Sessions 16 and 17: the Serpent God

 Starting from the last session, the PCs are in the woods, outside the tower. They have just killed the two guards outside, and Simon's silence spell is still in effect.

• The PCs examine the bodies of the two guards
• Mick uses Mage Hand to open the door to the Temple. 
• The PCs can see inside. They step in.
• Besides the remains of four assumed previous thieves, there are three stone pedestals, each with a human being standing on them. They are arranged in a triangle, with one female in front of the PCs and the back two are one male and one female.
• The figures each raise their heads and open their eyes, which are glassy like they are under some sort of spells.
• The figures each wear chainmail under tunics, and each has a mace that is glowing green
• Initiative is rolled.
• The figures - apparently some acolyte clerics, simultaneously begin to case a spells.
• The lead figures is in the Silence spell radius. The other two cast.
• A fight ensues. Damage is taken by the PCs before they kill the acolytes.
• The party carefully climbs the stairs to the 2nd level
• There they meet the Serpent God, a being with a green scaled humanoid body, long serpentine neck, and head like a snake. He is reclined on a couch in an opulent room, but looks weak.
• They speak with him. He reveals he is a planar traveler, who Thrax has imprisoned here, and who Thrax tortures for knowledge of planar travel. The knowledge, he says, is beyond the human mind to understand, and that Thrax has gone made.
• They find out that Thrax has the being's life force contained in the Serpent's Heart, a large diamond on the tip of his staff. Thrax is apparently more powerful while in the tower. With the diamond imprisoning his life force, the Serpent God is weakened and cannot leave the tower. 
• He asks them to retrieve the diamond for him, and reveals that it must be destroyed to release the life force. They agree to do this.
• The party ascends to the third level and attempt to sneak up on Thrax, but he is alert. They find him manically going over scrolls and books, talking to himself,  and clearly insane. He sees the door open.
• A fight ensues. (Thrax rolls really badly). 
• Simon cast silence to prevent Thrax from spellcasting, which prevents Debi's sound-based spells from reaching him. 
• The PCs manage to cut him down.
• The party returns the diamond to the serpent being. He thanks them, and tells them there is apparently a treasure vault under the Tower. They smash the gem, he is revitalized, casts a spell, and vanishes from this plane
• The party returns to the first floor and after a long search discovers that one of the pedestals slides away, revealing a hole and a ladder down to a basement. 
• They move it back and take a long rest, as they are depleted of spells
• After a long rest, they go down the ladder.
• There is a door at the end of the corridor. Simon and Mick open it, and fall into a pit trap that opens under them. They survive.
• The party sees a room beyond the door with a huge metal sculpture of a snake. They jump across the pit, into the room, and the metal snake golem animates and attacks them.
• It strikes with bludgeoning force, hitting Simon twice for massive damage
• The PCs manage to destroy it it with a combination of physical attacks, Thunder Wave, and Magic Missle.
• Simon heals himself
• They see a room beyond with a very large coffin
• They enter that room. Simon and Debi use Mage Hand to open the casket from a distance.
• As they do this, two things happened. 
• There is a crossfire right in front of the coffin of crossbow bolts from hidden crossbows. There is no one their to be hit
• An iron gate begins to slam down behind them, sealing them in the room. Simon and Debit attempt Dex rolls (DC 15) to stop it. Simon fails using his shield to prevent it from closing. Debit manages to put her metal lyre in the way, rolling well and stopping it about 1 foot from the floor, and preventing the locking mechanism from engaging
• The coffin lid flips the rest of the way open, and a skeletal form wearing serpent cleric robes rises from it, standing in the coffin. From the eye holes two spectral snake forms emerge, like eyes on stalks.
•  It attacks, raising a very fancy silvered mace as a focus and a snake-shaped blast lances toward the party, but misses.
• Debi blasts it with Thunder Wave, knocking it down prone behind the coffin.
• It stands up, and the other PCs and Lorian fire missile weapons at it
• The undead creature casts a spell (Spirit Guardians) and 15' out from it spectral green snakes being to float through the air.
• The PCs attack it more, scoring numerous hits
• The creature moves forward. Debi and Mick are engulfed in the cloud of spectral snakes. They attack her doing tremendous damage
• She casts Dissonant Whispers on it, doing damage and causing it to run away, removing Mick from the cloud. 
• Simon hits it with Guiding Bolt!
• Mick blasts it with three magic missiles, shattering its cranium and destroying it.
• They search the coffin and find silver, gold, and some magic items
• They are all able to squeeze back under the gate, as there is about a foot at the bottom that is clear. Debi's lyre is ruined. Luckily she got a new one in the treasure. Mick comes out with a Portable Hole, and Simon leaves with a +2 mace with silver handle and silver bars in the striking surface. 
• They leave the tower, and get back to the boat without encountering any more giant poisonous snakes

End of session. All PCs and Lorian now at 2700 XP -- 4th level