Centrum Glacies Session 68: Mimics
Week 68 Dungeons and Dragons Campaign in Centrum Glacies continues as the party is split once more. While away from the rest, Teztcal encounters several Mimics.
Like my other campaign, I’m turning this one into a book series. You can check out the first one here.
Anyway, just like my other campaign, there is a whole lot going on and I don’t want to elaborate on every moving piece in the story. You can see the whole thing in the book series.
!!!Trigger Warning!!!
This story deals with a cruel world with some horrific twists. So far, this campaign has featured: Animals getting killed, Genocide, lots of body horror, evil cults, brainwashing, torture.
One of the party members had an eye gouged out and lost an arm. Not exactly the way it happens in Berserk, but that might have been the inspiration for it. The group was incinerated in lava. But rather than die, they were transformed into Demons. They might be free from these transformations for now, but only time will tell what this means for them.
!!!Final Trigger Warning!!!
Against all odds, Teztcal successfully followed Vitality to the dragon’s lair. The guards in Zrin had watched him warily but let him leave as soon as it was clear that he wouldn’t commit any additional crimes. The Light of Abyss Soldiers followed the same protocol.
Finally inside the Dragon’s lair the Ranger noticed the mad Dragon in pursuit. It was too late to make him leave and she didn’t bother asking him what his intentions were. The lair was filled with what appeared to be gold. Teztcal become enamored by it and rushes past Vitality to it. All despite her warnings that something wasn’t right.
Mimics
Upon picking a few pieces up, the gold attacked him. The pieces swarmed at him and stuck to his skin. He could not easily remove them. Vitality ended up being right about danger. They were mimics all along.
Teztcal of course thought the gold attacking him was nothing but metal. He didn’t know they were mimics. It was unlikely that he even gave it much thought.
Believing correctly that the gold was his enemy after being surprised, he let out a breath attack. He accidentally slaughtered not only the ones attacking him, but countless more around the cave. It was clear that none of the gold sitting in this chamber was real.
Vitality tried to get Teztcal to fall back, but he refused to listen. Instead he continued to attack “the gold”. He still hadn’t figured out what mimics were. Even as the ones he obliterated changed into dead blobs.
As his breath attack destroyed more of mimics, Teztcal was thrown into a giggle fit. Perhaps this was a side effect of the Dragon that made its home here. Vitality was surprised by her own giggle fit and quickly slapped a hand over her mouth.
Teztcal got cornered by the last batch of mimics. Not that he was worried in the slightest though. He had the perfect attack to clear them out. The room had no more gold and the two were able to rest for a moment.
Monsters Near the Well
Meanwhile, the other 3 traveled back to the Jungle of Giants, not worried about Teztcal in the slightest. Instead they focused on their task dealing with the elementals around the well. If this was not cleared out, Zrin risked running out of water.
Knowing that due to the unique properties of the Jungle, that the party would be unable to call for help if they were overwhelmed, they chose to engage from far away. Jyona’s animated armor took the brunt of the elementals’ attacks when it charged ahead.
Naturally as it grew clear that tons of monsters were swarming the well, the armor took quite a beating. Ultimately it was once more reduced to rubble. But that was nothing that Jyona couldn’t fix later.
Speaking of Jyona, she noticed the mephits were not healing like they normally would. A clue that something was amiss. Of course she didn’t think to tell the rest of the party about this observation.
Once only one Water Elemental remained, it behaved in a way unlike its kind. Perhaps watching the party defeat all the others had inspired fear in a fearless creature. Or perhaps this was just another clue that things were wrong.
It fled down the well. The party followed it knowing that something worse might lurk down there.
Searching for Clues
Back in the Dragon’s Lair, Vitality confronted Teztcal about charging in. He ignored her of course which frustrated her.
She grew even more upset while reprimanding him because she was unable to resist constant giggle fits. Teztcal of course giggled and cackled maniacally somehow convinced that the laughing was his doing. Which only boosted his ego further.
Continuing to ignore her words Teztcal once more searched the lair. He punched a wall which accomplished nothing but making him giggle more. Still convinced that he was in control of the laughs, rather than those laughs controlling him he used breath attack another wall. Once more it did nothing, causing Teztcal to complain that his darkness breath couldn’t reveal the truth.
Vitality asked Teztcal if he was stupid since he thinks he’s doing shadow damage. To anyone looking at his attacks, it was clear that his breath weapon used holy energy.
Realizing it was best to ignore him, She found and pressed a button that revealed a staircase. This entire cave was one giant trap to distract invaders. The real lair was down below.
Teztcal complimented “his squire”. She had no idea what he was talking about. She barely even knew the mad Dragon and so far had no interest in being friends much less whatever he meant by using that word.
The Lamia
After going down the stairs, Teztcal and Vitality were no longer alone in this place. A giant serpentine monster stood out in the cavern. And it had three Light of the Abyss soldiers staring at it. Teztcal knew they look they gave to the monster, since it was the same look others gave him: Looking in awe.
Vitality was more focused on what else was happening here. The serpent was talking to a statue. And based on her demands, the woman serpent wanted to go past it. Screeching “You will let me through now” did not have an effect.
Vitality recognized what this creature was. This was a Lamia Demon. And the statue refused to let her through. Instead the statue stated that the lamia “must solve a riddle.”
Teztcal foolishly says “hello” and the Lamia caught off guard, commanded the soldiers to attack immediately. Vitality was surprised by the Lamia’s presence and seemed lost in thought. But the Dragon was always eager to fight.
After taking a few blows and both Vitality and Teztcal were getting pushed into a corner, but Vitality had a few more tricks ready to go. she blew a whistle. And a bear appeared, heeding that call.
Wrap Up
The party remains split and both are dealing with potentially dangerous adversaries in lower numbers. Only time will tell if their luck holds.