Rise of the Runelords Recap # 93 [RPG]

[3 Pharast 4708 continued]

The Heroes of Varisia are reeling in the aftermath of their first foray into the Shimmering Veils, the wing of Runeforge dedicated to the sin of Pride and its associated Thassilonian school of magic, Illusion.  Yuzo is dead, Jinkatsyu collapses into unconsciousness, and the other three are concerned that more duplicates could emerge from the mirrors at any time.  When Kang hears spellcasting in the distance, he, Ava, and Erik decide an immediate retreat is called for; but when they carry Yuzo and Jinks with them to where the portal out of Runeforge should be, all they find is a blank brick wall!  Kang tries to blow it open with an alchemical explosive, but barely chips it, and Erik’s experimentation with the hidden lever in the Abjurant Halls of Envy has no effect.  As Ava starts to panic, the three heroes settle on a plan.  They’ll hide Yuzo and Jinkatsyu in the rubble in that wing and continue searching for a way out.

The ability to attack with perfect coordination and focus
 made these wizards a deadly thread indeed!

The three return to the mirrored hallway.  Advancing carefully to where the T-junction turns left and right, Erik closes his eyes, reaches around the corner with his pistol, and fires.  His bullet shatters the mirror to the left just a doppelganger was beginning to form, and it dissipates instantly.  But another duplicate emerges from the mirror down the corridor to the right, and opens fire!  But although it shouts repeatedly that it’s the real Erik, its aim is terrible and a cascade of bullets and bombs destroys it quickly.  Erik shoots the mirror it came from, and the threat of the duplicate adventurers is contained.

Ava suggests checking on the companions they left behind, but Kang insists they’re fine.  He urges the trio to press on, proclaiming confidence that there’s nothing here he can’t handle.  Indeed, he even takes point, boldly striding forward into an immense cathedral with mirrored walls, immense chandeliers, and a massive decorative peacock atop a dais in the center.  Six identical human men are present, standing in a row.  Each is immaculately dressed with shoulder-length blond hair, and they move and speak in perfect unison:  “The master is in his study—he is not to be disturbed,” they say in Thassilonian.  “Please keep your screaming to a minimum while you are punished for daring to venture this close to his magnificence.”

Kang moves to hurl a bomb at them, but all six snap their fingers and disappear from view.  Instants later, a barrage of magical attacks begin from the invisible figures, all perfectly coordinated.  Erik barely survives cascade after cascade of magic missiles, Ava shakes off a series of mental attacks, and all three heroes are blasted by fireballs.  The adventurers dodge in and out of cover and return fire, with Erik’s supernatural ability to see invisible creatures allowing him to direct Kang on where to lob bombs for maximum effect.  Ava darts back and forth to keep her allies alive until the unusual happens: the party’s healer is herself brought down!  Erik grabs his grippli ally and gets to cover, shouting that they’ll have to make a run for it.  But Kang is insistent: “the fight is not over yet—we can still win.  I can still win!” he shouts.  Erik forces a healing potion down Ava’s throat to bring her back to consciousness, and she expends her most powerful magicks to heal herself and her allies.  But the situation is truly dire, as Ava is low on spells, Kang is almost out of bombs, Erik is almost out of bullets, and the coordinated attacks of the invisible wizards continue to pour in.  The adventurers make one last assault and somehow manage to win through, as their opponents have also exhausted their most powerful magical attacks.  Curiously, their foes melt into puddles of snow when they die, confirming speculation that they were something far different than mere humans.

A search of the cathedral-like chamber reveals a secret door behind one mirrored-panel, and beyond it lies a cozy study full of scrolls and books.  In a far corner, slumped in a chair, is the body of a man wearing rich robes and a cloak made of peacock feathers.  An elegant mirror is clutched in his hand, and a book and quill sit on the table before him.  It looks as if he died only moments ago, and, curiously, he looks identical to the six wizards the adventurers just battled.  Kang’s familiarity with Thassilonian script allows him to skim the book on the table, and he discovers it’s the journal of a wizard named Vraxeris.  The journal makes several references to Karzoug, the Runelord of Greed, as “quickening” (returning) before Vraxeris’ own master, Xanderghul; of how weapons empowered with enhancement and illusion magic could be turned against Karzoug; how Karzoug’s stronghold stands atop a peak called Mhar Massif; how a mystical circle in the Halls of Wrath might allow escape from Runeforge; and much more.  Kang realizes he’s only glimpsed the beginning of what the journal has to offer, and that a careful reading could provide additional insight.  Meanwhile, Erik finds several spellbooks full of illusion spells.

The Heroes of Varisia have come one step closer in their epic quest.  But now, trapped in Runeforge and with no easy way out, will they be able to overcome the threats that remain within while their resources dwindle?

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Director's Commentary

Jinkatsyu's player was unable for this session, hence his being unconscious for the duration.  I think Yuzo's player must have been as well, because even with a dead PC I would have found something for them to do.

I loved the encounter against the six coordinating invisible wizards.  We had to play it out a bit like Battleship with coordinates when the PCs tried to guess what squares they were in.  I don't think I've ever had six enemies with so much magical firepower all able to bring it to bear in such a focussed way.  It was an impressive display of artillery until they started running out of the good spells.

Kang's player did a great job with the role-playing, putting his character's affinity with pride to the max!