(S068) Unexpected Side Mission in Eberron

Struck down by electrical traps in Tharros's tower and resurrected by Bast, the party awakens inside the belly of a kaiju-sized, city-destroying Warforged in Eberron, shattering its core and reuniting with new allies on a hillside.

📝 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

S068: Unexpected Side Mission in Eberron

Date: 2024-03-02

Short

The party explored the mysterious floating castle of Tharros, uncovering secrets about Karsus and discovering that death itself was being manipulated. Their investigation led them to mystical artifacts and a shocking electrical event that triggered a brilliant flash of light, causing them to experience distant memories and hear a conversation between a lady familiar to Sas and a gentleman discussing bringing back someone's brother through arrangements with divine powers like Sylvanus, the Raven Queen, and Vecna. After an ear-piercing scream and the sensation of being buried in sand, Bast's voice revealed they had died in the tower but could be brought back.

The party awakened inside a massive moving construct - a kaiju-sized warforged - in a metallic maze filled with steam-powered machinery and electrical sparks. Missing Artie and Bastion, they navigated teleportation traps and discovered a central chamber where the Lord of Blades commanded warforged soldiers and iron defenders around a pulsing red crystal. The ensuing battle saw Shadow's incredible archery skills, Barlo's ferocious barbarian attacks, Sas's strategic spellcasting, and Calliope's dramatic transformation into a Tyrannosaurus Rex. When Calliope destroyed the power crystal with her massive jaws, the construct began collapsing, but protective white light bubbles carried the party to safety on a hillside where they reunited with their missing companions and encountered new allies, including a cheerful halfling musician and a Bengal Tabaxi who thanked them for their assistance in what she called a last-minute solution to their deaths.

Summary

The party found themselves exploring the mysterious floating castle of Tharros, where they had been uncovering secrets about Karsus and learning that death itself was being manipulated in strange ways. Their investigation led them to discover a corpse surrounded by mystical runes and a hidden portal containing various artifacts, including a peculiar box that repeatedly shocked Bastion whenever he tried to interact with it. As they continued their exploration, Bastion placed his hand against a wall and triggered something that filled the air with electricity and the sharp smell of ozone.

A brilliant flash of light enveloped the party as they felt themselves separating and beginning to fall. Each member experienced distant memories and heard voices from their past, but eventually they all heard the same mysterious conversation cutting through their personal recollections. A lady's voice, familiar to Sas, spoke with a gentleman about bringing back someone's brother, mentioning powerful entities like Sylvanus, the Raven Queen, and Vecna. The conversation revealed complex machinations involving different planes of existence and arrangements with divine powers. An ear-piercing scream ended the exchange, followed by silence and the sensation of being buried in choking sand. Bast's voice whispered that she had given them a chance and they had died in the tower, but there was a way to bring them back.

The party awakened in a bizarre metallic room that resembled a hall of mirrors, with walls made of metal and glass, and countless pipes running throughout the structure. Strange machinery sounds filled the air, accompanied by a rhythmic slamming and rolling motion that shook the ground methodically. They quickly realized that Artie and Bastion were missing from their group. Each party member found themselves near pipes leaking different colored liquids - Shadow near green, Sas near yellow, Barlo near red, and Calliope near light blue. The liquids had a chemically acidic smell that was unfamiliar to their senses.

The metallic maze proved treacherous, with teleportation traps that would suddenly transport party members to different locations when they stepped on certain areas. After exploring the confusing layout, Sas discovered a room where thick pipes formed walls, and the party managed to push aside a moveable pipe to access a hidden area. They slipped down through what appeared to be a loose floor panel that moved back into place after they passed through, effectively sealing their path behind them.

The party emerged into a massive chamber filled with steam-powered machinery and electrical sparks that arced like Tesla coils across various metal contraptions. The room contained raised platforms, tank treads that moved up from the floor and back down again, and countless gears and moving parts. At the center of this mechanical wonderland stood a large red crystal that pulsed with energy. Near the crystal, they spotted several warforged soldiers with swords built into their arms, commanded by a massive figure covered in blades and sharp edges who spoke with a raspy voice - the Lord of Blades. Iron defender dogs patrolled the area, their metallic teeth and claws gleaming menacingly.

