(S062) The Dead Beholder

The party defeats a towering Death Tyrant in a cosmic-water chamber after Barlo extracts the legendary Sword of the Plane, recovering planar artifacts, tuning forks, and a dormant Warforged construct.

📝 Session Summary

The Wild Cards were called The Menagerie by some until they came up with the name The Wild Cards.

• Barlo: A grizzled tabaxi barbarian who has been doing some work for a network that one should be wary of.
• Bastion: An orphan human who spent his life studying magic and blades, even though his elder pushed him away from the sword. He replaced Reginald.
• Calliope: This bardic faun joined the party late when she needed to find help to save her homeland.
• Reginald: A leonin cleric who was off to show his family's royal background and would later find out there were secrets leading to him becoming a king.
• Sas: A tortle hermit was given an item of power and a quest.
• Shadow in the Snow: This tabaxi got a coin, and her curiosity set her on a path.

🎬 Scenes

• Scene 1: Barlo's Backstory — From The Bronze Canyon in Kampos. Gave up Tabaxi name, "Smiles". Help move people. On way to Eushia to help Black Road with a client. Currently on ship near Carrune.
• Scene 2: Bastion's Backstory — When Bastion Bladesinger was very young he lost both of his parents to a plague. He took care of himself as he taught himself how to use the rapier his father once wore. He lived in Dyrt and watched all of the great knights. He also had an interest in the ways of magic and he wished he could do both – use swords and excel in magic – like many elves he had heard about.
• Scene 3: Calliope's Backstory — Calliope was born into the nestled highlands of the Oraniad Mountains. The Skola Vale, wild and free, blessed by the gods and inhabited by whimsical Satyr and Faun. Deep within it among the lush valley, reside the Dawngreets, a long generational line of storytellers and lore keepers.
• Scene 4: Reginald's Backstory — He was born at home, a modest-sized mansion where his family lived a modest means – even though his father could never stop talking about how they were royalty and yet this was the only lands they currently possess. His childhood was generally a happy one full of several friends. He was an only child.
• Scene 5: Sas' Backstory — Sas was born on the continent of Oth'Mar – a content mostly inhabited by Tortles and is far to the south of the Carrune Isles.
• Scene 6: Shadow's Backstory — Deep in the snowy mountains high in the north, there lived a large group of Tabaxi, The Blinding Wild Clan.

📜 Missions & Quests

• Completed:
  • Established individual party origins and initial connections to the world of Dierde.
• Active / Discovered Threads:
  • Barlo's ties to the smuggling rings and the Black Road.
  • Bastion's mysterious past and fallout with Grognard.
  • Calliope's quest to save the Skola Vale.
  • Reginald's pursuit of his family's royal mint commission and claim in Neyer.
  • Sas's vision of the Cat Goddess Bast and journey to find her lost lands.
  • Shadow's golden coin and mystical calling from her clan shaman.

NPCs

S062: The Dead Beholder

Date: 2023-12-09

Short

The party entered a chamber dominated by a towering obelisk surrounded by cosmic, star-filled water. As spectral creatures emerged, a massive Death Tyrant materialized while Calliope suddenly vanished and reappeared floating unconscious above a distant island. During the intense battle, Barlo pulled a mysterious longsword from the obelisk's back, causing the chamber's magical effects to fade. Meklan briefly appeared through a reality tear, cryptically mentioned an alternate timeline where Barlo had thrown the sword into the cosmic water, then dove into the liquid universe and disappeared. The fight culminated when Shadow's arrow struck the Death Tyrant's main eye, causing it to crash to the ground with Barlo clinging to it, shattering on impact.

In the aftermath, the party discovered the sword was a legendary Sword of the Plane capable of creating rifts to other planes. They found Calliope unconscious behind the obelisk and unable to wake her, so Barlo carried her. The chamber yielded valuable treasures including tuning forks attuned to various planes and a six-foot-tall construct made of wood, metal, and crystal with a cavity in its chest designed for an orb. Shadow recognized it as a Warforged from the plane of Eberron, built for war. As they ascended from the chamber dragging the three-hundred-pound construct, they discussed the obelisk's lingering corruption, Meklan's time-jumping abilities, and suspicions that Ursa might be a doppelganger, knowing they would need to unravel these mysteries once Calliope awakened.

