Setup
Session began by being contacted by the Rat cult, who chose to hire the party to remove the threat in the dungeon below the sewers, as the effects of the crystals down there was driving the rats mad, and blocking their telepathic powers.
The pay rate negotiated was 550gp, for:
- the destruction of the crystal below,
- and the removal of the Lich’s agents from the area.
The Room of Shadows
A square room filled with rotting and retched tomes of long decayed ancient secrets, with 4 pillars at each corner of the room, and a small pedestal with a glowing orb at the centre. To either side, left or right, stood a doorway dancing in shadows, forming a T-Junction in our path.
The orb is the only light source, except the torches by the door they stand in ,and beyond the orbs 10ft radius of light, the shadows dance and swim, suggestive in a way, but never obvious enough that you can put a name on how so.
Credit: Hayden W
Kangrog tested the pillar first, touching his axe to it in a explosive show of sparks and angered energies, throwing the axe backward and lodging it into the bookcase behind him, deep in the pool of shadows.
Pursuing his axe with a double jump dripping with *style*, Kangrog took taking hefty damage, but returned with the axe, informing the group that there were torches in the edge of the door way that he had been near to (left).
Arcana from Parallax and Justus left us known the wiser (dual ones is rare guys!), before our new party member “I dont have a name yet” the Sorceress, detected that the torches might be motion activated, and Justus and Parallax took the lead, heading the left door.
Walking through it activated the torches, creating a safe path for the others, however, it did also summon a clone of Kangrog, made completely of shadows, standing before the party in the opposite door, looming and lingering but not entering.
Parallax and Justus look to leave, but Nameless moved to investigate the shadowy barbarian and activate his lanterns in the doorway as well.
Nameless took significant shadow damage, but when she activated the light source she was still standing gaining some safety… while still next to a looming and grinning Shadow-Grog.
Parallax and Justus were shocked as Nameless actions summoned a Shadow-allax monk to start attacking them.
Kangrog, seeing the situation deteriorating, lept to Nameless’s defence with a smashed and shred superior healing potion, before landing some minor blows and in return taking a whirlwind that would see both Kangrog and Nameless down to very low health (1 hp).
On the other side of the room, Justus was blocking Ki-Powered strikes with his ever-decomposing shield, with Normallarax taking down Shadowallax after the apparation landed some nice blows on his material self.
Nameless, left in the crosshairs of a Rage Filled Shadow Monster, at close range, with 1 hp left, did the only reasonable action left to the: Attack.
A level 3 Lightning bolt slammed into Shadow-Grog for 40+ damage, wiping the etherific beast from existence, and claimed +1 Inspiration for herself.
The Beartrap
Heading right (for apparently meta reasons, you little shits – DM) the players came to a simple room, with a solitary bear trap laying on the ground. As soon as it was stepped over a bear materialized and attacked Kangrog (who was alone in the room).
Upon Killing the Bear, a small series of glowing letter materialize before Kangrog,
Please insert 35gp to complete your purchase of [1x Trained Brown Bear]
– Tardin Trade Co, on behalf of the Slate Hills
Alongside the letters is a small dimensional rift the right size for a small pouch of coins to be placed within:
Upon entering the coins, the corpse returned to life, much more docile and following Kangrog’s basic verbal instructions, but with a mind of its own (Note: mine – DM).
The Room of Choices
The next room was rather simple, within was two cult memebers, Ted and Symonthenella, who were left there to operate the doors.
The rooms were separated by bars, and in each room there was a button that when pressed, would open the opposite rooms door for six seconds.
The Party chose to split, and backtrack, ending the session with the boss fight ahead, and with two teams heading into the room from different sides of the room.
Flames = Buttons Representations.
Team A (Left Room): Justus, Parallax
Team B (Right Room): Kangrog, Nameless, Pet Bear.
(Senko to choose where to join next session)