The entire structure continued its rhythmic movement, and the party realized they were inside some kind of massive moving construct. The Lord of Blades barked commands at his subordinates before activating something on his arm and disappearing entirely. Shadow decided to take action by casting a spike growth spell to block enemy movement, creating a field of magical thorns that would damage anyone trying to pass through. She then called out to the enemies, revealing the party's presence and beginning the confrontation.

The warforged soldiers and iron defenders immediately became hostile, with the soldiers transforming their hands into sword arms for combat. Sas attacked one of the metallic dogs with a chill touch spell, while Barlo entered a rage and launched himself at an iron defender with his claws. His ferocious assault, enhanced by his infectious fury ability, completely destroyed the mechanical creature. Meanwhile, Calliope used her magical pan flute to cast invisibility on Sas, helping to coordinate their tactical positioning.

Shadow utilized her nature's veil ability to become invisible and launched a devastating archery attack against a warforged soldier. Her shots were so precise that she managed to land two critical hits in succession, with the second arrow splitting the shaft of the first in a display of incredible marksmanship that completely destroyed her target. The battle intensified as more warforged emerged from hidden panels and pipes in the walls, with the red crystal pulsing energy to power and reinforce the mechanical enemies.

Barlo attempted a bold grappling maneuver, successfully grabbing a wounded warforged and dragging it through Shadow's spike growth. Both he and his captive took damage from the magical thorns, but the warforged was destroyed while Barlo survived thanks to his barbarian resilience. Sas cast a hold person spell that successfully paralyzed two warforged soldiers, revealing that despite their mechanical appearance, they were actually classified as humanoids rather than constructs.

As the battle raged on, Calliope made a dramatic transformation by casting polymorph on herself, becoming a massive stegosaurus with rainbow-colored spikes that retained the pattern of her overalls. The transformation pushed enemies around due to her enormous size, and she gained tremendous durability. However, she soon realized she could do even better and transformed again into a fearsome Tyrannosaurus Rex, complete with diamond-decorated teeth and her signature overall pattern visible across her dinosaur hide.

The party coordinated their assault on the power crystal, recognizing it as the source of the enemy reinforcements. Shadow continued her invisible archery attacks while repositioning tactically, and Sas moved close to the crystal to attack it with his magically enhanced shillelagh club. Barlo fought multiple enemies using his reckless attack style and infectious fury ability, dealing devastating damage to the warforged soldiers. The mechanical enemies fought back fiercely, with their arm-blade weapons and the iron defenders' powerful bite attacks causing significant damage to the party.

Calliope, now in her T-Rex form, charged toward the crystal through the spike growth, taking damage but surviving due to her massive hit point pool. She positioned herself to make the final assault on the power source while the rest of the party continued to battle the remaining warforged and iron defenders. The combat was intense, with enemies emerging from multiple hidden entrances and the crystal continuing to pulse with energy that strengthened their foes.

In a climactic moment, Calliope delivered a devastating bite attack to the red crystal, her massive jaws crunching down and completely destroying the power source. Immediately, flashing white lights and electrical sparks filled the entire chamber as the destruction of the crystal triggered a catastrophic chain reaction throughout the massive construct. Each party member found themselves enveloped in protective white light bubbles that shielded them from the chaos erupting around them.

The protective bubbles began to move, carrying the party members through the walls of the construct as if they were phasing through solid matter. As they passed through multiple chambers, they witnessed other warforged going about various tasks, completely unaware of the destruction that had been set in motion. The bubbles continued their journey, eventually carrying the party completely outside the construct and high into the air above the ground.

From their elevated vantage point, the party made a shocking discovery - they had been inside a massive kaiju-sized warforged that had been wreaking havoc across the landscape. Behind the enormous construct lay a path of complete devastation, showing that it had carved a destructive swath through what appeared to be a major city. The giant mechanical being began to stumble and fall, with loud explosions marking the failure of its various systems as it collapsed.

The protective bubbles gently carried the party to safety on a nearby hillside, where they popped and allowed the adventurers to land softly on solid ground. There they were reunited with their missing companions Bastion and Artie, who appeared to be safe and unharmed. They also encountered a group of new allies, including a cheerful halfling with long brown hair who had been playing music that seemed to have helped guide their magical rescue.

