The Crystal Kingdom

Lucas has found and experimented with a Grand Relic - The Philosopher's Stone. Due to this, his floating lab has been mysteriously been crystallized, causing it to eventually fall into the waters below it, allowing it to crystallize the entire planet. Lucas claims that something is controlling the relic, but he doesn't know what.

The PCs and the Regulators must got to Lucas' Lab and rescue him and retrieve the Relic before the Lab's Suspension Cores give out and cause the lab to crash down in the ocean below it.

New Characters

Lucas Miller. A human male who, although not a member, works as an advisor for the Bureau of Balance. He helped build the B.O.B.'s headquarters as a founding member. Lucas also comes from a family of brilliant inventors.

Maureen Miller. Lucas' deceased mother. Also a brilliant inventor.

Carrie Fangbattle. A female dragonborn rogue working as a Regulator for the B.O.B. along with Killian and Boyland.

Boyland. A male dwarf working as a Regulator for the B.O.B. along with Killian and Carrie. He is a gruff dwarf with a huge family and loves smoking cigars.

No.3113 (Noelle). A friendly and tiny floating robot that appears to be made of spare robot parts. She has a human-looking arm on one side, and a hose-like arm on the others (sans the hand). In her center is a small window with a glowing blue, glass fuse inside (conduit); it lights up when she speaks.

It is important to note, that Noelle can understand and hear anything that the Void Fish would normally block out.

Kravitz. A handsome, dark-haired looking human who is often seen wearing a fancy suit with a long black, cowl robe. He works as a bounty hunter for the Raven Queen - The Goddess of the Natural Order of Life and Death. Kravitz is also known as "Death" or "The Grim Reaper."

Upsy - Your lifting friend! A cartoonish, yellow elevator with two bright eyes and big, red nose. He speaks in a charismatic and friendly voice and enjoys transporting people to different floors. The inside of this elevator is very fleshy.

Hugbears. A family of behavior modified bugbears.

Locations

The majority of this arc will take place inside Lucas' Lab, which contains various rooms and corridors. To simplify things, each room will be desribed as it comes up. Here are some main things to know though:

Lucas' Lab. A giant laboratory that resembes the B.O.B.'s own HQ (the lab is noticably an early model). It is suspended in the air above a large body of water using Suspension Cores. The exterior of the lab currently appears to be partically covered in pink tourmaline.

Arcane Airlocks. The multiple rooms within Lucas' Lab are connected by small chambers that contain Anti-Transmutation magic, preventing the pink tourmaline from getting inside. The chambers have sealed hatch doors that can only be opened by a control panel on beside it.

  • Green: Can be opened by anyone
  • Red: Locked and requires special access to open
  • No Color: The room cannot be accessed with the panel.

Enemies

Crystal Golem. A 15ft humanoid creature made completely out of pink crystal (tourmaline) that inhabits the spirit of Kravitz - represented by a glowing light seen in its chest. It has sharp claws and hovers low to the ground.

Cockraoches. Insects that have sharp mandibles and can shoot out an acidic fluid.

Hodgepodge. A robot that is built into a pedestal from the chest up. He has an LED face and appears to be friendly. He quizzes the PCs and shows a more sinister demeanor should the PCs answer wrongly.

Tardigrades. Water dwelling, eight-legged, micro-animals (though not in this case) that are also known as "water bears" They use a long proboscis to attack and restrain foes, as well as shoot out black tar.

Crystal Golem 2.0. Another golem that is inhabited by Kravitz. This one is slimmer and has much sharper looking appendages. It breaks off various parts of itself to use as weaponary.

Marvy 2.0. A giant robot with two huge, bulking arms. It is inhabited by the spirit of Marvy (see: Petals to the Metal).

Jenkins 2.0. A small floating robot with multiple loose wires that are used for most of its attacks. It is inhabited by the spirit of Jenkins (see: Murder on the Rockport Limited)

The Black Spider 2.0.. A slender humanoid robot with an small cannon as one of its arms that it uses for attacking. It is inhabited by the spirit of The Black Spider (see: The Phandalin Conclusion)

Legion. A giant skeleton made out of various ghostly spirits from the Astral Plane. It can summon more spirits from the Astral Plane to heal, as well as to create Ghost Robots.

Ghost Robots. Small robots with the ability to fire laser beams. Each robot is inhabited by a spirit from the Astral Plane.

1

THE CRYSTAL KINGDOM

HQ Timeline

  1. The PCs are directed to the Artificer's Office to receive Null Suits. These suits were created by Lucas and are used to help nullify the effects from one school of magic - in this case, transmutation - using a special Anti-Magic spray. They can be of any color and tight suits with a glass sphere helmet. Each suit has a small panel on the right wrist that reads the suit's current amount of Anti-Magic juice.
    • The process involves the PCs entering a small chamber with all of their equipment whilst wearing the Null Suits. They are then all sprayed with the Anti-Magic spray
    • NOTE: The suits help nullify transmutation coming towards and from the PC. Meaning that PCs can't use transmutation magic themselves.

  1. The PCs go to the B.O.B's hanger, where they spot Killian and are introduced to her fellow Regulators: Carrie and Boyland (smoking a cigar, as usual).

  2. The Director meets them at the hangar as well and hands the PCs her pendant necklace - which Lucas then speaks out of. Lucas explains that the best way to enter his lab is through the Conservatory, which has an open skylight. Once inside the PCs should head towards the Med Bay, where he is currently trapped. Lucas then tells the PCs that they should be encouraged to power down any equipment he left on in an effect to re-route the power to the lab's Suspension Cores and buy time.

