes to build, and he begins to seek out components to build his copper coin change mail. He thinks that Roscoe will be rather impressed with this new invention.
In the late afternoon, Cassandra knocks on Gerald's door. After a sharp exchange that included a discussion about not telling her that he was back in time, Gerald reveals that he was badly injured. Cassandra forces her way inside, and she cooks him a nice meal. Over dinner she mentions that she is doing research in ice magic. Gerald mentions the idea of a unified theory of elemental magic where the elements could be stronger when combined properly than the sum of their parts. For example, earth to mud. She teaches Gerald the orison spell of ice over, which allows him to freeze roughly a cup of a normal liquid. Used on a water elemental, this will cause 1d4 points of damage. She departs late in the evening, after sharing a passionate kiss with him.
Calistril 24, 4712
Following the sisters' return from Xer and their quest for information on the Shadowborn family, the Coopers meet in the morning for breakfast at the Juliver Arms. Daryle tells her siblings about the goblins and what Karlyle told her. She speculates that it could either be a new tribe moving into the area, or the older goblins might have all been slain and are replaced with younger and more inexperienced troops. The breakfast is delicious, fried potatoes, pancakes, bacon, sausage, and eggs. Suddenly, they hear a scream. Through the window, they see two people running away. Both of them are elderly townfolks.
They hear a scream, then see two people running away, while Hellknights run in the opposite direction. Darelle is the first one out. She sees two automated hounds two street corners away, bent over two unlucky victims. The Hellknights have formed a defensive perimeter and are fighting them. Darelle sprints down the street and takes one of the corners next to the soldiers. One of the dogs lunges and bites down on a soldier's arm, chopping the arm right off. Darelle strikes at it, followed by Daryle firing arrows, while Gerald expands several magic missiles. It's enough damage to destroy the dog, who explodes. Darelle peels pieces of shrapnel from her face, but one of the Hellknights perishes. The combat continues for a few more moments, but the other dog is swiftly dispatched. Both dogs are constructs. Darelle attempts to heal the heavily injured soldier, but instead severely cuts his carotid artery. She is forced to use a few healing spells to restore him back to health.
Daryle examines the civilian bodies. Both victims were female and had black hair. One of the girls appears to be about 17, while they know the other is known to be a mother of three children who's about 37 years old. Daryle loots the bodies and picks up 17 copper coins and a small silver pendant while pretending to check for their injuries. The Hellknights roll their eyes and are aghast at this behavior. As more Hellknights arrive, Gerald orders six of them to bring the bodies to the Temple of the Golden Key to see if they can be revived. High Mother Sarise Dremagne tells him that the Hellknight can be brought The cost is too prohibitive. Gerald speculates that their black hair made them targets. Gerald makes all necessary arrangements to notify next of kin for all three victims, then leaves the paperwork on Roscoe's desk.
While examining the destroyed parts, Daryle finds a specific mark on both dogs. She has seen similar elements on some of the constructs in the Spire. Maralictor Wirt arrives on the scene to take command. In their discussion, Daryle mentions that she has seen similar constructs on Klarkosh's level in the Spire. She surmises the constructs could probably not escape by themselves. The symbol on the dogs is unique and though it vaguely reminds her of something she's seen before, she can't put her finger on what that was.
The house itself belongs to Geoffrey Kirker, according to Wirt, but, according to a neighbor, he and his family usually reside in Daggermark during the winter months. The house is searched, and no bodies or constructs are discovered inside. Daryle also explores the house to see how the dogs got in. She comes to three possible conclusions. The dogs could have been deposited by a green storm, summoned, or placed in here a while ago then activated today.
Meanwhile, Darelle tells Gerald to go ask Cassandra if Nissa has been summoning creatures. Gerald heads over there and carefully weaves the dogs into his discussion with the two of them. Nissa is very interested in the dogs, and Gerald quickly discerns that the child is not responsible for their presence. Returning to the scene of the attack, Gerald mentions to Maralictor Wirt his interest in training Nissa, the budding sorcerer. Wirt carelessly waves him away to do what he thinks is best, before tasking Gerald with investigating dimension doors and ways to prevent them. It would be unfortunate if enemies were able to introduce themselves in Fort Inevitable this way.
Wrapping up the investigations, a carpenter rebuilds a door to replace the destroyed door on the Kirker residence, and the Hellknights leave the scene. The Coopers continue their investigation for a while, but discover nothing. Gerald detects faint hints of magic in the air, but any of the three scenarios mentioned by Daryle could have been the cause.
As they head to Darelle's house, the Coopers encounter Cassandra again. She's wearing a cloak and carrying a strange package wrapped in leather. Gerald exchanges pleasantries with her, then offers to walk her home. At first Cassandra is very reticent, but then agrees. They all continue their walk down the street.
Three houses away from Dr. Mordel's house, the Coopers see a woman being thrown out of a second floor window. She smashes to the ground and dies instantly. They take a quick look at her. In her mid forties, she too has black hair. Daryle heads to the North Gate which is manned by a platoon of Hellknights led by the inept half orc Bolgur. She tells him what has happened, and connects this incident to the two deaths that happened earlier. Bolgur dispatches three Hellknights to investigate the matter. The officer in charge is surprised that Signifier Gerald did not invest the house to attempt to catch whomever threw the woman out the window. Gerald replies that he had to secure the scene first. The soldiers exchange glances. They break down the door and search through the house, finding nothing. Daryle receives permission from Gerald to enter the premises, but does not find dog tracks inside the residence. There are no other people present in the house.
