409 - Sep 27
Session opened at 1600 on September 27.
As the party were a bit battered from their encounter with the Duergars, it was decided to rest. Gaius used his magic rod to secure the trapdoor leading into the underground area. For added security a bunk was removed from the first floor of the tower and placed on top of the door.
The night passed quietly.
The following day (the 28th), Dell opened the trapdoor and crept down the staircase. He heard a revolting belching/sucking noise. He could smell a strange coppery scent. Proceeding further he saw, spread over the back wall and blocking the passage out of the room, a huge, revolting mass of what looked like coagulated blood with a terrifying toothy maw set in the middle. Although Dell was using the Ring of Invisibility, the horror had no trouble detecting him (this was to become the theme of the day) and rushed forth with a hideous squelching sound.
The brave fighter was slammed back and the creature tried to insert probosci into his body to drain his blood, but the brave fighter/barbarian managed to pull free. A vicious melee ensued. Phillip played a key role by hitting the monster with a Slow spell. This seriously weakened the creature, not least because it was no longer able to deliver its blood draining attack. It was destroyed but at that point exploded into a cloud of blood which showered over the party. This was too much for Gaius who was overcome with nausea and spent several rounds losing his breakfast.
The bold adventurers moved onto the next room. The brave (reckless?) Dell entered the room. He saw out of the corner of his eye a strange looking conical structure (it looked a bit like a stalagmite) about 8' tall. It suddenly activated and sent six sticky tendrils snaking towards him. Dell was hit and was paralyzed. Again, even though he was invisible, the creature had no trouble detecting him. The tendrils dragged Dell to the cone which suddenly revealed a single eye and a toothy maw. It was a dreaded Stone Roper!
The party swung into action. Tarryn engaged the Roper as did Gaius. Phillip hit the creature with Magic Missile spells.
Suddenly Dell turned on Gaius and proceeded to attack him. The Roper had charmed him! Gaius took some serious damage.
While Tarryn hacked at the Roper it sent its tendrils against Gaius and Phillip. Gaius was hit and charmed. Phillip was also hit, but shrugged off the charm.
As Tarryn was dealing serious damage to the Roper, it sent Gaius and Dell against him and the plucky Warblade started to take some serious damage.
Tarryn ignored his charmed comrades and focused on destroying the Roper working on the theory that the charm effects would cease if it was destroyed.
A combination of Tarryn's mighty blows, combined with Phillip's Magic Missile spells finally destroyed the abomination and the charm effect was dispelled.
After some much needed healing, the party proceeded to the next room.
Dell crept in and saw four 10' high skeletons apparently made of metal. They had gems for eyes and seemed to have gems embedded inside them. They had long arms ending in vicious talons.
Dell charged forth attacking one of the Skeletons. As he entered the room, the eyes of the Skeletons lit up.
Dell hacked at the creature and found it remarkably hard to hit. It, on the other hand, had no difficulty tearing through his armour and inflicting terrible wounds. Dell noticed (thanks to his magic sword) that, notwithstanding their appearance, these things were not Undead. They appeared to be a type of Construct.
The party rushed in and engaged the creatures. It was an uneven fight. The party found it hard to damage the creatures, but in turn was taking major damage from the lethal talons. Phillip was engaged by one of them and was torn to shreds and killed. A similar fate was facing the rest of the party.
Dell and Tarryn managed to run out of the room, dodging attacks of opportunity on the way. Gaius, using Tumble, was able to also escape. Tanis, who had wisely held back, was safe. The party worked out that, as long as they did not enter the room, the Skeletons would not become active. Phillip's remains were scraped off the floor and taken out of the room for possible later resurrection. All his scrolls, his Bracers of Defence and the Wand of Fireballs were destroyed. His two rings (Feather Fall and +1 Protection) were inact.
The party assembled the ballista and, despite not being trained in the use of artillery, were able to make it work. They fired several bolts at the Skeletons and hit a couple of times, but the Skeletons did not appear to take any damage.
Battered and chastened the party left the Tower and returned to Trajectum.
