09/06/2012

Assault on Skywatch

The Fists decide to inform the Sharn Watch about their proposed assault on Sky Reach tower. They are directed to Iron Gate where the forces dealing with the problem are based. To get there they pass through a shanty town which has sprung up on the borders, made of the refugee's who have been forced to flee the area.


The Fists introduce themselves to the guards who agree to let them into the sealed off area of the city. The Watch suggests they seek out the Esoteric Order of Aureons who have occupied a building nearby to study the problem. Following this advice they get to see the head of the Order, EREMIRE. He confirms that they are dealing with an avatar of OBOX-OB.

Eremire informs them that Sky Reach tower marks the spot where the leader of the Aberrant Dragon Marked houses fell at the end of the War of the Mark.

The Order's experiments have revealed that the obelisk is protected by a powerful 'Wall of Force', that also prevents any teleportation or similar magic that would enable anybody to enter. Although there are rumours of cultists of Obox-Ob and strange creatures emerging from the tower.

The Crimson Fists move on the tower itself. Inside the Force Wall unknown parties have constructed strange wooden structures around the obelisk and the gigantic centipede that curls around it. An invisibility spell is cast and the Fists stealthily move around the tower searching for recent tracks.

They spot a light and sneak towards it, finding a robed figure carrying a lantern on the end of a pole. As they get closer they make out the figure is a pretty elven woman across whose face insects occasionally scuttle. She is known to the Fists, she is the mysterious woman who freed them from the Black Scale Lizards so many months ago.

Then they hear her familiar voice in their heads. She knows she is being observed by not by who. Introductions are made and she claims she can get the Fists through the Force Wall and into the tower tonight. She claims although she is the Prophet of Obox-Ob, she wishes to prevent him from destroying all existence. Then she 'Teleports' away.

The Crimson Fist split up for the afternoon. Kapek goes and gets a tattoo, Ajax and Lorric go drinking and Mirra uses the library of the Esoteric Order of Aureons to research the Prophet of Obox-Ob. She discovers there are three of them, all hand-maidens of LOLTH, given to Obox-Ob by the goddess herself.

As the sun sets the Fists meet up at the entrance to Iron Gate and head in. In the appointed place they meet up with their guide.

She tells them that HATHMART E'RESSAR ( a name Ajax recognizes as the father the Elven twins had asked him to find) was the first to be impregnated by the forces of Obox-Ob. He became a ROACH THRALL, but a special one who kept his skin and can produce eggs. Hathmart knows the path and will lead them to where they need to be.

She leads the Fists to a tiny apartment in a ruined building, points to a battered door and without another word 'Teleports' away. Wil checks the door and discovers it is trapped with a 'Disintegrate' spell. By removing certain runes Wil disarms the trap and then opens the lock. The door opens into a room which contains two THRI-KREEN.

Lorric leaps to the attack and engages them. Ajax charges into an adjoining room and attacks the three Thri-Kreen he finds there. The creatures are barely more than a hindrance and are swiftly disposed of.

In the bathroom the toilet has been removed creating a hole down into a truly foul sewer.

With some reluctance they drop down into the sewer and move in the direction of the tower. After about fifty yards they reach a sheer drop.