Session 095: The Blue Alley Report

     

Summary

The night began peacefully aboard the party's ship, where Barlo, Shadow, and their companions had settled in for rest. As they slept, Barlo's dreams were filled with visions of his growing barbarian prowess and the mysterious new voice that had taken residence in his mind. His peaceful slumber was shattered when rogues crept aboard, armed with blow darts filled with sleeping poison. Despite his formidable constitution, Barlo eventually succumbed to the toxins after multiple darts found their mark. Shadow and Bastion fell quickly as well, their attempts to resist the chemical assault proving futile against the coordinated attack.   When Barlo finally stirred awake, he found himself hooded and being led through the reeking sewers beneath the city. His companions were confined in strange cylindrical tubes, sleeping peacefully despite their imprisonment. A rogue broke a vial of smelling salts beneath Shadow's nose, rousing her to consciousness. The leader of these thieves, a man named Garrett, explained their desperate situation. His guild needed the party's help to infiltrate Blue Alley, a notorious obstacle course that his organization was forbidden from entering. Their friend Pradam, who worked at the Nexus, had discovered something valuable inside that needed retrieving.   Garrett equipped Barlo and Shadow with special black cowls that would allow them to communicate telepathically and offered some magical protection. He also provided them with black crystal cylinders that could heal wounds and a gemstone capable of reviving the fallen. After being transported through a magical portal, the party found themselves in a tavern where they attuned to their new equipment. Their guide for this mission would be Needle, a skilled rogue who led them to the entrance of Blue Alley, demonstrating how to pass through the illusionary wall that concealed its entrance.   Inside Blue Alley, the party discovered a table with a book containing the names of previous adventurers who had attempted the challenge. Shadow signed with an X while Barlo added his name beside hers, noting the names of fallen heroes and recognizing Gamora, a dwarf archer whose moon-touched sword he now carried. A disturbing mural greeted them further in, depicting adventurers being torn apart by various deadly traps. The artwork showed two paths: one marked with silver pointing east, and another marked with gold pointing west. Behind them, a gate slammed shut with finality.   Choosing the gold path westward, they came upon an ivory-coated door carved with images of predatory beasts feasting on their prey. Needle checked for traps and unlocked the entrance, revealing a room with walls painted to resemble treasure chests. Inside an actual chest, they found gold, silver, and a peculiarly sharp dagger-like sword. Their discovery was interrupted when the ceiling itself began to descend, revealing that it was actually a massive mimic in disguise. Barlo quickly pulled Needle to safety while Shadow stood her ground, unleashing her swarm of magical fleas upon the creature. The battle was fierce but brief, with Barlo's claws tearing through the mimic's disguised form until it collapsed, dropping an ivory key that unlocked a previously sealed door.   The party proceeded to a chamber that defied the dungeon's stone construction, appearing as a lush pasture complete with grass, a water trough, and an impossibly clear sky despite the low ceiling. Two silos stood at the north and east ends of the room, their ivory surfaces covered in repeating patterns that, upon closer inspection, were actually tiny keys. Atop pedestals sat silver-plated skulls that seemed to pulse with magical energy. When Barlo picked up one skull and Shadow grabbed the other, an enormous minotaur materialized in the center of the room, bellowing with rage at its sudden summoning. The party quickly discovered that the creature would vanish when the skulls were set down but would reappear when they were picked up again.   Unable to negotiate with the furious beast, they were forced into combat. The minotaur charged at Shadow with devastating force, its horns goring into her and nearly bringing her down. Barlo entered his rage and tore into the creature with his claws, landing blow after blow while Shadow peppered it with arrows from a distance. Needle contributed what he could, his dagger finding weak points in the minotaur's hide. After a brutal exchange, Barlo delivered a final, crushing strike that caused the minotaur to phase out of existence, leaving behind another ivory key. Shadow quickly channeled healing magic to restore her companions before they continued onward.   They discovered a passageway leading north where six zombies dressed in elaborate gowns danced together in a grotesque waltz. Choosing to avoid this macabre scene, the party investigated a side door that opened onto a hallway with geometric patterns and a rising ramp. The floor was covered by a large, ornate rug that proved to be incredibly sticky when tested. After some creative problem-solving involving Shadow's cloak and Barlo's climbing claws, they managed to traverse the adhesive obstacle and reach a doorway at the top.   Beyond lay a magnificent domed chamber, its forty-foot ceiling adorned with brilliant murals of wizards and warriors. At the center stood a raised platform holding a glittering gemstone, above which hovered a sword that slowly rotated in the air. Shadow felt an unusual energy emanating from the walls as they explored, discovering several secret doors hidden within the chamber. When Barlo grabbed the sword while Shadow took the gemstone, the blade suddenly animated and attacked with vicious strikes that carried necrotic energy. The party fought back fiercely, with Barlo's claws scarring the magical weapon while Shadow's arrows found their mark. She ended the battle by pinning the sword to the wall with a perfectly placed shot through its crossguard.   Their exploration led them to a comfortable study featuring a blazing fireplace, a plush couch, and a table with mysterious runes carved into its perimeter. Shadow discovered a mirrored copper coin in the couch cushions while Barlo investigated a box on the table. Inside was a small, fuzzy creature that seemed harmless until Barlo picked up the box, at which point it crackled with lightning and struck him with painful electrical energy. He responded with overwhelming force, his claws making quick work of the tiny guardian. Shadow found a bowl of berries on the table and tasted one, immediately feeling ill and realizing they were corrupted versions of magical goodberries. She collected the remaining berries and nuts for potential future use.   Further exploration revealed a small room containing a broken crossbow with a snapped string and a single silver bolt that radiated magic. They also discovered a chamber made of perfectly smooth, featureless stone with green slime on the walls. This room had the unsettling property of amplifying all sounds to painful levels, making even whispers echo like shouts. The door mysteriously sealed behind them, and they struggled against the oppressive acoustics before finally forcing their way out. In a wine cellar, they found several bottles of dark wine that could serve as makeshift explosives, along with two healing potions hidden among the broken bottles. Behind a secret gold-plated door, they discovered a special hooded lantern capable of revealing invisible creatures and objects.   Through a barred window, they glimpsed a larger chamber containing thick iron bars and a chained sword similar to the one they had already encountered. They found a relief sculpture of a screaming skeleton with a hidden button inside its skull, which opened a door to a stairway when pressed. This led them to a reception room with a worn carpet and multiple exits. As they explored, small blue creatures called boggles appeared, initially seeming to tidy the room before turning hostile.   The boggles attacked with surprising ferocity, secreting sticky, oily puddles across the floor as they fought. Barlo entered his rage once more, his claws tearing through the small creatures as they swarmed around him. Shadow turned invisible to gain an advantage, emerging from the shadows to strike down her foes with deadly precision. Needle fought alongside them, his blade finding vulnerable spots despite the creatures' resilience. The battle was chaotic and intense, with the party having to navigate the slippery terrain while fending off multiple attackers. Eventually, through coordinated effort and relentless assault, they defeated the last of the boggles. As the creatures fell, the party caught their breath and prepared to continue deeper into Blue Alley, knowing that greater challenges likely awaited them in the chambers ahead.    

