In which our heroes finally emerge into the inner sanctum   Book Two, Chapter 4.2 (session 85, 23 rd April 2019)   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)   “What was that?” says Naergon “ someone should go and investigate” [telepathic link]. “ I can do that but I’m not up for a fight ” says Jamna [telepathic link] “ that’s fine, you don’t have to put yourself at risk, just take a look around the corner and see what that noise is bout, thanks ” commands Naergon [telepathic link]. Jamna silently creeps up the eastern tunnel [stealth 25 invisible]. “ The rest of you wait here until Jamna reports in ” says Naergon [telepathic link].   Down the tunnel, Jamna [invisible] hears a roar and snuffling sound, the scrape of claws on stone and a shape emerges from the darkness, bounding towards her. Behind the silhouetted drake, faint light filters into the tunnel, an exit perhaps. The drake, roars and spits and bounds towards Jamna, nostrils flaring. Jamna turns and runs “ monsters, monsters” [telepathic link]. Naergon replies coldly “ what monsters? Be specific!” [telepathic link]. “ Drakes, monstrous drakes” cries Jamna, running down the tunnel [telepathic link] “ oh is that all ” sighs Naergon [telepathic link]. The party take position up against the tunnel walls and corners of the junction.   Tomaz picks up the lit coin and hurls it down the tunnel, it sails over Jamna’s head who squeals “ stop throwing stuff at me . . .oh money, err . . .” [telepathic link]. “ Sorry didn’t know you were there ” says Tomaz [telepathic link]. Naergon steps up against the northern wall next to Talis as Druscilla advances down the tunnel and takes a stance behind the lit coin, axe and shield in hand.   From the dimly lit tunnel a guard drake comes leaping and bounding into the light, nostrils flaring as it snorts and sniffs at the air before roaring and focusing on Druscilla. Mads steps out next to Druscilla and eldritch blasts the drake, hurling it backwards with a screech of claw on stone as it snarls and growls. Jamna [invisible] continues to race up the tunnel and past the party. Talis hunkers down in the junction [dodge] as Tomaz steps up to Naergon, peers into the light and readies his bow [readied action].   The drake leaps forward towards Mads, slavering and growling as it does Tomaz shoots [readied action], his arrow clipping the drake’s massive shoulders and Mads chops into it with his glaive [AOO]. Before it can attack, Mads steps in and swings his glaive and decapitates the drake.   Druscilla looks around “ so which way are we going?” [telepathic link]. “ Should we continue ahead, to the east? Were there more of these things?” asks Naergon [telepathic link]. Jamna says “ I only saw the one, that one ” [telepathic link] and pointing to the corpse [invisible]. “ What this one or another one?” asks Naergon in frustration [telepathic link]. “ I don’t know, they all look the same ” answers Jamna [telepathic link]. “ Then go and have another look!” demands Naergon [telepathic link]. “Jamna ” calls Tomaz “ can you pick up the coin and move it down the tunnel for me?” [telepathic link]. “ No” says Jamna [telepathic link]. Jamna [invisible] emerges from the end of the tunnel onto the eastern face of the volcano “ this leads outside ” she says “ it must be one of the eastern entrances Ringo described, there’s nothing here ” [telepathic link]. “ That’s not where we want to go” say Druscilla and Naergon in unison [telepathic link].   “Jamna, what’s down the southern tunnel, check that on your way back ” suggests Druscilla [telepathic link]. “ I’ve done so, it’s just beds and barracks, pretty sure it links back up with the smaller barracks we already explored” confirms Jamna [telepathic link]. “ Very good then ” interrupts Naergon “ can you take a look up the northern passage then, if you’re right that too should lead outside ” [telepathic link]. Jamna heads up the north-western tunnel, as she rounds a long right-hand curve, she hears the low growl of a drake and suddenly charging out of the gloom, nostrils flaring, drooling and snorting the drake leaps towards her. Jamna [invisible] turns and races back towards the junction “another drake, I’m bringing it to you. Be ready!” she calls [telepathic link].   