Game summary for October 8, 2013, Carrion Crown Adventure Path campaign, Trial of the Beast adventure; PCs included Caerwen (elf monk), Dario Malavasi (human oracle), Gnok Thatek (dwarf monk), and Tigris Inebriavi (elf magus), accompanied by NPC companion Nyssa Pagonis (human cleric).
With a new party assembled, Gnok returned to Schloss Caromarc and the flooded towers. Within they discovered the ruined remains of the previous party’s statues. The team went left instead of toward the basilisk chamber and encountered swarms of writhing leeches! The group was engulfed and fled while Tigris flew to the ceiling and consumed the swarms with a fireball.
Moving forward, the party discovered a round chamber with three cages filled with headless girallons. Suddenly, three girallon-headed vargouilles swooped down and attacked! The fighting was intense but brief, with Tigris and Gnok landing the killing blows on the monsters. Tigris again used fly to go toward the ceiling and went through one of the second level doorways. He dropped a rope and hauled the rest of the team up. They peeked into a few more rooms but avoiding going in, choosing instead to go across a large stone bridge to the next tower. They found the doors arcane locked, and Dario attempted to disable the ward. Unsuccessful, he deferred to Nyssa’s attempt using dispel magic. She was able to dismiss the effect and allow the team inside.
Within the circular tower was a shattered cage and girallon flesh golem! The fearsome creature rushed to the attack. Nyssa called down a blessing from Razmir, enhancing all of the party while Dario enhanced his magical nine-ring broadsword with lead blades. The monks Caerwen and Gnok moved in and flanked the creature but took several deadly blows in the process. With astounding grace, Dario performed a blade dance and ended up behind the construct. Finally, after warding himself with shield, Tigris charged in, completing a total flank of the monster. Nyssa slipped in and attempted to defensively cast a curative spell on Gnok but failed and suffered a gash and lost the spell. The girallon golem then tore into her, leaving her barely able to stand. Dario stepped over and healed Gnok’s injuries while the monks and Tigris continued their onslaught. Although their attacks were landing, the golem’s impressive resistances mitigated much of the damage. Nyssa fell back and was able to heal herself while Tigris channeled frigid touch through his blade, slowing the construct. From there, the tides turned, and the party, surrounding the creature, picked it apart until finally, with a loud “kia!” Caerwen landed the killing blow.