Summary

The party arrived at a chamber dominated by a towering obelisk, where the surrounding water had transformed into a glowing, cosmic liquid filled with stars and quasars. The obelisk itself was black at the top, transitioning to a reddish crystal structure at the bottom, with intricate lines of light carving into the stonework. As they entered, spectral shadow creatures emerged from black mist while four light creatures appeared from a yellow light source. A massive Death Tyrant, a skeletal beholder-like creature with glowing orbs, materialized near the obelisk. In that same moment, Calliope suddenly vanished and reappeared floating twenty feet in the air above another island, seemingly unconscious or in a trance.

The battle began immediately as the party engaged the Death Tyrant and its spectral minions. Sas attempted to strike a shadow creature but found her weapon passing harmlessly through its incorporeal form, causing it to evaporate. Barlo, filled with rage, attempted to climb the obelisk and leap onto the floating Death Tyrant, but was slapped back and fell sixty feet to the ground. When he threw a javelin at the creature, it missed and struck the obelisk, revealing a longsword stuck in its back that appeared to be channeling dark tendrils of energy. Shadow unleashed magical fire upon the Death Tyrant, while Bastion was caught by a telekinetic wave and pinned against the wall. The Death Tyrant retaliated with devastating eye rays, destroying light creatures, attempting to petrify Barlo, and causing chaos among the party.

Barlo made his way to the obelisk and pulled the mysterious sword free, causing the drifting smoke and light effects in the chamber to fade. He considered throwing the sword into the cosmic water, but before he could act, a tear in reality appeared and Meklan stepped through. The time-traveler observed that Barlo hadn't thrown the sword, remarking on an alternate timeline where he had, then dove into the liquid universe and disappeared. The party continued their assault on the Death Tyrant, with Barlo eventually succeeding in grappling onto the floating creature sixty feet in the air. While clinging to it, he landed critical strikes with his natural weapons, causing significant damage.

The Death Tyrant fought back viciously, putting Bastion to sleep with a green eye ray and paralyzing Sas with a pink one. Shadow moved a healing spirit to aid Barlo and fired arrows at the creature. Her final arrow struck true, hitting the Death Tyrant's main eye with devastating precision. The magical force keeping it aloft disappeared, and the creature crashed to the ground with Barlo still clinging to it, shattering into pieces upon impact. The party's owlbear companion, Artie, licked Bastion awake after the battle concluded.

In the aftermath, the party tended to their wounds and investigated the chamber. They extracted valuable teeth from the defeated Death Tyrant and examined the sword Barlo had pulled from the obelisk. Bastion identified it as a legendary Sword of the Plane, capable of creating rifts to other planes once a day. They discovered Calliope unconscious behind the obelisk, unable to wake her, and Barlo carried her over his shoulder. The party found tables with bowls containing tuning forks attuned to various planes, along with ethereal tablecloths that were solidifying into silk-like fabric. Bastion realized these items were connected to planar travel, with each tuning fork resonating with a different realm.

On a podium, they discovered a large construct made of wood, metal, and crystal, approximately six feet tall and weighing three hundred pounds. It had a rune on its forehead and a cavity in its chest that appeared designed to hold an orb. Shadow recalled a story from her past about a traveler named Guest at Home who had encountered a similar construct in another realm called Eberron, suggesting this was a Warforged built for a major war. The party decided to collect all the tuning forks, bowls, and tablecloths, recognizing their value and potential usefulness. Bastion sent a telepathic message to Meklan, informing him of the beholder's defeat and the collection of items.

The party began their ascent from the obelisk chamber, dragging the three-hundred-pound construct up the stairs while carrying the unconscious Calliope. They discussed the obelisk's blackness and its connection to the beholder's dreams, noting that while the corruption had stopped spreading, it remained. Conversations turned to the mysteries surrounding Meklan's time-jumping abilities and the possibility that Ursa might be a doppelganger who had been manipulating events. They reflected on the connection between Warforged and the plane of Eberron, and the significance of the items they had collected. As they made their way back to the surface, they knew that Calliope would likely be able to talk after a few hours of rest, and they would need to unravel the mysteries of the construct, the sword, and the planar artifacts they had discovered.

Memorable Moments:

• Barlo grappling the floating Death Tyrant sixty feet in the air.
• Meklan stepping through a tear in reality to comment on alternate timelines.
• Artie the owlbear licking Bastion awake after the battle.

