Brenna brutally slices into the golem, doing incredible damage. Beahtori recalls that flesh golems are immune to magic, slowed by cold or fire, and healed by electricity. They are best harmed with adamantine weapons.
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After you have finished equipping yourselves, you set off on the road to Crying Leaf, the elven settlement where you are to meet with contacts established by Kwava.
The lands north of Riddleport are sparsely populated, with a few struggling farms near the city and the occasional hunter’s lodge further afield. A winding dirt road that quickly becomes a Varisian caravan path leads north from Riddleport, a route only infrequently used by travelers making their way between Varisia and the Lands of the Linnorm Kings.
This road follows the Velashu River for much of its length, rarely veering away from its winding course to reduce travel time. The route to Crying Leaf follows this road until the Calphiak Mountains recede to the west. About 45 miles north of Riddleport, a hunter’s trail branches off to the west—it is this road that leads to the rim of the Mierani Forest and the settlement of Crying Leaf.
The journey is roughly 90 miles, and should take around 4 days, 3 days if you choose to travel on horseback. Although open country is an option, the terrain is difficult enough that it is unlikely to save you time.
The first two days of travel pass uneventfully. The third day is a crisp, bright summer morning, the heat of the sun abated somewhat by a good wind.
You see a cloud of dust approaching you from down the road.
Within the cloud of dust you see several horsemen, at least ten.
Brenna brutally slashes the golem, almost cleaving it in two. The golem continues to function despite a massive slice into its collarbone that leaves its left arms wobbling strangely. The cold from Brenna's axe seems to affect it strangely, and its movements slow dramatically.
Brenna
Saphren
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Golem (-61, slowed)
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Lyr
Besh
Zoso
Saphren spring attacks, moving back, then back in for the swing, then back around the corner.
Before the massive, terrifying golem has even a chance to react, Saphren exploits the weakness created by Brenna's attack with her axe. With a precision cut, his falchion cleaves down to completely finish bisecting the golem, and it collapses on the ground, dead.
End of Combat
Passages lead in all four cardinal directions.
As the creature falls Saphren regards Brenna with fondness. We make a good team. I could kiss you. Now someone grab those bows and lets go rescue the elf boys. Anyone got a though on which way to go?
Timidly, Besh remarks: Your friends were supposed to be coming in through the north (troglodytes) and west (dretch) - the south is empty. Or... it should be..." Slight frown:"Maybe I should just explode something in there to be sure"
Brenna comes down from her rage, panting slightly. She grins at Saphren and says, "I thought your heart was already taken. The sentiment's appreciated, though." She loops her axe back on to her baldric and holds out a gauntleted hand to grip Saphren's arm briefly. "Sorry I couldn't get over that one, but at least we got lucky and finished it before it could react." With that she draws her axe again and says, "Just give me a minute to catch my breath, then we can find out what happened to everyone else."
Lyr snuffed out his smoking arrow and attached a new tinder twig to it before putting it carefully back into his utility quiver.
Or its a trap. Saphren says with a smile as he moves North and checks the door.
"North it is then!" says Brenna, hefting her shield and preparing to take point after Saphren deals with the door.
The group starts heading northwards, and Lyr's keen observations may have just saved a life.
Set into the north wall of this antechamber is a black pillar of stone, carved with hundreds of small, wicked symbols. A flicker of purple light pulses from these runes, traveling up and down the pillar’s length. In front of the pillar is a prayer rug made of blood-soaked paper.
Lyr holds out a hand, stopping the group. Beyond the altar are double doors leading north, and he sees a strange shimmering, likely indicating a magical trap.
A delayed blast fireball trap is on the door.
Overcome with anxiety at having been put on the spot, Besh's mind goes completely blank. "Oh um... I guess it's... I mean - it kinda looks like...". Looking dejected, ze mumbles: "I'm sorry. I... I just don't know."
Brightening slightly, ze looks shyly up at Zoso: "I could try magically moving the prayer rug (or burning it!). Or, maybe I could try to dispel the magic?"
It's an evocation spell, so likely something impressive, but beyond that the gruop cannot tell.
The group all step far, far back as Saphren works on the trap. There's a pregnant pause as he works before an ominous click sounds. There's a pregnant pause, and then a familiar FOOOM sounds as an enormous fireball goes off! However, being quick on his feet, Saphren manages to duck behind the altar and he entirely avoids the blast.
With the trap "disabled", the double doors lead northwards.