Mads casts eldritch blast as the drake emerges from the gloom into his devil sight, the bolts slamming home as Jamna races past. Talis backs away behind Mads, Tomaz calls “what’s happening, I can’t see anything?” [telepathic link] turns and runs down the eastern tunnel to retrieve the lit coin and hurls it back over Mads’s head to light the junction. Naergon casts fire bolt at the drake, scorching it badly as Druscilla steps up in front of him. The drake charges at Mads who swings his glaive, slashing across its chest as it tries to bite him, teeth sliding off his armour but its tail slams into his back. Mads swings his glaive, chopping into the drake again and again, until it collapses to the ground.   Jamna runs back down the tunnel [invisible] and reports back “ this is another entrance, again on the eastern side of the volcano, as expected. Nothing here, nothing to report ” [telepathic link]. “ That’s good Jamna, make your way back to us now and we’ll head back to the main junction ” instructs Naergon [telepathic link]. “ Should we head back through the barracks, just to make sure?” suggests Mads [telepathic link]. “ Sounds reasonable ” agrees Naergon [telepathic link]. With Tomaz holding his lit coin ahead the party turn and make their way through the barracks to the south. It is a large chamber with dozens of beds and chests laid out neatly in groups of three. It leads into a smaller barracks, familiar to Jamna and Mads. It has fewer beds, four against the western wall, with chests and small side-tables. The centre is dominated by a huge 80’ long bench and trestle. Against the eastern wall a pair of beds, chests and writing desks enjoy more room than the others. “This looks like the officers’ quarters” says Tomaz [telepathic link].   Within moments the party gathers at the junction where Talis’s insect plague continues to hum and swirl, blocking the tunnel heading west. “ This will remain for a couple of minutes yet ” says Talis “ but not much longer ” [telepathic link]. “Let’s head down to where Naergon cast web then ” says Mads “ and see what’s up that tunnel” [telepathic link]. “ We’ll need to be quick about it then” agrees Naergon “Jamna, get ahead and report back what you find, we’ll follow behind” [telepathic link].   Jamna races off down the tunnel [invisible] “ it turns around itself and heads north ” she reports after a while [telepathic link]. “I think it might link back to the insect plague junction. No wait, it then turns back east and splits. I think there’s a chamber ahead to the north. I’m waiting here for you.” [telepathic link]. As the rest of the party arrive at the junction Jamna says “ it’s north or west, what do you think Naergon?” [telepathic link]. “ Heads or tails?” asks Tomaz [telepathic link]. “ North!” says Mads decisively [telepathic link]. “OK” agrees Tomaz [telepathic link] and hurls his lit coin up the northern tunnel.   As Jamna advances through the dim light, the unmistakable smell of an animal den emerges from the chamber ahead. The rest follow closely behind, the chamber is a sizeable and shows evidence of being cut and worked, it’s not a natural formation. The floor is covered in mounds of stinking furs, straw and rancid bedding. The smell is overwhelmingly that of rank dragon. The piles of fur and matted clothing and straw form many, very many nests, maybe as many as fifty. With certainty this must be the den or pens for the numerous guard drakes encountered so far. It appears unoccupied currently. There is an exit in the north-western wall.   Jamna heads out of the exit [invisible] while the party discusses whether to take a short rest. “ I’m in a tunnel that heads south west and north east ” reports Jamna “ I’m heading north-east ” [telepathic link]. “ About forty feet on and it’s a staggered crossroads, tunnel heads west and east, another opens opposite heading north-east ” [telepathic link]. “I think the eastern tunnel heads back to the insect plague; I’m heading that way now.” [telepathic link]. A few moments later and the tunnel is filled with the droning hum of insects, “I was correct, I’ve found the other side of Talis’s insect plague. It’s about another hundred feet east ” [telepathic link]. “ Can you see anything else there. There were chambers full of cultists a few minutes ago? ” asks Naergon [telepathic link]. “ No, nothing, the entrances to the chambers are within the plague, I can see nothing moving . . . except insects ” replies Jamna [telepathic link].   “Hang on” says Jamna “ something’s happening ” [telepathic link]. “ That plague is about to vanish ” calls Talis [telepathic link]. “ Yep, yep, that’s what happened ” says Jamna [telepathic link]. As she stands in the tunnel in the sudden silence, she becomes aware [perception 29] of the sound of cautious footsteps moving towards the tunnel entrance from the southern barracks “ Err, I think I have contact” reports Jamna “ I’m investigating ” [telepathic link]. Jamna creeps forward towards the barracks [stealth 25 invisible] and sees emerging from the southern barracks a pair of dragonclaws.   “I have two dragonclaws, I think they were trapped by the plague. I’ll try and lead them your way” says Jamna [telepathic link]. “ No need” replies Druscilla “ We’ll come to you; we were heading that way to rest in the barracks anyway” [telepathic link]. The dragonclaws cautiously walk past Jamna and head west, they fail to spot the invisible gnome [perception 8]   Druscilla moves out of the drake pen towards the west-east junction. Naergon moves to the exit and Mads moves up behind Druscilla. One of the dragonclaws move s east to the junction, stares at the heaps of corpses littering the tunnel and peers north and south. The other heads west towards the junction with the drake pens. Both are shouting out “where is everyone? What happened? Sir are you there, sir? We were trapped, we need to report in. Sir?” [draconic – only Naergon and Tomaz understand]. Tomaz moves up behind Talis and throws the lit coin past them into the junction, as it rebounds off the far wall there is a cry from the east “ What’s that? Alert! Alert! Who goes there? Sir, sir is that you? No, it’s enemy, be aware!” [draconic – only Naergon and Tomaz understand]. Jamna sees both dragonclaws raise their crossbows and take cover as light suddenly erupts at the far junction. Jamna takes the opportunity to move north into the smaller ‘officers’ barracks. Talis shakes her head as Hazirawn whispers “ draw me, let us drink together” and moves past Naergon to exit the drake pens.   Druscilla moves out into the lit junction and looking to her right peers into the dark tunnel but can’t see anything moving [perception 10]. Nevertheless, she readies her axe and shield and takes guard [ready action]. Naergon exits the drake pen and hugs the northern sidewall [dodge]. Mads casts eldritch blast at the dragonclaw in the tunnel, using Grasp of Hadar to drag the unwitting cultists forwards so that Druscilla and Naergon can see him. The dragonclaw jerks and thrashes, screams and calls out “ help, help me Tiamat!” before diving into the cover of the southern sidewall and shooting at Druscilla, the bolt flying wide. Mads shouts out “ there are more of them, to the west!” [telepathic link] as dragonclaws creep down the dark tunnel towards the party. Tomaz moves to the end of the tunnel and knocks an arrow [ready action]. Jamna stares around at the chests and writing desks and then dashes across the corridor [stealth 33 invisible] into the southern barracks. Talis, steps into the tunnel behind Mads, “ come on, let us fight” whispers Hazirawn “ not yet” replies Talis. “ That’s all you ever say, you’re such a tease!”   Druscilla stands her ground “ come and get me” she growls from behind her shield [ready action]. From the dark tunnel behind her to the west, crossbow bolts sizzle out of the air, missing the dwarf and rattling off the tunnel walls. Naergon stares down the southwestern tunnel into the darkness [perception 18] “ it looks clear this way; I can’t see anything” he says [telepathic link]. Mads casts eldritch blast at the dragonclaw to the east, slamming it back and leaving a long red smear on the wall as it collapses to the ground “ there’s more approaching from the west, beware!” he calls [telepathic link]. The surviving dragonclaw approaches down the eastern tunnel and shoots Drucilla, the bolt penetrating her defences as it appears out of the dark. Behind her, the sound of boots running up the tunnel can be heard advancing from the west. “Here they come ” shouts Mads [telepathic link] as crossbow bolts pepper him, three striking true and penetrating his glowing armour. “ I see them” shouts Tomaz and shoots the lead cultist [readied action]. Tomaz then launches a volley of arrows down the tunnel [Multiattack volley] screams and cries echo from the darkness as his arrows find targets in the gloom. Jamna steps out of the barracks into the corridor and shoots the dragonclaw in the back, her arrow rips through its spine and out its mouth in a shower of blood, dropping it instantly [critical sneak attack] as Jamna’s invisibility fades. Talis moves south to stand with Naergon at the entrance to the drake pen, staring into the dark tunnel “ come on, lets kill something already” urges Hazirawn.   