Scenes

The Obelisk Chamber and Calliope's Distress

The party arrives at a chamber dominated by a large obelisk, where the water has transformed into a cosmic, swirling liquid. Calliope vanishes and reappears floating unconsciously above an island, while spectral creatures emerge from the mystical waters.

• The party arrives at a chamber with a large obelisk, where the surrounding water has become a glowing, liquid space filled with stars and quasars.
• The obelisk itself is black at the top, transitioning to a reddish crystal structure at the bottom, with lines of light carving into the stonework.
• Spectral shadow creatures emerge from black mist, and four light creatures appear from a yellow light source.
• A large Death Tyrant with fangs and a glowing orb appears near the obelisk.
• Calliope suddenly vanishes and reappears floating twenty feet in the air above another island, seemingly unconscious or in a trance.

Battle with the Death Tyrant Begins

The party engages in combat with a Death Tyrant and its spectral minions in the obelisk chamber, discovering the incorporeal nature of some enemies and the deadly power of the floating beholder-like creature.

• Sas attempts to attack a shadow creature with Shillelagh, but the club passes through it harmlessly, causing it to evaporate without taking damage.
• Barlo rages and attempts to climb the obelisk to jump onto the Death Tyrant, but is slapped back, falling sixty feet and taking damage.
• Barlo throws a javelin at the Death Tyrant, which misses and hits the obelisk, revealing a longsword stuck in its back, seemingly connected to the dark tendrils.
• Shadow casts Hex on the Death Tyrant, causing black flames to appear, followed by Scorching Ray, with one ray hitting its mark.
• A shadow creature attempts to attack the Death Tyrant but is knocked aside.
• Light creatures attack the Death Tyrant with light swords, but their attacks are ineffective.
• Shadow throws a fireball from a necklace, which detonates near the Death Tyrant, causing some damage and melting against the obelisk.
• Bastion casts Hex and Scorching Ray, with one ray striking the creature.
• The Death Tyrant uses various eye rays: one destroys a light creature, another creates a telekinetic wave that pushes Bastion against a wall and restrains him, and a petrification ray narrowly misses Barlo.
• Sas casts Chill Touch, a skeletal hand grabbing at the Death Tyrant's head, causing necrotic damage.

The Sword of the Plane and Meklan's Appearance

Barlo pulls a mysterious sword from the obelisk, causing environmental effects to subside. Meklan briefly appears from a tear in reality, comments on the sword not being thrown, and dives into the cosmic water.

• The Death Tyrant shoots a beam of light at a yellow glowing entity, causing it to slow and vaporize.
• Barlo runs to the obelisk and pulls a sword from it, which causes the drifting smoke and light effects in the chamber to fade.
• Barlo attempts to communicate with the remaining spectral entities, asking if the sword belongs to them, but receives no response.
• Barlo considers throwing the sword into the cosmic water, but Bastion requests it.
• A tear in reality appears and Meklan steps out, observing Barlo with the sword and remarking that he didn't throw it, implying an alternate timeline where the sword was thrown.
• Meklan then jumps into the liquid universe water, disappearing from sight.

Defeating the Death Tyrant

The party continues their assault on the Death Tyrant with Shadow attempting ensnaring strikes, Bastion breaking free from restraint, and Barlo grappling the creature. The battle culminates with the Death Tyrant crashing to the ground and shattering.

• Shadow attempts to hit the Death Tyrant with Ensnaring Strike, but it misses.
• Bastion, still restrained against a wall, successfully pushes against the force holding him and breaks free, landing at the edge of the cosmic water.
• A black energy ray from the Death Tyrant shoots past Bastion.
• Barlo is struck by a yellowish eye ray, suffering piercing and necrotic damage, but manages to resist its full effect.
• Another shadow creature is disintegrated by an eye ray from the Death Tyrant.
• Sas uses Chill Touch on the Death Tyrant, causing necrotic damage.
• Barlo attempts to climb the obelisk to reach the Death Tyrant, falls, but then successfully grapples onto the creature on a second attempt.
• Barlo, now clinging to the Death Tyrant, lands critical hits with his natural weapons, causing significant damage.
• Bastion is hit by a green eye ray, causing him to fall asleep on top of the Death Tyrant.
• Sas casts Healing Spirit to aid Barlo, positioning it beneath him.
• Sas is paralyzed by a pink eye ray from the Death Tyrant.
• Shadow moves the Healing Spirit to heal Barlo and fires arrows at the Death Tyrant, landing a critical hit on its main eye.
• The Death Tyrant's magical force keeping it afloat disappears, causing it to crash to the ground with Barlo, shattering upon impact.
• Artie licks Bastion awake after the battle.

