Session 110: Niptu's Lair Report

General Summary

Session 110 – Wednesday February 5, 2025: Niptu’s Lair

4-hour Battle/Exploration session 5:30 PM to 10:00 PM.

The Stone Bearers. Party of 6:

It is the 7th day of the month of Ches (The Claw of Sunset) in the 51st year of the Age of Enialis (Late March.)

• Ajani– High Elf, L20 Wizard – Nathan Gioconda
• Cassidy – Human, L20 Blood hunter – Ryan Armstrong (Remote)
• Gazlowe – Goblin, L20+ Artificer – Josh Pozsonyi
• Isabella – Forest Gnome, L20 Barbarian – Jackie Armstrong
• Juan Peyote – Gnome L20 Paladin – Will Johnson
• Seften Mitcaver – Human, L120 Cleric – Jacob Munson (Remote)

To Niptu’s Lair

The party went back to the Demon room where the Demons were still tolerating them and took a long rest. With Zorguk dead, the Demons were not as welcoming as before. In the morning the party made their way into the open area of Hellgate keep where Niptu had made his lair in a massive magical tree.   They came to the structure and Seften, being an expert in all sorts of matter saw that the tree was made of a magical adamantine enriched wood. The front Adamantine door was flanked by 2 large willow trees and protected by dryads, disguised as elves. The Stone Bearers tried to deceive the elves, saying that Niptu summoned them. Failing that, they resorted to intimidation and when that failed, they attacked. When the battle broke out a Dirt Mournling that was hiding in the ground burst out and joined the dryads. Gazlowe used the green dragon poison bomb and restrained one of the dryads. The party focused their fire on the restrained creature. Isabella was poisoned by the other dryad. Cassidy killed the first dryad with her whip.   The dirt Mournling grappled Cassidy and smashed her into the ground over and over leaving her bloodied. The dust blinded a few of the stone bearers. Seften commanded the dirt Mournling to grovel. Isabella bloodied the dryad and rubbed the dirt out of her eyes. Ajani hit them both with chromatic orbs of fire. Cassidy helped by removing the dirt Mourning’s immunity to fire. The dryad hit Gazlowe and then healed the Dirt Mournling. Juan and Bird continued to suffer the dirt in their eyes. Cassidy killed the remaining dryad with her whip.   As the Dirt Mournling groveled the party began pounding on it but failed to finish it off before it stood up again. It was about to mess up Gazlowe, but Cassidy cursed it saving Gazlowe from serious damage. The party continued pounding on the creature and Juan dealt with the dirt in his eyes. Ajani cast detect thoughts to determine where the creature came from and learned that it was created from bodies in the dungeon and that gave him no real insights into Niptu’s lair. The Dirt Mournling again tried to smash Gazlowe but again Cassidy cursed the creature and saved Gazlowe. Seften finished off the Dirt Mournling with his spiritual weapon.

The adamantine door

Juan finally got the dirt out of his eyes and Isabella downed a potion of Lesser Restoration removing the poisoned condition. Seften listened at the door triggering a glyph of death. Bird was destroyed and the others were hurt. Gazlowe quickly cast dispel magic and stopped the glowing. Listening again, Seften heard children giggling and playing. Juan re-summoned Bird and Isabella downed her potion of Storm Giant Strength. Seften fortified Ajani and Cassidy. Gazlowe lit the trees outside on fire as Cassidy cast Knock. The door opened.

