Session Report 88

General Summary

After hearing the sounds of machines, the Muskrats charged into the ruined library. They discovered various clockwork machines working in the library searching through the books. The Muskrats charged in with the help of Counter Saval Nasso. As they battled the pugilists, two clockwork scorpions appeared. The Muskrats had no issue dispatching the clockworks and were feeling especially confident. In the shadows of the ruined library, the Muskrats saw a man attempting to sneak by. When confronted by Muskrats, the man revealed that he was Terry, a man that the Muskrats had met a long time ago when first confronting the Dollmaker. Terry revealed that his brother Jerry had died when hunting down the Dollmaker to attempt to get revenge. He explained that the Dollmaker went to Tritemeus to attempt and get revenge against the Muskrats for ruining his life. Tritemeus then sent the Dollmaker to operate in the catacombs of House Vassa where he has remained for over two years waiting to get revenge against the Muskrats. 
While the Muskrats talked with Terry, Cambio discovered a hidden chamber beyond one of the walls of the library. The hidden chamber contained a riddle. "I am a symbol of life and death of change, of transition, of every breath. I'm the force that shapes all things with power that rules and chaos it brings. I am a mystery, beyond measure awe-inspiring, but can bring terror. In the end, all must face my might for I am the eternal, inevitable night." The Muskrats started to ponder what the answer to riddle could be. It was especially difficult because Itzal was missing. Dami started to wildly shout answers and when she shouted "time," a section of the wall opened revealing a hidden chamber. Within a chest the Muskrats found a Belt of Four Elements that Tazmeth promptly wrapped around his waist. 
Continuing through the library, Dami noticed a familiar altar. It had various runes and the characteristic grooves of a sacrificial altar for blood magic users. Dami knew from her devilish ties that altars such as this hid powerful items for those that recognized how the altars functioned. Dami didn't dare to attempt to get the altar functioning to see what treasures may lay hidden. The Muskrats continued traversing the catacombs of House Vassa in search of the Dollmaker to finally put an end to him. After a short time, the party came to a large bronze door with turning gears set into the door. The gears began to turn and the large doors swung open revealing a long chamber massive gears set into the ceiling. A narrow walk way led to a circular platform. The walkway was flanked by lava on both sides. Standing in the middle was Dorvyn, the Dollmaker. He was ecstatic that the Muskrats were there. His chance at revenge had finally come. Quickly a battle ensued with the Dollmaker's clockwork warriors charging in. The Muskrats dispatched the clockwork warriors with ease. The Dollmaker attempted to stay back and unleashed deadly blasts of cold magic one after another. However, the Muskrats, especially Cambio's attacks, proved to be too much and the Dollmaker was defeated. 
Or so the Muskrats believed. As his mortal body lay on the walkway dead, his soul transferred to a massive clockwork warforged that rose from the central circular platform. The warforged was unlike anything the Muskrats had ever seen. Fueled by the power of the Dollmaker's soul it charged forward. The warforged's left hand lifted open revealing a massive energy cannon that began to hum when it charged up with energy. The battle would take a deadly turn as repeatedly Dami was struck with necrotic blasts that nearly killed her each time. Only her incredible will allowed her to withstand the strength of the blasts. The warforged's right hand was replaced by a spinning sawblade that cut deep into Tazmeth when struck. He narrowly avoided being cut in half. Counter Saval block a couple powerful blasts that nearly struck Cambio. He could not allow any harm to come to his lord. Finally, Dami delivered a devastating strike that drove the warforged to the ground. The chest opened up, revealing a crystal used to hold the soul of the Dollmaker. The crystal was covered in complex runes. The spirit of the Dollmaker was seen bleeding out of it, his familiar form screamed his last cry of rage at the Muskrats as the glow of the crystal intensified. Just as the crystal was about to reach peak energy to detonate . . . a half-finished glyph shorted out, the gem cracked, and the Dollmaker's soul burned away into aether with a final, stunning failure. Barring a wish, the Muskrats had finally defeated the Dollmaker. Now only House Vassa stood in their way.

Report Date

19 May 2023