Realms S2E21 Against the Clock

The group finds themselves deep within Pyriel's Castle. They seek the source of the Rime, but face threats stand in their way.

### Player Characters Present

Eclipse, Naphako, Keywynn(offline), Kyrealle, Kerrick

### Synopsis

We pick in Pyriel's Castle with Glib-Naphako and Eclipse finishing their attack on one of the constructs within some sort of experimental room. There are dead bodies being thrown into a well, other bodies being taken from cages and strapped in and plugged into something. The attack causes the alarm to go off, so our heroes start fighting the few other constructs in the room.

Eclipse starts us off, lashing out with his new sword, and runs to unplug one of the bodies. He gets shocked trying to do so. Ky takes a shot at another constructs and learns that the creatures are not just made of metal it’s also organic. Glib declares Eclipse to be his rival before attempting and failing his own attacks. These construct-ish things ignore them and continue their waltz of moving bodies. The fight continues in this manner, with Kerrick firing his gun before heading towards the cages.

As Eclipse unplugs someone, suddenly the group hears the sound of something powering up just as they are starting to get the constructs under control as Kyrealle finally finishes off one off with a frost spell. As it falls, another creature, much larger and much more menacing enters the room and does take notice of them; a Marut.

Kerrick takes the first shots at the Marut, but he misses and the threat becomes very apparent.

Keywynn finishes unplugging her other human while Ky moves up towards the giant body-disposal well in the center of the room, and casting a gaze at the Marut figures out it's immune to poison. The Marut unleashes its first devastating attack, punching Naphako, and hurting others with proximity radiant damage. Glib in his childish naivety, runs into attack and fails once again. Rolan tries his best to keep them alive.

Eclipse, having enough of it all, runs to the center of the room and uses his sword to cast divine word, a powerful attack that destroys one construct but does little against the Marut. Ky uses Honkers to start attacking. The Marut attacks Eclipse, but the Marut does take significant damage as Glib manages to channel Naphako’s paladin powers to reflect the hit back. And on we go, as Glibphako, Eclipse and Kerrick all manage to hit the construct and devastating attacks are returned. And so back and forth it went really. The group continue to take pot shots at the terrifying Construct while pouring healing potions down each other's throats, just trying to outlast it.

During this Honkers is instructed to unplug another of the humans and wouldn't you know it, this causes them to hear the sounds of another Merut. The first to become unconscious in the attacks in Naphako, but luckily Rolan is able to bring her back with some heals. Kerrick is the one to get the final blow. His reward, you ask? Oh well he gets blasted by a second general Marut that enters unannounced from behind.

The party continues to fight, but are badly damaged, Kerrick, Naphako and Eclipse fall. It’s at this point that Kyrealle casts Leomunds tiny hut. The bubble proves invaluable, as many hit and run towards its protection. But not all are so lucky, as the Good Buddy Destroyer Bot runs up and hits Keywynn she falls unconscious.

From here they're popping in and out of the bubble taking shots. It’s back and forth…well really more like awake and unconscious. At one point, they try to get the Marut away from Keywynn as she's trapped in a corner, on the ground. Rolan dashed over to his sister as Kerrick tried to get its attention but it didn't work. Eclipse is next to try his luck as he tries to run up and strike, but the construct punched Eclipse, laying him out unconscious.

This grueling battle culminates in a near death experiences for nearly everyone, but especially Keywynn and Rolan who were inches from death.

Everyone tries to just finish this thing off, Eclipse shoves one of the plugs into the construct electrocuting it and himself. Naphako tries to smash it with her hammer and misses completely, but finally as it looks completely hopeless, our Kerrick finally manages to kill the enemy with a well placed shot from his gun.

Kerrick drags his friends to Kyrealle’s hut and the group is alive. Just barely.