B1E21- Ythryn at Last

Jarl (human Wizard, Bill), Mareshi (human Cleric, Tony), Draggo (Dragonborn Barbarian, Brian), Thokk (half-Orc Warlock, Duane), Knott (Firbolg Druid, Matt), Fabian (1/2 elf Bard, Goeff)

Room with purple pear trees: Initially suspicious of the unnatural fruit, each of us ate one and gained knowledge of different spells. Fabian spoke elvish with the Dryad forest keeper (Hathowyn), learning that 3 Drow from the Underdark recently passed thru here from the 5^th passage to the 3^rd, carrying crossbows. We were only the second living thing she’d seen pass her way.

While we saw movement just inside the 4^th passage (Hathowyn described them as Nothics), we entered the 3^rd in pursuit of the Drow. Thokk’s light spell revealed the 3 Drow floating 30ft in the air (out of melee range). Thus, spells and ranged weapons prevailed, to include their casting of Black Tentacles to hinder our movement. But we prevailed and sorted thru their possessions: a spell associated with the demon domain, a staff, and hand-crossbows with poisoned bolts.

We returned to Hathowyn’s room for a long rest (her soothing songs and Fabian’s lute). We were tempted to enter the 4^th passage with the Nothics but learned a magical barrier held them at bay (as long as the barrier held, they were not a threat). Hathowyn told the story of these Nothic: Netherese spellcasters who survived the crash of the city only to become afflicted by an arcane blight malady that transformed them into these one-eyed aberrant creatures.

City lights: Come morning, we re-entered the 3^rd passage and soon came upon the fabled City of Ythryn. There were green and purple lights, broken domes and causeways, and some toppled statues. 

One statue stood out: wearing an executioner’s hood while its chest was a huge maw! No movement to draw our attention. The city was canted at a 45 degree angle, yet when we stepped on its surface, it was as if gravity adjusted to our setting.

Y3 Gladiatorial Arena: A low hum emanated from the 3 trident-wielding statues within the arena where a trophy was on display. Thokk stepped forward to activate the challenge but turned to leave before the timer started when 6 blue-attired images appeared. Jarl performed the ritual Augury to learn the challenge was a form of ‘dodgeball’. Thus, Knott stepped forward with the rest of us in tow to compete in the game. Knott was the first to throw a ball but his target caught the ball which triggered an audible announcement “Your out!” Members from each side were eliminated until Jarl faced off against the last blue image. The wizard used his portent & luck abilities to win the match but the trophy went to the first contestant (Knott): of mithril construct with 3 blue gemstones, the magical item was identified as Good-Luck.

Y2 Talons: And that’s when we noticed the pods that circled the city wall. They looked like claws attached, each identical as if they served the same purpose. Maybe they held the city hovering in the sky. Did they fail and thus the city fell?

Y4 Tower: The symbol atop the tower drew us forward along with the blue light from its high window. Thokk entered first and acted irritated as if bothered by something whispering in his brain. We joined him before circular stairs that spiraled upwards to a trapdoor. Centered in the next room was a huge anvil and hammer guarded by six armored blue constructs. Thru Knott, Prof Skant translated the instructions etched on the ceiling, “First, Shield thy heart with a wand from the nether oak to enter the tower.” Mareshi cast Speak with the Dead to learn more: there are 8 ways to enter the tower, the wand is in the forest, the library is in the wizard Eolarthos’ tower, there are 8 steps to enter the tower. Knott tried to approach the hammer, but his nearness activated the constructs who drew swords to block his path.

Y8  Building: As we circled a walled section of the city, we stopped to investigate a ruined building. Its exterior design looked like 8 talons rose from the street as if to grasp the building in their clutches. Jarl cast Arcane Eye to search ahead in the building where the interior looked more like a lecture hall with 8 stained-glass windows providing light. The different colors suggested each window represented a different school of magic. On a lectern at the head of the hall was a goblet adorned with 8 colored crystals and containing a steaming-hot liquid. Knott stepped forward to drink and cast the illusion of his face melting to tease the rest of us too timid to try the same. When laughter finished, Knott told how he was imbued with the knowledge ability to cast a minor cantrip. Since the goblet refilled with the hot liquid, it was passed around for others to gain their own minor cantrip. We soon realized this was a central lecture hall to discuss all spell domains. But when Mareshi tried to take the goblet outside the hall, it froze over.

Nothics: Back on the street heading to the forest, we were confronted by 6 nothic aberrations. Mareshi tried to talk with them but quickly read their single-eyes raging with ghoulish intent. The street echoed with the aura of battle magic casted between the assailants. When the last nothic fell, Jarl seemed to have taken the worst of their necrotic spells. Mareshi took time to heal the wizard.

Y7 Tower: The tower was bathed in yellow light. Magic brooms were hard at work keeping the interior clean despite the tower being ruined in the city’s crash. We climbed the stairs where we found 4 giant magical hands guarding an ornamental model of a tower. Did they guard this model or were they a portent image of another real tower being guarded by larger magical hands?!

Next Episode: https://wjrrofm.blogspot.com/2025/01/b1e22-tracking-towers.html