Session 7: Into the Donjon Depths

### The Battlefield Cavern

The party finished off the beholder and dwarf zombies, but not before a devastating eye beam brought Torman to within an inch of death. Deciding to rest up, they gathered rusted metal from the corroded weapons and armor around the cavern. Additionally, they found a usable shortsword and shield, recovered the intact jawbone of the dead beholder, and discovered the Bas-Relief Bulwark of the Ancient Beholders. Keen powers of investigation led Varec to recognize that the six-armed creature depicted on it was one of the Originators. After resting, they moved on north, deeper into the cavern system. It was now midnight on the fourth day of the weeklong Victory Day festival.

### The Tomb of Blorgathus

The party entered a section of tunnels carved with alien stonework, resembling that at the base of the Donjon castle walls, the result of ancient beholder excavations. Seeing three paths ahead of them, they explored two and found the way blocked, each bricked off by a featureless wall of what seemed to be dwarf-crafted stone bricks. A third path led down into a room lit by an unearthly orange glow. It appeared to be an ancient beholder tomb, with a massive round sarcophagus of eerie purple stone and a huge magically lit eye decoration looking down on it.

Menny could tell there was strong illusion magic emanating from the room. Fearing traps, the party tested the room in various ways. An illusion was revealed when Torman threw a stone and it disappeared into the floor, then landed somewhere below with a sizzle. Razznoff slowly edged his hand and head into the entrance of the room and massive lava chasm was revealed, rendered invisible by a magic illusion by beholders long ago to keep out any members of ground-bound species. Leaping the chasm, the party investigated the sarcophagus and found a strange eye encased in a crystal orb, and investigating its properties, realized it was the Shrunken Eye of Blorgathus.

### The Donjon Depths

Returning to the bricked-off paths, the party noticed that the tunnel leading up to one of them appeared to be a natural tunnel of raw asteroid stone rather than beholder excavation, so they decided to try and break through that wall.

They came out above the stone of a small kitchen and mess hall, its walls built of dwarven stone but its decor decidedly human. A pot of stew was still brewing on the lit stove. Chairs had been suddenly moved and bowls of stew abandoned, spoons in them still, although they were starting to get cold. It appeared as if people were here maybe a few hours ago, and then suddenly dropped what they were doing and left. Investigating the kitchen, the party found Chef's Utensils, a 10lb bag of cinnamon (the chef seemed to like using way too much cinnamon, making the stew taste off), and a Heward's Handy Spice Pouch marked with the insignia of Bral.

Venturing out from the kitchen, they found an empty hallway, with a locked door down the hall to the west. After Locke picked it, they found a room full of beds and footlockers inside. Along with many mundane clothes and supplies, they found a magical mirror that seems to always reflect a cheery, positive version of the viewer -- the Mirror of Positive Reinforcement. They also found a scroll with a broken red seal. Inside, it contained what seemed to be orders to a soldier of Bral:

```
SUPREME HEADQUARTERS
MINISTRY OF WAR
MOST SERENE REPUBLIC OF BRAL

AV 1136.12.27 17:44:00 / DIRECT ORDER / DCL: HIGH CONFIDENTIAL

BY ORDER of HER EXCELLENCY the MERCHANT-PRINCE

A NOTICE for all standing FORCES-AT-ARMS

An adversary fleet approaches the Bralian system from the galactic northwest.

All shore leave and rotational guard duty for all military staff assigned Status Levels 2 through 7 is cancelled effective immediately. All military staff assigned Status Levels 2 through 7 are ordered to assume active duty posts without excuse or delay.

All fighting vessels on interstellar assignment are to consider prior orders rescinded and recall all forces to the Bralian system immediately. The First and Second Fleets are to proceed immediately to Rendezvous Point Delta. The Expeditionary Fleet is to assume a Condition 1 outer system patrol pattern. The Perimeter Fleet is to assume a Condition 1 orbital patrol pattern.

We will face and defeat any foe that threatens the Rock. The republic stands fast.

```

Down the hallway to the east, the party found two grand semicircular rooms with stairwells up. Above, they could hear commotion -- soldiers talking, walking about, sharpening swords, tending to horses -- a commotion that seemed in keeping with their prior observations of a mobilization happening above in the Donjon and in the space around the Rock.

They also found two hallways, one up a stairwell and leading northwest, and another leading west from between the stairwell rooms. In each, they could hear a voice, similar to the modron monodrone they encountered when they first arrived at Bral, repeating a message.

In the hallway leading west, a monodrone patrolling back and forth was repeating:

```
EXECUTE DIRECTIVE: ENGAGE AND APPREHEND HOSTILES

```

In the hallway up the stairwell, a monodrone patrolling was repeating:

```
EXECUTE DIRECTIVE: REPORT HOSTILES TO SUPERIOR OFFICER

```

The party gathered below the stairwell, ready for a fight...