Wiki of The Dungeoneering Crew

The detail section is small so I didn't create a summary!

The adventuring party delved deeper into the labyrinthine dungeon within the bowels of the stockade. Their journey had already been fraught with peril, having encountered many creatures, most mundane, some exotic. There had been plenty of traps including the log trap they had just set off and safely dodged. Now, they pressed onward, determined to explore every corner of this treacherous place.

The group paused to consider their next move, reflecting on items they might have overlooked—a mandolin or a cloak hanging on a wall in Icar's chamber with other items. Audra suggested they backtrack when they have a chance to ensure nothing valuable was missed. They also inventoried doors and staircases that they'd passed and needed to revisit. One of those passages was the door leading south where they'd encountered two worgs when they first entered this level. There was also the area they'd thought might have been where the worgs were kept. It was behind a bared entryway that they'd pass on the way to the other doors.

Before they left this area though, Kipp and Oglesby took time to search a couple of the storage rooms and the hallway near the greased grates trap for any hidden openings. They found no new paths. They made their way back past the storage rooms and into the torcher chamber. Oglesby searched it for more hidden rooms. He did finally find one but it opened to a small empty room. Returning to the main path, they moved through the iron maiden and they crossed a precarious chasm. To limit their potential damage, they roped down and crossed from below, all but Kipp who hoped across the stalagmites. The party moved cautiously, aware of the dangers lurking in the shadows.

They came to the whole area where bugbears were producing honey by keeping the bees down here. Very odd! Elenore examined the casks, wooden platforms, a large bolt of cheesecloth and various other items. She collected a vial of the honey, recognizing that it may have potential uses. They proceeded, stumbled upon a small watch-room where a bugbear had once ambushed Kipp when he was caught in the net trap. Oglesby searched it, finding only a flask of some half consumed beverage.

Continuing, they passed through a chamber littered with the corpses of bugbears and worgs they had previously slain. Oglesby opened the gate blocking access to the area where they presumed the worgs were kept. They crept through the pin area finding nothing unexpected. On the other side they did find an exit to a long hallway running north and south. There were many doors on both sides of the southern hallway along with a hallway branching of to the east. The path north was a natural hallway while the south was man made.

Choosing the southern route, they approached a door, which Oglesby checked for traps before allowing Kipp to open it. The room beyond was shrouded in blue haze, reeking of incense. Black drapes adorned the walls, and a brazier with cold coals sat at its center, accompanied by an ornate chair, a cot with furs, and tables covered with herbs and arcane paraphernalia. Brandy discovered a small box beside the chair, which Oglesby confirmed was free of traps. Opening it, they found white powder that released a strong incense scent, but deemed it unimportant and moved on.

In the next room, a kitchen, they found tables, a cooking fireplace, and semi-fresh carcasses hanging on hooks. The food appeared to be a mix suitable for humans, elves, and bugbears, but it had begun to dry out. They checked another door, which led to a large dining room with long tables and benches, recently used but now empty. Continuing their exploration, they reached a hallway with four doors. Brandy opened the western most door, revealing a set of stairs leading up to a balcony overlooking a vast room, 70-75 feet long and 40 feet wide, with a 40-foot-high vaulted ceiling. Goblins occupied the balcony and main floor, and a strange, malformed figure with clawed arms stood at the room’s center, accompanied by another goblin.

Combat erupted as the goblins opened fire. Brandy swiftly climbed onto a table, taking on all comers. She aptly moved from sword to bow as necessary. A golem-like creature attacked. Everyone else made it into the room quickly. They fought and killed the golem and a caveling while being pelted by the goblins. In the back of the room, two goblins were operating a mechanism to release two owlbears from hidden cages. Amid the chaos, a woman resembling Rowan, a Thieves Guild leader they'd met some weeks ago, appeared at the back of the room and cast a spell, paralyzing Audra and Elenor. The battle intensified, with Brandy, Oglesby, Pyreece, and Kipp fighting fiercely against the owlbears, goblins, and the mysterious woman, who summoned shadowy figures to her aid.

Pyreece broke free and attempted to turn the shadows, forcing two to flee. Brandy’s arrows struck true, wounding the woman, who was revealed not to be Rowan but someone who definitely looked a lot like her. She had dark hair though, wielded magic where Rowan wielded a sword. Pyreece seemed to remember something about Rowan having a second personality when seen by some people. Maybe a sister of hers? As the fight raged, the party whittled down their foes, with Kipp falling and being revived by an Elixer of Life from Pyreece. Eventually, they defeated the owlbears, goblins, the shadows, and the Rowan like character, though one goblin did escape. Pyreece had lost consciousness once and lost two strength points. Hopefully they will return soon.