Among the other figures on the hillside were a warforged ally made of gold and leather with protective chest plating, a small crystalline creature composed of rock fragments, an iron defender dog that appeared friendly, and a tiny flying creature that resembled a cross between a dragon and a winged lemur. Most notably, a Bengal-style Tabaxi with striking amber and black striped fur and emerald eyes emerged from behind a tree, speaking to the halfling about completing some kind of deal and thanking the party for their assistance in what she described as a last-minute solution that became necessary when they had died.

Scenes

Mysterious Conversation and Death

The party experiences a strange electrical event and hears a mysterious conversation between unknown entities before apparently dying.

• Bastion triggers an electrical trap by touching a wall
• All party members make strength saves as electricity fills the air
• The party experiences separation and begins to fall
• Each character hears voices from their past
• A conversation is heard between a lady (familiar to Sas) and a gentleman discussing bringing back someone's brother, mentioning Sylvanus, the Raven Queen, Vecna, and various planes
• An ear-piercing scream occurs followed by silence
• The party feels buried in sand and choking
• Bast whispers that she gave them a chance and they died in a tower, but there's a way to bring them back

Awakening in the Metallic Maze

The party awakens in a strange metallic room with mirrors, pipes, and machinery, discovering they are missing some companions.

• The party wakes up in a metallic hall of mirrors
• They hear sounds of machines, gears, and a rhythmic slamming motion
• The ground shakes in a methodical pattern
• They notice Artie and Bastion are missing from their group
• Each character appears near pipes leaking different colored liquids (Shadow near green, Sas near yellow, Barlo near red, Calliope near light blue)
• The liquids have a chemically acidic smell
• The party begins exploring the maze-like structure with teleportation traps
• Sas finds a room with thick pipes forming walls
• Party pushes aside a pipe to access a hidden area and falls through a loose floor panel

The Warforged Factory

The party discovers they are inside a massive moving construct filled with warforged automatons and prepares for combat.

• Party enters a large room filled with steam-powered machinery and electrical sparks
• Room contains raised platforms, tank treads, gears, and a large red crystal
• Party spots warforged soldiers with arm-mounted swords near the crystal
• A large warforged called the Lord of Blades commands the smaller ones
• Iron defender dogs patrol the area
• The entire structure moves rhythmically like a giant walking machine
• Party realizes they are inside a massive warforged construct
• Party attempts stealth but some enemies notice their presence
• Calliope casts invisibility on herself and approaches strange machinery with moving spikes
• Shadow uses Nature's Veil to go invisible and takes a defensive position
• Sas casts Protection from Energy (Lightning) on himself
• Barlo moves stealthily toward Calliope's position and activates his shield

Combat Begins

The party encounters hostile warforged automatons and iron defenders in the mechanical chamber, leading to combat.

• The commander disappears after activating something on his arm
• Shadow casts Spike Growth to block enemy movement and calls out to the enemies
• Warforged soldiers and iron defenders become hostile and prepare to attack
• Sas attacks a metallic dog with chill touch for 17 necrotic damage
• Barlo rages and attacks an iron defender with his claws, dealing multiple hits
• Barlo uses infectious fury ability, causing psychic damage to the iron defender
• The iron defender is destroyed by Barlo's attacks
• A warforged soldier transforms its hand into a sword arm
• The warforged soldier charges through Shadow's spike growth, taking damage
• The soldier throws a javelin at Shadow but misses
• An iron defender attempts to navigate around the spike growth but takes damage

Tactical Magic and Positioning

The party uses tactical spells and positioning to gain advantages in combat against the warforged enemies.

• Calliope uses her pan flute to cast invisibility on Sas
• Shadow shoots arrows at a warforged soldier, dealing 28 and 14 piercing damage
• Shadow goes invisible using Nature's Veil ability
• Sas attacks with chill touch, dealing 13 necrotic damage to a warforged in spike growth
• Barlo uses feline agility to move around the battlefield and spots the spike growth
• Barlo attacks a metal dog with reckless attack, landing three hits including a critical
• Barlo deals 10, 9, and 16 damage, killing the metal dog with infectious fury
• A warforged soldier transforms his hand into a blade weapon
• The warforged soldier attacks Barlo, hitting once for 16 slashing damage
• The warforged mentions 'Lord of Blades' and calls the party interlopers
• Crystal pulses with electricity at the end of the round

Warforged Reinforcements Arrive

The party faces a new wave of warforged enemies as reinforcements emerge from hidden panels and pipes in the mechanical room.