Aftermath and Investigation

After defeating the Death Tyrant, the party tends to their wounds, collects materials from the fallen creature, and investigates the obelisk and surrounding area, discovering planar artifacts and a mysterious construct.

• The party collects arrows and a javelin from the combat area.
• The party extracts fifteen pounds of teeth from the defeated Death Tyrant, noting their potential value for crafting.
• Bastion examines the sword previously stuck in the obelisk, identifying it as a legendary Sword of the Plane capable of creating rifts to other planes once a day.
• The party discovers Calliope unconscious behind the obelisk, seemingly unaffected by attempts to wake her. Barlo carries her over his shoulder.
• Barlo sketches the floor patterns around the obelisk, revealing intricate runes.
• The party investigates bowls and tablecloths on nearby tables, discovering tuning forks that resonate with different planes and ethereal curtains that once served as barriers.
• Bastion identifies the tuning forks and bowls as attuned to various planes: outer realms, elemental realms, Prime Material Plane, Feywild, and Shadowfell.
• A large construct made of wood, metal, and crystal is found on a podium, with a cavity in its chest that appears to be for an orb.
• Shadow recalls a story from her past about a traveler named Guest at Home who encountered a similar construct in another realm, suggesting it is a Warforged.
• The party decides to collect all the tuning forks, bowls, and tablecloths, noting their value.
• Bastion finds two garnets, each worth one hundred coins.
• Bastion sends a telepathic message to Meklan, informing him of the beholder's defeat and the collection of items.
• The party decides to take the three-hundred-pound construct with them.

Return to the Surface and Reflection

The party begins their ascent from the obelisk chamber, dragging the construct and carrying the unconscious Calliope, while reflecting on the session's events and the mysteries surrounding Meklan, Ursa, and the nature of their powers.

• The party drags the three-hundred-pound construct up the stairs from the obelisk chamber.
• The party discusses the obelisk's blackness and its connection to the beholder's dreams, noting that the blackness has stopped spreading but remains.
• Discussions ensue about Ursa potentially being a doppelganger and Meklan's time-jumping abilities.
• The party reflects on the connection between Warforged and the plane of Eberron, and the significance of the items they've collected.
• The party discusses the possibility of Ursa being a doppelganger, noting her past actions and the implications for Lars.
• The party reflects on the overarching theme of unchecked power and its consequences in the campaign.
• The party confirms that Calliope is still unconscious but will likely be able to talk after a few hours back home.

Memorable Moments

Barlo grapples onto the floating Death Tyrant sixty feet in the air and lands critical strikes.

During the intense battle against the Death Tyrant

Meklan steps through a tear in reality, observes Barlo hasn't thrown the sword, and dives into the liquid universe.

A bizarre time-travel encounter in the middle of the obelisk chamber

Artie the owlbear licks Bastion awake after the battle concludes.

A lighthearted moment following the intense fight with the Death Tyrant

NPCs

Death Tyrant

A large, skeletal beholder-like creature with prominent fangs, a huge eye socket containing a glowing orb, and ten smaller glowing spots around it. It floated sixty feet in the air near the obelisk and attacked the party with various eye rays, including ones that caused telekinetic restraint, petrification, sleep, paralysis, and death. It was eventually defeated by the party's combined efforts, shattering into pieces upon hitting the ground.

Shadow Creatures

Spectral, ghost-like entities that emerge from black mist, appearing as shadowy figures with occasional faces or hands. They are incorporeal and can evaporate when attacked. Some attempted to attack the Death Tyrant but were repelled or destroyed.

Light Creatures

Fey-like, elven-appearing entities made of light that emerge from a yellow light source. They wield short swords made of light and attempted to attack the Death Tyrant, though their attacks were ineffective. Some were destroyed by the Death Tyrant's eye rays.