  3. When the PCs are ready, they can enter one of the Transportation Spheres. The Regulators enter a different one. Due to the snow storm, they will be shot into Lucas' Lab a little differently. After they are shot out, levitation magic will help slowly guide the sphere and land them gently near the Conservatory.

  4. Once shot out and near Lucas' Lab, the PCs have trouble seeing the Regulators' Sphere due to the storm. They lose sight of the Regulators, but the PCs themselves land, slightly harshly, near the Conservatory skylight. The PCs should find a way inside.

Laboratory

Conservatory

A cavernous room with many trees, plants, and a pond - all of which has been completely crystallized. It has an open skylight about 40ft up. The room is filled with crystallized robots frozen in a state that resembles them gardening. Across the pond is an airlock door with a green glowing control panel.

  1. When the PCs approach the airlock door, they begin to hear small shimmers and noises - "crinkle-tinkles" - that gently begin to get louder and louder. The noises seem to form a melody, a synthetic and feminine sounding voice then begins to sing the following:

        "Pulled from my home inside a cloud
        Lost to the dark , I drift alone
        Now I've returned beyond the shroud
        Ever to reign upon my throne
        Here in my Crystal Kingdom"

  2. After the song ends, a small rift opens up in the room. A small ball of light emerges from it and goes into the crystallized pond. This begins a small earthquake within the room, causing all the crystallized trees and plants to fall over and shatter across the room.

    • The PCs should make Dex Saving Throws (DC 15) to avoid any of the shards. Althought the shards would normally cause piercing damage, the Null Suits converts it into blunt damage.

  3. Once the shaking stops, the shards begin to levitate and come together to form the Crystal Golem.

    • The Crystal Golem does not immediately attack, but simply stares at the PCs. After a short while, it will choose one of the PCs to become its target. This PC will now be referred to as the Targeted PC (T-PC). All of the Golem's attacks will be towards the T-PC.
    • The Crystal Golem will also reform any lost appendages, using other pieces of crystal from the room.

    "Why me?"

    The DM must choose a PC to become the Targeted PC (T-PC) for the rest of this arc. This PC will have the most attacks done against them with no real clue as to why until later in the story, so choose wisely!


  4. When the Golem is defeated, another rift opens up and the light that inhabited the golem goes through it. Lucas chimes in, confused about what just happens, but encourages the PCs to continue on through the Arcane Airlock. He instructs the PCs on how to use it - simply place one's hand on the control panel.

  5. Lucas explains that some airlocks have branching paths and that he will shut off power to any path the PCs do not take, so as to re-route the energy to the Suspension Cores and buy the PCs more time.
.

2

THE CRYSTAL KINGDOM

Arcane Airlock #1

These small chambers are all similar and they all lead to different places. All Arcane Airlocks are not crystallized.

When the PCs enter an airlock, the hatch door behind them shuts, producing a "pbsssst" noise (think snakes!) This airlock leads other chambers (excluding the one he PCs just came through. A sign reads the two potential paths:

  • Research Material Storage Chamber
  • The Magical World of Elevators

Missing Room Information?

Various branching paths were unexplored by the TAZ crew due to other enticingly named rooms. This leaves multiple rooms devoid of any detail. This is a good chance for DMs to perhaps implement their own trials that the PCs must go through. Feel free to even change the name of the rooms! I will include them in this guide as they were presented in the TAZ.

Please note thought, that for this first airlock, PCs should be encouraged to go towards The Magical World of Elevators so that Upsy can be introduced. Should they not take that route, find a nother way to introduce Upsy to the PCs.


Research Material Storage Chamber

No information available.

The Magical World of Elevators

A large and beautiful ornate chamber that resembles a museum with various exhibits lining the walls. The exhibits seem to be models of elevators as they progressed throughout development. There is an Arcane Airlock on the other end of the room.

There are a few elevators of note in this room:

  • Upsy - your lifting friend in a powered-down mode. A plaque indicates thit was created by Lucas' grandfather - Roman Miller
  • A conservative and traditional looking elevator that has a small plaque indicating it's inventor - Maureen Miller.
  • The Elevator of Tomorrow: a futuristic looking elevator that sits atop a small glass dome with a miniature model city that envisions Neverwinter in the far future. This was created by Lucas.

  1. Upon entering this room, the PCs see cockroaches scurry acros the floor (one for each PC). The PCs may attempt to stop them with a Dex Saving Throw.

  2. Lucas begins talking about his family history. They were all inventors and one of their biggest inventions were elevators. This museum represents how the inventions progressed through the ages.

  3. After exploring the room, Lucas will encourage the PCs to try out the Elevator of Tomorrow, as it was left in Demo Mode, and would nead to run before it is able to be shut down.

  4. Should the PCs decide to try the Demo, they enter the Elevator and are shrunk down into the model city of Neverwinter.

    • Lucas talks about his vision of Neverwinter's future and that it will perhaps look like his model.
    • During the Demo, the PCs are attacked by any cockroaches they did not kill from earlier.

  5. When the Demo ends, the PCs are returned to their original size and Lucas powers off the elevator. The PCs should proceed to the next airlock.

Arcane Airlock #2

This airlock is the same as ther first one. It also contains two branching paths:

  • Radiation Ventilation Maintenance Chamber
  • Lil' Genius Buddy Bot R&D

Radiation Ventialtion Maintenance Chamber

No information available

LIl' Genius Buddy Bot R&D

A small circular room with a vaulted ceiling about 15ft high. The room is pretty dark except for a beam of light that is illuminating a pedestal in the middle of the room. Built into the Pedastel is an idle Hodgepodge - a robot meant to teach children of the future. The room also looks pretty badly scorched. There is an Arcane Airlock on the other end of the room.

