Shattered Star #94: On the Way Up

At the end of last session, we left our heroes resting after defeating a monstrous octopus. Although they had recovered some potent magic treasures, the rest of the underground’s levels of the abbey yet needed clearing of demonic infestation.

 

After exploring the rest of the easily reached portions of the level (and discovering the stairs upwards blocked), the party reluctantly decided to clear the rubble blocking their progress to the smithy and prison.

After a half-hour or so of effort, they had the corridor cleared. Progressing onwards, Makani—scouting ahead—discovered a stone door. Heat radiated from behind the door and the party realised they had discovered the foundry.

Opening the door, Makani immediately encountered a muscular, red-skinned giant whose hair seemed comprised of living fire. The “man” stood in front of a flaming forge. Nearby lay a beautifully crafted suit of adamantine plate mail. It transpired the “man” was an efreeti called Beshka. Beshka had been forging a suit of armour for Ardathanatus and had just completed the work just the day before. Thinking quickly, Makani bargained with the otherworldly smith and eventually agreed that Beshka would give them the suit in exchange for the rest of the adamantine Ardathanatus had hidden somewhere.

After, Beshka took his leave, returning to his beloved City of Brass, Thaladan claimed the heavily enscrolled armour.

Thus the party continued their explorations. They discovered the prison, and the ripped apart body of some unfortunate incarcerated therein.

Further explorations led the party to discover another set of stairs heading upwards and more partially rubble-blocked rooms. Pushing onwards, they encountered a strange mouse-shaped statue. As they approached it, a brass faucet-like attachment burst from the statue and water started pouring out.

The water swirled and quickly began to form into an immense water creature—an elder water elemental! The guardian creature attacked, badly wounding Makani and Shardane.

Then, Vesleng saved the day. Using potent magic, he transformed the creature into a small cat. The party were overjoyed as the creature had proved a puissant warrior. As they congratulated Vesleng and tended the wounded, the cat suddenly disappeared—the magic binding it to this place had finally ended.

Pushing onwards, the heroes discovered more chambers and eventually they reached the Temple of Sunset—the chamber featuring the stain glass window they had discovered at the beginning of their exploration. A peaceful, blessed feeling filled the room, but the heroes did not tarry long for they sought the Temple of the Windsong!

It lay nearby behind a set of ornate double doors. A foul, hulking demonic beast of some unknown sought lurked within. The creature struck the party with a sliver of the Abyss, striking them with blasphemous words of horror. The battle for the Temple of the Windsong had truly begun…

Published by

Creighton

Creighton is the publisher at Raging Swan Press and the designer of the award winning adventure Madness at Gardmore Abbey. He has designed many critically acclaimed modules such as Retribution and Shadowed Keep on the Borderlands and worked with Wizards of the Coast, Paizo, Expeditious Retreat Press, Rite Publishing and Kobold Press.

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