• A red crystal pulses with energy, charging up the warforged enemies
• New warforged soldiers emerge from hidden panels and pipes in the walls
• Multiple warforged attack the party with arm-blade weapons
• Iron defender dogs join the battle with bite attacks
• Calliope drops invisibility on Sas to help coordinate the fight
• Shadow uses her swarm abilities for movement and half cover
• The party discusses the need to stop the crystal to prevent more reinforcements

Calliope's Stegosaurus Transformation

Calliope uses polymorph to transform into a massive stegosaurus, dramatically changing the battlefield dynamics.

• Calliope casts polymorph on herself to become a stegosaurus
• The transformation pushes enemies around due to her massive size increase
• She gains 76 hit points as a huge creature with rainbow-colored spikes
• Her overalls pattern remains visible on the dinosaur form
• The stegosaurus has a 10-foot reach tail attack and intimidates the warforged
• Shadow uses her final invisibility to attack enemies with her bow and swarm abilities
• Shadow shoots at a warforged soldier, dealing 19 damage and attempting to push him with her swarm
• She attacks a metal dog with her second shot, dealing 19 damage

Invisible Archer's Deadly Precision

Shadow uses her invisibility to deliver devastating attacks against the warforged enemies.

• Shadow goes invisible using Nature's Veil ability
• Shadow shoots at a warforged with advantage due to invisibility
• Shadow rolls a natural 20 on her first attack, dealing 26 damage
• Shadow immediately follows with another natural 20, dealing 27 piercing damage
• Shadow performs a 'robin hood' style attack, splitting the shaft of her first arrow
• The warforged enemy is completely destroyed by the dual critical hits
• Sas becomes visible when Calliope transforms into a dinosaur nearby
• Sas moves up to attack a warforged enemy
• Sas hits with Shillelagh for a total attack roll of 31
• The magical club strike creates a significant dent in the warforged's metal body

Barlo's Grappling Gambit

Barlo attempts to grapple a wounded warforged and drag it through the spike growth.

• Barlo decides to grapple a wounded warforged instead of making regular attacks
• First grapple attempt fails as the warforged resists
• Second grapple attempt succeeds with a contested roll
• Barlo drags the grappled warforged through the spike growth area
• Both Barlo and the warforged take damage from the spikes
• The warforged takes 20 points of spike damage and is destroyed
• Barlo takes 7 points of damage (halved due to rage) but uses Infectious Fury
• Barlo drinks a greater healing potion as a bonus action, regaining 15 hit points
• A warforged soldier attacks Sas with its arm blade
• The attack hits for 14 points of slashing damage
• Iron defender dogs attempt to bite and grapple party members

Tactical Combat Continues

The party continues their intense battle against warforged soldiers and iron defenders in the mechanical room.

• Sas casts Hold Person at 3rd level, paralyzing two warforged soldiers
• Sas moves away from combat and shouts for the party to target the power crystal
• Barlo attacks a paralyzed warforged with reckless attack, landing multiple critical hits due to paralysis
• Barlo uses Infectious Fury ability, dealing psychic damage to finish off the warforged
• Barlo attempts to jump away from an iron defender but takes a bite attack and grappling attempt
• An iron defender fails to grapple Barlo due to size difference (can't grapple creatures two sizes larger)
• Shadow takes damage from spike growth while moving through the area
• Combat continues with reinforcements trying to break through doors but failing to open them

Stegosaurus Transformation and Charge

Calliope transforms into a Stegosaurus and charges through spike growth toward the crystal, taking damage but surviving.

• Calliope considers transforming into a T-Rex but decides to charge as a Stegosaurus
• She runs 40 feet through spike growth, taking 16 points of damage from an attack and 26 points from the spikes
• Despite taking significant damage, she survives and remains in Stegosaurus form
• She then transforms into a T-Rex with diamond-decorated teeth and overall patterns
• The party realizes they're level 11, meaning they could have used higher CR polymorph forms

Final Assault on the Crystal

The party continues their desperate battle against warforged enemies while attempting to destroy the power crystal that's spawning reinforcements.

