Session 51: Iron Discipline Report

General Summary

While Roy was studying, Boris spent a bit of time each day magically molding the stone that blocked their exit; forming a carefully shaped passageway that would allow them to exit this area when they were ready. This was fortunate, as when they finished their study and training, the group was able to exit with no major concerns. Making their way out of this space, and back to the tunnels they had traveled some weeks before, Cigfran and SixOfEighteen led the way along a long series of corridors and passageways; finally arriving at yet another long disused room with a very thick coating of dust on every horizontal surface. Entering the room, rather boldly, SixOfEighteen triggered a trap of some type that launched a bolt of lightning down the corridor, seriously injuring and temporarily paralyzing SixOfEighteen, and somewhat injuring several of the other party members. Boris prayed for restoration and The Source magically healed SixOfEighteen's paralysis. Examining the room they found that the door they entered through was well concealed, probably intended to be secret. The room appeared to be a large wardrobe with long rods to hang clothing, perhaps robes, but all that remained was piles of thick heavy dust on the floor. SixOfEighteen explained that there was likely a preparation chamber to the West, and a main entrance to the North. The doors out of this room were locked, and SixOfEighteen asked about possibly breaking down the door. Cigfran tried to pick the lock first, but failed. Boris, with a ritual of prayer, summoned an area of silence to suppress the noise and then helped SixOfEighteen use a portable ram to bash in both doors in complete slience. After entering the next room to the West, and encountering another locked door, Boris conjured another dome of silence, and again helped SixOfEighteen to bash in the door. Entering the next room, the group discovered a room filled with more than a foot of dust, and a few decayed remnants of metal stands or other items, all far beyond use or salvage. Boris commented on the heavy dust, and SixOfEighteen asked everyone to stand back while he pulled a hand fan out of his chest compartment which he used to blow the thick dust into a corner. After a quick consultation, a little help from Boris, and an inspiring speech from Roisin Marshfield, Cigfran examined the next door to the West, and found nothing of concern. Boris again conjured silence, and helped SixOfEighteen to bash in the door. Unfortunately this door had magical protections, and when the door crashed open, a burst of dark energy filled the room. Cigfran and Roisin Marshfield had wisely chosen to move far back and around corners, but Roy remained in the room. Roy and SixOfEighteen managed to resist some of the harm, but Boris was nearly killed outright by the foul necrotic spell. The party, shocked by this turn of events, chose to spend some time to rest and recover before continuing forward. Looking past the now opened door, SixOfEighteen and Cigfran found an L-shaped corridor with two well concealed doors, each of which had a similar magical symbol inscribed thereon. After some discussion Roy stepped into the corridor and attempted to dispel the magical symbol, but another powerful rune in the ceiling of the corridor flared, countering the attempt to dispel the symbol, and launching a magical assault in retaliation, but Roy 's quick reflexes allowed him to counter that powerful assault before it destroyed him. Roy paused and took a moment to consider how he might remove this second rune, but determined that it would likewise counter his attempt to dispel it; and follow up with the same assault spell; the combination being beyond Roy 's capability to counter the magic and survive. Cigfran asked if they could ring the door bell or something, and Roy argued a bit that there was no point looking for a bell. SixOfEighteen looked confused, opened his chest, and pulled out a chime and offered it to Roy and the others. Roy argued a bit more before accepting the item, and only after SixOfEighteen had already struck the chime once himself. Roy told the others to move back, then moved up to one of the two doors, stuck the chime, and with a ringing sound, and a click, the door unlocked.

