The group departs the warrens and returns to the manor house to assemble a way forward. The neighbors still regard them with a mixture of admiration and concern for the way they tweaked the nose of the Vladaam House. Of course, everyone knows that they didn’t break into the place and kill the guards and possibly murder the heiress to the family crest, nor break into their secret prison to rescue a famous magic-making dwarf! Of course it wasn’t them. Couldn’t be. I mean, the saviors of Ptolus in all their lower class charm, assaulting an old and powerful family? Preposterous! It simply isn’t done. Also, no one is paying any mind to the rumors that they loosed a vampire eating creature from an ancient crypt. People say the silliest things, dontchaknow.
They meet, eat, bathe, and have the butler darn some holes in their gear as they ponder the next move. They need the bag of Digin gravel to be turned into a bag of fleshy chunks, then they need one of aforementioned chunks to be resurrected back into an entire Digin. They set about identifying items, pooling resources, cursing their luck and trying to see if they can leverage any goodwill from the mages or the clerics.
Begging, bartering, bribing and so forth eventually see the mages restore the dwarf to flesh on principle, and the church holds its nose to return him to life as the group hands over several powerful items designed to fight evil. The church signals that it is through cooperating on this effort. Months have gone by and the warrens are not sealed, though it is clear that there has not been a wholesale loss of containment as was originally feared.
The group re-girds their collective loins and returns. The situation has definitely changed. Lothianite clerics and soldiers roam the lower levels of the banewarrens and there is an effort underway to fix the warding devices that protect against intrusions. As the party climbs various sets of stairs, it is clear that the church has moved into an aggressive containment position. The greatest shock comes as they are headed down a long hallway towards the eventual entrance to the spire. The massive floating throne is occupied by a large silver dragon. He informs the group that this will be the last time they are permitted to enter the Spire, and that their services are no longer needed.
The group mulls this over and eventually decides to go for it one last time. They traverse the anti-magic zones and use their magical means to ascend the tower interior, with the goal of exploring an area that Zaal identified as interesting on the last visit. Of particular interest is a door through which a stone-colored creature exited the tower interior. When they arrive, there are five of the creatures out and about, so a pitched battle begins.
The creatures are quickly overcome and the party moves to investigate the door. The door is opened and they behold a mass of chains that form a bridge, and a creature – apparently made of chains – that guards it. Digin charges to attack while the rest of the group tries to provide some support. The creature attacks with lashing chains that entangle and trap – but Digin is strong and rips the chains apart to continue the assault. More chains attack other party members and deal terrible damage as they entangle, constrict and slash at various people. Indeed, it is looking grim for the little Fingers as he is wrapped in lacerating chains. Digin slays the creature just seconds before his lil buddy expires from blood loss! A powerful magic bracer is retrieved and the room leads to a plundered vault.
For the moment, they bask in their glory, but all too soon the familiar refrain is heard;”Now what?”
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