The Arcanist's Lair

"**The Arcanist's Lair**" (1x05) is the 5th episode of Dun-Johns and Dragons.

### **Previously on *Dun-Johns and Dragons***

In the last episode, the party was asked by the clerk of the captain of the city guard to find the captain, who had mysteriously gone missing after investigating several murders and disappearances attributed to the Baelor Butcher. The party decided to focus on the dungeon mission previously given to them by Makaria Quest in "Haunted Hollow" (1x03), but agreed to keep an eye out for the captain or any clue as to his whereabouts. They traveled to the Nevertop Peaks, befriending a stray dog they named Pebble along the way, then located the entrance to the dungeon. Once inside, they defeated several skeletons and a minotaur-like creature made of bones, and came upon a staircase with a mysterious inscription leading to a rope bridge over a deep chasm. Zander was the only one so far to successfully cross the rickety bridge, and alone on the far side, he spotted a wooden structure and a shadowy figure armed with a bow.

### **Part I**

The party members still on the first side of the bridge try to devise a way to write down the inscription on the stairs. Zander, meanwhile, hides behind a barrel and takes in his surroundings. Magpie realizes that every second plank on the bridge is safe [OOC, Le Humph credits Sam with this realization] and skips confidently across, and the rest of the party follow. Zander points out the shadowy figure, and to Zander and Magpie’s consternation, the dwarves immediately and loudly barge up and discover that it is a withered, monstrous corpse, chained in place like some kind of scarecrow. They continue down another set of steps and discover an apparently abandoned living space, with some bookshelves and books and papers scattered around. Magpie examines the books and papers on the table; most are completely faded, on one she makes out the title “Heroes of the Ocean”. Father Buckitt notices what appears to be a glass case, but as he approaches it turns out to be a Gelatinous Cube, which engulfs him, and the party enters initiative.

In the course of the battle, Father Buckitt, Magpie, and Zander all spend some time engulfed. As they battle the first cube, a second one oozes out of the shadows. Yoolna has few resources that would be effective against the cube directly, so she spends her time trying to use a candelabrum to extract those currently engulfed, with some success. Dugluss makes consistent lightning attacks with his gauntlets while Father Buckitt, after escaping his engulfment, uses his hammer and Thunderous Smite to great effect. Stone initially stays back and spends their turns healing the rest of the party, but later also makes some attacks with their hammer. Magpie attempts to use her Wand of Wonder but only ends up stunning herself, though as a side effect she thinks she has struck a great blow and essentially saved the day.

### **BREAK**

The break starts at 1:43:19, ends at 1:59:08

### **Part II**

After being rescued from the cube by Yoolna, Zander retreats across the room and uses magic attacks, mostly Eldritch Blast. Dugluss deals the final blow, another lightning attack, to the first cube, freeing Magpie who, still stunned, makes a celebratory jello angel in the disintegrating goo. Buckitt, out of spell slots, backs away from the fray and resorts to throwing javelins at the second cube, though one isn’t terribly effective and the other misses entirely (this happens immediately after a discussion of how easy it is to hit a Gelatinous Cube due to their low AC). Magpie, still stunned, is engulfed by the second cube, but recovers and manages to escape one turn later and runs squelchily out of range of the cube. Yoolna, having no one to fish out of a cube at the moment, moves off to investigate an adjacent area, hoping to find more effective weapons or potions to use against the cube. Magpie brandishes the Wand of Wonder again; there is an immensely bright flash of light and she is temporarily blinded. Confused about directions, she runs back into the fray and attempts to hide, crouching down in plain sight. The others continue attacking, and the cube engulfs Stone, but Magpie, still blinded, manages to fire her crossbow successfully at the cube, dealing the final blow.

The party investigates the room further. It is in a state of disarray and very dusty; there are several shelves full of books and papers, a shelf full of potions, various scientific instruments, and some chests, which contain some pocket change and an old cloak. Zander explores the area back up the stairs and discovers a zipline-like conveyance back to where they started. Dugluss investigates the books; most are faded and decaying though he makes out a few titles; one is a T.S. Ballsworth novel, which Zander quietly pockets. Magpie explores the workspace and finds a pedestal topped with a crystal next to a pile of ash, as well as some tools, wiring, and mechanical bits. She also finds some books and papers and takes a quill. In particular, she discovers the journal of Ren Fiddlefen, an arcanist. The journal mentions someone named Vanick, a name Magpie recognizes as the current leader of the Faltash Tower, a sort of university of wizards in the south of Crystaria engaged in studying the arcane.

Magpie attempts to remove the crystal, but it is firmly affixed, and seems to be thrumming with arcane energy. Dugluss casts an identify spell; the crystal itself is valuable, but it is connected to some unknown and very powerful energy. Zander attempts to take it, but on a critical failure to his arcana check, he catches a glimpse of a hellish landscape, which Magpie recognizes as the elemental plane of fire, and the group around the crystal is engulfed in a brief but powerful burst of flame. Dugluss, seized with artisanal curiosity, remains undeterred and tries to take the crystal while everyone else backs away. His arcana check is more successful, and he manages to take it. Father Buckitt destroys the pedestal with his hammer.

The party discusses whether they should hand the item over to The Penumbra, as instructed. Dugluss has the ability to replicate magical items, and offers to do so, but Magpie argues against turning over such a powerful item to such a shady organization. Dugluss grows very protective of the crystal and obsessively wants to study and understand it. Magpie touches the crystal to see if she can speak to it, but its power seems to be gone. The group decides to stay where they are to take a rest and investigate the papers more fully. Dugluss takes up residence at the workbench to examine the crystal and the books, while the others examine the room. They find three healing potions and a handful of other unidentifiable potions, as well as two scrolls and a scroll case. In the workbench, Dugluss finds a very fetching patchwork hat and a gold ring with a feather engraved on it. They settle in for a long rest.

## **Featured Characters**

### **Player Characters**

* Dugluss Deep-Forge
* Father Buckitt
* Magpie
* Stone
* Yoolna
* Zander Brushspark