Session 26 - Wringing Out the Sodden Hold (part 2)

16th of Uktar, 1371 DR
Egwaine blessed us all with the ability to breath water and we descended the 40’ shaft to the water below. We swam (sunk) down even more before findin’ a passage leadin’ into a partially submerged chamber. Inside the chamber lurked a deadly predator. A Giant Octopus came out of nowhere and grabbed Tyree. It lashed me with one of its tentacles, but my spell shield protected me from harm (and from bein’ grabbed). If you can believe it, Tyree actually head-butted the monster. I doubt he actually hurt the rubbery beast, but it was still brave (if not slightly crazy). Aedrinar pelted it with his own Magic Missiles and Egwaine tried to help by usin’ her new Wand of Spiritual Weapon. Unfortunately, she only managed to slash Tyree! I hit the Octopus with a barrage of Empowered Fell Drain Magia Missiles, burstin’ the thing like an ink-filled balloon!

A few minutes later, we found ourselves on top of a pillar of stone with a metal grate leadin’ to an iron door. There was also a level which activated the machinery that drained the water from the room and lowered the pillar to the “ground” level.

Behind the door we found a long hallway with many doors and six Doppelgangers. These ones weren’t even tryin’ to hide their true natures. It was like fightin’ wax statues, really. These Doppelgangers fought as a cohesive fightin’ unit. They even formed up a shield wall to make themselves tougher to attack! None of that mattered to us.

Aedrinar launched a Fireball and some Magic Missiles to weaken our foes. Alobron was bit off durin’ this fight. I think the coordinated defensive tactics threw him off a bit. He was able to kill two and he kept their leader on the defensive, but he didn’t lay waste to all around him like usual. Egwaine provided excellent support. Her Spiritual Weapon added to our offensive power while she healed the injured from safety. Quarto used his amazin’ acrobatics skills to get behind the Doppelgangers (almost getting’ killed when they turned on him) and managed to kill one then he flanked the leader and stabbed him right through the neck! Tyree killed two by assistin’ Alabron and Quarto. I used Chain Missile, Fel Drain Magic Missiles, Empowered Fel Drain Magic Missiles and an Orb of Force to deadly effect. I tell you, I’m really beginin’ to love the look on an enemies face with a minor spell like Magic Missile robs them of their ability to fight and resist attacks! The looks on their faces are actually kinda funny.

Then Tyree went nuts and beheaded all the Doppelgangers, sprayin’ blood all over the hallway and us!

The hall turned out to be full of traps. And Quarto turned out to know nothin’ about traps.

Fantastic.

Quarto’s probationary period is lookin’ shorter by the minute.

We ended up avoidin’ most of the traps because Alabron triggered them by hurling decapitated Doppelgangers on them and then used his adamantine falchion to hack them to pieces. Amazin’.

We discovered several sleepin’ chambers of the Doppelgangers complete with full length mirrors, royal outfits (from Perigiron’s court), city watch uniforms, and other disguises. We also found a plannin’ room full of maps, notes, and all manner of compromisin’ information. We collected it all and headed through the illusory wall I discovered.

Beyond the illusion, we found a circular chamber with Doppelgangers “tied” to chairs. Of course, each of them was disguised as one of us and it made for a strange, chaotic, and unsettlin’ fight. In the end, the Doppelgangers never had chance. They didn’t fight together as a unit like the last group did and we tore them apart.

In the room we found another Dolgun and another Olaf. Now we have two of each.

Fabulous.