In which
our heroes enter the tower Book Two, Chapter 3.2 (session 68, 4 th December
2018) The Party: Naergon Harna, elven wizard (Diviner) Mads Rangle, human fighter/warlock (Fiend: Archdevil
Zariel) Jamna Gleamsilver, gnome rogue (Arcane Trickster) Tomaz Stormwind, human ranger (Hunter) Druscilla Oakenrock, dwarven cleric (Trickery: Mask) Talis Wintercrest, half-elven cleric (War: Bane) As the
two suits of armour begin to step forward, drawing swords, Jamna shoots the one
to the left and moves to the corner of the hedge. Mads steps forward next to
Jamna and slashes at the armour multiple times. Naergon casts levitate and
rises some twenty feet above the entrance. The armours step up to Tomaz and
swing, hitting him once. Tomaz jabs with his spear and the left-hand suit
collapses into a heap of components, adding to the collection of armour strewn across
the carpet. Tomaz turns and stabs the right-hand armour as the next two suits
of armour turn their helmets and start to step off their plinths. Talsi says “ Do we really need to help the fighters with this
Naergon, surely the cope with some suits of armour without wasting our resources?”
“As we said earlier Talis, one for all and all for one, a fight has started we
should all commit to defeat it.” “Oh, ok, I’m not wasting anything more than a cantrip
though!” and steps forward and stabs with Winters Strike, hitting the armour
soundly. Jamna
moves around the hedge and shoots the suit of armour fighting Talis [sneak
attack] and it collapses, as it does the final two statures on the far plinths
activate. Mads moves forward and attacks another suit of armour [critical] knocking
it apart. As it crumbles, another pair of suits animate, collecting themselves
form the debris of bits of armour on the carpet. Mads moves forward, a suit of
armour swings and hits him [AOO], Naergon fire bolts it but misses. The five
suits of armour close in on Mads, Tomaz and Talis, Mads swings but misses [AOO]
as the armour swings at him and hits. Two more suits attack Tomaz but both miss,
the final two suits attack Talis, also missing. Naergon shouts “attack this one, over here” pointing
wildly with his staff, Tomaz ignores him and attacks the closest armour with
solid jabs of his spear. Talis jabs at the armour to her front, her spear penetrating
and spreading frost across it. Jamna
shoots the armour next to Tomaz [sneak, critical], the armour explodes into
multiple pieces and clatters to the carpet. Behind it two more suits of armour arise
from the debris. Mads swings at the armour nearest him collapsing it in three
strikes, beyond yet another two suits arise. “Oh, joy” cries Naergon “every time you kill one of these things,
two more arise to replace it, that’s not a good equation!” and casts fire bolt,
charring one suit badly. The seven suits of armour close in, Mads swings [AOO]
but misses, two attack Talis hitting her once. Another two attack Tomaz, again
one hits. Another suit attacks Jamna and misses the agile gnome [dodge]. The
final two suits attack Mads, both hitting him. Tomaz stabs with his spear
[critical] dropping the suit in front of him, behind it two more arise from the
carpet. Naergon calls “ disengage Tomaz
and step behind Jamna, Talis you fall back and join him, we need to form a defensive
line or we’ll be swamped”. Tomaz stabs at another suit, hitting it and then
steps back, the several suits of armour swing [AOO] but miss. Talis carefully
steps back, threatening with her spear [disengage] and joins Tomaz in the corner. Jamna
pulls her shortsword and stabs at the armour next to her, missing. Mads attacks
the armour in front of him, smashing it to the ground. Another two rise to take
its place as he slashes at the next one, hitting it. Mads then casts fireball
[action surge] into the centre of the carpet, blasting many of the suits of
armour across the carpet but dropping none of them. As the fireball detonates Naergon
screams “ NO! everyone we drop, we get
more back, this is madness!” Tomaz calls out “ if we can get to the eastern edge, and creep along the hedge we can
make it to the exit without being surrounded ”. Naergon casts fire bolt but
misses as the nine suits of armour close on the fighters, Mads swings his
glaive [AOO] but misses. Three attack Mads, one hitting. Another attacks Jamna
but can’t hit the dodging gnome. Four suits almost surround Tomaz, pummelling at
him [critical]. The final suit attacks Talis, wounding her too. Tomaz carefully
steps back towards the hedge [disengage] keeping his spear levelled. Talis,
left alone, jabs the closest suit but misses “ Tomaz, you coward, you were supposed to form on me not run away!”
she screams. Jamna,
stabs at the suit next to her and then steps back, following Tomaz [disengage].
