Although the airship lich is interesting, it is KIkko the Druid that gives the group their next direction to follow. It seems that the lich-filled desert to the north of Cormyr is being terraformed and is becoming choked with poisonous brambles and shambling plant monsters.
Off they go into the wilderness. Before too long, the creepers are spotted, and the group flies into the depths of the desert. As they travel, the long lived elves recall some smattering of the history of the transformation of lush greenery into arid desert as the result of some strife in the past, involving a demigod (or perhaps great hero) and the evil forces that opposed him…though it is difficult to determine which side had the hero and which side were the terrible oppressors.
They eventually sight a massive limestone structure that has either risen from below the great sands, or was placed here to commemorate the victory. Again, details are spotty but the building is huge and so they explore. The top tier is penetrated by multiple passwall spells chained end to end nut the only thing that is located is an isolated domed chamber with a strange reclining chair in the center. An unfamiliar starmap covers the interior of the dome, but little more ca be determined save the lingering magic that permeates the area.
The second tier is explored in a similar fashion, but the only things they find are rune carved columns embedded in the structure…power supplies? Ancient prayer stones?
Finally, they decide to try and enter through the front door and are promptly attacked by a large tree that has grown around the entrance. To Kikko’s dismay, the tree is torched and splintered, and the group forces open the huge stone doors with great difficulty.
Upon entering they spend several days exploring, using walls of fire to shield themselves from the vicious water elementals that lurk in the entrance chamber. There are carvings and statues and bramble plants and luminescent lichens. There are passages that have been sealed off and tombs that are investigated. There is a bubbling pool of some sort of tarry substance and the presence of necrotic wyverns that try to immolate them with energy from the negative plane. Some ‘eggs’ are plucked from the viscous liquid and eventually the party finds its way to the lair of the druidlich – or is it a lichdruid?
The initial encounter doesn’t go very well, and the creature unleashes sheets of roaring flame, feeblemind and death spells, followed up with a swarm of flesh eating beetles. THe group deploys a wall of fire, retreats down the stairs and seals them with a wall of stone. They take a two month vacation in the secret space of security that Malchor carries and plot an elaborate plan. When all the details are ironed out, the end is almost anticlimactic. Elulyn opens a passwall and Malcjhor’s projected image wanders through. While the cave trolls and brambles try to assault the image, Malchor and Elulyn unleash powerful fireball spells that destroy or damage most of the attackers. A couple quick spell exchanges and Malchor disintegrates the offending druidlich lichdruid.
More investigation and a stone wall is knocked down with the help of Kikko’s earth elemental and they eventually find themselves in an ancient temple wherein some kind of death nage tries to kill them. Baddabing baddaboom and it disintegrates as well. The most interesting thing about the chamber is a carving set into the back wall that details the ascension to lichdom. That raises some interesting choices and everyone looks expectantly at Malchor. But, he is awfully good now…
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