Session 48: Beneath the Weeping Willow Report
General Summary
The Scales research lead them to three possible avenues of entry to the ancient lair. The first is thru the dragon aviary high in the mountains, the second an ancient teleport circle somewhere in the wilderness, and third, an entrance thru the city that once supported the lair. Opting for the city the Scales set out upon borrowed Drakes. Several days travel would bring them to the Ruins of the Green Dragon Clan city, whose name has since been lost to the ancient paths of history. Very little remained of city, Clan Darkgrove is well known for bending the forest magically to suit their needs in building, bits of stone work can be found, overgrown and partially buried where the warped wood would not suffice. Late into the afternoon the Scales searched for clues over the ruins, A'lar finally finding something of note. Carved upon a dais of a former monument read; "Beneath the Weeping Willows boughs, where Silver Tears, meet the Emerald Moss. When the Moons reflection dances on still Sapphire waters. Whisper the name upon the breeze of the ancient Lord. The earth shall grant passage to the Dragons Lair." After some deliberation the Scales would find a willow who had begun to shed its silvery leaves with Autumns zenith and winters coming. Digging beneath the Willow they would find and ancient pool, part of a once glorious fountain perhaps. Clearing and cleaning the basin they would fill it with water, patching cracks and would await the moons rise. As its light hit the pool, the stones beneath would shine with a sapphire blue in the moonlit reflection, Adalon would smile and state aloud, "Saellryth." Nothing seemed to happen. A'lar would clear his throat, "Ahem it said Whispered." Adalon would smirk slightly and whisper "Saellryth." The ground would crack and shake lightly as an ancient passage opened with stairs leading down beneat the ruins of the city.
The winding cave network had long since been collapsed, signs of ancient carving hidden under rubble. Longwei would find the passage forward blocked by fallen debris. Setting out to clear it the Scales soon found themselves before a great gate, carved into the stone of the tunnels. The cast door looked well preserved, iconography of Clan Darkgrove scrawled upon it. Indalell set about to picking the lock, the great gates swinging open. The are within was awash in light, and a massive pillar with a dragon winding around it, its head watching the door lay before them. As Ismaril strode forward the eyes of the dragon statue would come alive and a great read beam would shoot out at Ismaril. She would duck and roll out of the way as its eyes shifted to the others. Soon rays of various colors would fly forth. Indalell would be struck, finding that he could no longer see, left in darkness as he was blinded. Ismaril and Longwei would duck into a nearby corridor as A'lar changed his appearance with his magics to appear as a servant of Saellryth, which seemed to convince the security device. He would next use a wand of dispel to weaken the defenses as Ismaril moved into the following room. The pillar still firing its multi colored rays but weakened from A'lars magic, Adalon and Ayrien would go about attempting to disrupt the magical runes powering it. Ismaril however would find an armory, with rows and rows of weapon racks. With a clatter many of the various weapons would float to life and drive at her, she would parry and dodge as best she could but many cuts were made from the floating weapons. Slamming the door shut and holding it closed she would hear axes cut and hammers smash trying to get thru to her, "We do not want to go in there" she would say thru panting breaths. "Go in where?" a blind Indalell would offer as he was feeling his way into the corridor. Adalon, Ayrien and A'lar would finally disable the pillar, the scales turning to deal with the floating weapons. Blast of breath weapons from the Drakania and Ayriens ring of the ram would destroy the floating weapons, allowing the scales to move on. A'lar would offer a flask of water taken from the Giants pool to Indalell. Upon drinking his vision would return, thanking A'lar for the magical water.
Longwei would open the door ahead and peaking thru he would find many humanoid figures, blue, made of energy, moving about cleaning and repairing the lair. Closing it behind him he would alert the others. As the scales moved on they would find these magical servants restoring and cleaning this lair, likely explaining its good condition after supposed destruction. A'lar pressing on ahead would find the throne room. As Adalon and his Drake strode forward, the great statues of armored warriors holding swords along the wall would come to life. The swords would become encased in their torsos behind a magical field and great magical blades would fill their hands as they strode forward with heavy thuds. The energy blades would cut into Adalonds Drake as two of the magical servants turned on the Scales and attempted to restrain them. Rushing forward the scales would take heavy blows from the Swordkeeper Sentinels but eventually they would surround them. Adalon would spin his draconic tail pulling the feet out from one and sending it crashing to the floor. Indalell would skillfully steal the suspended sword from their chest, causing the magical sword to vanish, forcing the great suit of armor to punch and thrash. Ayriens arrows would pierce one and pin it to the ground, allowing Adalon to dispatch it. Turning to the second, Idnalel would repeat his discovery robbing the creature of the sword which magically powered its weapon. A'lar by now would have taken a seat upon the throne as he gave his encouragement to the others, as Ismaril rounded on the second suit her rapier crackling with psionic energy piercing the Swordkeeper. Longwei would emerge behind it delivering a rushing blow with his fist, securing the throne room. This lairs defenses seemed quite operational, the Scales could only Speculate what it was they would find next.