• Calliope as a T-Rex attacks the crystal with her bite and tail attacks
• Shadow retreats and casts another spike growth to block enemy reinforcements
• Sas moves to the crystal and attacks it with Shillelagh, dealing significant damage
• Barlo fights warforged enemies using reckless attacks and infectious fury ability
• Multiple warforged soldiers and iron defenders attack the party
• Shadow takes heavy damage from enemy attacks and spike growth movement
• The party discovers enemies are coming from hidden panels in the walls
• Sas drops the spike growth spell to avoid harming the T-Rex
• Sas attacks a warforged soldier near the crystal with chill touch, dealing 26 necrotic damage and cutting the enemy in half
• Barlo makes devastating attacks including critical hits against paralyzed enemies

Destroying the Crystal Core

Calliope, in T-Rex form, delivers the final blow to destroy the crystal powering the massive warforged construct.

• Calliope as a T-Rex bites the crystal for 32 damage
• The crystal is completely destroyed
• Flashing white lights and sparks fill the entire building
• Each party member becomes enveloped in protective white light bubbles

Escape from the Kaiju Warforged

The party phases through the walls of the massive construct as it begins to fall, revealing they were inside a city-destroying kaiju-sized warforged.

• Party members float in individual white bubbles, phasing through walls
• They pass through multiple rooms with other warforged doing various tasks
• The party phases out of the construct entirely, floating hundreds of feet above ground
• They discover they were inside a massive kaiju-sized warforged that had been causing devastation
• A path of mass destruction is visible behind the construct, showing it had gone through a major city
• The giant warforged begins stumbling and falling with loud explosions
• A military unit approaches to finish off the fallen construct

Landing on the Hillside

The party's protective bubbles carry them to safety on a nearby hillside where they encounter new allies and are reunited with their missing companions.

• The white bubbles float the party down to a hillside
• The protective bubbles pop and the party lands safely
• They are reunited with Bastion and Artie
• They encounter a group of new allies including a halfling with brown hair playing music
• A warforged with gold metal and protective chest plating appears
• A small crystal creature made of rock is present
• An iron defender dog similar to those they fought is there
• A flying creature that's a cross between a tiny dragon and winged lemur appears
• A Bengal-style Tabaxi with amber and black striped fur and emerald eyes emerges from behind a tree
• The Tabaxi speaks to the halfling about completing a deal
• The Tabaxi thanks the party, mentioning this was a last-minute solution when they died

Memorable Moments

Shadow lands two critical hits in succession, with the second arrow splitting the shaft of the first.

During the battle against the warforged soldiers in the massive construct.

Calliope transforms into a Tyrannosaurus Rex with diamond-decorated teeth and her signature overall pattern.

Upgrading her polymorph form from a stegosaurus to a T-Rex during the battle.

Calliope, in T-Rex form, delivers a devastating bite that completely destroys the red crystal power source.

Triggering a catastrophic chain reaction throughout the massive construct.

The party discovers they had been inside a massive kaiju-sized warforged that was wreaking havoc across the landscape.

After being carried outside the construct in protective white light bubbles.

NPCs

Bast

A powerful entity who whispers to the party after their apparent death, claiming she gave them a chance and they died in a tower, but suggesting there's a way to bring them back. She appears to have the ability to intervene in death itself.

An unknown female voice heard in the strange conversation, familiar to Sas. She discusses bringing back someone's brother and mentions having arrangements with the Raven Queen, suggesting she has significant divine connections and power over death.

Silvanus

An unknown male voice in the conversation who discusses plans involving Vecna, the Feylord, Titania's avatar, and various planes. He mentions coming from a war domain and working from the shadows with complex machinations.

Lord of Blades

A massive warforged commander made of metal with rock elements, covered in blades and sharp edges. Has a raspy voice and commands other warforged soldiers. Can disappear by hitting a button on his arm panel and appears to be the leader of the construct's inhabitants.

Warforged Soldiers

Humanoid automatons with arm-mounted swords that can replace their hands. They carry shields and follow orders from the Lord of Blades while working near the power crystal. Despite appearing as constructs, they are classified as humanoids and can be affected by spells like Hold Person.

Iron Defenders

Metallic canine automatons that patrol the factory chamber. They have large metallic teeth and claws, serving as guards for the warforged operation. They attack with powerful bite attacks and attempt to grapple opponents.

Ellywick Tumblestrum

A halfling with long brown hair and an exuberant personality who plays music. Her musical instrument appears to have been the magic that helped carry the party out of the falling warforged construct to safety.

