We gave some thought to chasing after Gertruda with a Feather Fall spell or some such but since we were off the initiative clock, we decided that encounter was over. The only two characters that took damage were arriving late so we decided to press on. We knew this tower connected to the tower with the heart gem via a bridge a couple of levels down. What we did not realize was that this stairway was an “express” in that it started at the first level and ended at the roof but did not access any levels between. We were so busy chasing the vampire, we did not realize. There was, in fact, another staircase that stopped in between. (What a bad design.) While we discussed that, Stradanya floated up with a broom in her hand. After a bit of witty banter, Ezra invited ourselves to dinner on the first level and she agreed. We started down but decided to continue with our original plan. Evidently, she overheard that but we went on. The NPC cast a telepathic communication spell so that she couldn’t overhear us anymore.
We went down, then across then up to the level we had stayed at once. This was a bit of slow going as we switched from map to map at each level. From there, was another stairway going further up. However, as we crossed over, looking at a trap door that we never got back around to with suspicion, the carpet animated. Ezra was attacked but not engulfed. We fired away. When Patrina went (last?) she cast Dispel Magic (after a suggested Arcana roll) and that stopped it. At least for 10 rounds. But we hacked it up since we’d likely be facing it again on the way back down. We got to the top level and could see the glow of the gem across the way. It was another long spiral staircase going up and down into the darkness. At our level, floating 15 away in the center was the beating gem.
Ambrus went first and bravely Misty Stepped over, used his Immovable Rod to hang from, and attacked it with his dagger. Unfortunately, this caused 10-12 halberds that were not on the map nor in the description, to animate. They flew at him and he was eventually surrounded on all sides. Including up and down. They didn’t hit often or do a lot of damage but it added up. Kaladin flew over, flurried, and started to fly back away. However, it was pointed out that if he stayed, Ambrus would get his sneak attack dice which are considerable these days. And maybe take some heat off him which didn’t seem to work. Since Ambrus was in midair, Kaladin was the only one that could help him. Loki fired away. In the middle of the round, 3-4 vampire spawn came crawling up as well. It got very crowded. Ezra concentrated on the spawn since he did extra damage against the undead. Loki shot at the gem since it wasn’t immune to necrotic. Lady Patrina itched to do a radiant fireball but had the usual friendly fire issues. The NPC unleashed her Steel Wind Strike and did a ton of damage to multiple opponents. After that, Stradanya and Ranadan showed up as well. We weren’t sure if they were there to watch, fight, taunt, or what. About then, Kharn showed up and using his last rage, attacked her.
She had legendary actions and lair actions and her normal actions. She charmed Kharn who only has a +2 Will save and was too far from Ezra. She grabbed the Levitating Lord Q and flung him 60 feet. It was looking dire however then NPC fired a Chain Lighting that finished off the gem and a spawn or two. Stradanya, who regenerated the one attack fully, looked very upset over this. We had been told that gem was responsible for her regeneration. She phased through the bridge and floated below it. Ranadan disappeared again with a +16 stealth roll. We finished off the foes and she simply fled down. Now what? According to the fortunes we were to face her in a hidden room behind a beautiful lady on a tower of treasure. The accountant said the real treasure was in the basement so that’s where we had to go.
However, Ambrus was battered and needed a short rest. Unfortunately, Kharn needed a long rest to reset his rages but we didn’t think we could wait that long. However, we did have that idol from the chapel. I don’t know if we ever properly identified it because Brian had missed so many games, however, it gave the holder the effects of Protection from Evil after attunement. That would make him immune to charms from evil creatures and best of all, it wasn’t a concentration spell. It had other powers that would only work for a Paladin or a Cleric but immune to charm was just what we needed. Luckily that attunement was a short rest as well. We decided to go up one level to the attic since it would, in theory, only have one entrance. Up there was a bed with restraints, an iron chest, and a ladder to a trap door to the roof. We did nothing and took that short rest. Afterward, Ambrus picked the lock and found an expensive crown. It looked like the one the former lord wore in one of the pictures downstairs. He put it on. Loki went up the ladder and when he opened the trap door, a bunch of Corpse Hands attacked. We stopped there.
Assuming we finish off the Hands with ease, it will be down to the basement. We could go down the stairs but we’d face that stone wall. Unless someone has a spell, it would take hours to bash through it. Or we could try our luck on the elevator which seemed to go down. Or we could follow Gertuda’s path, Feather Fall down from the other tower, and assume/hope it ended up in the basement. That would give us surprise, I’m betting, but would also give us nowhere to run. I.e. we can’t feather fall back up. To be debated next time.
