The Mouth of Doom: Session 44
General Summary
The Level of Dread
Report Date
14 Aug 2021
Each night's rest, Zetwuzadi used the Sending Stone to keep Crown Wrenjer Arddan Goswren updated with their progress. Enya had been left with the plantoids assisting them with making their garden prosper. It had been a delicate situation as most of the gardeners were assimilated into the plants by the mossballs. While the druid was casting her magic into the earth, she noticed that the plants the mossballs were cultivating were extremely rare. After a brief history lesson on the particular plants, the plantoids offered that if her travels brought her back to them, they would give her shoots to care for when she was ready to become caretaker and stop adventuring. The Wrenjers’ traveled only a few hours away from their companion, knowing that her spell would need eight hours to come to fruition. During their rest, the druid rejoined her companions safely. As one of their members rejoined, Vadim got absorbed into Ansible’s home away from home, her obsidian rod. Before finding rest, Enya shared with them what she learned from the Erokuni, nature spirits aligned with Vrokíva.
They had camped about midway between the Gate and the Plantoids. After their usual morning rituals, they traveled for two more hours until they reached the imposing large gate. The Wrenjers approached as stealthy as they could, some of them were a bit loud but the more perceptive were able to help correct those who were naturally noisy. Knowing how to open the gate without causing a terrible ruckus, Artem and Jarvis quickly assembled the symbols. Investigating the inner gate area, they noticed a word written in Abyssal on the wall. It was a simple command or warning, “RUN!” And it was repeated across the hallway, a few feet away from a darkened area of the wall. The darkness was mirrored across the hallway. A small discussion happened on whether they should follow the literal writing on the wall or to test the darkened area. Luckily for them, they chose to just run past the area. While Ansible moved across the alcove, she was able to pierce the magical darkness and see the hidden Black Skeletons lying in wait for anyone who lingered. The skeletons did not pursue them as they left the area. As they continued their journey, they walked and talked about what Ansible had seen. They assumed that the abyssal word was for the servants of the Master and while they trusted the word this time, they thought it might be wise to not trust everything they see.
During their travels, they noticed that every once in a while small clumps of dirt would fall from the ceiling after feeling the earth and stone rumble. Nothing assaulted them but as they continued a stone feline swam through the stone and earth and glanced at the Wrenjers. It reached down and dropped two cylinders on the stone. Nudging them with their nose they moved the cylinders toward Zetwuzadi and Te’Leyuura. The Stone Flyer then swam back through the walls while the two Wrenjers picked up their Mistcall Letters. Both shared their letters with their companions while they traveled another five hours. The tunnel had finally started to climb and eventually it leveled out.
As the tunnel leveled out, they could all feel the dread and only Enya and Zetwuzadi were able to shake the sinking feeling. To those who let the dread sink in, they felt like they were going to perish on this level. It smelled terrible. Artem brought out the wand and instantly the rogue could see the auras of evocation and necromancy. They pondered if they left and came back would they have another chance to fight the fear but after some thought they figured that Leofric could assist in shredding the dread. They all feel better as Calelis’ power settles over them as a comforting blanket. The scouts took the lead and moved stealthily into the open cavern. Across the stone floor they could see very old signs of battle. Artem and Jarvis could see many different ways out of the cavern. One looked to delve deeper into the earth while another looked to head west but remained flat and turned abruptly northward and out of their eyesight. Eventually they chose the left path, one they could hear some faint noises.
The path was tight but the Wrenjers followed their scouts, toward the labored breathing. It sounded large and the wheezing indicated that it was suffering. Following their instincts, they send the curious Sorin further down the tunnel. The Tressym tried to move quietly; however, as they landed on the stone Sorin skidded on some loose rocks. Jarvis, through Sorin’s eyes, scanned the area. It seemed mostly empty until four tree trunk style feet moved into the scene. The large rotund body was mostly mouth with three eye stalks and was on their side. Jarvis could see the ribs were showing as the creature slowly and shakingly rose to their feet. As it moved to engage Sorin, the others started to move forward. The creature lethargically moved and attacked, missing the tiny familiar with two tentacles but landed a bite. When the creature bit down and came back with nothing, they cried out in pain. Zetwuzadi was close enough to telepathically hear the creature’s cries when they realized that Sorin wasn’t food. It was clear to the paladin that the creature was starving and she offered them that they didn’t have to fight if they calmed down. The rogue quickly moved forward and tossed some rations behind the creature. The poor starving lethargic creature tried to catch it but they were too slow and started to turn toward the food.
They continued to cautiously move down the tunnel, keeping behind their frontline. Taking a moment, they understood that it was an aberration of some sort. Some type of scavenger covered in slime and detritus. All of the Wrenjers waited to see if the creature would attack. However, Zetwuzadi was able to negotiate with them, promising the starving creature more food. Those close enough to the creature could hear their pleas that they didn’t want to attack but they were just so hungry. And it was obvious as it devoured the rations and had been licking the crumbs off the stones when the Wrenjers moved into the cavern. The otyugh ate everything they were offered and while they fed them, the Wrenjers asked them questions. They have never been great with time and they attempted to teach the otyugh how to track time. It was clear that it wouldn’t work but they did learn that their name was Max and that they are grateful that the Wrenjers were willing to feed him. After some more talking they learned that Max was being punished by the clerics for helping a group of adventurers. Max tried to describe them until Te’Leyuura offered that they shared images of them telepathically.