Gold Warforged, Amalgam

A warforged ally made of leather and gold metal throughout, with additional iron pieces on the outside. Has protective metal plating over his chest where a small globular crystal is housed, similar to the constructs the party had been fighting but clearly an ally.

Shardmind

A small humanoid creature composed of crystal fragments with a rocky appearance. Described as much shorter than typical humanoids and having a crystalline body structure.

Bengal Tabaxi, an aspect of Bast

A Bengal-style Tabaxi with mesmerizing amber and black striped fur reminiscent of shadows cast by tallgrass, and striking emerald eyes. She emerged from behind a tree and spoke about completing a deal, thanking the party for their help in what she described as a last-minute solution when they died.

Gearlock's Expeditious Messenger

A small flying creature that is a cross between a tiny dragon and a winged lemur, about nine inches long with a fur body, feathered wings, and a barbed tail.

Locations

Tharros Tower

A location the party was exploring before the electrical event, containing hidden portals, mystical runes, and a box that shocked Bastion. Features walls with hidden mechanisms that can be triggered.

Metallic Hall of Mirrors

A strange room made entirely of metal with mirrors, pipes leaking colored liquids, and machinery sounds. The floor shakes rhythmically and the space acts as a maze with teleportation effects.

Warforged Factory Chamber

A massive room inside a moving construct filled with steam-powered machinery, electrical Tesla coil-like sparks, tank treads, gears, and raised platforms. Contains a large red crystal that powers the warforged inhabitants.

Kaiju-sized Warforged Construct

A massive mechanical construct that the party discovers they are inside of. It moves across the landscape causing devastation and contains multiple chambers with warforged doing various tasks.

Devastated Cityscape

A major city that had been destroyed by the kaiju-sized warforged, leaving a path of mass destruction in its wake. Military units were positioned to attack the construct once it fell.

Hillside Sanctuary

A peaceful hillside location where the party was safely transported after destroying the crystal. This location served as a meeting point with new allies and where they were reunited with their missing companions Bastion and Artie.

Items

Mystical Box

A hidden box found in Tharros that repeatedly shocked Bastion when he tried to interact with it. The box was discovered in a hidden portal area and appears to have protective magical properties.

Large Red Crystal

A massive crystal that serves as the power source for the warforged factory. It pulses with energy and emits ethereal sparks that power the warforged automatons. Has metal pipes connecting to it and appears to be the central component keeping the construct operational.

Colored Chemical Liquids

Various colored liquids (green, yellow, red, light blue) leaking from pipes throughout the metallic maze. They have a chemically acidic smell and unknown properties.

Mechanical Contraption

A large piece of machinery with moving parts, spikes, treads, and electrical components. Has tracks that go into the ground and come back up, suggesting it's part of a larger locomotion system. Features twisting spikes and electrical arcs.

Pan Flute of Spell Casting

Calliope's magical instrument that allows her to cast spells including invisibility, fly, levitate, and protection. Functions as a spell focus that follows normal spell rules including concentration requirements.

Greater Healing Potion

A powerful healing potion that Barlo consumed as a bonus action during combat. It restored 15 hit points when used, helping him recover from the damage taken while dragging an enemy through the spike growth.

Protective White Light Bubbles

Magical protective barriers that formed around each party member when the power crystal was destroyed. These bubbles allowed them to phase through walls and safely escape the falling warforged construct, floating them to safety on a distant hillside.

Spells

Invisibility

Cast by Calliope using her pan flute to make herself and later Sas invisible. Requires concentration and follows normal spell rules, allowing the target to move and act while unseen by enemies.

Nature's Veil

Shadow's ranger ability that allows her to become invisible as a bonus action until the start of her next turn. Can be used a limited number of times and allows her to attack while remaining invisible. She used this ability multiple times throughout the combat.

Protection from Energy (Lightning)

Cast by Sas on himself to protect against lightning damage. A concentration spell lasting up to one hour that provides resistance to the chosen energy type.

Spike Growth

Cast by Shadow multiple times to create 20-foot radius areas of magical spikes that deal piercing damage to creatures moving through it. The spikes are camouflaged and difficult to see, making the area appear natural. Used strategically to control enemy movement and deal damage.

Chill Touch

Sas's necromantic cantrip that creates a spectral hand to attack enemies. Deals necrotic damage and has a 120-foot range, making it effective for ranged combat against the warforged constructs. Also prevents healing until the caster's next turn.

