James McMurray
First Post
Its been a while since I posted here. Heck, its been a while since I ran a game. But anyway: here goes. We start up with a party whose exploits occur shortly (within a year) of the previous party's destruction at the hands of the demi-lich Acererak. Those who are interested in te prelude may followth link in my sig to the Return to the Tomb of Horrors story hour.
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Dramatis Personae:
Brian: Elven Cleric of Corellon Larethian
Jonathon: Human Samurai
Michael: Elven Paladin
Note: These are not the characters' names. I can't for the life of me think of them, but I'll edit them in later
Our three heroes have journeyed long together, fighting for good and justice wherever they could. Their most recent adventures involved a journey to the negative material plane, hunting down the dread necromancer Acererak. Although they found and destroyed many great evils along the way, they failed to find the demi-lich, which has seemingly disappeared without a trace. What they did find, however, was a magical pool. Reflected in the waters of this pool were past exploits of heroes. A few of the scenes even featured the trio's current activities.
After studying the waters and working up their courage, the group decided to bathe in the pool. As they did, the waters rose up around them, encasing them in the past glories of the multiverse. A moment or a day later (none could tell how long they had lain there, viewing heroic deeds) the water rescinded, leaving the group unharmed, but changed.
Each of them now had a light golden glow about them, and they could feel their bodies and minds had been strengthened by the pool's power. Never again would they feel fear.
Returning to their homes in Greyhawk City, they realized that no one else could see their glows but them. As they contemplated what (if anything) to do about this new development, a scruffy messenger came up to them.
"A message for you sirs, from m'lady Agamina."
The party accepted the message (an invite to adventure) and tipped the messenger handsomely. The messenger promptly went to the bar and spent hi tip, while the party prepared for their meeting with Agamina, the sender of the entreaty for aid.
When they met her, they noticed about her a dull blue glow, which felt similar to their own golden auras. Introductions were made and the party learned several new things about this Pool they had found.
Almost two millennia ago the gods locked away the heights of mortal potential in pools scattered across the multiverse. These pools are each tied to an emotional extreme or an ideal. The pool the party found was the Pool of Glory, made to give tribute and strength to all mortals. A side effect of bathing in the pool is that they are now freed from the chains that hold back the rest of mortal men. They are capable of truly Epic exploits.
In the city of Union, the location of these pools has become a bit of a commodity, to be bargained, sold, and stolen. Agaminia’s brother, Regalin, was recently journeying to where he believed he had found another pool. He has not returned, although he did send a message telling Agamina where to meet him. She journeyed there (to the Tower of Khaerleth on the Plane of Fire) but was forced to flee when Khaerleth's guardian dragon appeared.
Fearing for her brother's safety, and knowing that anything capable of harming or capturing her more worldly sibling would certainly be able to do the same to her, she went into the world in search of aid. On a stopover in Greyhawk she saw a trio of men, two of which bore holy symbols of Corollan. What sold her on the need to get their aid was the telltale glow of the Pool of Glory.
Introductions were made, and it is learned that Agamina has bathed in the pool of love. If the party will help her rescue her brother, they will be rewarded with a share of the findings. Should those findings prove to include the Pool her brother sought, even better. Finally, after this matter is attended to, she will happily trade the location of the Pool of Glory for the location of the Pool of Love. She regrets that she is unable to give a full disclosure on the trial she underwent at the pool.
The knowledge of a possible trial is new to the party, as when they found the Pool of Glory, it was completely unguarded, in the center of a vast dead city floating through the Negative planar void.
The next morning, the party headed out. Agamina took them through a back-alley portal into the city of Union, where they saw demons and worse travelling down streets, seemingly peacefully coexisting with angels and men. The sight of a Balor flying overhead was ignored by the vast majority of people walking on the streets below.
A long walk to the far end of the city brought them to another back alley portal, this one opening into what appeared to be the Elemental Plane of Staircases. (anyone who has seen The Labyrinth will know hat it looked like. Staircases leading in all directions connected platforms. many of the platforms held portals of various colors.
