Session 15 Part 1: The Purging of the Obsidian Tower

 

"We have a problem," Blastikus announced as he entered the feast hall where the Bros were enjoying the numbing effects of a fine batch whiskey that followed their more than acceptable evening meal.

"Pfft...what else is new?" Voon chuckled after emitting an epic belch that would shame an ogre. "Who needs to die to let me get drunk in peace?" The rest of the group quietly chuckled, still lost within the warm embrace of the liquor.

"The Thing that's imprisoned beneath our feet," Blastikus quietly retorted, fixing his boon companions with a grim stare.

Instantly and now painfully sober, Brogallo rose to his feet and said, "That's a harsh joke to make on a fine night, my friend. You are joking, yes?"

"Sadly not. I've been studying the carvings on the upper levels of the catacombs and comparing them to the astrological progression. The carvings are all wards against the Outer Dark and used by insane fools to call down the abominations that live there. These particular wards are tied to the progression of our cosmos and other, stranger planes. We are approaching a time of a particularly rare alignment where the stars are right and that will significantly weaken the barriers between our realm and the frozen insanity where the Thing originates. This means that its power will increase dramatically and it will be able to summon whatever multitude of horrible thralls it has bound. All the indications show this abomination has been bound here a very, very, long time which means it is very, very angry and looking for revenge. It knows us and will most likely blame us for its imprisonment."

"We had nothing to do with trapping that monster here," objected Krall. 

"I'm sure it will love to debate the finer points of extradimensional summoning protocols and rituals. Perhaps you'd like to brew some tea and invite it over for a stern lecture?"

"Fine - point taken. Let's kill it and then take care of those freak villagers with the serpent fetish. I'm getting bored," Krall said as he shakily rose to his feet. "But maybe we wait until I can only see one suicidal mage in front of me."

In the morning, the annoyingly hung over group of Bros gather their apprentices and make their ways to the dungeon entrance. Leaving Blastikus' mercenary group to guard the fortified entrance to the depths, the Bros retrace their steps to the 2nd level summoning room. I check for random encounters every turn but the Bros luckily seem to have pacified the first level and most of the second level.

Blastikus, expecting trouble, casts Conjure Fire Elemental and the boys get ready to rock and roll.

I rule that no surprise is called for since both sides are aware of each other. We proceed to combat.

Round 1: Air Elemental wins 4 to 1
Air Elemental uses its whirlwind ability, insta-killing the hench-bros Johnny Crush, Shen Pisakar, Tuqtamur Haoennor, and Zahm Al-Bashir since they're all under 3HD. Everyone else takes 8hp.
Brogallo hits twice for 34hp, Kleptikos hits for 4hp and Voon hits with a crit for 22hp, killing the elemental.

What a difference a few months and decent kit makes! Krall is pissed, though, since he just lost his brand new hench-bros...c'est la guerre.

The Bros finish exploring the remainder of level 2, not finding anything of note and again not encountering any wandering monsters. They find a set of stairs leading down and make their way to level 3.

Right off the bat, the boys get a random encounter in room 1 and a roll on the DMG tables comes up with 2 Black Dragons that are in their lair. This doesn't make any sense, and I invoke my DM ability of Reskin Monster. Let's just say they're formless black entities radiating the frigid cold of the void between the stars and go for it!

No surprise (6-4) so we proceed to initiative.
Round 1: Bros win 3 to 2
Brogallo hits twice for 31hp
Voon hits for 8hp
Kleptikos hits for 12hp, killing Formless Void #1
Fire Elemental hits for 19hp
Blastikus casts Magic Missile for 16hp
Jack Stabby hits with a crit for 14hp, killing Formless Void #2

The Conjure Fire Elemental spell expires and the boys are now on their own. They collect the mountain of gems and platinum pieces that these abominations had been bound to as guardians. Deciding that the loot will be safe for now, they elect to press on and return for the treasure later.

The rest of the dungeon level is surprisingly empty until we get to the last room. Appendix A pg171 TABLE V. F.: CHAMBER OR ROOM CONTENTS (d20) comes up with Monster Only (13 on a d20) and I roll an Aerial Servant. NICE! This builds on the theme built with the Air Elemental on level 2. Time to bleed!

The Aerial Servant wins surprise 3-1. Ouch!
Surprise 1: Hits Brogallo for 17hp
Surprise 2: Hits Voon for 23hp

Round 1: Bros win 5-1
Brogallo hits twice for 17hp
Voon hits for 14hp
Kleptikos hits for 6hp
Fire Elemental hits for 14hp
Krall hits for 7hp
Blastikus casts Lightning Bolt for 36hp; Aerial Servant fails save and is killed

All in all, a mixed bag of emotions for the Bros tonight. Doubtless the ample loot will go a long way toward soothing their grief over the hench-bros that were ripped apart in the Air Elemental's blender attack but, hey, Murder Hobo-ing Ain't Easy!!!

Let's see what happens in part 2 of our session...