SixOfEighteen came up and asked if he should open the door, or if Roy wanted to unlock the other door. Roy unlocked the other door with the chime, then opened that door himself. Roy suddenly found himself in a vast maze with walls of moonlight, the top open to the night sky, and a floor of dew-kissed green grass. The others moved forward wondering where Roy had disappeared to, as they had not seen him open the door, and he was not in the room when they caught up. Boris looked through the room, and seeing the thick untouched dust, determined that Roy had not entered this room. Boris also cast a spell to detect magic, and detected the powerful symbol on the door, and some symbols in the hallway, but nothing else. After pondering a bit, the group proceeded forward, trying to open the two doors exiting this room. Cigran accidentally triggered some form of poison needle trap, as he opened the door. Hurt, though less than he would have thanks to magical protection from Boris, and finding only another corridor and a door at the end. Cigfran moved forward and opened that door as well. Roisin Marshfield and Boris bantered back and forth a bit about why there were so many doors, and how the most dangerous side of adventure was opening doors. Cigfran grew bored and moved up, with SixOfEighteen's help, as Boris placed a death ward on him. Cigfran found another needle trap on this door, and tried to disarm it, but took another needle in his hand instead. Cigfran called back that there was a room beyond. Roisin Marshfield asked about doors, and Cigfran replied there were three more doors. Just then they heard a loud "Son of a B@*#&~!" in the room they had just left as Roy found his way out of the maze. Roy asserted he'd spent the last 6 hours finding his way out of this moonlight maze, though the others claimed it had only been about 10 minutes. Reunited, the group took an hour to rest and reflect.

Deciding to go back to the L-shaped cooridor and try the other door, the group found themselves in a vast chamber with a large metal statue in the center. Discussing the situation, the group then moved around and headed through the north door from the room they initially entered, then moved down the corridor and, after some checking, opened the center door with the magical chime. Unfortunately, a mechanical alarm began to sound when the lock was opened by magic. As the party heard the alarm bell ring a single clear tone throughout the facility, Roisin Marshfield rushed into the room, as Roy followed. Cigfran moved into a postion outside the room behind the door where he had a clear line of sight, but also a means to quickly move behind cover. SixOfEighteen also charged forward. Boris strode forward and threw his hammer, striking somewhat, but missing the follow-up. The construct strode forward, and then charged in and struck SixOfEighteen with a powerful blow. Roisin Marshfield ordered SixOfEighteen to attack, and he used booming blade to blast the construct, which struck, but the thunder energy had no effect. Boris reacted to throw his hammer, but missed. Roisin Marshfield also moved back, and learned this statue had long reach as it swung at her, but missed and ended up stumbling into the water. Roy moved past the construct, and told the party "It's immune to everything I can do, good luck" and continued toward the central platform. Cigfran pulled himself forward, and SixOfEighteen struck at it but missed. The construct moved forward and emitted a series of bright light pulses and loud pulses, stunning Boris and Cigfran temporarily, then struck both Boris and SixOfEighteen with the giant greatsword it wielded. Roisin Marshfield ordered a general retreat, but Roy temporarily ignored the order. Roy then did move forward. The Construct moved up to Roy and SixOfEighteen, and repeated the flashes and sound, but both managed to avoid becoming stunned. The construct then struck SixOfEighteen twice, and would have brought the smaller construct low, but Roisin Marshfield cried out encouragement and SixOfEighteen was able to draw on his deeper reserves of strength to remain standing. Boris came to his senses, and pulled Cigfran with him as he ran away. Roisin Marshfield waited where she was, at a distance and ready to help. Roy used a powerful dimensional door to escape with SixOfEighteen to one of the rooms well to the south, and the Construct returned to its place as the door closed itself.

The group regathered in one of the rooms they had previously explored and discussed what to do next to deal with this very powerful construct. During the discussion Roy considered the powerful artifact he still carried, and the thought brought action, as Roy brought out the book and began to read. Within moments he strode down the corridor and began conjuring stone walls to seal off the three main doors. As the third door was sealed off, the page turned, revealing the spell Void Rift, and Energy Absorption as well. Roy tried to copy Energy Absorption into his spellbook, but was unable to comprehend it initially. Deciding everything would be easier after a good night's rest, Roy summoned a dome for the party to rest in. In the morning Roy did copy the spell Energy Absorption into his book, then cast it a couple times, causing the page to turn, then spent the remainder of the day to copy the newly revealed spell, Scatter, into his spellbook. As Roy continued to explore the book, he discovered the spell Shapechange, and determined this was what would enable him to defeat the powerful construct in the other chamber. Ready, and with the power of this artifact, Roy gathered the party to destroy this construct that had dared to strike him with a weapon.