  1. When all the PCs fully enter this chamber, the panels on both of the airlocks (the one they came through and the one on the other end) turn RED, hindering the PCs ability to progress/regress.

  2. Hodgepodge exits idle mode and begins talking to the PCs about engaging in his quiz. Lucas chimes in inform the PCs that they should just run through his program so that he can shut him off.

    • The DM will decide the type of questions that Hodgepodge gives. Should the PCs answer something wrong, blasters around the room engulf them in flames (Dex Saving Throw, DC 15. On a fail: ~2d6 fire damage).
    • If the PCs try to use any external communications, Hodgepodge will disrupt the signal.
    • Hodgepodge can become very hostel should the PCs attack him.

    After Hodgepodge's initial questions, he will ask the PCs to give him a question that it doesn't know. PCs are encouraged to come up with a question that can stump Hodgepodge, such as "who do they work for?" or maybe a paradox.

    3

    THE CRYSTAL KINGDOM

  1. Once Hodgepodge is stumped, he will short circuit and break. The panels on both the airlocks turn GREEN again and the PCs are able to continue to the next airlock.

Arcane Airlock #3

This airlock looks similar to the previous airlocks, with one exception - it does not contain a branching path. It is a straight airlock with only one exit.

Pillar Room

A large cirular room that contains a large pillar in the center. This room contains 4 airlocks total:

  • Whichever airlock the PCs came through (Lil' Genius Buddy Bot R&D or Radiation Ventilation Maintenance Chamber)
  • Lucas' Private Quarters. There is a plaque above this airlock that reads the name of the room. The airlock's panel leading to this room is RED.
  • Maureen's Private Quarters. There is an imprint of a plaque above this airlock, but no actual plaque, therefore, the PC should not initially know what this room is. The airlock's panel for this room is completely OFF.
  • Arcane Airlock #4. This airlock continues to the center of the lab - towards Lucas.

  1. While in this room, the PCs notice a hanging ventilation system with a busted out grate - the grate is on the floor of the room. They also see a note pinned to the pillar in the center of the room, it reads:

    "Crashed into ventilation system. Going on ahead. Meet you by the Main Lobby elevators - K."

  2. After reading the note, Noelle comes out from behind the pillar and introduces herself. Noelle also offers to heal one PC who might be badly hurt. Noelle only has one healing serum and would need a long time to produce another one.

    • Noelle is friendly and offers the PCs assistance or answers to any questions they have. Though she does not answer anything regarding Maureen's Private Quarters.
    • Noelle can help access Luca's Private Quarters, though convincing/deception will be necessary.

  3. The PCs are free to try and explore any other airlock in this room, but when they attempt to go through Arcane Airlock #4, a rift opens up in the center of the room. A piece of pink tourmaline with a white light inside it emerges from it and falls to the ground. The room begins to crystallize and the PCs begin to here the "crinkle-tinkles" again. The same voice from earlier sings another verse:

        "I saw beyond the universe
        Far past the places we should see
        But for my vision I was cursed
        Torn from my home and family
        Lost to my Crystal Kingdom"

  4. The now crystallized pillar in the center of the room begins to crack and Noelle encourages the PCs to go through the Arcane Airlock. Once through the hatch door, the pillar shatters and all the shards fly towards the PCs. They are stopped by the Anti-Magic protecting the Arcane Airlock - curiously though, the shards are all arranged in the shape of the T-PC, as if they were all intentionally targeting them.

  5. The shards collapse on the floor after a few seconds, while the white light within them returns back through the rift, which now closes.

  6. Noelle mentions that she scanned the light while they were fleeing and that it seems to be of undead origin with some traces of divine energy surrounding it. Noelle is worried and confused by that.

Lucas's Private Quarters

A filthy bedroom surrounded by a huge mess of papers, books, and half-eaten food. Scattered throughout this room are small fragments of different types of gemstones.

Should the PCs investigate Lucas' desk, they find a velvet bag containing an item that closely resembles an old compact mirror. Upon opening the small compact, the PCs notice that instead of a mirror, it contains a perfectly circular green emerald. Instead of showing the PCs reflection, however, it shows images from a different dimension - Ours!

These images are described vaguely, but should be obvious to the PCs (not their characters). Such as:

  • People watching TV
  • A woman listening to the radio while going through a drive-thru.
  • A woman drinking tea while on her tablet.
  • A rock band playing at a small venue
  • A metropolis with dozens of buildings and cars constantly zooming by.

Maureen's Private Quarters

This room's door is securely shut, but with a Str Check, the PCs could pry the door slightly, only to reveal a simple bedroom.

Arcane Airlock #4

An airlock with two branching paths:

  • Death Laser Calibration Chamber
  • Large Humanoid Species Behavior Modification Center - HUGBEARS

Death Laser Calibration Chamber

No information available

4

THE CRYSTAL KINGDOM

Large Humanoid Species Behavior Modification Center - HUGBEARS

A circular chamber that closely resembles a living room. It has a mantle containing family photos above a lit fireplace. The chamber looks to have been trashed, as there are overturned couches, up-ended potted plants, and smashed teacups. In the center of the room are 4 furry objects huddled together - Hugbears. One Hugbear appears to have a very bad wound on their head. There is also an Arcane Airlock on the further end of the room.