Scenes

Night Attack on the Ship

While sleeping on their ship, Barlo, Shadow, and Bastion are ambushed by rogues using blow darts filled with sleeping poison.

Barlo, while dreaming and leveling up, is struck by a blow dart but resists the first attempt.

A second rogue enters and successfully hits Barlo with another blow dart, causing him to fall unconscious.

Shadow is struck by a blow dart and falls unconscious despite attempting to hold her breath.

Bastion is hit by a blow dart and falls unconscious.

Barlo awakens from the poison, enraged, and shoves an attacker off of him.

Barlo stabs one of the rogues in the stomach with his claws and demands to know why they couldn't approach normally.

Sewer Journey and Thieves' Guild Proposition

The captured party members are hooded and led through the sewers to a Thieves' Guild hideout, where they learn of a mission to infiltrate Blue Alley.

The party is hooded with bags and led through the sewers, noting the distinct smells of the underground passage.

They arrive at a Thieves' Guild hideout where Bastion, Sas, and Artie are held in confinement tubes.

Shadow is revived with smelling salts by a rogue.

A rogue named Garrett explains that his guild needs the party to enter Blue Alley, a place the guild is forbidden from entering, to retrieve items for their friend Pradam who works at the Nexus.

Garrett provides Barlo and Shadow with black cowls that allow communication between wearers and require attunement.

Garrett gives them black crystal cylinders that function as healing potions and a gemstone that functions as a stored spell of revival.

The party is transported through a portal to a tavern near Blue Alley to attune to their cowls.

Entering Blue Alley

After attuning to their cowls in a nearby tavern, Barlo and Shadow approach Blue Alley, a notorious obstacle course, and are guided by Needle through an illusionary wall.

Barlo and Shadow attune to their black cowls in a tavern near Blue Alley.