The garden

They walked into a lush garden rich in fragrant pink and white springtime blossoms. Vines stretched out from the walls, curling into loose, decorative tunnels that framed paved walkways. The tunnels opened into three intimate reception areas with benches, tables, and light refreshments. A prim elf servant stood with a tray of glasses at the ready. The sound of childish laughter filled the halls, as spectral images of young elves chased each other through the tunnels.   Gazlowe walked up to the elven servant and introduced himself. The Elf (clearly not an elf but a creature disguised as an elf) introduced himself as Hanaphaen, servant of the Great Niptu. Gazlowe knew that Hanaphaen was not happy about this arrangement. The party drank some of the wine and ale and it was not poison. They observed the scenes of the children and Ajani recognized one of the children as a young Niptu.   In one scene Niptu was in school and raised his hand to answer a question before anyone else. In another Niptu lead a recital of an ancient elven play. In the 3rd area Niptu whispered a secret to another elf. The party was able to decipher “We’ll seize eternity together, Aethilen.” Hanaphaen told the party they are not permitted to go beyond the garden.   Ajani successfully cast friendship on Hanaphaen and said, “I can see you’re not really happy here.” Hanaphaen reveled himself to be devil in disguise and told the Stone Bearers that he’s magically bound to service. Hanaphaen told the party that if they destroy the magic circle in the mortuary on the 3rd floor it will break his bond, and he will fight with them.

There’s no fighting in the war room!

The party thanked Hanaphaen and moved up to the 2nd level where they entered the war room. They were met with several elven guards around a large table with a detailed map. The elves told them to go back downstairs. The party argued that they wanted to negotiate their contracts or perhaps free them. The elves (devils in disguise) called for backup. A door opened in the south and a couple more devils walked in.   The devils attacked and much of their damage was dealing fire. Cassidy and Seften were hit but took no damage from the fire. Noting this, the devils focused on Ajani saying “Spellcaster!” Cassiday again cursed the first devil protecting Ajani. Isabella took out her nine lives stealer and landed a critical blow, unfortunately the devil still survived. Seften cast spirit guardians encircling all the devils. Cassidy cast chain lightning hurting several of the devils.   Ajani, being a responsible spellcaster, put his ale down and tried to banish 2 of the devils but failed. The devil adjudicator hit Ajani hard leaving him barely alive with 2 HP and cursed him so he couldn’t be healed. Isabella hit one of the devil magistrates who tried to charm Isabella, but Isabella’s legendary resistance was able to prevent the charm. Gazlowe then killed the Magistrate. Juan finished off another of the devils with his drinking buddy. Seften’s spirit guardians were taking a toll on the devils.   Seften cast power word fortify on Ajani giving him 120 temp HP. Ajani shot a lightning bolt hurting one of the devils. The remaining magistrate and the Adjudicator focused on Ajani. Gazlowe hit the Magistrate and bloodied her. The Adjudicator charmed Isabella. Ajani hit the Magistrate with a lightning chromatic orb that ricocheted and hit the Adjudicator. The chromatic orb ricocheted again and headed towards the Legate who charmed Ajani and made it hit Seften. Seften simply shook his head.   The adjudicator hit Isabella and then charmed her again. Isabella left the adjudicator and killed the magistrate and one of the Legates. The party focused on the remaining adjudicator. The Adjudicator landed one last blow on Ajani leaving him with 2HP + 5 temp. Everyone piled on and attacked the Adjudicator and Juan landed the killing blow with his drinking buddy.

Statues.

The party examined the maps on the table and saw the plans for Niptu’s conquest of the high forest. They looked at the statues in the room which were mostly of Niptu in different states of pride. The last statue was bowing to one of Niptu’s statues. The bowing statue was of an Elven general named “Phadanar.”   Walking into the next room they found an armory. There was a massive statue in the armory that was hexed but everyone was able to avoid the hex. The Statue was wearing a golden medal (worth 500gp.) Engraved on the medal was “Given by General Phadanar in recognition of valor of Niptu, now named High Mage.” Gazlowe took the medal, scratched out “Niptu” and engraved “Gazlowe.” The statue was holding a “spellguard shield.” Gazlowe took that also. In the weapons racks were a plethora of swords, bows, arrows halberds and pikes.   The party considered a short rest. Gazlowe offered to shut the door and sovereign glue it shut. Isabella said, “But I’ve already taken my potion of Storm Giant Strength!”