During their trip up the stairs, they were assaulted by a band of very large demons. The demons did not know what it was they faced though, and were quickly repulsed. Agamina informed the party that the demons were minions of a powerful Infernal, the bastard offspring of a God and a powerful Demon Lord. The Infernal had not been seen for some time, and it seems her brother had unpleasant dealings with it. The reemergence of its minions did not sit well with Agamina, who feared even more for her brother's safety.
The party continued on, until they were met with a voice from the stairways, "Greetings, it seems you are searching for the same thing I am." A short prayer to Corollan later, the massive Infernal stood revealed.
The party conversed with him, and although they were loathe to accept his aid, Agamina was more concerned with her brother's safety, and it seemed that his aid might be necessary. He offered them an Egg of Abominable cold, with which they could weaken or kill the powerful dragon guarding Khaerleth's Tower, where the Infernal knew Regalin to be holed up.
Continuing on, the party finally stepped out onto the plane of fire. Travelling through a dark and hot cavern they came out next to a massive lava flow which plummeted over a cliff. Dangling out over this cliff was a magnificent solid black obsidian tower.
The party headed towards the tower, but was surprised as a colossal dragon, larger than any they had ever seen, leapt out of the lava flow and attacked. Agamina fell instantly to its breath, as did Brian. Michael leapt forward and attacked, only to be killed moments later as Jonathon threw their weapon. Hitting the dragon, the egg burst, sending out a blast of cold. The cold staggered the massive beast and froze the paladin solid.
The brave Samurai moved forward to fight, and was soon joined by the Infernal. The two managed to drop the deadly Wyrm when it became obvious that its attacks could not harm the divinely spawned abomination.
Chiding the Samurai to be more prepared next time, the Infernal returned the group to Union, where they managed to get themselves raised. Lucky for the party the Infernal is incredibly interested in seeing Regalin brought forth from the tower.
Regrouping and returning to the tower, the heroes work their way past the corpse of the dragon and towards Regalin's prison. Agamina went ahead to scout, but moments later the party heard her screams. They rush forward to find her wrapped in a Balor's whip and help close to his fiery body.
The group rushes into battle, and the Cleric finds himself hurled across the room. Another Balor is summoned, and Agamina wriggles free. As Jonathon holds off the second Balor, the remainder of the group destroys the first. When its explosive destruction rattles the walls of the tower, the one it summoned teleports away, no longer feeling the need to be there.
The party moves into the tower, and the next room is a plushy decorated game room, whose central figure is a Go board on a raised pedestal. In the back stands a pair of obsidian doors next to a huge bronze gong. Ringing the gong (which radiated Conjuration magic but was not trapped), the party is met by a large, two-headed flame-haired giant who introduces himself as Ignition and Inferno.
Ignition explains that Khaerleth and Regalin are both currently unavailable, while Inferno manages to get a couple of games of Go played with the Samurai. Although he is mildly familiar with the game, Jonathon is unable to beat the Ettin, who has presumably had quite a bit of practice against his "brother" during his time of service with Khaerleth.
As the two games wrap up, Inferno trades places at the table with Ignition, and Jonathon trades with Brian. While the Samurai and Paladin attempt to talk their way past, Brian plays a game himself. Although he has never seen the game before, he proves to be a quick study and actually manages to beat the Ettin. This results in Inferno issuing a challenge, and beating the cleric readily (complete with a snide "that's how you play" to his brother).
Unable to talk their way past, and unwilling to imply attack the doorman, the party decides to wager the Balor's treasure on a game of Go in an attempt to get past. Given that Brian is the only one to have won, he is chosen as the team's champion. Inferno is chosen to play for the Ettins. The group then decides that kibitzing will be allowed, and the game begins.
Inferno / Ignition handily trounce the cleric, and the party hands over the magical belt they found on the Balor. Another game later, they also hand over the 13 gems.
Further discussion reveals that there is a Thorciasid infestation in one of the rooms, and that Regalin fell prey to a trap in that room. He is apparently now imprisoned within a mirror. Even at the hopes of getting the Thorciasid removed, Ignition / Inferno can only allow the party to send one person. Agamina is chosen to go, since she is the best scout. Should she be able to clear the infestation, the party will be let in.
