Khalid will move and drink enlarge person. I don't have permission to change his token size.
Initiative
Ayala
Caius <== Up!
Gundar <== Up!
Ghaernan <== Up!
Rats
Verilich
Tower Girl
Khalid
Caius will stride into the room and strike the Donkey Rat.
19-20/x2 S
Gundar will move into the room to support his compatriots with healing when they need it.
Ghaernan strides forward to the threshold of the chamber, once the closest donkey rat threat is dealt with. As the Tower Girl comes into his view, the Bard's arcane spell releases, targeting the thief with a Daze Spell...
Ghaernan strides forward to the threshold of the chamber, once the closest donkey rat threat is dealt with. As the Tower Girl comes into his view, the Bard's arcane spell releases, targeting the thief with a Daze Spell...
Unfortunately, Ghaernan is the one PC who fails to be able to see her.
Caius will stride into the room and strike the Donkey Rat.
Caius shreds the donkey rat!
Initiative
Ayala
Caius
Gundar
Ghaernan
Verilich <== Up!
Tower Girl
Khalid
Verilich moves into the crowded room to get a better view of the battlefield. Then seeing a tower girl, he will move illusion V to her far side, hoping to soak up AOOs and present her a target. Any attacks, Verilich will concentrate and make sure the target reacts appropriately.
Indeed, thinking that she is being stealthy and unseen, she takes a swipe at the image as it goes by her...
I believe Ghaernan's Gaze will come into play now, since she attacked, she is definitely visible!
"Dammit, an illusion!"
Initiative
Ayala
Caius
Gundar
Verilich
Ghaernan
Tower Girl
Khalid <== Up!
Khalid will trip her.
Khalid’s horsechopper lashed out, aiming to send the Tower Girl sprawling, but the nimble rogue twisted away at the last moment, regaining her balance with a sneer.
Before the dust of the scuffle could settle, a flicker of motion betrayed the presence of another. Emerging from the shadows with predatory grace, a wiry woman clad in dark leathers struck with a sudden, fluid motion. Her weapon—a long, razor-edged scarf of intricate weave—whispered through the air before wrapping around Verilich with cruel precision. The keen edge bit deep, drawing blood as she pulled the weapon back with a flourish.
Now fully revealed, her features bore a telltale sharpness, her eyes glinting in the dim light with something more than human cunning. A faint sneer played on her lips, and the way she held herself spoke of confidence born from dominance—this was no ordinary cutthroat.
“So, these are the fools who think they can waltz into my den?” she said, voice dripping with disdain. “Brave, but stupid. Did you think you could sneak into my home, strike down my people, and waltz away with whatever you please?” She flicked her scarf, sending a bead of crimson flying onto the stone floor. “This city has forgotten what it means to fear the Tower Girls, but you? You will learn.”
Her sharp-toothed grin widened. “Your corpses will remind Magnimar why the rooftops belong to me—Ayala Javeski.”
She shifted her stance, the bladed scarf coiling around her like a serpent poised to strike again.
Initiative
Ayala
Caius <== Up!
Gundar <== Up!
Verilich <== Up!
Ghaernan <== Up!
Tower Girl
Khalid
Caius will move to face our northernmost opponent and attack.
19-20/x2 S
To confirm the crit
19-20/x2 S
Ghaernan strides into the room past Khalid and Gundar, far enough to clearly see the Tower Girl who previously defied his Daze Spell. Trusting that his three martial companions can deal with Ayala, the Bard focuses his first actions in the room on taking down the other one...
Ghaernan rapidly whispers an arcane series of words, lost to meaning and memory once-uttered, that flow through swift patterns of glittering sand forming and shifting around one outstretched hand. The whispered incantation ends in a final decisive gesture, the sands shimmering and barely visible in the light, arcing over Khalid, along the wall, and just beyond the Tower Girl, to concentrate and burst with only her enveloped in its midst...
Verilich releases concentration on the image and focuses on his assailant with his Sansetsukon in a flurry of powerful strikes
"Consider this your judgement and eviction notice Ayala!"
Success
Ayala’s sneer had barely left her lips before Caius Emberborne moved with ruthless efficiency, his greatsword carving through the air in a deadly arc. The blade struck true, burying deep into her side with bone-crushing force. The impact should have been devastating—enough to put down a lesser foe. But before the blood could even properly flow, the wound knit itself back together, flesh mending at an unnatural speed. Ayala staggered but did not fall, her eyes flashing with something between amusement and malice.
“Oh, you hit hard, but you will find that I am not so easily broken.”