It was clear that Max had helped Inako’s group and after some pressing the otyugh shared with them what he had told the other group. Now they knew that the Upper Temple of the Master was on this level, just behind the wall where Max lived. Before they left to continue their investigation, they gave Max all the armor they had scavenged off the zombies. Max had offered that the clerics seemed to have been weakened by the others even if they were unable to cleanse the temple. As the group left, Max genuinely wished that they could do what the others could not and hoped to see them again.
They take some time in the cavern to discuss what they should do. It had taken about seven hours for them to arrive where they were currently hearing a otyugh munching on scorched metal. They wanted to at least scout the area but after Max explained that the temple was weakened they thought it was better if they just moved to attack when the servants were not at their best. After collecting their thoughts, they continued to move through the level. As they approached another larger cavern, they could hear the familiar buzzing sounds of stirges. Before engaging, they signed to not waste any resources before they quietly moved into the area and attacked. The battle lasted maybe six seconds before the bodies of the large insectoids hit the group. Erukoesk gathered the stirge bodies and brought them back to Max. From this cavern there were two paths, one that climbed and one that turned easterly. Determined to engage the Upper Temple they decided to cautiously take the right path. The small tunnel turned and eventually opened to a water filled rectangle room. The three foot deep water had a thin layer of flammable oil upon it. Artem used the walls to climb around the area, heading north to the only open path. The path seemed to end but as Sorin was requested, they noted the secret door.
Artem returned to the others, wanting to know what they should do. The wizard asked if they scouted the pool for anything hidden in it and as the rogue approached the southern side they could feel the dread build, even if it didn’t affect him. They now had two secret doors to investigate. Ansible agreed to use their sight to peer through the stone but requested someone to accompany them as she did so. The northern secret door headed towards a staircase that ascended while the southern door contained a path that seemed to remain on this level. While the warlock worked her magic, some of the others thought that it seemed fitting that the dread would be associated with the Upper Temple. After some elaborate pitons placement the others moved above the water towards the southern secret door.
Jarvis and Artem moved first and the hallway that the door revealed double backed on itself before opening into a large room with a massive statue of the Master. The statue’s eyes glowed and each hand had a wicked looking magical green flame. No matter where they were in the room, it seemed that the Master was watching them. They all moved quietly and swiftly towards the elaborate door. The door had intricate carvings of iconography of the Master and when they all entered the room a deep voice radiated from the statue. “Step forth, you who would visit the temple of the Master, bring lives in sacrifice or forfeit your soul.” It was clear that Javis wanted to destroy the statue but the others were able to persuade the artificer to wait until they had cleared the temple, then would bring down the statue. The elaborate door was just locked and as they moved through the door they passed through a natural looking hallway of unworked stone before it opened into a bunk room. There were six beds with six locked chests. Some of them contained magic auras while some radiated magical traps but they ignored the tempting loot and pressed forward to the doors. They prepared themselves, believing the temple must be behind the doors.
Zetwuzadi murmured a prayer to Arseth and the family of Inaerthri that watch over the Xhogumal, which included Calelis. Upon opening the door it revealed another hallway that ended in a set of double doors. The walls of this hallway and the door were decorated in the iconography of the Master. Artem had been concentrating on detecting magical auras the entire time and when his eyes rested on the double doors he could see the magic. The doors radiated necromancy and right behind the rogue could see the evocation and necromancy auras. Alerting the others that the door was unlocked but magically touched, Te’Leyuura shredded the magic waiting to assault them. Jarvis kicked open the stone doors. They could see a massive chamber with a 60 foot statue of the Master. The ceiling extended past the statue and tiered up to a point. Heat filled the area, radiating out of the central massive opening that contained magma. The arch priest looked toward the doors when they were kicked open.
Undead ogres, zombies and clerics filled the area around the priest and floating lazily around the ceiling was a vrock demon. The Wrenjers acted first with Artem nailing the vrock, instantly blooding the demon. The rogue was hidden from the demon but it was clear that the priest was able to peer through the gloomstalker’s ability to blend in with the shadows. Enya moved forward, trying to bind the vrock to the earth but was unable to target the demon, she then fell back a bit from the doors. Leofric dropped his pink radiant energy into the room and they could see it ripple in the room, so unfamiliar with this type of magic. The artificer, Jarvis moved to the double doors and held his ground, dodging ready for a plethora of attacks. Ansible proclaimed in Celestial, “Drown in radiance” as she placed a sickening radiance on top of the priests. Zetwuzadi moved into the room, feeling a prickling feeling as she crossed the threshold. It felt like she should see her breath but they didn't. They land two hits and move back into the hallway.
The beefy undead ogres turned their attention to the easy target of Jarvis, unfortunately for them they all missed. Looking down at the group assembled in the hallway, much like a different group a few months before, the priest used his ring and casted a spell that none of them could even attempt to counter. Only Enya was teleported above the magma and when she landed the druid was barely alive. Simply, the priest announced that she was the first sacrifice and the eyes on the statue glowed. As they started in the Ansible’s radiance, the clerics took some damage but they moved forward and had planned on attacking the man in the doorway but changed their target. They all targeted the warlock and Ansible took a bunch of magical attacks. The skeletons split their attention between the artificer and the warlock. Knowing that the battle would be worse if they don’t deal with what the wizard assumed was a Hallowed spell, Te’Leyuura steadied herself, ready to dispel the magic.
