14th of Flamerule of the year 1492
With their rest completed once again, they began reviewing what they knew and what they needed to find out. They knew they still had a path to follow of smashed in doors. There was at least one more that they had not gone through. They feared that whatever had bashed its way in might still be there and be something that might beyond their capabilities. ISAC still felt some sort of connection and felt he needed to continue through as much as they can. Knowing that the third level is more dangerous than they had anticipated, it severely weakened them just on the single trip they already made. The poisonous atmosphere, the falling green slime, the need to move slowly because of the slime and moss-covered floors which made movement difficult, however many metal men still were there, and now there was some sort of huge mobile slime that spit acid.
Heading down only Yllanys failed to anticipate the green slime, and a large pile landed on his head. Both he and Angelica while attempting to breath shallowly on the third level and instead sucked in a huge mouthful of the poisonous atmosphere causing them damage. Moving through the corridor watching carefully the pool at the end of the hall in case another large slime showed up. From there they moved into what used to be the bedroom, and then to the south door that had been bashed in. Looking through carefully, they could see another set of double doors, also partially punched in. Opening both doors and then working on the second set, they were able to access the room beyond.
Not sure of what might be inside, Angelica stuck her head through and was surprised that this room seemed to be the best-preserved space in the complex. ON the east wall was some sort of metal throne with what appeared to be metal tubes coming out of the bottom. Sitting in the chair was a skeleton of a gnome, his chest punched in as if something had been thrust through his small body. Angelica now realized that the bodies in the tube room were most likely also gnomes. In its hands was a small, weathered leather book that looked like it would fall apart at any moment. Not seeing any of the metal guards, she stepped through the doorway. Upon that entry, a whirring sound came from the chair as it stood up and something from the back of it closed down upon it. When it stood up, it was at least ten feet tall with four arms with blades and a glass window where she could see the skeleton of the gnome.
Gnome Encased Metal Creature
This proved to be the toughest foe that had ever encountered. It was able to use its four arms as blades, it could summon a shield to prevent hits from occurring, and the worst capability was that it could cast Thunderwave which due to the size of the room, there was not any place any of them could hide without being caught in it. The combat was rough with most of the party going down at least once, a few of them several times as they tried to balance their healing and offensive actions. Eventually they were able to knock it down, only for it to explode as all the previous metal men had. Its core pouring out electrical damage to all of them, once again knocking out several members.
Once the party had managed enough healing to get everyone mobile, they investigated the wreckage. There was little remaining, and some of the pages of the book had survived. But what was left, written in gnomish, had ISAC in a daze as he tried to read it as quickly as possible.
Page One of the Gnome Diary
Page Two of the Gnome Diary
Page Three of the Gnome Diary
Page Four of the Gnome Diary
Page Five of the Gnome Diary
Page Six of the Gnome Diary
Page Seven of the Gnome Diary
Where is the thing that bashed in the doors that we were following? That thing is too big to fit through the holes. I am concerned we will run into whatever was popping holes in all these thick iron doors.”
“I think it was things called iron sentinels. It is mentioned in this diary. I have barely read much of it. This is what happened to Claudius. He was… I am… chased into a facility and hounded by these iron sentinels, and his chest, his heart was ripped from his chest, like Angelica described here.”
“So, what you’re saying is that he was a gnome?”
“He worked with the gnomes. This diary mentions Claudius and Alexander by name and when they lived. That’s going to be a lot for me to process.”
Deciding that while this room was safe from green slime, the poisonous air would kill them while they attempted to rest. Given how they were all heavily wounded, they needed to get to a safe place and take another rest. Everyone walked slowly avoiding the slime droppings as much as possible and settled back into the storage room on the first level for a long rest. It seemed that each and every foray into the complex was taxing on their bodies and resources. It was only because it seemed the metal men did not wander around allowed them to rest so frequently and regain their breath. They agreed that they would finish the unknown areas on the second level but leave the third level for when they could come back with greater resources.
Dancer decided to check their exit route to ensure they still had a safe way out. Their rope with the easy to climb knots still dangled down 150 feet from above. The metal braided cable seemed to be safe, and Dancer climbed up a bit to see how dangerous it might be, but through that they should seek other means to get back to the top when they were ready again. ISAC continued to read the diary and read out interesting parts as he got to them.
“So, the person that we fought was one of the gnomes that worked for Alexander and Claudius. And he describes Claudius and Alexander and their relationship that was not great.”
“Not great how?”
“Claudius… So, I think I need to back up and explain what it was that… Claudius and Alexander were, what they found and what they were looking for. Claudius had found this ancient site that was known as Drincuil ar Gurth, and it was an ancient gnomish site from almost 10,000 years ago. It was part of something that the gnomes called the Cradle of Immortality, and it was a way to transfer your life. Alexander blamed Claudius for the death of Catherine because Claudius was off searching for this sword when Catherine died alone, and Alexander never really forgave his father for that betrayal. But they did agree to work together to at least find out whatever it was that Claudius had discovered. Claudius eventually found this sword and they opened up, Inside were these shells like I occupy right now, and it was what the gnomes had left behind from their research and their creations from all those many years ago, but it was unfinished. Claudius and Alexander decided to try and finish it, but somewhere through in the process, Claudius got cold feet and had reservations about continuing and Alexander wanted to push, to keep pushing forward to try to complete the project. It was a wedge between them that strained the relationship even more to the point where, according to this, Claudius actually sabotaged the project, and Alexander sent the Iron Sentinels after him to kill him, which did happen. I was there for that.”