  1. Noelle explains that the huddled furry objects are Hugbears that generally help around the lab.

  2. When the Hugbears notice the PCs, they appear hostile at first, but are calmed down through Noelle. The Hugbears introduce themselves.

    • Aaron Styles: an adult male bugbear who helps Lucas with clothing, shaving, giving haircuts, and generally styling him.
    • John Cook: an elderly male bugbears who does all the cooking for the lab.
    • Jaime Green: an adult female bugbear who tends to the garden and vegetation.
    • Cristy Killgore: a young female bugbears who is in charge of maintenance.

Klaarg part of the family

In TAZ, it is revealed that Klaarg was the youngest son of this family of bugbears, but ran away after fighting with his sister - Cristy. This may not apply to your campaign, but I'm includding it here, just in case.

  1. After introducing themselves, the Hugbears mention that they got into a fight with a group of strangers - the Regulators. The Hugbears also do general security work and did want to allow the strangers to pass through the lab. During the fight, a green lady (Killian) through a smoke bomb that put them all to sleep.

  2. Lucas can inform the PCs that the Hugbears are just bugbears with inhibitor chips implanted into their brain to make them complacent - perhaps not his most ethical project. Lucas tells the Hugbears to allow the PCs to pass on through.

Arcane Airlock #5

This airlock is just a single tunnel that leads into the Hugbear Supply Room.

Hugbear Supply Room

It is a small crystallized room with basic supplies scattered about - all crystallized. There is an Arcane Airlock at the other end of the room. The room is cold (and all crystallized) due to an open window on one side of the room. Right next to the open window is a crystallized Boyland in a pose that suggests he was smoking a cigar when he became crystallized.

Arcane Airlock #6

Another airlock with two branching paths. Though both hatch doors look odd.

  • Temperature Augmentation Chamber: The hatch door to this room looks to be completely frozen over, requiring the ice to be melted before this room can be entered. There are sounds of fighting coming from the door.
  • Gravity Augmentation Chamber: The door leading to this path appears to be old and warn out, suggesting that it is an old part of the lab.

Temperature Augmentation Chamber

This is a round chamber that appears to be covered in ice. On the far end is another frozen over hatch door leading to the Main Lobby. The room is currently hosting a combat encounter between Killian and Carrie vs. Robots which the PCs can join in, should they find a way to enter the room.

Gravity Augmentation Chamber

A large dark and dirty spherical chamber filled with floating debris. The room is devoid of gravity, allowing the PCs to "fly" around. It was originally created by Maureen Miller and is now mainly used as a storage room (hence all the debris). There is a hatch door, leading to the Main Lobby on the other end of the room.

  1. Once inside, Noelle encourages the PCs to try floating around a bit. Movement will be slightly difficult, since the PCs need to find objects to be able to propel themselves.

  2. While the PCs are in this room, they are attacked by [# of PCs] Giant Tardigrades. The tardigrades float around the gravity-less room.

  3. Lucas explains that his mom and him were testing how tardigrades survive in zero gravity - apparently in made them huge!

Main Lobby

A non-crystallized room that appears to be a central hub for the lab. There is a gaint pillar in center of the room that contains an elevator leading towards the Lower Lab - currently has a RED panel. There are also multiple Arcane Airlocks in this chamber, though most are turned off (panels aren't lit up). Those that are available are:

  • Gravity Augmentation Chamber
  • Temperature Augmentation Chamber
  • Cosmo Scope. RED panel
  • Med Bay

5

THE CRYSTAL KINGDOM

  1. Once inside the Main Lobby, assuming the PC didn't come in through the Temperature Augmentation Chamber, they hear Killian and Carrie on the other side of the frozen door asking them to help unthaw the door so that they may join them in the Lobby.

  2. While the PCs try to unthaw the door, the T-PC hears a soothing voice urging him/her to turn around. The T-PC witnesses a small rift open up with a crystal shard coming though it. The voice urges the T-PC to grab the crystal and prevent the room from crystallizing and potentially save their companions.

    • Should the T-PC grab the crystal shard, the soothing voice changes its tone into that of Kravitz's voice, stating, "Well, that was easier than I though it would be."
    • The shard the T-PC is holding then shatters, causing the T-PC's arm to begin to crystallize. The only way to prevent full crystallization is to remove the arm.

  3. Killian and Carrie enter the room at this point and Lucas begins to urge the PCs to continue towards the Med Bay, where he is. This can be further encouraged if the T-PC has just had their arm removed, as Lucas suggest he may be able to help.

  4. The PCs and the remaining Regulators enter the hatch door towards the Med Bay. Before the hatch doors close, they witness a Crystal Golem begin to form.

Med Bay - Decontamination Chamber

A small crystallized room that connects the Main Lobby to the Med Bay. It contains all sorts of crystallized medical equipment, as well as what looks like an observaion bay.

Med Bay

A non-crystallized chamber filled with medical equipment, including a Null Suit chamber. Inside this chamber is Lucas, who curiously, has a bloody bandage wrapped around his head.

Re-Arming your PC

If the T-PC got their armed removed, Lucas can give that PC a new arm. Lucas uses a special type of wood known as Soulwood that connects to its user telepathically, allowing them to manipulate it as if it were their own arm. The T-PC will now have Disadvantage on all Sleight of Hand (Dex) checks, but control the arm remotely should it the arm be detached from their body.

