Twelfth Session
Fungus Among Us
Summerday +387 hours
Dramatis Personae
- Actias Aureus, a 5th-level Tiefling Warlock
- Benjamin, a 6th-level Wood Elf Ranger
- Calmul Rhoqiroth, a 6th-level Dragonborn Artificer
- Geral Bryn, a 6th-level Human Fighter
- Steve, a 6th-level Halfling Rogue
- Tasbros, a 6th-level Sky Elf Sorcerer
- Tysnera, a 6th-level Sky Elf Wizard
- Viker, a 6th-level Eladrin Druid
The Naga stares unblinking with piercing golden eyes.
"The Wizard's spirit will reform and must be satisfied, or it will continue to haunt the mine. But the greatest threat is the creeping doom near the old entrance."
Orky is strangely entranced by the greenish flames of the Spell Forge.
"Yes, it is fighting against corruption. Perhaps ..."
Orky slumps to the ground.
"Do not fear for her, I will guide her spirit where we need go."
CoralKing resolutely sits down next to her, saying nothing.
"You will need the items on the table. Farewell."
The group finds a Mace of Disruption and a Dragon Breastplate. Taking a short rest, Viker attunes to the Mace as the party heals and prepares. Geral slips off his sturdy Scale Mail and dons the Breastplate.
Outside the room, there is a cry and a thudding on the doors.
Calmul has been attacked by a flock of Stirges. His Steel Guardian dispatched one of the creatures, but three are now embedded in his scaly hide, gorging on blood. Calmul falls to the ground as Geral runs to pull the things off of him. The party dispatches the rest. Benjamin heals Calmul from the brink of death.
Wulrif is nowhere to be seen.
"He is ... delving into the occult mysteries of this place," says Actias.
No further explanation is forthcoming.
Revived, re-equipped, and resolute, Geral leads the group. The Spell Forge lies on a Dwarven-carved platform amidst a large natural cavern, stairs leading down to the living rock. There lie quarters for the Artificers and Wizards of ages past, with a further tunnel leading south. The party approaches the doors.
Dust, ash, walls blackened by fire, and heaps of debris beneath the sagging ceiling show that this room was damaged by a destructive blast. The furnishings -- tables, chairs, bookshelves, beds -- are charred or splintered, but otherwise well preserved. A scorched iron chest stands near the foot of one of the beds.
Steve stealthily creeps into the room, searching for traps. Bringing out his Thieves' Tools, he carefully picks the lock, nods once in satisfaction, then creeps back out. Tasbros concentrates for a bit and opens the chest with his Mage Hand.
Inside the chest are heaps of copper, silver, and electrum coins from an ancient age, as well as 3 huge diamonds and a finely wrought wooden pipe with platinum filigree.
A shadowy form rises from the floor. It speaks in grave whispers.
"Your presence is offensive to me, your life forfeit. My treasures are mine alone, not yours to plunder!"
Geral says, "We do not seek to disturb you, only rid this place of its invaders. How may we help you find peace?"
"It is true that I fell defending this place from the Orcs and their Shaman. I summoned the Guardian before I died, so the Spell Forge would not be defiled after my passing. Yet defiled this place remains!"
"I have sworn an oath to protect this place," says Geral. "We have slain the restless spirits of your attackers."
"Indeed?" it muses. "I see that you speak truth. Yet a creeping doom remains."
"Well then, we shall dispatch that as well. What would you have us do with your treasures?"
"I care not for the coinage, only that the flute remain undisturbed. I see you have a Wizard amongst you. I learned mighty spells in life but no longer have need for my accoutrements of learning. You may take these things in exchange for a token of your success against the Unnamed."
"We will be back", says Geral.
"We will see," it says, disappearing.
Tysnera eagerly inscribes from the Spellbook of Mormesk the Magnificent:
- Cantrips: Acid Splash, Friends, Lightning Lure, Mage Hand
- 1st: Charm Person, Detect Magic, Magic Missile, Tasha's Caustic Brew
- 2nd: Detect Thoughts, Intellect Fortress, Melf's Acid Arrow, Suggestion
- 3rd: Fear, Slow, Summon Fey, Summon Shadowspawn
- 4th: Confusion, Evard's Black Tentacles, Summon Elemental
- 5th: Cloudkill, Summon Draconic Spirit
The party continues on.