Captain Meklan

A character with multiple identities who appears from a tear in reality, seemingly aware of alternate timelines. He briefly observed the party's actions regarding the Sword of the Plane, remarking that Barlo didn't throw it into the water, then dived into the cosmic body of water and disappeared, traveling to the Astral Plane to stop his involuntary time-jumping.

Guest at Home

A Tabaxi adventurer from Shadow in the Snow's past who disappeared for a long time after falling into a hole, seeing strange lights, and encountering a construct similar to the one found by the party. He was eventually sent back to his home realm by the construct, suggesting he traveled to Eberron.

Arktos "Artie"

Shadow's owlbear companion, polymorphed into a giant eagle. He was present during the combat and licked Bastion awake after he was put to sleep by the Death Tyrant.

Construct

A large, humanoid figure made of petrified wood, metal, and crystal, approximately six feet tall and weighing three hundred pounds. It has a rune inlaid on its forehead and a cavity in its chest that appears designed to hold an orb. It is currently inert but is implied to be a Warforged from another realm, built for a major war.

Morenars Neyers

An individual who previously rewarded the party for dealing with a beholder that was messing with his mind, indicating he has some connection to such creatures or their effects.

Gridsgrid

A gnome crafter who made saddlebags for the party, suggesting he is a skilled artisan capable of creating various items.

Lars

An individual who is possibly under the influence or control of Ursa, with the party speculating he might be under her womanly control.

Ursa

A character suspected by the party of being a doppelganger, capable of mind-reading and kidnapping victims to gain memories. Her actions are described as morally gray, pursuing her goals without concern for consequences. Her true nature is questioned, with the possibility raised that she has been visiting the party and potentially manipulating events.

Professor Umbercresct

An expert on the Netherese, associated with a Professor Orb that the party possesses, indicating a source of knowledge on ancient civilizations and magic.

Jacoby Drexelhand

A character mentioned as potentially chasing Meklan through time, though not present in the current events.

Bargle

An NPC referenced as an example of an ultimately bad person or a morally gray character in the campaign.

Reginald's uncle, Zirin Shadowtooth

An NPC mentioned as an example of how people with power can cause problems or consequences.

Locations

Obelisk Chamber

A large, circular chamber dominated by a towering obelisk that reaches almost to the ceiling. The surrounding water has transformed into a glowing, cosmic liquid resembling space, with stars and quasars. Two small islands are connected by a bridge. The obelisk is black at its apex, gradually shifting to a reddish crystal structure at its base, with intricate lines of light carved into the stonework. Black tendrils and smoke emanate from the obelisk. Crystals line the edges of the water, and the chamber contains tables with bowls, tuning forks, ethereal tablecloths, and a large construct on a podium.

Astral Plane

The Astral Plane, also known as the Astral Sea, is a space between everything. If you are ever nowhere in the multiverse, you are in the Astral Plane. This plane isn’t specifically a plane, but rather a nonspatial nonplane as it has no space and planes are specifically spaces. The Astral Plane has been described as a silvery horizon that extends all around you like you are inside a silver orb, to a dark plane with twinkling lights in the distance like stars and stretching out before you is a sea of silvery cloud-like mists. It exist in between almost all planes, so it is very acccessible, especially with spells like "Astral Projection", "Gate", or "Plane Shift".

A plane where time doesn't exist, and where Meklan is currently located, having jumped there to stop jumping through time.

Eberron

A realm mentioned as the setting where Warforged originate, and a place visited by a character named Guest at Home.

Material Plane

The plane where Gith and Githyanki must come to age, contrasting with the timeless nature of the Astral Plane.

The Yawning Portal

A famous D&D location mentioned as a potential hole that Guest at Home might have fallen into.

Items

Sword of the Plane

A legendary longsword found stuck in the obelisk, with a hilt featuring tuning fork symbols and a blade engraved with runes symbolizing different planes. It is capable of cutting and tearing the fabric of reality to create temporary rifts to other planes once a day. Its power depends on the plane of combat or the target's origin. When pulled from the obelisk, it caused the dark mist and light energy in the chamber to dissipate.

Death Tyrant Teeth

Fifteen pounds of large, sharp teeth extracted from the defeated Death Tyrant, valued at five hundred gold. They are valuable for crafting weapons and other items.

