Session 40 2014-05-12

2930XP each making 147600XP Total for each Party Member - Level 12 (next level 210,000)

Where Were We?

You are standing next to what seems to form the neck of a huge lumbering quadruped which has formed out of most if not all of the monastery. Cracked pipes oozing alchemical fluids line its mouth, and it would appear that the floor of the great hall has somehow formed the back, bristling with war machines. You note points of light flickering amongst these and realize that somehow the swarms of tiny fire elementals have made their way amongst the machinery and are racing to and fro in an alarming manner. In addition to the four jagged limbs clawing their way down the mountainside, you can see what appears to have been the bridge across the Gjurn river, now with a crystalline roof and walls, which forms a tail.

It is making its way steadily down the mountain, the rhythmic thunder of its footfalls echoing back from others in the range. The mountaintop looks almost bare compared to a few short hours ago, and you realize that the commotion caused by this behemoth has likely dislodged much of the ice and snow that capped it.

As you take in your surroundings, you become aware of something you couldn't quite place before... A shrieking sound is coming from within the "head" you are standing so near.

Exploring The Kaiju

Kael concentrates, Binky seems to liquify and then reforms in his newly serpentine form.

Landra says "I think our plans have changed."

Tharin "This is not what I expected at all, I thought we were on a mountain."

They discuss the technicality of riding a moving part of the mountain vs being on the mountain itself. Tharin confirms that this experience they are having is probably not a shared delusion.

They consider trying to talk to it, maybe trying to get into the head.

Landra suggests that they need to stop the thing. This prompts Tharin to ask what the ethical obligation they have to meet, and Landra tells him he's welcome to try to figure out an appropriate course of action but she doesn't think they'll have much time to do that.

Tharin is concerned that it will appear that they are bringing the creature if they ride it to its destination. Landra argues that if they leave it to its own devices people might reasonably think that they've set it off and abanoned them to their fate.

Kael objects to discussing trivialities and that they should take action.

Tharin sarcastically agrees that clearly these things are trivialities.

They head back through the corridor to the other side of the head and explore down towards the back.

Heading into the tail they eventually come across a strange room with an almost mosaic tile effect on the walls, strange grooves cut into the ground etc. Then a terrifying ghostly apparition bursts from the wall and attacks Binky before disappearing into another wall. Its Horrific Appearance affects Kael deeply, and it bursts from the walls again to attack Binky, this time succeeding in dismissing the Eidolon as it damages its intelligence.

They eventually defeat the ghost one, and examine a magically frozen wall of ice with dwarven runes carved into it stating: "The obstacle thaws to your faith". Landra makes a half-hearted attempt to pray to Sigrier which does nothing, but inspired by Landra then Kael prays to Thor and the ice turn to a wall of falling water which he steps through easily, emerging with a rod and a staff.

Kael, Landra and two summoned Bralani go back through to retrieve the rest of the items, Tharin assumes he's not holy enough.

The valuables here are a ring of force shield, a gemstone-encrusted lesser silent metamagic rod, five hair-thin brass sheets (spell scrolls with enervation, freedom of movement, silence, slow, and tongues), a wand of acid arrow (45 charges) made from the finger bone of a green dragon, a chime of opening (10 charges), a white staff of healing (5 charges) with an ivory hammer on top, a bag of holding (type I), a bottle of air (open, providing fresh air to the room), and a leather potion belt holding potions of resist energy (acid) 10, resist energy (cold) 10, resist energy (electricity) 10, resist energy (fire) 10, cure moderate wounds (3), levitate, and fly. An open iron-banded chest holds 300 gp, 700 sp, and 50 pp.

They exit onto the broad back of the behemoth again, making their way over the back onto the head, viewing the desolation around them. It appears that the creature has been deviating significantly in order to destroy dwarven settlements. Landra decides the only chance of getting in is to try to go in via the mouth.

Landra and Tharin drink potions of flying and they all fly into the mouth.