Druscilla turns and moves next to Mads before casting scared flame at the lead dragonclaw, a sickly black-purple flame shrouds the screaming figure briefly. Behind it dragonwings leap and float down the tunnel shooting at Mads with crossbows, one of the bolts slams home, and lightning ripples across him. Naergon turns and moves up to the junction and looks east and west and casts fire bolt at the northern dragonclaw, the bolt scorches through the cultist and it falls screaming. Mads casts eldritch blast at the leading dragonclaw which collapses in a heap, changing targets Mads slams the southern dragonclaw as well. The dragonclaws charge forward, the first one is cut badly by Mads [AOO] before stabbing at him frantically with short swords [pack tactics]. Tomaz shoots at the southern dragonclaw stabbing at Mads, his arrow slams home and it drops to the floor, his second arrow reaches past Mads and through the other dragonclaw’s throat, killing it too. Hazirawn screams “those could have been mine! So thirsty, so much waste” to Talis as Jamna moves west down the tunnel towards Druscilla and Mads. Talis moves up behind Naergon “ there’ll be plenty of time to slake your thirst sword !” she whispers.   Druscilla casts sacred flame at the dragonwing to the north, but the flames fail to take hold as the cultists raises its crossbow and shoots at Mads, the bolt slamming home again sending lightning coursing through him. The other dragonwing also shoots but its bolt flies wide. Both the dragonwings then turn and leap and bound, coasting on their tattered cloaks away into the darkness of the western tunnel. Naergon moves up behind Druscilla “where have they gone?” he asks [telepathic link]. Mads, casts eldritch blast at the retreating cultists, pulling one to the ground and back with Grasp of Hadar. Tomaz unable to see any enemy, knocks and arrow and waits [ready action], Jamna likewise waits in the corridor. Talis follows behind Naergon.   Druscilla “I can’t see them; are they still there Mads?” she grumbles [telepathic link] before advancing down the tunnel. Ahead of her the dragonwings turn and shoot, both bolts flying wide before they retreat further up the tunnel. Naergon remains where he is as Mads says “I think we’ve lost them” [telepathic link], turns and walks across the junction into the northern tunnel. The smell of excrement and filth hangs heavy in the air as he enters a large chamber almost filled with crudely built pens and cubicles, all fitted with chains and manacles. The slave stalls are all empty but clearly this once housed many hundreds of prisoners in squalid conditions. “ Tomaz, I’ve found the slave pens you were asking about” [telepathic link]. Tomaz walks across to stand with Mads and peer into the dark chamber. Jamna heads back to the barracks “ if they’ve fled, I’m going to put my feet up for an hour” [telepathic link]. Talis moves back to the junction and stands over the lit coin. “We should chase them down and drink our fill. Why do we wait here, these bodies have nothing left to over me?” demands Hazirawn.   Druscilla turns “I agree Jamna, they’ve gone, let’s rest ” [telepathic link] and she stomps back to the junction to stand with Naergon and Talis. “ So, is that the plan?” asks Naergon. Mads says “these are definitely the slave pens” as he walks back out into the junction “ I don’t recommend resting in there but I agree we should rest; it feels like we’ve broken their spirit ” [telepathic link]. Tomaz says “ leave the light here so we’ve got a chance to see anything coming and rest in the barracks to the east ” [telepathic link]. Talis walks past him “ fine leave my money lying around if you want Tomaz, let’s rest and see if we can’t do better than a lit coin.” [telepathic link]. “ Why so much resting, we should pursue and hunt the prey down and drink our fill. I can’t rest whilst I thirst ” complains Hazirawn.   With that the party retire to the small barracks and rest. Talis, Druscilla and Naergon all take the opportunity to cast light on a crossbow bolt for Tomaz. “ There, that’s three sources of light, the coin is spent now but these three you can shoot down dark tunnels ” says Naergon “ they should last an hour but we can replenish them easily enough ”. Naergon then conducts a ritual to recast Rary’s Telepathic Bond on the party. Throughout this time, vague noises echo down the tunnels, susurrating whispers and faint footfalls, the sound of scale and claw dragging on stone. It is clear that the complex is still occupied and there’s an uneasy sense of preparations being made in the dark.   