Once again taking a cautious approach, Gurruk used Turrick’s potion of clairvoyance and sent one of
his pit vipers into the fortress as a remote set of eyes. The snake found
circular chamber containing a number of cells (one occupied by an orkin
prisoner), a torture chamber, and a room full of strange machinery plus some
strange amorphous blob. Plus a set of stairs going up. With no apparent danger
in the room the rest of the party climbed out of the sewer. First order of
business was release of the orkin prisoner. Once over his initial fright, the
orkin told everything he knew. Captured to work in the kitchen, the orkin had
been caught stealing bread and tortured before being imprisoned here. “Here”
was the lowest level of Keep Tower, the main tower of the fortress. “He Who
Walks in Metal” could be found on the upper levels of the tower. The orkin was
also able to roughly sketch out the fortress layout before heading down the
sewer grate and on to freedom.
Determined to get to the top of the tower as quickly as possible, the
party sent the pit viper up the stairs to scout once more. The next level
consisted of a single chamber with a set of double doors leading out into the
fortress, and a large round table and a throne. Plus four hobgoblin guards and
a mountain lion. With a rush the party surprised and eliminated them before
sending the snake up the next set of stairs. This floor was bisected by a
single corridor, off of which was a ballroom and a chapel or temple. This the
party skipped completely, and instead headed up the stairs (since by this time
the potions effects had worn off). Confronted by a number of doors, they party
wanted to make sure their backs were secure before heading any further up the
tower. Although the clairvoyance was
now worn off, Gurruk sent the snake
under each door and had it return and tell if anyone was inside. In one room,
two hobgoblins were seen, so the party bashed in the door and charged in with
swords swinging. Unfortunately, one of the hobgoblins was able to grab a horn
and blow the alarm before the two were cut down by the party. The party
couldn't rest for long though, as another 4 hobgoblin sergeants burst out of
the other rooms (the snake didn't mention the other doors in those rooms).
Several more were slain, but the last two chose to surrender. With a sword to
his neck, one hobgoblin was forced over to the window to shout out 'false alarm'
to the troops racing towards the tower. These backed off and returned to
barracks after just a little bit of grumbling.
The prisoners reveled that the last two floors were the private
apartments and chambers of 'He Who Walks in Metal". They also revealed the
presence of further guards, not hobgoblins but mechanical and magical
beings. Quickly locking the prisoners in
the basement dungeon for safe keeping, the party headed up to the next floor.
Entering a foyer, they spied two metal man-like constructs guarding a pair of
double doors. They attacked immediately with swinging fists when the party
approached, and in short order were a collection of metal parts on the floor.
Exploring beyond the double doors, a hall, a study and a bedchamber were found.
In the study Darnorth recovered a red leather portfolio, as well as a small gem
and strange metal cylinder (narrow with a point). The bedroom showed little
sign of use, but in another adjoining room (through a trapped and locked door)
was a most unusual sight. In the centre sat a 5 foot tall, 3 foot diameter
glass cylinder. Inside it was a smaller cylinder, this one filled with green
glowing goo. On top sat a brass plate with curious round and square patterns,
plus a small cylinder and a cube made of metal. Debate ensued over what it
might be and what should be done with it, but in the end the decisions was to
press on to confront ‘He Who Walks in Metal”.
So out the door and up the stairs they went.
Here the party found itself in a corridor to seem to go around the
outer perimeter of the tower. On the inside was a curved metal wall, which formed
a tall hemisphere in the centre of this level. Access was via four unusual
doors; they were round and in the form of an iris. Further investigation was
delayed when Bjeorn was suddenly struck from behind and slain by a gelatinous
cube that slid up behind the party. With half the party still on the stairs, it
was a tight fight. But the cube was soon destroyed, and Turrick picked a few
handfuls of gold coins out of the remaining pile of ooze. With no time to morn
for Bjeorn, the party turned its attention again to the doors. Kern examined
them, and found them locked, but could see no way to unlock it. After some
fiddling around, Riley’s solution was to simply knock. From inside came a low
hollow voice: “Enter”. The door opened and Riley, Darnorth and Kern entered
before the door once again closed behind them, leaving the rest of the party in
the outer corridor. Here they saw,
sitting on a metal throne and flanked by two metal-man constructs, “He Who
Walks in Metal”. “He” was a tall and slender humanoid, with faintly red skin
and vaguely hobgoblin features, wearing a tight fitting mesh jumpsuit. Back and
forth questioning began, the the party learned a little about the strange
creature. “He” told the party he was an Iza’ka, an ancient race from beyond the
stars. In ages past, his race had used this planet as a battleground against
another race from beyond space and time, and in the aftermath of that titanic
battle (which in human legend was known as the “Godswar”), the Iza’ka were
stranded here. While most of his race was indifferent to and, except as a
source of slaves, ignored humans and other sentient life, “He” burned with a
hatred for them. And so he had raised this hobgoblin army and now was going to
use it to crush the lands of men.
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