  1. Lucas explains that he was working in the Lower Lab when one of his robots attacked him. He then ran up into the Med Bay to treat his wounds. Once treated, he went out into the Decontamination Chamber, but was accosted by a Crystal Golem, which crystallized the entire room. Lucas fled into the Med Bay and filled the room with Anti-Conjuration magic, since it appeared as though the Crystal Golem was conjured through a different Plane of Existence.

  2. Lucas can show them what he was working on by leading them to the Cosmo Scope. Before heading back out into the Main Lobby, Lucas puts on his Null Suit and him, the PCs, and the Regulators refill their Anti-Transmutation meter within the Null Suit Chamber. When walking through the Main Lobby, shards of a Crystal Golem can be seen scattered on the floor.

Cosmo Scope

A large dark chamber that currently contains only one beam of light illuminating a large, green, circular disc floating in mid-air. There is also some lightly illuminated control stations. Lucas rushes over to the control station and begins fiddling with the controls while explaining what the PCs see.

  1. The green disc shows images of Lucas's lab as seen from above. Lucas continually zooms out further and further until he reaches the extent of the observable universe.

    • Lucas explains that this is the universe as they know it. It contains everything that they know and understand, as well as the rules the govern it. He believes in taxonomy and hierarchy - for everything that exists, there must be something even bigger that contains it.

  2. Lucas turns on the lights around the room, revealing 10 other differently colored (gems)floating discs around the room, orbiting around the original green one. Each disc contains different images of a different Plane of Existence, such as fire, water, magic, light, etc.

    • Lucas explains that their these are all the Planar Existences. Each one containing its own rules and energies that govern it. They also all work off each other and co-exist in harmony.

  3. Lucas begins with the green disc in the middle:

    • Material Plane: the whole universe as the PCs and everyone knows.

  4. Lucas then references the 6 "building blocks" Planes that are orbiting the Material one - the Elemental Planes:

    • Fire: a world of pure fire and lava.
    • Air: a world of wind air.
    • Water: a world filled with water and ice.
    • Earth: an earthy world with large mountains.
    • Light: a world filled with mutiple colored lights.
    • Shadow: a dark world with many shadows.

6

THE CRYSTAL KINGDOM

  1. Lucas references the 2 Plane orbiting further away from the Material Plane:

    • Magic: a plane where all magical energy comes from.
    • Thought: where sources of logic, reason, and emotion come from (this shows images of our world)

  2. Lucas talks about the Plane underneath the Material Plane:

    • Ethereal: a plane that filters all other Planes, allowing just the right amount to enter the Material Plane.

  3. Lucas points at a Plane high above them:

    • Celestial: a plane where all the deities reside in.

  4. Lucas than talks about the 12th Plane, but it is not visible anywhere in the lab because he recently broke it.

    • Astral: where spirits, or souls, go after death.

  5. Lucas statest that when certain crystals or gems are grown into perfect cirles, that they resonate with other Planes. His great-grandfather found one of the perfectly round crystals that allowed him to look into the Plane of Thought, which allowed them to become great inventors (That's where elevators come from).

    Eventually Maureen got the idea to try and grow other round crystals so that they could view into other Planes. Lucas began using the Philosopher's Stone to transmogrify water into different stone discs.

    Lucas begins to ask, "what is bigger than this?" before is completely frozen, along with all other NPCs.

  6. A Red-Robe appears before the PCs and says, "I spoke to you about the Hunger of all living things!"

    The Red-Robe motions towards all the Planes around the room, "this is the power it seeks, the power of creation itself. A billion, billion lives have been devoured by this Hunger in pursuit of this power."

    The Red-Robe waves a hand at a create nearby, causing it to topple over, spilling small gemstones that were inside. One gemstone is a small dark disc with specks of other colors within it. The dark disc begins to shake and a black cloud emerges from it. The cloud begins to creep and consume the 11 Planar discs around the room. Each time it encompasses a disc, screams are heard coming from it. The PCs feel slightly ill when the Material Plane is consumed.

    The Red-Robe snaps its fingers and the dark-cloud vision ends. It says, "There is no more running, there's no escape. This world is life's last chance. You are the only..." The Red-Robe stops talking and a ponts towards the PC holding the Umbra-Staff and asks where they obtained it. Once told (presumably) about how they got it from a dead red robed figure, the Red-Robe says, "What!? You...you found her!?" Before bursting into flames and disappearing.

  7. Lucas resumes where he left off in asking, "what's bigger than this?" Noelle, however, chimes in that her scanners picked up something odd in the room. Noelle mentions that her radar just detected a lich. An Arcane Check from the PCs can determine what a lich is.

    Lish (Griffin's definition): an embodiment of a very poweful magic user who combines their life energy with their magic energy to transcend their physical form. However, most who succeed in becoming a lich, can't control the energy and therefore become insane or evil.

  8. Lucas finds it odd that his crate of imperfect gems has been toppled over. The PCs notice that the black gem (opal) has some faint white moving shapes. When observed up close, the white shapes turn out to be eyes. They peer back at the observer for a a second or two before closing and disappearing.

  9. Lucas leads everyone back to the Main Lobby.

Main Lobby (part ii)

  1. Lucas begins to lead everyone towards the elevator leading to the Lower Lab and presses the elevator button. He believes that whatever started this mess is down there.

  2. Killian and Carrie draw their weapons and demand that Lucas go with them back to the base to face the consquences for his actions. Lucas pleads with the PCs to let him go with them to the Lower Lab.