Darelle documents the names of the three victims, and plans to investigate if there are any links between them aside from their black hair and their gender. With such a trying day, Darelle and Daryle return to Darelle's house, while Gerald heads back to his house. In the process, everyone forgot about Cassandra ...
Wednesday, July 22, 2015
The demon lord Kro'akoth - NOT DONE
Arodus 24, 4711
After spending a night in Karklosh's quarters, the Coopers decide to return home to restock supplies, especially for healing potions. Following their beating at the gate of the 7th level, this seems like a reasonable decision. They climb back to the third level through using a transport token and exit through the tunnel about a mile away from the Emerald Spire.
Roscoe obtains his free potions of cure medium wounds from the Hellknights while Daryle purchases them from the Temple of the Golden Keys. They all spend the night back in their own quarters, happy to have returned aboveground.
Arodus 25, 4711
After a good night's rest, the Coopers trek back to the Spire and return to the entrance of the 7th level, encountering no enemies along the way.
Darelle carefully walks through the trellises of candles, while Roscoe decides to walk with his back against the wall. Daryle is not so lucky, and triggers the candles of penitence trap. An explosion detonates and hurts all three members of the party. The candles immediately turn off. Carefully, Darelle opens the heavily fortified but unlocked door, revealing a short corridor leading to another similar door.
When she opens the second door, she sees a large room filled with a barricade made up of rubble and wood poles. Six fiendish troglodytes stand behind the barricade, weapons at the ready. Darelle attempts to jump the barricade but misses and impales herself on a pole sticking out. She pulls herself free but she has lost valuable time. Roscoe attempts the same. He clears the barricade but unfortunately drops his weapon. Meanwhile, Daryle fires two arrows at the same time and hits one of the troglodytes through the rubble. The combat continues for a while, but eventually the Coopers are triumphant.
After drinking a few potions of cure medium wounds, the Coopers loot the bodies. All of the troglodytes are armed with mastercraft falchions inscribed with the symbol of a flaming serpent. Each weapon radiates a faint evil signature. The dead monsters also all have an amulet bearing the same symbol. Roscoe identifies the symbol as that of the demon lord Kro'akoth. Alarmed at the presence of supporters of Kro'akoth, the Coopers decide they must return to Fort Inevitable to alert the Hellknights.
They trek back to town, where they meet the Lady Commander Audara Drovust and report to her what they discovered. The Lady Commander is obviously concerned and disconcerted at the news, and she decides to upgrade the Coopers' equipment so they can fight the followers of Kro'akoth on the Hellknights' behalf. To her trusted soldier Roscoe she gives a falchion of fury +2, following the rebranding of the very weapon he brought back as a warning. She also gives him a Rod of the Python to help him fight the Serpents. To Darelle she gives a short sword of defiance +2, which will help her remain alive when most would have surrended to death. She also receives a pair of Acrobat Slippers to help her fight on difficult terrain. Finally, Daryle is entrusted with a bow of impact +2, along with a Vanishing Sheath to keep a weapon hidden. Thus equipped, the Coopers should be better able to face the threat of Kro'akoth's worshippers.
Arodus 26, 4711
In the morning the Coopers return to the Emerald Spire. This time, they bring Gerald along since he returned from studying at the College of Magic. He has been working on an enchanted weapon. It is a short bow that when you fire an arrow the bow also fires a magic missile spell. The missile hits the target even if the arrow misses. Damage will be 1d6 + 3d4+1 if both attacks hit.
They descend back to the 7th level, and they carefully cross the fire trap. Back in the ambush room they discover that there has been an attempt at reinforcing the barricades, and the bodies have been removed. Roscoe listens to the south door, while Daryle places her ear to the west door. Roscoe hears sounds of bones snapping and loud chewing, while Daryle hears snoring. The group decides to open the south door. They will hide against the wall, while Thorne stands in view of the door and acts as bait. The plan works too well. Two fiendish troglodytes who were eating come rushing out and land blows that drop Thorne down. Roscoe and Daryle successfully attack and slay the fiends.
In the troglodytes' dining room they find barrels, one filled with javelins, and the others with rotten food. The last barrel, however, contains a strange dark blue crystal powder. Darelle collects a vial full of the powder.
In the other room they stumble upon two sleeping troglodytes that are quickly dispatched. However, Gerald decides to use a javelin from the dining room so he returns to the room to grab one. He is immediately attacked by a necrophedius which emerges from the fire pit. During the battle Thorne is incapacitated again. The construct, however, is quickly dispatched. Thorne is healed again.
The party continues their exploration, and finds a long corridor with two iron doors. The first one is hot to the touch, while the second is at room temperature. Thorne opens the door. Inside, the Coopers discover Sartoss' jail.
The jail with
Gerald summons a wolf that kills the troglodytes
Thorne takes six scales.
Statue with heads chopped off.
Battle with Sartoss
Thorne takes the two fangs of Kro'akoth, and the pearl of power. Gerald finds six funeral masks used in Sartoss' evil rituals.
