Session 33: The Stone Cold Truth
General Summary
Recovering from their recent battle against the crystal guardians, the young heroes had to decide what to do about Trent, who was still petrified in golden crystal. After a short discussion, the Dragoons decided to bring Trent to the statue of Lumina they saw three stories below. Bud Towers, Hero of Our Time, gave his backpack to Sir Percival to carry in order to haul the heavy crystalized form of their companion.
The path was cleared of most threats from the Dragoons’ first pass through the tower, so the descent was much quicker and less eventful than it was previously. Bud Towers, Hero of Our Time, was grunting with exertion as he carried the crystal Trent onward. Their labors paid off and they arrived at the statue of Lumina. Rath began praying for Lumina’s divine intervention. The familiar, warm power coursed through his body as Rath touched Trent, hoping for the best. Alas, the power left Rath’s hand into Trent’s petrified form but he remained immobilized in crystal. The despair of the group turned to desperation as they banded together, linked hands while holding their Dragon Stones, and prayed for Trent to return to himself. The group prayed as hard as it could, but the magic had left the statue.
To a certain Hero of Our Time, this was unacceptable. As he pressed the Dragon Stone of Earth to his friend’s chest, he reached out to Tervus, the Great Dragon of the Earth. He strained against the bond he shared with the Stone, desperate to find some way to help Trent. His Stone was sympathetic and concerned, but worried that the power Bud was asking to wield would be too much for mind and body. Still, Bud persisted, reaching out even further until he heard a familiar, gravelly voice in his mind. Tervus spoke, cautioning his Chosen against recklessness.
Tervus spoke and asked Bud, “What are you willing to give up to save your friend?”. Bud responded, “Anything. I will not lose another friend if it is within my power to save them” It was then Bud swore an Oath to be Devoted to his friends in the hope that he could bear this burden to aid his friend. To tap into this power, more than he was ready for, Bud swore to Tervus to uphold the tenets of this oath: honesty, courage, compassion, honor, and duty. “So be it,” rumbled Tervus in Bud’s mind, “It. Is. Done.”
While the others were deep in prayer, the mind of Bud Towers became a storm of thought and emotion. The Hero of Our Time reached out and touched the divine, straining his connection to his Dragon Stone. It was then that he was imbued with unimaginable power, indeed much more than his mortal body could contain. This power, it would seem, would come at a steep price. His skin turned pale and then grey, moss and jade crystals growing. His skin cells solidified and separated, becoming scales akin to his appearance during a Rage. As Bud took Trent’s burden upon himself, Bud’s body slowly turned to stone as Trent’s crystalized form melted away to reveal clothing and flesh.
Trent was tired, bleeding and disoriented. Taking in a breath as Bud seemed to breathe his last, now frozen in place like a statue. Rath applied a healing herb to stem recently awakened hero’s pain. All of the Dragoons were awestruck, then became increasingly concerned about this turn of events. Thankfully, after a minute, Bud Towers, Hero of Our Time, slowly began to stir. Dust and stone flaked off his joints as he slowly stood, attempting to speak but finding his new form unwilling to comply. His body still seemed to be partially made of stone, and he was unable to operate his own body due to its full mobility due to this rigidity. As the minutes passed, his motions became more fluid, but he did not return to his former self. He was now paying the cause of performing a miracle. Bud seemed exhausted, stiff, and barely capable of thinking. Forcing out a single word was an arduous task. However, he reached out to Trent to help him up.
Bud Towers, The Man of Stone, determined to continue their quest to save Eva, began walking up the stairs. During the time it took him to go up half a flight of stairs, the rest of the group devised a plan, healed up, and decided how to move forward. They joined Bud Towers, The Man of Stone, on the stairs and ascended again.
They stood before the double doors, ready to continue their mission, which opened now because of the lodestone Stanwick had in his pocket. Pushing through the double doors the Dragoons walked up a flight of ascending stairs where they found a 2 tiered room. There was an arcane device that was completely irresistible to Rath. He moved forward as quickly as he could, stepping on a pressure plate and causing a massive explosion. After coming to his senses and wiping away the smoke, Rath realized this place was dangerous and perhaps they should have checked for traps.
Stanwick moved forward and looked over the trap, but was unable to discern the nature of the trap. After jumping through the trap and avoiding it, Stan began carefully exploring. Meanwhile Bud smashed his Jar of Dirt to cast Jump with his Bulette Shield and started yeeting people over the trap. With the party across the massive trap, they began to inspect the arcane device at the far end of the room. Stan also took a moment to give a rune-covered stone arch a once-over, seeing it was imbued with conjuration magic associated with travel. There was a large, golden-red button at the center. The party moved into the area of the device and, seeing no other options, Stan pressed the button. There was some whirring as a bright flash of light and loud crack left the group slightly blinded and deafened.
As they came to, they saw a massive, winged construct formed of magic and lighting and golden light with two cannon arms come down and take aim at the party. Without hesitation, Stan raised Starpiercer and fired a devastating shot at the creature, the force disrupting its force and causing it to spark and sputter as it wavered in the air. The group piled onto the room’s guardian as it battered some aside and sent lightning crashing through the room. In the end, they made quick work of the construct which flew back into the machine, activating a swirling gate within the nearby archway. Beyond, yet another staircase.
At the top of the staircase came the peaceful melody of a familiar song, the Goddess’ Hymn, sung by an even more familiar voice – Eva. They came to the top of the staircase and there were four people: Eva, Lemarra, Phelindria, and Croyze. All but Eva turned and asked why the party was there. Eva, somehow entranced, looked at the team with despair while she sang.
Before an answer could be given, Vaylin teleported into the room. Energy came forth from his hands and shattered the mask of the confused woman that the heroes had rescued from the dungeon. Her face was that of Lemarra. She screamed “Witch! Imposter!” at the other Lemarra. The false Lemarra stated that it was time for her revelation as she and her cohorts raised themselves into the air and transformed into beautiful and terrifying visages of the legendary evil Dark Ones. They struck a pose and smirked at the group.
Not-Lemarra stated that they were the descendants of the Dark Ones, the ancient servants of Abyssos, and Croyze added that she could see the future and deception and despair awaited them. Phelindria waved her hand and the curses that she previously removed from Trent’s armor returned, disorienting him as he fell to his knees. Ziennophia, as the Not-Lemarra revealed her name to be, threatened revenge for interfering with their ritual. “High Priestess” Phelindria turned and remorsefully stated that there was no hope and to abandon their quest. Croyze added that their paths would cross again. Then, pushing against the three women with his magic, Vaylin banished them to parts unknown.
After the women were banished, there was a rumbling and trembling. The pointed star rune circle they were standing on shuddered with power, dark mist rolling in to coalesce into five statutes that appeared. Everyone was sucked into the rune circle, hovering over an endless void like that of the starlit sky. Above was also a sea of mist and stars. These five statues came to life as draconic humanoids, walking mockeries of the Wyrm Lords themselves, mirroring their weapons and abilities. They began to move as if alive, bearing down on the Dragoons. Chaos ensued as Vaylin turned his attention to a massive stone demon that was sent to occupy his time. After a long, inventive, and exhausting battle, the Dragoons stood triumphant. There, they paused to take stock of the situation.
Rewards Granted
- 10 Enchanted Lodestone (100 gp)
- 1 Enchanted Opal (150 gp)
Character(s) interacted with
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