  3. While everyone argues, a blue wave of light emerges from the elevator, causing a small tremor. Parts of the room start to become blue sapphire. More waves of "color" start emerging from the elevator, causing more tremors and changing the sapphire into different gems with each wave. It all eventually settles on a random color/crystal.

  4. Lucas says, "we don't have time for this," and presses a button on his Null Suit's control panel. Suddenly, all the panels on everyones' Null Suits, except for Lucas', heat up and send bolt of electricity through the owner's body and paralyzing them - Constitution Saving Throws to determine the extent of the paralysis. Lucas runs into the elevator and says, "I'm so sorry," before the elevator door closes.

  5. While the PCs/NPCs are paralyzed, they begin to hear the "crinkle-tinkles" again, then another verse starts:

        "Saved from the darkness by my child
        Locked in a cage of glass and steel
        But my true love remains in exile
        Beckoning me to break the seal
        Into this Crystal Kingdom"

  6. Another rift opens up and a white light emerges. The crystal shards on the floor begin to form into a Crystal Golem 2.0. (Kravitz) This golem is much more slender than the previous Crystal Golem, with a more skeletal-like frame. It notices the PCs/NPCs on the floor and comments, "Well, this is hardly fair."

7

THE CRYSTAL KINGDOM

  1. Kravitz walks over to Killian and Carrie and summons a tome of light into his hand. After looking through the tome for a few seconds, he mentions that Killian and Carrie aren't on his list. Kravitz then walks over to the PCs and mentions that he is going to be bringing them back to the Astral Plane. Kravits mentions that Noelle will also be going back when he notices her.

  2. Kravitz mentions that it is not personal and that he is just there for his targets. Kravitz will mostly target the T-PC. Kravitz will run away through the rift when his health is too low.

Paralyzing Fight

In TAZ, the PCs find a way to combat Kravitz through odd means. Your PCs might not be as fortunate. Perhaps Noelle can help disable the paralysis - or the least paralyzed PC can spend an action to interact with their Null Suit's panels and disable the paralysis with an INT check.

  1. After fight, Carrie will notice a crack on Killian's helmet. Killian will no longer be able to proceed in fear of endangering her life. Killian is upset, but understanding. She mentions finding her own way back to the B.O.B. HQ.

  2. When Carrie, Noelle, and the PCs attempt to take elevetor, it shows up with a metal grate, preventing them from entering it. Suddenly, large repeating smashing noises can be heard geting louder and louder. Something is smashing the Lower Lab elevator - it's Upsy - Your lifting friend! He offers the PCs/NPCs a ride to the Lower Lab.

Lower Lab

Upsy drops off the PCs in the Lower Lab before leaving. The Lower Lab is a small lobby with two giant hatch doors - a sign above them indicates what they are.

  • Main Experiment Chamber. The conrol panel is RED.
  • Robotics Manufacturing Center. The control panel is GREEN.

Noelle mentions that the Robotics Manufacturing Center is where all the robots are created. It has conveyor belt tunnels that connect to various parts of the lab, therefore, they should be able to get into the Main Experiment Chamber through one of the tunnels.

Robotics Manufacturing Center

A humongous room with large machinery connecting to a central conveyer belt that leads into a big tunnel. The floor appears to be littered with various robot body parts.

Some of the robots laying on the floor look to be rather advanced. Those advanced one all have a little window a fuse inside, similar to Noelle's, except that these are not lit up. It almost appears as if Noelle was a prototype for these other robots. Noelle seems a little sad about what she's seeing but encourages everyone to keep go on through the giant tunnel.

Conveyer Belt Tunnels

A large circular set of tunnels that appear to be maze-like. Noelle knows where to go though and even turns on a little light to allow for higher visibility.

  1. While walking through the tunnel, 3 small white lights move towards the PCs, going back towards the Robotics Manufacturing Center. The white lights seem to emit the sound of 3 men wailing.

  2. After a few seconds , the sound of heavy, mechanical footsteps are heard coming from the Robotics Manufacturing Center behind the PCs. Three robots catch up to the PCs, excited to get their revenge. They engage the PCs in combat.

    • Marvy 2.0.: a massive robot with gorillia-like arms, which it uses to swing in combat.
    • Black Spider 2.0.: a slender robot with a cannon for an arm, which it uses to shoot out spells.
    • Jenkins 2.0.: a small, floating robot with loose wire, which it uses for its attacks.

    All three of the robots now have the little blue fuses inside them lit up.

    Whenever one of the robots is defeated, the white light exits the blue fuse and enters another fellow robot's fuse, allowing it to now attack twice as many times - though causing some interesting conflict between the two inhabitants.

  3. After the battle, the PCs notice Noelle's sullen demeanor. She has just realized that she is dead and that her spirit inhabits the mechanical body she has now. She remembers going into the town of Phandalin for supplies before dying in an explosion (the one Gundren caused). She thought the world was being destroyed, but is relieved to know that it obviously wasn't. With a new sense of resolve, she grabs the spare parts from the defeated enemies (Jenkins, Marvy, and Black Spider) and adds them to her body to create a stronger robot body. Noelle then leads the PCs (and Carrie) through the hatch leading to the Main Experiment Chamber.

Main Experiment Chamber

A big room that is only partially crystallized - mostly around vents and windows. The floor is littered with various disassembled robots. In the middle of the room is a pedestal with a large floating sapphire mirror.

  • Inside the mirror appears to be a large beautiful ocean with a rainbow waves. Flotaing around this ocean are many bright white lights. In this ocean though, is one ugly, stone, fortress-looking structure (The Eternal Stockade) that closely resembles a some type of prison.

