Episode 22

Session Summary

• Revisiting the Dormitory and the Chapel: The adventurers revisited areas in the Tower of Melignus, including the dormitory level and the chapel. They passed through the chapel and noted the transformation of Davia’s spirit into a pulsing purple orb. Her essence radiated rage and a desire to escape, but the party chose not to interact directly.

• Exploring the Library:

  • The group discovered a grand, well-preserved library, filled with towering bookshelves, leather chairs, and oiled wood furniture. The room exuded an atmosphere of intellectual refinement, contrasting with other gaudy parts of the tower.
  • Arcane Spell Tomes: The library housed an extensive collection of magical books, organized into categories such as basic, common, and advanced spell tomes. Notable spells included:
    • Animate Dead, Bestow Curse, Counterspell, Dispel Magic, Feigned Death, Gaseous Form, Speak with Dead, Spirit Shroud, and Tiny Hut.
  • Other Books and Topics: The library also contained volumes on world history, fiscal policy, and bloodlines of notable families.
  • Magical Protections: Books in the restricted section were warded. Attempts to remove these books triggered a delay followed by a powerful detonation if not replaced promptly. This forced the party to copy or transcribe any valuable information they wanted to take with them.

• Exploring the Workshop: The group discovered a workshop that served as a multi-disciplinary laboratory. The room featured specialized stations for tinkering, woodworking, metallurgy, and glassworking. Within the workshop, they uncovered:

  • Two Magical Gloves:
    • Blacksmith’s Gloves: Durable gloves for heavy metalworking.
    • Black Suede Wraps: Enchanted wraps that enhanced dexterity (to 18) but imposed a compulsion to craft.
  • Powdered Gems: Compartments of crushed gemstones in red, white, and green were found in a magically expanded drawer, valued at 3,000 gold pieces. These are often used in high-level magical recipes and spells.
  • Rare Metals: Stocks and shavings of silver, gold, and mithral were discovered in another drawer, with a combined value of 1,500 gold pieces.
  • A Dwarven Artisan’s Remains: The skeleton of a dwarven artisan was found alongside the gloves, clad in studded leather armor and a black leather apron.
  • Unfinished Chest of Drawers: Found in a woodworking station but deemed mundane and incomplete.
  • Guardians: Two skeletal constructs were present but did not engage the party, likely remnants of the Silent Phalanx.

• Princess Cumquat’s Curse:

  • Upon trying on the Black Suede Wraps, Princess Cumquat fell under their curse, gaining enhanced dexterity but losing control of her mind. She became compelled to craft and started working on the chest of drawers.
  • Attempts to save her included:
    • Professor Peppercorn using a command spell to remove the wraps, which failed.
    • Nedra physically pulling her out of the workshop, breaking her connection to the space where the compulsion was strongest.
    • Finally, Dirk used his enchanted gloves to rip the wraps apart, destroying them and breaking the curse.
  • After being freed, Princess Cumquat expressed gratitude to her allies, though the incident left her shaken.

• The Control Rod Puzzle:

  • In a critical moment, the adventurers encountered five magical rods, each inscribed with poetic phrases, only one of which was the correct choice to gain dominion over the tower.
  • Using tower logs and notes found earlier, combined with intuition, the group identified the rod with an inscription that deviated from the theme of love and immortality.
  • Choosing correctly, they:
    • Gained control over the tower.
    • Activated hidden teleportation portals and secret passages.
    • Unlocked contingency options, such as purging the garden level with a cloudkill-like effect.
  • The wielder resisted the surge of awareness and safely established control.

• Reaching the Tower’s Apex: After bypassing traps and exploring the upper levels, the party reached the top of the tower and successfully activated the shell phone repeater, marking a significant milestone for communication and escape.

• The Call from Gurk: The session concluded with a dramatic call on the shell phone from Dirk Goodhair’s brother, Gurk, introducing a new layer of tension and urgency for the group’s next steps.

Character Highlights and Giggles

• Peppercorn: Lightened the atmosphere with witty commentary about the dangers of magical objects and the group's risky decisions.
• Voscheck: Methodically investigated the library, workshop, and puzzle, providing key insights for solving challenges.
• Nedra: Exhibited courage and determination, saving Princess Cumquat by pulling her from the cursed workshop.
• Aubrey: Played a critical role in activating the shell phone repeater and navigating the tower’s arcane systems.
• Dirk Goodhair: Destroyed the cursed wraps and reacted with concern and urgency to the call from his brother, Gurk, setting a dramatic tone for the session’s conclusion.
• Princess Cumquat: Showed curiosity and bravery by trying on the Black Suede Wraps, but her quick descent into the curse revealed vulnerability. Her experience became a cautionary tale for the group, and her gratitude after being freed added depth to her character’s dynamic.

Enemies Encountered

• Davia (Spirit Form): The hostile, pulsing purple orb of Davia’s spirit continued to create an oppressive presence as the group navigated the chapel.
• Skeletal Constructs: Guardians of the workshop that did not engage the group but hinted at past magical defenses.

NPCs Mentioned

• Gurk Goodhair: Dirk’s brother, whose urgent message from a POW camp introduced a new layer of tension and mystery.
• Davos Malignius: The shadow of Davos’ experiments loomed throughout the tower, particularly in the workshop and library.

Treasure

• Library Discoveries:
  • Arcane Spell Tomes: Containing valuable spells like Animate Dead, Counterspell, Speak with Dead, and Tiny Hut.
  • Knowledge Resources: Historical texts and books on notable families and fiscal policies.
• Workshop Discoveries:
  • Powdered Gems: Crushed gemstones in red, white, and green, valued at 3,000 gold pieces.
  • Rare Metals: Stocks of silver, gold, and mithral, valued at 1,500 gold pieces.
  • Magical Gloves:
    • Blacksmith’s Gloves: Durable gloves for crafting and heavy metalwork.
    • Black Suede Wraps: Enchanted gloves enhancing dexterity but carrying a curse of servitude, later destroyed.
• Tower Control Rod: Gave the wielder dominion over the tower, unlocking its secrets and functionality.
• Shell Phone Repeater Activation: Enabled critical communication with the outside world, providing the party with new opportunities and challenges moving forward.