After spending a night in Karklosh's quarters, the Coopers decide to return home to restock supplies, especially for healing potions. Following their beating at the gate of the 7th level, this seems like a reasonable decision. They climb back to the third level through using a transport token and exit through the tunnel about a mile away from the Emerald Spire.
Roscoe obtains his free potions of cure medium wounds from the Hellknights while Daryle purchases them from the Temple of the Golden Keys. They all spend the night back in their own quarters, happy to have returned aboveground.
Arodus 25, 4711
After a good night's rest, the Coopers trek back to the Spire and return to the entrance of the 7th level, encountering no enemies along the way.
Darelle carefully walks through the trellises of candles, while Roscoe decides to walk with his back against the wall. Daryle is not so lucky, and triggers the candles of penitence trap. An explosion detonates and hurts all three members of the party. The candles immediately turn off. Carefully, Darelle opens the heavily fortified but unlocked door, revealing a short corridor leading to another similar door.
When she opens the second door, she sees a large room filled with a barricade made up of rubble and wood poles. Six fiendish troglodytes stand behind the barricade, weapons at the ready. Darelle attempts to jump the barricade but misses and impales herself on a pole sticking out. She pulls herself free but she has lost valuable time. Roscoe attempts the same. He clears the barricade but unfortunately drops his weapon. Meanwhile, Daryle fires two arrows at the same time and hits one of the troglodytes through the rubble. The combat continues for a while, but eventually the Coopers are triumphant.
After drinking a few potions of cure medium wounds, the Coopers loot the bodies. All of the troglodytes are armed with mastercraft falchions inscribed with the symbol of a flaming serpent. Each weapon radiates a faint evil signature. The dead monsters also all have an amulet bearing the same symbol. Roscoe identifies the symbol as that of the demon lord Kro'akoth. Alarmed at the presence of supporters of Kro'akoth, the Coopers decide they must return to Fort Inevitable to alert the Hellknights.
They trek back to town, where they meet the Lady Commander Audara Drovust and report to her what they discovered. The Lady Commander is obviously concerned and disconcerted at the news, and she decides to upgrade the Coopers' equipment so they can fight the followers of Kro'akoth on the Hellknights' behalf. To her trusted soldier Roscoe she gives a falchion of fury +2, following the rebranding of the very weapon he brought back as a warning. She also gives him a Rod of the Python to help him fight the Serpents. To Darelle she gives a short sword of defiance +2, which will help her remain alive when most would have surrended to death. She also receives a pair of Acrobat Slippers to help her fight on difficult terrain. Finally, Daryle is entrusted with a bow of impact +2, along with a Vanishing Sheath to keep a weapon hidden. Thus equipped, the Coopers should be better able to face the threat of Kro'akoth's worshippers.
Arodus 26, 4711
In the morning the Coopers return to the Emerald Spire. This time, they bring Gerald along since he returned from studying at the College of Magic. He has been working on an enchanted weapon. It is a short bow that when you fire an arrow the bow also fires a magic missile spell. The missile hits the target even if the arrow misses. Damage will be 1d6 + 3d4+1 if both attacks hit.
They descend back to the 7th level, and they carefully cross the fire trap. Back in the ambush room they discover that there has been an attempt at reinforcing the barricades, and the bodies have been removed. Roscoe listens to the south door, while Daryle places her ear to the west door. Roscoe hears sounds of bones snapping and loud chewing, while Daryle hears snoring. The group decides to open the south door. They will hide against the wall, while Thorne stands in view of the door and acts as bait. The plan works too well. Two fiendish troglodytes who were eating come rushing out and land blows that drop Thorne down. Roscoe and Daryle successfully attack and slay the fiends.
In the troglodytes' dining room they find barrels, one filled with javelins, and the others with rotten food. The last barrel, however, contains a strange dark blue crystal powder. Darelle collects a vial full of the powder.
In the other room they stumble upon two sleeping troglodytes that are quickly dispatched. However, Gerald decides to use a javelin from the dining room so he returns to the room to grab one. He is immediately attacked by a necrophedius which emerges from the fire pit. During the battle Thorne is incapacitated again. The construct, however, is quickly dispatched. Thorne is healed again.
The party continues their exploration, and finds a long corridor with two iron doors. The first one is hot to the touch, while the second is at room temperature. Thorne opens the door. Inside, the Coopers discover Sartoss' jail.
The jail with
Gerald summons a wolf that kills the troglodytes
Thorne takes six scales.
Statue with heads chopped off.
Battle with Sartoss
Thorne takes the two fangs of Kro'akoth, and the pearl of power. Gerald finds six funeral masks used in Sartoss' evil rituals.
Friday, June 12, 2015
Finally, Klarkosh!
Arodus 23, 4711
After descending to the 6th level, the Coopers arrive in a room dimly lit. In the room are two levers, a red handled one and a black handled one. Thorne pulls the red lever, and a grinding sound can be heard in the distance. He then pulls the black lever, to a similar effect. The Coopers quickly realize that these levers activate switching plates that rotate hallways, providing access to other sections of the dungeon.