Mads swings at the armour nearest him, sending it clattering to the ground.
Behind it another two suits assemble from the debris. He swings again and
again, hitting the next suit solidly but it remains standing, blocking his
route. Naergon casts fire bolt at one of the scorched suits, shattering it into
a pile of bits, yet another two suits assemble. The eleven suits of armour
advance, Mads swings {AOO] connecting solidly. Four suits swarm around Talis,
hitting here several times, one advances on Tomaz and hits him twice, another
clubs Jamna, wounding her. The final three attack Mads, but only one of them
gets past his defence. Tomaz calls out “Mads,
if you can, just try and creep down the hedge. Kill the one blocking the way
and then keep moving to the exit ” then turns and stabs at the pursuing
armour, hitting twice. Talis, unable to retreat casts cure wounds on herself
and holds her ground. Jamna
casts misty step and makes it to the exit, turning and shooting one of the scorched
suits [sneak], as it crumbles another two arise as Jamna steps back through the
exit. Mads swings at the armour to his front, collapsing it, swings at another
and then moves away, ducking two attacks [AOO] as another two suits assemble.
Naergon casts fire bolt, missing again as the many suits of armour close in.
Mads swings [AOO] but misses, the three suits pummel him, hitting hm multiple
times [critical]. Four suits swarm around Talis, hitting her several times.
Three more attack Tomaz, again hitting multiple times [critical]. One moves up
to Jamna and swings at the gnome, almost knocking her to the ground. Tomaz
stabs at the armour twice but misses and shouts at Naergon “ T-rex or big monkey me now!” Talis strikes
at the armour behind her, blasting it apart in a shower of icy shards, as it
crumples a large red bloodstone rolls out from under its breastplate. Talis
grabs the gem and steps back towards Tomaz, the armours swing and hit {AOO] as
she moves back. In the centre, two more suits of armour assemble from the mass
of debris. Jamna
ducks under the armour facing her and shoots but misses. Mads swings his glaive
at the closest armour, hitting it several times, as the armour falls apart and
crumples to the ground a fist-sized bloodstone rolls out from under its
breastplate. Mads grabs the gem as more armour assembles itself on the carpet.
Naergon casts fire bolt again but misses as the armour suits advance on Mads, Talis,
Tomaz and Jamna. Mads swings at one [AOO] but misses, two of the three attacking
him hit him though. Both the suits facing Talis miss as do all three attacking Tomaz.
Jamna continues to dodge and weave but despite that two of the three suits of
armour surrounding her hit. Tomaz again shouts at Naergon “ T-rex or big monkey ” this time Naergon casts him a cold look and
replies “ No!”. In frustration Tomaz
pulls out and glugs a potion of healing. Talis casts cure wounds on herself and
grits her teeth as the armour suits surround her. Jamna,
pulls her shortsword and stabs the closest suit but misses. Mads swings
repeatedly, hitting the armour blocking his exit repeatedly but failing to
knock it down. Naergon fire bolts the same suit and it crumples to the ground
as another pair assemble themselves. “ Stop
killing them, just move down the hedge” shouts Tomaz, “but you can’t move
unless we kill them” returns Mads. “I hate to agree with Tomaz” shouts Talis “but
we need to stop destroying these things, disengage and retreat without doing so
as far as practical”. Again, the armour closes in, Mads swings [AOO] but
misses. Talis is again hit as she defends against two suits. Tomaz is boxed in
by three more and wounded again. Mads desperately fends off the four suits
surrounding him but two land blows regardless. Tomaz stabs at the armour
blocking his route south but misses. Talis prepares her defence [dodge]. Jamna
casts misty step to the exit and steps down the path to the west. Mads Again
swings at the armour blocking his route south, knocking it apart and stepping
over it. The other suits swing wildly at him [AOO] but miss as more suits
assemble in the centre of the carpet. Naergon casts wall of force, hemming most
of the armour suits away from Talis and Tomaz, giving them a route to the exit,
and then drifts gracefully to the ground and runs towards the far hedge
shouting “ come to me Mads, I’ll get us
out”. The armour closes in towards Talis and Tomaz, scrabbling at the invisible
wall whilst on the far side two suits of armour swing at Talis, hitting her. In
the centre, three suits advance on Mads, swinging and hitting him whilst two more
advance on Naergon, hitting him [CON save success with portent to maintain the wall].
