Demon Slayers of the Drinking Crow Sessions #62 & 63- Dreaming of Level 5

Following their journey into the World of Reflection and rescue of Fr. Bert, the Demon Slayers were not eager to return to adventuring. The experience by some members of the party was described as "harrowing". Inside, the group went their separate ways for a bit to engage in their lives in Orm.

Fr. Bert return to his stall in the market to smoke meats and feed the orphans of Orm. In the market, he ran into fellow cook Bludoon (who still manages his own street food stall in Dogmouth's old psychometry stand). Their conversations inspired them to return to 'The Complex' to try to discover some new ingredients for their recipes.

When the pair reconvened at the Drinking Crow to iron out an expedition, they were joined by Demon Slayers Copra Kaan and Crambo. Party member Armeen was absent due to duties for the Shrine of Danu. Their recent correspondences with the Magi Naztab has created some pressure from the Faith of the Mother of the Primordial Waters to see the shrine grow out from under the shadow of a pair of sphinxes that squat there.

The group studied the shared maps of 'The Complex'. Their attention zeroed in on Level 3. After discussing a series of vibrant (and ghost haunted) river caves, the group turned their attention to a big unexplored area in the northeast section of the dungeon. The Demon Slayers (back when they were the Dragon Slayers) were the group that explored the region the most. First in battling a quartet of gargoyles and later in a delve where currently-retired adventurer Petra P. found her magical elephant.

The following party was recorded by  111th Company member Chauncy as entering 'The Complex' through the Iron Gate of the Rani:

• Bludoon (Level 3 Dwarf)
• Copra Kaan (Level 6 Vat Spawn)
• Crambo (Level 4 Magic-User)
• Agera (Level 2 Fighting Mutant)
• Fr. Bert (Level 4 Errant Friar of Arishem the Judge)

The party exited the Iron Gate a few hours later not needing to pay the tax on treasure. They were covered in sweat, dirt, and smelling like a fire. They were overheard agreeing to reunite a week later to continue their explorations into the same section of the dungeon.

Experience Points

• Lion Guards defeated 125xp x 2

Player Character Cut

• 62xp ea. (31xp to Agera)

Copra Kaan Quote of the Expedition

Didn't she [the Imperial Mother] kill someone with a stare?

The next week, the following party passed through the Iron Gate of the Rani on a new delve to the northeast corner of Level 3:

• Armeen of the Two Rivers (Level 4 Cleric of Danu)
• Jubal (Level 2 Beast Master retainer)
• Minotaur (his faithful hunting dog)
• Bludoon (Level 3 Dwarf)
• Copra Kaan (Level 6 Vat Spawn)
• Crambo (Level 4 Magic-User)
• Agera (Level 2 Fighting-Mutant)
• Fr. Bert (Level 4 Errant Friar of Arishem the Judge)

This time, the party had to pay 88gp in taxes at the Iron Gate when they resurfaced over four hours later. The party looked exhausted, covered in putting soil, and bruised with some of their number smelling like the strange "pears" the adventuring set in Orm are known to eat. They were seen splitting up coin treasure at the Drinking Crow before head off their separate ways. Fellow patrons at the tavern report Bludoon mulling over a note from the 'Eye of Terror' requesting a meeting.

Crambo's retainer Agera was without her drinking pal Jubal as the former dog shaver is currently short on coin. On her lonesome, the blue-furred retainer could be seen hopping around Orm's taverns. Her servers and impromptu drinking buddies spread word of exploits with the Demon Slayers. They spent most of two delves exploring the northeastern portion of Level 3. The area is bottlenecked by a room where four gargoyles stand guard. The party developed a method using a piece of cloth with Continual Darkness cast on it along with the amulets found in the caves of the Night Elves to get passed them.

Apparently, a new cohort of vat spawn (like the mauve-skinned folk hanging out with Glow Pit and Hate Pit at the Container) who have skin similar in complexation the outside of a blueberry resided in the section beyond. On their second encounter with this cadre of vat spawn, the Demon Slayers were directed to, "Stay out of the territory of Valtropis the Sorcerer King!" This vat spawn patrol did offer the group free passage to a set of stairs that headed deeper into 'The Complex'.

The spiraling stairs headed deep into the depths of the dungeon. All along its 200 ft., a skillfully carved relief of drummers smoothing a dreamer that shifted subtly like a dream decorated the walls. At its foot, Bludoon discovered a pit trap activated by a shifting stair trigger. The stair is now marked with a warning scrawled in chalk on the wall above it.

At the foot of the stairs, the group found a four-way intersection. To the south ran a ten foot-wide hall while east to west lay a hall 20 ft. in width. The construction did not match the dwarfin work of Level 1-3 of 'the Complex'. The stone blocks did not match, either. Rather than the green and black stone of those levels, the blocks here were a gray almost purple in the light of Armeen's torch. Bludoon felt a strong pull to follow the 20ft. wide hall. Armeen was instead able to convince the party to investigate the 25ft. high double doors (i.e. always turn left). The doors were impossible to open with normal force but in an effort led by Armeen and Jubal, the group was able to break the wood barring the doors. 

Instead stood a neglected room with faded tapestries, braziers for burning incense, and a bear altar. Armeen collected a tapestry to future research. Fr. Bert was able to identify the dreaming imagery and style of the braziers to mid-era Imperial-That-Was arcanists devoted to exploring the true nature of reality and its boundaries. Rather than exploring behind one of the room's three other doors, the party decided to return to the surface.

At the top of the stairs, a trio of battered iron statues came to life and battled the party. With a lot of help from Crambo's fire magic and a lucky push from Bludoon, the group were able to defeat the statues without getting battered too badly.

When asked where the party found the coin treasure, Agera wouldn't tell.

Treasure

• A wooden box containing 800gp and 800sp
• A fragile and faded tapestry

Experience Points

• 880xp from treasure
• Animated iron statues destroyed 75xp x 3
• 500xp ea. for being the first to explore a new section of Level 5 of 'The Complex'.

Player Character Cut

• 120 gp and 12sp ea. (60gp and 6sp to Agera and Jubal)
• 521xp ea. (260xp ea. to Agera and Jubal)

Copra Kaan Quote of the Delve

Armeen of the Twin Rivers...of Alcohol"!

Write-ups, art, or maps presented as recaps of these session earn 100 x PC Level xp. Let me know if anyone wants to perform a downtime activity but remember a downtime for the Festival of Flower is running co-currently.