They begin to explore the rooms next to the staircase. In one, they discover Klarkosh's trophies, artifacts he collected from all of his victims.They find several mementos displayed by the wizard, including a tapestry that depicts a strange royal court, what looks like melted metal, placed on a pedestal, and two weapons, a heavy mace and a broken staff. Roscoe touches the melted metal, triggering an electric trap that zaps both himself and his sister Daryle. They take both weapons with them.
Opening another door, they come upon Klarkosh's private bathroom. The bath is already drawn and the water is warm, as if the wizard was about to use it.
Continuing on, the Coopers stumble upon Klarkosh's jail and its jailer. After a short combat they triumph over the jailer, and they explore the cells. In several of them they discover strange and hostile animals, but in one of them Darelle discovers a nude man in one of the cells. He is severely dehydrated and he has wounds all over his body. After Darelle heals him, he tells them his name is
Jharun, a wizard in the service of the Goldenfire Order. Roscoe recalls that Jharun is one of the two wizards sought by Iliara Starcloak. She had mentioned to him that Jharun and Tiawask sent her a note a few weeks back saying that they were ready to explore the Emerald Spire, but since then, they hadn't been seen. She had entrusted Roscoe with the mission to find the missing wizards and bring them back alive, or at least bring their bodies back, to the Order.
Jharun tells the Coopers that he and Tiawask were captured by Klarkosh, but that Tiawask managed to escape. He's been here all these months, a prisoner without hope. The Coopers tell Jharun how to escape the Emerald Spire, but he decides he wants to stay with them a while longer, since it seems to be safer.
In Klarkosh's throne room stands a throne and two emerald automatons. The Coopers briefly fight them before taking flight. Thorne comes up with a plan to hide his face under a heavy cloak and pretend to be the evil wizard. The youngest Cooper manages to pull it off and convinces the emerald automatons to disactivate.
The hallway from there leads to what appears to be a large training room. Two more emerald automatons stand at the end of the hall, and rows of weapons line each wall. Two sets of heavy iron bars divide the room into three sections. With the bars down, the party decides to backtrack and heads back to the throne room. There they stand next a door they had left unexplored. Thorne tries to open the door and after much effort he manages to pick the lock. Inside, they discover Klarkosh's bedroom. The room is well furnished with a large bed, a desk, chairs, and a fireplace.
Daryle finds the red and yellow silk embroidered with a K sheets attractive, and takes the bedding off the bed, including the pillow cases. Thorne is strangely attracted to the chairs, and he sits in one of them, finding it very comfortable. Unfortunately, the chair he selects is infested with a small worm-like parasite, and one of them bites him and burrows itself in his back.
Roscoe will close the flue and hope that enough smoke comes in to attract Klarkosh. He instead discovers that the stove itself is a secret door that leads to Klarkosh's laboratory. As the group debates who should go first, Gerald jumps at the chance and heads through the secret door.
In the large room he discovers a machine belching steam and creating a deafening sound. Hundreds of cogs and gears spin about, causing the ground to vibrate slightly. At the other end of the room, sitting at a workbench is a man bend over a broken automaton. Wearing a mask covering half of his face and with an artificial arm and leg, Gerald recognizes Klarkosh by the descriptions provided by various enemies on the upper levels.
Gerald considers his options, and decides that the best thing to do is to slowly maneuver towards Klarkosh and attempt to attack him from the back. Despite the noises and the vibrations, however, Klarkosh has a good view of Gerald's path, and Gerald is not all that good at sneaking anyway. Halfway to the ruler of the 6th level, Klarkosh raises his head and looks directly at Gerald, greeting him. As Gerald and Klarkosh engage in discussions about automatons, Daryle enters the room and moves towards one of the alcoves, hoping to get a good shot at the wizard. Meanwhile, Roscoe senses evil in the room, and he comes to the startling conclusion that the Klarkosh that stands before Gerald is nothing but an illusion, and the real one is hiding in an alcove. Daryle bumps into an invisible emerald automaton, and as the invisibility spell is broken, combat begins.
Darelle wedges a dagger in the steamworks mechanism, and gears stop spinning. Slowly the pressure beings to built, and soon the steamworks will explode. The Coopers engage the various automatons, while Roscoe charges the spot where Klarkosh is hiding. Thorne is injured twice, while Gerald falls to the ground after summoning various monsters. Darelle and Daryle were also severely injured, but in the end Roscoe slays the wizard, Darelle removes the dagger, and the steamworks do not explode. The master of the first 6 levels has been killed by the Coopers.
Injured and bloodied, Gerald and Thorne decide to head back to Fort Inevitable. They agree to accompany Jharun back to his order.
Roscoe, Daryle and Darelle decide to press on. The next room they enter reveals an armory guarded by a bronze minotaur. After a viscious fight in which Roscoe is grievously wounded, the Coopers slay the monster. They find Klarkosh's scrapyard which contains a multitude of spare parts, before returning to the training hall. After opening the hall's gates, they enter the Hall of Steam, where they meet a strange bioluminescent humanoid standing next to the fountain. Two emerald automatons are also in the room, recently decapitated. The Coopers cautiously approach the outsider. He tells them he rather finds the automatons fascinating, and he makes no hostile move. The Coopers leave him be and proceed to the next room, where they discover the staircase heading down to the 7th level.
Going down, they emerge in a room light by large trellises of candles, with a door in the west wall. Roscoe approaches the door but triggers a trap that incinerates the Coopers, causing them wounds that would have fell weaker people. They decide to retreat back to the 6th level and Klarkosh's quarters to recuperate.