This is just a ploy on the party's part, and they meet Agamina later, who teleports them into the room after telling the party about the huge alien cockroach she saw in a large chamber. The paladin is a bit put out by the idea of sneaking in, but feels the chance to rescue a man outweighs the wrongdoing of avoiding a duly appointed gatekeeper.
The party teleports into the central chamber where the monstrous life-draining cockroach lives and spies cocoons everywhere in the room. Although the beast is incredibly difficult to damage permanently, and its touch saps the strength and vitality from their bodies, the party finally manages to kill the bug. They free Brian from the cocoon the Thorciasid trapped him in, and then notice another being that was freed when the cleric destroyed the room's cocoons with a Firestorm: an Efreet.
The efreet does not detect as evil to the paladin, and in its gratitude offers to grant the cleric a single wish. After debating what to do with the wish, the cleric decides on freeing Regalin from the mirror. With a simple wave of its hand and a "your wish is my command" the Efreet frees the trapped ranger from the mirror. Standing unashamedly naked in front of the party, Regalin gives his gratitude and explains to the party what has happened. His dull blue glow shows him to be no stranger to the lore of the pools. Brian hastily offers him a spare set of clothing, which he accepts.
"I worked my way to this tower in the hopes of finding the fabled Pool of Pain, and I succeeded! It is here in this very tower. Having studied long and hard in the City of Brass, I know all of Khaerleth's passwords, and am therefore free of molestation from his guards and wards. Unfortunately, the day I found the pool I was so excited I forgot to breathe the word 'pyrotechnics' while passing through an archway and I found myself imprisoned within that mirror. I'm not sure where my clothes and gear are."
"The Pool of Pain is upstairs on the top floor. Unfortunately, its presence or some other event has ripped a hole in the world, through which a great amount of flux slime seeps. I was unable to get past the slime to the pool. I headed towards the library in the hopes that Khaerleth's lore would contain some explanation of what this slime is and what can be done about it."
At this point, Brian speaks up. His extensive training in religion has taught him the history of Flux Slime. Several hundred or more years ago Boccob, God of Magic, and Ehlonna, Goddess of Nature became romantically involved. Of course, when one mixes up with a deity known as "The Uncaring" it is hard to expect a pleasant outcome. But expect one she did.
When the inevitable happened and the two split, it was not a friendly parting. The more common green slime found in the caverns of Oerth are the tears Ehlonna shed. The less common, but much more deadly, Flux Slime is the blood that Boccob shed. For when one breaks the heart of a deity known as "The Huntress" it is hard to expect a pleasant outcome.
Unfortunately, there is no explanation in the history of how to avoid the perils of Flux Slime, but the party agrees that the library is a good place to start. Regalin tells them that the password to the towers is "Pyrrhic Victory" and if they encounter a guardian they need but speak that phrase to remain unmolested.
They retire to the library, where Ignition / Inferno meet them. The ettin is at first quite upset at their presence here, but once they speak the password he is more than happy to remain friendly towards them. He even helps them in their search through the books. Several hours later the party finds a reference to Flux Slime in a musty old tome. Between Regalin and the book they piece together the following information:
1) Flux Slime appears as a viscous clear liquid that seeps from an invisible origin point. This point is extra-dimensional, and often appears in midair. The slime flows and settles into its area equally. In areas where no gravity exists, it forms a spherical blob.
2) Flux slime is highly destructive towards those who use magic. Having been cast out of the body of Boccob, the only way it can survive is to drain magic from the world around it. As such, any magic that comes within 10 to 15 feet of it is immediately drained. Untrained observers believe this to mean that the slime exudes an anti-magic aura, when in fact it is actually feeding on magic.
3) Such is its hunger for magic that it can devour the bodies of anyone capable of using magic. This includes spellcaster, creatures with spell-like abilities, and even supernatural beings.