Mads says “ follow me” [telepathic link] and heads out the door into the tunnel and turns west, past the junction between slave quarters and drake pens. Advancing further he peers into the distance, making out another crossroads ahead but can see no movement [perception 9]. He turns and says “come on, lets go” [telepathic link] as he turns back, he sees cultists step out from the side junctions and the tunnel fills with a hail of crossbow bolts. Mads is hit by two but most sail past to clatter off the tunnel walls. The cultists dive back under cover into the dark recesses. “They’re here” screams Mads “ light ‘em up!”   Tomaz steps forward and peering into the darkness ahead, shoots a lit crossbow bolt up into the ceiling about sixty feet ahead of him. Naergon advances along the northern sidewall [dodge]. From the dark alcoves dragonwings step into the tunnel and shoot crossbows, bolts flying past Mads, two of them striking home, as lightning wraps around him. The dragonwings step across and disappear into the opposite alcove. Talis advances along the southern sidewall [dodge]. Jamna casts major image and generates an illusion of Rezmir ahead of Naergon and next to Tomaz in the tunnel. Ahead at the crossroads dragonwings emerge and shoot before crossing into cover. A hail of bolts snick past Mads but three [criticals] slam home. Druscilla advances alongside Mads who casts eldritch blast at one of the dragonclaws at the junction, smearing it against the far wall.   Tomaz steps sideways away from the image of ‘Rezmir’ and shoots another lit bolt up the tunnel, ricocheting it into the southwestern alcove. Naergon prepares fire bolt [ready action], almost immediately a dragonwing steps out of cover, Naergon’s fire bolt [readied action] slams home but the dragonwings still shoot at Mads, only one bolt hits, wrapping Mads in lightning before the cultists disappear into the opposite alcove. Talis moves up behind Mads, eyeing the figure of Rezmir warily, in her head she hears Hazirawn scream “ what is this? There can be only one! This is not right – I have no twins” it’s only then that she realises that ‘Rezmir’ also wields Hazirawn. Jamna causes ‘Rezmir’ to advance down the tunnel and causes her to shout “ you idiots, what are you doing here? The ritual has started, they need you there. It would be just like Galvan’s mark to let us all down. Now move!” [persuasion 12] From the crossroads come lots of orders and whispered commands and then the dragonclaws emerge, shoot and dash into the opposite alcove. Their bolts universally rip through the image of Rezmir, without effect. From the alcoves more excited instructions and admonishments can be heard. Druscilla moves up behind Mads “ what’s in those alcoves Mads?” [telepathic link] and then prepares sacred flame [ready action]. Mads says “I don’t know, I think they may be more barracks.” [ telepathic link]. He then charges to the junction, into the light and looking left and right casts fireball into the southern chamber. Amidst the screams and shrieks at least one cultist is incinerated as beds, sheets and tables catch fire, creating an inferno in the room. Mads then dashes [action surge] past the junction.   Tomaz runs forward alongside ‘Rezmir’ and shoots his last lit bolt into the northern alcove. Naergon prepares fire bolt [ready action] and then becomes aware of movement behind him as dragonwings float into the tunnel and shoot crossbow bolts, that miss, ricocheting off the northern sidewall. Talis advances alongside ‘Rezmir’ and casts Guardian of Faith across the northern alcove. Hazirawn calls “charge, there’s plenty to drink, these can be ours!” Jamna advances ‘Rezmir’ From the east dragonclaws emerge into the tunnel and shoot at Naergon, one bolt out of the hail strikes him.  From the south-western barracks more dragonclaws appear and shoot at Mads, missing. From the north-eastern alcove dragonclaws charge past the Guardian of Faith, the first two scream and die as the mystical swings across and into them. The third stabs Tomaz twice as Naergon fire bolts it [readied action] and Druscilla sacred flames it [readied action]. In a blaze of fire and holy radiance the dragonclaw crumples to the ground. Mads turns and casts eldritch blast at the southern dragonclaws but fails to hit.   