Tomaz attacks the armour blocking Talis’s route, damaging hit but failing to
kill it. With a shout of “ finish it off
Talis and then follow me” he runs south, taking several hits [AOO critical]
from the armour. Talis stabs desperately at the armour but misses “ you snivelling coward, I’ll remember this
Tomaz” she shouts after him. Jamna
readies her bow in case any armour follows her. Mads retreats carefully from the
armour [disengage] and heads towards Naergon. Naergon casts dimension door,
grabs Mads and steps into the exit. The armour continues to scrabble at the
wall chasing Tomaz, one suit advances on Mads who swings and hits [AOO] hit
swings back wildly. The two suits boxing Talis in both miss whilst the one
pursuing Tomaz swings and hits him solidly [critical]. Tomaz falls back slowly
[disengage]. Talis isolated and alone stabs at the armour blocking her escape,
knocking it down and racing after Tomaz, more suits of armour form in the
centre of the carpet. Jamna
remains on the path, watching in case armour appears [ready]. Mads attacks the
armour that is closing in on him, knocking it to the ground and yet another
pair of suits assemble themselves on the carpet. Naergon huddles down behind Mads
[dodge] as the armour advances. Mads swings [AOO] but misses, the armour,
however, hits him. In the north the armour closes on Talis and hits her, the
rest of the suits scrabble futilely against the wall of force. Tomaz moves
towards Mads and consumes another potion of healing. Talis shouts “ oh great move you coward, why do you even
bother carrying that bloody bow around. All this is going in my damn book, you snivelling
harper rat!” “ Indeed” says Naergon “the rat
is abandoning your ship it appears ”. Over his shoulder Tomaz calls “ you’re just a damn cultist in my book, why
should I care if you live or die”. Talis stabs at the armour but fails to
drop it. Jamna
remains on her guard on the path [ready]. Mads steps forward and casts eldritch
blast on the suit facing Talis “I always
knew you rescue me, Mads my hero ” she calls and then, as the bolt misses “ Mads, do better!” The next bolt slams
the armour back ten feet towards the hedge “ Ahh,
my hero” says Talis as the final blast slams the suits and it crumples to the
ground and two more assemble themselves on the carpet. Most of the twenty or so
suits of armour slam repeatedly into the wall of force, one attacks Mads but
misses. Tomaz retreats to alongside Jamna and casts cure wounds on himself.
Talis advances and attacks the one suit of armour “ see Mads I’ve come to save you” she purrs as she slams the point of
Winters Strike through the armour causing it to fall apart. And
with that the party retreat through the exit and join Jamna and Tomaz on the path.
Following the path, they end up back at the sundial where they find a very
bored looking Druscilla. “ Well you lot
took your time, what you been doing for so long?” she demands. “G lad it was quicker for you ” snaps Mads “ not all of us have the ability to pop hither
and thither!” “To be fair I didn’t think I’d end up here again, still it’s been
over two hours where have you been?” “ It
has not been two hours” says Naergon huffily, “but only a matter of minutes, at most since you teleported through the
roof of this damn maze.” “So, I take it you’ve had the
chance to examine this sundial carefully in that time” says Mads “ what have you discovered?” “Ah, well, yes” stutters Druscilla, “ I can confirm that it is not the same place
as before judging by the positioning of the tower and the angle of our shadows.