Dense carpets of weird fungi cover large sections of the floor in this cavern. The growth includes puffballs a foot across, weird shelf fungus growing on stalagmites, and large stalks and caps a good five feet tall. Some of the puffballs glow with an eerie green phosphorescence.
Tasbros has a thought. Motioning the party back, he aims a Fire Bolt at one of the puffballs.
The resulting blast singes his eyebrows.
"We can't cast any Fireballs in there", Tasbros says. Geral nods glumly.
Further travel into the cavern reveals the air is filled with choking spore clouds. The party looks to Geral who nods. Everyone makes a dash for the exit.
The trap is sprung!
Emerging from the weird fungal carpets, two giant-sized Skeletons dripping with greenish slime stand up to block the exit. Behind the party, four huge mounds of sticky black sludge pulsate as they crawl from the floor and ceiling to block the tunnel the party just came through. Swarming along the stalactites are at least eight blobs of what look to be chaotic molten stone. In the far back corner of the cavern, a horrifying Undead fungal abomination sends pulses of eldritch power towards the party.
Writhing black tentacles burst from the ground, attempting to envelop the party. Everyone except Tasbros, Tysnera and Viker manage to dodge aside.
Fast on the draw, Benjamin sends two quick arrows into the Ooze Master, but they do little except corrode in its substance.
Calmul carefully aims his Musket center-mass on a Gray Ooze and fires. The resulting sharp stab of Psychic pain leaves him breathless. Calmul's Steel Defender intercepts a black waving pseudopod meant for him.
Geral looks around at the party, desperately searching for weapons that will harm their attackers. He puts away his sword and takes out his hand axes, moving to draw the four Black Puddings away from the spellcasters while Benjamin, Viker, and Actias engage the attackers to the front.
Steve hides and looks for an opportunity.
Viker shimmers and disappears from the grasp of a tentacle, reappearing with a pop of displaced air next to the Ogre Skeletons. She attacks with her Mace of Disruption.
Actias casts Bane on the Ogre Skeletons.
Tasbros frees himself from the Black Tentacles.
A deadly greenish Cloudkill erupts in the middle of the party. Everyone but Actias manages to leap aside; Geral is trapped between the Black Tentacles and Cloudkill.
Benjamin summons a Guardian Beast, sending it to attack the Black Puddings alongside Calmul's Steel Defender. They take heavy damage in return.
Geral attacks the Ogre Skeletons alongside Viker; a huge club swing, thanks to Actias' Bane, barely misses pulping him against the wall.
Steve hits a Black Pudding with a club.
Viker does heavy damage on an Ogre Skeleton, barely missing getting pulped in return (again due to Bane).
Actias lies unconscious in the deadly Cloudkill.
Tasbros attempts Dispel Magic on the Cloudkill, but fails.
Tysnera frees herself.
The Black Puddings destroy the Guardian Beast and Steel Defender, turning their attention to the party. Benjamin gets badly mauled, nearly dying, but manages to get Healing Spirit up just in time to save himself.
Calmul Repairs his Steel Defender.
Geral intercepts Black Pudding attacks on Benjamin.
Steve pulls Actias out of the CloudKill.
Viker invokes her Unicorn Totem and heals Benjamin and Actias from the brink of death, along with the rest of the party.
Actias wakes up and casts a spell on himself, then rushes amongst the Oozes triggering attacks and repercussions.
Tasbros tries Chromatic Orb at the Ooze Master, to no effect.
Tysnera casts a Lightning Bolt which she curves around Actias, Geral, and Benjamin. It electrocutes the Grey Oozes but splits the Black Puddings!
An Ogre Skeleton misses pulping Tasbros due to Bane.
Benjamin casts Healing Spirit again.
Tysnera casts Dagger Ward on Calmul's Steel Defender, which then rushes at the eight smaller Black Puddings, shredding them.
After a few more rounds of desperate battling, Viker Fey Steps over to the Undead Ooze Master and strikes it with her Mace of Disruption. It explodes!