Tuning Forks

Small forks found in bowls on tables around the obelisk. Each fork is attuned to a specific plane: outer realms, elemental planes, Prime Material Plane, Feywild, and Shadowfell. They resonate with a unique sound or frequency and are useful for planar travel spells.

Planar Bowls

Twenty-three bowls made of various materials including steel, copper, lead, tin, gold, quartz, crystal, and plastic. Each bowl's material corresponds to the plane its tuning fork is attuned to. They originally held liquid and tuning forks, but the liquid has now solidified into a jello-like substance.

Ethereal Curtains

Twenty-three tablecloths that initially appeared ethereal and vaporous, acting as barriers between realms. After the sword was removed from the obelisk, they began solidifying into silk-like fabric, each with a different color and essence resembling a solar system. They are losing their magical essence but are still valuable.

Necklace of Fireballs

A magical necklace from which Shadow uses a fireball to attack the Death Tyrant, causing damage and melting against the obelisk.

Javelin

A thrown weapon used by Barlo that missed the Death Tyrant and struck the obelisk, revealing the hidden Sword of the Plane.

Garnets

Two gems found by Bastion, each worth about one hundred coins.

Animated Shield

A magical shield used by Barlo that can animate and provide extra defense.

Healing Potions

Potions mentioned by Barlo as a means to recover health after taking damage.

Calliope's Glove

A symbolic glove that has become part of Calliope's hand, granting her an ability usable three times a day. It is not a physical item that can be removed or used by others.

Professor Orb

An orb associated with Professor Umbercresct, an expert on the Netherese, suggesting it contains or grants knowledge related to that ancient civilization.

Eberron Orb

One of the Gems of Tharizdun carried by Sas, described as cracking and potentially unstable. It is linked to the realm of Eberron, where Warforged originate.

Eberron Crystal

A crystal mentioned in the context of the Eberron realm and the Warforges, with Barlo expressing a desire to place it into the construct's chest.

Spells

Shillelagh

A spell used by Sas to enhance their club for an attack against a shadow creature, which proved ineffective due to the creature's incorporeal nature.

Hex

A spell cast by Shadow and Bastion on the Death Tyrant, causing black flames to appear around it and imposing disadvantage on its rolls.

Scorching Ray

A spell cast by Shadow and Bastion, sending multiple rays of fire towards the Death Tyrant, with some rays successfully hitting the creature and dealing damage.

Ensnaring Strike

A spell cast by Shadow, intended to entangle the Death Tyrant with thorny vines upon the next successful hit, though the attempts missed.

Chill Touch

A spell cast by Sas that manifests as a skeletal hand, reaching out to grab and inflict necrotic damage upon the Death Tyrant.

Healing Spirit

A spell cast by Sas and Shadow that conjures a transparent owlbear spirit to heal allies, particularly Barlo during combat. It can be moved to heal creatures that enter its sphere.

Guidance

A cantrip offered by Sas to assist Barlo and Bastion with their skill checks, providing a bonus to their rolls.

Plane Shift

A spell that allows travel between planes. In 5th Edition rules, it requires a forked metal rod worth two hundred fifty gold pieces, but does not require specific tuning forks for each plane, unlike older editions or other planar travel spells.

Classic

Last we left off, our party descended into a chamber dominated by a towering obelisk, where reality itself seemed to bend—the surrounding waters transformed into a glowing cosmic expanse filled with stars and distant quasars. The obelisk, black at its peak and transitioning to crimson crystal below, pulsed with intricate lines of light. But they were not alone. Spectral shadows and radiant light creatures materialized from the mists, and above them all, a massive Death Tyrant—a skeletal beholder wreathed in necrotic energy—emerged to defend this strange sanctum. In that same moment, Calliope vanished from their midst, reappearing unconscious and floating above a distant island, her fate uncertain.

The battle was fierce and chaotic. Barlo's rage-fueled attempt to grapple the floating monstrosity sent him plummeting sixty feet, but his thrown javelin revealed a longsword embedded in the obelisk's back, channeling dark tendrils of corrupting energy. When he wrenched the blade free, the chamber's supernatural effects began to fade, and reality tore open—Meklan stepped through, cryptically remarking on alternate timelines before diving into the cosmic waters and disappearing once more. The party pressed their assault as the Death Tyrant unleashed devastating eye rays, paralyzing Sas and putting Bastion to sleep. But Shadow's precision proved decisive—her arrow struck the creature's central eye, and it crashed to the ground with Barlo still clinging to it, shattering into fragments upon impact.

