Short Synopsis
The adventurers reach an open area in the Labyrinth where a tall adamantine tower stands. Gargoyle statutes surmount the top of the tower. When the party attempts to enter the fortress, they are attacked by the gargoyles. After a quick fight, the gargoyles are ground to dust. Warlan figures out that the fortress is an “Instant Fortress”. He shrinks the fortress and pockets it.
As they party travels further, they reach the opening of the Maze filled with dead bodies. After interrogating a dead female drow, they learn about the Maze Engine. It is a powerful magical item that can alter reality. They encounter Gash, the gnoll, who has been forced to lead victims to the minotaurs. Iluna and Warlan befriend the gnoll, who leads them through the Maze.
A group of minotaur attacks the party. The party fights valiantly against the vicious monsters (and Illidan and Jax both get some extra running in for their workout). During the fight, Khazad summons a dragon spirit to fight alongside the party and it can still abide for almost an hour.
Long Synopsis
Reader’s Note: If you haven’t watched Top Gun, it is suggested viewing for this synopsis.
* Labyrinth, Underdark. Present Day. *
The task force of adventurers reaches a break in the Labyrinth to discover an unidentified adamantine tower. ‘Cougar’ Iluna, on combat air patrol, decides to “buzz the tower” and discovers that it is bristling with gargoyle-statues. ‘Merlin’ Warlan makes contact with the Tower, and activates the gargoyle defenses. Multiple bogeys fly down to intercept the party. The ‘Iceman’ Kepesk casts an ice storm at the flight of gargoyles. ‘Maverick’ Illidan leaps through the ice storm to land on top of a gargoyle to stab it. ‘Hollywood’ Boarstack attracts attention from lots of gargoyles who batter him relentlessly, but he returns the favor. ‘Slider’ Khazad launches his spinning-coin missiles at his enemies with great effect. ‘Jester’ Jax jukes and jabs the jacked-gargoyles. While casting a spell, Kepesk spawns a very confused unicorn. At the conclusion of the battle, Warlan discovers that the fortress is one of those portable “Instant Fortresses.” He uses the command word to shrink it and pocket it.
* The Maze, Underdark. Present Day. *
At the mouth of the Maze, the party sees pile of dead bodies lying on the floor, mostly drow and gnoll. ‘Iceman’ Kepesk suggests using his powers to *talk with dead*. Since drow are among the dead, ‘Maverick’ Illidan suggests that they try talking to a deceased female drow.
“Talk to me ‘Goose’,” Illidan says to the female drow.
The egos of ‘Goose’ and her companions were writing checks that their bodies couldn’t cash. They had apparently lost their engagement with a number of minotaurs. Apparently, ‘Goose’ was looking to find the Maze Engine, a device that could alter reality, in order to fight the demonic incursion.
Then, ‘Wolfman’ Gash, a gnoll, appeared from the Maze. ‘Cougar’ Iluna and ‘Merlin’ Warlan befriend the gnoll and find out that he had been forced by his minotaur masters to lure people into the Maze as sacrifice to Baphomet. He also makes mention of the Gallery of Angels. It lays beyond the Maze and is filled with statues of angels. Gash offers to lead the party through the Maze and they take him up on that offer.
As they travel, “Cougar” Iluna appears to be “holding on too tight” and “loses her edge” as she becomes a babbling maniac. Meanwhile, “Maverick” Illidan freezes up, but “Iceman” Kepesk brings him back to his senses just in time to face more enemy bogeys.
A hectic battle ensues when the adventurers confront multiple enemy minotaurs. Warlan uses his *thunderstep* to fly from one place to another. Khazad slides forward to take on the minotaurs with his mighty warhammer. Iluna telekinetically shoves away another minotaur as Boarstack charges in to attack. Illidan and Jax do some slashing, some running, some shooting and more running to outflank the enemy. Kepesk summons a wild storm to strike down their enemies. Just before the battle ends, Warlan feels the “need for speed” and casts haste on himself. Khazad wants to see more aerial combat, so he summons a dragon spirit that should be with the companions for almost an hour.
