Session 074 - Brains and Bubbles

General Summary

3^rd and 4^th of Morgat (Winter) 721TR

The story so far

After months of traveling and adventure, the Heroes are planning to return home, taking a shortcut through the magical Godstones portal in the mysterious Earthmaster Site of Telumar.

Telumar is famous for its spectacular light shows, with colorful, radiant beams emitted into the sky from a series of pylons surrounding the complex.

Athena is also seeking a Black Door, or Telumar's Godstone. Beyond that portal, it has been predicted that she will have an opportunity to start the revenge she seeks.

The continuation of Session 73 - Pickled Trolls, Fireflies and a Ghost.

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Location - The Earthmaster Site of Telumar.

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Part 1 - Meet the Wizards.

The Heroes rest for an hour then start exploring the complex but are met by several young people. These are the Apprentices of the Master Illusionist Lepridis, who arrives shortly after.

Lepridis, Art by Donatoarts

Yureb immediately notices that this man is cloaked in an illusion and, after a short conversation, thinks that he has heard his voice before. He recognizes this man was a visitor to his mentor, the Illusionist Elzoldor the Prism, some years ago when he was an apprentice. However, he appeared much younger back then.

Lepridis also recognizes Yureb and is pleased to learn that he has finally learned some magic. He reminisces with Yureb and has not heard from Elzador for years. He explains that he investigates these buildings' brilliant light displays and has determined that a light show will be flare up whenever someone travels through the Godstone.

He explains that the Heroes are welcome to explore Telumar and that a week ago, another traveler arrived through the Godstone, the unpleasant Mage Onrall. Onrall investigated the two Psionically locked doors to the south on the bottom level of the complex. Lepridis and his team could not open these doors, but the Wizard may well have, but he has not been seen since.

Lepridis recommends avoiding the Crystal Frost found in some of the passageways and tells them that the Maze Pattern is embedded on the floor in the next room. This can open the mind to the Prismatic Magic of Telumer.

The party can help but notice one of Lepridis's Apprentices, an attractive young woman, scowls at the party. She eyes the party with suspicion.

Part 2 - The Maze.

The party quickly find the chamber with a Silver Maze embedded on the floor. The party follows Lepridis's instructions and walk it. As they do so, they feel the imprint of the Magical/Psionic pattern onto their consciousness. However, this feeling is only fleeting, with only Quazzy gaining the Boon of Telumar.

Campaign

The Uncivil War - Campaign Complete

Protagonists

Quazzy

Athena

Yureb

Report Date

22 Mar 2020

Boon of Telumar

One of the chambers in Telumar contains a silver maze-like pattern embedded in the amber stone floor. By walking this pattern, a minor magical/psionic boon may be imprinted on a character.

Activation

The character must make a DC 15 Intelligent Check. If successful, they will be imprinted with the Boon of Telumar. If they roll a natural 1, their minds will be susceptible to some magics. They will suffer Disadvantage on saving throw against any illusion or light-based spells and effects for d20 days.

Benefit

The character can add d4 to the DC of any illusion or light spell they cast. They can use this 3 three times before the imprint is lost; however, the boon will automatically be regained by walking the maze.

Intellect Devourer Brain Chunks

These pieces of Intellect Devourer Brain are consumable items. Once squished by hand flesh contact required), they will momentarily reveal the presence, location, and size of any lifeforms, not concealed by magic in a 300 ft radius. The Brain Chunks will then turn to dust after use.

Part 3 - Downstairs.

The Party makes its way downstairs and quickly finds the Godstone or the "Black Door." Nearby are well-concealed secret doors leading to large passageways filled with domes. Several sections blocked with strange "Frost" crystals growing on the floor were easily avoided. Unfortunately, the heroes were unable to open any of the psionically hidden and locked doors they found.

Part 4 - Bubble Chamber.

Passing by one of the side chambers, the heroes hear a crackling sound. Investigating, they find a room filled with multicolored bubbles. On the floor is covered with rubble and the remains of broken "statues." Shiny objects are scattered throughout the chamber among the bits of stones. Yureb jumps in skillfully dodging these lethal magical bubbles.

