Session 28: Throw down the Gauntlet Report

General Summary

Note, due to technical issues we have lost some of the detail for this session.

...

Shortly after waking, Boris , Quirico , and Roisin Marshfield found themselves in another place. Quirico grunted, trying to speak, and tried to indicate he should proceed ahead. He made it 10 feet, before a blast of incredible magical cold froze him to ice and left him shattered on the ground. Boris heard a disturbing voice. "Well, it seems one of your companions has already failed, heheheheheheheee!". Boris now recalled and old memory, perhaps some of what the Pale Queen had released that it might return to him, that this place, this "Gauntlet", is a test of The Lady, a place filled with danger at every step. The Lady is a being of great power and chaotic aspect, a being Boris once served, before he found the truth of The Source of Justice, and devoted his life to bringing Justice in this unjust world. Moving forward very carefully, Boris and Roisin Marshfield managed to see the first set of traps, magical runes on the floor, ahead of them. Boris led Roisin Marshfield on a difficult and complex path through the runes, avoiding stepping on any of them. Reaching the far side of the field of runes, they managed to reach some clear space, and were able to move along a little more freely. They moved forward, up some steps and closer to a raised platform, an apparition appeared on the platform, a huge woman in queenly garb. This apparition said, "Well, it seems you remembered at least to step in the right places, but you've forgotten to kneel." Both adventurers found themselves compelled to immediately kneel and bow until their foreheads touched the floor. "Much better. Well, Boris , it's been a long time. Ever since you abandoned my service, heeheeheee. Very foolish of a mortal to abandon my service, huhuhuhu. Puny ant, little creature, worthless speck. I am The Lady, I am Power? Might? Chaos, DEATH, DESTRUCTION, I am what I wish to be. And you, are in My Gauntlet. If you survive you will be rewarded. More likely I will simply consume your soul; yours looks rather tasty heeheeheehee. Go on, find the way, survive the challenge, or FEED MY HUNGER." With this the apparition disappeared. Boris had a flash of memory, of over a century spent in service to The Lady, memory lost and locked away when he abandoned that path. Boris also recalled the rules of The Gauntlet. If he survived his friends would be restored, otherwise Quirico , at least, was gone forever, and likely Roisin Marshfield would be lost as well. With this a wall of darkness began moving toward them from the North, forcing them closer to the dangerous magic runes. They moved aside, but not quite fast enough, and Roisin Marshfield was forced to leap onto a rune because Boris blocked her escape. Roisin Marshfield was suddenly wrapped in magical chains, which lashed about her, but quickly escaped them. "Heeheehee, almost got you with those...". Boris turned and healed Roisin Marshfield, hoping to keep his friend alive as long as possible. The proceeded forward, where Boris recalled there must be another region of danger. Searching about, Boris noticed nothing, however. Roisin Marshfield was able to find the incredibly fine, almost invisible tripwires all through the broad corridor ahead. Boris conjured a Cleansing Blade, to remove the tripwires ahead. Both adventurers were astonished at the volume of darts, arrows, blades, and bolts of magical force that filled the corridor. Boris moved forward cautiously, blade tip to the floor, cutting the wires ahead. Unfortunately Boris was naturally quite clumsy, so Boris did accidentally encounter a flurry of poison darts, which would have killed him were it not for Roisin Marshfield's empassioned cries that gave him the will to remain and strengthened his resolve. The impact was sufficient to shatter his concentration, however, and the spell collapsed. Boris recast the magic, but fumbled with the blade, triggering another trap, but managed to dodge most of the impact, and wild magic further strengthened him, which was good because he still triggered a few more traps on the way forward, taking a number of poisoned arrows to the back. The arrows would have killed him, but once again Roisin Marshfield strenghtened his will at the last moment, but his reserves of strength were waning, and Boris completely disappeared. Again, the terrible voice rang out. "Heeheeheeheeheeheeheeeee. Gone forever, gone forever, gone forever, goneforevergoneforevergoneforever...." Roisin Marshfield began to move forward extremely slowly, carefully examining every step for up to a minute at a time. Fortunately, it only took a minute before Boris reappeared about 50 feet ahead. He called Roisin Marshfield forward, but she triggered a fire trap, that singed her finery. The two now found themselves approaching a massive chamber over 100 feet square, with an immense sarcophagus, perhaps thirty feet long and twenty feet wide near the northern end. Boris called upon The Source to heal his wounds, and was suddenly engulfed in blue flame, protecting him from both cold and, to a lesser extent, fire. Another field of magic runes barred their way, but again Boris was able to thread a path through. As they entered the chamber, the huge woman once again appeared, this time stepping up from the immense sarcophagus. "Well, you've made it through the traps. HeeHeeHeeee. Time to face the final battle!" The figure stepped back behind the Sarcophagus to stand against the north wall, seeming to wait. A more normal sized woman stepped from the sarcophagus, floating into the air a bit. As this happened Jeeves apparated on the opposite side of the vast room. Roisin Marshfield immediately called on the group to spread out, hoping to limit the impact of any powerful magic. She ordered Boris to attack, and that worthy sent a magically empowered crossbow bolt straight into the woman's left arm, severely wounding her. Boris then fired another clockwork bolt, but it was deflected by a magical gesture from the woman. Boris also conjured his spiritual weapon, a giant judge's gavel, which struck another solid blow. Sadly her magic blocked the blow. The woman moved to strike Boris and Roisin Marshfield both with a massive cone of freezing cold, which severely froze Roisin Marshfield, leaving her frozen in ice and deceased. The clockwork bolt again spun, tearing at the wound and leaving the woman bleeding black ichor which pooled in her lap. Jeeves fired his bow, but both arrows missed the mark. Boris ' gavel attacked, but it was once again deflected by the magical shield. Boris considered trying to strike with his rod, but the woman hovered high enough up that he doubted he could reach her. Boris fired another clockwork bolt, but missed, and climbed up to a higher level, closer to the woman. The woman spoke a horrifying word, Jeeves 's life force was weakened, and Boris was assaulted with feelings of fear, but ignored them. Jeeves was also pushed back. The woman teleported away, and moved further after that, and then the terrible laugh rang out again. "HeeeHeeHee, HeeeHeeHeeHeeeHeee. The Rose is a shattered statue of ice, heeeheeeheee, gonna kill you all, heeeheeeheeeheee." Jeeves rushed closer, thinking to hide around a corner, but immediately noticed the floor was covered in traps. Sadly, Jeeves was then struck by a powerful wave of necrotic energy, died, and dissolved into mush. "Heeheehee. One more down, heeheeheee." Boris climbed even higher to the top level of platforms for a better vantage, and called upon a divine boon to guide his strike, but it was not enough, and his next clockwork bolt still missed. The woman then called forth magical tentacles to grasp and restrain Boris . Boris once again struck with his giant gavel, but missed, and was unable to break free of the tentacles. The tentacles slammed him into the ground repeatedly as the woman fired a bolt of flame, which further weakened Boris . The tentacles again slammed him into the ground, and Boris struck again with his gavel, this time connecting and crushing the woman's skull.