Tomaz steps over the smoking dragonclaw and sends a volley of bolts into the southern alcove [Multiattack volley], two of the three cultists fall writhing to the ground with bolts through them. Naergon casts fireball on the cultists in the south-eastern tunnel. The six dragonclaws scream and curl up as they are instantly incinerated but the dragonwing emerges smoking and charred from the flames and shoots but misses. Naergon then runs north-west up the tunnel to stand alongside Jamna. In the north a pair of dragonwings charge through the Guardian of Faith, which disappears as it deals its last damage, and attack Tomaz. Stabbing with wild fury [pack tactics] they rip into the ranger. From the opposite alcove two more charge Talis, again stabbing wildly [pack tactics] but effectively [critical]. Talis hears Hazirawn in her head “ draw me, use me, let us drink. We can eat these, now is the time. Come on let me free, I can save your life.” Talis chooses to attack with her spear Winter’s Strike, “not the spear, use me” the spear rips through the dragonwing, tearing its entrails out. Calling to Bane Talis strikes again, slamming her spear through the second dragonwing’s spine, ice blossoming over it as it crumples. She then races across the tunnel to the northern sidewall. Jamna shoots at the dragonwing fighting Tomaz, the arrow ripping through its shoulder [sneak attack] but the cultist remains standing. The last dragonclaw crawls out of the barracks and shoots at Talis but misses. Druscilla charges the southern dragonwing and chops him badly. Mads casts eldritch blast at the dragonwings fighting Tomaz, killing the first and slamming the second, dragging it away from Tomaz with Grasp of Hadar.   Tomaz shoots the struggling dragonwing, killing it and then turns and starts collecting his lit bolts. Naergon moves north up the tunnel to stand with Jamna. The last dragonwing stabs futilely at Druscilla. Talis casts ray of frost from her wand at the dragonwing. Jamna moves across and shoots the dragonclaw in the south, the arrow drops it as Druscilla swings and cuts the last dragonwing to the ground.   The party gather themselves together at the northern junction, eerily lit by the flaming remains of the barracks to the southwest. The main tunnel continues running west into darkness, to the north the tunnel branches into two very large chambers that are clearly more slave pens. Backtracking south past the drake pens and turning north they find a nicely appointed chamber that clearly belongs to a high-ranking cultist that adjoins the burning wreck of the barracks. Whilst Jamna confirms there is nothing of value in the desk or chest Tomaz and Talis cast curing spells.   Heading west down the dark tunnel, the party see faint light ahead as the tunnel steps up into a short flight of steps and emerges through a decorative archway into the heart of the Temple of Tiamat. Once their eyes adjust to the stunning chaos of the Temple, they see that its interior is a single, cathedral like space that towers far overhead. Five distinct vaulted chapels branch off the central apse. Though the overwhelming colour of the place is a lifeless, ashen grey, each of the chapel’s shimmers dimly blue, green, red, white, or black— the hues of the evil dragons and their world consuming queen. Red Wizards stand in each of the five chapels, chanting and channelling magical force up into the spire of the great central apse. There, Severin, the high wyrmspeaker of the Cult of the Dragon floats in ritual rhapsody. Severin wears the nearly complete Queen Dragon Mask (it is missing the White and Green elements). All the multi-hued arcane energy channelled by the Red Wizards below is focused into and through him to pour straight down in a five-coloured twisting rainbow of power forming a kaleidoscopic whorl of arcane energy that swirls above the great rune-rimmed bowl at the centre of the Great Apse. Arrayed around the tunnel entrance in a loose semicircle are a number of cultists, dragonclaws and dragonwings with dragonfangs behind them. At the centre stands the austere figure of Galvan and another senior cultist accompanied by the dread figure of an undead armoured creature with dead pale skin and glowing red eyes.   Next time: can they stop the ritual?   No levels were gained this session:   Naergon 17 th level Mads 16 th level Jamna 16 th level Tomaz 16 th level Druscilla 16 th level Talis 13 th level     XP earnt is now irrelevant as the rest of TOD is based on milestone XP   In-Game the session ended at 09:15 on 15 th Eleint 1485 DR [The last LONG REST was completed at 06:00 on 15 th Eleint] [The last SHORT REST was completed at 08:45 on 15 th Eleint]   Next session Tuesday 30t April at 19:15