The Spire
5/30/1999
Prelude
The Spire?
At last you have succeeded in something
Begging your pardon Master, but I have never failed you
Really? What of the caves and the mold?
I was not yet in your employ; had I had the guidance of your wisdom, I would doubtless have succeeded
Ah, you have a gift for flattery, I like that...
I had hoped you would, (brief pause) your Grace
Sigh of contentment
Summary of the Adventure
The company has travelled nearly a week through the mountains and can finally see the Spire. It's located on a rocky outcrop with a single path leading in. They can also see that there are about 100 kobolds and ten or so Urd in the immediate area. The Urd live in caves above the outcrop, while the Kobolds live in a half-dozen tents. The tower itself is impressive, over 100' tall and with only one door. The location is mired in perpetual shadow, and the whole cleft is cooler than one would expect.
After determining that there are too many monsters to go head-to-head, Taernac casts invisibility on Andi who performs some reconnaissance. He returns three hours later and reports that all three of the Urd caves are connected. He's seen only 4 Urd, but there could be many more; there are dining arrangements for at least two dozen. The Kobolds live in crappy tents and are guarding a shed with members of the Burning Tree tribe of orcs in it. The tower seems to have only one entrance, and he hasn't seen any humans at all.
A brief consultation leaves the company with a simple plan: confuse the kobolds by freeing the orcs and starting a fire, then enter the tower in the confusion. Andi returns and pours some oil on two of the kobold tents. He then climbs atop the orcs prison and passes some spare weapons through the roof to them. When the time is right, he uses a rope to lift the heavy bar which holds them in.
The orcs burst free and immediately begin killing kobolds. The rest of the group rushes towards the tower. While Taernac knocks the door, Andi and Brother Urbane set fire to the tents. The group is in the tower before any of the kobolds even notice them. They slam and lock the door behind them.
They are immediately set upon by two skeletal guardians. The creatures have a greenish light glowing in their eyes and prove much tougher than normal skeletons. Even as the company kills the first one, they are assailed by magic and the room erupts in a writhing mass of tentacles. Most of the tentacles fail to find their mark and only Calidon and the remaining guardian are actually held. When the guardian dies, the tentacle grabs Taernac. The fight doesn't last long though and the tentacles are destroyed quickly. While Urbane mocks the wizard who cast the decidedly ineffectual spell, he casts another, as does his priest ally. Neither has an obvious effect.
Giving up on berating them, Urbane dictates that they take a nap. The priest falls prey to the spell but the wizard does not. When Calidon attacks him, Androth somehow takes the wounds. Not sure if the spell is linked to Androth or Calidon, the group slows down their attacks. Androth cuts his own thumb to see if the two of them are connected. As he realizes the spell doesn't link them, the wizard triggers an escape mechanism and his whole throne flips back, leaving only a blank wall.
At this point, the company discovers that they can't tell the truth without extreme effort. Several strange minutes ensue as no one is, at first, able to figure out the problem. The initial assessment suggests that only Daran is affected, but it soon becomes clear that all of them are.
Hampered slightly by this problem, they search the dead priest and the two guardians. Checking the rest of the first floor finds some maps and an elven girl named Millicent who is apparently Nerundall's cook. She is afraid to leave and is immune to the effects of the lying aura. She says the master somehow released her from it when it proved too difficult for her to talk to his guests. She refuses to leave, fearing for her life, and continues to make dinner.
The company takes the spiral staircase up and finds the Baron and the half-orc Gerbald at the top of the stairs. They head back down, intending to make good their escape. When they open the door, they find that about 90 kobolds and a dozen or so Urd are waiting for them. They shut and lock the door and decide to try the master first. Gerbald is given a sword and some armor and agrees to guard the Baron and the girl while the group continues.
They are interrupted by the arrival of Errol, an elf who was drummed out of the Home Guard. He challenges Taernac to single combat and, after several minutes trying to beat the lie aura, Taernac accepts. The battle is surprisingly short and Taernac wins it with ease. The black blade of Errol's sword glows, then engulfs him, leaving only the hilt of his sword. Taernac picks it up, taking care not to touch it, and they head back upstairs.
They make their way to the library, where they are attacked by shadows. Another power of Androth's sword is revealed when the shades are suddenly enveloped in a bright glow. The company kills them fairly easily. While they search the room, they are attacked by a disembodied hand. Taernac makes short work of it and they find another secret door.
They open the door and find Nerundall sitting upon his "Seat of All-Seeing". A quick magic missile by Daran misses and Nerundall claims that while he sits in the chair, he is invincible. Brother Urbane resonds with a command that he stand and, when he does, the now visible Andi drives a sword through his chest. Even as he dies, the company is attacked again
Suspecting a trick, Daran finds a ladder which has been cloaked in some sort of illusion. He climbs it, but is kicked down by a boot from above. Androth is stronger and faster and pulls himself onto the roof while Taernac clings to the wall, sword poised.
The fight on the roof is short and the mage dies quickly and is beheaded. Androth strips him, then tosses his dead body to the kobolds below. The Urd signal a truce and agree to give the party a day of safe passage. Brother Urbane attempts to negotiate better terms, but the Urd are uncooperative. He returns to the lower level, while Taernac and Androth discuss this treaty.
Down below a shadowy figure coalesces onto the throne, claims to be the real Nerundall finally set free, makes some threats and then disappears. No one knows if it was real or an illusion, although everyone has there suspicions.
A renewed search of the keep turns up some papers which show that Errol was trying to discredit a captain of the Home Guard when Taernac got in the way and was drummed out instead. He planned to kill the elven king. Another set of papers shows Nerundall's military plans for the area. Brother Urbane memorizes them and gives a map showing Urd locations to Gerbald.
The company returns the Baron to his keep and now most of them plan to go the Elf Lands once the Baron has given them leave to go
In Character Moment(s) of the Night
Taernac: They're undead, can't you turn them or something?
(Brother Urbane smashes a skeletal guardian with his axe)
Urbane: Turned.Taernac: Those orcs owe me a dagger!
Androth: You can pry if from their cold, dead fingers
Player Moment(s) of the Night
GM: You see a disembodied hand reaching for Andi as he stoops over
Dave: Does it look like Mikes?Dave: I attack
GM: Attack what, you can't see anything
All (in unison): The darknessGM: Is anyone taking notes?
Joe: I am, but I'm not writing down anything Dave says; he's 50 XPs ahead of me!
The Loot
Calidon Boots of Flying (15" movement, class A) Taernac Sword +1, +2 vs. Evil Magic
Boccob's Blessed BookDaran Pearl of Power (level 3)
Bracers of Defense AC 4Andi Eyes of Minute Seeing
Leather +2
Magic SwordEach player also received 185 gold. Also found were numerous books on enchantment and illusions, some papers detailing Nerundall's plans, and letters exhonerating Taernac of his crimes.
Experience Summary
Player Adventure Bonuses, penalties and what not Total Andivarai Shea 8,000 Scouting +200
Swords and weapons +30022,200 Androth 8,400 Watching the keep +100
"We've got the baron" +500
Note taking +200
Asking for Healing +10027,450 Brother Urbane 8,800 Dictate +100
Command +100
Burn the tents +500
Note taking +200
Healing Androth +200
Gerbald gets the Urd maps +20027,000 Calidon 7,500 22,100 Daran 8,000 Saving Books +500 24,350 Taernac Ftr: 4,400
M-U: 5,000Invisibility +100
Knock +500
Camouflage +100
Single Combat +200
Evidence to clear name +1000Ftr: 12,100
M-U: 13,750Variances in experience points are due to good ideas, roleplaying and class abilities.