“Holy shit.”
“According to this, when we opened up Drincuil ar Gurth in the year 1082.”
“That was 300 years ago. 1492? So, a little over 400 years ago.”
“But Claudius had stolen all of the original shells that they had found inside that ancient site and hidden them away. Clearly, I am one of these shells right now, and it hampered the progress. Apparently, they were able to make something that they called the iron sentinels, which were these copies, but they were mindless. They were just some sort of construct, and they made improvements to them, but they were sort of a poor imitation of what the original was 10,000 years ago. The person who had this little fortress here, he was one of the chief gnomes working on the project. After Claudius was killed, Alexander kept trying to push forward, but he was becoming increasingly paranoid. And eventually drove away whoever lived here, and whoever was living here attempted to continue his own research, but he was missing a lot of the research and information from the original project, plus what Claudius had stolen. And so, what we’ve been seeing are the creations of this gnome that were, by his own words, a kind of imitation of even the iron sentinels. But Alexander sent these sentinels after the gnome, and he eluded him for many years. He was finally found in the year 1388, so just a little over 100 years ago.”
“This diary covers about a 300-year period.”
“So how long do gnomes live and how long does…”
“So, Alexander pushed to complete this project. This doesn’t say when Alexander would have… I don’t know. The creature that we fought downstairs was the gnome inside that mechanical thing, that was his attempt at recreating whatever magic holds me together.”
“So, the doors that have been found, we think that was the iron sentinels coming in to steal his heart?”
“Yes. Which is what happened to Claudius. They ripped his heart out as he was turning on the machine that created me.”
“Is that a motif of theirs or is there something special about their hearts?”
“I don’t know if that’s just an expeditious way to end somebody’s life.”
“You think you’re Claudius, right?”
“I have Claudius’ memories.”
“Alright. What is Claudius’ last waking memory?”
“Getting his heart ripped out.”
“You do remember the last part of the dream. It stuck… one of these things had stuck its fist through your chest.”
“Yes. Through the heart.”
“It says here, in 1192, Alexander betrayed the gnome. So, that would have been more than 100 years after Alexander and Claudius had found the location. I think that there’s probably a… That was exactly 300 years ago. That was 300 years ago. I think there’s probably a likelihood that Alexander might still be alive.”
“What do you mean, alive? What do you mean?”
“Am I alive? I don’t know.”
“You’re alive enough, but like, what we just fought, I don’t know if I’d call that alive.”
“So, that’s what I mean. I think it’s probably highly likely that Alexander has figured out a way to extend his.”
The conversation circled around a bit more before they decided to head down to the second level and finish their exploration there. Heading to the east entrance leading to the room with the two large tables with the mishmash of bones and limbs, and the four more robust metal men. Yllanys animated. The two piles of skeletons with his Skeletal Dance spell which caused them to immediately respond and attack the now dancing piles. Each time they hit some of the pieces would fall to the table while the rest reassembled attempting to continue to dance. While the guards were distracted the rest of the party engaged them. Even with four of them, they had an easier time fighting them than the previous sets. They had gotten used to their tactics although they did line up enough of the party at one point for one the guards to shoot a lightning bolt through them. It was otherwise a somewhat simple fight. In searching the room, they found a pair of spell scrolls.
Robust Metal Men
Checking out the doors to the east of this room, there was once again two sets of doors that were easily opened. This room resembled some sort of laboratory with alchemical and tinkerer gear and parts spread across the many tables in the room. Inside were two additional metal men. Standing back, they party set up a plan to make it easier to take these out. Planning on Vortex Warping one of them to the other side of the room where Dancer and Ace were waiting to ambush it while the other one would be pinned by the rest of the party. The plan went much better than anyone expected, and they were able to teleport one away after Yllanys used Skinny to draw them to the center of the room. Once they had taken out the guards a search gave them three potions of resistance that had been hidden in a metal box.
Going back to the room with the tables with the large bones they opened the doors to the south. These doors were a bit different. They still had a wheel, but it was about twice as large and once the door was opened, they could see that it was also about twice as thick with a seal that was much larger and extended much further into the frame of the door. The other off fact was that there was only a wheel to open the door from their side and no way to open it from the other. The second set of doors were similar to the first with a larger wheel, and one only one their side. It was if, these doors would be used to seal something on the other side and prevent it from escaping. Inside was some sort of observation room with a small desk and chair facing a wall of glass, or at least it had been. All the glass had been shattered and was lying on the floor. On the other side were many dead abominations. Humanoids with mixed metal parts, some fused on to the bodies and other replacing limbs. Everything was completely rotted, and only vague remains were left to identify what had been there. Two additional guards were in the room watching the observation area.
Using the same plan to distract and them teleport one was enacted, but this time the teleport failed, and a general melee ensued. The only interesting point was when Yllanys shot a fireball into the small room obliterating any remaining paper and information that the desk had. Once the guards were eliminated all they found left in the room was a gold key that had been sitting in a desk drawer. Deciding that taking a long rest would be beneficial before making any further decisions, they rested in the storage room on the first level once again.
15th of Flamerule of the year 1492
Concerned that they were no longer equipped to handle the third level, they decided to head back to the surface. Using a variety of means including flying, levitating, climbing, and a dimension door, they easily made it back to the surface. Shoving the heavy mill stone back in place they then got ready to get back on the trail.
And this is where the session ended.