Lyr wordlessly moved up behind Saphren, moving as he moved, an arrow notched in his bow and his sharp eyes set to task
"Huh. That was a thing," says Brenna. Then she resumes the front line.
With the door's trap already triggered, there is little else to do but open it.
Unlike the other rooms of this place, this large chamber has been restored to its former beauty. Polished white marble gleams from the walls, carved in the likeness of dancing and frolicking elves. Along one wall is a gigantic sparkling pool of crystal clear water, behind which stands a gateway made of the purest alabaster, carefully shaped to look
like a ring of leaves.
In the center of the pool, a comely elven maiden reclines on a tremendous floating leaf.
"You are not drow! Please, brave ones. Come speak with me. I have been here so long."
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"It's a trap," says Brenna immediately, then "Sorry, what? Uh, reflex response."
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"Well...the last comely maiden we found did turn out to be neither.." Zoso murmurs to Brenna.
"M'lady, I am Zoso Cendele'tiqile and I am more than a bit shocked by all this.. how have you stayed safe here from the Drow, and in such fine order?" He adds the last part while gesturing around the room. "There's a war out there, this building is under siege... and you're simply here in the middle of it all in luxury?"
As the fireball goes off, Tori's eyes grow wide and bright with both fascination and fear. You hear a short exhalation, "Ohhh," that is lands somewhat short of wonder, and just shy of a whimper.
Wide-eyed, ze follows the group into the next room. Trusting Zoso to have the conversation with the elf maiden well in hand, Beshtori lets zir attention wander about the room.
Lyr casts detect magic. As the spell takes a bit to warm up, it first indicates that magical auras are present. She smiles endearingly to Zoso.
"I am imprisoned spirit from Celwynvian, the drow have bound me here, using this leaf, to provide them with information and to function as their servant. I will tell you what I can about the drow, but please release me!"
one bushy eyebrow raises on Saphren's green brow as he considers the "woman's" words.
About that. Ya see we got friends near by that likely need us quick like. What if we go help them and then come see about freeing you?
Brow slightly furrowed, Besh whispers: "the leaf...?"
Saphren looks carefully at the woman. She doesn't appear to be lying. Beshtori casts his own detect magic while Lyr identifes several magic auras, particularly a strong magic aura in front of him.
"I can assist you if you let me free! Please. I know the drow have travelled to a hidden demiplane between the Material Plane and the Shadow Plane, using the portal in the next room. They brought several unconscious elves with them."
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"I am looking at the magics binding you. Just a few more moments." Lyr said.
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As Lyr discerns the forces at hand, Zoso continues in conversation with the woman. "That's what we've heard as well. Just a moment, you know how it goes when finding new people in odd circumstances during a raging battle. While we wait though, you mentioned three men elves, can you remember a good description of any of them?"
Crossing his arms across his chest Saphren strikes a bargaining pose. So you say. I'd know a few simple things first. Who imprisoned you here? What type of spirit are you? How will you help us? And what else will you do if we release you?
"Oh to hell with this!"
The woman abruptly vanishes and the water starts bubbling rapidly before an enormous creature breaks the surface of the water.
Four long tentacles writhe from this three-eyed fish-like creature’s flanks, and its green body glistens with thick, clear slime.
This massive beast is an aboleth, enormous sea creatures. As befits their hideous primeval appearance, the hermaphroditic aboleths are among the world’s oldest forms of life. Ancient even when the gods first turned their eyes to the Material Plane, the aboleths have always existed apart from other mortal life, alien and cold and endlessly plotting. Aboleths have an array of spells and are masters of illusions in particular. They are notorious for their ability to transform land-life into something closer to sea creatures.
(+2 in surprise)
Lyr
Brenna
Saphren
--
Aboleth
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Besh
Zoso
Bloody hells! A fish monster. Saphren reacts by shooting the creature with his hand crossbow with a poisoned fire bolt after stepping back.
Bloody hells! A fish monster. Saphren reacts by shooting the creature with his hand crossbow with a poisoned fire bolt after stepping back.
The group immediately burst into action and Saphren calmly whips out his hand crossbow and sends a bolt into the enormous aboleth. There's a pregnant pause, and then it simply flips over on its belly, unconscious. Its enormous tentacles sprawl out as it floats to the top of the water.
End of Combat
Brenna shrugs. "That works too."
Beshtori, who'd begun an elaborate series of slow-moving, fluid martial arts poses, looks both disappointed and relieved as the creature drops.
"oh... ok. So... what's next?"
We kill it is what's next. Its only asleep.