Peering at the flashes of lightning over the next rise are:
- Dan: Kiara, elf Ras Godai
- Rick: Bjorr, 1/2 orc Paladin
- Seana: Zanegar, 1/2 orc Sea Wolf
- Dave: Darkmist, elf Thief
- Andrea: Gabor, goblin Priest
- Chris: Thorn, dwarf Wizard
- Roger: Drom, dwarf Desert Rider
The party cautiously rode forward, along with the four adventurers they had met after setting off the drum sands. A stepped pyramid came into view, with occasional lightning strikes tagging two obelisks near its apex. Finally, Drom was able to explore a ziggurat!
Margon, the dwarf wizard, assessed the lightning (he seems to have some aptitude towards energy magic) and agreed with the party's guess that it may be powering something.
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| source |
The others circumnavigated the structure, watching the lightning strikes, as the party beelined to the door at ground level. The brass double doors showed signs of an attempted breach. They also resisted the party's efforts, with multiple attempts by both strong and erudite types. Fine. The party circled the base of the tower (random lightning) and found a matched pair on the opposite site. With some work, Bjorr and Zanegar were able to pry them open, and wedge them open to prevent magics, etc. from swinging them closed again. They entered a chamber dominated by a carved basalt column. The column and glyph-covered stone tablets indicated the pyramid to be in honor of a god of craftspeople. Darkmist assessed doors exiting the chamber, finding them to be trapped. Some manipulation, and whatever trigger caused the door to slam open, smashing an intruder, was defused.
As the party began to move to the next chamber, three brilliant beings manifested from the pillar behind them, guardians of this place.
Darkmist, "Can I get behind one and surprise it?"
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| "Um, no." |
Fine, we'll fight them honestly. The three "angels" rained glass blades on the party, as the party lashed back. Fortunately, the guardians, for being intimidating and such, were relatively fragile. (Note: I had two guardian types and inadvertently grabbed the "weaker" ones during play. That's ok, more guardians will await elsewhere...).
Guardians vanquished, the party moved to other areas - a gallery full of idols, from simple household idols to valuable temple votives. Another chamber, mirroring the first (Door traps disabled, room not entered for fear of more guardians).
While poking around, Darkmist or Kiara stumbled on a offset plaque which revealed a secret door. The small chamber within contained a ladder to the upper level and a number of containers. Pharan bravely ascended, only to be shocked as another bolt of lightning struck the complex. Shaking it off, he found another chamber with arrow slots and a narrow passage. Others joined him, and a pair of secret doors were found in the narrow passage. On let out to the exterior platform, and the second inward. Pharan and a couple of others stepped outside to get their bearings. And another lighting strike. OK, back inside. That other secret door as interesting because of the noises. You know, chants and all...
Pharan cracked the door, which was essentially a 3x3 passageway at waist height. Of course it was a serpent-folk sorcerer summoning a demon... Which he sent after Pharan.
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| Hi! |
Pharan retreated, and fortunately the narrow passage limited the demon's movement and abilities. The party was able to restrict it and finally wear it down, in spite of its resistances. That's ok, the sorcerer then sent more guards - altered serpent-folk with four arms. These fellows negotiated the passage slightly better, and were able to engage the party, but were, too, worn down.
The party pursued the sorcerer, who retreated to the top exterior of the pyramid. Here they were pincered between the party and the remains of Margon's party, who had been engaged with other guards.
Serpent-folk cleared out, the party descended back into the core of the pyramid, finding another hidden chamber. This one contained more apparent offerings. As they poked around, they were confronted by an apparition. It assessed their intentions, and decided not to disintegrate them.
Hasstus, a crafter's god. Long forgotten and faded. He had been disturbed by the serpent-folk calling lightning. Asking after the party's quest, he replied with, ah the city - the name depended on its inhabitants - The snakemen, the elementalists, the First Wisdom, the frog-aliens...?
Anyway, I sense the serpentfolk were trying to create a resource. No need, the material was already here - pointing to several containers of fulgerite and tektite. You may take them - they may be of use in the City.
The party and Margon's survivors rested, with Margon intending to stay at the pyramid, and the party continuing onward....
DM Notes:
Full table, always appreciated, although I lose planning details. Looking at my map scribblings, I found a number of elements I forgot (besides mixing up guardians...). Still a challenge to slow down enough to create viable challenges, or describe situations or environment. More to improve upon. So we'll be picking up at the pyramid to sweep up some mind-debris....
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