Nearby, Ghaernan’s voice wove an arcane cadence, the words twisting reality as the shimmer of enchanted sand coalesced and burst over one of the unnamed Tower Girl. The rogue shuddered for a moment, her movements slowing—only to shake her head violently, forcing the magic away with sheer will. She snarled, defiant.
Then came Verilich.
The wyvaran monk moved with swift precision, his sansetsukon a blur in his hands. The first strike slammed into Ayala with enough force to shatter ribs, forcing a gasp from her lips. Yet again, her unnatural resilience fought against the damage, wounds closing almost instantly. But Verilich did not stop. He twisted, his weapon spinning in a brutal follow-through—this time striking clean and true.
The blow landed with sickening finality, a brutal crack echoing through the chamber as Ayala’s body twisted unnaturally. Her breath hitched, eyes widening in shock as the strength left her limbs. She collapsed to the ground, the bladed scarf slipping from her grasp, its edge clattering against the stone.
For all her bravado, her healing had limits. And now, she lay still.
A tense silence filled the room, broken only by the heavy breaths of combatants and the distant presence of the remaining Tower Girl.
She had fallen. But was she truly dead? Or would her unnatural resilience betray them once more?
"There! That's better." turning his gaze towards the last tower girl "Now is there more reinforcements you would like to run to or are you willing to unconditionally surrender?"
To Ciaus, "you may want to use the silver dagger on this one to make sure she stays down."
Initiative
Ayala
Caius
Gundar <== Up!
Verilich
Ghaernan
Tower Girl
Khalid
Gundar will tap Verilich with the wand.
With Ayala fallen, the last of the Tower Girls made her move. She ducked low, rolling through Khalid’s threatened reach with practiced agility, slipping past his defenses before springing up behind him. Her shortsword flashed in the dim light, seeking an opening—only for the strike to glance harmlessly off his armor.
The rogue cursed under her breath, her desperate strike failing to find purchase. She was alone now, and she knew it.
Initiative
Tower Girl
Khalid <== Up!
Caius <== Up!
Gundar <== Up!
Verilich <== Up!
Ghaernan <== Up!
Tower Girl
Khalid
"Thanks Gundar. I might need another one of those. But let me deal with the one who decided not to surrender."
Khalid will wait for one of his companions to leave him a space to step back.
Ghaernan draws his slender shortsword as he edges around Khalid's massive presence, giving him the space to step back. The Bard then steps into a flanking position opposite Verelich and strikes at the sole remaining Tower Girl, frustrated at her improbable resistance to his magics multiple times over...
And Ghaernan drops her!
Combat over!
Gundar will keep an eye on Verilich, wand at the ready!
Somewhat surprised at the result of his frustrated heroism, Ghaernan is nonetheless swift to adapt to its adverse consequences. Summoning his arcane talents, the Bard weaves subtle gestures and whispered incantation into a Prestidigitation Spell that cleans all blood and errant viscera from his blade, and of course any stray spattering of the same, anywhere upon his person...
Immaculately prepared once more to brave unknown dangers ahead, Ghaernan finally gathers himself from the rigors of physical combat, and rather nonchalantly walks to retrieve his backpack from the alcove nearest the previous doorway walked through as he kept up with the advance of his companions...
Caius will run the fallen "dead" were-creature through with the silver dagger just to make sure it isn't healing.
Caius will run the fallen "dead" were-creature through with the silver dagger just to make sure it isn't healing.
Ok, Lisimandy, the Tower Girl who ran from you all and came to warn the boss and set up an ambush, is carrying the standard Tower Girl set of gear.
Ayala, the leader of the Tower Girls, however was carrying: bloodroot (2), tanglefoot bags (3); masterwork studded leather, +1 bladed scarf, masterwork composite shortbow with 20 arrows, climber’s kit, grappling hook with 50-foot silk rope, masterwork thieves’ tools, second-story harness.
With the last of the Tower Girls lying motionless at their feet, the battle was over. The air remained thick with the scent of blood and sweat, but silence had finally reclaimed the chamber—save for the distant sound of wind and waves filtering in from the east. The narrow windows, cleverly masked from the outside by a permanent illusory wall, offered a view of the harbor below, where their boat remained docked. The rhythmic lapping of the tide against the stone foundations of the ancient ruin contrasted sharply with the grim spectacle within.