Garrett's associate, Needle, leads them to Blue Alley, which is described as an obstacle course known to adventuring parties.

Needle demonstrates how to enter Blue Alley by walking through an illusionary wall.

Inside, they observe scorch marks and holes in the ground, suggesting traps.

The party discovers a simple table with a book and quill, which they sign.

Shadow signs the book with an 'X', and Barlo signs his name next to it.

Shadow notices other names in the book, including 'Gamora', which Barlo recognizes as the dwarf archer who owned a moon-touched sword.

A mural is revealed, depicting various deadly traps and the party being mutilated by them.

The mural has the word 'silver' painted above an arrow pointing east and 'gold' painted above an arrow pointing west.

A loud slam is heard behind the party, sealing their path.

Ivory Door and Mimic Encounter

The party chooses the 'gold' path, leading to an ivory-coated door which conceals a room with a mimic disguised as the ceiling.

The party chooses the 'gold' path, leading them west to an ivory-coated iron door carved with carnivorous animals.

Needle checks the door for traps, finds none, and unlocks it.

Inside, a room with whitewashed walls painted with treasure chests is discovered.

Needle identifies a chest as potentially trapped, and upon opening it, they find gold, silver, and a small, sharp dagger-like sword.

The ceiling of the room begins to descend, revealing itself to be a mimic.

Barlo pulls Needle out of the room to safety.

Barlo attempts to pull Shadow out, but she resists, choosing to fight.

Shadow attacks the mimic with her swarm, dealing significant damage.

The mimic bites Needle, dealing acid damage.

Needle attacks the mimic with his dagger, landing a critical hit.

Barlo attacks the mimic with reckless claw attacks, dealing massive damage and ultimately defeating it.

The mimic falls to the ground, and an ivory key drops, unlatching a door.

Pasture Room and Minotaur

The party proceeds to a room with an illusion of a lush pasture, containing two silos and pedestals with silver skulls, which summon a minotaur when touched.

The party enters a room with an illusion of a lush pasture, a clear sky, and two silos covered in ivory paint with geometric key patterns.

Pedestals in the room hold silver-plated skulls.

Barlo picks up the skull from the north silo, and Shadow picks up the other from the east silo.

Upon Shadow picking up the second skull, an angry minotaur appears in the room.

Shadow drops the skull, and the minotaur disappears.

The party realizes that touching the skull summons the minotaur, and keeping it touched keeps it present.

Shadow picks up the skull again, and the minotaur reappears.

The party attempts to communicate with the minotaur, but it remains hostile.

Shadow stuffs the skull into her shirt to keep the minotaur present.

The minotaur charges at Shadow, goring her with its horns and dealing significant damage.

Barlo rages and attacks the minotaur with his claws, dealing critical damage.

Shadow attacks the minotaur with arrows, further injuring it.

Barlo continues his assault, dealing a final blow that causes the minotaur to disappear, leaving behind an ivory key.

Shadow casts a healing spell, distributing healing among herself, Barlo, and Needle.

Dancing Zombies and Sticky Rug

The party discovers a passageway leading to dancing zombies and investigates a side door, revealing a hallway with a sticky rug.

The party discovers a passageway leading north, where they see six grotesquely dressed zombies dancing.

They decide to investigate a door to the left to avoid the zombies.

Upon opening the door, they find a hallway with geometric patterns and a rising ramp, featuring a large, sticky rug.

Shadow throws a ball bearing onto the rug, which sticks, confirming its adhesive nature.

Barlo uses a corroded javelin to attempt to lift the rug, but it remains stuck.

The party discusses strategies for crossing the sticky rug, including using a cloak as a makeshift bridge.

Shadow throws a cloak onto the rug to create a non-sticky path.

Barlo uses his climbing claws to scale the stone walls, bypassing the sticky rug.

Shadow and Needle successfully jump across the rug using the cloak.

The party reaches a doorway at the top of a ramp.

Gem and Spinning Sword Room

The party enters a domed room with brilliant murals, a glittering gem, and a sword slowly rotating above a dais, which attacks when the gem is touched.

The party enters a domed room with murals of wizards and warriors, a glittering gem, and a sword rotating above a dais.

Shadow feels a strange energy from the walls.

Needle discovers and unlocks a secret door in the chamber.

Barlo and Shadow decide to simultaneously grab the sword and the gem.

As Shadow grabs the gem, the sword animates and attacks Barlo, dealing necrotic damage.

Barlo attacks the sword, parrying its blows and dealing damage.