They reached it safely at 1800 on September 28.
As the party were a bit battered from their encounter with the Duergars, it was decided to rest. Gaius used his magic rod to secure the trapdoor leading into the underground area. For added security a bunk was removed from the first floor of the tower and placed on top of the door.
The night passed quietly.
The following day (the 28th), Dell opened the trapdoor and crept down the staircase. He heard a revolting belching/sucking noise. He could smell a strange coppery scent. Proceeding further he saw, spread over the back wall and blocking the passage out of the room, a huge, revolting mass of what looked like coagulated blood with a terrifying toothy maw set in the middle. Although Dell was using the Ring of Invisibility, the horror had no trouble detecting him (this was to become the theme of the day) and rushed forth with a hideous squelching sound.
The brave fighter was slammed back and the creature tried to insert probosci into his body to drain his blood, but the brave fighter/barbarian managed to pull free. A vicious melee ensued. Phillip played a key role by hitting the monster with a Slow spell. This seriously weakened the creature, not least because it was no longer able to deliver its blood draining attack. It was destroyed but at that point exploded into a cloud of blood which showered over the party. This was too much for Gaius who was overcome with nausea and spent several rounds losing his breakfast.
The bold adventurers moved onto the next room. The brave (reckless?) Dell entered the room. He saw out of the corner of his eye a strange looking conical structure (it looked a bit like a stalagmite) about 8' tall. It suddenly activated and sent six sticky tendrils snaking towards him. Dell was hit and was paralyzed. Again, even though he was invisible, the creature had no trouble detecting him. The tendrils dragged Dell to the cone which suddenly revealed a single eye and a toothy maw. It was a dreaded Stone Roper!
The party swung into action. Tarryn engaged the Roper as did Gaius. Phillip hit the creature with Magic Missile spells.
Suddenly Dell turned on Gaius and proceeded to attack him. The Roper had charmed him! Gaius took some serious damage.
While Tarryn hacked at the Roper it sent its tendrils against Gaius and Phillip. Gaius was hit and charmed. Phillip was also hit, but shrugged off the charm.
As Tarryn was dealing serious damage to the Roper, it sent Gaius and Dell against him and the plucky Warblade started to take some serious damage.
Tarryn ignored his charmed comrades and focused on destroying the Roper working on the theory that the charm effects would cease if it was destroyed.
A combination of Tarryn's mighty blows, combined with Phillip's Magic Missile spells finally destroyed the abomination and the charm effect was dispelled.
After some much needed healing, the party proceeded to the next room.
Dell crept in and saw four 10' high skeletons apparently made of metal. They had gems for eyes and seemed to have gems embedded inside them. They had long arms ending in vicious talons.
Dell charged forth attacking one of the Skeletons. As he entered the room, the eyes of the Skeletons lit up.
Dell hacked at the creature and found it remarkably hard to hit. It, on the other hand, had no difficulty tearing through his armour and inflicting terrible wounds. Dell noticed (thanks to his magic sword) that, notwithstanding their appearance, these things were not Undead. They appeared to be a type of Construct.
The party rushed in and engaged the creatures. It was an uneven fight. The party found it hard to damage the creatures, but in turn was taking major damage from the lethal talons. Phillip was engaged by one of them and was torn to shreds and killed. A similar fate was facing the rest of the party.
Dell and Tarryn managed to run out of the room, dodging attacks of opportunity on the way. Gaius, using Tumble, was able to also escape. Tanis, who had wisely held back, was safe. The party worked out that, as long as they did not enter the room, the Skeletons would not become active. Phillip's remains were scraped off the floor and taken out of the room for possible later resurrection. All his scrolls, his Bracers of Defence and the Wand of Fireballs were destroyed. His two rings (Feather Fall and +1 Protection) were inact.
The party assembled the ballista and, despite not being trained in the use of artillery, were able to make it work. They fired several bolts at the Skeletons and hit a couple of times, but the Skeletons did not appear to take any damage.
Battered and chastened the party left the Tower and returned to Trajectum.
They reached it safely at 1800 on September 28.