The room itself was an uneasy clash of past and present. Several pieces of modern furniture had been arranged haphazardly, clearly brought in by the Tower Girls to make the space livable, yet their presence did little to mask the unsettling remnants of this place’s ancient purpose. The walls bore carvings that told a macabre story—scenes of Thassilonian wizards hunched over their grotesque work, reanimating and warping dead flesh into monstrous new forms. The stone reliefs, untouched by time, depicted faces locked in expressions of agony and bodies twisted by unnatural magic. The flickering torchlight cast deep shadows upon the engravings, giving the illusion that the images shifted ever so slightly when one wasn’t looking directly at them.
A stark contrast to this grim artistry, the furnishings scattered about spoke to the Tower Girls’ desire for luxury, however stolen. A mismatched collection of tables, chairs, and cabinets had been arranged with little concern for cohesion, yet the wealth behind them was unmistakable—dark woods polished to a shine, inlaid with mother-of-pearl or filigree that suggested they had been plundered from far more elegant surroundings. Silk cushions, some torn and stained, had been thrown over a low couch, and an ornate Varisian rug of swirling red and gold patterns covered part of the stone floor, scuffed and dirtied by the gang’s recent habitation.
To the southeast, a set of luxurious crimson drapes had been pinned up in an archway, their rich fabric incongruous in such a decrepit place. Beyond them, in what had clearly served as a private sleeping space, stood a large and comfortable bed, its frame carved with curling Varisian motifs. The mattress was covered in plush furs and silk sheets, rumpled from recent use. The room beyond had a cozier feel, but even here, the walls bore the same eerie Thassilonian engravings, making the contrast even more jarring.
This was no mere hideout; this was a lair, a throne room of sorts for the Tower Girls’ rule over these ruins. And now, with their leader slain, it belonged to no one.
For the first time since stepping foot into this place, the adventurers had a moment to take in their surroundings. Yet even in victory, the walls seemed to whisper a warning from across the ages—this place was once used for terrible things. And it had not yet given up all its secrets.
Heaped on a table are sections of wall mural, ancient coins, pieces of jewelry, gems, bits and pieces of pottery, and more for eventual sale in the markets of Magnimar—all treasures the Tower Girls have scavenged from the Crow. These treasures are worth 900 gp in all. In addition, several journals on the table, written in Varisian, provide details on Ayala’s history with and plans for the Tower Girls, including her increasing frustration at Natalya’s betrayal. A small chest under the bed in Ayala's bedroom holds 87 gp and 175 sp.
As I'm sure you will scrub this place with a fine tooth comb, let's get Perception checks from the group, and this one I'm not going to roll, you can each roll your own.
Caius rummages through the environ and inspects the Thassilonian backdrop.
Verilich also focuses on the direction of the next shard and the pull that inevitably exists.
With the battle won, the adventurers turned their attention to Ayala’s quarters. The rich crimson drapes, now dusted with the detritus of combat, parted easily beneath their hands, revealing the space where the wererat leader had made her den.
The bed, its silk sheets rumpled and furs tossed aside, had clearly been the centerpiece of her claimed comfort, but the true prizes were elsewhere. A thorough search revealed hidden stashes tucked away in furniture, beneath loose floor stones, and in compartments within the ornately carved bedframe. Each discovery spoke to the Tower Girls’ wealth—coin, gems, and valuables stolen or extorted from victims who likely never knew their fate. Weapons of fine craftsmanship, potions in delicate glass vials, and other trinkets of magical worth were unearthed from their hiding places, each item examined carefully before being set aside for later inspection.
With their spoils gathered, the party prepared to move on. The Tower Girls had been thwarted, their leader slain, and now the true mystery of this place beckoned.
Leaving Ayala’s chamber behind, they retraced their steps to the large, spearhead-shaped chamber at the heart of the ruins. Here, dominating the western end of the room, loomed an enormous pair of double doors—though to call them “doors” was misleading. The barriers were not separate slabs but a single, seamless block embedded into the wall, an unbroken slab of silvery metal.
Even from a distance, a shimmering heat radiated from the surface, distorting the air around it. Stepping closer, the warmth became undeniable, like standing near a forge. The metal itself, though smooth and featureless save for its engravings, seemed almost unnatural—alien in composition, different from any mundane steel or iron they had encountered before.
Etched into the surface of the doors, images of burning eyes stared inward, their lines and contours precise yet eerie, as if they gazed beyond the mere physical world. The symbolism was unmistakable—watchful, unblinking, and almost accusatory. And beneath these eyes, two sets of Thassilonian runes were carved, the characters standing out starkly against the gleaming metal.
The first set of runes, positioned on the left door, spelled out “LISTEN.”
The second, on the right door, arranged themselves into “THE EYES.”
