As the Ashen Company tuck and roll through the icy water portal they find themselves in a more humid swampy environment. Ahead of them they see vague stone shapes in the distance.
Null hears a rustling in the bushes, as Lotty & Null whisper if it may be friend or foe they call over Flynn who uses Latherial's gifts to cast speak with animals and meets what turns out to be a giant toad who introduces themself as Jim. Jim says there's a shiny thing at the bottom of the swamp that people go through, that must be the Ashen Company's way out. Flynn asks Jim if he's alone and Jim sadly replies that they used to be more of him but they're all stone now. Lotty's mind flashes back to an encounter where Rhone saved her lift fighting a basilisk when right on cue four rune scarred basilisks appear from the long grass.
Jim, thankfully, retreats in to the reeds and bushes whilst the Ashen Company take on the basilisks, constantly fighting off the threat of petrification our heroes jump in to action. Flynn makes sure to take a defensive position near Jim's hiding place to draw any hits away from their new ally, dividing and dominating the battlefield the basilisk are defeated one by one, Berrick shrugs of petrification after a near miss which is just as well as Lotty is turned to stone twice in as many hours - allowing Berrick to, once again, save her.
As the last basilisk is causing the Ashen company trouble they have battled it down to a near death when Jim senses his moment to avenge his friends; leaping from the bushes Jim lashes out at the basilisk ending it's life and threat to this (probably not real) swamp. As Jim stand victorious on top of the dead basilisk Flynn gives a bow to the new King of the swamp and the group swim down to the portal with the benefit of Berrick's Oasis.
Emerging in a snowy environment the Ashen Company see a frozen farm, animals neither alive or dead but frozen over and an eerie snow in the air that isn't really falling from anywhere. As they search around the farm Flynn spots two giant skeletal creatures just ahead; fully understanding the assignment Flynn launches a fireball at them.
The giants deal devastating, incapacitating blows and heavy damage; it takes the wind out of the Ashen Company to deal with the threat as Berrick finishes the fight with a critical firebolt they need to take a moment. Exploring the farm they find the door leading inside is a portal they're familiar with at this point
Taking a moment in a barn for a little shelter Berrick, Null & Flynn have a catnap, the group contemplate their position in the tower, the time of day and the inevitable realisation that in less than 24 hours this will all be over, one way or another the world will have ended or they will have saved the day. They decide to be practical and take advantage of one of their boons and a projection of Cpt Kraz appears with a Heroes feast for the adventures - no point in saving something that will last longer than the world.
As they contemplate the gravity of their situation Lotty tries to rouse the troupes, this is nothing worse that what we've faced before. Ezra's tower, countless bad guys - it's bigger and more difficult sure but isn't it always? Every time they've come out on top. Just as everyone is starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel Lotty goes and spoils it all by shaming them in to action - next portal it is then.
Tower summary:
- Entry - Aspect of Azreal
- Necro fruit- Rune scarred cultists
- Clockwork - Litch & death knights
- Graveyard - Rune scarred banshees (Alistair & Leanor)
- Lava - Rune scarred balor
- Ice tundra - cold
- Swamp - Rune scarred basilisks
- Snow farm - Rune scarred zombie giants