Hey, so we return to our heroes in the midst of a kraken battle. The monstrous creature is bloodied, but things aren't looking great for our long term survival at the moment. This becomes clearer when Berrik, on the verge on losing consciousness inside the Kraken's caustic maw, tries to heal with his Supreme Potion of Healing. Turns out physical contact with the Kraken nullifies any healing magic, an ability called Culling Touch. Berrik has just enough time to let out an exasperated sigh before succumbing to his surroundings and passing out. Before too long, the consistent acid damage kills him and it's a race against time to get him out before he gets rendered into hobgoblin goo. Lotty channels the energy of her scrappy ancestor, Domhnall "Dom" Tŵr Eddo McFini. He was famous on the Mountain as an avid mechanical cart enthusiast and racer, but more than that he was known for his loyalty to his kin. She leaps into the kraken's mouth and hits it hard enough that it regurgitates everyone inside it. Because Lotty doesn't have friends, she has family. And she's lost enough family for a lifetime.
With everyone safely out of the kraken's mouth, Flynn lays into it with a barrage of Eldritch Blasts and end it. As Lotty revives Berrik and everyone heals up, Flynn offers Mordecai some calamari. It's gross. A portal made of blood appears and we all know that we can't stray from the path. This tower is designed like a Zanidonian minimalist furniture store - the only way out is through.
The next level of this horror show is a barren, colourless wasteland bordered by the black void of ethereal space. Looming above the Ashen Company is a grey wall, hundreds of feet tall and covered in angry-looking spikes. The only colour we can discern here is the crimson gore adorning the wall. A black portal can be seen shimmering at the top. Berrik wonders if there might be restrictions on the most obvious solution available to them, much like how they were unable to fly in the balor/lava level. It turns out the same is true here. He tests out teleportation, using Misty Step to move 5ft. The wizard takes 5 points of damage. Looks like teleportation will have to be a last resort, as there's no way any of them could survive the hundreds of points of damage needed to get to the top.
Out of the corner of his eye, he spots Flynn trying to calculate the height of the wall with his hands. Flynn has an idea, but it will require many spell slots and SO MUCH MATH. Berrik loves math, so the boys put their heads together to try to come up with a plan. Lotty and Null nod and look inquisitive but honestly have no idea what's going on. Once the plan is in place, Flynn speed runs a short rest before he and Berrik begin. The warlock and the wizard alternate castings of Wall of Stone and Wall of Force to create a series of ascending 45 degree angle ramps parallel to the pointy wall. Null and Lotty follow them up, still confused but trusting the duo. Eventually, they end up perched on Berrik's Wall of Force 100ft below the top. To save having to use Berrik's 9th level slot in the last leg, Flynn offers to use Limited Wish to cast Arcane Gate instead. Everyone will survive taking 100 points of damage and a wizard's 9th level slot is precious. Flynn reminds Berrik that they will have to pass through the Arcane Gate last and together, since 100 points of damage will cause them to lose concentration on their respective spells. In preparation, Flynn hops on Berrik's back. Null takes this as a sign she and Lotty ought to do the same. The medium-sized changeling asks Lotty for a shoulder ride. Lotty obliges, as she is the strongest of all of us, despite her stature. Null's toes drag slightly on the ground but the two make it through the gate no problem. Berrik and Flynn follow.
The trip to the top hurts like a bitch, but we all have enough potions to take the edge off. As we have a breather, Null tries to wiggle one of the spikes out of the wall. (Spikes of Agony, which reduce the target's max HP by an amount equal to the damage they deal). Now this chick isn't good at STR checks and she knows it, but she's gonna give it a whirl anyway. Is it hubris? Fake it til you make it confidence? Stupidity? Probably all of the above. Lotty grimaces as she watches Null's dainty hands slip on the attempt, cutting her palm. The rogue loses 3 HP off her maximum, but it's not the end of the world as her current max is artificially inflated already due to Heroes Feast. She considers a second attempt, but decides against it to save herself the embarrassment. When the group decides to go through the portal, Lotty hangs back and easily yanks out one of the spikes before following.
The next level is an eerie version of their own home, the Ashen Manor. It's drenched in sickly green Culling Fog. As they stand on the front steps and ponder their approach, Lotty hands Null the Spike of Agony. Null is jazzed and thanks Lotty for the thoughtful gift, while also trying to mask how unwieldy this thing is in her weak little hands. She puts in her pack for later - Maybe it will be useful!
Flynn, ever the go-getter, is the first to open the front door. As he steps through, he disappears. Lotty sends Boobrie through to see where the door takes them. Through the familiar's eyes she can make out the manor's library, so hopefully Flynn hasn't gone too far. Lotty, Null and Berrik decides to walk through the door together, hand-in-hand to try to avoid getting separated. It doesn't work - surprising no one. In the end, the gang are dispersed as follows:
Flynn: Great Hall? (idk)
Berrik: Pantry
Lotty: Library
Null: Privy (of course!)
We are greeted by rune-scarred versions of ourselves and begin to duke it out. It turns out fighting someone evenly matched in skill and ability is a grind! Both Lottys are beefcakes with HP for days. Flynn gets a bit of an advantage by summoning his Beast Protector Orun (thanks, Latharial). Berrik is out-Berriked when his evil replica uses their 9th level slot to cast Heal on him, which really fucking hurts in the Culling Fog. Null and Worse Null cancel out any possibility of proccing Sneak Attack on each other with their Ghost Walks. Eventually the latter gets bored with the monotony and leaves to try to kill someone else. Elsewhere, Even Greener Flynn is obliterated. Worse Null finds Berrik (prone and unconscious and ready to be critted on) and Evil Berrik. Actual Null follows and manages to kill Evil Berrik on her turn. Worse Null doesn't want to get into a slapfight again and dips, eventually running into Flynn. Flynn, who knows these fakes are controlled by the Marionettist, is still eager for the catharsis that will come from besting a version of Null. He readies up. Null, still in the pantry, sees Berrik barely hanging on and hopes she can stabilize him.
Fingies crossed!
Tower Progress
- Entry - Aspect of Azrael
- Necro fruit- Rune scarred cultists
- Clockwork - Lich & death knights
- Graveyard - Rune scarred banshees (Hi Eleanor!)
- Lava - Rune scarred balor
- Ice tundra - frigid cold
- Swamp - Rune scarred basilisks
- Snow farm - Rune scarred zombie giants
- Classroom - Alistair's riddles (+book on Soul Transference)
- Underwater - Kraken
- Wall - Spikes of agony
- Ashen Company Villa - duplicates