If you trust that sort of evidence. Otherwise it’s exactly the same.” “Hmm”
says Mads “ we’ve been able to see the
tower nearly the whole time but it keeps shifting position!” “I’ll tell you
what’s strange” says Druscilla “ when
I popped through the dimension barrier or whatever we’re locked into here and
looked down on the maze, it stretched away for ever. No village, no mountains,
just infinite maze” “So, how did you know where to land to get back here?”
asks Mads. “ I didn’t, I just came down
roughly where I thought the exit from that courtyard with the armour would be.
Only it wasn’t and I was here instead.” Says Druscilla. “ Oh, so you didn’t fly up, and then fly off for
a mile or so and come down then?” queries Mads. “ No, I was trying to come down at the far end of that courtyard, when I
went up, I lost sight of it, so flew what I thought was about fifty feet in the
right direction and came down. Either I can’t fly straight or estimate distance
or this maze distorts distance – I suspect the latter!” Tomaz
says “our shadows are now pointing in
that direction, so we should continue to go in the opposite direction, that
will . . .” only to be interrupted by Talis snapping “ and it’s gone wrong every single time. Since we started following your
plan all that’s happened is that we’ve come back to this same sundial. We haven’t
made any progress since we started doing that, so it’s clearly not the right thing
do.” “Yeah, put that in your book Tomaz ” grins Naergon. “So, trying to be logical” continues Naergon “ the sundial shadows point along all eight
paths, ours point over there but keep changing every time we come back here. So,
do the shadows mean we shouldn’t go down the path. Or that we should?” “Well
from what I can see” says Talis “ since
we entered this maze, we’ve either followed the direction of the sundial’s shadow
or we’ve gone in between the shadows. First, we went straight on, then we went diagonally
between the shadows, then we followed the shadow into the sundial. The shadows
pointing in all directions, we’ve tried up and we’ve tried the sundial, that
doesn’t work. We’ve tried Tomaz’s cockamamie plan and that hasn’t worked. The
only alternatives left are down or in between the shadows. Trouble is that
would mean chopping through the hedge and we already tried that on the path and
got nowhere.” “Well let’s try going through the
hedges ”
says Naergon “ what do we have to lose?” “You
insisted on that before ” says Druscilla “ and it didn’t work”. “Agreed ” Naergon replies “ but that wasn’t from the sundial, that was just frustration on the path.
I don’t think we can get anywhere from the path; these sundials are clearly the
key to the maze ” “I hate to admit this ” says Tomaz “but I think Talis may have a point.” “Yes,
so do I ” agrees Naergon “ but I think
we should take a quick rest before we make the attempt ” Looking around
there is a general consensus from all that this is probably the sensible course
of action. That agreed, the party settle down and take a couple of hours during
which Mads concentrates to see if he can locate any dragons within thirty
miles, he cannot – for whatever that means in this maze. “Right”
says Naergon “if we’re ready, Mads would you do the hedge-cutting please?” “Wait”
cries Tomaz “I thought we were following Talis’s plan” “ We are ” replies Naergon rather baffled. “ No, going through the hedges was your idea ” insists Tomaz. “ Yes, it was originally on the path ”
agrees Naergon “ but Talis made the valid
point about bisecting the shadows and trying to do it here at the sundial. You
agreed with her!” “No, no, Talis’s idea was to follow our shadows. It was your idea
to cut through the hedge” argues Tomaz. “Oh, in Bane’s name. You are the
only person here who thinks our shadows have anything to do with anything. And
we’ve tried that idiot notion and got absolutely nowhere, except into a bunch
of fights that have consumed our resources. Now let Naergon try this .” Shouts Talis, in disbelief “ Maddsy, come over here and chop this damn
hedge down please” “Yes please Mads ” adds Naergon “ between these two shadows over here. Let’s see if we can’t just walk
through, there’s nothing to lose by trying. Agreed Tomaz?” “ The only thing we ‘ve got to lose is a few
minutes watching Maddsy’s muscle bound body wield that glaive. I for one am
happy to do so ” declares Talis. “ Well
I’m always happy to oblige ” agrees Mads. “ Jolly good, I’ll just stand here and watch ” smiles Talis, doffing
her hat. “ You might what to consider
stripping your armour off first, it’s likely to be hot work”. With that
Mads chops a path through the hedge