In the aftermath, the party discovered treasures both mundane and extraordinary: the legendary Sword of the Plane capable of tearing rifts between realities, tuning forks attuned to various planes of existence, and a six-foot-tall Warforged construct with a hollow chest cavity awaiting some unknown power source. They found Calliope unconscious behind the obelisk, unresponsive to their attempts to wake her. Now, as they begin their ascent from the depths, dragging the massive construct and carrying their fallen companion, questions multiply faster than answers. What role does this Warforged play? What timelines has Meklan witnessed? And what will Calliope reveal when she finally awakens?

Middle English

Harken well, ye brave and bolde,
Of heroes true whose tale be tolde!
They came upon an obelisk faire,
Where cosmic waters filled the aire,
With starres and quasars gleaming brighte,
'Midst shadow-fiends and creatures of lighte.

A Death Tyrante, grim and dread,
With skeletal forme and orbs of red,
Did rise to smite our gallant bande,
Whilst Calliope, by magick's hande,
Was spirited to float on high,
In traunce beneath the chamber's sky.

Brave Barlo scaled the pillar tall,
And from its back a sworde did fall—
A blade of legend, darke and keene,
The strangest weapon e'er was seene!
Then Meklan came through rift of time,
And vanished in the waters' brine.

With arrowe true, faire Shadow's shot
Did strike the Tyrante's eye, God wot!
It crashed to earthe in pieces rent,
Its magick and its malice spent.
They found the maide behind the stone,
And treasures from the planes unknowne.

A Warforged construct, tuning forkes,
And silken cloths for planar walks—
These prizes claimed, they did ascende,
What mysteries await, what journey's end?
With Calliope upon the shoulder borne,
They climbed toward the breaking morn!

Snarky

Welcome to the most FUNCTIONAL the party has ever been: as witnesses to Barlo absolutely eating shit trying to parkour onto a flying skeletal beholder. Nothing says "tactical combat" like a barbarian attempting a sixty-foot vertical leap and getting bitch-slapped back to the ground by a Death Tyrant. At least he stuck the landing. Into the floor. Face-first.

The obelisk chamber delivered peak cosmic horror vibes with its star-filled water and reality-bending aesthetics, but the real plot twist was Calliope getting yeeted into an unconscious floating state while everyone else fought for their lives. The party discovered that shadow creatures are apparently made of vibes and disappointment (Sas's weapon just passed right through), while Barlo found a legendary sword stuck in the obelisk like some kind of cursed Excalibur situation. Then Meklan casually ripped through reality to mention an alternate timeline where Barlo threw the sword into cosmic soup, said "neat," and dove into the liquid universe like it was a community pool. You know, normal D&D stuff.

Shadow ended the fight with a perfect arrow shot to the Death Tyrant's main eye, sending it crashing down with Barlo still clinging to it like the world's worst rodeo. The aftermath revealed the chamber was basically a planar travel gift shop: tuning forks for different dimensions, magic tablecloths, and a three-hundred-pound Warforged construct that the party decided to DRAG UP THE STAIRS because why make things easy? Calliope's still unconscious, they're hauling a war machine up ancient steps, and they're pretty sure Ursa might be a doppelganger. Just another day of dungeon crawling and existential dread.

Limerick

The party found an obelisk so grand,
With cosmic water and stars close at hand.
A Death Tyrant rose,
While Calliope froze,
And shadow creatures spread through the land!

Barlo climbed high with a furious roar,
Got slapped down hard, fell sixty feet to the floor.
He pulled out a sword,
Then Meklan explored,
And dove in the cosmos to settle a score!

The battle raged on with eye rays so bright,
Shadow's arrow struck true in the fight.
The Tyrant fell down,
Crashed hard on the ground,
And shattered to pieces—what a sight!

They found tuning forks and a construct of war,
A Warforged from Eberron's distant shore.
The Sword of the Plane,
Could rift through domains,
And treasures worth keeping in store!

They carried Calliope up from below,
With construct in tow, moving steady and slow.
The obelisk's dark,
Left corruption's black mark,
But mysteries await as they go!

Exported from GMAssistant on 2026-08-16