After descending to the 6th level, the Coopers arrive in a room dimly lit. In the room are two levers, a red handled one and a black handled one. Thorne pulls the red lever, and a grinding sound can be heard in the distance. He then pulls the black lever, to a similar effect. The Coopers quickly realize that these levers activate switching plates that rotate hallways, providing access to other sections of the dungeon.
They begin to explore the rooms next to the staircase. In one, they discover Klarkosh's trophies, artifacts he collected from all of his victims.They find several mementos displayed by the wizard, including a tapestry that depicts a strange royal court, what looks like melted metal, placed on a pedestal, and two weapons, a heavy mace and a broken staff. Roscoe touches the melted metal, triggering an electric trap that zaps both himself and his sister Daryle. They take both weapons with them.
Opening another door, they come upon Klarkosh's private bathroom. The bath is already drawn and the water is warm, as if the wizard was about to use it.
Continuing on, the Coopers stumble upon Klarkosh's jail and its jailer. After a short combat they triumph over the jailer, and they explore the cells. In several of them they discover strange and hostile animals, but in one of them Darelle discovers a nude man in one of the cells. He is severely dehydrated and he has wounds all over his body. After Darelle heals him, he tells them his name is
Jharun, a wizard in the service of the Goldenfire Order. Roscoe recalls that Jharun is one of the two wizards sought by Iliara Starcloak. She had mentioned to him that Jharun and Tiawask sent her a note a few weeks back saying that they were ready to explore the Emerald Spire, but since then, they hadn't been seen. She had entrusted Roscoe with the mission to find the missing wizards and bring them back alive, or at least bring their bodies back, to the Order.
Jharun tells the Coopers that he and Tiawask were captured by Klarkosh, but that Tiawask managed to escape. He's been here all these months, a prisoner without hope. The Coopers tell Jharun how to escape the Emerald Spire, but he decides he wants to stay with them a while longer, since it seems to be safer.
In Klarkosh's throne room stands a throne and two emerald automatons. The Coopers briefly fight them before taking flight. Thorne comes up with a plan to hide his face under a heavy cloak and pretend to be the evil wizard. The youngest Cooper manages to pull it off and convinces the emerald automatons to disactivate.
The hallway from there leads to what appears to be a large training room. Two more emerald automatons stand at the end of the hall, and rows of weapons line each wall. Two sets of heavy iron bars divide the room into three sections. With the bars down, the party decides to backtrack and heads back to the throne room. There they stand next a door they had left unexplored. Thorne tries to open the door and after much effort he manages to pick the lock. Inside, they discover Klarkosh's bedroom. The room is well furnished with a large bed, a desk, chairs, and a fireplace.
Daryle finds the red and yellow silk embroidered with a K sheets attractive, and takes the bedding off the bed, including the pillow cases. Thorne is strangely attracted to the chairs, and he sits in one of them, finding it very comfortable. Unfortunately, the chair he selects is infested with a small worm-like parasite, and one of them bites him and burrows itself in his back.
Roscoe will close the flue and hope that enough smoke comes in to attract Klarkosh. He instead discovers that the stove itself is a secret door that leads to Klarkosh's laboratory. As the group debates who should go first, Gerald jumps at the chance and heads through the secret door.
In the large room he discovers a machine belching steam and creating a deafening sound. Hundreds of cogs and gears spin about, causing the ground to vibrate slightly. At the other end of the room, sitting at a workbench is a man bend over a broken automaton. Wearing a mask covering half of his face and with an artificial arm and leg, Gerald recognizes Klarkosh by the descriptions provided by various enemies on the upper levels.
Gerald considers his options, and decides that the best thing to do is to slowly maneuver towards Klarkosh and attempt to attack him from the back. Despite the noises and the vibrations, however, Klarkosh has a good view of Gerald's path, and Gerald is not all that good at sneaking anyway. Halfway to the ruler of the 6th level, Klarkosh raises his head and looks directly at Gerald, greeting him. As Gerald and Klarkosh engage in discussions about automatons, Daryle enters the room and moves towards one of the alcoves, hoping to get a good shot at the wizard. Meanwhile, Roscoe senses evil in the room, and he comes to the startling conclusion that the Klarkosh that stands before Gerald is nothing but an illusion, and the real one is hiding in an alcove. Daryle bumps into an invisible emerald automaton, and as the invisibility spell is broken, combat begins.
Darelle wedges a dagger in the steamworks mechanism, and gears stop spinning. Slowly the pressure beings to built, and soon the steamworks will explode. The Coopers engage the various automatons, while Roscoe charges the spot where Klarkosh is hiding. Thorne is injured twice, while Gerald falls to the ground after summoning various monsters. Darelle and Daryle were also severely injured, but in the end Roscoe slays the wizard, Darelle removes the dagger, and the steamworks do not explode. The master of the first 6 levels has been killed by the Coopers.
Injured and bloodied, Gerald and Thorne decide to head back to Fort Inevitable. They agree to accompany Jharun back to his order.