Inside the Head

Beyond the gaping maw of the entrance portal lies a temple chamber glowing with angry red light. Two rows of three columns each support a vaulted ceiling. Between them, four pools filled with liquid sulfur and other substances spill their vile concoctions as the chamber violently stirs. The tiled marble floor rises all the way to a broad dais at the hall’s far end. This platform bears the weight of a bronze altar dulled by layers of patina.

Suspended above the ancient bronze altar, the body of the aged dwarven forge-priestess bears the marks of a gruesome fate. Only her armored upper body protrudes from the cold walls, while the remainder is plunged deep into the stone’s immutable embrace. Her long white hair touches the ground; beneath this veil, bright eyes gleam with fierce determination. Atop her brow, a glowing reddish point emits a halo of sickening light that distorts the regal features of her face as she addresses the newcomers.

"Torag has turned his back on the sinners of Glimmerhold, and they will all be destroyed in my rioteous vengeance!"

"Many years ago now, Ezelgar, prince of Glimmerhold and heir to the throne, faced grave peril. Dwarven tradition compelled him to challenge Angrammora, a voracious black dragon and thief of the prized dwarven heirloom known as the Bloodflame Ring, in order to assume his new role as king." she says, expositorily.

"He was inexperienced and alone, and likely doomed, but he was offered a bargain. The Mistbreather Clan were exiled from Glimmerhold three generations earlier for turning to the worship of Lamashtu, the Mother of Monsters. They found Ezelgar near the dragon’s lair and offered to help him defeat Angrammora in exchange for the right to live within the halls of Glimmerhold once more."

"The coward prince accepted and the dragon was slain, but Ezelgar’s wounds were grievous. Mad with pain and on the verge of death, he was brought to Sigreir’s Pledge. I loved the prince as much as I loved my faith, and I tended his injuries, but I was shocked to learn of his pact with those heretics and outcasts."

"The Mistbreather Clan struck at the monastery from within, and the fearful prince joined in their atrocities as they murdered the faithful."

Her brow crinkles in pain as she cries out "He knew I must take vengeance, but the fool was unwilling to take my life with his own hands! He shaped the stone around me to imprison me here, and left me for dead..."

"But my faith is strong. My faith is strong and now Torag has seen fit to make 'me, his devoted servant, the instrument of his justice! King Ezelgar rules over sadistic aristocrats and rich traders, all descendants of the Mistbreather Clan. Slavery and oppression fester beyond a veil of prosperity, but I will bring a great reckoning upon them all!"

Torag, has been shamed and humiliated by the sinful deeds of his people! In his disgust, he turns his back on Glimmerhold and leaves them to my grim revenge! Descending deep into his domain, he reached the prison caves of Myrkos, where the guiltgorger giants —creations of Rovagug— are shackled to a frozen slab of their creator’s blood. With his axe, Torag chiseled away a tiny piece of this substance and used it to infuse me with the imprisoned god's rage and the power to command the earth! I will be the divine instrument of sinful Glimmerhold’s destruction!

Parley

Landra: Helrún then? Ezelgar had sent us to destroy what's here, and I don't know that we should.

Helrún: Yes, he sends you like the coward he has always shown himself to be.

Landra: Ezelgar must be stopped, but the people of Glimmerhold are not all part of this.

Tharin: Are you happy here? Do you need help to get out?

Helrún HAPPY!? I have been imprisoned here for a century! But now these stones are mine to command, my prison has become my body, and I will bring vengeance!

Tharin: What will you do after? Found another city?

When Helrún indicates that she's not into founding cities but destroying them, Tharin asks for the way out.

As she rages Landra says "I would be happy to confront Ezelgar, but I cannot let you do this."

Helrún causes the great behemoth to smash its head against the ground etc but as everyone flies no damage is suffered, and as the room begins to reform on the stump of a "neck" we leave our heroes until next time.