The Lady looked at Boris , and said "Well, it seems you survived... Well, the deal's the deal." Jeeves reformed, along with Roisin Marshfield and Quirico , in front of Boris , fully restored. Boris felt restored as well. The Lady spoke again. "Well, Boris , you've won again. I should know better than to face off against your new master. Oh well, heeeheeeheeheee. You may choose your boon..." Boris asked questioningly what boon. "Do you remember nothing? Truly?" Boris now recalled the choice between Power, Wealth, Knowledge, Longevity, or Chaos. "Well, Boris , make your choice". Boris chose Power and The Lady said "Power it is. As you have received a boon yourself, long ago, you cannot receive it directly, but I'll give it to your friend." The Lady looked at Roisin Marshfield, and said "Power is Yours!" and a rainbow beam blasted into Roisin Marshfield who screamed in terrible pain and agony as she was lifted from the ground, 15 feet in the air as rainbow energy cascaded around her. Eventually she dropped to the ground, falling to her knees in exhaustion, but otherwise unharmed. The Lady said "Back you go!" and with a sudden shimmer everyone found themselves back where they started the day. Roisin Marshfield's mumbling ring mumbled "Mhh, Dangerous...Chaos...Power...Invigorating...ahhahaha...".

The group found themselves back where they had been before. Jeeves and Roisin Marshfield stepped down and prepared to proceed with their journey, but the body that had been covered with rocks during the night suddenly leapt up and attacked them. Roisin Marshfield reacted by disengaging and running away. Boris tried to climb down, but fell and ended up on his back, then stood back up and moved to block the creature's path, whereupon he conjured another spiritual gavel which struck a solid blow. The undead creature then swung its sword at Boris , giving him a small cut. As it moved past Boris , he struck with the Rod of Justice, dealing a solid blow. Boris also expended power from the rod, but the creature resisted the paralytic effect. Jeeves then attacked with his rapier, but was unable to harm this creature. Roisin Marshfield ordered Boris to attack and Boris launched a Clockwork Bolt, tearing into the creature. Roisin Marshfield then ran back, and though the creature tried to strike her, it missed. Boris rushed forward, brought up the gavel to hammer the creature with another solid blow, and struck it with the Rod of Justice, which blasted the creature, leaving little more than sparkling dust.