He collects a bag of rare spices, a book, a large gemstone, a money pouch, a potion, and a strange magical pink/purple rhomboid gem. Even though there may be other treasures, he decides not to push his luck too far and retreats to safety.

Part 5 - The Pylon Chamber.

The Psionic Door to the southwest access tunnel to the light-generating pylon is open. Following along, the heroes find an empty chamber except for a ladder leading up to a balcony. Hidden on the balcony is the dead body of a man. It looks like his head had exploded, and the body has been dead for about a week. However, there was no sign of any brain material. This is the corpse of the unpleasant Wizard Onrall, and Quazzy finds a potion and a spellbook.

Quazzy decides to Speak with the Dead, and a ghostly voice tells him the last date he remembers was about six weeks ago. He was visiting a friend, a fellow wizard in the City of Cherafir in the Kingdom of Melderyn, who was acting strangely. The last thing he remembers was a massive headache, then everything going black.

Part 6 - The Apprentices Secret.

The Apprentice, Art by Artbreeder

The party decides to return to Lepridis to tell him what they have discovered. Unfortunately, an Invisible opponent is waiting in the hall of the Godstone, and a Blast of Cold strikes the surprise party. The opponent continues attacking with magic, but Quazzy See Invisibility power identifies the assailant as Lepridis's Apprentice. Athena and Yureb attack, but her invisibility, combined with her general evasive abilities, proved hard to combat. Athena strikes wildly, blunting her prized ancestral Greatsword on the extremely hard Earthmaster Stonework. But eventually, Athena hits with a lucky strike breaking her concentration on her Invisibility. She becomes visible, and the heroes attack. Severely injured, she magically Disappears.

Intellect Devourer, Art by WOC

The Heroes spread out looking for her. She suddenly appears near Yureb after throwing a Ball of Fire. As she gets close, her head explodes and out leaps a small brain with clawed feet. This tiny monstrosity was attempting to overwhelm Yureb, and psionically take over his body. Yureb resists, and before the creature can strike again, Quazzy critically attacks with her Spectral Blade, slicing the monster in two.

Part 7 - The Aftermath.

Carrying the dead body of the Apprentice and the Intellect Devourer upstairs, the Party tells Lepridis everything that happened. He is distressed by the events and death of his 'favorite" apprentice but has noted that she had been acting strangely lately. He suspects the Intellect Devourer was biding its time, waiting for an opportunity to take over his body.

Saddened but grateful, Lepridis gives each of the heroes a gift. The Party rest for the night before planning to use the Godstone the next morning.

To be continued.....

NPC Interactions

Lepridis - Master Illusionist and his 5 apprentices.

Challenges Overcome

Boon of Temular Challenge (Quazzy only).

Prismatic Bubble Trap.

1 Mage (Apprentice possessed by an Intellect Devourer).

1 Intellect Devourer.

Rewards

Quazzy gained the Boon of Telumar.

Book of Dwarven fairy tales (500sp) and Rare Spices (250sp).

Potion of Frost Giant Strength.

Potion of Supreme Healing.

1 Large gemstone and 100sp in coins.

Ioun Stone (Pink/purple +2 to Constitution).

Wizard Onrall Spell Book.

4 Intellect Devourer Chunks (one-off detect life 300 ft range).

Lepridis gives Yureb a Potion of Displacement, Quazzy is given a spell for her spellbook and Athena the name of a Wizard/Weaponcrafter in the City of Cherafir, Yebisi Netoshi of the Forge of Eternity, who would be willing to enchant her sword.

Created Content

Lepridis - Master Illusionist.

Related Reports

Earthmaster Sites - Updated.

Elzoldor the Prism, Illusionist.

Players Character Status

Athena the Banshee - Level 15 Paladin of Vengeance, gained a level.

Yureb - Level 15 Arcane Trickster.

Quazzy - Level 5 Necromancer and Level 10 Warlock Disciple of Desridaen, gained a level.