Roscoe, Daryle and Darelle decide to press on. The next room they enter reveals an armory guarded by a bronze minotaur. After a viscious fight in which Roscoe is grievously wounded, the Coopers slay the monster. They find Klarkosh's scrapyard which contains a multitude of spare parts, before returning to the training hall. After opening the hall's gates, they enter the Hall of Steam, where they meet a strange bioluminescent humanoid standing next to the fountain. Two emerald automatons are also in the room, recently decapitated. The Coopers cautiously approach the outsider. He tells them he rather finds the automatons fascinating, and he makes no hostile move. The Coopers leave him be and proceed to the next room, where they discover the staircase heading down to the 7th level.
Going down, they emerge in a room light by large trellises of candles, with a door in the west wall. Roscoe approaches the door but triggers a trap that incinerates the Coopers, causing them wounds that would have fell weaker people. They decide to retreat back to the 6th level and Klarkosh's quarters to recuperate.
Wednesday, April 1, 2015
Fooling the Splinters
Erastus 7, 4711
Armed with the book, the Coopers head out back to the Spire and enter through a little-used tunnel leading about 1.5 miles through the underground into the 3rdlevel of the Spire. Led by Thorne, they arrive at the Splinters’ headquarters. Thorne connects with Tarrin, and strikes a bargain with her to exchange the book for Gerald. The trade is performed, and the party leaves with Gerald, but not before Thorne suggests to Tarrin that “he is important to Norgurber and he must be listened to.” Tarrin seems to fall for the suggestion. She immediately begins perusing through the book. Thorne departs the temple where Tarrin was worshiping and informs Maskus, her lieutenant that she is not to be disturbed for the next three days, even if Klarkosh comes to collect the prisoner.
During the trek back home the Coopers discuss the possibility of returning to the Spire with another person looking like Gerald and passing it as him.
The Coopers return to Fort Inevitable and deliver Gerald to the tender care of Dr. Mordel. Thorne goes to visit Karlyle the Butcher and manages to secure a captive. It turns out that Karlyle has recently come into possession of a priest of the Living God, and he matches Gerald’s description fairly well.
Karlyle delivers the priest to an abandoned shed outside the walls of Fort Inevitable, and the Coopers take the man in a wheelbarrow back to the Splinters. Maskus is confused at first, but when Thorne recounts how he conned Gerald’s friends and captured him again, he is pleased. He informs Thorne that Klarkosh has not yet come by, but it is not uncommon for him to be days or weeks late. Guards come and take the priest away.
Thorne returns inside the temple to talk to Tarrin, and he realizes that she has gone the deep end. The suggestion spell combined with the illusory ritual book, has worked too well, and now Tarrin is busy studying the book to discover the ritual she needs to bring Norgurber back by opening a portal. Thorne decides to leave her, but as he exits he pretends to have been sent on an errand from the Splinters' leader.
He informs members of the gang that he must go and count the treasure of gold to see if Tarrin has enough to cast the ritual. The guards laugh and point at the door next to the Temple. Thorne opens the door, then enters. The guards begin placing bets. Suddenly the bed rises and a Gold Golem attacks. The Coopers join in the battle, but after an unequal battle they are forced to escape. Fortunately, in the battle and the gambling that ensued they were able to grab eight precious books off Tarrin's shelves:
Returned from the Spire following their recent trip where Gerald was lost, Roscoe, Darelle and Daryle gather in Roscoe’s dwelling above the Juliver Arms. They have left messages for Thorne in all of his haunts, urging him to find them there so they can share the bad news about Gerald.
In the wee hours of the night, Thorne finally arrives. He reveals he is aware that Gerald has been taken prisoner by the brigands and will be turned over to Klarkosh in the morning.
Gerald is currently the captive of the Splinters Cutthroat Gang, a group that dwells on the 3rdlevel of the Emerald Spire. They are led by Tarrin Dars, and she is always looking for old books. Thorne happens to know that she would most likely trade Gerald for a grimoire called Words Behind the Mask by the god Norgurber, god of thieves and murder. Thorne also happens to know that Abernard Royst, one of Gerald’s mentors and the local sage, owns a copy of this book.
Erastus 8, 4711
The Coopers thus head to Abernard’s house and rouse the old sage from his bed. After a short exchange, he lets them in his house. A small cottage on the outside, Abernard’s home is larger on the inside. In the discussions that ensue, Abernard denies owning a copy of this heretical book, and he stirs the Cooperstowards creating an illusory copy instead. Identical to the actual item, the book will furthermore be implanted with a suggestion and be guarded with various spells that will provide evocation, abjuration and evil. For all intents and purposes, this book will look exactly like the original.
In the wee hours of the night, Thorne finally arrives. He reveals he is aware that Gerald has been taken prisoner by the brigands and will be turned over to Klarkosh in the morning.
Gerald is currently the captive of the Splinters Cutthroat Gang, a group that dwells on the 3rdlevel of the Emerald Spire. They are led by Tarrin Dars, and she is always looking for old books. Thorne happens to know that she would most likely trade Gerald for a grimoire called Words Behind the Mask by the god Norgurber, god of thieves and murder. Thorne also happens to know that Abernard Royst, one of Gerald’s mentors and the local sage, owns a copy of this book.