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On one end of the room is also a giant stalactite made of crystal. Inside the stalactite is a very humanoid looking robot - it resembles a human woman. The fuse inside her chest is very brightly lit up. In one of its hands it is holding a very plain looking stone - the Philosopher's Stone. In it's other hand is a silver disc with various circuitry leading towards a pulsating light in its middle - the Siphon. It is pointing this disc at the pedestal with the sapphire mirror.

  1. When the PCs enter the chamber, they witness Lucas hammering away at the stalactite with a hammer on a long stick. He appears tired and worn out from all the hammering.

  2. When addressed, Lucas is very apologetic for his actions and begins to explain everything:

    • Lucas admits to finding the Philosopher's Stone months ago, not weeks as he had previously said. He had found the Stone for his mother, who had been working on the Cosmo Scope. Maureen discovered that if the circular gems are arranged in a certain order, they could allow the viewer to not only see different Planes, but alternative realities and parallel worlds. Lucas was using the Philosopher's stone to create the "mirrors" to help his mom complete her work.

    • When the work was complete , she insisted on trying out the newly designed Cosmo Scope by herself. Unfortunately, when she did, something went wrong. She lost her mind and shortly after passed away.

    • Lucas then created the Conduit (the blue fuses found inside some robots) that would allow a spirit to inhabit an artificial body. He then invented the Siphon, which would allow him to search for his mother's spirit in the Astral Plane. The first person this was tested out was Noelle. Her's was the first spirit that he found in the Astral Plane.

    • Lucas searched for weeks until just this morning, when he finally found his mom inside that stone fortress seen in the sapphire mirror. He pulled out his mom's spirit from the fortress and placed it inside the robot (the one in the stalactite), but when he did, the robot attacked him and he fled to the Med Bay. The robot (Maureen-Bot) took the Philosopher's Stone and the Siphon, then encased herself in the crystal stalactite.

  3. Kravitz appears in the sapphire mirror in his true form and begins an explanation of his own:

    • Kravits states that he is a bounty hunter for the Raven Queen - the Goddess of the Natural Order of Life and Death. He, himself, goes by many names, such as: "Death" or "The Grim Reaper." It is his job to collect souls that either broken the laws of life and death, or those who have escaped from the Eternal Stockade (the stone-fortress), which is wear they lock up souls that attempt to escape the Astral Plane in the first place.

  4. At this point, Kravitz conjures his tome of light again and addresses everyone in the room:

    • Lucas is guilty of necromancy and aiding his mom, Maureen, in escaping the Astral Plane.
    • Kravitz was orignally there to just collect just Lucas and Maureen, but then he noticed the PCs. He claims that each PC has died various times and never visited the Astral Plane once. The T-PC having had the most deaths - therefore the highest bounty of them all.

Death by the Numbers

In TAZ, the exact death count is as followed:

  • Taako: died 8 times.
  • Magnus: died 19 times.
  • Merle: died 57 times.

  1. While Kravitz is reading off the bounties, he begins to change into a much more menacing form: his black robe becomes longer and his face beomes more guant until it resembles a red skull. A scythe begins to form in one of his hands.

  2. While Kravitz is talking/transfomring, the PCs notice that gray lights are begining to emerge from the Eternal Stockade behind him and have started to combine and form a giant spectral hand, which begins to creep up on Kravitz. Upon reaching Kravitz, it grabs him and slams him repeatedly on the floor, until it eventually drags him back into the Eternal Stockade.

  3. The stalactite in the room begins to hum and create the "crinkle-tinkles" again. This time, the song is song from various voices, some coming from the Maureen-Bot and the others coming from the sapphire mirror. They all sing in unison:

        "Kept from our children, lovers, friends
        Subject to laws we did not make
        This is where separation ends
        And souls of the lost will come awake
        Inter this Crystal Kingdom"

  4. The Siphon that Maureen-Bot is holding then shoots out a beam of light that pierces the sapphire mirror. Multiple white lights begin to push their way out from the newly created crack. As they escape the mirror, they begin to form a large gooey substance as the combine to create the upper half of a giant skeletal figure - Legion. Multiple spectral faces can be seen grimacing within this skeletal figure.

    It then addresses Maureen-Bot - when speaking, it sounds like multiple voices speaking as one - it says, "Thank you Maureen, your job is done." It then turns to face the PCs, "Living ones, permit us entry into this world so that we may tear down the barriers between life and death. Join us in our cause.

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  1. Assuming the PCs refuse Legion's offer, it becomes angry, causing serveral lights to leave its body and inhabit the bodies of the various robots around the room, transforming them into about 15-20 Ghost Robots.

    • Legion tactics:
      • It can regain health by summoning more spirits through the mirror.
      • It can "mark" a PC, giving them a small red light above their head. The Ghost Robots then all focus fire on the marked PC. The red light then disappears.
      • When a certain amount of Ghost Robots are destroyed, Legion summons spirits to inhabit more robots.
      • When Legion heals itself or summons more spirits to inhabit robots, it leaves the sapphire mirror momentarily exposed.
      • When Legion's health drops to 0 hp, it leaves the sapphire mirror exposed as well, before regaining a portion of its health back.
    • Ghost Robots:
      • They attack as as normal enemies do, but when a PC is marked, they all focus fire on the marked PC.
    • Carrie and Noelle:
      • They will continuesly take out Ghost Robots. They are very efficient at it and can take out 4-6 robots per turn.
    • Defeating Legion:
      • The only way to defeat legion is to first destroy or heavily damage the Sapphire Mirror (16 AC, 15 hp, resistant to all damage) and prevent Legion from healing itself, as well as to prevent further ghost robots. Then they must deplete Legion's health to 0 hp. Once defeated, all lights withing the Ghost Robots return to the sapphire mirror.

