Five Tower Keep Session 29: 03/21/2019 The Medusa, Old World Window, and Rex Venenum Neula

We begin this week’s session in front of the large silver mirror window discussing what was successful about Alaric's ability to pass unimpeded through the mirror.

After a short time Alaric is the first to step through again followed by Stoutwood who had physical possession of Ginger when he passes through and then Sonayo. One by one each player character and hireling step through the mirror window and to a bright plane of mirrors along every degree and axis save for one life size mirror that exclusively held one’s reflection. Each individual is drawn to the mirror that held their reflection save for Drake and his hireling.

Melderon recognizes the presence of a strong ley line and first-world influence as one of the ley line terminals that Melderon had detected that was causing discordance in the fabric of the lines.

On the other side of the mirror our characters find themselves inside the brick and timber guard tower. At the base, inside the tower, is a marbleized sink hole with worked steps circling down into the darkness about a hundred feet.  

Besides the scent of vermin, Ginger is able to detect two distinct scents as well as a third scent: the half-dragon minotaurs. Mesha hones in on a magical source at the bottom of the sink hole as well as a permeating sense of chaos and uncertainty.

Our characters reach the bottom at the same time and come to an ancient ornate roman/greek cathedral-like chamber that ended somewhere in the darkness beyond. There is a subtle slope down towards the darkness as four rows of stylized columns line the vast artful chamber.

As we traverse the chamber a large stone bear emerges from the marble floor just as a deadly bolder comes sailing in from the darkness.  But almost immediately the stone bear is magically replaced by the medusa, an old forceful creature of vast charisma and power. Rings of power adorn each hand, a number of magical auras, as well as leather clothing.

Our characters defeat her giant husband and eventually a child medusa; this has the obvious effect on the wife/mother medusa.

All becomes eerily silent and our characters continue on down the chamber until it becomes more of a natural cavern where a mirror suspended in midair much like the first mirror-window resides. This one however looks to open into the first world. Also in this cavern is all the effects of a medusa who has lived here for hundreds of years. 

Shystermeth believes these tunnels are part of the lost silver mines of Horcton. There is little doubt as our characters stand among the silver ore, amethyst, emerald ore and diamonds as well as master work tools to work the precious stones. A stone of conjuring earth elementals is among the items as well as written journals in the medusa's hand.

The medusa is not in a coven but supports Ghoronna and for the past 50 years there has been trade between her and the hags and at the end of the accord the medusa had a daughter brought of it by a giant husband. She praises Ghoronna and a the hag Queen Mother/ Coven Supreme. She refers to the Blossoming of the Swamp and Rex Venenum Neula a very old black dragon. Further we find evidence in the journals of an arrangement between the Queen Mother who came to the druid-medusa for fine treasures to use to convince the dragon to fertilize the hags for progeny. It also comes to light that the medusa traded in undamaged stone statues so that the hags revive these poor souls to sacrifice to Ghoronna.

Our characters also find 5 of each in crude vials: barkskin, CSW, CMW, CLW, hide from animals, bears endurance, bull’s strength, cat’s grace, lesser restoration, burrow.

We rest and then turn our attention to the old world mirror-window and find that simply stepping into the window is the way through. Upon doing so our characters are immediately aware of being somewhere else; the air quality, vibrancy of the foliage is almost everything is overwhelming in this primitive jungle. Lying before our characters is a dirt path winding its way through the lushness.

After about an hour of walking the path we come to a square portal suspended in air; within it is an old ruined cavernous chamber: the other terminus of the ley line interference Melderon senses. When we begin next week we are in a ruined church in Horcton.