Into the Lightning Tower (25 May 2025 Session Report)

Paul DMing, Scott: Smudge (shadar-kai rogue 8 / barbarian 2) and Martin (duergar cleric 10); Ed: temporarily running Godzilla "T-Hex" Hercules (dragonborn warlock 10); Dane: Tudo Fleck (dwarf cleric 10).

Last time, the party recovered T-Hex from captivity in the lair of an evil gnome before taking a long rest.

Tudo casts detect magic in the gnome's workshop.

Martin casts death ward on himself, and up-casts aid to give his companions 15 extra hit points. (Lasts eight hours.)

Tudo's detects magic reveals a residue of divination magic on the diorama table where (Tudo now notices) a couple of the little buildings are missing.

Tudo casts speak with dead on Bartus's skull. Questions:

1. What can you tell us about the buildings that are missing from this map?
   A: Julium Merucus's compound, The Royal Pulmonata Palace Theater, some building in a block of warehouses
2. Do you know names on this scroll?
   A: Trillida Moomin was the victim of notorious murder in the Yellow City several years ago.
3. Have you seen anything like lightning room?
   A: No.
4. What can you tell us about Jorvin the Gnome and/or Shahaduzaman the wizard?
   A: Nothing.
5. Have you seen a diograma like this before?
   A: It is like a type of uncommon divination tool.

Tudo's arcane understanding is that the diorama table won't work since some building are missing.

Tudo detects magic again and wanders around. He sees that the whirlpool strongly radiates conjuration magic. Buttons in the elevator room radiate weak evocation magic.

The party leaves the gnome's area and goes to lightning tower room. Tudo perceives a ubiquitous background radiation of conjuration magic. The handles on the double doors radiate transmutation magic.

Tudo stone shapes a hole in the tower wall just to the left of the double doors.

In the clothes closet, Tudo finds a hat labelled "Shaheduzzaman". Tudo takes the hat.

Tudo covers the statue of the king and the medusa with a cloak from the closet.

Tudo notices that the china in the cabinet has an owl motif.

T-Hex discovers that the boxes are a sham and finds the trap door concealed under them. Everyone goes down to a storage room with dozens of crates.

• "The fingers of a wife who collected art"
• "The skull of a soldier to sold art"
• "The sternum of a sailor who loved butterflies"
• "The spine of a virgin who studied happiness"

The party enters the workshop and calls the elevator.

Tudo casts speak with dead on the human corpse on the table.

1. What is the last thing you remember?
   A: My ship was set upon by pirates and one cut my throat with his saber.
2. How long ago did you die?
   A: About sixty years.
3. Why were you stitched with gold thread?
   A: I don't know.
4. Have you heard of Jorvis or Shaheduzzaman?
   A: No.
5. What was your profession?
   A: Cobbler.

T-Hex cuts the golden thread and is attacked by writing intestines, in the style of John Carpenter's The Thing. The heroes struggle with the tentacles/entrails for a while, being grappled by them and chopping off bits that slither away to dark corners, before T-Hex banishes the bulk of the thing.

Enemies defeated: a writhing intestine monster

Treasure: a golden thread