4) Extreme cold, heat, or sunlight can destroy flux slime. When destroyed a patch of Flux Slime releases its stored magical energy, sometimes with disastrous results. This burst causes random magical effects to spring up momentarily in the area. It also closes the extra-dimensional hole, stopping the further seepage.
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Dramatis Personae:
Brian: Elven Cleric of Corellon Larethian
Jonathon: Human Samurai
Michael: Elven Paladin
Note: These are not the characters' names. I can't for the life of me think of them, but I'll edit them in later
Our three heroes have journeyed long together, fighting for good and justice wherever they could. Their most recent adventures involved a journey to the negative material plane, hunting down the dread necromancer Acererak. Although they found and destroyed many great evils along the way, they failed to find the demi-lich, which has seemingly disappeared without a trace. What they did find, however, was a magical pool. Reflected in the waters of this pool were past exploits of heroes. A few of the scenes even featured the trio's current activities.
After studying the waters and working up their courage, the group decided to bathe in the pool. As they did, the waters rose up around them, encasing them in the past glories of the multiverse. A moment or a day later (none could tell how long they had lain there, viewing heroic deeds) the water rescinded, leaving the group unharmed, but changed.
Each of them now had a light golden glow about them, and they could feel their bodies and minds had been strengthened by the pool's power. Never again would they feel fear.
Returning to their homes in Greyhawk City, they realized that no one else could see their glows but them. As they contemplated what (if anything) to do about this new development, a scruffy messenger came up to them.
"A message for you sirs, from m'lady Agamina."
The party accepted the message (an invite to adventure) and tipped the messenger handsomely. The messenger promptly went to the bar and spent hi tip, while the party prepared for their meeting with Agamina, the sender of the entreaty for aid.
When they met her, they noticed about her a dull blue glow, which felt similar to their own golden auras. Introductions were made and the party learned several new things about this Pool they had found.
Almost two millennia ago the gods locked away the heights of mortal potential in pools scattered across the multiverse. These pools are each tied to an emotional extreme or an ideal. The pool the party found was the Pool of Glory, made to give tribute and strength to all mortals. A side effect of bathing in the pool is that they are now freed from the chains that hold back the rest of mortal men. They are capable of truly Epic exploits.
In the city of Union, the location of these pools has become a bit of a commodity, to be bargained, sold, and stolen. Agaminia’s brother, Regalin, was recently journeying to where he believed he had found another pool. He has not returned, although he did send a message telling Agamina where to meet him. She journeyed there (to the Tower of Khaerleth on the Plane of Fire) but was forced to flee when Khaerleth's guardian dragon appeared.
Fearing for her brother's safety, and knowing that anything capable of harming or capturing her more worldly sibling would certainly be able to do the same to her, she went into the world in search of aid. On a stopover in Greyhawk she saw a trio of men, two of which bore holy symbols of Corollan. What sold her on the need to get their aid was the telltale glow of the Pool of Glory.
Introductions were made, and it is learned that Agamina has bathed in the pool of love. If the party will help her rescue her brother, they will be rewarded with a share of the findings. Should those findings prove to include the Pool her brother sought, even better. Finally, after this matter is attended to, she will happily trade the location of the Pool of Glory for the location of the Pool of Love. She regrets that she is unable to give a full disclosure on the trial she underwent at the pool.
The knowledge of a possible trial is new to the party, as when they found the Pool of Glory, it was completely unguarded, in the center of a vast dead city floating through the Negative planar void.
The next morning, the party headed out. Agamina took them through a back-alley portal into the city of Union, where they saw demons and worse travelling down streets, seemingly peacefully coexisting with angels and men. The sight of a Balor flying overhead was ignored by the vast majority of people walking on the streets below.
A long walk to the far end of the city brought them to another back alley portal, this one opening into what appeared to be the Elemental Plane of Staircases. (anyone who has seen The Labyrinth will know hat it looked like. Staircases leading in all directions connected platforms. many of the platforms held portals of various colors.
