Back to the game today, and here's what went down:
As they looked around the room full of glass shards, Arthur Morgan spotted the outline of a door on one of the walls. Curious, he went to examine it. A shouted warning from Ruphus warned him, and he ducked aside as a nearly-invisible creature cloaked in shadows tried to stab him from behind. A second, smaller creature also attacked, and the party found themselves hard-pressed against these foes, enemies that were almost impossible to see and just as difficult to hit. The battle was fierce, but ended with a victory as the two creatures of darkness fell beneath their blades. On the larger creature's body, they found a couple of unidentified potions, as well as some coins...and another key to the gear doors (this one a 'D').
After the battle was over, the party investigated the strange door, eventually finding the way to open it and discovering a small treasure hoard. A suit of gnomish armor filled with silver coins, and an urn with a mix of coins and jewelry was their reward, the first significant treasure they had found thus far.
They continued exploring northward, finding an empty forge before exploring a new section. They came upon a makeshift wall, not impossible to break down but sturdy and solid. After a few minutes' effort, they came to a large room set up like a clockwork factory. A bright light hung suspended in the ceiling, and two balconies beckoned them onward. Jax the paladin went up one flight of stairs, and was rewarded for his efforts by being attacked by a horrible, floating jellyfish-like creature with a huge beak. The creature's tentacles stung him, but he shook off the momentary paralysis and tried to fight back despite his wounds. The rest of the group attacked with missile weapons, trying to buy time for Jax to escape. Unfortunately, he was unable to do so in time, and the creature hungrily bit into his flesh.
All seemed lost, but Gandolf launched a magic missile at the creature, and a well-placed arrow from Arthur Morgan's bow caught the creature right between the eyes. Rushing to the fallen paladin's aid, the elf poured a potion of healing down his throat, reviving him before his soul had departed this mortal coil.
Cautiously, they continued to explore the room, and Alexandria discovered the bones of a fallen creature wearing a torn and tattered cloak; a 'short one' that had fallen victim to the creature. It carried little of value, and no clues as to the whereabouts of the missing children. Gathering themselves, the party tried the double doors to the south, which opened easily at their touch. This led them to an atrium of some sort, with the name of the place emblazoned in a mosaic on the ground: Jzadirune.
Across the room was another door, which they easily opened. On the other side, however, Yaervan found himself in a precarious position as the floor suddenly fell beneath him. Only his quick reflexes saved him from falling into a pit. The door of the pit slammed shut, and the party heard the sound of gears shifting and turning beneath their feet. They carefully but quickly picked their way across before the grinding stopped. At the end of the corridor they found another door, this one leading back to the very first room at the base of the stairs leading to Keygan Ghelve's home.
Taking stock of the situation, the party recognized that they had not yet explored the western half of the complex. They headed west down the corridor, and came to a hallway with a series of gear doors, two of which they were able to open with the keys they had discovered. They found nothing of interest or value in these abandoned bedrooms, however. As they approached the southern end of the corridor, the gnome Erf, leading the way, felt the floor suddenly shift under his feet. His desperate lunge for safety and Jax's attempt to grab him and pull him out of harm's way both failed, and the gnome found himself lying at the bottom of a pit with spiked walls, next to a translucent body that had been repeatedly impaled.
Recognizing this sort of trap, he braced himself for what was about to happen. Sure enough, he heard the rumbling of gears even as his companions tried to open the door to free him. As the pit began to tilt, threatening to impale Erf on the spikes, he deftly placed his body in the best position to avoid the deadly spikes. To his own amazement, he succeeded, and as the pit began to tilt back, Jax and Yaervan were finally able to wrench open the trap door. Alexandria lowered a rope, and the terrified gnome was pulled to safety.
To be continued...
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