Hold Person

Cast by Sas at 3rd level to target two warforged soldiers, successfully paralyzing both of them. The spell worked despite the targets appearing to be constructs, revealing they are actually classified as humanoids.

Polymorph

Calliope's transformation spell that allows her to change into beasts. She first transforms into a stegosaurus with rainbow-colored spikes and her overalls pattern, then later into a T-Rex with diamond-decorated teeth. The party realizes they're level 11, meaning they can polymorph into CR 11 creatures.

Shillelagh

Sas's druidic cantrip that enhances his club with magical power. The spell allowed him to strike with devastating force against both enemies and the power crystal, dealing significant bludgeoning damage.

Infectious Fury

Barlo's barbarian ability that inflicts psychic damage on enemies after a successful attack. The target must make a wisdom saving throw or take additional psychic damage, representing the mental anguish of the barbarian's rage affecting their mind.

Classic

Last we left off, our intrepid adventurers found themselves deep within the mysterious floating castle of Tharros, unraveling dark secrets about Karsus and the manipulation of death itself. Their investigation led them through mystical chambers filled with ancient artifacts and dangerous magical traps, until Bastion's touch against a seemingly innocent wall triggered a catastrophic event. In a brilliant flash of electricity and ozone, the party was torn from reality itself, experiencing fragmented memories and overhearing a cryptic conversation between powerful entities discussing divine machinations involving Sylvanus, the Raven Queen, and Vecna. An ear-piercing scream marked their apparent death in the tower, yet somehow, they were given a second chance.

The party awakened separated and disoriented within a bizarre metallic maze that reeked of chemical vapors and echoed with the sounds of massive machinery. Artie and Bastion had vanished, while the remaining members found themselves navigating treacherous teleportation traps and steam-powered corridors. Their exploration eventually led them into the heart of a colossal mechanical construct, where they discovered they had been inside a kaiju-sized warforged that was carving a path of destruction across the landscape. In the central chamber, they faced the Lord of Blades and his army of warforged soldiers, engaging in a fierce battle around a pulsing red crystal that powered the entire construct.

The confrontation reached its climax when Calliope, transformed into a massive Tyrannosaurus Rex complete with diamond teeth and her signature overall pattern, delivered the killing blow to the power crystal. The resulting chain reaction brought down the entire mechanical giant, but protective magical bubbles carried the party to safety on a nearby hillside. There, they were reunited with their missing companions and encountered a group of mysterious new allies, including a musical halfling and a striking Bengal Tabaxi who spoke of deals and last-minute solutions. As the dust settled from their harrowing escape, our heroes found themselves facing new questions about their apparent death, resurrection, and the true nature of the forces that had orchestrated their salvation...

Snarky

When last we left our intrepid adventurers, they had managed to turn what should have been a simple castle exploration into a full-blown interdimensional catastrophe - because apparently that's just how they roll. After triggering some mysterious magical nonsense in Tharros's floating castle (thanks, Bastion), the party found themselves experiencing a greatest hits compilation of traumatic memories before getting buried in sand and dying. You know, typical Tuesday stuff. But death is apparently just a minor inconvenience when you've got divine entities making backroom deals, and soon our heroes were waking up inside what can only be described as a steampunk fever dream - a massive mechanical maze filled with colorful chemical leaks and teleportation traps.

Things escalated quickly when they discovered they were actually inside a kaiju-sized warforged that was apparently having a grand old time demolishing cities. Naturally, this led to an epic showdown with the Lord of Blades and his army of sword-armed minions, because why wouldn't it? The battle featured all the classics: Shadow going full Legolas with impossible archery shots, Barlo rage-grappling enemies through magical spike fields, Sas proving that warforged are surprisingly susceptible to hold person spells, and Calliope deciding that the best solution to any problem is to become a rainbow-patterned T-Rex with diamond teeth. Because when you're fighting inside a giant robot, obviously the answer is to become an even bigger dinosaur.