During their trip up the stairs, they were assaulted by a band of very large demons. The demons did not know what it was they faced though, and were quickly repulsed. Agamina informed the party that the demons were minions of a powerful Infernal, the bastard offspring of a God and a powerful Demon Lord. The Infernal had not been seen for some time, and it seems her brother had unpleasant dealings with it. The reemergence of its minions did not sit well with Agamina, who feared even more for her brother's safety.
The party continued on, until they were met with a voice from the stairways, "Greetings, it seems you are searching for the same thing I am." A short prayer to Corollan later, the massive Infernal stood revealed.
The party conversed with him, and although they were loathe to accept his aid, Agamina was more concerned with her brother's safety, and it seemed that his aid might be necessary. He offered them an Egg of Abominable cold, with which they could weaken or kill the powerful dragon guarding Khaerleth's Tower, where the Infernal knew Regalin to be holed up.
Continuing on, the party finally stepped out onto the plane of fire. Travelling through a dark and hot cavern they came out next to a massive lava flow which plummeted over a cliff. Dangling out over this cliff was a magnificent solid black obsidian tower.
The party headed towards the tower, but was surprised as a colossal dragon, larger than any they had ever seen, leapt out of the lava flow and attacked. Agamina fell instantly to its breath, as did Brian. Michael leapt forward and attacked, only to be killed moments later as Jonathon threw their weapon. Hitting the dragon, the egg burst, sending out a blast of cold. The cold staggered the massive beast and froze the paladin solid.
The brave Samurai moved forward to fight, and was soon joined by the Infernal. The two managed to drop the deadly Wyrm when it became obvious that its attacks could not harm the divinely spawned abomination.
Chiding the Samurai to be more prepared next time, the Infernal returned the group to Union, where they managed to get themselves raised. Lucky for the party the Infernal is incredibly interested in seeing Regalin brought forth from the tower.
Regrouping and returning to the tower, the heroes work their way past the corpse of the dragon and towards Regalin's prison. Agamina went ahead to scout, but moments later the party heard her screams. They rush forward to find her wrapped in a Balor's whip and help close to his fiery body.
The group rushes into battle, and the Cleric finds himself hurled across the room. Another Balor is summoned, and Agamina wriggles free. As Jonathon holds off the second Balor, the remainder of the group destroys the first. When its explosive destruction rattles the walls of the tower, the one it summoned teleports away, no longer feeling the need to be there.
The party moves into the tower, and the next room is a plushy decorated game room, whose central figure is a Go board on a raised pedestal. In the back stands a pair of obsidian doors next to a huge bronze gong. Ringing the gong (which radiated Conjuration magic but was not trapped), the party is met by a large, two-headed flame-haired giant who introduces himself as Ignition and Inferno.
Ignition explains that Khaerleth and Regalin are both currently unavailable, while Inferno manages to get a couple of games of Go played with the Samurai. Although he is mildly familiar with the game, Jonathon is unable to beat the Ettin, who has presumably had quite a bit of practice against his "brother" during his time of service with Khaerleth.
As the two games wrap up, Inferno trades places at the table with Ignition, and Jonathon trades with Brian. While the Samurai and Paladin attempt to talk their way past, Brian plays a game himself. Although he has never seen the game before, he proves to be a quick study and actually manages to beat the Ettin. This results in Inferno issuing a challenge, and beating the cleric readily (complete with a snide "that's how you play" to his brother).
Unable to talk their way past, and unwilling to imply attack the doorman, the party decides to wager the Balor's treasure on a game of Go in an attempt to get past. Given that Brian is the only one to have won, he is chosen as the team's champion. Inferno is chosen to play for the Ettins. The group then decides that kibitzing will be allowed, and the game begins.
Inferno / Ignition handily trounce the cleric, and the party hands over the magical belt they found on the Balor. Another game later, they also hand over the 13 gems.
Further discussion reveals that there is a Thorciasid infestation in one of the rooms, and that Regalin fell prey to a trap in that room. He is apparently now imprisoned within a mirror. Even at the hopes of getting the Thorciasid removed, Ignition / Inferno can only allow the party to send one person. Agamina is chosen to go, since she is the best scout. Should she be able to clear the infestation, the party will be let in.
