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« on: October 22, 2025, 04:35:35 PM »
RECAP
We decided to rest the night after the battle at the lake. We had the Cleric memorize some anti-invisibility magic and we prepped for another march up the 4 hour hour mountain trail. In the morning, we were approached in town by a Dwarven Wizard who teleported to meet us and check on our progress. He claimed that he and his people were Scrying us to keep tabs. We all took the opportunity to convince the wizard that helping us defeat the evil Wizard at the lake would expedite our trip. He agreed and came with us.
Once we got about a mile from the lake area, we saw a mist cover the land. We determined it was an illusion and pushed forward. Once we arrived at the scene of the last battle, we noticed real mist that Mugrim was able to blow away with his powers. We heard splashing in the lake, then before long, full commotion as Gree sprung from the water and a Greater Floating Disc emerged from the center of the lake.
On the disc were several mutated creatures, a handful of Dwarves, and one golden robed older Dwarf in the center, complete with spell book, festooned with magic items, and a smug look on his face. He began to rise above the water, slowly ascending with his entourage, until we were blindsided by a Cone of Cold from somewhere over the lake.
The frigid blast marked the beginning of the battle. We took up defensive positions and began to attack the Gree warriors. After a round or two, Mugrim took a raging, enlarged Beorn and psionically teleported them onto the disc. They faced off against the mutants and Dwarves on the disc and Beorn eventually bull rushed the lead Wizard off the platform. He simply levitated in the air, but the disc winked out of existence and caused everyone to fall into the water and take severe damage.
It was about this time that the 10 foot tall mutated Dwarf we had seen in the pit a few days earlier was emerging from the water, radiating with creepy magic and power. Fortunately, the Cleric summoned a couple water elementals to fight it.
We battled on for several rounds before the golden Wizard took a few of his advisors and teleported away like a coward, but not before the Gnome removed the protective umbrella from the Cleric and he asked Frederick to cast a spell at him. After being hit with a Magic Missile, a raging storm filled the sky and bolts of multi-colored energy struck the water and some of the scattered Dwarves trying to swim away. Three Dwarven Wizards then appeared within the lightning strikes and aided us. The Cleric later explained that the aura that surrounds him, when struck by magic, activates an alert to guardians of magical anomalies. If something seems Iottian in nature, or otherwise strongly magical, it summons the aid of these Wizards. They seemed to recognize the Cleric and helped us fight off some of the stragglers. In the end, some of us were beat up, but healed by the Cleric.
Because he was enchanted with a Water Breathing spell, Mugrim was able to walk the bottom of the lake and discovered a Dwarven stronghold underwater. I believe it was called "Dark Valley" or something along those lines. We later found out that it was long ago, during the formation of the Dwarven Kingdom, that all but the clan of Dark Valley voted for Smofarf as high Cleric and king. He cursed them to this fate and now they roam Habololy as these mutated abominations. We left off with that knowledge and made our way back to the village where we healed, ate, cleaned, and rested.