Erastus 8, 4711
The Coopers thus head to Abernard’s house and rouse the old sage from his bed. After a short exchange, he lets them in his house. A small cottage on the outside, Abernard’s home is larger on the inside. In the discussions that ensue, Abernard denies owning a copy of this heretical book, and he stirs the Cooperstowards creating an illusory copy instead. Identical to the actual item, the book will furthermore be implanted with a suggestion and be guarded with various spells that will provide evocation, abjuration and evil. For all intents and purposes, this book will look exactly like the original.
Armed with the book, the Coopers head out back to the Spire and enter through a little-used tunnel leading about 1.5 miles through the underground into the 3rdlevel of the Spire. Led by Thorne, they arrive at the Splinters’ headquarters. Thorne connects with Tarrin, and strikes a bargain with her to exchange the book for Gerald. The trade is performed, and the party leaves with Gerald, but not before Thorne suggests to Tarrin that “he is important to Norgurber and he must be listened to.” Tarrin seems to fall for the suggestion. She immediately begins perusing through the book. Thorne departs the temple where Tarrin was worshiping and informs Maskus, her lieutenant that she is not to be disturbed for the next three days, even if Klarkosh comes to collect the prisoner.
During the trek back home the Coopers discuss the possibility of returning to the Spire with another person looking like Gerald and passing it as him.
The Coopers return to Fort Inevitable and deliver Gerald to the tender care of Dr. Mordel. Thorne goes to visit Karlyle the Butcher and manages to secure a captive. It turns out that Karlyle has recently come into possession of a priest of the Living God, and he matches Gerald’s description fairly well.
Karlyle delivers the priest to an abandoned shed outside the walls of Fort Inevitable, and the Coopers take the man in a wheelbarrow back to the Splinters. Maskus is confused at first, but when Thorne recounts how he conned Gerald’s friends and captured him again, he is pleased. He informs Thorne that Klarkosh has not yet come by, but it is not uncommon for him to be days or weeks late. Guards come and take the priest away.
Thorne returns inside the temple to talk to Tarrin, and he realizes that she has gone the deep end. The suggestion spell combined with the illusory ritual book, has worked too well, and now Tarrin is busy studying the book to discover the ritual she needs to bring Norgurber back by opening a portal. Thorne decides to leave her, but as he exits he pretends to have been sent on an errand from the Splinters' leader.
He informs members of the gang that he must go and count the treasure of gold to see if Tarrin has enough to cast the ritual. The guards laugh and point at the door next to the Temple. Thorne opens the door, then enters. The guards begin placing bets. Suddenly the bed rises and a Gold Golem attacks. The Coopers join in the battle, but after an unequal battle they are forced to escape. Fortunately, in the battle and the gambling that ensued they were able to grab eight precious books off Tarrin's shelves:
- The Dreams of the Gods
- Twilight's Burning Ceremonies
- The Vacant Prophecies
- The Mind's Voyages
- The Discord of Night Swords
- The Sons of Darkness
- The Spiritual Flames
- Grod's Erotic Orcish Poetry
Wednesday, February 18, 2015
Of course this would happen to Gerald
Erastus 3, 4711
After a restful night following yesterday's combat with moon spiders and other entities, the Coopers search the rest of the room. Roscoe seizes two bone priests outfits, while Gerald grabs a black ritual candle.
Aidan decides to explore the room next door, and gets smashed when the ceiling drops on him. The chest he tried to open was a trap. Aidan repeats the process several times, while Gerald also becomes a victim of the roof trap.
Feeling slightly refreshed, the Coopers decide to finish exploring this level of the Emerald Spire. They head towards one of the rooms left behind. Upon opening the door, they discover the moon spiders' nest. Roscoe comes up with a clever plan to incinerate the babies that rush at them, and after setting it up with Darelle and Daryle, the spiders die in a fiery inferno. Looting the room, they discover several cocoons of small spiders. Gerald grabs some of the webbing for spell components, while Daryle fills a small jar of moon spider eggs. Gerald decides to do the same, but he adds a ray of frost to freeze them inside his jar.
Returning towards the northeast corner of the dungeon, they enter a crypt with eight sarcophagi placed at equal distance from each other. Each one is inscribed in Azlani. Gerald carefully copies the name in passable Azlani: Valeros, Codwin, Kreedis, Jamus, Teedum, Carmoth, Delduin, and Aylsande. All but Aylsande are male. Upon touching one of the sarcophagi, the lids slide open and six skeletons emerge, charging the Coopers. Gerald manages to delay Aylsande by appealing to her mercy but the skeleton has been dead too long to recall its former life, and in the end she joins the fray.
Gerald is incapacitated, but Roscoe manages to turn the tide and slay the last skeleton in an epic battle. As a result, they get their hands on a crown, two bracers, a silken ceremonial armor, and a short sword for each skeleton. In the remaining two sarcophagi they discover two intact skeletons and also remove their equipment.
They also discover that one of the sarcophagi actually covers a staircase leading to the third level of the Emerald Spire. Having cleared the second level of the Spire, the Coopers decide to return to Fort Inevitable to rest and stock up on healing potions.
As payment for exiting the Spire, Daryle gives Greenhide one of the silken armor that had been badly damaged in the fight against the skeleton, but the goblin appears either not to notice or not to care and he thanks them.
