"We don't mean any harm. We are seekers of knowledge and perfection, just like your god."
The firgure stares at Emraeal and Boris form a moment with its dead eyes, then stands, holds forth a black key and whispers the words “I, Kanjougas, have waited for you. You must finish what I could not. Destroy the beast. Close the Dark Window. Return honor to this humble monastery.” At that, the mummy crumbles away to dust.
"Do you have any-" Emraeal's words are cut short as the thing crumbles "-advice? Hm. Well, let's hope we can set whoever that was to rest and carry out the mission. Let's keep moving. Was the beast the dragon or some other creature do you think? And I wonder if the Dark Window is a physical device or a metaphorical connection to the stars. . . ."
"Most likely the dragon, yes."
With the key in hand, the party goes back up to the secret door in the library. The key fits perfectly and the door opens.
A drone, like the sound of a vast wind, fills this room, yet the air is cold and still. A fifteen-foot square of arcane symbols is inscribed on the floor. Two five-foot-square areas of similar writing sit to the northeast and southeast of the larger one. Above the larger square hovers what appears to be a vertical hole in reality—a window that looks out into a night sky in which only a few tiny stars are visible. The window itself is fifteen feet square, running from the north and south points of the symbol below. It’s suspended a foot off the ground, and comes within three feet of the ceiling above.
Garen looks into the mirror but sees nothing of interest.
Shozole yelps and runs from the mirror, preferably into a barrel or around a corner.
"I am guessing that is the Dark Window we are to close?"
Emraeal looks confused when Shozole runs away and hides. Seeing nothing in the room or mirror himself, he calls out, "What did you see? What's wrong?" Em draws his sword to prepare for the worst.
"Yes. No! In the thing! Yes! There's a thing! Weird thing! Yes!"
As the party contemplates the mirror, a form emerges. The thing, a six-eyed horror that looks something like a dead tree with claws, tentacles, spidery legs, and a mouth bulging with tentacles, moves toward the party.
Maffei immesdiately darts forward to attack the strange aberration!
The shae narrowly manages to hit the creature, the blade slicing the creature, but it seems to ignore the cold of her blade!
Shozole moves up until the spooky scary thing is within 30 and attempts a shot as well!
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Shozole fires a bolt, but the shot goes wide!
The creature moves forward and attacks Maffei, clawing her twice and slamming her with four tentacles and grabbing her, as she falls unconscious!
"Kill the beast, I'll save her!" Garen moves up and heals the brave Maffei.
Garen circles around, avoiding the creature's tentacles and heals Maffei.
She awakens, but still grappled, feigns unconsciouness.
Em casts a spell and moves up to Maffei, hoping to further protect her or at least make her next attack more effective.
Emraeal moves up and makes the shae invisible, but the creature lashes out with a tentacle, slapping and grabbing him!
Boris moves in, taking advantage of Emraeal's distraction and punches at the creature, but just misses!
At the last moment, the creature dodges the wrong way and the bearman catches it with a roundhouse!
Having regained consciouness and invisible, Maffei strikes the creature with her blade, slicing into the tentacle holding her!
From moving earlier (though never with map mobility), I believe that Shozole should be able to move into a flank.
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Shozole moves into a flanking position, but misses the creature!
The creature drops Maffei, while trying to maintain it's hold on Emraeal, squeezing the struggling elf!
Garen moves in and flanks the creature and swings Flametongue.
Em slashes back with his sword!
Garen misses the strange creature, while Emraeal just manages to hit it!
Boris throws a couple punches, landing one!
Shozole fires another bolt, but it goes wide.
Maffei manages to hit the creature once!
The creature drops Emraeal and lashes out again.
The creature claws Maffei, dropping her once again.
It then lashes out with it's tentacles, hititng Garen and Emraeal, but failing to grab them.
Garen steps back and heals Maffei!
Emraeal raises his sword, "Kill this thing, my friends. Just as it was told of the ancient battle between. . . "
Shozle fires and misses!
Garen heals the shae!
Boris punches, but misses the creature from the Window!
Emraeal begins to inspire his companions to rage.
Maffei lays on the ground!
The creature attacks once more, raking it's claw across Boris, then slapping the party with tentacles, while grabbing Garen and Shozole!
Boris misses with his first strike, but hits the creature with a tremendous blow with his second strike!
Shozole resists the tentacle's grip!
... But instead let's out the most yelping warble of fear heard by the party!
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Garen swings Flametongue hoping that he gets ungrabbed by the tentacle.
Em continues to inspire rage as he swings his longsword in retaliation.
Shozole fires another bolt, but misses.
Garen opens a wide gash on the creature!
Emraeal begins his ragin' song while swinging and missing with his strike.
Maffei grabs her weapons and swings from the ground, but misses.
The creature maintains its hold on Shozle, then claws at Boris and Garen.
More Flametongue action?
"Keep it up lads!" Em continues his raging song and swings!
Garen and Emraeal miss, but Boris continues to pound on the creature!
Shozole tries to stab, but misses!
Maffei stands and stabs the creautre. It goes limp, letting Shozole go as it crumples to the floor.
Garen gets to the task of healing everyone.
"Well done, everyone. That was rough. But we've got more of this place to explore before we take on the dragon."