  2. During the fight, the Ghost Robots will harm Lucas, causing Maureen-Bot to escape the stalactite to try and heal him.

    • When Maureen-Bot is free from the stalactite, it acts erratically - as if struggling with itself. Suddenly, mutliple lights fly out of the Conduit in her chest. Only one light will remain within the Conduit - Maureen's light.
    • Maureen-Bot can aid the PCs in defeating Legion, but will mostly focus on protecting Lucas.
    • Maureen-Bot will only give up the Philosopher's Stone if the PCs promise to protect Lucas from the B.O.B.'s punishment.

  3. Once Legion is defeated, the Director will chime in on the Stone of Far Speech and inquire about the situation. Maureen-Bot will plead the PCs to protect Lucas.

  4. A rift opens up again and a light goes into a random robot - it's Kravitz.

    • Kravitz explains that he has cleared up everything from the Astral Plane's side and that all the "bad" lights are back in the Eternal Stockade.
    • Kravitz is impressed with the PCs victory over Legion. Had they not stopped Legion, things would have been very bad. Kravitz decides to drop the bounty on the PC due to a technicality - since the PCs never "escaped" the Astral Plane, they aren't guilty of anything...sort of.
    • Kravitz also decides to let Lucas' bounty go. He still, however, insists that he take Maureen and Noelle. He may let Noelle stay if the PCs offer him something good - he also enjoys gambling/games, so the PCs might be able to "win" Noelle's right to stay.

  5. Maureen will insist that she go back to the Astral Plane - even if the PCs plead with Kravitz.

    • Maureen explains that when she tested out the Cosmo Scope, that she witnessed something that broke her mind and caused her death. When she was placed in the Maureen-Bot, she couldn't control it because of what she had previously seen. This left the Conduit open for other spirits to partially control the robot body and attack Lucas.
    • The only was Maureen was able to control her robot body was by partitioning away the memory of what she saw in the robot's Memory Bank. She is frightened that if she remains in the Maureen-Bot for too long, that she'll eventually remember what she saw and lose control again.
    • Maureen will thank the PCs for what they've done and say goodbye to Lucas, while whispering something personal into his ear.

  6. Kravitz, Maureen, and (possibly) Noelle, go back through the rift.

  7. Lucas begins to stabalize the lab so that the PCs have a clear escape route. Since the originally Lower Lab elevator is now broken, Lucas calls in Upsy - your lifting friend! to offer everyone a ride.

  8. Lucas states that he will remain out of sight for a while and will avoid causing more trouble. He gives the PCs Maureen-Bot's Memory Bank, stating that he doesn't want to know what his mom stored in there.

  9. Upsy gives the PCs, Carrie, and (possibly) Noelle a ride all the way back to the B.O.B. HQ, while using his bright red nose to guide through the snowstorm.

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B.O.B.'s HQ

When the PCs arrive in the Hangar, a few people are there to greet and cheer them on. Killian gives Carrie a big hug, glad that she is safe. The PCs are then directed towards the Main Office, where the Director is waiting for them.

  1. The PCs enter the Main Office where the Director, a sleepy Angus, Davenport, and a few other random employees are waiting.

  2. The Grand Relic destrustion routine occurs.

  3. If Noelle is present, the Director will be curious about Noelle's ability to comprehend everything the Void Fish should have blocked out. The Director suspects that anyone that has died (and are potentially brought back) are now immune to the Void Fish's ability.

  4. Carrie will suggest that Noelle join Killian and her in becoming a new Regulator, now that Boyland is dead.

  5. After some brief chatting, the Director will dismiss everyone but the PCs. She wishes to talk to them in private.

    • The Director is upset that the PCs disobeyed her earlier orders to run away from any Red Robe that they might encounter. She overheard them chatting with a Red Robe through the Stone of Far Speech.

    • The Director insists that they must be able to completely trust each other or else they have already lost this war. She pulls out a small orb and begins to show the PCs images of destroyed towns:
      • Armos: a settlement that was completely converted into peppermint candy when a 7-year old girl got her hands on the Philosopher's Stone. 714 people were killed.
      • Greenhold: a village that was destroyed when a warlord used the Oculus to create a small black hole. 1,052 people were killed.
      • Moonshay: an empty ocean where an archipelago once stood. It drowned in 3 minutes when someone used the Gaia Sash to summons a storm. 2,512 people were killed.
      • Phandalin: The PCs should know about this town.

  6. The Director dismisses the PCs, but still insists that they need to trust each other.

    Epilogue

    1. The PCs are back at their dorm room, cleaning up from their Candle Night's party, when they begin to hear a voice.

    2. The voice seems to be coming from one of the PCs bag - the one containing the Maureen-Bot's Memory Bank. When taken out, a voice seems to be talking, though it sounds very robotic/artificial. It is saying, what sounds like a prophesy:

      "I saw all of existence, all at once.I saw a dark storm, a living Hunger eating it from within. But I saw a brilliant light heralded by seven birds flying tirelessly from the storm.

      I saw seven birds: the twins, the lover, the protector, the lonely journal keeper, the peacemaker, and the wordless one."

    3. It then repeats the second half of the prophesy (the part with the seven birds) over and over again until it goes silent.

    Proceed to

    Lunar Interlude IV

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