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!