Five: Those Who Do Not Learn From the Mistakes of the Past . . .
(or, Which one of us is writing down the advice from NPCs?)
Searching the Tower, and it's escape tunnel, the PCs find a secret passage leading into the depths of the Temple dungeon. Bravely forgetting Gravy's admonition to "NEVER adventure beneath a level you haven't cleared", our heroes pop the secret door and troop bravely into the dungeon. They determine that a seemingly collapsed ceiling is in fact an illusion, covering a pit lined with rusty spikes!
A wall of fire blocking the corridor just beyond the pit also proves to be an illusion. The PCs slip past it, but not before Lucius voices his concern. He asks Gnomishic what sort of power-level would a mage have to be at if he could make permanent illusions. Gnomishic assures him that it's not that impressive of a trick. Lucius is unconvinced, and suggests that the party might not want to tangle with whatever is that can make those illusions. In true dungeoneering fashion, his objections are shouted down, and the elves call him a pussy. Properly admonished, Lucius plans for an opportunity to kill Little Leaf, and the party moves on.
Scouting ahead, Little Leaf, Gnomishic and Lucius spot an illusionary Basilisk. Little Leaf and Gnomishic fail saves, and think they are petrified. Lucius recognizes the illusion, but before he can try to save his associates, he spots two human rogues attempting to hide in the shadows, and worse yet, a diabolical figure lurking behind an illusionary wall. The figure is man-sized, covered in spikes, has a barbed tail, lots of sharp teeth, and carries a pitchfork! Lucius sneaks back to the party and manages to mutter: "Fiend. Run!"
The group won't hear of it, and in a module riddled with tough fights and seemingly hopeless situations, our group puts their foot in it big time. A few levels over their heads, they take on 4 Spinagons and 2 human Rogues, 5th and 1st level.
The fiends use their
suggestion and
charm person powers to quickly turn the party against one another. Heydricus is the first to succumb, and he is set upon by the wood elves who in turn are attacked by Rose. Meanwhile, Lucius, Gnomishic, Isuld and Tisha are trying to hold up the party's end of the fight. Fortunately, Lucius keeps making his willpower saves, and Tisha's
wand of lightning has yet to run out of charges. When the smoke clears, one fiend escapes, and Gnomishic lies dead. The party cashes in, loot wise, with a few magic items to boot.
Illustration:
Gnomishic versus the personification of universal evil. (Long odds on the evil).
Suhi is traumatized by the death of his Gnome friend, and abandons his carefree bardic life to focus more fully on his staff and hand fighting skills. "
WhhooooaaaAAAahhhh". A monk without a monastery. The Wood Elves also retreat to their forest sanctuary, to heal psychic wounds. They promise to return when they are ready.