Searching the woman’s body, they found a cloak, bracers, four potions, a rod, a staff, a dagger, and darts. Elenor detect magic on this and other items they'd collected along the way. She discovered which items might harbor hidden magical energies. She then identified some of the items: a Cloak of Protection +2, Bracers of Armor Class 5, a Rod of Smiting with eleven charges, a Potion of Fire Resistance, and a Potion of Speed. From a previous encounter, they also identified a two-handed sword +1, plate mail +1, and a Ring of Fire Resistance. They distributed the loot, with Pyreece taking the rod, Kipp taking the cloak and the bracers. The eight total potions of extra healing were divided up giving one to each of them and the extra two divided between Pyreece and Elenor. There was a potion of speed and a potion of fire giant strength which Brandy took. They stored the rest of the items in the bag of holding.

Searching the rest of the lab, they found drawings, etchings, and some notes. Some of the drawings were a little disturbing. Three of the notes were readable. They are included below.

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Vessa my dear, I admire your commitment to your art but I looked for myself and the stockade defenses have been compromised and our impotent dead guards are strewn pell mell. Clearly the stupid brutes were not up to the task against even a small force. Once again I am proven correct. For now we will take the inventory below, those too weak to travel can be left for the grues. Our next move depends on Klim. Word has been sent and we will soon see a force descend on the stockade, slaughter our invaders, and re-establish control. No more of these pathetic bugbears. We will take refuge in the caverns. From there we could trek to Suderham or the gate if necessary. Jalynlimar will assist us with his team. Estelreth is with us also. Icar, and Grod’zar are slain. Blackthorn and Guliyet remain at the stockade.

I have little doubt that our invaders will return so be ready.

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Subject #12 (composite of four corpses): Subject developed uncontrollable tremors and violent outbursts.

Subject #16 (elf corpse, heavily modified): Mimicked my posture and voice flawlessly. However, it flesh regrew over the eyes, sealing them shut. It now whispers gibberish in sleep.

Subject #17 (human male, age unknown): Attempted gender inversion and bone restructuring. Result: collapsed spine and spontaneous laughter. Resembles me only in nightmares.

Modifications Attempted: Skin grafts from my own body—rejected violently. Subjects developed boils. Vocal cord transplants—subjects mimic my voice successful. Memory infusion via dreamstone. Subjects recall my childhood but distort it grotesquely. One claimed my mother was a spider.

Notes & Observations: The soul does not tolerate mimicry. Each attempt fractures reality slightly. Mirror rituals amplify resemblance but cause subjects to bleed reflections. My own image in the looking glass has begun to change. I fear I am becoming them.

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Other

Subject #27 (ogre torso, stitched with wyvern limbs): Reanimated with bloodstone catalyst. Result: extreme aggression, uncontrollable spasms, and spontaneous bone growth.

Subject #31 (human corpse, fused with carrion crawler tentacles): Tentacles functional. Subject developed hive-mind link with nearby vermin. Speaks in insect clicks.

Subject #40 (adult male, multiple fractures): Reanimated with necrotic surge and grafted with chitinous plating. Result: subject developed mandibles, lost all verbal capacity, and attempts burrowing into stone walls.

- Subject #42 (female corpse, fused with abyssal tendrils): Reanimation successful. Subject emits low-frequency moans that cause migraines. Skin translucent—organs visible.

- Subject #45 (composite of three cadavers): Limbs fused into a radial configuration. Subject moves like a spider, but cries like a child. Highly aggressive.

—

Modifications Attempted: Infused spinal column with liquefied demon marrow—subject grew additional vertebrae and began twitching violently. Implanted vocal cords from banshee remains—subject emits sonic shrieks that rupture glass and sanity alike. Infused spinal column with abyssal ichor—resulted in subject growing additional limbs, some internal. Replaced heart with infernal gem—subject emits constant low-frequency hum that causes nausea in a 30-foot radius. Grafted raven wings onto Subject #39. Flight achieved for 3.2 seconds before structural failure and death.

—

Side Effects Observed:

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Exhausted and battered, with both Kipp and Pyreece at one hit point and others injured, the party sought a place to rest. They considered the incense-filled room but deemed it too exposed. Instead, they retreated to a steamy, rocky chasm. They lowered themselves down carefully and moved northwest away from the opening. The group settled in, laying out blankets to rest on the uneven ground. Audra, being bad off but still better off than most, stood guard, ensuring they remained hidden in the foggy cavern.

This is where the session ended!

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Exp: 1607 + 161 = 1768