The whole adventure reached its climax when Calliope, still in full T-Rex mode, decided to solve their power crystal problem the old-fashioned way - by eating it. This triggered a spectacular chain reaction that brought down the entire kaiju warforged, but not before some mysterious benefactor wrapped everyone in protective bubble wrap and delivered them safely to a hillside reunion with their missing friends and some new allies. Now, with a trail of mechanical destruction behind them and a Bengal Tabaxi cryptically thanking them for their "assistance," our heroes find themselves once again wondering how a simple dungeon crawl turned into saving the world from a rampaging city-destroyer.

Middle English

Harken well, ye noble souls, to tales of daring bold,
Of heroes brave who ventured forth in castle wreathed in gold,
Where Tharros's floating fortress held secrets dark and deep,
And death itself was twisted in an endless, cursed sleep.

Through chambers filled with mystic runes our gallant band did tread,
Where corpses lay 'midst artifacts and portals filled with dread,
Young Bastion felt the shocking bite of box that would not yield,
Till walls did spark with lightning's might across that haunted field.

A flash of light most brilliant came, the party torn apart,
Each hero heard the voices of their past within their heart,
But through the mists of memory came words both strange and fell,
Of Sylvanus and Raven Queen, and Vecna's darkest spell.

A lady's voice, familiar sweet, spoke of a brother's fate,
While powers divine did scheme and plot beyond the mortal gate,
Till screaming pierced the very air and sand did choke their breath,
And Bast's own voice whispered soft of tower, chance, and death.

In halls of metal, glass, and steam our heroes did awake,
Where pipes did leak with liquids strange and machinery did quake,
Poor Artie and brave Bastion were nowhere to be found,
While colored streams of acid fell upon that shifting ground.

Through teleporting traps they passed in maze of steel and wire,
Till hidden chambers they did breach through passages most dire,
Into a realm of gears and sparks, where Tesla's lightning danced,
And warforged soldiers stood on guard with blade-arms well advanced.

The Lord of Blades, that fearsome lord with edges sharp and keen,
Did command his metal host in that mechanical scene,
While iron hounds with teeth of steel did prowl that crystal hall,
And red stone pulsed with power fell to strengthen one and all.

Fair Shadow cast her thorny spell to block the foe's advance,
While Sas did strike with chilling touch and Barlo's claws did dance,
Sweet Calliope played her flute to cloak her friends from sight,
As arrows flew with deadly aim through that electric night.

When Shadow's bow sang twice its song with aim both true and sure,
Her shafts did split the very air, her victory most pure,
While Barlo grappled metal foes through thorns of magic made,
And Sas held fast two warforged still with his enchanted blade.

Then Calliope, fair and bright, did change her mortal form,
First stegosaurus rainbow-spined to weather battle's storm,
But greater still she chose to be, a rex of mighty jaw,
With diamond teeth and overall's hue, inspiring fearful awe.

The crystal red, that source of power, became their target true,
As heroes fought with valor great and courage ever new,
Till Calliope's mighty bite did crush that stone of might,
And bubbles white did save them all from that destructive light.

Through walls they passed like ghostly forms within those spheres of grace,
While warforged worked unknowing still in that metallic space,
Till high above the earth they rose and saw with great dismay,
A kaiju-warforged giant fell that wrought destruction's way.

Upon a hill they safely landed, reunited once again,
With Bastion and Artie found among that merry train,
A halfling played her music sweet, a warforged gleamed like gold,
While Tabaxi striped in amber spoke of bargains bought and sold.

Thus ends this tale of heroes brave who faced the metal horde,
And brought low the giant beast through deed and magic sword,
Let all who hear this story know that courage conquers fear,
When noble hearts stand firm and true, victory draweth near.

Limerick

In Tharros's castle they did roam,
Found corpses, runes, and artifacts to comb.
When Bastion touched wall,
A bright flash took all,
And whispers of death led them from home.

They woke in a maze made of steel,
With pipes leaking liquids surreal.
Missing friends caused dismay,
Teleportation at play,
Through panels they slipped with great zeal.

A chamber of gears came in sight,
With crystal pulsing red light.
The Lord of Blades spoke,
Then vanished like smoke,
While warforged prepared for a fight.

Shadow cast spikes on the ground,
While Sas made his chill touch resound.
Barlo raged with great might,
Calliope turned T-Rex for the fight,
And arrows split shafts with no sound.

The crystal they smashed with a crunch,
White bubbles saved each from the punch.
A kaiju-warforged fell,
The city's saved well,
And new allies joined for their lunch!

Exported from GMAssistant on 2026-08-16