Back at Fort Inevitable, Gerald presents the map of the 2nd level to Abernard Royst, and also inquires if the old sage knows the names Gerald discovered. Abernard tells him that he does not, but he will conduct some research and let the sorcerer know what he finds out.
Daryle sells one of the Azlani bracers to Tom Braddon, Thorne's employer at the General Store.
Roscoe reports on his mission to the Spire with Lady Commander Audara Drovust. She informs him that about two years ago, a large party of Hellknights led by Chaid DiViri entered the Spire and went as far as the 8th level of the dungeon. Upon their last trip outside the Spire, DiViri had reported there was a strange level below rumored to be connected to the plane of fire, with powerful lawful magic. So DiViri returned to the Spire with twenty-eight Hellknights. They were never seen again. Drovust entrusts Roscoe with finding any remains or items so that a proper chronicle can be written.
Erastus 6, 4711
After three days of rest, the Coopers purchase several scrolls and potions of healing. They head back to the Emerald Spire, and travel down to the 3rd level. There, they discover that a stair case leads down to the 4th level, but that the rest of this level has been barricaded by humans. After several conversations, they realize that these brigands know their brother Thorne, but they will not grant them passage through the 3rd level.
Gerald comes up with a clever plan. They are here to deliver the "magical" head of a skeletal cat to Klarkosh, the overlord of the first six levels, and they must take the head down personally.
Eventually, after several back and forth, the brigands agree to let one of the Coopers through the gate and take him down to see Klarkosh. The party agrees that it's a good idea, and Gerald volunteers for the courrier duty. So, of course, Gerald goes through the gate ...
After a restful night following yesterday's combat with moon spiders and other entities, the Coopers search the rest of the room. Roscoe seizes two bone priests outfits, while Gerald grabs a black ritual candle.
Aidan decides to explore the room next door, and gets smashed when the ceiling drops on him. The chest he tried to open was a trap. Aidan repeats the process several times, while Gerald also becomes a victim of the roof trap.
Feeling slightly refreshed, the Coopers decide to finish exploring this level of the Emerald Spire. They head towards one of the rooms left behind. Upon opening the door, they discover the moon spiders' nest. Roscoe comes up with a clever plan to incinerate the babies that rush at them, and after setting it up with Darelle and Daryle, the spiders die in a fiery inferno. Looting the room, they discover several cocoons of small spiders. Gerald grabs some of the webbing for spell components, while Daryle fills a small jar of moon spider eggs. Gerald decides to do the same, but he adds a ray of frost to freeze them inside his jar.
Returning towards the northeast corner of the dungeon, they enter a crypt with eight sarcophagi placed at equal distance from each other. Each one is inscribed in Azlani. Gerald carefully copies the name in passable Azlani: Valeros, Codwin, Kreedis, Jamus, Teedum, Carmoth, Delduin, and Aylsande. All but Aylsande are male. Upon touching one of the sarcophagi, the lids slide open and six skeletons emerge, charging the Coopers. Gerald manages to delay Aylsande by appealing to her mercy but the skeleton has been dead too long to recall its former life, and in the end she joins the fray.
Gerald is incapacitated, but Roscoe manages to turn the tide and slay the last skeleton in an epic battle. As a result, they get their hands on a crown, two bracers, a silken ceremonial armor, and a short sword for each skeleton. In the remaining two sarcophagi they discover two intact skeletons and also remove their equipment.
They also discover that one of the sarcophagi actually covers a staircase leading to the third level of the Emerald Spire. Having cleared the second level of the Spire, the Coopers decide to return to Fort Inevitable to rest and stock up on healing potions.
As payment for exiting the Spire, Daryle gives Greenhide one of the silken armor that had been badly damaged in the fight against the skeleton, but the goblin appears either not to notice or not to care and he thanks them.
Back at Fort Inevitable, Gerald presents the map of the 2nd level to Abernard Royst, and also inquires if the old sage knows the names Gerald discovered. Abernard tells him that he does not, but he will conduct some research and let the sorcerer know what he finds out.
Daryle sells one of the Azlani bracers to Tom Braddon, Thorne's employer at the General Store.
Roscoe reports on his mission to the Spire with Lady Commander Audara Drovust. She informs him that about two years ago, a large party of Hellknights led by Chaid DiViri entered the Spire and went as far as the 8th level of the dungeon. Upon their last trip outside the Spire, DiViri had reported there was a strange level below rumored to be connected to the plane of fire, with powerful lawful magic. So DiViri returned to the Spire with twenty-eight Hellknights. They were never seen again. Drovust entrusts Roscoe with finding any remains or items so that a proper chronicle can be written.
Erastus 6, 4711
After three days of rest, the Coopers purchase several scrolls and potions of healing. They head back to the Emerald Spire, and travel down to the 3rd level. There, they discover that a stair case leads down to the 4th level, but that the rest of this level has been barricaded by humans. After several conversations, they realize that these brigands know their brother Thorne, but they will not grant them passage through the 3rd level.
Gerald comes up with a clever plan. They are here to deliver the "magical" head of a skeletal cat to Klarkosh, the overlord of the first six levels, and they must take the head down personally.
Eventually, after several back and forth, the brigands agree to let one of the Coopers through the gate and take him down to see Klarkosh. The party agrees that it's a good idea, and Gerald volunteers for the courrier duty. So, of course, Gerald goes through the gate ...
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