Shadow attacks the sword with arrows, further damaging it.

Barlo delivers additional blows to the sword.

Shadow pins the sword to the wall with an arrow through its hilt, ending the combat.

Shadow examines the gemstone, discovering it contains a gate within it.

Study Room and Fuzzy Guardian

The party explores a comfortable study-like room with a fireplace, couch, and a box, where they encounter a small, fuzzy creature that attacks them with lightning.

The party enters a room resembling a comfortable study or library, complete with a blazing fireplace, a couch, and a table.

They notice faint runes carved into the perimeter of the table.

Shadow finds a copper coin in the couch cushions.

Barlo examines a box on the table, opening it to reveal a small, fuzzy creature.

Shadow finds a bowl of berries and nuts on the table.

Shadow tastes a berry, which causes her to feel unwell, and she collects the remaining berries and nuts.

Upon being picked up, the fuzzy creature crackles with energy and strikes Barlo with lightning.

Barlo, in a reckless fury, attacks the fuzzy creature with his claws, delivering powerful blows.

The fuzzy creature is quickly defeated by Barlo's relentless assault.

Crossbow Room and Featureless Stone Chamber

The party discovers a small room containing a broken crossbow with a single silver bolt, then enters a chamber with green slime where sounds are unnaturally amplified.

Needle opens a secret door revealing a small room.

Inside, a crossbow with a snapped string is mounted on a tripod, holding a single silver bolt.

Shadow picks up the silver bolt, noting its magical properties.

The party enters a room with green slime on the walls, made of perfectly smooth, featureless stone.

The door to the room mysteriously closes behind them, and the room's acoustics amplify all sounds, making even whispers seem like shouts.

The party struggles to open the door, eventually pushing it open with great effort, knocking Needle back on the other side.

Upon exiting the room, the abnormal acoustics immediately cease, and sounds return to normal.

Wine Cellar and Hidden Lantern

The party explores a wine cellar with broken bottles, finding a few intact bottles of dark wine and two healing potions, and then discovers a hidden gold-plated door leading to a special lantern.

The party enters a wine cellar with mostly broken bottles, but finds five bottles of dark wine that can be used as flasks of alchemist's fire.

They discover two healing potions among the discarded bottles.

A two-foot-high gold-plated door is found hidden behind a wine rack, which is locked.

Needle attempts to unlock the gold-plated door, struggling with its high difficulty.

Shadow successfully picks the lock on the gold-plated door.

Inside the hidden compartment, they find a hooded lantern that can reveal invisible creatures and objects.

Barred Window and Screaming Skeleton

The party discovers a barred window looking into a large room with circular bars and a chain, and then finds a relief sculpture of a screaming skeleton with a hidden button.

Shadow looks through a barred window into a large room with red clay brick walls and seven thick circular solid bars.

A sword, similar to one the party already possesses, is visible through the bars, chained within the room.

The party finds a relief sculpture of a humanoid skeleton with outstretched arms and a screaming mouth.

Barlo investigates the sculpture and finds a small iron button inside the skull.

Pushing the button causes a door to open, revealing stairs.

Reception Room and Boggle Encounter

The party enters a reception room with a sticky red carpet and encounters boggles, small blue goblin-like creatures that clean up the room and attack when provoked.

The party enters a reception room with a sticky red carpet and doors to the east and north.

They test the carpet with a ball bearing, which rolls on the carpet but sticks when it rolls off.

A voice is heard from behind the eastern door, which Needle unlocks and opens.

Inside the newly opened room, a statue with eyes that appear to watch the party is present.

An invisible force field is detected around the statue.

A phrase is scrawled on the wall in Common.

The party discusses a riddle they've been piecing together from inscriptions found throughout the dungeon.

They conclude the answer to the riddle is 'a key'.

Small, blue, goblin-like creatures called boggles appear, initially tidying the room.

Barlo attempts to communicate with the boggles in Goblin, but they do not understand.

The boggles attack the party, creating puddles of sticky, oily substance on the floor.

Barlo rages and attacks the boggles with his claws, dealing significant damage and defeating several.

Shadow uses her swarm to attack a boggle, dealing substantial damage.

Shadow turns invisible to gain an advantage in combat.

Barlo continues his assault, moving through the sticky terrain and defeating more boggles with powerful strikes.

Shadow emerges from invisibility to attack the remaining boggles with her arrows.

The party defeats the boggles after a fierce struggle.

           

Experience



t Experience: xxx,000 (Next Goal: 195,000) t