The Old Lands - Session 22 - 11/17/2025
The Elevator to Hell & The Surgeon
Location: The Elevator & Central Operating Theater
The Descent
The party reached the end of the void-stone hallway, finding a pristine, stainless steel elevator that seemed out of place in the ancient ruins. Tim Patty cast Detect Magic, revealing the elevator was heavily enchanted with Abjuration (protection) and Divination—suggesting it was designed to contact something far beyond the material plane .
After an awkward moment of holding the door open, the group began their descent. The ride started agonizingly slow but quickly accelerated into a terrifying freefall, sparking and warping through dimensions. They saw glimpses of space, nebulae, and cosmic whales outside the windows .
The Crash: Realizing the elevator was about to smash into the bottom at terminal velocity, Stevia and Tim Patty coordinated a desperate defense. They cast Leomund’s Tiny Hut inside the elevator car, creating a magical forcefield that cushioned them from the impact, saving the party from becoming paste .
The Operating Theater
The elevator opened into a massive, tiered amphitheater. In the center stood Thaddeus Revile, the leader of the Harmonists. He was engaged in surgery, cleaning a scalpel with blue fire, suspended by a massive mechanical claw rig that moved him around the room like an arcade prize .
Thaddeus mocked the party, analyzing them with cold precision. He noted Basil’s aloof wit as a defense mechanism and Oberyn’s sword projecting emotions.
Boss Fight: Thaddeus Revile (Phase 1)
The fight began with the room filling with toxic gas. Stevia countered immediately by casting Warding Wind, creating a safe bubble of breathable air for the party .
Combat Highlights:
Oberyn Unleashed: Oberyn activated his sword’s sealed form, transforming it into a segmented whip-blade with a 60-foot reach. He slashed across the room, dealing massive damage .
The Intelligence Check: Tim Patty attempted to blind Thaddeus with Color Spray. Thaddeus simply used windshield wipers on his helmet to clear it. However, the attempt allowed Tim to analyze the boss (Natural 20 Insight), revealing Thaddeus is CR 23 and immune to almost all status conditions .
Thaddeus’s Arsenal: Thaddeus proved to be a terrifying foe, utilizing legendary actions to drop vats of acid on the party and firing a "Vivisection Beam" that nearly took out Stevia and Oberyn .
The Buff: Stevia tossed a Potion of Cloud Giant Strength to Oberyn, raising his Strength to 27. When Thaddeus trapped Oberyn in a Wall of Force, the fighter literally punched through the magical barrier with his enhanced strength .
Basil’s Storm: Basil cast Cacophonic Shield, surrounding himself in a thunderous aura that punished anyone getting close.
The End of the Man, The Start of the Monster
The party focused their fire. Oberyn, fueled by giant strength and second winds, landed a devastating sequence of attacks. He sliced through Thaddeus’s mech suit, cutting the villain’s helmet and head in half.
But Thaddeus did not die. As his armor fell away, a mass of mechanical worms and nanites spilled out, grabbing Oberyn and beginning to reform into something far worse.
Phase 2 has begun.
Notable Loot & Items
Void Stone Pebble: Found by Stevia in the hallway.
Knowledge: Thaddeus is vulnerable to Force Damage.
Quote of the Night
"I'm sedating you. Just keep yelling and you get stronger." — Thaddeus Revile, mocking Oberyn as he slices him open.
