Summary 02/10/18

When we last left our heroes....

Battle continues in the cistern area where sewage flows to somewhere unknown. The Laughing Moons are valiantly fighting to take on the forces that hold the first ROD of three parts (inset in a large flaming sword of a fire giant  (polymorphed from a Minotaur).

Tough battles and a back and forth battle until all that remain are the wizard, fire giant, human fighter and 2 drow rogues.

Aust throws his dagger Bane and does a great deal of damage to the wizard but the human does not go down. The wizard then flees up a passage. After many rounds of trading blows with both Arjun, Rurrick and Reinhard the human fighter finally falls.
Reinhard uses his monkish abilities to blast open a wall of the cistern at the fire giant's feet and the sewage water flows free into the area..
Morthos and Nanfoodle (Bigby's hand doing mighty blows) battle and spells cast finally defeat the  with the rest of the party fire giant whom after summoning a greater demon is transformed back into his Minotaur form! Finally the horned beast goes down. The ROD inset in his large rune-covered battle ax.
One drow dies, the other looks to be taken down by the Imperium whom had been guarding the rear.
Aust, Reinhard Arjun and Keena race after the wizard, trying to track his movements. With Arjun's tracking skills from his time as a barbarian down south, they are able to follow the fleeing wizard through the maze of the sewers to a circular stair upwards.

Meanwhile.. looting of the dead ensues..
A mighty blow destroys the axe of the Minotaur and a concussive blast knocks all over... the ROD is freed. Rurrick picks IT up. A blank look on the dwarf's face.. and he casually puts the ROD - now fairly short - in a pocket.

The Imperium troops under the gnome sergeant help loot the dead and after some words, pile the loot next to the large cistern, where sewage water continues to flow down..

Aust and company continue to track the injured wizard.

Rurrick is looting the fire giant when he feels the cold metal barrel on the back of his neck... and then the click of the action being cocked.

BETRAYAL!!


The Captain stands there sweat pouring down his face.. control of his body not his own.. it seems the gnome sergeant and troopers are servants of the Black Duke! A stand-off.. and Rurrick gives up the ROD.

The gnome transforms into a sneering female human - looking to have some elvish/drow (?) features - snatches up the ROD. Bids a "thank ye kindly!" to the Captain and party.. and open a gate. She and her troopers file through.. it seems the drow rogue as well is gone.. and some of the loot from the fallen..
Sending message from Aust to Nanfoodle and back and race to find the wizard is stopped. The Captain falls to the ground.. the domination he was under no longer in effect.

After a long rest, division of treasure... the Laughing Moons then decided to head back and investigate a set of double doors they past before the cistern room.
Rurrick's hammer detected treasure behind the large doors. the Stalwart adventurers wold not be denied!
After some work, they were able to open the massive 1' thick stone doors. inside a staircase widening from 10' to 60' descended into a vast chamber. The walls were lined with giant 100' tall statues of past dwarven kings and in the center of the room were rank upon rank of dwarven soldiers.. statues...? No.. skeletal remains.. old rusty chainmail, plate, scalemail and more. rusty weapons were gripped in skeletal hands.

Unmoving...

After extensive search of the staircase a secret door was found.. opened and looked to descend to 2 barred gates and then up to the back of a secret door (assumedly) on the other side of the main stair.

TREASURE!

At the moment Aust stepped into the passage.. the party heard a shriek from Keena! The ranks of skeletal warriors were marching forward, the goblin had been picking some pockets when the skeleton army came alive...
Quick thinking by Rurrick.. to try and command them to stop. A lucky roll and the dwarven skeletal ranks stopped! Then started again when the party entered again! It was determined that only a dwarf could enter the secret passage..
Nanfoodle cast shape stone and put up a small defense against the now still dwarven skeletons. After some traps and more, Rurrick had acquired 3 small chests from one side. A large chest was still there.. opening.. the skeletal ranks started marching forward!

Until next time! Where the Laughing Moons will devise new plans to acquire the first of  three RODS!

Summary 02/03/18

Aust fortunately is not dead!The party discuss the what to do. After Aust seemingly slowly recovers, more searching of the tomb chamber finds a large globe flask in the 'servant's sarcophagus. After an identify spell, it is determined that the potion is a area effect teleport spell.

Moving onwards, Aust it seems is not well.. Aust was possessed by ..something! and after some interaction, Aust is in a battle of wills inside his head! Morthos casts remove curse on him.  It seems this creature was trapped in the dwarven tomb.. The creature possessing his body with Aust - Talekishar - is a type of rakshasa - a fiend from the 9 Hells. A natural "1" save was the result!
. The mist-like spirit then found Rurrick for a short-time before being defeated by the combined strength of the party! Timely once again as Morthos casts remove curse. This rakshasa rolls badly! Some resting.. as many were low on hitpoints or spells.
With the Imperium escort in tow, the Laughing Moons trek onwards through doors to the Monolith room. A strange trail of blood and tracks are found... in the room a gigantic monolith covered in dwarven runes with a black liquid continually pouring down it into a pool around the large structure.

Under the strange advice of the puppet "Sir Rael Nero Falragin the 3rd" (originally found wielded by a zombie butler in the Dwarven Kings tomb) the party is told it seems this is a 'short-cut' to the lowest levels of the Golden Citadel. "Sir Rael" - normally stowed in Aust's bag of holding - is none too happy about taking the route.
"Put me back in my bag house!"

After further banter and discussion, it seems the puppet which seems to only be animated while held in hand (detect magic and identify have no effect) has 'built' a small home in the groups equipment stowed in the bag!! He wants some food - chicken - for "my friends" and wine as well,  then he will make sure when items are needed they can be acquired from the bag of holding!

Taking deep breath's one and all jump into the pool of black liquid.. TPK.

(just joking)  :)

Holding their breaths they descend through the syrupy ooze. Attacked part way down by some eel like creatures they come out to a circular chamber with 2 doors and a passage. After discovering a false door - Nanfoodle falling down into a double spiked pit - the party is able to follow the blood trail into the mines trying to wipe off the clinging black ooze..
A large room where sewage(?) is treated(?) is inhabited by a group of orcs, Minotaur and few drow led by a robed figure. A plan is formed to surprise them.. until Nanfoodle fails a stealth check. After some back and forth of asking for the password.. The enemies nearly believe Arjun's guttural orc reply.. but then fireball hits the party and battle is engaged!

The party note the Minotaur twists a rod - THE ROD - in the shaft of his axe.. and morphs into a FIREGIANT!

Aust swings into action using his swashbuckler and bardic spells to sword-slashing effect, Reinhard, Morthos, Rurrick and Nanfoodles' attacks to effect to take out a 6 legged lizard and destroy a giant skeleton. Arjun is in battle against a tough armoured human..

Until next week! The first rod is finally within the party's grasp!