As they examined the engravings, something about the arrangement of the runes stirred a familiar memory. The puzzle box—Sheila Heidmarch’s paradox box. The markings on these doors bore a striking resemblance to that artifact’s shifting tiles.
Whatever mechanism sealed this entrance was no ordinary lock. The Tower Girls had clearly struggled to solve its mystery, their frustration evident in the scattered debris near the door—scrapes along the metal where tools had failed to force their way through. But brute strength was not the key here.
This was a puzzle of intent. A test left behind by those who had built this place.
And now, it was the adventurers' turn to solve it.
600gp total.
”Hmmm; I fear I sympathize with the Tower Girls’ frustrations, in this instance…”
"If none of us have any extra knowledge of this, it could be another anagram that requires changing the words. LISTEN THE EYES can be changed into SILENT THEY SEE which keeps the theme of senses beyond the normal. So we could try that? thoughts?"
"I think it worth the attempt, Verilich; the approach in such a solution certainly brings to mind the Thassilonian puzzle box we opened in Heidmarch Manor..."
Caius steps up to the LISTEN door and makes ready to rearrange the letters to SILENT. "I suggest we finish them both at the same time. Who would like to do the honors with THE EYES door? Everyone else should get a safe distance away and make ready to fight the creatures sure to appear as they did with the puzzle box!"
Ghaernan nods philosophically and steps back a bit, just on the other side of Gundar where he can still observe both doors - at a distance - with his own eyes...
"Points well-made, Caius; I shall serve as one of the 'everyone else,' with this attempt."
Khalid will step to the second door and rearrange the letters as proposed.
Caius stepped forward, the glow of the strange metal casting flickering reflections across his dark blade. His fingers hovered over the first rune on the left door—L—before pressing firmly against it. A sudden wave of intense heat radiated from the tile, surging up his arm like fire rolling beneath his skin. It was blistering, searing… but it did not harm him. The warmth was familiar, almost natural, an echo of something long ingrained in his bloodline.
Khalid, watching carefully, moved in tandem. He reached for the E on the right door, steadying himself before placing his palm flat against the rune. The reaction was immediate. Searing heat lanced through his skin, a burning pain far more intense than expected. The metal beneath his hand scorched him in an instant, forcing his fingers to recoil before he moved on to press the next tile.
He hissed through clenched teeth, cradling his hand as a sharp sting lingered in his palm. The plan would need to change.
The doors waited, unmoved. Except Caius’ L and Khalid’s E had swapped places.
After listening to the team describe what they felt, "Perhaps we need to exchange letters one at a time. It may be that touching letters that are supposed to be moved gives the warm and fuzzy feeling, while touching letters that should not be moved gives the scalding response. Thoughts?"
Caius will do his puzzle first. Using the paw of the dead wererat he begins to slap letters. He begins by touching the the paw to letter L then S, then T followed by E, then T followed by N. If all goes well with door one, Caius will proceed to door two spelling out THEY SEE.
The group withdrew from the burning doors, the sting of their failed attempt still fresh. Khalid flexed his fingers, the lingering heat a stark reminder of the puzzle’s danger. No mere shifting of runes—this mechanism demanded a toll from those unprepared.
Caius, ever pragmatic, knelt beside Ayala’s lifeless form. The stillness of death had long claimed her, but her body retained its resilience. With a single decisive stroke, he severed her hand, the limp fingers still curled slightly as he lifted the severed limb. A tool, nothing more.
Returning to the towering metal doors, he extended the wererat’s hand, pressing the L once more. The same wave of heat pulsed from the tile, but through dead flesh, it was meaningless. With steady precision, he pressed the next letters in sequence, guiding the runes into their new configuration.
SILENT THEY SEE.
For a moment, nothing happened.
Then, a faint tremor shuddered through the doors. A seam split down the center—where once only an unbroken slab of metal stood, now two distinct doors revealed themselves, the separation unmistakable. The illusion of an impassable barrier had been undone, and the path forward lay open.
Caius eyed the doors, then the severed hand still in his grasp. He wasn't about to take chances. Extending the lifeless limb once more, he pressed its palm flat against the metal and gave a firm push.
The doors swung open with unexpected ease.
Beyond, Thassilonian murals adorned the walls, their colors as vibrant as if painted yesterday. Unlike the crumbling mosaics outside, these images had resisted the ravages of time, untouched by decay. The air was thick with dust, disturbed only by the subtle movement of cobwebs that stretched across the passageway leading northward into shadow.
A place preserved. A place forgotten.
And now, a place rediscovered.