This is just a ploy on the party's part, and they meet Agamina later, who teleports them into the room after telling the party about the huge alien cockroach she saw in a large chamber. The paladin is a bit put out by the idea of sneaking in, but feels the chance to rescue a man outweighs the wrongdoing of avoiding a duly appointed gatekeeper.
The party teleports into the central chamber where the monstrous life-draining cockroach lives and spies cocoons everywhere in the room. Although the beast is incredibly difficult to damage permanently, and its touch saps the strength and vitality from their bodies, the party finally manages to kill the bug. They free Brian from the cocoon the Thorciasid trapped him in, and then notice another being that was freed when the cleric destroyed the room's cocoons with a Firestorm: an Efreet.
The efreet does not detect as evil to the paladin, and in its gratitude offers to grant the cleric a single wish. After debating what to do with the wish, the cleric decides on freeing Regalin from the mirror. With a simple wave of its hand and a "your wish is my command" the Efreet frees the trapped ranger from the mirror. Standing unashamedly naked in front of the party, Regalin gives his gratitude and explains to the party what has happened. His dull blue glow shows him to be no stranger to the lore of the pools. Brian hastily offers him a spare set of clothing, which he accepts.
"I worked my way to this tower in the hopes of finding the fabled Pool of Pain, and I succeeded! It is here in this very tower. Having studied long and hard in the City of Brass, I know all of Khaerleth's passwords, and am therefore free of molestation from his guards and wards. Unfortunately, the day I found the pool I was so excited I forgot to breathe the word 'pyrotechnics' while passing through an archway and I found myself imprisoned within that mirror. I'm not sure where my clothes and gear are."
"The Pool of Pain is upstairs on the top floor. Unfortunately, its presence or some other event has ripped a hole in the world, through which a great amount of flux slime seeps. I was unable to get past the slime to the pool. I headed towards the library in the hopes that Khaerleth's lore would contain some explanation of what this slime is and what can be done about it."
At this point, Brian speaks up. His extensive training in religion has taught him the history of Flux Slime. Several hundred or more years ago Boccob, God of Magic, and Ehlonna, Goddess of Nature became romantically involved. Of course, when one mixes up with a deity known as "The Uncaring" it is hard to expect a pleasant outcome. But expect one she did.
When the inevitable happened and the two split, it was not a friendly parting. The more common green slime found in the caverns of Oerth are the tears Ehlonna shed. The less common, but much more deadly, Flux Slime is the blood that Boccob shed. For when one breaks the heart of a deity known as "The Huntress" it is hard to expect a pleasant outcome.
Unfortunately, there is no explanation in the history of how to avoid the perils of Flux Slime, but the party agrees that the library is a good place to start. Regalin tells them that the password to the towers is "Pyrrhic Victory" and if they encounter a guardian they need but speak that phrase to remain unmolested.
They retire to the library, where Ignition / Inferno meet them. The ettin is at first quite upset at their presence here, but once they speak the password he is more than happy to remain friendly towards them. He even helps them in their search through the books. Several hours later the party finds a reference to Flux Slime in a musty old tome. Between Regalin and the book they piece together the following information:
1) Flux Slime appears as a viscous clear liquid that seeps from an invisible origin point. This point is extra-dimensional, and often appears in midair. The slime flows and settles into its area equally. In areas where no gravity exists, it forms a spherical blob.
2) Flux slime is highly destructive towards those who use magic. Having been cast out of the body of Boccob, the only way it can survive is to drain magic from the world around it. As such, any magic that comes within 10 to 15 feet of it is immediately drained. Untrained observers believe this to mean that the slime exudes an anti-magic aura, when in fact it is actually feeding on magic.
3) Such is its hunger for magic that it can devour the bodies of anyone capable of using magic. This includes spellcaster, creatures with spell-like abilities, and even supernatural beings.
4) Extreme cold, heat, or sunlight can destroy flux slime. When destroyed a patch of Flux Slime releases its stored magical energy, sometimes with disastrous results. This burst causes random magical effects to spring up momentarily in the area. It also closes the extra-dimensional hole, stopping the further seepage.
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